Ugh, Confined Again

After leaving the Lihong Courtesan House, Chen Yi had Liu Si'er drive the carriage around the southern part of the city a few times, only to find it was much the same everywhere.

The only differences were that some establishments had more elegant facades, larger premises, music drifting out, and a constant flow of high-ranking officials and nobles—nothing else set them apart.

It wasn't as interesting as fishing back at the manor.

With that, Chen Yi took his group back to the Marquis's mansion, not even stopping for lunch outside.

Before long.

After seeing Chen Yi, Xiao Die, and Xiao Wuge back to Chunhe Garden, Wang Lixing glanced at the Marquis's personal guards around him.

"Second Son-in-law... how the hell did he get the nerve for that?"

"Who knows? If you ask me, he must've been cooped up in the manor too long and just went south of the city to feast his eyes."

"If the Old Marquis and Second Master find out, our son-in-law here is going to be in deep trouble."

"But that scholar surnamed Liu getting trapped in the Lihong Courtesan House earlier—that really cracked me up."

"Haha... you hadn't brought it up, it was fine, but now you mention it, I can't stop laughing."

Wang Lixing didn't linger. After donning his armor, he went to report to Xiao Xuanshuo.

"You worthless piece of trash!"

"He—he actually dared to take Wuge to a place like that! He may have no shame, but the Xiao Family can't afford to lose face like this!"

Xiao Xuanshuo slammed his hand on the armrest of his wheelchair, his square face blazing with fury.

Wang Lixing stood nearby, not daring to move, silently sweating on Chen Yi's behalf.

After cursing for a good while, Xiao Xuanshuo's anger still hadn't cooled.

But he knew this matter couldn't be brought into the open—it would only trouble the Old Marquis if it reached his ears. So he immediately gave the order:

"Lixing, go inform the manor guards that from today onward, Chen Yi is not to leave the Marquis's mansion even half a step!"

Wang Lixing acknowledged the order, then glanced at his expression and hesitated. "And the son-in-law... Second Miss's earlier letter said to lift his house arrest."

"I'll handle Jinghong myself. You just do as I say." Xiao Xuanshuo snorted.

"Also, go tell that bastard that I said this: when Jinghong returns to the manor, I will test his progress on the Martial Path. If he hasn't broken through to Ninth Rank · Lower by then, I'll have him shipped straight to the Black Armored Army!"

Wang Lixing opened his mouth, then thought back to Chen Yi's recent performance in stance cultivation and shook his head inwardly.

Even with the Mystic Grade Great Spear Stance Cultivation, tempering the body to raise one's Cultivation Base to Ninth Rank · Lower was no easy feat.

Most people needed two to three months. Only those with heaven-granted talent could complete the first step—refining Qi within the body—in a single month.

Even Second Miss, back when she was cultivating, had taken over half a month.

And that was with daily, unbroken practice. As for the son-in-law... the son-in-law was in for a world of pain.

But what Wang Lixing didn't expect was that when Chen Yi found out, not only did he not kick up a fuss, he was perfectly calm, as if he'd seen it coming.

"So I can't leave the Marquis's mansion, but I'm free to move around inside it?"

"That's right, Young Master. You—"

Chen Yi waved him off. "Got it. I'll just keep up with the stance cultivation as usual."

He really had seen it coming.

If he hadn't been caught, it might've been fine. But with Xiao Wuge and the others tagging along, word was bound to reach the Xiao Family elders.

After all, the Xiao Family was the Marquis of Wu Family of Great Wei. For a live-in son-in-law to go gallivanting around the brothels of Yanhuaxiang in broad daylight—not getting beaten black and blue was already a mercy.

Wang Lixing gave a wry smile, cupped his hands, and turned to leave Chunhe Garden.

The moment he was gone.

Big teardrops began rolling down Xiao Die's face, and she couldn't hold back her sobs.

"Young, Young Master... it's all my fault. I didn't stop you..."

Chen Yi saw her tear-streaked face and couldn't help but chuckle.

"What are you crying for? Look on the bright side."

"You—you're under house arrest again, and you have to be tested on your martial arts. Where's the bright side?"

"Exactly because I'm under house arrest, I can't run around anymore, right? Think about it—won't you stop worrying from now on?"

Xiao Die blinked through her tears and thought it over. That did make some sense.

She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, her face caught between a laugh and a sob, flushing bright red.

"Young Master, you... you really are..."

What he really was, she couldn't put into words.

