Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Slowly savoring the drink with the mark of her lip balm...

A navy blue handkerchief covered the back of her hand. Xiao Ye held her small hand and wiped her tear-stained fingers with the handkerchief.

Shuyun was startled and subconsciously withdrew her hand, which was then held tightly by the man.

Xiao Ye leaned forward slightly, his tall figure looming over her fragile little body. He wiped the tears from her face with his warm fingers and soothed her gently, "How could I sit back and do nothing? Don't worry about this. I will help you."

"Look at this face, it's become like a little kitten." Xiao Ye held her wet face and gently wiped her tears.

Shuyun's eyelashes trembled as she looked at the man's handsome face with a serious expression.

She rested her chin on the man's palm and looked at her brother with tears in her eyes. "When Yun'er cried as a child, it was you who wiped her tears."

Xiao Ye didn't say anything. A dark blue brocade handkerchief covered half of her face as she gently wiped her tears. There was a hint of childhood friendship in her cold and distant expression.

Shuyun slowly wiped away her tears and lifted her cheek from his palm.

It was already night, and Shuyun was still lying on Xiao Ye's bed. It was really inappropriate. Even if they were siblings, they couldn't be so tactless, not to mention that they were not related by blood.

Shu Yun grabbed the corner of the quilt, her ears reddened, and her sick voice rasped softly, "Brother, I can't sleep here."

Xiao Ye looked indifferent, casually placed the dark blue brocade handkerchief beside his pillow, stood up and called Biluo, and placed Shuyun in a room in Yanfuju.

As the night deepened, Xiao Ye sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch the quilt, which still had Shu Yun's warmth.

His palms stroked the places where she had lain one by one, feeling her warmth and her presence.

His slender fingers lifted the dark blue brocade handkerchief, dangling it before his eyes. It was stained with tears. He circled his fingers around it, grasping it in his palm and bringing it to his nose for a gentle sniff. His breath on the handkerchief was tinged with a hint of her scent, a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance.

Xiao Ye closed his eyes, put the wet handkerchief on his lips, and his throat rolled.

It's a little different from the saltiness of last night's tears.

Xiao Ye has always been a clean person, but this time he didn't ask the servant to change the bedding. He lay down on the slightly messy mattress, wrapped in the remaining warmth of the girl in the quilt.

*

This time the cold was so severe that Shuyun had to stay in Yanfu Residence for three days before she could finally regain her strength.

Biluo has been taking care of Shuyun's daily life during this period. Today the weather is fine, and Biluo suggested taking her to the yard to bask in the sun, which is also good for her condition.

Shuyun nodded, but when she saw her pale and haggard face in the mirror, she frowned sadly. She had always loved beauty, and now if she went out like this, she might as well stay indoors, so she asked Biluo to cover her face with makeup.

Biluo took out her rouge. The rouge in her hand was certainly not as good as the ones used by the young ladies in the mansion. "These are all the maids I have. Please make do with them."

Shuyun nodded and made do with it. She used to have a lot of beautiful clothes and colorful rouge and powder, but now they were all put away.

Her palm-sized face was lightly made up, and she used a soft small brush to draw a beautiful flower ornament on her forehead. Her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and her lips were a touch of red cherry. She was a pretty and charming girl from a small family.

Biluo said that her brother had asked her to make new clothes for her, but during this period of time, she was still wearing the same coarse cloth clothes, and the nightgown she wore was also newly made by her brother.

Biluo helped Shuyun go out to bask in the sun.

The sun is warm and it makes me feel warm on my body.

Bright golden light passed through the gaps between the trees, and dust floated in the air. Shuyun sat on the veranda, leaning against the railing. She slowly stretched out her hand, raised her arm, and a ray of bright light passed through her fingers. She grabbed it, with a faint smile on her face.

Suddenly, she heard some noise in the distance and Shuyun was puzzled.

Biluo said, "It's the eldest young master practicing martial arts. Do you want to go and take a look?"

Shuyun nodded, and Biluo helped her to her feet. She took small steps down the corridor, weaving through the verdant bamboo forest path. The warm sunlight poured through the gaps in the bamboo forest, falling on her slender figure, swaying in the wind.

In the wide open space, a man in tight clothes, with black hair and a silver crown, eyes as sharp as an eagle, held the spear in his hand with ease, the sharp tip of the spear swept across, his figure like a gust of wind and lightning, leaping into the air, majestic and awe-inspiring.

