The warm breeze was gentle, quite comforting on the body.

Yao Ru, after marrying into the Second Prince Mansion, rarely left the house except for palace banquets or invitations from the noble ladies.

She stood in front of the mansion’s gate, gazing at the streets bustling with people, her expression indifferent and aloof, as if isolated from the mundane world.

This outing was a spur-of-the-moment decision; no carriage had been arranged in advance, so the steward sent someone to prepare it, and she waited quietly.

Unexpectedly, she first encountered the Second Prince, Ying Zhi.

Ying Zhi, having just returned from the Imperial Palace, was displeased upon learning that Emperor Qian wanted to marry Miss Yang to Ying Cheng.

Why should the fourth brother be the one?

His mother was lowly, and he was silent most of the time.

Ying Zhi used to scoff at Ying Cheng privately, saying he was out of favor with the Emperor, which endlessly delayed his marriage.

Ying Zhi understood the Emperor’s intentions, but letting Ying Cheng benefit irritated him.

He stepped up the stairs, casting a sharp glance at Yao Ru.

"Are you going out?"

Yao Ru’s expression remained indifferent.

"There’s trouble at one of my shops. I’m going to take a look."

Also, to get some peace and quiet.

That Seventh Princess, even dogs find her annoying.

She’s always picking on her.

Not very bright, yet constantly flaunting her cheap tricks.

Yao Ru thought, among the Imperial Family’s children, they are either blinded by greed, ruthless, or bullying fools.

Not a single one turned out right.

Ying Zhi said gruffly, "Are the managers useless that you have to go yourself?"

He said this, though he wouldn’t actually stop Yao Ru from going out.

"Return early, don’t linger outside. Dun is still young and needs his mother. The Seventh Sister is also here; as a sister-in-law, you should entertain her well. She’s been pampered since young; if she offends you, try to bear with her."

Though the words were laughable, Yao Ru’s eyes remained calm.

"The mansion has two wet nurses and numerous maids and women; can’t they care for a months-old baby?"

The child was her own, and she cherished him greatly.

But from long, long ago, someone had told her.

—"Ah Ru, I have to rise early every day to study at the Imperial College; you don’t have to come to have breakfast with me every day."

—"We have a long life ahead of us. But I hope you put yourself first, and I’ll take you as my priority."

Youthful love is the most sincere. Yao Ru remembered those words to this day.

As for the Seventh Princess, Yao Ru didn’t even want to mention her, let alone waste words on Ying Zhi.

Seeing her like this, Ying Zhi felt a surge of anger.

He was a Prince, after all, and even if crippled, he bore the Ying name. But this was outside, and he wouldn’t argue with Yao Ru out there.

Just then, there was movement next door.

Ying Fuyan came out, heavily dressed, holding a hand warmer.

Behind him, a servant carried a kite.

The servant said to the woman waiting at the door, "It just so happened to fall into our young master’s courtyard. Aunty, take a look; is this your kite?"

The woman did not first look at the kite.

Her gaze fell first on Ying Fuyan.

She knew that a confidant of the Fifth Prince lived next door. His health wasn’t good; whenever they boiled medicine, the scent always drifted to the mistress’s courtyard garden.

Besides staying indoors, the mistress spent the most time in the garden, tending to the flowers herself.

That place was closest to next door.

At first, she complained about the unpleasant smell, wanting to address it with the neighbors; who boils medicine in the open air?

But the mistress didn’t allow it.

—"Is it bitter?"

—"Yet smelling the medicine, I don’t know why, but I feel at ease."

At first glance at Ying Fuyan, the woman was startled. How could someone be so frail? Still, one shouldn’t stare at strangers, so she quickly averted her gaze.

"Yes, it is this kite. Thank you, young sir."

She was about to take it.

But Ying Fuyan took a shaky step forward.

Ying Zhi must have noticed the commotion on this side.

He didn’t bother to care.

But Ying Fuyan, supported by a servant, approached.

Ying Fuyan bowed his hands in salute to Ying Zhi, "Greetings to the Second Prince."

Ying Zhi looked down at him, "Cao Qian’s battlefield injuries still require bed rest, but I heard he was helped over here yesterday to chat with you for a long time?"

Ying Fuyan smiled, "This commoner had a delightful conversation with Elder Cao."

Ying Zhi was annoyed.

Why didn’t Cao Qian support him?

Ying Zhi: "Your health is poor, best to recuperate and not overwork yourself."

He glanced at Ying Fuyan.

Goodness.

His clothing fabric seemed better than his own.

Wasn’t that gold brocade? The Imperial Family only acquired three pieces last year; one for the Emperor, one granted to the Duke Shun Mansion, and one for the fifth brother.

The one from Duke Shun Mansion...

Ying Zhi recalled and got angry, Wei Zhao squandered it by giving it to a new bride for handkerchiefs.

Rumor had it, when she first entered the Capital, she didn’t know its worth and threw it away once it got dirty, because she had many identical ones.

The fifth brother was indeed generous to his adviser.

Ying Zhi thought secretly, if Jia were his adviser, he would probably be willing to be generous too.

Ying Fuyan: "With the Second Prince’s concern, this commoner naturally wants to live a bit longer."

Who cares about you.

Ying Zhi wished Jia’s adviser would just die early.

Ying Fuyan: "But for the Second Prince, you look..."

Not like you’ll live long.

He paused and stopped speaking.

Ying Zhi: "What about me?"

Ying Fuyan: "It’s going to rain soon in a few days."...

Ying Fuyan: "The Second Prince’s legs aren’t good; they will probably hurt again."

Ying Zhi hated hearing it: ???

Ying Fuyan: "Must be very painful, right?"

"The commoner heard that as soon as the weather is gloomy, you rarely leave your house because of rain. The palace’s Imperial Physicians had no solution, so the Fifth Prince hired many capable folk doctors for you, but you didn’t give him face and refused to see them."

"You always suspect that our Fifth Prince is deliberately embarrassing you."

Ying Fuyan sighed: "What a pity for the Fifth Prince’s goodwill."

Ying Zhi: ???

He was thoroughly infuriated.

He didn’t doubt it.

After all, it’s something Ying Yin would do!

Ying Yin, that sanctimonious being!

Clearly wanting to mock him yet pretending to be brotherly! Also gaining a bevy of good reputations!

Ying Zhi snorted coldly, unwilling to exchange more words with the adviser.

Just as he was about to walk away, something occurred to him. Speaking indifferently to Yao Ru beside him.

"I remember in a few days it will be your mother’s birthday. I’m unavailable that day, so you go back to your family on your own."

In truth, he was free.

He just didn’t want to go.

Disregarding whether it would hurt Yao Ru’s standing.

Yao Ru didn’t care either way.

She just nodded as acknowledgment.

After Ying Zhi entered the residence, the woman beside her handed the kite to the steward, but her face turned grim.

"Mistress, this..."

Yao Ru: "Never mind."

"Since I’m going out today, I’ll buy a birthday gift for my mother. When the day comes, you will go deliver it."

The woman was about to nod but suddenly looked up.

"You’re... not going back?"

"It seems improper."

Yao Ru: "Go back?"

"And pretend a loving mother-daughter relationship with her? Even if she’s not tired, I am."

She had no family to return to.