Chapter 111: A Difficult Dilemma

Jiang Caiping tilted her head and stared at Yunyi, suddenly clapping her hands in realization. “I understand now! Sister, you… you really like Second Master!” Though she had previously teased Yunyi about Li Shimin, it was all in jest. She never expected… to actually be right.

“I don’t!” Yunyi exclaimed passionately. “I do not like Li Shimin, and I absolutely will not like him. Stop saying such nonsense!”

Jiang Caiping didn’t notice Yunyi’s agitation, assuming she was simply too shy to admit it. With a serious expression, she said, “I’m not making things up. Back home, I once saw my cousin when she saw the man she liked—her expression was exactly like yours right now!”

Yunyi glared at her with an almost ferocious intensity, her voice sharp. “I do not like Li Shimin, and I never will! Never bring this up again—not a single word, do you hear me?!”

Jiang Caiping had never seen her in such a terrifying state and was momentarily stunned. After a long silence, she timidly replied, “But…”

“Answer me!” Yunyi’s words startled Jiang Caiping, who whispered fearfully, “I… I heard you.”

For a long while afterward, neither spoke. One was still grappling with turbulent emotions, while the other was too frightened to utter a word. Finally, as sounds from outside reached them, Jiang Caiping cautiously said, “Then… I’ll go to the accounts office first. Sister, take care on your way.”

After Jiang Caiping left, Yunyi sank to the floor, covering her face. A faint, nearly imperceptible tear slipped through her fingers…

By the time Yunyi stepped out of the room, her composure had returned, and no trace of her earlier distress remained. As she was about to cross the towering red threshold of the governor’s residence, a voice called out to her. Turning back, she saw Chuyi, the young servant who usually attended to Li Shimin. He was holding something over a foot tall, wrapped in cloth, so its contents were hidden from view.

With a calm demeanor, Yunyi asked, “Is there something you need?”

Chuyi extended the object toward her, panting slightly as he spoke. “This is from Second Master. He asked me to give it to you—I’m glad I caught up in time.”

Yunyi eyed it curiously. “What is it?”

After catching his breath, Chuyi smiled. “Take off the cloth and see for yourself. Second Master forbade me from explaining.”

Yunyi hesitated before reaching out to remove the cloth, revealing a small winter plum tree. Yes, what Chuyi held was a potted plant—but instead of the usual pine, cypress, or holly, it was a winter plum, identical to those in the rear garden, only much smaller. Its golden, honey-like petals bloomed vibrantly in the breeze, exuding a delicate fragrance.

“Second Master knew Miss Meixue likes winter plums, so he specially ordered the estate’s gardener to search for a potted one. The gardener only managed to find it today. As soon as it arrived, Second Master sent me to deliver it to you, saying you could take it home to admire.”

Yunyi gently touched the tender petals of the plum blossoms, her tone icy. “Thank you for Second Master’s kindness, but I cannot accept such a valuable gift without merit. I truly cannot accept it.”

Chuyi was utterly shocked that she would reject his master’s gift and stood frozen in place. Only when he saw Yunyi preparing to leave did he snap out of it and hurriedly chase after her, stammering, “Miss Meixue, if you don’t accept it, I’ll have a hard time explaining to Second Master.”

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t accept it. Please take it back.” With that, Yunyi turned and walked out of the gate, ignoring Chuyi’s repeated calls and never stopping.

“What a strange person!” Seeing that she truly wouldn’t accept the potted plant, Chuyi had no choice but to carry the winter plum back. As he approached the entrance of Jingji Pavilion, he encountered Li Shimin, who noticed the untouched plum blossom in his hands. “You couldn’t catch up with her?”

“I did catch up,” Chuyi replied, bewildered, “but Miss Meixue flatly refused to accept it, no matter how much I tried to persuade her. So I had to bring it back.”

“She refused?” Li Shimin was astonished.

Chuyi nodded. “Yes, she said something about not accepting unearned favors. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t take it.” Gesturing to the plum blossom, he asked hesitantly, “Second Master, what should we do with this?”

Li Shimin was about to respond when Liu Xia approached quickly and bowed. “Second Master, Second Mistress requests your presence. She says there are matters to discuss.”

“I’ll go immediately.” After giving this reply, Li Shimin noticed Chuyi still standing nearby and instructed, “Take it to my room for now.”

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Later, Wang Wei and Gao Junya remembered Yunyi. Upon learning that she had already returned home for the New Year celebrations, they expressed their dissatisfaction. Using the pretext of appreciating music and dance, they subtly hinted that Li Shimin should summon her back. However, Li Shimin had deliberately sent her home early precisely to avoid their advances. Faced with Wang Wei’s repeated insinuations, he feigned ignorance, leaving the latter deeply displeased.

When Li Jiancheng learned of this, he advised Li Shimin to offer Yunyi to Wang Wei, lest the latter sow discord before Emperor Yang upon returning to the capital, potentially bringing disaster to the Li family. Such a petty man was capable of anything.

Li Shimin knew his brother spoke the truth, but handing over an innocent woman to such predators was unthinkable—especially since he himself harbored feelings for Yunyi…

This was the most difficult New Year’s Eve Li Shimin had ever experienced in his twenty years of life. He considered finding a plain-looking woman to replace Yunyi, since Wang Wei hadn’t seen her true face that day. But finding someone with Yunyi’s dancing skills was no easy feat.

Over this matter, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin argued several times, each confrontation ending in discord. In Li Jiancheng’s view, the safety and survival of the entire Li family far outweighed the fate of a mere country girl.

One day, Li Jiancheng summoned Li Shimin to Qingchun Garden. As soon as he entered, he heard his brother’s cold voice. “Have you come to your senses?”

Li Shimin clenched his teeth and lowered his head. “If our family cannot even protect the common people within our own domain, who will dare to seek refuge with us in the future?!”

“In that case,” Li Jiancheng retorted sharply, “should we just let Wang Wei slander us before His Majesty and doom the Li family to ruin? Are you saying that a mere woman is more important than the rise and fall of our clan?”

“No,” Li Shimin began, but Li Jiancheng cut him off with a chilling tone. “Your actions clearly suggest otherwise! Shimin, how many times have I told you—those who aspire to great achievements cannot afford to show mercy like a weak-minded woman. Why can’t you rid yourself of this unnecessary compassion?”

Before Li Shimin could respond, Li Jiancheng continued coldly, “I’ll send Feng Li to retrieve Wu Meixue and hand her over to Wang Wei.”

Horrified, Li Shimin blurted out, “Big Brother…”

Li Jiancheng’s expression hardened. “I know you harbor feelings for Wu Meixue, but for the sake of the Li family, this must be done.” Seeing Li Shimin remain silent, his tone softened, and he added earnestly, “Shimin, it’s not that I wish to make things difficult for you. But at this moment, the Li family simply cannot afford to offend men like Wang Wei.”