Chapter 25 [TSS 3]

In the end, Yan Yi Ming acquired a stage name, but because it was too flamboyant, she could not quite remember it.

Jian Yu Yan came every day, and unlike Nangong Xuan, Jian Yu Yan, being an expert in love matters, was much smarter, making the whole process more entertaining.  

Due to his frequent visits, Yan Yi Ming was moved to the best courtyard in the Plum Blossom Pavilion. When he arrived, a maid was helping Yan Yi Ming comb her hair. Jian Yu Yan waved her away, took over the comb, and effortlessly helped Yan Yi Ming tie her hair into a flowing cloud bun style.

“Do you like it?”

“Of course I like it,” Yan Yi Ming giggled sweetly, acting as if she did not know anything about this matter, she asked, “Why is Young Master so skilled in styling a woman’s hairdo?”

Jian Yu Yan’s hands froze slightly. 

Why indeed? 

It was because Jian Yu’er liked this hairstyle the most. Taking the hairpin from Yan Yi Ming, he did not answer but instead asked her, “Ah Ming, care to take a guess?”

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Zyd Zk Ykdt dseele, “Mbld Kkl-fkl dllep vs osaj y zkvvzl byaela vs ynnsxrzkpb xu zkvvzl okpb pkdnl R’x wdyczl vs es ps.”

Brsd blyakdt Zyd Zk Ykdt’p alrzu, vbl nswavlpyd pvsxrle bla qssv kd qawpvayvksd. 

Jian Yu Yan, who just arrived, walked behind her and casually encircled his arms around her waist. He asked with a low chuckle, “What wish?”

Jian Yu Yan’s sudden appearance caused the courtesan to turn pale with fright and she left hastily. Jian Yu Yan, with Yan Yi Ming in tow, walked towards her courtyard.

Yan Yi Ming tilted her head slightly, on her turned cheek, joy was evident. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes appeared innocent yet seductive. “Naturally, it’s about getting Young Master Jian to stay for the night.”

Upon reaching back to her room, Yan Yi Ming exhaled a breath of warm air. She gently pulled away from Jian Yu Yan’s hand, intending to prepare tea for him. However, Jian Yu Yan gently tugged on her arm, causing her to fall onto his chest.

Catching a whiff of the faint fragrance from her neck, Jian Yu Yan, with a voice filled with both amusement and depth, asked in a low and ambiguous tone, “Do you want me to stay so much?”

There was a subtle hint of alcohol on his body. She replied, “Of course, I do.”

“Then you better think over it carefully. It’s not easy to keep me for the night.”

Yan Yi Ming feigned holding understanding while pretending to be ignorant¹It’s akin to feigning ignorance while being fully aware of the situation. and suggested, “How about I accompany Young Master Jian for a game of chess?”

“You can’t beat me.”

“Then how about I sing a tune of the West Chamber²<一曲西厢> was a romantic play that told the love story between Zhang Sheng, a young scholar, and Cui Ying Ying, the daughter of a governing official. The plot was based on a section of the Chinese literary classic ‘Romance of the Western Chamber’ <西厢记>, which was written by the Yuan Dynasty playwright Wang Shi Fu. The story was set against the backdrop of the Tang Dynasty and involved various obstacles and challenges that the young couple must overcome to be together. for Gentleman Jian?”

Jian Yu Yan pinched Yan Yi Ming’s chin, making her look up at him. “You really can’t think of anything else?”

‘Tsk,’ Yan Yi Ming scrutinized Jian Yu Yan before releasing a light laugh as she brushed away Jian Yu Yan’s hand.

“Naturally I know what Young Master Jian is driving at. But this humble servant only sells her skills and not her body.”

Jian Yu Yan was thoroughly amused by her. His long legs were propped up on the soft cushion as he watched her swift retreat, only to return shortly after with her slender hands gently massaging his forehead.

Since she did not want to, he was also not in a hurry. The unexpected appearance of this woman piqued his interest, and made him fond of her, not just because she resembled Yu’er.

