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Chapter 10: Unexpected — Brother, Your Sister is Here!

Pei Lianzhu’s voice was loud, yet Xie Zhuoguang remained as indifferent as ever. He didn’t even lift his head. His tall, bamboo-like figure stiffened noticeably.

Yu Mingyao looked at his back, unsure of what exactly she was feeling.

Even after sitting at her desk, she hadn’t quite come back to her senses.

Outside, birds chirped crisply. Sunlight slanted through the window, catching the tiny dust particles dancing in the air.

The small notebook in front of her was scrawled with messy handwriting. Each square character seemed to have grown legs, wildly darting about her heart.

Earlier, Pei Bizhu’s innocent, naive smile had flashed before her eyes.

“Mingyao-jiejie, you’re so kind. Then I won’t be polite—I’ll take this neat one.”

Bizhu thought she was just being generous, letting her have the better practice book to improve her own writing. But only Yu Mingyao knew the truth—she had tried to appear calm, but her heart had been in turmoil, nearly knocking her off her feet.

She had forced herself not to give anything away in front of Xie Zhuoguang.

Xie Zhuoguang had beautiful handwriting, elegant and refined, just like the man himself. He usually only showed people this right-handed calligraphy.

But Yu Mingyao knew—he had a secret, a left-handed script: wild and unrestrained, never shown to others.

In their past life, he taught her how to be wary of others.

When the Pei family met calamity, he was sleepless for nights. One night, she found the bed cold and empty, so she wrapped herself in a thick coat and went to find him in the study. His usually clear eyes were bloodshot.

When he saw her, he uncharacteristically showed emotion.

She still remembered how his lean chest had felt burning hot and restrained when he embraced her.

He held her tightly, refusing to let her drift away. Stroke by stroke, he taught her that wild left-handed script, making her etch it into her soul. It was like he was giving final instructions, breaking everything down for her, making sure she remembered it all.

The bed was a mess by morning. Sweat dripped from his sharply defined jawline. Yu Mingyao remembered every breath he took.

She was like a fragile vine, clinging desperately to his steadfast pine tree.

Then at daybreak, he returned to his usual cold self. The bitter black medicine he made her drink was just as it had always been.

What they hadn’t uncovered in their past life was now made clear through this book, filled with hidden meaning.

But all Yu Mingyao felt in her heart was sorrow—pure, unending sorrow.

They clearly had feelings for each other. How did they become a resentful couple, united in appearance but divided in heart? Seven years of marriage, no children, two years without even sharing a bed… She couldn’t understand it.

Tears blurred the ink. She lowered her head, pulling out a dark blue silk handkerchief from her sleeve.

She couldn’t let anyone see her red, puffy eyes.

The next day of the exam tested the Six Arts of a gentleman—this time, military drills.

First up: horseback archery.

Even the notebook with hidden meanings included tips on mounting a horse efficiently.

Yu Mingyao glanced down at her riding outfit. It had been a last-minute purchase from a clothing shop and wasn’t anything fancy.

But she knew she looked good in it.

Just like Xie Zhuoguang, who prided himself on self-control, had once said he wanted to die on her bed—she had that kind of power over him.

She wore a rich crimson color—one few dared to touch—and wore it brilliantly, like red plum blossoms standing proud in snow.

A slim silver belt cinched her graceful figure perfectly.

Pei Lianzhu had been waiting nearby, expecting a laugh. But when she saw how smoothly Yu Mingyao mounted her horse, her brows furrowed.

“I thought southern girls were delicate and didn’t know how to ride. Why is she so good at it?”

She scowled, glancing at Yu Jinnian in the distance, who was struggling to even get on the saddle.

She muttered under her breath, “Always showing off… Would love to see her fall off that horse.”

Pei Shang, standing beside Pei Lianzhu, gave her a cool look.

“Born in Jiangnan and still rides better than someone I won’t name. Why not save us the whining and smash your head on a brick? Always sulking and jealous at your age—shameless.”

“If you’re so full of spring thoughts, I’ll ask Auntie to find you some sturdy footboys for marriage.”

He didn’t go easy on her just because she was his cousin—in fact, he was mercilessly sharp.

Pei Lianzhu was fuming, pointing at him in speechless rage.

Pei Shang sat upright, reins in hand, completely unbothered. He looked striking in a red riding outfit, pale as jade and full of heroic spirit.

“Exactly!” said Pei Bizhu, trotting by on her pony. She hadn’t heard what they said, but she chimed in anyway.

“You two!” Pei Lianzhu was so mad her hair ornaments clattered. “I’m telling Grandmother! You’re ganging up on me for an outsider!”

