Jun Huailang sat in the main hall with Madam Jun, feeling somewhat amused and helpless.
Madam Jun had always been meticulous about etiquette and unflustered in the face of danger. The bearing of a well-bred noblewoman was etched into her very bones. Even when someone provoked her and made her furious, she would never allow herself to behave improperly in the slightest, and it was even rarer to see anger on her face.
But now, as she sat in the hall, her lips were pressed into a tight line.
A servant came in from the gate to report that Prince Guangling had indeed arrived and, just as expected, had been left outside. They had not let him in.
Jun Huailang looked at Madam Jun.
She gave a cold snort, then turned to look at him.
“What are you looking at me for?” she asked displeasedly. “Your mother has shut him outside the gate, and you feel sorry for him?”
Jun Huailang smiled helplessly and simply said that he did not.
Madam Jun turned her head away with a sharp movement.
“If this is enough to frighten him off, then I suppose his feelings aren’t all that sincere.” She placed her hands on her knees and clenched her skirt tightly, glaring at the empty doorway. “In that case, let him give up early and go home to be a good Crown Prince, or a good emperor. Even if he makes things difficult for the Duke’s residence because of this in the future, that will only prove his character is poor. We certainly have nothing to fear from him!”
Madam Jun spoke with such righteous indignation that it seemed she had already prepared herself for the possibility that Xue Yan would make things difficult for the Duke’s residence and force their entire family to struggle to get by in Chang’an.
Jun Huailang wanted nothing more than to laugh, but pressed his lips together and held it in.
His mother had a soft heart. She was not angry that he and Xue Yan had developed a relationship that went against worldly conventions. Rather, she felt sorry for him and feared that he might have trusted the wrong person and would suffer humiliation as a result.
Jun Huailang felt an indescribable warmth stirring within him. At the same time, he understood that his mother was not completely opposed to their relationship. She was simply still uneasy and wanted to test Xue Yan’s character.
At this point, there was naturally no way Jun Huailang could intervene.
The gatekeeper withdrew, but before long, he hurried back again.
“Madam, Prince Guangling has knocked on the gate again,” he reported.
Madam Jun gave another cold snort. “What does he want?”
The gatekeeper replied, “Prince Guangling asked this humble servant to pass on a message to you. He said he knows why you’re angry. He asks you not to worry and says he’ll wait outside the gate. Whenever you’re willing to see him, just send word.”
It was almost as though the person standing outside was not Prince Guangling, the man who would inherit the imperial throne, but some low-ranking soldier who could be summoned at a moment’s notice.
…It certainly sounded like something Xue Yan would say.
Jun Huailang lowered his eyes, concealing the helpless smile on his lips.
Madam Jun shot him a glance and said indignantly, “If he wants to wait, who’s going to stop him? Let him wait, then. Why does he need to send messages?”
The gatekeeper acknowledged her words and withdrew once more.
Jun Huailang poured a cup of tea for Madam Jun, but she did not take it. He simply set it down beside her and sat quietly with her without saying another word.
Before long, Jun Linghuan woke from her nap. After getting dressed and tidying herself up, she came searching for them, rubbing her eyes.
When she entered the hall, she greeted Jun Huailang and Madam Jun. Madam Jun responded perfunctorily and beckoned her to sit beside her.
Jun Linghuan was a clever little girl. She immediately sensed that something was amiss with the atmosphere in the hall.
She picked up a piece of pastry and began eating, her eyes darting back and forth as she studied Jun Huailang and Madam Jun. But Madam Jun remained silent, while Jun Huailang merely smiled and asked her a few questions. Neither of them explained why Madam Jun was unhappy.
Before long, Jun Linghuan could no longer contain her curiosity.
She edged closer to Madam Jun and asked in a small voice, “Why is Mother unhappy?”
Madam Jun looked at her.
Then she pulled her into her arms.
“There’s a big gray wolf outside the gate,” she told Jun Linghuan. “It’s come to carry your older brother away.”
