Reluctantly Parting with What One Loves

Li Changle sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly said, “Third Sister, you must be confused. How could you forget what you gave him yourself?”

Li Weiyang’s clear black-and-white eyes showed a flicker of surprise. “Eldest Sister, the gift I sent Eldest Brother was an ink-green jade inkstone.” Her gaze fell on the handsome mandarin-duck purse at Li Minfeng’s waist. “Could Eldest Brother be talking about this purse?”

Li Minfeng’s expression changed. “Since Third Sister didn’t give it to me, I must have remembered wrong.”

Li Weiyang had already walked up to him. She suddenly pointed at the purse on his waist and exclaimed, “Oh! Isn’t this Ziyan’s purse?” Then she turned to Ziyan with a faintly amused smile. “Your embroidery is exactly like the Xiangqiao embroidery of the Second Miss of the Li family in Pingcheng: fine stitching and vivid colors. No one else in the Chancellor’s residence can embroider like this.”

Everyone was startled. Li Changru covered her mouth and exclaimed, “What’s going on? Why is Eldest Cousin carrying a purse made by a maid?!”

The Old Madam’s expression darkened. That maid had dared to secretly send a purse in her mistress’s name—she had some nerve!

Ziyan’s face went white. She dropped to her knees with a thud, trembling. “This servant... This servant only sent the purse because Third Miss told me to...”

Li Weiyang glanced at the purse and sighed. “If you and Eldest Brother are in love, you should have said so plainly. Why resort to secret schemes? I’m his younger sister. Even if I were to give him a purse, it should have a design of a roc soaring to great heights or a golden toad claiming the laurels. What does a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water mean?”

Ziyan finally understood. Third Miss had known all along that she would send Eldest Young Master a purse with a romantic design, and had been certain he would accept it. Yet Ziyan herself hadn’t noticed a thing and had fallen right into her trap! It was too late for regrets now.

Not only the Old Madam but even the First Madam looked displeased. Eldest Young Master wasn’t even married, yet he had taken a liking to Ziyan, the maid at his younger sister’s side. It was hard not to question his character. The First Madam said coldly, “Minfeng, you’ve gone too far! Do you just accept things from anyone?”...