“Go ahead,” Pei Shang said coolly. “Maybe you’ll flunk the exam and free up the top three spots.”

He didn’t care how twisted her face got from anger. He turned toward the graceful figure ahead, full of admiration.

This girl had spirit. She didn’t play coy—he liked that.

He thought to himself, If she really loses this time, I’ll try not to laugh at her.

But if she ends up crying like those annoying twins did when they were little, then… maybe I’ll give her that hairpin I’ve been saving.

A man shouldn’t bully a girl. This whole mess started because of me—at worst, I’ll let her beat me up a bit.

Pei Shang’s heart thumped like a rabbit in his chest.

Xie Zhuoguang turned just in time to see his red ears.

Pei Shang didn’t even notice—his face was glowing, eyes downcast, smiling shyly like a blushing bride.

Xie Zhuoguang followed his gaze to the girl who’d been messing with his heart all week.

On the training field, her posture on horseback was confident and dashing. She looked nothing like her usual lazy self—more like a dust-covered gem finally shining in full glory.

Though he looked calm on the surface, Xie Zhuoguang’s grip on the reins was so tight his veins popped.

Green grass underhoof, the students performed at varying levels.

Some, like Yu Jinnian, still hadn’t mastered the saddle. Others, like Pei Shang, Yu Mingyao, and even Pei Lianzhu, were already trotting.

Master Fan stood at the end, near the target. At his signal, even those who had been hesitant moved forward.

Yu Jinnian huffed and puffed, face red with frustration: “W-wait for me!”

Pei Bizhu had already ridden ahead but sighed when she heard him struggling. She turned back.

“Brother Yu, you have to try harder. Look how amazing my sister Mingyao is!”

She shook her head, exasperated.

With her help, Yu Jinnian finally got on his horse. He gave a sheepish smile. “My sister’s great. But I can swim, and she can’t.”

Pei Bizhu just shook her head again.

Master Fan began explaining the rules.

This horseback archery test had two rounds. The first was a race through obstacles to grab flags. The top three would move on.

To manage the number of students, they were split into two groups by drawing lots.

Pei Lianzhu was delighted—until she found herself in the same group as Yu Jinnian. She shot him a glare before complaining to Yu Mingyao.

“Mingyao-jiejie, why aren’t we in the same group? I really wanted to be with you.”

Dressed in a butter-yellow riding outfit, Pei Bizhu looked charming and fresh.

Yu Mingyao gazed at her affectionately. “It’s alright, Bizhu.”

She turned her gaze toward Xie Zhuoguang. Her group had six: herself, Pei Shang, Xie Zhuoguang, Pei Lianzhu, Pei Baiting, and one unfamiliar student.

The academy’s usual top three were all in her group.

Early spring was still chilly. She noticed Pei Baiting coughing a few times.

He was from an impoverished branch of the Pei family, raised by a widowed mother. He was quiet but diligent. Weak in health, and not great at horseback archery.

As for herself, after everything she’d been through in her past life, she was far better than Pei Lianzhu now.

Her only real rivals were—

Pei Shang and Xie Zhuoguang.

Xie Zhuoguang wore his usual blue riding gear, but in her mind, Yu Mingyao saw the blazing red outfit she had sewn for him in the capital’s big tournament—like fire on green fields.

The whistle blew. Hooves thundered. The students surged forward.

Yu Mingyao frowned, spotting Yu Jinnian among the chaos—completely out of place.

Gripping the reins, his body was stiff with fear. The horse beneath him grew more agitated.

Shouts and cheers roared in every direction, piercing and chaotic.

His horse stomped and spun in place, growing more restless.

Neighhh!

Yu Mingyao’s heart clenched.

Suddenly, Yu Jinnian yanked the reins—his horse reared up, hooves off the ground.

“Brother!”

Yu Mingyao shouted, heart frozen. He looked at her across the field.

Too far to hear his words, she saw only his lips move.

But she knew: she had to save him.

She remembered the snowstorm of the previous life, the haunting cold in her chest.

She saw again his frozen, blue face.

What must he have felt then, gripping that golden jade locket they once shared? Despair? Heartache?

She had never dared to dwell on it.

In this life, she would stake everything to make sure he never suffered like that again.

She would make him a man of leisure and wealth. Let him live to see children and grandchildren.

Brother, your sister is coming!

Yu Jinnian’s panicked horse broke past the fence. Yu Mingyao raced after him like lightning.

Pei Shang looked worried and turned to say, “Let’s go help—” only to be hit by a gust of wind as someone rushed past.

“Hey! Wait for me!”

He took off after them.

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