04
The days at Zhuixia Pavilion were like a still pond, until a pebble was suddenly thrown in and shattered the tranquility.
That morning, Si Mianmian was pruning flowers with Consort Wen in the courtyard when they suddenly heard hurried footsteps and the clanging of armor outside the palace gates. A young eunuch rushed in, panting, and shouted, "Your Highness, Princess, the Third Prince has returned to the capital! He's already at the palace gates and is heading towards Zhuixia Pavilion!"
Consort Wen's flower shears fell to the ground with a "clatter," and her face instantly turned pale. Si Mianmian clearly saw that her mother's fingers were trembling slightly; it wasn't joy, but a mixture of surprise and fear.
Through the fragments of the original owner's memories, Si Mianmian quickly gathered information about her "sibling" brother.
The Third Prince, Si Jingjin, was only nineteen years old. Although he and Si Mianmian were both born to Consort Wen, their fates were completely different. He left the capital at the age of twelve to train at the border, and did not return for seven years. In the army, he was known as the "Cold-Faced Yama," and in literary circles, he was hailed as the "First Talent." He was exceptionally skilled in martial arts, had numerous military achievements, and was the youngest General of the Cavalry in the Yu Dynasty. However, what frightened Si Mianmian the most was that in her memory, this elder brother was aloof and arrogant, and his relationship with his "good-for-nothing" younger sister was extremely distant, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible disdain.
"Why...why did he suddenly come back?" Consort Wen murmured to herself, hurriedly straightening her clothes as if she were about to face an unexpected trial.
Alarm bells rang in Si Mianmian's heart. Whether her brother's return to the capital at this moment was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen. But in any case, it was an opportunity—a crucial chance that could change their situation.
Survival Handbook Rule #4: When faced with unknown variables, the best strategy is to remain calm and observe to find a breakthrough.
Before long, the sound of synchronized footsteps and the clatter of armor echoed from outside the courtyard, creating an imposing atmosphere. The palace guards at the gate knelt down, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Si Mianmian looked up and saw a tall, pine-like figure standing against the light. The man was dressed in black armor, with a dark cloak draped over his shoulders and an ancient longsword at his waist. His face was handsome as if cast in stone, but his eyes held a coldness like snow-capped mountains, and he exuded a chilling aura of someone who had been through many battles. It was none other than the Third Prince, Si Jingjin.
His gaze swept lightly over everyone in the courtyard, lingering for a moment on Consort Wen before he nodded slightly: "Mother Consort." His voice was cold and emotionless. Then, his gaze fell on Si Mianmian.
His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if it could pierce through the skin and see into the heart. Si Mianmian felt a chill in her heart, but she forced herself to meet that scrutinizing gaze. At the right moment, she showed a timid expression with a mix of filial piety and unease, and softly called out, "Third Imperial Brother."
Si Jingjin did not respond, but said to Consort Wen, "Your subject has reported to the Emperor and has come to pay his respects to Consort Wen."
Consort Wen seemed a little flustered, saying repeatedly, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back...Quickly, come inside and sit down." She then hurriedly said to Si Mianmian, "Mianmian, go and make tea for your brother."
Si Mianmian obediently agreed and was about to turn around when she heard Si Jingjin say indifferently, "No need to trouble yourself." With that, he had already walked into the room first.
After a brief greeting, a subtle silence fell over the room. Si Jingjin sat upright, maintaining his military bearing even after removing his sword. He inquired briefly about Consort Wen's health, his tone polite yet distant. Throughout, he barely glanced at Si Mianmian, as if she were an insignificant stranger.
Si Mianmian stood with her head bowed beside Consort Wen, her mind racing. This elder brother was indeed as unapproachable as she remembered. However, in the occasional glances he gave her, Si Mianmian keenly caught a fleeting, complex emotion that seemed incongruous with his cold exterior—perhaps he wasn't entirely heartless.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard. It was the Seventh Princess, Si Yunshang, who stormed in with several palace maids, shouting, "Si Mianmian, you come out here! This isn't over yet!"
Si Yunshang clearly hadn't expected Si Jingjin to be at Zhuixia Pavilion. She burst in and immediately froze upon seeing the Third Prince seated there, a flicker of panic crossing her face. Everyone knew that this Third Prince was a "living Yama" who dared to defy even their father, and although he had been away from the capital for many years, his influence remained.
Si Jingjin didn't even lift his eyelids. He simply picked up the tea that Si Mianmian had just served, gently stirred the tea foam, and said in a calm and even voice, "Seventh Princess, it's been so many years. Have you forgotten all your manners?"
With just one sentence, Si Yunshang's face turned deathly pale. She stammered and bowed, "Greetings, Third Imperial Brother... I didn't know you were here. I apologize for disturbing you."
"Get out." Si Jingjin parted his thin lips and uttered a single word.
Si Yunshang felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and led her people away in a sorry state, not daring to look back.
Si Mianmian witnessed all of this, gaining a more direct understanding of her brother's power. At the same time, a thought quietly surfaced: Was what he just did... a form of indirect protection?
For the next half day, Si Jingjin stayed at Zhuixia Pavilion for lunch. He spoke very little during the meal, mostly relying on Consort Wen to carefully find topics to talk about, to which he only responded occasionally. However, Si Mianmian noticed that while eating, he would subtly move Consort Wen's favorite dishes in front of her. Although the movement was subtle, it did not escape Si Mianmian's eyes.
Survival Handbook Postscript: Observing details is the only way to see through people's hearts; true care is often hidden in unintentional actions.
After the meal, Si Jingjin rose to take his leave. Although Consort Wen was reluctant to part with him, she dared not linger. As she saw him to the courtyard gate, Si Jingjin paused slightly, without turning back, but her voice came clearly: "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), after the audience at the Imperial Study, accompany me to my mother's palace."
Si Mianmian was slightly taken aback, then realized that the words were directed at her. She looked up and saw only her brother's tall, cold back, as if the words she had just heard were just her imagination.
"Yes, Your Majesty," she replied softly.
Si Jingjin didn't linger any longer and strode away, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.
Once the oppressive aura had dissipated, Consort Wen finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Holding Si Mianmian's hand, tears welled up in her eyes: "Your imperial brother... he was protecting you just now! By asking you to go to Consort Liang's palace with him, he was telling everyone in the palace that you have a brother to protect you!"
Si Mianmian nestled beside her mother, gazing in the direction her brother had disappeared, a slight ripple stirring in her heart. She recalled how, during the meal, he had seemingly unintentionally pushed a pastry she had picked up a little too close to her; and his firm invitation as he left, clearly meant to support her.
This legendary, ruthless "living Yama" brother seems to be a complete... hypocritical sister-complex.
As night deepened, Si Mianmian sat alone by the window, her fingertips gently tapping on the windowpane. Si Jingjin's return was like a boulder thrown into the deep waters of the harem, bound to create ripples. He held a high position and wielded great power, deeply favored by the Emperor, making him undoubtedly the most powerful "ally" at this stage.
However, one must be extremely careful when dealing with a tiger. To win over such a deep-thinking and cold-hearted elder brother, simple "innocent" tricks are unlikely to work and may even provoke his resentment.
She needs to demonstrate enough value, or... awaken the frozen sibling bond deep within him.
Survival Handbook Revisited: The most brilliant strategy is to make the other person believe that they chose to protect you on their own.
A faint, genuine smile slowly curved Si Mianmian's lips. This journey through the deep palace seemed to have become more interesting because of her unexpectedly returned brother.
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