Duchess, You Are Going Too Far

The next day, before dawn.

The bright stars and moon were already hidden by dark clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, making the sound of rushing water echo all through Chunhe Garden.

Xiao Jinghong got up early.

After washing up, she sat in front of her dressing table, glanced around at the rouge, powder, and other items, and only picked up her Silver Half-Armor to put it on.

Su Zhenyue was dressed as an attendant, wore the same half-armor, and held a set of clothes in her hands as she stood respectfully to the side.

Xiao Jinghong carefully looked at herself in the bronze mirror, then stood up and asked, "What is the schedule for today?"

Su Zhenyue shook out the clothes and served her as she dressed properly, "You are to go to the training ground first. Yesterday you arranged with Second Master to test their progress on the Martial Path."

"After partaking in breakfast, you and Eldest Miss are to visit the various residences. I have already prepared the gifts."

"At noon, the Prefect is visiting, and Old Master will have someone report it in advance. Also, in the afternoon, General Changqing wants to..."

Xiao Jinghong frowned slightly: "Dismiss it. Wait until tomorrow when I summon the Three Towns Generals to discuss matters together."

Su Zhenyue nodded: "I will notify General Changqing later."

As the two spoke, they walked out of the side chamber. When they reached the stairs, Xiao Jinghong glanced at the room opposite:

"In the morning, prepare more meat for her."

"Understood."

Su Zhenyue knew she was speaking of Pei Guanli. After replying, she could not help recalling that girl's "threat" back at the Black Armored Army Town, and said with a low laugh:

"Letting her out to deliver a message to the Mountain Tribe-aren't you afraid she'll get lost?"

Xiao Jinghong said calmly, "That old matron naturally believed Pei Guanli had the ability to walk the jianghu alone before she felt at ease letting her come down the mountain."

"Don't mind her volatile temperament and low cultivation base; she has quite a few bizarre little gadgets on her."

"Miss, are you speaking of witchcraft and Gu?"

As she walked out of the wooden tower, Xiao Jinghong hummed in assent: "Gu worms and poisons are unorthodox paths, but used well they can still run rampant across the Lower Three Ranks. Coupled with her Martial Path, she should be about to break through to the Eighth Rank Realm."

Su Zhenyue looked at her in surprise, "If I remember correctly, she has been stuck at the peak of the Ninth Rank Realm for many years, hasn't she?"

"Perhaps she has become more diligent during this period."

With that, Xiao Jinghong looked toward the third floor of another wooden tower, and seeing no light there, stepped out into the rain.

Without waiting for a reminder, Su Zhenyue opened the oiled-paper umbrella she had readied, held it over her head, and followed closely step by step.

Noticing Xiao Jinghong's gaze, she asked hesitatingly, "Miss, when we go to the various residences later, shall we bring your son-in-law along as well?"

"No..."

Before she finished speaking, Xiao Jinghong recalled how the two of them had spent time together in the pavilion last night, and changed her tune:

"No rush. Let me ask him when I return from the training ground."

"Eh..."

"What is it?"

"No, nothing. It was just my loose tongue."

Su Zhenyue lowered her head, but beneath her mask her eyes were wide open, filled with intense astonishment.

As Xiao Jinghong's close attendant, Su Zhenyue considered herself extremely familiar with her.

Since childhood, Xiao Jinghong had possessed a strong sense of agency. Regardless of whether it was practicing the Martial Path, learning to read, or studying military strategy, she never required the elders of the mansion to intervene.

After she entered the Dingyuan Army, even with generals like Li Changqing and various military advisors to assist her, heaven-sized matters were still decided entirely by her.

Yet at this moment, Xiao Jinghong was actually going to ask for Chen Yi's opinion on a trivial affair.

This...

Su Zhenyue's head was full of confusion, uncomprehending why the miss cared so much about the son-in-law.

While the rain lashed the plantains in Chunhe Garden, Chen Yi enjoyed a rare, sound sleep.

Firstly because of the rain, and secondly because Wang Lixing knew the miss had already returned and it was inconvenient to come and go freely.

Therefore, not until the first quarter of Mao hour did Xiao Die finally carry in a basin of hot water, a towel draped over her shoulder, and push open the door light as a feather.

Amidst the creaking sound, Xiao Die poked her head in, peered at Chen Yi who was still sleeping soundly, and a trace of reluctance flashed across her pretty face.

Ever since the son-in-law began practicing the Martial Path, he had not slept until this hour in a long time.

