Who else could that figure leaning beneath the porch be but Pei Guanli?
At the sound of his voice, a smile immediately lit up her bored face. She hurried over with a skip in her step, the bell around her neck swaying.
Jingle, jingle.
"Brother-in-law, it's already past noon. How come you're only getting back now?"
Perhaps she had grown anxious waiting, for even her Mountain Tribe dialect slipped out.
Chen Yi understood her well enough and motioned for Xiao Die, Wang Lixing, and the others to take Xiao Wuge into Chunhe Garden first.
Xiao Wuge curiously examined Pei Guanli's attire, only to find her making a face at him. He could not help laughing. "Brother-in-law, she calls you brother-in-law too?"
Chen Yi patted his shoulder. "She's a sworn younger sister your second sister took."
"Oh, no wonder I've never seen her in the estate."
Once Xiao Wuge had followed Xiao Die into Chunhe Garden, Wang Lixing, Yan Hong, and the others headed to the central courtyard to report to Second Uncle, Xiao Xuanshuo.
Only then did Chen Yi glance around and ask, "Did my wife let you out?"
Pei Guanli nodded vigorously and giggled. "I pestered Sister Jinghong for days, and today she finally agreed to let me out. She even said I should represent the Mountain Tribe at the Old Master's Birthday Banquet tomorrow."
Chen Yi inwardly raised an eyebrow. Suddenly recalling her earlier mention of the Mountain Tribe establishing a mutual market together with Marquis Dingyuan's Estate, he understood.
After a moment's thought, he said contemplatively, "Then you'd better be careful. You showed your face in the estate before. Watch out for anyone recognizing you."
It would be fine if the maids or servants recognized her. What worried him was Liu Si'er becoming suspicious of her.
After