Chapter Twelve: Homecoming

Xue Jingren patted Xue Fanzhi's shoulder with concern and said, “This family isn’t just ruled by those two. Don’t worry, I’ll catch Xue Jiaoyue and bring her back. She’s just a girl—she won’t get far.”

That was true.

Xue Fanzhi sighed. “But Mother won’t agree to it. Don’t force it, or you’ll end up being called unfilial!”

She didn’t want her brother’s reputation to be tarnished.

Xue Jingren replied, “I’ll catch her quietly. I have my people, don’t I?” He winked mischievously as he spoke.

Xue Fanzhi couldn’t help but laugh. Her brother was nearly eighteen, yet still so playful—of course, all for her sake.

Xue Jingren left to search for Xue Jiaoyue. Minglan cast a warning glance at Xie Shisan-niang, who was still watching the commotion.

Xie Shisan-niang said nothing.

She remarked, “You really are quite pitiful,” directed at Xue Fanzhi. After leaving this statement, she slipped away with her maid like a mouse.

Now only Minglan and Xue Fanzhi remained in the room.

Reflecting on all that had happened today, Xue Fanzhi felt a little embarrassed. “Princess, you must have found this quite a spectacle. Thank you for your help.”

“Ah!” Minglan waved it off, unconcerned. “No need for such formality. I’ve already told your mother—you’re my sister, and that’s that. From now on, I’ll look after you.”

It wasn’t really about needing someone to protect her. For someone who had been hurt by her own family, it was easy to doubt everything, but there would always be someone who could move her, proving that life still held its beauty.

Xue Fanzhi smiled sincerely, taking Minglan’s hand. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony, Minglan!”

Minglan laughed heartily, then said, “Your brother is a good man, but I’m afraid he may not be able to handle your mother. Let me take care of Xue Jiaoyue instead. If I catch her, I’ll send her away. Don’t worry, I won’t let her return to Jiankang; with her temperament, she’d just cause more trouble.”

Xue Fanzhi believed her brother would do as he promised, but with Minglan’s help, it was doubly assured.

She nodded. “Let me come with you.”

“You’ve been frightened enough. Sit and rest for now. Once we’ve found her, I’ll call you, and you can ride with my entourage back to Jiankang.”

After Minglan left, Xue Fanzhi sat down to drink some tea, thinking carefully about her relationships with her family in her previous life…

She couldn’t recall.

She didn’t know if it was because she had been too young or if it had simply been too long, or perhaps she really was a fool. She’d never been able to sort any of it out.

But she hadn’t been entirely oblivious.

She and Xue Jiaoyue were twins, but their father had always favored Xue Jiaoyue. Their mother, following their father’s lead, was only slightly less partial. In any case, their eyes rarely lingered on her—unless she had done something wrong. And most of her wrongdoings were taking the blame for Xue Jiaoyue’s misdeeds.

She hadn’t minded in her previous life. Her parents always called her stupid and dull, always saying she was lacking in one way or another. Eventually, she came to believe it herself. Xue Jiaoyue, on the other hand, was clever and lively, always knowing what to say to whom.

Since Xue Jiaoyue was so outstanding and she was so lacking, she convinced herself to always yield to her sister. It was only natural for parents to favor the more exceptional child.

She’d brainwashed herself into accepting this, and in time, it became a habit.

But looking back now, was she truly so lacking? Xue Fanzhi asked herself.

At the very least, she would never have done what Xue Jiaoyue did today—betraying her own twin. So Xue Jiaoyue was not better, but worse.

With this conviction, Xue Fanzhi no longer felt guilty about sending Xue Jiaoyue away. It was time to curb her sister’s ways—this life, she refused to live as a doormat.

In little more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Minglan returned, beaming. “All done. She’s been found. Your brother sent someone to take her back. Let’s get going.”

Xue Fanzhi stood and asked, “And my mother? Did she go with her or continue on with us?”

Minglan’s face darkened and her voice softened. “Your mother slapped your brother twice, then followed Xue Jiaoyue’s carriage back.”

“She’s your mother, after all. Both of you are her daughters. With things so unstable back home, it’s only natural she’s more worried about Xue Jiaoyue. Your brother said if she didn’t, your father would blame her.”

Minglan was trying to comfort her, urging her not to be sad.

But how could she not be? If it were her being sent back, her mother would never have followed.

Still, hadn’t she survived? And that was what mattered most.

Xue Fanzhi smiled at Minglan. “I think I’d better go back with my brother. I can’t go with you after all.”

She had a home, an elder brother—she couldn’t rely on outsiders, especially since the Xue family in Jiankang was still a large clan.

Minglan understood, taking Xue Fanzhi’s hand as they walked outside together. “What does it matter? We’re all headed in the same direction anyway.”

Yes, they had all withdrawn from the north. Minglan and Xiao Yi had likely been sent as imperial escorts. Their destination was the same—Jiankang!

…

The mountains undulated, green waters flowed gently, and the Huai River wound like a jade belt through towns dotted with pavilions and towers. The ornately carved boats were like treasures set upon jade. The natural scenery of Jiankang was beautiful and pleasing; raised in the north, Xue Fanzhi had never seen such gentle, graceful landscapes. It was a world apart from the grandeur and boldness of the north.

She remembered that, in her past life, as soon as she arrived, she’d insisted her brother take her out on a boat. He’d looked at her with a sympathetic gaze, as if to say, “You’re so full of trouble and yet have not a care in the world!”

Indeed, after half a month’s journey, they had finally reached Jiankang.

Naturally, Xue Fanzhi traveled with her brother Xue Jingren. During the journey, Minglan would sometimes visit her carriage with treats, but she did not see Xiao Yi or Wenxian again after that day.

At sixteen, Xue Fanzhi had married Xiao Yi, after which she had lived in the imperial palace, always together unless he was away at war. Such long separations had been hard for her at first, but time eased the pain.

Now, as they entered Jiankang, Xue Jingren whispered in her ear, “We’re almost home!”

Returning to familiar places, seeing the familiar scenery, everything felt like a dream. Xue Fanzhi wondered if her past life had really happened at all.

“Master, you’re back? The Old Madam is waiting for you at home. It’s nothing good, so be careful.”

The familiar voice and words pulled Xue Fanzhi from her reverie. Her past life had truly existed, for this was the voice of Wang Quan, the page of Cheng Ye.

The Cheng and Xue families lived next door. In their youth, Cheng Ye and her brother had been close, always coming to the Xue household.

There had been an episode like this in her previous life as well. She’d asked her brother to take her boating, but Cheng Ye had sent a page with a message that their grandmother wanted them home. It was all because of her damaged reputation—someone had tattled, and her grandmother wanted to punish her. Later, it turned out to be rumors, so the punishment was dropped, but she was still told to go out less.

This time, with Minglan’s protection, there was no trouble with her reputation, yet her grandmother was still urgently summoning them, and from Wang Quan’s tone, it didn’t sound like good news.

Xue Fanzhi lifted the curtain of the carriage and asked her brother, who was riding beside her, “What do you think it could be?”

Her brother shook his head. “We’ll only know when we get there.”