027 Resentment and Dissatisfaction

“Your Grace, I just heard that the Second Young Master has come to the Prince’s Residence,” Yicui hurried in to announce.

Yun Xiyin, who had been sipping her tea, immediately set her cup down and stood up. “Where is Second Brother? Did he come to see me?”

“I’m not sure, Your Grace. I only heard that the Second Young Master was just in the main hall,” Yicui replied, smiling as she saw Yun Xiyin’s excitement.

“Hurry and help me get ready. I want to see my brother.” With that, Yicui quickly began to tidy Yun Xiyin’s appearance, and soon they left Junyu Pavilion.

Yun Qixiao walked on, lost in thought, when he heard someone call out “Second Brother” from behind. He instantly recognized Yun Xiyin’s voice.

“Second Brother, you came to the Prince’s Residence and didn’t even think to see me?” Yun Xiyin hurried over, circling in front of Yun Qixiao, her face beaming.

Her mother had given birth to three children: eldest sister Yun Qimo, now a favored consort of the Emperor; Second Brother Yun Qixiao; and herself, the third.

“Greetings to the Princess Consort of Xiao,” Yun Qixiao bowed respectfully as Yun Xiyin stood before him.

He was ever mindful of propriety. The woman before him was now the Princess Consort of Xiao; even as siblings, he could not overstep the boundaries of status.

Yun Xiyin paused in surprise, then looked at him with some displeasure. “Must you be so distant with me, Second Brother? I am your own sister!”

Yun Qixiao smiled faintly and lifted his eyes to her. “Your Grace, my eldest sister is a consort of the Emperor. Even when I see her, I must offer my respects. Such are the rules of rank and propriety; it has nothing to do with anything else.”

His tone was measured, yet it only made Yun Xiyin more unhappy. All her life, she had only ever seen Yun Qixiao speak in such a mild tone to others—except for Yun Xueyan.

She could never understand what was so special about that ugly woman, why her outstanding Second Brother was only kind to her.

The anger in her chest grew and festered. She glared at Yun Qixiao, her voice brimming with frustration. “Did you just go to see that ugly woman? Are you leaving already? Have you forgotten that I am your sister too, and I live here in the Prince’s Residence? You won’t even spare me a glance?”

Had she not mentioned it, Yun Qixiao’s heart might have remained calm, but her words stirred up a storm within him.

“Your Grace, please be mindful of your words. Your status is exalted, and it would not be proper for me to call on you casually. But if you must make an issue of it, let me ask you: When our father decided to send Yan’er as part of the dowry, why didn’t you try to stop him?” Though his words were cool, his anger was plain.

He knew that if Yun Xiyin had intervened, Yun Xueyan would never have been forced to marry here.

Ugly woman? No matter her appearance, her heart was beautiful enough—that was all that mattered. Why should one care for anything else?

“I ask only that you do not make things difficult for Yan’er in the future. Though you are not of one mother, you are both daughters of the same father.” Before Yun Xiyin could reply, Yun Qixiao spoke again. “I still have matters to attend to. I won’t disturb Your Grace’s leisure any longer. I take my leave.”

With a bow, he vanished from the Prince’s Residence in the blink of an eye.

Yun Xiyin stood rooted to the spot, biting her lip hard. She would never let Yun Xueyan off—she was the one who had stolen everything from her, who had taken her brother. Everything was all because of her.

She would never let her live in peace. She would make her suffer beyond words.

She would make her pay the price for everything she owed! Clenching her fists, Yun Xiyin glared hatefully into the distance…