"His Highness arranged for us to meet in such a secluded place—surely it must be rather thrilling, isn't it?"
Wei Mindan seemed not to register her words at all—as if they entered one ear and exited the other—only beckoning with a wave, "Come here."
Watching him, who showed no sign of playing along with her act, Yao Sishan couldn't help but feel somewhat foolish. Yet after only a moment, she couldn't resist adding with a teasing lilt, "Oh, the way you act makes you look just like one of those clandestine lovers who dare not see the light of day."
Tilting her head, she let a cascade of clichéd storylines flash through her mind. "According to the script, this is the moment when neither party should be able to restrain themselves—when sparks fly like thunder and lightning, when dry kindling meets raging flame…"
"If you keep on, I wouldn't mind taking care of you right here—just as you wish," Wei Mindan replied coolly.
Who doesn't know how to act like a rogue, after all?
At that, Yao Sishan fell silent and, taking little steps, slowly moved closer to Wei Mindan. When her gaze finally came level with his, she suddenly realized that from this pavilion she could see the entire scene of the banquet spread out below.
At that moment, dish after dish began to appear on the table—braised duck with scallions and peppers, sliced perch, a hot pot of bird's nest and shredded chicken, braised lamb, and more—all richly flavored dishes that made Yao Sishan's mouth water.
"Am I doomed to see them but never get to taste a bite?"
Hearing this, Wei Mindan patiently coaxed, "Don't worry—no one will let you go hungry."
Barely had he finished speaking when Yao Sishan curtly retorted, "That's more like it. Now, have the Office of Imperial Provisions send over some fruits and snacks as well. How can one enjoy a show without a little nosh?"
"…Just eat. Eat as much as you like—in the palace there's always a rotating duty of imperial physicians, so you needn't fear overindulgence."
After a long while without exchanging barbs, Yao Sishan almost forgot that he, too, was known for his sharp tongue; for a moment, she was at a loss, and found herself on the losing end.
"Is that how you make a good husband?" she muttered.
They say that a coquettish woman is fated for happiness—as long as she plays the part and adds a bit of charm, a man's heart melts into a puddle.
But little did she expect that Wei Mindan merely snorted dismissively and replied, "Don't try that act with me."
In this world there's nothing that a little coquettishness can't solve.
If there were, then one would simply be coquettish again… as if!
Just as Yao Sishan was planning a comeback to leave him speechless, she caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of both Yao Shianan and Yao Sisou entering the hall.
Wei Mindan obviously noticed the pair too. His gaze shifted with Yao Shianan's steps, and after a while he remarked, "Your brother bears a striking resemblance to you."
He had expected Yao Sishan to respond with something self-congratulatory like, "We come from the same womb, so naturally we are equally handsome."
Instead, she paused for a long moment, and then a strange smile curled at the corner of her mouth. "At this banquet, with beauties in abundance, His Highness seems to be fixated on your dear self. Could it be that…?"
Wei Mindan raised his hand and tapped her forehead lightly. "What on earth are you thinking day in and day out? If I were inclined toward effeminate indulgence, why would I trouble myself so much to marry you?"
Yao Sishan clutched her forehead in pain, thinking that he could be so ruthless and showed no regard for tender femininity. "A gentleman should use his words, not his hands. Even if you're no gentleman, you still can't lay a hand on me so casually!"
From a distance, a young servant—clutching an eight-treasure fruit plate—watched the two of them banter flirtatiously. Caught between wanting to step in and not, he was truly at a loss.
It wasn't until Wei Mindan heard the commotion, turned his head, and shot a signal with his eyes that the servant, as if seeing reinforcements, beamed with delight. He set the fruit plate down on the table and then quickly knelt and departed.
"Come to think of it, I've come all this way—won't you at least go meet the princess?"
Wei Mindan stretched out his arm and selected a plump crystal grape, offering it to her. Its skin was translucent and glowed with a jade-like green sheen that made Yao Sishan swallow hard. "Everyone says that dealing with a mother-in-law is troublesome—are you not worried?"
"It's just that with my mother-in-law like that, there's no harm in having one more troublesome little sister."
"Only you would dare say that."
Had another woman said such words, even if it cost her dearly, it would be taken lightly—but coming from Yao Sishan, and with Wei Mindan laughing as he replied, it only added to the mirth.
Barely having opened her mouth, Yao Sishan flung the entire grape into her mouth, chewed a few bites, and, finding it truly delicious in color, aroma, and taste, reached out toward Wei Mindan and said, "Why not just bring the entire plate of fruit to me? Don't just hand them to me one by one—even the crevices between my teeth should be filled!"
"…"
Wei Mindan, who had lived for twenty years, had never been ordered about like this before.
Any true man would be ashamed to be confined to a room making tea and serving water for his own wife; how much less should a Crown Prince—no less a future consort's husband—be seen serving fruit?
He simply couldn't bear to lose face!
