"Fifth Sister wasn't even close to you to begin with, Third Brother. Best not to trouble her."
From behind came a calm voice, belonging to a tall and broad-shouldered youth—solid in build, though not overly imposing.
Without sparing Yun Chuhe a glance, he turned to Yun Shu and offered her a polite, even warm smile.
"In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much. This must be your first Autumn Hunt, yes? If anything feels unfamiliar, don't hesitate to ask your Eldest Brother for help."
"Ah. So this was the Eldest Prince—Yun Chuyi—the one who was planning to stir up trouble during the hunt."
Yun Shu responded with a graceful nod.
"Many thanks, Eldest Imperial Brother."
The words had barely left her lips when a low chuckle drifted over on the breeze—mocking, aloof.
Startled, Yun Shu turned her gaze and met the cold, elegant eyes of a young man clad in a robe bearing a four-clawed python emblem. His expression brimmed with noble arrogance.
He locked eyes with her for a beat, then shifted his gaze lazily toward Yun Chuyi. Still, his next words were clearly aimed at her.
"Your Eldest Brother isn't exactly known for being considerate. What help could he possibly offer?"
"Those are amusing words, Your Highness," Yun Chuyi replied smoothly. "But caring for younger siblings is precisely what we elder brothers ought to do."
"Even if one isn't naturally inclined, one can always try."
With practiced ease, the Eldest Prince squared off with the Crown Prince once more.
"Your Highness is burdened with matters of state and likely views such trivial concerns with disdain. That we understand."
"But if you will neither assist Fifth Sister yourself nor allow her to seek help elsewhere, does that not strike you as a bit excessive?"
Yun Shu: "…"
Must they argue right here?
Why not go bicker somewhere else?
Being caught between the two of them was incredibly annoying.
Yun Shu was under no illusions. She wasn't some adored center of attention or beloved younger sister.
There was only one reason the Crown Prince, the Eldest Prince, and the Third Prince had suddenly taken an interest in her today.
It was the same reason behind the feather quills, the printing techniques, and the rise of the Capital Weekly. Add to that the Emperor's recent favor, and they now saw her as a potential asset worth drawing in.
But she had no interest in choosing sides.
As Yun Chuyi and the Crown Prince locked horns again, Yun Shu seized the opportunity to quietly slip away a few steps—only to find herself face-to-face with a boy standing several paces off, his demeanor calm and refined.
He gave her a slight nod in greeting.
"Fifth Sister."
"…Fourth Imperial Brother."
Yun Shu returned the gesture with equal simplicity.
As they passed one another, she couldn't help letting out a soft sigh in her heart.
Unlike the others, who would one day tear each other apart for the throne, this Fourth Prince was the only one who showed no interest in power.
The original book had described him as upright, courteous, and rigidly principled—to the point of being an old-fashioned moralist.
After Yun Chuhuan ascended the throne, it was this very Fourth Prince who had dared to openly rebuke the new emperor in court, condemning his cruelty in full detail.
Yun Chuhuan, furious, ordered him dragged out and executed—cut in two at the waist.
Truly ruthless.
Still mulling over that grim fate, Yun Shu reached Yun Chuhuan's carriage. The younger version of the future emperor peeked out, eyes bright with excitement.
Yun Shu's mouth twitched.
"You're not with your Consort Mother?"
"Consort Mother is still with Father Emperor. She'll be along in a bit!"
Yun Chuhuan leaned forward, peeking over Yun Shu's shoulder toward the group of princes behind her. He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial whisper.
"Fifth Sister, are you close with Second Brother the Crown Prince too?"
"Does that seem likely to you?"
In the Tian Sheng Dynasty, princes were allowed to establish their own households once they turned fifteen. The original Yun Shu had been all but invisible in the palace.
Yun Chuyi had moved out of the palace five years ago. Naturally, there had been no interaction.
The Crown Prince still resided in the Eastern Palace, but it was a long way from both Fengyang Palace and the Grand Preceptor's Hall. Given his habit of looking down on everyone equally, he certainly wouldn't have gone out of his way to meet her.
Yun Chuhe had established his own residence a year ago. Again, no connection.
The only one who had ever shared a study hall with her was the Fourth Prince. He had only recently moved out of the palace.
But with his personality, they had never gotten along.
Yun Chuhuan ran through all that in his head, then beamed brightly.
"Yeah, I didn't think so either!"
While they chatted, Emperor Xuanwu finally arrived at the palace gates, accompanied by the Empress, Noble Consort Liu, and others.
Yun Shu quickly slipped into the crowd and joined the chorus of greetings.
"Long live Father Emperor. Long live the Empress."
"You may rise."
Emperor Xuanwu had donned military attire for the journey ahead, giving him a more commanding presence than usual. Even his tone felt less like that of a sovereign and more like a seasoned general.
He and his entourage took their place near the front of the procession, while the consorts drifted toward their carriages.
"Consort Mother!"
Seeing Noble Consort Liu approaching, Yun Chuhuan rushed to greet her. Yun Shu followed with a polite curtsy.
"Peace and health to Noble Consort Liu."
"You must be Shu'er."
Noble Consort Liu's striking features softened with a smile.
The famed beauty from the original book—still every bit the elegant, willful lady she had always been—was surprisingly kind when it came to Yun Shu, especially given her son's affection for the girl.
"This past month, Huan'er hasn't stopped talking about you. I'm glad to finally meet you in person."
"That Capital Weekly of yours—I quite enjoy it, you know. I've even saved a couple issues to read on the road, so I won't be too bored on the way."
"Sixth Brother mentioned that you especially like the serialized stories, Noble Consort Liu…"
Yun Shu tilted her head slightly and extended her hand. Behind her, Ting Xue promptly stepped forward and placed a small booklet in her palm.
"I fear I may trouble you on this trip, so I put together something just for you. It's a story I haven't published in the weekly yet. I hope it pleases you."
"You're too thoughtful!"
Noble Consort Liu, often idle within the inner palace, was not just being polite. She genuinely loved the Capital Weekly, especially the ongoing tale of a useless young lady rising through the ranks of cultivation.
Each installment had her hooked.
If Huan'er hadn't warned her that his Fifth Sister had a habit of procrastinating and wrote everything at the last moment with no drafts to spare, she might have already sent him to sneak the next chapters out of Fengyang Palace.
Now, seeing Yun Shu hand over a never-before-published story, her eyes lit up in delight.
"Oh, don't worry about troubling me. In fact, I hope you trouble me like this more often."