Yet, thinking of how Shen Huatang had just informed her that breakfast was prepared at the eldest miss's place, she had no choice but to step forward and wake the son-in-law.

"What time is it?"

Chen Yi's breathing paused as he opened his eyes, sat up, and asked.

Xiao Die placed the washbasin by the edge of the bed, wet the towel, wrung it dry, and while gently wiping his face, replied:

"Son-in-law, it is already Mao hour."

"Just now Eldest Miss had Sister Hua Tang call you and Second Miss to partake in breakfast."

"However, Second Miss went to the training ground early this morning and has not yet returned. Will you wait a bit or go over first?"

After finishing wiping his face, Chen Yi got out of bed, changed into his clothes, and said, "Let's wait for Madam."

As she tidied him up, Xiao Die said with a smile, "Son-in-law, last night you and Second Miss sat in the pavilion and chatted for a very long time."

"You weren't asleep back then either?"

"That's right, though I couldn't hear clearly what you two were saying, Xiao Die could tell that you and Second Miss are a very well-matched pair."

Chen Yi laughed in spite of himself and tapped her forehead: "What do you know about being well-matched?"

Xiao Die rubbed her forehead with a pucker and grinned: "Just like Third Place Scholar and Yunniang, you and Second Miss are just like that."

"Not quite."

Chen Yi thought to himself that Li Huaigu and Yunniang belonged to the sweethearts-since-childhood variety, whereas he and Xiao Jinghong had met all told only twice-where on earth was there any romance?

If outsiders truly perceived affection, calling it "false affection and hypocritical pretense" would not be exaggerating at all.

Before she could continue, Chen Yi asked, "Why are you using honorifics again? Is it because you saw the miss return to the mansion and you're afraid they'll punish you?"

Xiao Die stuck out her tongue, "One must still obey the rules of the mansion."

Before long, the two of them left the wooden tower, standing under the eaves as they listened to the sound of rain and chatted idly.

Mostly Xiao Die did the talking while Chen Yi listened, occasionally uttering a few flat hums or aahs in response.

"Son-in-law, why aren't you astonished?"

"That was Mr. Yue Ming of Guiyun Academy. If Eldest Miss and Second Miss hadn't arrived in time and spoken up, he would have stepped right up to snatch your calligraphy copybook."

Chen Yi prevaricated, "Astonished, I'm astonished."

What was there to be astonished about regarding an old shame who was obsessed with calligraphy?

Yet Xiao Die took it for truth, giggling as she continued recounting yesterday's events-specifically how the two misses, upon returning from paying respects to Old Master, ran into Iron Wall garrison commander Li Changqing, Second Master, and the Duchess.

At this, Chen Yi grew somewhat interested. "That Li Changqing and Old Master, Madam, they're very close?"

Xiao Die nodded, "Close indeed. General Li is Old Master's student, and before he was garrison commander of Iron Wall Army Town, he frequently frequented the Marquis's mansion."

Chen Yi understood and continued to ask, "After Madam put Second Master and that Duchess in their place, what happened?"

He knew that each of Shuzhou’s three Military Garrisons had a commander, all appointed by the Marquis and considered the Old Marquis’s right-hand men.

Now that Xiao Jinghong was temporarily standing in for the Old Marquis as the commander-in-chief of the Dingyuan Army, it was only natural for her to be familiar with them.

"After that, nothing happened. Son-in-law, you didn't see their expressions... so frightening."

"That only proves their narrow-mindedness."

Other things aside, simply Xiao Qiuyun's proposal that he take up duty at the Shu Provincial Administration made him disinclined toward her.

Therefore, Madam was right-a daughter of the Second Branch married out into another family should still minimize her interference in the affairs of the Xiao Family.

Not long after, when Xiao Jinghong and Su Zhenyue returned, Chen Yi exchanged brief greetings with them, and they headed together toward Jiaxing Garden.

Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong walked side by side in front, chatting casually.

Thinking of today's arrangements, Xiao Jinghong asked, "Husband, shortly Sister and I are going to the various residences to deliver some gifts. Will you come along?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

"Then would you be willing to go and assist Eldest Sister?"

"Alright... hm?"

Xiao Jinghong turned her head to look at him, "Right now Eldest Sister manages the medicine halls, fields, and several shops both inside and outside the mansion. If you agree, you can go and assist a bit."

Chen Yi: "..."

Duchess, you are going a bit too far.

Things had only just become slightly familiar, and you were already preparing to work your husband like an ox or a horse?