Chapter 24 — She Changed
Everyone in the Su family tacitly accepted the closeness between Princess Xiuning and Su Zhan.
Xue Ning turned her head slightly and saw that Su Zhan really had stopped walking.
The young princess, dressed in a crimson jacket and skirt, stepped lightly to the man’s side, bright and lovely as a blossom.
Standing together, they looked perfectly matched—handsome man, beautiful woman, as though made for each other.
“The weather’s been so cold these past few days. I’ve been stuck indoors the whole time,” Princess Xiuning said softly. “I was thinking of borrowing a book from Brother Heir’s study.”
“Of course. What would you like to read?”
“Brother Heir… do you have any storybooks?”
Su Zhan’s cool brows drew together faintly. As the youngest Vice Minister of Justice in the empire, his study was filled with official texts and case records—where would he keep the idle romance novels young ladies liked?
Princess Xiuning realized immediately. Her face flushed scarlet, delicate as a flower in bloom.
“Then… when you return tomorrow, could you buy a few for me from the book market? The popular ones girls are all reading lately.”
His voice remained calm and distant, yet unexpectedly patient.
“Mm.”
Su Zhan stood only a short distance behind her while Princess Xiuning spoke to him in that intimate, coquettish tone.
Listening to them, Xue Ning suddenly remembered that years ago, she had wanted to read storybooks too.
No matter how much she begged, he had never agreed to bring her one.
But now, for Princess Xiuning, he accepted without hesitation.
That alone was enough to show how differently he treated her.
After all, Princess Xiuning was someone he cherished.
Xue Ning was only an outsider raised under the Su family roof.
“Ah Ning, should I ask Brother Heir to bring some for you too?”
Xue Ning paused, caught off guard that Princess Xiuning had suddenly addressed her.
Back then, things like this would have left her heartsick.
But now, thinking about it again… it no longer seemed like such a big deal.
“No need.” Xue Ning smiled gently and shook her head. “I’m not interested in those.”
Su Zhan gave her a long, unreadable look.
As expected.
Still the same little liar.
Princess Xiuning tugged at Su Zhan’s sleeve playfully. “Brother Heir, buy a few extra copies. Let the girls in the manor read them too.”
Xue Ning wasn’t blind to Su Zhan’s dislike of her. She had no desire to linger around them any longer.
She left the hall early, took the green bamboo umbrella handed to her by one of the old maids, and plunged headfirst into the wind and snow.
“Ah Ning—”
Even Su Mai calling after her from behind failed to reach her ears.
“…Why were you calling her?”
Su Yu stood lazily beneath the corridor, sleeves of his dark-blue robe gathered loosely in his hands, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.
Su Mai halted and turned back. Pressing his lips together slightly, he revealed a mild, honest-looking smile—the very image of a good younger brother.
Su Yu glanced at him coldly. Deep down, he had always looked down on the third branch of the family.
“Grandmother still has questions for you. She told you to go back.”
Su Mai replied respectfully, “Then I’ll return first. Elder Brother, Second Brother, take care on the way back.”
Su Yu gave a lazy hum before turning toward Su Zhan, who had remained silent the entire time beneath the corridor.
“What are you looking at, Brother?”
Su Zhan narrowed his deep-set eyes slightly.
In his mind echoed the words Xue Ning had spoken to their grandmother earlier.
His gaze followed the girl’s retreating figure disappearing gradually into the snowy distance. Only after a long moment did he withdraw his eyes.
“Nothing.”
Su Yu stepped closer. “I’ll walk back with you.”
Su Zhan merely flicked him a glance, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Naturally, Su Yu shamelessly followed behind him anyway.
A thick layer of fresh snow blanketed the stone path.
As the two brothers walked across it, soft crunching sounds followed each step.
The northern wind howled fiercely. Snow lashed against their faces like knives.
“This Xue Ning…” Su Yu smacked his lips thoughtfully. “She’s seemed a little different lately.”
Before, how could she possibly have left first at a time like this?