But having grown up in the Marquis's mansion, she'd seen all kinds of people come and go—high officials and nobles, wealthy young masters, learned scholars and Juren—and not one of them was like the Young Master.

He was talented, sure, but he wasn't arrogant about it.

He read often, but you could tell he didn't actually enjoy reading—he just did it to kill time.

He also often said strange, plain-spoken things, and every now and then, he'd drop a line that made a lot of sense... anyway, he was just odd.

"Stop crying and go check what's for lunch in the kitchen."

One sentence made the little girl wipe away her tears and run out the door.

At this moment, Xiao Wuge, who had been silently observing from the side, looked at Chen Yi as if nothing had happened and asked curiously:

"Brother-in-law, you don't like going out?"

"Depends on the situation." Chen Yi glanced around, picked up a fishing rod, and walked toward the pond. "If there's nothing important, leaving the Marquis's mansion is just boring."

Xiao Wuge followed him, also carrying a fishing rod. After thinking for a moment, he broke into a smile.

"I get it. Brother-in-law is right."

"What do you get, huh?"

"I get that you prefer quiet over activity, like fishing and drinking tea, and dislike martial arts and studying."

"You're not wrong..."

Another ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Chen Yi had stayed obediently within the Marquis's mansion, though he hadn't remained confined to Chunhe Garden.

He was fairly lucky—three of the "Daily Intelligence" prompts during this period happened to be inside the mansion.

So he had Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die lead him around the estate, partly to watch the commotion and partly to learn the layout.

Although the intelligence was all about noisy, quarrelsome scenes, and the rewards were far inferior to the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix movement technique he'd gotten outside Lihong Courtesan House that day, Chen Yi was still content.

At least it was faster than when he'd stayed in Chunhe Garden, relying on guaranteed opportunities to improve.

Not only had he elevated both his "Martial Path · Fist" and the newly practiced "Martial Path · Footwork" to the Minor Accomplishment realm, but Collapsing Mountain Fist had also broken through to Proficient Level. Even the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix movement technique had made considerable progress.

And of course, there was his Cultivation Base.

After training in the Great Spear Stance Cultivation during this period, his cultivation had already advanced from Ninth Rank · Lower to Ninth Rank · Middle.

A bountiful harvest.

That day, in the pavilion at Chunhe Garden.

Rain poured heavily from the sky, crashing and splattering into the pond.

Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge sat side by side on the pavilion railing, one big and one small, holding two fishing rods, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the floats.

Xiao Die sat at the stone table nearby, watching the son-in-law and the Young Marquis while occasionally refilling their cups with hot tea.

She rested her chin on her hand, thinking about the amusing events of the past few days, a strange feeling stirring in her heart.

She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but whenever some commotion or trouble broke out in the mansion, the son-in-law always appeared right away, cracking melon seeds and watching the show.

Meanwhile, she didn't even dare lift her head, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Lost in thought, Xiao Die smiled and asked softly:

"Son-in-law, the Old Master's Birthday Banquet is coming up soon. Do you want to prepare a gift?"

"Birthday banquet... I really should prepare something."

Come to think of it, Chen Yi had been staying at Xiao Manor for months but hadn't even met the Old Marquis once.

He didn't know if the Old Marquis was still holding a grudge over his escape from the wedding or was busy with other matters. Either way, when he'd gone to pay his respects a few days ago, he'd been turned away.

So Chen Yi had given up on that idea. Staying in Chunhe Garden, drinking tea, and fishing was fine enough.

"Counting the days, the Eldest Miss and Second Miss should be returning soon."

Chen Yi's ears twitched slightly, and realization dawned.

For the Old Marquis's birthday, Xiao Jinghong would indeed have to come back. He wondered what attitude this wife of his would take upon her return.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi asked, "Xiao Die, does the Old Master have any hobbies?"

He figured Xiao Jinghong probably wouldn't bother preparing a gift. When the time came, he, as the live-in son-in-law, would have to step up.

Xiao Die thought for a moment. "The Old Master used to love wielding spears and staves, but that was in the past. Now..."

Xiao Wuge turned his head and added, "Grandfather has been playing chess with a few visiting old friends lately."

"Chess?" Chen Yi rubbed his chin. He didn't know how to play that.

"Then I'll give the Old Master a calligraphy piece instead."

His Running Script had improved considerably during this time. He figured a birthday congratulatory poem written in his hand would be presentable enough.