Shu Yun was watching in the pavilion. When Xiao Ye saw her coming, he glanced at her, then looked away and continued to dance with his spear.

Flowers were flying everywhere, spears were dancing, and with the sound of whistling wind, the man's long legs swept across the ground, rolling up petals.

Shuyun raised the corners of her lips unconsciously. Her brother was very agile and it was always a pleasure to watch him practice martial arts.

There was a noise coming from the main road, and a girl in pink came over, surrounded by several maids.

She is the real daughter who was exchanged with Shuyun sixteen years ago, Xiao Shuzhen, the legitimate third daughter of Anlu Marquis Mansion.

Xiao Shuzhen's real name was Tianniu. Wang Huilan didn't like this rustic name, so she took the initiative to change her name. According to the Shu generation, she should be called Shuzhen.

After being taught etiquette by the nanny, Xiao Shuzhen's rustic air gradually faded away. She wore gorgeous clothes, put on makeup, and her every move showed the shadow of a lady from a noble family.

Xiao Shuzhen saw Shuyun in the pavilion and looked unhappy. She fiddled with the gold and silver hairpins in her hair, and raised her hand to catch the sunlight from the jade bracelet. She was full of luxury, which Shuyun could not compare to at this moment.

With a look of disdain and complacency and a hint of provocation, Xiao Shuzhen shifted her gaze away from Shuyun and walked towards Xiao Ye.

"Big brother." Xiao Shuzhen's voice was soft and her smile was innocent.

Xiao Ye frowned, swung the spear in his hand, and the sharp tip of the spear swept across the ground.

The friction sound was so sharp and piercing that Xiao Shuzhen's scalp went numb and her body stiffened.

Xiao Ye didn't even give her a glance. He stretched his leg and kicked the gun, raised his elbow to catch the spear steadily in the air, and swung it forward fiercely. The wind whistled, and the tip of the gun with a cold glow was only a palm's distance away from Xiao Shuzhen's eyes.

Xiao Shuzhen was so frightened that her face turned pale, her neck was stiff, cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and she looked at the tip of the gun in front of her in panic.

The accompanying maids were horrified and stammered as they hurriedly explained, "Master, this is... this is the third young lady who was found."

Xiao Ye frowned, slowly put away his spear and threw it to the guard.

Fu Feng took the spear and handed over the handkerchief.

Xiao Ye was wiping his sweat when Xiao Shuzhen recovered and calmed down. She forced a smile and said, "Big brother is accompanying the emperor on a border patrol. I should have come to visit you earlier after returning home, but you've been on duty these days. Today is your day off, so I came specially."

Xiao Shuzhen took the food box from the maid and said, "I heard that big brother likes to eat water chestnut cake, so I asked the kitchen to make some."

The food box was hanging between the two of them. Xiao Ye glanced at it, threw the handkerchief he used to wipe his sweat to Fu Feng, and placed one hand in front of him, but had no intention of taking the food box.

"Big brother," Xiao Shuzhen was left out, feeling a little embarrassed. She glanced at Shuyun in the pavilion, thinking that she couldn't let her see the joke. With red eyes, she looked at the cold-faced man, "Big brother, do you dislike me?"

Xiao Shuzhen bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm a newcomer. I came uninvited just now and disturbed your fun. It's my fault. I didn't know Sister Yun was here too..."

"Sister Yun?" Xiao Ye frowned and asked coldly, "In terms of age, Shuyun was born before you, so why do you call her sister?"

Xiao Shuzhen's expression was stiff, and the corners of her mouth were frozen.

"The seniority cannot be messed up." Xiao Ye said in a serious voice, with a tone of command.

Xiao Shuzhen bit her lip, unwilling to change the address, and secretly exerted force with the fingers holding the food box.

Xiao Ye stood quietly, looking at her without saying a word. His cold gaze carried a strong sense of oppression. Xiao Shuzhen's heart sank. Under this pressure, she reluctantly called out in a low voice: "It's Yun... Sister Yun."

Xiao Shuzhen said aggrievedly: "But, it was my mother who told me to call you that."

Xiao Ye sneered, "Mother? Should I call you mother, aunt, or stepmother?"

Xiao Shuzhen's face turned blue and red. She had heard some things. Her biological mother, Wang, was the concubine sister of the late marquis's wife. She was born because of an affair with her brother-in-law. And the eldest son of the marquis's family in front of her was the son of the late marquis's wife.