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Yao Sishan couldn't imagine that a fierce battle was raging in his mind. Assuming he hadn't heard her properly, she raised her tone again, "Please, His Highness, do help me by bringing that plate of fruit."
Well, after all, what is face compared to one's wife?
Wei Mindan stood up, placed the fruit plate within her reach, and then sat back down.
While Yao Sishan ate the grapes with an expression of satisfaction, inwardly she grumbled, "This husband of mine just isn't up to it! So young and already hard of hearing—what am I to do in the future?"
Meanwhile, the banquet continued below, with guests coming forward one after another to present their gifts.
Depending on their closeness to the family, the gifts varied in value; Princess Huacheng accepted hers with calm detachment, without casting any sidelong glances. It wasn't until it was Yao Sisou's turn that she mustered enough spirit to respond.
The congratulatory gift prepared by Yao Sisou was a piece of jade decorative art—not the finest grade, but still considered a fine quality specimen. Its large, impressive shape gave it an air of noble generosity.
Raising her graceful brows, Princess Huacheng's eyes shone with provocation as she commanded, "Kneel down."
Faced with the princess's sudden outburst, Yao Sisou was momentarily stunned, but when she spoke again her tone was nonchalant, "Princess, with such words you do not comport yourself. Moreover, may I ask what my offense is?"
No sooner had the imperial edict been announced than—although Yao Sisou had not yet undergone the formal investiture ceremony—she was, in name, already the consort of the Third Prince. At this point, how could she allow herself to be toyed with?
"Stop with all this nonsense."
Hearing this, even the slowest of minds would immediately understand. The princess was settling scores for the disgrace of her own brother having been cuckolded.
There's an old saying: family scandals should not be made public—and this is especially true for the imperial family.
Yao Sisou had long expected that Princess Huacheng would not speak plainly, so she pretended to be unaware, saying, "If the princess is determined to punish me, you must at least state a reason—otherwise, how can anyone be convinced?"
Observing Yao Sisou's righteous manner, Princess Huacheng couldn't help but snort coldly, "Only a person with no ability would care how to convince others. Today, I simply do not like you, so punish you as you see fit—no reason is needed."
Before Yao Sisou could reply, the princess signaled to a senior palace maid beside her.
The maid immediately understood and strode over to Yao Sisou in a harsh tone, "Miss Yao, your presence here is spoiling the mood. Please, come with me outside the palace and kneel properly."
Seeing her approach in such a domineering manner, Yao Sishan was at a loss whether to continue resisting or to submit; she cast her eyes toward Yao Shianan.
But to her dismay, he merely turned his head indifferently, offering no response.
Just as Yao Sisou's heart sank to its lowest point, Wei Mindan strode over alone and, in a firm tone, said, "You don't need to go anywhere—stay by my side."
Having witnessed everything from the pavilion, Yao Sishan, who had earlier fretted on her sister's behalf, now excitedly tugged at Wei Mindan's sleeve, exclaiming, "Brother-in-law, isn't your heroic rescue just wonderful?"
Wei Mindan said nothing; all that could be heard was Princess Huacheng's sarcastic laugh: "It so happens that Third Brother is on time—my own sister was just about to chase that woman out. You all take your leave; I won't see you off."
By then, she almost added, "Get as far away as you can."
Wei Mindan's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but he was not inclined to indulge in a momentary bout of verbal sparring—especially not with a woman, which would be unbecoming.
He forcibly suppressed his emotions and, in a gentle tone, said to Yao Sisou, "Our mother still awaits us; let us go quickly."
Yao Sisou, unwilling to defy him publicly, held back her pent-up grievances until, after they had traveled a short distance, she could no longer contain herself and asked, "His Highness, did that matter go smoothly?"
Speaking of the matter, a genuine smile appeared on Wei Mindan's face. "Everything is in order—only we are still waiting on a favorable east wind," he paused, "Tell me, who do you think is most suitable for the marriage envoy?"
After a long silence, Yao Sisou's smile grew increasingly animated, almost twisting her beautiful face as she said, "Across the entire Yin Dynasty, there is none more suitable than him."
"You mean…?"
"My dear brother, Yao Shianan."
Wei Mindan clapped approvingly. "That's a fine idea. After all, our eldest brother-in-law once gracefully refused His Highness's offer—an act that cost Princess Huacheng face—and now, to personally hand her over to someone else, is simply laughable."
Wei Mindan did not understand that the reawakened Yao Sisou knew very well that the true cruelty of this scheme lay in the fact that Princess Huacheng had sincerely long adored Yao Shianan.
For the sake of love, had she ever desired to show her face?
In her previous life, when Yao Shianan died unexpectedly at a young age, she had led an utterly frivolous life—dying unmarried. Now, as she watched the man she loved send her off in marriage, the feeling must be worse than death.
"But before that, Mother must be restored to favor."
At the same time, Yao Sishan couldn't help but feel a tinge of loss. "I just admired my brother a few moments ago, and in the end he still turns out to be such a coward!"