Jian Yu Yan sometimes felt like he had found a treasure. She could sing and play musical instruments, serve tea, play chess, engage in conversations on calligraphy and painting, and even know some massage techniques. 

Feeling the gentle pressure on his forehead, he decided to grab her hand and pulled her down causing Ah Ming to exclaim in surprise. 

“What are you doing?” Yan Yi Ming laughed and playfully reprimanded.

“Letting you try out my massage technique.”

After Jian Yu Yan left, the previous enchanting atmosphere vanished instantly. Yan Yi Ming lazily laid on the soft cushion, and Little Apple emerged to claim credit, “Host, last time you said Young Lady Yan’s identity was too restrictive. How about this identity this time? You can be as brazen as you want to be and it wouldn’t matter.”

“Very good,” Yan Yi Ming was quite satisfied. “How is the situation with Jian Yu’er?”

“Hmm… Although the storyline with Nangong Xuan can no longer be continued by Jian Yu’er, there’s a saying that goes, ‘What you can’t get is always the best.’ Among Jian Yu’er’s affection gauge, the one with the highest favorability is still Nangong Xuan, then it’s followed by Jiang Yi. Jian Yu’er’s favorability towards Jian Yu Yan only increased by five percent.”

Yan Yi Ming clicked her tongue. “I almost feel sorry for Jian Yu Yan. Even though he has accompanied her for the longest time, his favorability is the lowest. It’s truly heart-wrenching. But it’s probably because Jian Yu’er sees Jian Yu Yan as family, so that’s most likely why his favorability couldn’t go up, considering this favorability is only a gauge of romantic feelings between a man and a woman.”

Little Apple hesitated for a moment, “…It seems so.”

“Right,” Yan Yi Ming continued, “But there’s something that has always been puzzling me. What’s the difference between this SSR card and the previous SR card of Nangong Xuan’s, other than the stats?”

“The difference in stats indicates that the game progression has changed. That card advances the storyline where Nangong Xuan secured his position as the Crown Prince, consolidating the power of the Crown Prince faction. This gives Nangong Xuan a significant advantage in the struggle for succession of the throne.”

Yan Yi Ming remained in silent contemplation before suddenly speaking, “I think I’ve figured it out now. Nangong Xuan is truly the darling son of the game, and Jian Yu Yan belongs on the Crown Prince’s side. After the completion of this card, Nangong Xuan’s position as the Crown Prince became more stable. Afterwards, with Jiang Yi providing strategic advice and Shao Jing Yu helping him conquer the land, in the end, congratulations are in order for Nangong Xuan eventual ascend to the throne.”

It obviously isn’t like that, but why does it sound like what you’re saying makes sense?

“… No…”

“No?” Yan Yi Ming feigned astonishment. “Nangong Xuan didn’t ascend the throne? If he doesn’t become the emperor, who does?”

Speaking of this, Yan Yi Ming suddenly recalled a long-standing question she had – the ‘sibling’ relationship between Jian Yu’er and Jian Yu Yan. She had long suspected that one of them was not the biological child of the Jian family, and their hidden identity was likely quite complicated. This was why Jian Yu Yan worked so hard to keep it a secret and never told Jian Yu’er about it.

The game’s overall setting seems to be in the early days of a new dynasty. That means the establishment of the dynasty was not too long ago.

Yan Yi Ming’s eyes suddenly widened. It seemed like she had discovered a big secret. It was regarding Jian Yu’er, the female protagonist of this game!

Could Jian Yu’er be the princess of the previous dynasty?

Yan Yi Ming exclaimed incredulously, “So, in the end, the previous dynasty is revived, Nangong Xuan is ousted, and Jian Yu’er becomes the Empress, creating a female-dominated world where she gets to enjoy the company of four handsome men?”

Even ‘WTF’ could not express Little Apple’s inner shock anymore.

On one hand, Little Apple was astonished by Yan Yi Ming’s wild imagination, and on the other hand, it marveled at how this absurd idea somehow managed to make some sense. Unable to bear watching its usually clever host being silly as she made further nonsensical guesses, Little Apple promptly halted Yan Yi Ming’s remaining speculations.

