Chapter 50: Unexpected Encounter in Snow

  Yuan Longlin did not return to the palace, and as soon as he left the Ling Wang Fu, he rushed straight to the Hu Guo Jiang Jun Fu. He wanted to ask that new third sister-in-law why she had been delayed in returning, and why she had let his third brother suffer so much!

  He was very close to Xia Feng, and in the past, he was also a frequent visitor to the General's Mansion. The doorman still thought he had come to find the third young master and did not lead him on his way, but instead had someone take the message inside.

  Yuan Longlin walked towards the inner house, his doll-like face expressionless, with a hint of anger. The servants and maids who saw him dared not approach, whether they knew him or not, only bowing from afar to greet him or stopping to watch.

  Every time he saw Xiafeng, it was in his courtyard. Although he had long known that there were three young ladies in the mansion, apart from Xia Yu, who was close to Xiafeng and familiar to him, he had never seen the other two, nor did he know which courtyard they lived in. Thinking of asking someone about Xia Tian's residence, he suddenly saw a girl sitting on a stone pedestal not far behind the fake mountain. Looking at her back, she seemed slender and small, but on her temples was a golden hairpin with a butterfly falling onto a peony.

  According to the rules, from the emperor down to the civil and military officials, all use flowers to distinguish between ranks and nobility, and their families can only wear decorations of the same rank. Peonies are the official flower of the prince, so only the prince's family can wear peony decorations. The woman in front of me is undoubtedly the third brother's princess - Xia Tian.

  I really didn't expect Third Brother to like this little bean sprout! He shrugged his shoulders, although he felt a bit surprised, but also didn't take it to heart. It was just that thinking of her making his normally calm and collected Third Brother become infatuated, made him furious. No one could hurt his Third Brother and still be carefree, he wouldn't allow it, and even more so, wouldn't let such a thing happen!

  "You're finally here! What took you so long? I've been waiting for ages!" Xia Xue said, sitting on a stone stool with her hand under her chin and not even turning around.

  Yuan Longlin was taken aback, his mind racing, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow.

  "Here, this is osmanthus cake, I specifically left it for you." She smiled and turned around, handing over a square oil-paper package.

  Brocade robe with embroidered belt, jade pendant hanging from a ribbon...

  She jumped in surprise, her head tilted back in astonishment. The sun after the rain was exceptionally dazzling, she narrowed her eyes, and in the light and shadow, she felt that the person in front of her was enveloped in sunlight, as if coated with a layer of gold.

  Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows were as beautiful as a painting. Yuan Longlin nodded secretly, no wonder San Ge liked this new wife of his so much. Although she looked a bit young, she indeed had a good appearance, and after a few more years, she would definitely become even more stunningly beautiful.

  "Who... who are you?" Xia Xue jumped up from the stone pedestal, asking with a hint of panic. This place was usually deserted, and only she and Dungen often met here. At first, when she heard footsteps, she thought it was Dungen coming, but unexpectedly, it was a stranger.

  She stood up and found herself only reaching his chin, still having to look up at him. It wasn't until they were closer that she got a clear look at his face - handsome eyebrows, bright eyes, full of energy, what a dashing young man! Her face slightly red, she hastily lowered her head and asked: "Sir, are you looking for my eldest or third brother?"

  Long Lin adjusted his mood and gave a moderate bow. "Long Lin has seen Third Aunt."

  "Huh?" Xia Xue was stunned and didn't react in time, "Who is San Shu?"

  The suppressed anger was reignited, and Yuan Longlin's face sank. He said discontentedly, "How is it that Third Sister doesn't even want the identity of Princess Ling now? It's truly a pity for Third Brother's sincerity towards you!"

  It seems he mistook himself for Fourth Sister. "I'm not your Third Aunt, I am..."

  "Alright, do you think I'll believe you just because you say so?" He glanced at the peony gold hairpin on her temple and coldly interrupted, "Long Lin came this time to pick up Third Sister-in-law for Third Brother to return to Ling Wang Fu, please don't deceive me again."

  Her face turned bright red, the words of explanation stuck in her throat, facing his severe rebuke, she was both anxious and wronged, yet couldn't utter a single word.

  "Miss!" Dong Er rushed over from behind Yuan Long Lin, his arm stretched out to block Xia Xue's path, and asked warily: "Who are you? What do you want to do to Miss?"

  "Here he comes." Just as expected, Xia Xue grabbed his clothes and hid behind him. Her hand slipped, the oil paper package fell to the ground, and it broke into pieces. "Oh no, osmanthus cake!" She frowned with a pair of slender eyebrows.

  The little boy turned his head back, saw the osmanthus cake on the ground and his eyes couldn't help but soften. "It's okay!" He comforted in a soft voice, with a happy expression on his silly face.

  Yuan Longlin's mind flashed with a hint of doubt, as if something was not quite right, but when he turned to see her and Dun'er's "tender" appearance, his anger again uncontrollably covered everything, and he couldn't think carefully about anything.

  "Third sister, don't forget your identity!" His tone was unpleasant, and the natural dignity of his birth made the air pressure around him drop suddenly. "A woman must have virtue, words, appearance, and skills, if a wife is not virtuous, she has nothing to serve her husband with. Third sister, as the legitimate wife of third brother, not only has she been lingering in her maiden home without returning, but also secretly meeting with men here, it's simply... " He gritted his teeth, "Shameless!" By reason, he was a younger uncle who shouldn't be criticizing an older aunt, but from birth, he was a noble and the youngest son of the family. Even if he didn't usually like to put on airs as a prince, the innate sense of superiority still ran deep in his bones. Moreover, he felt sorry for third brother and had no good feelings towards this new sister-in-law. If not for considering their social status, his words would have been even more unpleasant.

  "What's with San Shu?" Dun'er was completely bewildered.