Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 364: The Battle Within the Inner Chambers
The sunlight was warm and golden, flooding the capital in a radiant glow. The once-bustling streets were gradually quieting down, as the crowds dispersed and people returned to their homes, still savoring the grand spectacle of the top scholar’s triumphant parade.
“Hehe… Who would have thought, brother-in-law looked quite dashing on horseback today,” the Sixth Young Miss of the Marquis’s household said airily as they made their way back toward the rear courtyard.
At her words, Li Shu pursed her delicate lips and waved a hand with a coquettish little huff. “Dashing, you say? Hmph. He looked more like a boiled toad than a handsome scholar.”
Her teasing remark drew laughter from the other young ladies walking with them toward the inner courtyard.
“Pfft… Fifth Sister, really now,” the Second Young Miss chuckled, her laughter like the tinkling of silver bells. “How can you make such jokes? Calling your future husband a boiled toad—oh heavens! He’s the zhuangyuan lang, the top scholar in all the land! Do you know how many women envy you? Didn’t you see the crowd today? Even the well-bred young ladies forgot their decorum when they saw him pass. You must cherish your good fortune.”
As she spoke, the Second Young Miss gently clasped Li Shu’s hand, her tone full of sisterly affection and gentle advice.
“Hmph! A smelly toad—what’s there to cherish? Whoever wants him can have him!” Li Shu turned her head away in mock defiance, her rosy lips pouting adorably. The white-swan earrings dangling from her soft pink earlobes swayed lightly with her movements, catching the sunlight in a dazzling shimmer.
A girl calling him a toad while wearing swans upon her ears—what an amusing contradiction…
“Now, now, Sister,” another young lady said with a teasing smile, her slender brows arched like willow leaves, “you shouldn’t talk that way. We women must still rely on our menfolk for our livelihood. Remember, there are no eternal Diao Chans, nor immortal Xi Shis in this world.”
The sisters glided along the path in their flowing silk gowns, sleeves fluttering, laughter mingling with the sound of rustling fabric. The air was filled with warmth and intimacy, the easy closeness of family. Behind them trailed the maids and older attendants, walking a respectful distance away as the lively group made its way toward the rear court.
Meanwhile, Zhu Ping’an had just returned to his guest quarters when several visitors arrived one after another, leaving him no chance to rest. Even the Marquis of Linhuai himself deigned to come, offering a few words of advice about official conduct.
In short, he told Zhu Ping’an to observe more and speak less, for the more one says, the more mistakes one makes; the less one says, the fewer errors there will be; and if one says nothing at all, one cannot be wrong. Before departing, the Marquis added that Zhu Ping’an should seize any opportunity to become closer to the Yan family.
After the Marquis left, gifts began to arrive in steady succession. The Old Madam, the First Madam, and the Second Madam each sent their congratulations—fine inkstones, gilded brushes made from wolf hair… and of course, the customary red envelopes.
Zhu Ping’an expressed his gratitude to each sender in turn, rewarding the messengers modestly. Though the amounts were not large, the servants went away smiling, pleased to have been remembered.
When the stream of visitors finally ebbed, quiet returned to the guest room. Zhu Ping’an changed out of his ceremonial robes into plain clothes, intending at last to rest. But before long, more footsteps sounded outside.
“Hehe… I caught Gong’er sneaking away to avoid his lessons, so I’ve brought him here to Brother-in-law.”
The Sixth Young Miss entered with a cheerful smile. Her round, rosy face framed a pair of mischievous dimples, and when she laughed, two small tiger teeth peeked out adorably. In one slender jade-like hand, she held the pudgy hand of a little boy—her younger brother, the mischievous heir—looking every bit the image of a caring elder sister.
She had changed into a new gown, similar in style to the one Li Shu had worn earlier that morning, though tailored a touch more closely to her figure. A tassel hung from her waist, swaying with each graceful step, accentuating the gentle curve of her body—a perfect blend of ladylike grace and youthful allure.
“I just wanted to take a nap before coming…” the boy muttered his protest, puffing up his cheeks. Sixth Sister could really be unreasonable—dragging him out of bed in the middle of his nap!
