Song Xuan and Song Qian headed home in high spirits, carrying the gifts they had bought on the street.
But as they stepped through the main gate, two sturdy older serving women stationed there barred their way.
Song Xuan took a step back and looked around before confirming once again that, yes, this really was his home.
"Who are you?"
Before Song Xuan could speak, the two serving women spoke first, eyeing the siblings warily.
"Who are you, and what are you doing at our house?"
Song Qian had no patience for them. She tossed her bundle to the ground, grabbed one woman in each hand, and pinned them both to the ground.
"Qianqian!"
Hearing the commotion, their father, Song Yuanshan, hurried over and barked, "Stop this nonsense! Is that any way to treat guests?"
"Guests?"
Song Qian released the two women and glared at them. "These are guests? What kind of guests block the doorway and refuse to let their hosts inside?"
The two serving women scrambled to their feet, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Song Qian.
This little girl with the fiery temper looked slender and willowy. Who could have imagined she was so strong? Both sturdy women had been pinned down like helpless chicks, unable to fight back at all.
Just then, a soft, delicate voice rang out from the courtyard, like golden pearls falling onto a jade plate. "I failed to discipline them properly, and they offended my cousins. Please accept Daiyu's apology..."
Song Xuan turned to look. At the corner of the courtyard stood a young girl in a pale blue-green, cloud-patterned gown with a front opening. Her eyes were lowered and brimming with tears as she bowed repeatedly to him and Song Qian.
At that moment, Song Xuan's head buzzed, filled with a single question: What the hell kind of world did I transmigrate into?
Wasn't this supposed to be a crossover wuxia world? How had little Lin Daiyu shown up too, so delicate that she seemed to need the wind's support, as frail and beautiful as the ailing Xi Shi?
"Oh dear, what happened here?"
Their mother, Song Linshi, hurried over, took the girl in blue-green by the hand, and comforted her. "It was only a little misunderstanding. Why are you crying, child?"
"Mom, who is she?"
Song Qian had no fondness for this fragile little girl. Crying the moment trouble arose-going by what her brother used to say about certain scheming women, wasn't that a classic fake innocent?
"She's your younger cousin!"
Their mother glared at Song Qian. "Look at you! You're so grown up, yet you still blunder around so carelessly all day. If you had even half of Daiyu's gentleness, I wouldn't have to worry about your marriage every waking moment!"
With that, Song Linshi ignored the fuming Song Qian, took the girl's arm, and led her toward the inner quarters.
"Come, Daiyu. It's getting late. Your aunt will show you the room we've prepared. Stay here tonight, and tomorrow I'll have your cousins take you back."
"Yes, I'll leave everything to you, Aunt." The girl's soft, fragile voice only stirred Song Linshi's affection further.
The two serving women cast embarrassed glances at Song Qian, bowed to Song Yuanshan, and hurried after them.
Only after they were out of sight did Song Qian round on her father, her cheeks puffed with anger. "Dad, what is going on? Since when did I have another cousin?"
Song Yuanshan scratched his head. "I'm not entirely sure either. She's a relative on your mother's side, probably from the same clan. A distant relation, I imagine. Your mother never mentioned her before; they only got in touch recently."
"Well..."
Song Xuan gave a light cough and asked curiously, "So, this cousin's name is Lin Daiyu?"
"Yes, that's her name!"
Song Yuanshan gave Song Xuan a meaningful look. "She'll be fifteen this year. A little younger than you, but the gap isn't that big. Not bad, eh?"
Song Xuan chuckled twice without answering. "I'm tired. I'm going back to my room to rest!"
Seeing her brother go inside, Song Qian quickly stopped their father. "Dad, tell me the truth. Did you and Mom arrange this? Did you bring some distant cousin here specifically to set her up with my brother?"
Song Yuanshan first gave a sheepish smile, then spread his hands and came clean. "Yes, that's exactly the idea!"
With that, he clasped his hands behind his back, turned away, and left humming a little tune.
Song Qian refused to let him go. She pestered him for an explanation until, at last, he had no choice but to tell her everything he knew in detail.
Creeeak~~
Song Qian pushed open her brother's door.
Song Xuan was sitting in a chair drinking tea. When he saw her enter, he huffed. "Don't you know how to knock? Out. Knock first!"
Song Qian pursed her lips, but obediently went outside and shut the door. Then came three knocks.
"Brother, are you there? I need to talk to you!"
"I'm asleep. Tell me tomorrow!"
"Hmph!"
Song Qian shoved the door open with an angry huff. "Brother, I really do need to talk to you!"
Song Xuan sipped his tea while sorting through the gains from this assignment. He had another pile of silver now-where would be a good place to hide it?
"Brother, I got the details. This little cousin of ours is a distant relative of Mom's."
"Oh? And?"
"Our cousin lost her mother when she was little, and her father spends years away serving as an official. She's lived with her maternal grandmother since childhood, under someone else's roof. That's made her rather peculiar and sensitive."
As she spoke, Song Qian picked up a cup and poured herself some tea. "She started crying the moment we met, so I thought she was putting on an innocent act. But considering her background and temperament, it doesn't really seem like she was faking."
Song Xuan merely said, "Oh."
"That's all you have to say?" Song Qian stared at him. "Brother, don't tell me you can't see what Mom and Dad are getting at. How do you feel about our little cousin?
"Dad said Mom first got in touch with her two years ago. She's naturally bright, a talented girl with a real gift for poetry. Mom and Dad have practically worried themselves to pieces over your marriage."
Song Xuan set down his teacup and said seriously, "She's too young. I couldn't bring myself to do it!"
"Pfft!"
Unable to hold it in, Song Qian sprayed out a mouthful of tea. After wiping her mouth, she covered it and laughed. "Brother, what is wrong with you? Our little cousin looks so tender you could squeeze water out of her, and you're still not satisfied?"
Song Xuan waved a hand. "That's not what I meant. She really is too young."
After all, he had been an adult in his twenties in his previous life. Adding the years he had lived in this one, his mental age across his two lives was over forty.
A man with the mind of a forty-year-old, paired with a girl who wasn't even fifteen-never mind marriage, even dating her would have felt sinful.
Seeing that Song Qian was still pondering his meaning, Song Xuan stood and headed for the door.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To find Lu Xiaoliu. Lately, it's been either traveling or killing people. I'm a little worn out, so I'm going to listen to some songs at the pleasure house and unwind."
"The pleasure house again!"
Song Qian hurried over, pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve, and placed it in his hand. "Brother, our family has money now. You can't keep letting other people pay.
"If you don't intend to marry Xiaoliu's second sister, don't keep owing him favors!"
Before you continue