The young girl curled up on the soft chaise, hugging a plush blanket as she softly called him "Brother." Her silky black hair draped over the side of her neck, revealing a small section of fair skin. Her almond-shaped eyes, sparkling like a dark spring, held a hint of uncertainty as she looked at him.
It was as if she was uneasy, unsure if she had overstepped her bounds the first time she tried to manipulate someone with her thoughts, seeking approval and reassurance.
Xiao Yan's gaze softened, the coldness in his eyes dissipating. “You did very well.”
Tang Ning’s face lit up with sudden joy. “Really?”
When he nodded, her eyes curved like crescent moons, gaining confidence as she straightened her back.
“I just think that the Lu family won’t be easy to deal with. The engagement between Lu Zhixian and me has been set for years, and it was decreed by the Empress. If I break off the engagement without a solid reason, they’ll undoubtedly entangle themselves in the matter and won’t easily allow a blemish on Lu Zhixian’s reputation.”
“And then there’s the Song family. I don’t trust anyone in the Song family, and I’m afraid they might join forces with the Lu family and use their authority as elders to pressure me. So, if I want to break off the engagement, I must first sever ties with the Song family. Otherwise, if I’m caught between the two, I’ll be the only one left with a ruined reputation.”
Xiao Yan spoke gently, “Your thoughts are correct. Confronting the Lu family now would not be wise.”
With his encouragement, Tang Ning’s earlier unease immediately vanished. She wasn’t a particularly scheming person; although she had some education and a basic understanding of principles, she hadn’t become more astute just because she had been reborn. She could only rely on her familiarity with Lu Zhixian’s character and what she knew about the Song family to come up with the most comprehensive plan for the current situation.
Since her brother said she did the right thing, her worries were eased. In a soft voice, she said, “Brother, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
“I don’t have any subordinates, so it’s not easy for me to investigate Song Shulan’s background. After the recent commotion, I’m afraid Third Uncle and the others will try to cover up her origins, trying to pass off her bloodline as my father’s. I want to ask you to help me investigate her background and what happened before she entered the capital.”
Xiao Yan did not refuse. “I heard from Cang Lang that you’ve already asked Princess Cheng for help.”
“My aunt has lived in the inner quarters for a long time, and her people can handle ordinary matters, but to investigate the Song family, we need Prince Cheng to take action.” Tang Ning’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. “I don’t trust Prince Cheng.”
“Then do you trust me?”
“You’re my brother…”
“But we’re only sworn siblings. How do you know my feelings for you are genuine?”
Tang Ning was stunned by his question.
Xiao Yan’s voice wasn’t harsh, but his words made her face turn pale.
“We’ve only known each other for two or three days, and my stories about Aunt Xue are just one-sided accounts. After such a short time together, how do you know I’m different from your eldest brother? How do you know I didn’t make up everything I told you just to gain your trust?”
“The dragon-pattern jade…”
“You were unconscious for a night before waking up, and your clothes were already changed. Naturally, your belongings couldn’t be hidden. If I wanted to deceive you, I could have found any token, no matter how difficult.”
Xiao Yan looked at the naive girl in front of him, who trusted others too easily and had no guile.
“Earlier on the mountain, you revealed your identity. You should have heard about the rivalry between me and the aristocratic families. Over the matter of grain embezzlement, we’ve already crossed swords, with bloodshed on both sides. It wouldn’t be surprising for me to use any means necessary against them.”
“How do you know that I didn’t protect you for the sake of the Song family, or that I didn’t get close to you and acknowledge you as my sworn sister for the sake of the Lu family, with whom you’re engaged?”
“If I gained your trust, perhaps it was just to use you to scheme against them.”
Seeing Tang Ning’s face turn deathly pale, her mouth slightly agape in helplessness, Xiao Yan felt a bit of pity but still continued:
“Do you realize that if I uncover anything about the Song family, I’ll be able to control them with the leverage of that illegitimate daughter? By holding this over Song Hong and the entire Song Marquis Household, and if I truly wanted to deal with the Lu family, just your engagement alone could turn the Lu family upside down, using you as a weapon to peel away their flesh.”
“Tang Ning, very few people in this world have no ulterior motives, especially when there’s something to gain from you. Trusting too easily will only lead to suffering.”
He spoke gently, but his words hit her like thunder.
Song Tang Ning bit her lip, feeling exposed and ashamed as if her façade had been torn away.
In her previous life, she had been too trusting, which led to her downfall—years of miserable existence, unable to live or die, until she was finally skinned and drained of her very essence. In this new life, she should have learned her lesson and shouldn’t trust others so easily.
But…
“Brother is different.”
Xiao Yan is different. She could feel the difference in how he treated her compared to Song Jin Xiu and the others. She could tell whether he bore ill will toward her.
If he were truly as he said, would he have exposed his own shortcomings to warn her?
“Brother is different, I know that,” Tang Ning insisted.
Xiao Yan wanted to say, “What do you know? How do you know I’m not just exceptionally good at pretending and deceiving people?” But when he saw the redness around her eyes and the tears brimming at the corners, he swallowed his words.
Forget it. She’s just a sheltered flower, raised under a roof. How could she be expected to have deep thoughts?
Xiao Yan handed Tang Ning a silk handkerchief. When she turned her head away, lowering her eyelashes as if she were sulking from being wronged, he said:
“You’ve been at a disadvantage dealing with the Song family; you should learn how to protect yourself. While I may be different from others, you should still be cautious. Otherwise, if I ever wanted to harm you, wouldn’t you be in danger?”
Tang Ning kept her head down and remained silent.
Xiao Yan sighed softly and took the handkerchief back. “Alright, I’ll help you investigate the Song family. Don’t be upset. What would you like for dinner?”
When she didn’t respond, he patiently continued,
“Yesterday, the estate sent over a lamb, about five or six months old. The meat is tender and fresh without much of the gamey taste. Madam Qin said your injuries are minor, and it wouldn’t hurt to eat some.”
“I’ll have them prepare a hotpot tonight, with some vegetables and other things. Or would you prefer something else? Perhaps a fish soup or noodle soup—it’s good for your health.”
His tone was deliberately softened, still cool and composed, but with a hint of coaxing.
Tang Ning felt utterly defeated by herself. Even though she knew she hadn’t handled things well and that Xiao Yan was teaching her—patiently explaining things she had never been taught about how to interact with others and be wary of them—she still felt deeply aggrieved.
Now, with him lowering himself to comfort her, this usually stern and unapproachable person suddenly seemed more human. Her eyes reddened further, and after a long pause, she mumbled,
“I want lamb hotpot.”
Then, after a moment, she looked up and added,
“Brother, eat with me.”
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, seeing her red-rimmed eyes but still stubborn. He suddenly smiled, “Alright, I’ll eat with you.”
After all, he was there to protect her.
Let the child be a little spoiled.
Whoever dares to stretch out his claws towards her will be plucked out
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You can read ahead to chapterr 60 here
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