“Host, please calm down. It’s really not like this. Concepts such as female world domination and such won’t pass the censorship of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. Jian Yu’er really doesn’t have-“

“Then it must be Jian Yu Yan who does,” Yan Yi Ming instantly returned to her normal self.

Little Apple was dumbfounded.

Did it… did it just say something it shouldn’t??!!

Yan Yi Ming looked at the Little Apple, amused by its slip of the tongue, she cheerfully continued, “Since there can’t be any female supremacy, then Jian Yu’er’s identity must be correct. So, between these two, Jian Yu Yan’s identity is the fake one.”

Little Apple, “…”

“Nangong Xuan didn’t ascend the throne smoothly, so someone must have threatened his position. The individual who can contest for this position must be related to the royal bloodline, whether they were from the current or the previous dynasty. But according to the game’s nature, such a powerful person must be the female or one of the four male protagonists. And since Jian Yu Yan’s identity is fake, then this person in question must be him.”

Little Apple started to break out in a cold sweat. Who was the one who just said that its host had a wildly imaginative and somewhat foolish mind?

Can it take back its words?

However, Yan Yi Ming still voiced her speculation, “Old Master Jian had lived through three dynasties. Since he is alive and well, then Jian Xiang must be privy to Jian Yu Yan’s true identity. If Jian Xiang had no ulterior motives, he could have let Jian Yu Yan grow up without knowing his actual identity. But, based on Jian Yu Yan’s previous lines stating that he and Jian Yu’er are clearly not biological siblings, it implies that he is aware of his own identity.

“Why did they tell Jian Yu Yan? Why did Jian Xiang strongly oppose Jian Yu’er marrying the Crown Prince? There’s probably only one probable reason…”

Slightly quivering, Little Apple asked, “W-what reason?…”

“Because Jian Xiang would ultimately eliminate the Crown Prince, so he wouldn’t allow his biological daughter to marry Nangong Xuan. Jian Xiang, who appears to be on the Crown Prince’s side, actually has a hidden agenda. To him, the Crown Prince is not the monarch he truly pledges allegiance to but was instead, the biggest stumbling block for the person he is genuinely loyal to…” 

Yan Yi Ming continued with certainty, “And that’s none other than the eldest son of the Jian family, Jian Yu Yan.”

This sentence went beyond speculation; it was a statement.

“Am I right?”

Little Apple could neither confirm nor deny it and after struggling for a while, it gave up and forced shutdown to repent for its earlier actions.

This created a drastic change in the perception of Jian Yu Yan. He went from a flirtatious gentleman to a royal descendant of the previous dynasty. Furthermore, the possibility of him overthrowing Nangong Xuan and ascending to the throne himself in the future created a terrifying contrast!

He was the ultimate archvillain.

A truly dark existence once exposed.

Especially considering he had been hiding by Nangong Xuan’s side for so many years, no one would think to question his identity.

If it were not for her ability to check the plot progress and Little Apple’s moment of blunder and unintentionally revealing something, she would probably be in for a big surprise once she reached the later chapters. 

When Jian Yu Yan visited her again, Yan Yi Ming was lying on the couch, staring into space. Jian Yu Yan walked over and affectionately pinched Yan Yi Ming’s cheek, “What are you thinking about so intently?”

“Thinking about…” Yan Yi Ming looked up at Jian Yu Yan, she thought of the plot development. ‘Thinking if either you or Nangong Xuan will meet a tragic end according to the current plotline.’ 

But as her gaze refocused on Jian Yu Yan’s face, her voice softened, “Thinking about what outfit I should wear when I see you tomorrow.”

The probing gaze from moments ago vanished completely, leaving only tender affection, making Jian Yu Yan question if he was mistaken. He chuckled lightly and teased her, “What if I don’t come tomorrow?”

“Then I’ll prepare it for the day after tomorrow.”

“And if I don’t come then as well?”

Yan Yi Ming reached out, grabbed his clothes, and pulled him down. Her beautiful eyes curved, and her originally melodious voice now carried a hint of hoarseness as she whispered, “Then I’ll leave it until you come and help me put it on…”