“Hush now, you naughty thing,” she scolded softly, crouching down to stroke his chubby cheek with a hand as fair as snow. “Be good and study with Brother-in-law. He’s the top scholar, you know.”
Because she had crouched down directly in front of Zhu Ping’an, her neckline dipped slightly, revealing a glimpse of pale skin—a graceful neck and the delicate curve of her collarbone glowing faintly in the afternoon light.
“Brother-in-law, you’ll be checking Gong’er’s lessons today, won’t you?”
When she lifted her head to speak, more of that soft, white skin was visible. With a natural motion, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a red “carp-leaping-the-dragon-gate” earring that sparkled like a tiny flame.
Her long lashes fluttered as she looked up, her round face glowing with youth, a touch of rouge upon her lips. Her large, limpid eyes shimmered with girlish playfulness, and the faintest hint of perfume lingered between her soft breaths.
Pure, innocent… yet irresistibly charming.
For a man unfamiliar with women, such a scene would have been utterly disarming. Even a seasoned libertine from the pleasure quarters might have found his composure shaken.
But Zhu Ping’an—he had seen countless such faces before, though only through the sterile glow of a computer screen. Teachers, flight attendants, next-door girls… In the modern world of short skirts and bare shoulders, the Sixth Young Miss’s modest display was almost quaint. A glimpse of the neck—hardly scandalous at all.
Thus, to him, her unconscious allure was nothing remarkable. His expression didn’t so much as flicker, as if he were merely watching the sunrise—an everyday occurrence.
“Yes,” Zhu Ping’an said simply, nodding before lowering his gaze to search through the stack of papers containing the boy’s assignments.
He didn’t even blink!
The Sixth Young Miss bit her lower lip faintly. Not enough, is it? she thought. Lowering her gaze, she began to scheme. She already had several plans in mind—ways to make her rustic brother-in-law remember her.
Then let’s see how proud that Fifth Sister remains! A country bumpkin like her—how could she ever be fit to become the wife of the imperial top scholar?
“Broth—”
She had barely begun to speak when her voice faltered abruptly. For standing before her was none other than that “country bumpkin” herself—Fifth Sister, Li Shu.
A flush of guilt rushed to her cheeks. Her breath quickened; even her slender frame trembled slightly.
Li Shu stood there with a pleasant smile, her jet-black eyes glinting with amusement as they swept up and down her younger sister. Her gaze paused briefly at the Sixth Miss’s collar, and the corners of her lips curved upward.
“Why… Sister, what’s wrong? Your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?” Li Shu’s voice was soft, teasingly sweet, yet her eyes gleamed with playful mischief.
“Ahem… perhaps I caught a chill while accompanying you earlier,” the Sixth Miss replied, covering her lips with an embroidered handkerchief as she gave two dainty coughs.
“Oh my, you caught a chill? You should be resting in your chamber, dear Sister,” Li Shu said with mock concern, her eyes flickering slyly. “You must take better care of yourself. What brings you here in such a state?”
“Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister. It’s nothing serious,” the Sixth Miss answered with a gentle smile. “I merely found Gong’er being naughty outside, and since Father has often said he should study under Brother-in-law, I brought him here myself. Also, I thought it rude to come empty-handed, so I had the maid prepare some sweet soup for them—something to soothe the throat after studying.”
Her voice was soft and honeyed, her smile serene—like a portrait of gentle sisterly virtue.
“Is that so? How thoughtful of you,” Li Shu replied sweetly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “You know, I have quite the weakness for sweets myself. Perhaps, dear Sister, you might ask your maid to send a bowl to my courtyard as well, so that I may taste this lovely dessert?”
“Why, of course, Sister,” the Sixth Miss said with a demure smile, half-hiding her lips behind her handkerchief. “I had already planned to send a portion to each of you—only, I thought it better to wait until you had rested from your outing.”
“Then I must thank you, Sister,” Li Shu said, smiling gracefully. But within her dark eyes, a fleeting spark of cold light flashed and was gone.