Where Was Her Fourth Brother?

After waking from a good sleep, An Yan felt much better.

When she thought about how she had actually accepted a younger sister last night, it felt a little unbelievable. After all, she knew nothing about this younger sister's background or personality and had agreed based on nothing more than a few inner thoughts.

What if she had some ulterior motive?

The moment that thought surfaced, even An Yan herself couldn't help laughing.

She had neither status nor abilities, while Jiang Nuan clearly came from a family that was either wealthy or noble. What could someone like that possibly want from her?

Besides, Jiang Nuan treated her better than her own blood relatives did. If Jiang Nuan wanted to use her, she was willing.

Having thought it through, An Yan was in excellent spirits. After washing up, she came out to find Jiang Nuan still bleary-eyed but forcing herself to get out of bed.

"Little sister, if you're still sleepy, why not sleep a little longer?"

An Yan had to work, whether she was in the countryside or at the Minister's Residence, and was already used to getting up at this hour. But Jiang Nuan had no reason to get up so early!

Jiang Nuan shook her head at An Yan and said, "I can't. I still have to attend court!"

Attend court?

An Yan was full of questions, but when she saw how swiftly Jiang Nuan moved despite her drowsiness, she didn't ask any more.

"Big sister, be good and stay here. Don't leave. I'll come find you once I'm done!"

After getting ready, Jiang Nuan gave An Yan those instructions.

An Yan nodded.

Once she arrived at court, Jiang Nuan sat on her own little stool, quietly serving as the mascot while enjoying some juicy gossip on the side.

At the sight of An Laiyun, she immediately gave a cold snort.

[Hmph, what a muddleheaded fool! Even after bringing his real daughter home, he still favored the fake one. Favoritism is one thing, but what was he thinking, letting the servants bully his real daughter? And on top of that, he's blind! He couldn't even see through such a petty little frame-up. If he doesn't need his eyes, he can donate them!]

Some of the ministers couldn't quite understand his actions either. Blood ties couldn't be severed, after all. Though he had raised the fake daughter for many years, he could simply give her a few things and send her on her way. How could he let the fake one trample all over the real one?

The more Jiang Nuan looked at him, the more irritated she became. She simply stopped looking and turned her gaze to Mao Qiantao instead.

[Host, host, he has some huge gossip too! After court yesterday, Great General Mao deliberately lingered in the palace for a while. Apparently, he was feeling uncomfortable down there, so he asked an imperial physician to examine him. As soon as the physician examined him, he diagnosed his inability to get a woman pregnant.

Based on when he was injured, it has already been more than twenty years. He now knows he's been made to wear a cuckold's green hat, and he's even caught the adulterer. But that concubine happened to have taken her two children to her parents' home, so last night he sent them a letter telling them to return.]

[Oh! In that case, won't there be a great show today? Too bad it won't be easy for me to sneak in and watch. Besides, I have something to do today.]

At that thought, Jiang Nuan felt rather disappointed—the disappointment of knowing some huge gossip was about to unfold yet being unable to enjoy it in person.

Hearing that inner thought, Mao Qiantao was quite pleased. Having something to do was good! The Ninth Princess had all sorts of wild, mischievous ideas. He absolutely couldn't let her get a taste of this gossip.

Finding no gossip to enjoy from Mao Qiantao, Jiang Nuan turned her gaze to the others.

Several men who had been about to step forward to report on matters froze mid-step, terrified that Jiang Nuan would dig up gossip about them.

But Jiang Nuan didn't dig into their gossip. Instead, she asked Guagua:

[Guagua, I've been reborn for so many days now. Why haven't I seen my fourth brother at all? Where is he? I miss him so much!]

The Fourth Prince, Jiang Yehua, was the brother Jiang Nuan cherished like white moonlight in the palace.

The only reason she had survived so long in her first life was her fourth brother's help.

Jiang Yehua valued affection more than anyone else in the imperial family. After learning how difficult Jiang Nuan's life in the palace was, he had wanted to ask Jiang Yunsheng to intervene. Unfortunately, Jiang Yunsheng's temper had been unpredictable at the time, and his health had been deteriorating by the day.

So he had quietly sent Jiang Nuan out of the palace himself and settled her in one of his private residences. He had done his best to give her the finest food, clothing, and everything else she needed. That period had been the happiest time of Jiang Nuan's life.

If some dumbass prince hadn't later taken the throne, discovered her existence, and tried to marry her off for a political alliance, she could easily have lived out her life peacefully under Jiang Yehua's arrangements.

Hearing her thoughts, Jiang Yunsheng felt a little jealous. Jiang Nuan had never said she missed him! All she ever did was call him a scumbag dad in her head.

Jiang Chengze's vinegar jar of jealousy had toppled over too. He was clearly Jiang Nuan's own full brother, yet he still couldn't measure up to Fourth Brother in her heart. Had he not given her enough gold ingots?

[The Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince went to deal with a band of mountain bandits along the route from the capital toward Jiangnan. They've finished dealing with them now. Judging by the timing, they should arrive tomorrow.]

[The Fifth Prince? That walking bad omen is there too? How annoying! Forget it. I'll ignore him for now and deal with him later! If Fourth Brother is coming tomorrow, I'll make some new dishes to welcome him back and wash away the dust of his journey!]

At the mention of the Fifth Prince, Jiang Nuan made no attempt to hide her disgust. This set the hearts of those at court who had secretly sided with him pounding like drums.

They wanted to hear more of Jiang Nuan's thoughts. Perhaps she hated the Fifth Prince so much that she didn't even want to mention him in her mind; whatever the reason, she never brought him up again.

Not only that, but Jiang Nuan had recalled some unpleasant memories and was now in a poor mood. She didn't even have the energy to enjoy gossip.

Seeing that Jiang Nuan had stopped digging up gossip for the moment, the ministers began presenting their reports one after another.

[Sigh, this is so boring! I want court to end! I want to leave the palace and find my big sister!]

Leave the palace to find her big sister? Since when had the Ninth Princess gained another older sister? As they recalled, the other princesses were still in the palace, weren't they?

The only people present who knew the truth were Jiang Yunsheng and his son Jiang Chengze. They glanced at the completely oblivious An Laiyun and shook their heads. He didn't even know his own daughter had been missing all night. He was utterly unfit to be a father.

Since that was the case, he couldn't blame them for competing with him for his daughter.

With the matters at court now settled, Jiang Yunsheng promptly dismissed the assembly.

Before that, however, he made a major announcement!

"Mindful that some ministers present must travel long distances and face considerable inconvenience attending court, I decree that henceforth morning court shall begin after the start of the hour of the dragon. My ministers, you may withdraw!"

"We thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace!"

[Hooray, hooray! Finally, I won't have to get up before dawn! Getting enough sleep every day is the secret to a long life!]

Hearing this, Jiang Nuan was delighted. She felt that her imperial father had finally done something decent for once.

Some pedantic old scholars wanted to remonstrate with Jiang Yunsheng, saying this violated ritual protocol. But just as they were about to speak, the ministers beside them sent dagger-like glares their way.

In the end, they could only lower their banners and silence their drums, accepting the matter.