Chapter 244: Senior Brother, I really don’t have a clue
As noon approached, the maids in Yunjiu Mansion formed a line, getting ready to head to the dining hall for lunch. However, as they walked through the courtyard, they caught sight of someone they never expected to see.
“Eldest lady!” The leading maid exclaimed in surprise, bowing hastily.
It had been a while since Yun Yiyi had visited Jianjiu Peak, and even the newer maids in Yunjiu Mansion hadn’t seen her. After the leading maid spoke up, the others quickly moved aside and nodded in acknowledgement.
Yun Yiyi, dressed in a feathered coat, glanced at one of them and inquired, “I heard my second sister has woken up. Where is she now?”
“Yeah… Jiujiu Sister just went to the garden at the back,” One of the maids replied.
“Alright.” Yun Yiyi nodded in acknowledgement before continuing to the back garden with Ye Anping.
Once they were out of earshot, the maids couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed and began discussing it.
“Did I hear that right? The eldest lady is called Jiujiu Sister second sister! This is unbelievable.”
“Let’s not get involved. It’s none of our business. Let’s just pretend we didn’t see anything.”
“Yeah… let’s go.”
Walking slowly out of the courtyard corridor, Yun Yiyi couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless as she recalled the maid’s expression. The strained relationship between her and Yun Jiujiu was no secret. Everyone in the sect knew that whenever they crossed paths, it was either an argument or a fight.
“Mr. Ye, do you think when my second sister sees me later, she’ll think I’m here to mock her? Maybe I shouldn’t have come?” Yun Yiyi asked, turning to Ye Anping.
Ye Anping remained silent for a moment before responding, “Miss Yun, I’m not sure what happened that night, but I’ve heard that Miss Jiujiu seemed to risk her life to save you. If she’s willing to do that, it means there’s room for reconciliation between you two. Besides, given her personality, she wouldn’t take the initiative to approach you. If you want to mend things with her, you’ll have to take the first step.”
“Hmm…” Yun Yiyi considered his words. “She mentioned that night that she seemed to want to elope with someone named Feng Yu…”
“Really!” Ye Anping looked surprised.
“To be honest, I envy her for being able to let go and take risks,” Yun Yiyi admitted. “Sometimes, I even feel like doing the same. Nothing good has happened since I joined the Sword Sect.”
“Is that really what you want?” Ye Anping inquired.
“Yeah.” Yun Yiyi nodded. “If I weren’t the eldest daughter of the Yun family, would our engagement still hold any weight, Ye Anping? You wouldn’t have to marry into the Yun family, but…”
Would Ye Anping accept her without this layer of gilded paper packaging?
Yun Yiyi didn’t voice this, so she naturally knew the answer.
— Not likely.
— At least not presently…
“But!” Ye Anping inquired.
“Nothing.”
Yun Yiyi shook her head slightly, then gently took Ye Anping’s hand and continued forward.
Passing through the moon-shaped gate in the backyard, unlike Yun Mansion, the back garden of Yunjiu Mansion was a simple garden. There was no vast pond or pavilion. Instead, there were well-tended, fragrant blossoms.
After a few steps, Yun Yiyi suddenly found a plum tree emitting a faint aura among the flowers. Due to the noon hour, the brilliance of the plum tree was not prominent. However, even those unfamiliar with flowers could tell that this plum tree was extraordinary.
“Young Master Ye, do you recognize this plum tree?”
Ye Anping stopped to look. At first glance, it seemed like a spiritually radiant plum tree. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the cherry-coloured double-stamen plum blossoms adorning it.
“It looks beautiful, but it seems a bit like a product of radiation-induced genetic mutation,” Ye Anping remarked.
“I’ve heard of it. This is the Yuanyang Lingmei. Each flower has two stamens, one male and one female. It’s said that Daoist couples who pledge their love under this flower can stay together for eternity,” Yun Yiyi explained.
“This is news to me,” Ye Anping replied casually, feigning ignorance.
But in reality, how could he not know?
There was a double-stamen cherry-coloured plum blossom embroidered on Yun Tianchong’s brow. He was naturally charming, and under the plum blossom tattoo, there was an androgynous allure.
Yun Yiyi also recalled her father. Regardless of what happened to Yun Kunwu, her father was undoubtedly connected. He hadn’t even informed her that Yun Kunwu was still alive.
She, Yun Jiujiu, and Yun Xi had all nearly perished because of Yun Kunwu.
It was mostly displaced anger, but their father bore some responsibility for the attack. He was not solely at fault, but he certainly shared some blame.
“Sigh…”
Yun Yiyi scattered the plum blossoms in her hand, throwing them to the ground. She continued walking with Ye Anping for a while longer. After emerging from the flowers, they arrived at a pavilion for resting.
On the pavilion, a person named Feng Yu was leisurely sunbathing while her younger sister stood below with a jade kitchen knife in hand.
Ye Anping also noticed the kitchen knife at that moment. Like Yun Yiyi, he immediately stopped in his tracks, a puzzled expression appearing above his head.
“What’s going on?” He wondered aloud.
Pointing a kitchen knife at the other person, he jokingly asked, “Will you marry me?”
He pinched his nose, realizing that Feng Yudie had likely triggered the Love Letter Incident, but the game scenario didn’t involve a kitchen knife. She was quite something.
Ye Anping wasn’t sure whether to intervene, but as he hesitated, Yun Yiyi walked over.
At this point, Yun Jiujiu also brandished a kitchen knife, pointing it at Feng Yudie’s chest as she jumped down from the pavilion.
“Second sister, what are you doing? Did you two fight?” Yun Yiyi asked, approaching with a furrowed brow. Ye Anping was somewhat baffled but followed along.
Upon hearing Yun Yiyi’s voice, Yun Jiujiu’s shy demeanour vanished instantly. She hesitated for a moment, then turned around, veins popping on her forehead as she cursed loudly,
“Yun Yiyi, you little–!!”
Yun Yiyi looked genuinely innocent, asking, “What did I do?”
“You didn’t see that I was…” Yun Jiujiu glanced back at Feng Yudie, who was standing there, then exclaimed, “What are you doing here? I don’t want you here. Go back to my Yun Mansion!”
“…”
Yun Yiyi didn’t understand what had triggered her, so she pouted and said, “I came to check on you. You were badly injured.”
“You came to check on me! You’re such a softie!”
“…”
Seeing the two of them arguing again, Ye Anping couldn’t help feeling frustrated. He had been trying so hard to mend their relationship, but now…
But then, he suddenly noticed the hostile look Feng Yudie was giving him. In her eyes, there was a glaring animosity.
???
Ye Anping furrowed his brows, feeling perplexed. He silently asked with his gaze, What’s wrong?
Feng Yudie immediately rolled her eyes at him, “Oh~ You know exactly what’s going on?”
?
Ye Anping genuinely had no idea what was going on. What had he done to upset her?
…