Xiao Jinghong entered the Wooden Tower, closed the door, and glanced at Chen Yi through the wooden lattice before heading upstairs.
Just as she was about to push open the wooden door of the side chamber, her earlobes stirred slightly. She faintly heard a slow beating sound.
She looked at the empty hall below, thought for a moment, then pushed open the wooden door, took two steps in place, and quietly waited for something.
A moment later.
Hiding in the study, Pei Guanli heard the noise and breathed a sigh of relief.
Why had Sister Jinghong come back at this hour? She hadn't even had time to hide beforehand.
With that thought, she soothed her wildly thumping little heart, pressed a palm over the bell below her neck, and crept outside barefoot.
But just as she reached the stairs and raised her head to check the side chamber, she met a pair of bright eyes hidden behind the Silver Half-Armor.
Pei Guanli froze, then broke into a grin, her two little canine teeth making her look especially adorable.
"Sister Jinghong, welcome home. Hehe..."
Xiao Jinghong watched her calmly until her smile turned into an awkward laugh, then said, "Come inside. We'll talk."
With that, she turned and entered the side chamber.
At the sight, Pei Guanli slumped, her smile fading along with her posture. "Ah, still didn't get away..."
She looked at Chen Yi, who was squatting beside the pond outside the door washing his hands, and abandoned the thought of asking for help after some consideration.
Her brother-in-law's talent for the Martial Path was indeed exceptional, but with his Cultivation Base, even the two of them together would be no match for a single finger of Sister Jinghong's.
Pei Guanli sighed and trudged upstairs into the side chamber, her head hanging.
The moment she closed the door, she sidled over with a playful grin. "Sister Jinghong, aren't you happy to see me here? Hmm? Hmm?"
Xiao Jinghong sat at the table, her eyes sweeping over the rumpled bed beside her, and said nothing.
Pei Guanli's smile stiffened again. "Well, I'm just staying here for a bit... I'll fold the quilt in a moment. I promise!"
Xiao Jinghong stared at her for a while, then said, "No need. The maids will throw it all away."
"..."
Pei Guanli grumbled inwardly, then sat beside her with a pout, looking as though she were saying, "This is how I am. Do what you will."
Xiao Jinghong was not going to do anything to her anyway. She asked evenly, "Does my husband know you're here?"
"He does... no, no, he doesn't."
With that, Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and could only nod. "Brother-in-law knows I'm here. He's been bringing me food all these days."
Xiao Jinghong gave a hum. "Tell me what you've been doing together."
Thinking of everything she and Chen Yi had done these past days, Pei Guanli suppressed her laughter and said with a perfectly serious face, "Nothing at all."
"You think I'll believe that?"
"We really haven't done anything. That's the truth."
Hearing this, Xiao Jinghong merely watched her calmly.
This time, however, she noticed that Pei Guanli no longer looked as guilty and frightened as before. There was even a hint of smugness about her.
Because of Chen Yi?
Xiao Jinghong had originally thought Chen Yi would suffer somewhat at Pei Guanli's hands, but now it seemed that was not the case.
It reminded her of Xiao Die standing up for Chen Yi against Mr. Yue Ming outside the Mounting Shop earlier, as well as Wang Lixing offering an explanation despite knowing her temperament.
It seemed her husband had gotten along well with all of them during this time. Even Pei Guanli had changed somewhat.
At that thought.
The corners of Xiao Jinghong's lips shifted slightly. "Then tell me how you met my husband."
"I sneaked straight in, and then I met Brother-in-law."
"When?"
"A few days after I saw you."
"Specifically, morning, afternoon, or evening?"
"Evening, of course..."
Faced with this string of questions, Pei Guanli unconsciously curled her toes against the smooth, clean floor and silently rallied herself.
Don't worry, Brother-in-law. I promise I won't reveal anything else, including your secret.
Chen Yi, washing his hands beside the pond, was anything but reassured.
That Tiger Girl Pei Guanli wouldn't sell him out, would she?
In truth, there were only two things he wanted to conceal.
One was his Martial Path Cultivation Base and talent. The other was that band of "Hidden Guards," Liu Si'er, Uncle Gui, and the rest.
