Engagement

Young Miss Yun Le made these sachets herself. Disregarding if that is a lie Yun Le told her brother, how did she manage to gather those herbs? That sachet is a slow poison that manipulates the mind and has other no life-endangering effects. Xuan Yi does not know if Yun Le knows that this is not enough to kill anyone but by giving this to her brother, it is not with good intentions.

"Is there something wrong?" Young Master Yun asked Xuan Yi after seeing that she did not reply for a while. Xuan Yi snapped out of her thoughts as she turned around and faced him.

"Nothing, just that Xuan Yi has never heard Young Miss mention this." Xuan Yi randomly found a reasonable excuse and went back to his side. As she refilled the tea inside Young Master Yun's teacup, she continued to ponder on her newly acquired information.

After waiting for a while, Xuan Yi finally heard her Young Miss's light footsteps near the entrance of the courtyard accompanied by another set of heavier footsteps. Putting down the antique teapot onto the table, she went forward to open the door.

"You are back, Young Miss." Xuan Yi put on an innocent smile and greeted the returning couple.

Young Miss Yun patted her maidservant's head softly as though praising a child well done.

Xuan Yi grinned before moving to take her Young Miss's coat and hung it on the hanger before pouring some tea for both Young Miss Yun and Young Master Ma who have sat down with Young Master Yun.

"Brother, what brings you here?" Yun Le was so happy about the small date they had in the gardens that she forgot about her fiance's and her brother's relationship.

"After you and Young Master Ma left the main hall, Father told me something important and I thought that you should know about it too." Young Master Yun's face was grim.

Yun Le saw how tensed her brother is and glanced at her fiance. Yun Qi saw that and waved his hands, "Young Master Ma will become my brother-in-law in the future, he should know about this matter before outsiders do."

Young Master Ma flinched at the way Yun Qi addressed him. Although what Yun Qi said is true, Young Master Ma's heart clenched tightly at his words. It hurts whenever he hears these words, even more so when they come from Yun Qi himself. Young Master Ma clenched his fists tightly before he unclenched them as he remembers where he is.

"Brother, what did Father tell you?" Yun Le was oblivious to her fiance's tension as she was more worried about her brother.

"Le er, Young Master Ma, I am to be engaged." Yun Qi announced in a solemn tone. Xuan Yi almost dropped the teapot she was carrying when she heard what Yun Qi said. Yun Le and Young Master Ma had similar reactions.

"Who is the lucky young miss?" Yun Le quickly asked while Young Master Ma, Young Master Ma, was too shocked to react. He sat there with his eyes wide as he tried to process what he had just heard.

"It is the daughter of the first wife of a third rank official from the capital. Father and that official had been friends for a long time and they met up once recently. I was with Father when we made a business trip to the capital a few months back and they had a meal together. That official bought his daughter of the first wife along and we had a pleasant meal together." Yun Qi tried his best to ignore Young Master Ma's stare and kept his voice steady.

"How is the young miss like?" Yun Le is not one to care about status and wealth. If they want to talk about wealth, merchants are naturally richer than officials. Father Yun and Mother Yun had raised their children not to be influenced by status and money. What is most important is the heart.

"She is gentle and kind, a little timid though. Father told me his friend wanted his beloved daughter to live freely and comfortably. That Young Miss seems to like me as well which is why they contacted Father. I have accepted the proposal," Yun Qi answered his sister with a pampering smile. The siblings seem to have forgotten Young Master Ma as they continued their pleasant conversation.

Young Master Ma's mind was in a mess. He had forgotten that Yun Qi is the sole heir of the Yun Family. There is bound to be ladies pursuing him but he has never accepted any of their advances, no matter how noble their status is. Is it because of the old friendship between the heads of both families?

"Why?" Young Master Ma's sudden question interrupted the siblings' conversation and they looked at each other before Yun Qi answered.

"What do you mean why?" Yun Qi retorted.

"Why did you accept the proposal?" Young Master Ma gritted his teeth as he asked again with more clarity.