Madam Jun’s words startled Jun Linghuan.
She had no idea why there would be a wolf in Chang’an, but since her mother had said there was one, then there must be.
The wolf wanted to carry her older brother away, and Jun Linghuan grew nervous.
However, Madam Jun told her that the big gray wolf had already been shut outside the gate and could not get in. Jun Linghuan breathed a sigh of relief, but then she remembered that the streets were full of people coming and going. She wondered whether the big gray wolf might get hungry and eat someone passing by.
Jun Linghuan began worrying again.
But Madam Jun assured her that there was no need to worry. That big gray wolf had been attracted by her older brother, so it would only carry him away. It would not eat anyone else.
Only then did Jun Linghuan finally relax.
Since the gray wolf wanted to eat only her older brother and no one else, all they had to do was protect him. The gates and walls of their home were so tall that no matter how formidable the wolf was, it would never be able to leap inside.
——
The “big wolf” in question was currently standing outside the Duke of Yongning’s residence.
With matters having reached this point, what else was there for him to misunderstand? Duan Shisi had helped the Duke’s residence considerably the day before. Given Madam Jun’s attitude toward him now, there could only be one explanation.
Jun Huailang must have told the Duchess everything about their relationship as soon as he returned home.
Thus, although Xue Yan had been given a hearty helping of rejection at the gate, he was not the least bit angry. When the servant slammed the main gate shut in his face, he showed no sign of displeasure. Instead, the corners of his lips curled upward.
Jinbao could not make sense of it. “Your Highness, why are you smiling?”
Xue Yan could not be bothered to explain.
Jun Huailang was willing to tell his parents about their relationship. That meant he had truly taken Xue Yan to heart and genuinely wanted to be with him for the long haul. If Xue Yan wanted to marry Jun Huailang and bring him home, he was bound to face rejection from the Jun family sooner or later.
He was not afraid of being turned away. In fact, he would have been more worried if he had never gotten the chance to be turned away at all.
Xue Yan raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and knocked on the gate himself.
The gatekeeper naturally had no desire to open it for him. Unfortunately, Prince Guangling had a powerful hand and was exceptionally persistent. After knocking for a while, the gatekeeper could take it no longer and finally opened the gate.
“Your Highness, please return home,” the gatekeeper said, opening the main gate only a narrow crack. “This servant is merely following orders. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Xue Yan, however, remained perfectly composed. He merely told the man to go inside and deliver a message to Madam Jun: he would wait here until she was willing to see him.
He was not asking them to let him in. He only wanted the man to pass along a message. Surely that much… surely that much should be allowed.
The gatekeeper agreed and closed the gate again.
Once it was shut, Jinbao was left utterly dumbfounded.
“Master?”
He knew his master’s temper all too well. Xue Yan had always been ill-tempered and impatient. Even during the most difficult days two years ago, he had never gone out of his way to endure humiliation like this.
Xue Yan glanced at him.
Jinbao froze. His mind took a moment to catch up, and he assumed that Xue Yan was simply waiting here like a fool because he wanted to see Jun Huailang.
“Master… if all else fails, why don’t you climb over the wall and take a look inside?” Jinbao suggested. “This servant will keep watch for you.”
After all, a wall like this was no more difficult for his master to cross than a stretch of flat ground.
Xue Yan impatiently turned his gaze away, not even bothering to respond.
Jinbao stared at him for a moment before finally understanding. He covered his mouth and began to snicker.
Was his master really going out of his way to suffer humiliation and be turned away at the gate?
No. This was not a bad thing at all. It was a good thing.
This was a son-in-law coming to call on his future in-laws!
And when a son-in-law came to call, how could he possibly climb over the wall? He had to get through the mother-in-law’s test first. Only then would he be able to enter through the main gate with ease every single time in the future.
——
Jun Huailang accompanied his mother in the hall throughout the morning.