She would’ve clung around their elder brother for as long as possible, desperate to please him before finally leaving.
But now she had walked away without even turning her head back.
That decisiveness almost made people see her in a new light.
Su Zhan’s interest stirred faintly.
“What’s different?”
“Just a feeling,” Su Yu replied. “Didn’t she used to linger around your Mingyue Pavilion all the time? But these past few days, I haven’t seen her there once.”
Su Zhan’s steps slowed.
He suddenly remembered what happened today at Zhen State Temple—the way the girl had cried while accusing him through her tears.
Truthfully, he hadn’t taken either her tears or her words to heart.
Ever since childhood, Xue Ning had always been timid.
Whenever Su Qing and the others mocked her a little, her eyes would redden instantly.
Even when the sisters fought, she never won.
Every time, she would come looking for him in utter disarray, hair messy and eyes swollen from crying.
His temperament had always been harsh. He despised weakness like hers and treated her severely because of it.
There had even been times he made her sit outside his corridor for an entire day as punishment.
Yet never once had she complained.
The moment she saw him emerge, she would perk up immediately, brows curving as she smiled at him carefully and timidly—like a tiny stray kitten begging for affection.
Xue Ning had always seemed soft and easy to bully.
At least, that was what he had always believed.
But today, on the carriage ride back to the city—
She had fallen asleep leaning against Baochan.
After she drifted off, her body tilted unconsciously toward him.
Since he had made her cry, he thought he might indulge her for once.
But the instant his hand touched her, her whole body tensed like a drawn bowstring. Her small hands pushed desperately against him, trying to force him away.
Had he not quietly tightened his grip, she probably wouldn’t even have stayed obediently in his arms.
Later, whether from a nightmare or something else, tears kept slipping silently from the corners of her eyes.
She had looked heartbreakingly sad.
If it had been another man beside her, he would probably have lost his senses at the sight of that fragile, vulnerable expression.
At the end of the day, Xue Ning really did know how to use that face of hers—
and those pitiful eyes.
“It’s all an act.”
Su Zhan let out a quiet laugh and continued walking forward.
“I don’t think so,” Su Yu said. “The old her would never have dared speak to Grandmother like that.”
Xue Ning’s behavior today truly had been surprising.
Su Zhan’s handsome brows lowered slightly. Snowflakes clung to his thick lashes, making the sharp contours of his face appear even colder, more imposing.
He rarely smiled to begin with. Against that pale complexion, there was always an oppressive chill about him.
Su Yu’s tone unconsciously became less casual.
Still smiling, he added, “Though she’s still the same in one regard—completely obsessed with seducing you, Brother.”
After leaving Wanshou Hall, the two brothers headed all the way back toward Mingyue Pavilion.
Once inside the study, Su Zhan pinched the bridge of his nose.
“This time, I did upset her.” He spoke calmly. “Mobai, send a gift to Qiyun Pavilion later.”
Su Yu frowned immediately. “Brother, why are you treating her so well?”
Su Zhan answered unhurriedly, “She was raised in the Marquis Manor after all. One day, she’ll marry representing the household. With her looks, she’ll certainly be useful to the manor.”
Only then did Su Yu suddenly understand, his gaze darkening slightly.
No wonder Grandmother disliked daughters of military families so much, yet still allowed Madam Jiang to raise Xue Ning within the estate.
So this had been their intention all along.
Outside, the night was pitch-black, filled with the endless howl of wind and snow.
Inside the small boudoir, a thick candle burned quietly.
The flame flickered once, spreading warm amber light through the room and illuminating the worn cloak hanging from the rosewood rack.
Baochan had already dried it over the brazier.
The fabric was rough, pale green in color, poorly made, patched in several places—yet thick and warm, layered with sturdy cloth. It carried a faint scent of pinewood, much like that wandering young man in blue robes.
Though he looked poor and weatherworn, there was still something strangely refined and noble about him.
After bathing, Xue Ning stepped out from the washroom. Her gaze landed on the cloak, and the corners of her lips curved faintly.
“Is it dry now?