"Because this is good for both families," Yun Qi answered shortly. He knew that was not the answer Young Master Ma wanted but there is no other way. He has dragged this affair on for too long. It is time to throw away these feelings and make everyone happy.

"What about you?" Young Master Ma's hands were clenched tightly on his teacup.

"I… This is a good arrangement for everyone and I have nothing against it." Yun Qi answered decisively. He had made up his mind before coming to his younger sister's courtyard. He will reject all of Young Master Ma's advances and stop secretly meeting him behind everyone's back. This time, he shall conform to the social rules.

"I am asking about you. Not other people's happiness. Are you truly happy about this engagement?" Young Master Ma stared at Yun Qi as though willing him to say that he is not. That he wants to break off this engagement and that he was forced by his father. That he wants to run away with him. But Yun Qi said nothing of these.

Instead, he said "I am happy about this. What's there not to be happy about?"

Hearing that directly from the person, Young Master Ma slammed the teacup onto the table. Without a word, he flicked his sleeves and stormed out of the Yun household.

Yun Le watched as her fiance walked away angrily and did not stop him or followed him. Even if she did try to stop him, he would not listen to her. She cannot follow him when he is walking out so quickly so she gave up. Instead, she turned towards her brother with an apologetic look.

"I am not sure why he is acting like this but please do not take offense against him, brother." Yun Le lowered her eyelashes in embarrassment. Seriously, can't Young Master Ma act properly for once? Showing this behavior in front of her and her brother, what exactly is he trying to do?

"Do not worry, younger sister. How could I take any offense?" Yun Qi laughed as he patted her head.

After they exchanged some pleasantries, Yun Qi returned to his own courtyard for the night. Xuan Yi did not speak a word the entire time and silently helped her Young Miss prepare for bed. After extinguishing the last candle, Xuan Yi returned to the servant rooms located behind the main building in the courtyard.

Closing the door behind her, Xuan Yi quickly changed her clothes and slipped into her bed. Closing her eyes, she focused.

In the dark and quiet room, only Xuan Yi's soft breathing could be heard. If someone were to walk into her room, they would only see the maidservant of the young miss sleeping. They would not be able to see that Xuan Yi had lifted her conscious from her body and is currently floating towards Yun Le's room. Her conscious is strong enough to retain her form and appearance but humans cannot see her.

Remembering the sachet, she quickly mumbled a spell to hide her presence. There might be a chance where Yun Le is not a human and she would be able to see her. Sensing the spell taking effect, Xuan Yi drifted towards Yun Le's inner chambers.

In this form, physical objects do not obstruct her. So she could just drift through the door and enter Yun Le's room. As she expected, her young miss did not sleep. She was sitting up on her bed, searching for something. Xuan Yi eyed her for a while and could see her young miss's eyes were a little crazed.

"Sachet, where is the sachet? Mistress will kill me if I lost the sachet, where is it?" Yun Le muttered repeatedly as she searched frantically. She had gotten ready for bed and was going to close her eyes when she felt that something was missing. The familiar scent of the sachet!

Xuan Yi tilted her head as she watched Yun Le search for her sachet desperately. She had heard what Yun Le said and was curious about the identity of her mistress. Xuan Yi went to the edge of the bed and placed the sachet near the foot of the bed as if the sachet had just fallen off the bed.

If what she said was true then Xuan Yi has to return her sachet. She needs her alive for this play to continue. After being on the floor for a while, the scent managed to catch Yun Le's attention and she glanced over. Happiness radiated from her as she picked it up and dusted it before placing it under her pillow sleeve. Just as she was about to slip into her bed, a frosty voice suddenly sounded outside her window.

"Let me in," it was a woman's voice and Xuan Yi raised her eyebrow at the sudden night visit. Yun Le immediately went to open her windows to let the mysterious woman in before closing it.

"Why did you come?" Yun Le asked with a frown. "Aren't you afraid that people will see you?"