Winter Sun - Chapter 3

7.

The excitement came quickly.

Only two days after the silver was delivered to my second brother’s residence, my sixth brother sent invitations. He said he wanted to see what beastfolk could do and invited my ninth sister and me to bring Shen Huai’an and He Yan to a hunt at Deer Ridge in half a month.

He called it a small gathering among siblings.

But when we arrived, the envoy from Dongyu was there too.

I didn’t know what the envoy had said to him, but my sixth brother, Song Yanchuan, suddenly smiled and proposed a contest.

“Third Sister, Ninth Sister, I hear beastfolk are skilled hunters. Why not let them compete in the woods?”

“As it happens, I recently acquired a red coral hair ornament worth a fortune. I’ll offer it as the prize. Whoever wins can have it. What do you think?”

I had little interest.

A coral hair ornament was hardly anything special. I had plenty at home. Why go to all this trouble?

But the suggestion seemed to suit He Yan perfectly.

Before my sister could agree, he stepped forward and accepted, then challenged Shen Huai’an.

“Let’s see who can bring down the largest, fiercest beast within two hours. How about it?”

Though he addressed Shen Huai’an, his gaze kept straying toward me. His peach-blossom eyes were deep and unreadable. Who knew what he was plotting?

I had seen that expression once in my previous life.

It was the one he wore while whispering sweet words to me, just before he burned down my residence.

The unpleasant memory soured my mood.

I turned to Shen Huai’an, my tone already impatient.

“Hunting is dangerous. If you don’t want to go, don’t.”

“No one gets to force someone of mine to do something against his will.”

He Yan froze.

Then his face darkened.

He glared at Shen Huai’an through gritted teeth, his eyes burning.

“I hear your snakefolk are weak and cowardly, spending their days in dark gutters. Are you frightened? Too afraid to compete with me?”

But Shen Huai’an was entirely unmoved.

His eyes rested on me, his expression as cool and composed as ever.

“Your Highness, I’m not afraid.”

“Red suits you. I want to win it for you too.”

8.

Shen Huai’an and He Yan rode into the woods.

My second brother and fifth brother were persuaded to follow, leaving only my ninth sister, me, and our sixth brother Song Yanchuan, who claimed a headache after a few too many drinks.

“You’re lucky, Third Sister. Both those beastfolk seem terribly attentive to you.”

My sister covered her lips, smiling impishly.

Song Yanchuan came closer too.

“You’re very protective of that snake, Third Sister.”

“Though of course you are. You’ve always favored your own…”

There was a barb in his words.

The reason was not hard to guess.

He simply knew I was secretly sending money to our second brother.

My mother’s family, the Su family, was the wealthiest in Dayun.

When I was fifteen, my grandfather handed me full control of the shops lining three streets in Pinglan.

I had a fair talent for business.

In only five years, I doubled their income and persuaded Father to establish a Maritime Trade Office, opening trade routes with Beiluan, Nanzhao, and several other countries.

But I was lazy.

Once my people could shoulder the responsibility, I stopped concerning myself with the details.

I merely checked the accounts once a month and had some silver sent secretly to my second brother.

My mother had died early. The people in the palace looked down on her merchant family, so my childhood there had not been particularly pleasant.

My second brother and Consort Yu were kind. They had sheltered me for a time.

So I was happy to send them money each month to make their lives a little easier.

In my previous life, Song Yanchuan had also organized a lively polo match like today’s gathering.

It had taken place two months before the fire at my residence.

Then, as now, he had spoken in insinuations.

He had even done precisely what he was doing at this moment: leaned toward my ear and quietly asked for money.

“Third Sister, you’ve been running those shops for years. You must have sent our second brother quite a fortune.”

“We’re all your siblings. You shouldn’t favor one over another. Don’t you agree, Ninth Sister?”

He wanted to draw her onto his side.

But just as in my previous life, she refused to take the bait.

“It’s Third Sister’s own money. She can give it to whomever she likes. Sixth Brother, holding out your hand like this makes you no different from a beggar in the street.”

“You are a prince. Have some shame…”

At the word “beggar,” she even covered her mouth and nose with her handkerchief.

Her disgust was plain.

Song Yanchuan took the rebuke without anger. He merely smiled at me.

“What do you say, Third Sister?”

The scene, so like the one from my previous life, sent a chill through me.

After glancing at his apparently gentle smile, I looked away, leaned lazily against the table, and lifted my wine cup.

I drained it. Then, looking in the direction He Yan and the others had gone, I slowly smiled.

“Sixth Brother, don’t you usually despise me for reeking of merchants’ money?”

“Ninth Sister is right. Keep a little dignity for yourself.”