Aside from those, he did not mind Xiao Jinghong knowing.
After turning it over in his mind.
Chen Yi was left with only one devil-may-care thought-if Xiao Jinghong really forced him to do something he disliked, he could simply leave the Marquis's mansion.
Although venturing out with his current Martial Path Cultivation Base would be somewhat dangerous, as long as he was careful, the vast world was open to him.
Could a living man really die from holding in his piss?
After washing his hands, Chen Yi looked at Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Wuge, and Zhang Heng sitting in the pavilion. After a moment's thought, he walked straight over.
But as he drew closer, he heard Xiao Wuge chattering excitedly:
"Eldest Sister, Brother-in-law is really amazing."
"The poems he wrote kept Grandfather happy for days. His calligraphy is amazing too. I heard the Birthday Ode he wrote last time was stolen from the Mounting Shop."
"And, and, the things he says! Like when he discussed this year's imperial examination question with the Third Place Scholar, his answer was 'water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.' Even the Third Place Scholar admired him."
"And 'man can conquer nature,' and the prejudices in people's hearts..."
"That's all, that's all!"
Hearing this, Chen Yi strode into the pavilion and cut their conversation short, saying with a smile:
"Wu Ge, Eldest Sister must be tired after just returning home. We shouldn't disturb her too much, right?"
There was no guarding against everything.
He had not expected that before Pei Guanli could cause him trouble, Xiao Wuge, who was closest to him, would turn traitor first.
Couldn't he see that Xiao Wan'er's eyes had lit up?
If this little traitor kept talking, the Marquis's mansion would probably arrange for him to put his remaining talents to use.
Seeing Xiao Wuge actually close his mouth obediently and nod, Xiao Wan'er turned to Chen Yi and said gently:
"Sorry for the trouble of looking after Wu Ge all this time, Brother-in-law. He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"
"The Young Marquis has been very well behaved." Chen Yi patted Xiao Wuge's head and prompted him, "You were clamoring to go fishing just now. I've brought you the worms. Go on."
Xiao Wuge glanced at him, then answered and ran off to fish nearby.
The Young Heir Apparent Zhang Heng's eyes shifted. He picked up the other Fishing Rod and dutifully sat beside him.
If only his eldest female cousin had been here, he could have made a bit of a fuss.
But now that his second female cousin was back, he had better keep his distance.
There was no other reason. He was simply afraid.
At the sight, a smile appeared on Xiao Wan'er's frail, pale face. It seemed her decision to have Wu Ge stay with her brother-in-law had been right.
If Wu Ge could remain peacefully in the residence, fishing and drinking tea like this after going to Jinling, it would be a happy thing for their Xiao Family.
With that thought, Xiao Wan'er motioned for Chen Yi to sit down and picked up the Brocade Box containing the Birthday Ode from beside her.
"Second Sister and I happened to meet Xiao Die and the others on our way home, so we brought the calligraphy copybook back with us. We also witnessed something interesting."
Chen Yi looked at her without any reservation and asked with a smile, "What was it?"
Holding the Brocade Box and stroking it with her fair, jade-like hands, Xiao Wan'er began, "Mr. Yue Ming of Guiyun Academy..."
After hearing her account, Chen Yi could not help chuckling.
He had originally thought that "Running Script" would only spread after the Old Marquis's Birthday Banquet. He had not expected someone to take an interest so soon.
And that someone was Mr. Yue Ming, the great scholar renowned throughout Shuzhou.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Wan'er could not help asking, "Brother-in-law, this writing... was it really yours?"
It was not that she disbelieved Xiao Die and the others. She simply wanted to hear Chen Yi confirm it himself.
After all, the calligraphy on this copybook was exceedingly rare, and the more accomplished someone was in calligraphy, the more they would care about it.
Chen Yi readily nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, I wrote it."
Reassured, Xiao Wan'er said joyfully, "With calligraphy like this, Brother-in-law, your name will surely spread throughout the Great Wei Dynasty."
"Perhaps many people of Mr. Yue Ming's standing will come calling in the future, just to seek a Calligraphic Masterpiece from you."
Chen Yi froze. Wouldn't that mean an endless stream of trouble coming to his door?
Well, he hadn't thought that through.
Before you continue