Although they were both the third daughter of the Marquis' Mansion, Xiao Ye's attitude towards Shu Yun was completely different from his attitude towards her. Xiao Shuzhen felt a bitter taste in her throat. She didn't look at Shu Yun's expression. She must have someone backing her up. She must be very proud. "Since big brother doesn't want to accept the cakes, I'll go back first."

Xiao Shuzhen lost face in public, stuffed the food box to the maid, lost the spirit she had when she came, and left quickly. When passing by the pavilion, she glared at Shuyun fiercely.

Shuyun pursed her lips and lowered her head, pinching her fingers.

Shuyun remembered that when she first entered the Marquis' Mansion with her mother, her brother treated her even colder than this, and she was particularly afraid of this cold and taciturn brother. But later, some things happened, and the relationship between the brother and sister became better and better. The brother was friendly and the sister was respectful, and she respected her brother very much.

Shuyun was lost in thought. The tall figure blocked most of the light. She looked up and met the man's calm black eyes. This deep gaze fell on her neck.

My brother had entered the pavilion at some point and was staring at her neck.

Shuyun's heart sank, and she suspected that she had seen it wrong. Her brother always knew his limits and was upright, so why would he stare at her neck?

"Follow me." Xiao Ye said calmly, turned and left the octagonal pavilion.

Shuyun was confused and followed him into the house without knowing why.

She followed Xiao Ye quietly. He took out a small mirror, handed it to her, and asked calmly, "Why is your neck red?"

Shuyun raised the small mirror in confusion, tilted her head slightly, and found a red mark on her neck. It turned out that her brother was looking at this.

She was brought up in pampered surroundings, and her skin was delicate. Her clothes had always been made of high-quality brocade, soft and comfortable. But now, after wearing the rough fabric for a month, the collar was a bit stiff and prickly, rubbing her neck red and breaking the skin.

Shuyun frowned, feeling depressed and worried about leaving a scar on her neck.

Wisps of smoke rose from the Boshan stove. Xiao Ye had already sat down at the table, with a set of glazed green tea sets on it.

Shu Yun sat down opposite him. She held the handle of the mirror and spoke in frustration, begging, "The fabric of the clothes is rough and hard. I can't get used to wearing them. Brother, can you give me some ointment to remove scars?"

She cast an expectant look, her clear eyes like the bright moon and stars, her two willow-shaped eyebrows full of worry, her face, which had become thinner, looked particularly delicate and pitiful.

The man remained indifferent, looking at the red snow-white neck with his eyes as calm as the sea.

Shu Yun saw a trace of compassion in Jing's eyes, and whispered with hope, "Please, brother."

After a long time, Xiao Ye shifted his gaze away, took out a small white porcelain jar from the medicine box, and stopped behind Shu Yun.

He was tall, and his slender shadow cast a shadow over her petite body. Shuyun saw his royal blue suit in the mirror. His sleeves suddenly brushed past, and a crisp breath lingered around her nostrils. His long, bony fingers placed the porcelain lid on the table.

The black hair on the neck was lifted up and gathered in front of the body. The man's fingertips with thin calluses fell on the red marks on the snow-white neck. After the coolness, the residual warmth of the fingertips came out. Shuyun did not expect that her brother would apply the medicine himself, and her cheeks gradually became hot.

"Don't move." The man's low and mellow voice sounded in her ears. He pressed her shoulders with the base of his palms, and his fingertips stayed on her snow-white skin, sliding across it slowly.

Shuyun sat up straight and saw her brother's fingers sliding across her neck inch by inch in the mirror. Her heart beat faster for no reason and she couldn't help but hold the handle of the mirror tightly and hold her breath.

"You've been recuperating these days. How is your cold?" Xiao Ye asked, taking some ointment on his fingertips and rubbing it gently to dissolve it.

Shu Yun smiled sweetly, "Much better, thank you for taking care of me these days, brother."

"Hiss." Shuyun frowned in pain when her fingertips touched the broken skin. The mirror tilted along with her shaking hand, and the man's profile was reflected in the mirror.

His movements were light and gentle. After the pain just now dissipated, only the burning sensation remained. Shuyun raised her eyes quietly and saw her brother's stern face in the mirror. She had never looked at her brother so closely before.

