Su Siyuan pouted, "That's not necessarily true."
"You little brat, you've really gone too far," Su Qingtian said, swatting him on the head. He then looked up at Zhou Wanyou, "You'er, we're back."
Zhou Wanyou's gaze fell on the hands of the large and small figures holding each other, and she smiled faintly, "Welcome home."
The other two brothers exchanged glances, both seeing understanding in each other's eyes.
This was Su Yunmo's first reunion dinner since entering the General's Mansion.
The meal was unusually harmonious.
Occasionally, Su Sizhuo would complain about Bai Qi's nagging, subtly hinting at Su Yunmo.
Or Su Siyuan would be lectured by Su Siqi for some recent mischief.
It was lively, in its own way.
After dinner, Su Yunmo returned to her room. The sky outside had already completely darkened. After a moment's thought, she decided to go to bed.
Ye Jingyu needed to recover from his injuries, so it was best not to disturb him at this hour.
She made up her mind and did not go out that night. The next morning, after breakfast, she had Ziyuan prepare the carriage to go to the Prince Yu's Mansion.
The Prince Yu's Mansion was quiet from top to bottom today.
Qianxue, upon learning that Su Yunmo had arrived, came out to greet her, her face etched with a worry she never usually showed.
"Where is he?"
Qianxue paused for a moment before replying, "His Highness is busy with some matters in the study. If the young lady has anything important to convey, perhaps you could tell me? I can help relay your message?"
Su Yunmo's steps towards the study faltered. She frowned, "He's not resting and recovering, what is he messing with now?"
Although it was only a superficial wound, he had only recently recovered from a serious injury two months ago. Even the strongest body couldn't withstand such strain.
Qianxue was surprised, "How does the young lady know His Highness was injured?"
Su Yunmo was even more astonished by Qianxue's question.
Qianxue reacted first, "His Highness went to your place the night before last?"
After leaving the palace, His Highness had suddenly left using his Qinggong on the way back.
It was raining that night, and His Highness was somewhat disoriented. Qianxue and her men searched for him all night but found no trace, almost scaring them to death. She never expected His Highness to have gone to the General's Mansion.
This was truly strange, as His Highness was most wary of others when injured or sick, sometimes not even allowing himself to get close.
"Otherwise, who do you think bandaged his wounds?" Su Yunmo asked, crossing her arms.
Then she frowned, "Never mind that, I didn't come to talk about this today. What's the deal with his injuries?"
Ye Jingyu was no pushover. The whip marks clearly indicated that he had willingly accepted the punishment at the time. Who had the ability to make him obediently accept such a penalty?
Seeing that Su Yunmo already knew about her master's injuries, Qianxue no longer concealed it, only offering a helpless wry smile, "It was Consort Jin, from the Empress's side, who struck him."
What the young lady saw were only whip marks. The grievances His Highness had suffered over the years were far more than these.
A sharp glint flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes, and she understood.
The Empress was his adoptive mother, so scolding and punishing him was within reason.
He was not favored, and the Emperor paid him no mind, so others naturally dared not interfere.
Moreover, Consort Liang was in the cold palace. If the Empress held Ye Jingyu as a hostage, it would be impossible for him to openly resist.
Qianxue continued, "I believe the young lady has heard about His Highness's relationship with the Empress. I don't need to say more. The Empress's anger this time is likely due to the matters concerning the Zhao family and the Ministry of Revenue."
Su Yunmo sneered.
Ye Jingyu had always been cautious in his actions, offering her only half-truths. It was impossible for Ye Jingcheng to find any evidence against him in these two matters.
"So, the Empress struck him based on mere suspicion, without any concrete evidence?"
Of course, it was more than that. The more important reason was likely related to you.
Qianxue dared not voice these words, only offering a wry smile, "If the Empress wishes to punish someone, the reason doesn't matter."
His Highness had endured this for years and was already accustomed to it.
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Although she had been engaged to Ye Jingcheng before, they had not yet formally betrothed. She had never met this Empress, only hearing from outsiders that she was a virtuous Empress who embodied the dignity of the imperial consort.
Now, it seemed, she was putting on a good show of her reputation!
A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
"When did Ye Jingyu's anorexia begin?"
Qianxue was startled. As if recalling something, she was about to reply when her expression suddenly changed. She pursed her lips, swallowing her words, and quickly lowered her head.
Ye Jingyu's somewhat displeased voice came from behind.
"When did this illness of mine begin? Does it affect your medication?"
Qianxue looked up at Su Yunmo with a hint of nervousness.
Su Yunmo's eyes moved slightly. She turned around and shrugged at him.
"Of course, it does. If you've had this illness since birth, it might be incurable. I'd be better off quitting early to avoid ruining my reputation."
Ye Jingyu let out a cold snort and looked her up and down, assessing her height. "You're not even as tall as a signboard. It doesn't make much difference whether it's ruined or not."
Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief as she watched them bicker.
"Come in," Ye Jingyu said, heading towards the bedroom.
Su Yunmo also followed him in.
Qianxue paused at the doorway and closed the door behind them.
Su Yunmo leaned against the inner doorframe, arms crossed, and raised an eyebrow playfully, "What are you waiting for? Take them off."
Ye Jingyu's eyelids twitched. He cast a less-than-approving glance at her, but still began to undress, layer by layer, revealing his well-built back.
A dark light flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes.
The candlelight had been too dim that night to see clearly. Now, in the bright room, she discovered that his injuries were even more severe than she had initially seen.
Besides the numerous whip marks and torn flesh, if one looked closely, they would notice other faded scars on his body.
These scars, if not for the passage of many years, would not have been layered like this, with new and old overlapping.
Su Yunmo herself had similar marks and was not unfamiliar with them.
The only difference was that Ye Jingyu's scars were more pronounced than hers, indicating how difficult his life had been under the Empress's control over the years.
This explained why he was so cautious in his actions, meticulously planning every step.
"Have you seen enough?" the young man on the bed asked impatiently.
Su Yunmo whistled and walked over with a flippant tone, "Opportunities to see you in such a sorry state are rare. Since I can look openly, I might as well take my time. That way, I won't be at a loss."
Ye Jingyu sat on the bed, half-pulling his clothes together, showing no signs of embarrassment. "That's true. After all, I'm different from you. Your skinny frame isn't much to look at."
Su Yunmo's mouth twitched. Holding the medicine bottle, she poked his wound with her finger as a form of retaliation.
Ye Jingyu let out a muffled groan, gritting his teeth, and glared at Su Yunmo as if annoyed.
From this angle, the young man's eyelashes were very long. When he was angry, his sharp brows furrowed, giving him a hint of his immaturity, making one recall that he was only ten years old.
However, his chiseled face exuded an innate arrogance and self-possession, making one overlook his age. Beneath his mature demeanor was a tall yet not rough physique.
His healthy wheat-colored skin showcased his martial arts training. From his neck to his chest, there was not an ounce of excess fat. He was like an eagle soaring high in the sky, a divine majesty bestowed by heaven.