Over the past year or so, Jun Linghuan had made considerable progress in practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Though, to be precise, her progress was not so much in her actual results as in her enthusiasm.
She seemed to have been born without much talent for these pursuits. Whether it was embroidery, calligraphy, or painting, she was interested in all of them, yet no matter how hard she practiced, she simply could not get any better. Only the zither came naturally to her. She had learned it almost immediately and displayed a remarkable talent for it.
Madam Jun indulged her. As long as Linghuan wanted to learn something, she never restricted her, nor did she impose any particular expectations on her.
This only made Linghuan more enthusiastic.
That morning, Linghuan dragged Jun Huailang along to show him her handwriting and paintings.
During the past year or so, Jun Huailang had already received quite a few of Linghuan’s paintings while he was in Jiangnan. However, he had never actually watched her paint one in person.
Her technique had not improved in the slightest, but she made up for it with her enthusiasm. Neither Jun Huailang nor Madam Jun wanted to dampen her spirits, so they even offered her a few words of encouragement from time to time.
In this way, time passed quickly.
As Jun Huailang kept his little sister company, he also discreetly observed his mother’s expression.
Madam Jun did indeed seem somewhat distracted.
The weather in Chang’an was lovely that day. The sun shone brightly, and not a single cloud could be seen in the sky. The main gate of the Duke of Yongning’s residence faced the sun, and as it climbed higher, the area outside grew increasingly hot.
Jun Huailang felt a little concerned, though he knew Xue Yan was not someone who would be troubled by such things.
Madam Jun, on the other hand, was becoming more and more restless.
By the time the sun was high in the sky and the morning was well underway, she could no longer sit still.
“Go outside and see whether there’s a carriage at the gate,” she said, trying to sound casual.
The maid beside her hurried out to check.
After a while, she returned.
“Reporting to Madam, there is no carriage,” she said.
Madam Jun paused, and her expression immediately darkened.
But the maid continued, “However, His Highness Prince Guangling is still standing outside the gate with his servants.”
Madam Jun’s expression froze for a moment. She said nothing.
The maid waited a little longer. When Madam Jun still did not speak, she cautiously asked, “Then, Madam…?”
Madam Jun gritted her teeth.
“Didn’t I already say that if he wants to wait, let him? What does it matter whether he’s sitting in a carriage or standing outside?”
The maid had no choice but to acknowledge her words and retreat to one side.
Jun Huailang looked at Madam Jun and saw her silently grinding her teeth in frustration.
A smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
For a moment, he failed to hide it, and Madam Jun happened to catch him.
She glared at him. Jun Huailang cleared his throat and straightened his posture, pressing his lips together.
Seeing their exchange, Jun Linghuan asked in confusion, “Older Brother, what’s wrong?”
Jun Huailang raised a hand and gently patted the top of her head. “Nothing. Keep painting, Linghuan.”
Jun Linghuan obediently nodded.
By now, Madam Jun had completely lost the ability to concentrate.
She kept glancing at the sunlight outside the window, growing more distracted by the moment.
At last, noon arrived.
The kitchen was always punctual, especially since Madam Jun had given instructions well in advance. When the time came, a servant reported that lunch was ready and invited Madam Jun and the young master and young lady to dine.
Jun Linghuan cheered, put down her paintbrush, and looked eagerly at her mother and older brother.
Madam Jun gave a quiet snort.
“What’s the point of standing at the gate? Even if he stands there for a year or half a year, I still won’t want to see him.”
As she spoke, she rose to her feet.
Jun Huailang stood up with her.
He watched as Madam Jun turned and walked toward the door, issuing instructions to the servants beside her as she went.
“Go and check the gate.”
The maid immediately acknowledged the order.
Then Madam Jun continued, “If he’s still standing there, let him come in and have a meal. Once he’s finished eating, tell him to leave promptly. Standing in the sun on an empty stomach—what if people think our Duke of Yongning’s residence is bullying him?”