The man has a high nose and deep eyes, unparalleled appearance, and integrity. He is a leader among the children of aristocratic families.

After Xiao Ye applied the medicine to her, he lowered his eyes to look at the girl in the mirror and asked, "Are there any other scratches?"

Shuyun nodded, then shook her head and picked up the porcelain lid of the table before him.

She turned around, held the porcelain lid in her palm and handed it over, looking up and saying, "Brother, could you please give me this bottle of medicine? I've never worn such rough material before, and I feel a lot of discomfort, so it's inconvenient for you to apply the medicine."

Xiao Ye was silent, staring at that face. Her bold and bright appearance seemed to be only a faint shadow left, and her temperament had become much smoother.

"My sister has become so cautious when asking for something."

Xiao Ye spoke slowly, his low and mellow voice lingering in her ears. Shuyun's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She swayed slightly, and her pale face showed embarrassment.

She had never been so humble before. It was just a scar removal ointment. She used to have several kinds. Each one had similar effects, but different fragrance.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Ye lowered his eyes, took the porcelain lid from her palm, closed it, and put the small jar in her hand.

Shu Yun accepted the scar removal medicine jar, and when Xiao Ye turned around, she suddenly grabbed his sleeve with her slender fingers and begged, "Brother, can you transfer Qiongzhi back? After all, Biluo is a maid in your courtyard, and I'm not used to her."

Qiongzhi was Shuyun's personal maid. Since she was not a daughter of the Xiao family, Wang Huilan took back the maid who served her.

The man's brows were cold, and Shu Yun bravely pulled his fingers and said coquettishly, "Brother, please, please."

He didn't say anything. Shuyun was afraid that he would refuse, so she unconsciously grasped his slender fingers.

After a long silence, Xiao Ye nodded, agreeing with her.

"Thank you, brother."

Shuyun breathed a sigh of relief and let go of the man's fingers with a smile.

Xiao Ye put his hands behind his back and slowly rubbed the fingertips that had been held. He lowered his eyes and saw her smile, and a clumsy thought arose in his mind.

"It's just a bottle of scar removal medicine, why don't you ask your mother for it instead of asking your brother for it?"

His voice was gentle as he asked something that spoiled her mood. The answer was obvious, but he insisted on opening her wound and then stitching it up himself.

Shu Yun pursed her lips, and her smile disappeared, "Mother hates me and despises me."

"It was my biological mother's fault. She shouldn't have switched me with the third girl."

Shuyun enjoyed Xiao Shuzhen's wealthy life and felt that she owed her something.

Her eyes were filled with tears. Shuyun felt guilty and uneasy. She couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Xiao Ye took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, held her wet face, bent down and wiped her tears, "You are still the same as when you were a child, always crying."

Gently stroking the top of her head, Xiao Ye took the crying girl into his arms and coaxed her softly, "Cry it out, and you'll feel better."

Wisps of smoke swirled up from the Boshan stove, brushing against the fluttering gauze curtains. Two shadows were printed obliquely on the screen. The figure of the beautiful girl was gradually covered and swallowed up by the tall shadow.

Shu Yun slowly wiped away her tears, left his arms, and looked up at the man standing in front of her, "Fortunately, my brother is here."

Xiao Ye smiled softly and sat down opposite.

He picked up the teapot on the table, filled the glazed green lotus petal cup, and placed it opposite. "Try this Junshan Silver Needle, it's my sister's favorite tea."

Shuyun picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Shu Yun smiled and said, "It still tastes familiar."

"As long as my sister likes it." Xiao Ye also smiled and poured himself a glass.

After drinking most of the tea, Xiao Ye glanced at the sun and said, "It's getting late. Let's go back and take good care of ourselves."

Shuyun stood up and said goodbye to Xiao Ye.

The girl was thin and alone, looking so pitiful. It was not until her back disappeared from his sight that Xiao Ye looked away. He tapped the table with his knuckles and smiled faintly.

Take it step by step, tighten your grip step by step, and you’ll see how far you can go.

Xiao Ye picked up the glazed green lotus petal cup opposite him and slowly turned it, and the clear tea rippled along the wall of the cup.

Xiao Ye rubbed the red lip print on the rim of the cup with his fingertips, then brought the cup to his lips. He slowly sipped the remaining tea in the cup based on the mark of her lip balm, and tasted a hint of sweetness as it rolled in his throat.

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