"Big Brother's new room? I have a big brother?"
Yun Xi asked curiously.
A Dian nodded vigorously: "Yes! Miss, you don't remember?"
Yun Xi shook her head. Under the worried gaze of her maid, she continued: "A Dian, tell me about my brother and his new wife."
"All right."
A Dian nodded and began to explain.
Yun Xi's big brother was a textbook scholar, devoted entirely to studying the classics, indifferent to the world outside. After passing the county-level exam, he planned to continue his studies and aim for the provincial exam three years later, hoping to bring honor to the family.
Yun Xi's parents fully supported him, providing all he needed. However, her father did not want him to become a bookish recluse. He suggested that Yun Xi's brother travel and study for a year to experience the world firsthand, understand the hardships of common people, and not just gain superficial knowledge from books.
Yun Xi's big brother agreed and invited two fellow scholars who had passed the exam that year. They packed their bags and left home, beginning a year-long journey of learning and exploration.
Yun Xi's family was modest but comfortable. They could fully support their son's studies. After sending him off, the parents turned their attention to Yun Xi, who had come of age, to consider her marriage prospects.
Yun Xi interrupted: "A Dian, I may have come of age, but my big brother is still unmarried. It wouldn't be right for me to marry before him, would it?"
A Dian's eyes lit up: "Miss, you remember? You said the exact same thing before."
Yun Xi rested her chin on her hand: "Just because I've forgotten some things doesn't mean I'm foolish. That's common sense."
"Hehe! True!"
A Dian scratched her cheek, smiled, and continued: "That was exactly what you told Master and Mistress. They said they would help choose someone for you, arrange an engagement, and then after the young master married, you could marry. Otherwise, all the eligible young men would be taken."
"I understand. Then what happened?"
"Miss's marriage candidate hadn't been chosen yet, and the young master returned with a lady."
"Is she my current sister-in-law?"
"Yes."
"Marriage is usually arranged by parents and matchmakers. How could Big Brother bring her back on his own?"
"Well, that is a long story."
"Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me."
"Yes, Miss."
A Dian answered cheerfully and began the explanation.
While Yun Xi's big brother was traveling, the three scholars encountered mountain bandits. Since they were disguised as poor scholars, the bandits took no money and brought them straight to the bandit camp.
The bandit chief wanted them to teach the children in the camp to read and write. This saved their lives. However, staying there long-term was impossible, so the three plotted an escape.
They were clever and, while teaching, learned the safe route down the mountain from the children. They investigated separately, confirmed it was safe, and waited for the right opportunity.
A month later, the chance came.
One clear day, the bandits kidnapped a wedding party from the mountain village. They took the bride and her dowry to the camp.
The bandit chief, delighted by the beautiful bride, intended to make her his wife and ordered a ceremony to be prepared. This distraction gave the scholars their chance to escape.
Yun Xi's big brother saw the bride's profile and was struck by her beauty. He wanted to rescue her, but with low martial ability, he could not. The three men waited until the wedding celebration distracted the camp, then slipped away to report the bandits to the authorities.
The county government took the report seriously. They dispatched officers and soldiers and followed the route provided by the scholars to the camp.
At that moment, the bandit chief had forced the bride to marry him and was about to consummate the wedding. The bride, a strong-willed woman, seized a hairpin and killed him when he let his guard down.
The authorities stormed the camp and rescued her and her attendants.
Things could have ended there. The three scholars retrieved their books and planned to continue their journey. But fate intervened: they saw the bride, dressed in her wedding gown, jump into the river, attempting suicide.
Yun Xi's big brother acted without thinking. He jumped in and saved her, reviving her from drowning.
After saving her, they learned that her prospective husband's family had rejected her because she had spent a day and night in the bandit camp, questioning her purity. They married her sister instead and planned to send her to a temple to live as a recluse, effectively casting her out.
Unable to bear the gossip, she tried to drown herself. Luckily, the three scholars arrived in time, saving her life.
Impulsively, Yun Xi's big brother declared that he would marry her. His friends initially protested but relented when they saw she was about to jump again.
Thus, Yun Xi's big brother ended his journey early and brought the bride home to marry.
Despite the scandal surrounding her, he loved her. The parents could not interfere, so the marriage took place.
After the wedding, Yun Xi's big brother focused on his studies, while his new wife cared for him meticulously. Their marriage was harmonious and sweet.
However, Yun Xi's relationship with her sister-in-law was distant, always a layer of distance between them. According to A Dian, Miss Yun Xi simply did not like her sister-in-law, and the young mistress treated her coldly in return.
"Three nights ago, Miss inexplicably left her room at midnight, shouting that the young mistress was a monster. She rushed into the young master's new room and struggled with the young mistress. By the time A Dian arrived, the young master had already knocked Miss unconscious."
Yun Xi's eyes narrowed dangerously: "A Dian, are you sure? It was Big Brother who knocked me out?"
A Dian nodded vigorously: "I swear on my head, Miss. The young master knocked you out."
"And what was my good sister-in-law doing?"
A Dian scratched her cheek: "Miss, you scratched the young mistress's face. She was crying, hair disheveled!"
Yun Xi felt a surge of satisfaction. Though she had been knocked out, the other party did not gain the upper hand.
"Then why did Mother say I fainted in the corridor?"
"Miss, Master and Mistress said that family disputes should not be spread. Sisters-in-law fighting is not proper, and since it was the young master who hurt you, it would damage his reputation before the provincial exam."
A Dian's voice grew quieter under Yun Xi's watch until it faded entirely.
"Hmph! They think I'm easy to bully."
Yun Xi threw off the covers and jumped from the bed. Startled, A Dian was ordered: "Help me change my clothes!"