Well, Grounded Again

After leaving Lihong Courtesan House, Chen Yi had Liu Si'er drive the carriage around South of the City for several more loops, only to find that they were all much the same.

Other than the elegant storefronts, larger establishments, music drifting out from within, and the passing nobles and dignitaries, there was no real difference.

It was not nearly as interesting as fishing back at the manor.

Chen Yi promptly took the group back to the Marquis's mansion without even eating lunch outside.

Not long after.

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

"Second son-in-law, where did he grow the nerve for this?"

"Who knows? If you ask me, he'd been cooped up in the manor too long and went to South of the City to feast his eyes."

"If the Old Marquis and Second Master find out, our son-in-law won't be able to bear the consequences."

"But that Xiucai surnamed Liu getting blocked at Lihong Courtesan House earlier really had me laughing my head off."

"Ha ha... It was fine when you didn't mention it, but now that you have, I want to laugh again."

Wang Lixing did not linger. After changing into his armor, he went to report back to Xiao Xuanshuo.

"You bastard!"

"He—he actually dared take Wu Ge to that kind of place! He may have no shame, but my Xiao Family cannot afford to lose face like this!"

Xiao Xuanshuo slapped the armrest of his wheelchair, his square face filled with rage.

Wang Lixing stood beside him, not daring to move, and could not help breaking out in a cold sweat for Chen Yi.

Even after cursing for a long while, Xiao Xuanshuo's fury had not diminished.

Yet he knew such a matter could not be brought into the open. If it reached the Old Marquis, it would only add to his worries. He immediately ordered:

"Lixing, notify the manor guards. From today onward, Chen Yi is not to leave the Marquis's mansion by even half a step!"

Wang Lixing acknowledged the order, then looked at his expression and hesitated. "Then the son-in-law... Second Miss wrote before that his confinement had been lifted."

"I'll speak to Jinghong myself. You need only do as I say," Xiao Xuanshuo snorted.

"Also, tell that bastard this: once Jinghong returns to the manor, I will assess his progress on the Martial Path. If he hasn't broken through to Ninth Rank · Lower, I'll have him report to the Black Armored Army!"

Wang Lixing opened his mouth, then thought of Chen Yi's stake training these past days and secretly shook his head.

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

Most people needed two to three months. Only those heaven-blessed geniuses could complete the first stage and cultivate Qi within their bodies in under a month.

Even Second Miss had needed more than half a month when she first cultivated.

And that had been with diligent practice every day without pause. As for the son-in-law... the son-in-law was in for it now.

What Wang Lixing had not expected, however, was that after Chen Yi learned of it, not only did he not make a fuss, he remained very calm, as though he had expected it all along.

"So I can't leave the Marquis's mansion, but I can move freely within it, right?"

"That is correct, Son-in-law, you..."

Chen Yi waved a hand to cut him off. "Got it. I'll just keep up the stake training as usual."

He truly had expected it.

It would have been one thing if they had not been discovered, but with Xiao Wuge and the others following him, the matter was bound to reach the ears of several Xiao Family elders.

After all, the Xiao Family was a Marquis of Wu Family of Great Wei. For him, a live-in son-in-law, to wander the pleasure quarters of South of the City in broad daylight—being spared a beating was already an act of mercy.

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

The moment he was gone.

Large tears began rolling down Xiao Die's face, and she could no longer suppress her sobs.

"Son, Son-in-law, it's all my fault. I couldn't stop you..."

Seeing her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in rain, Chen Yi could not help but laugh.

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

"Y-you've been confined again, and you still have to undergo a Martial Path assessment. What part of that is good?"

"It's precisely because I'm confined that I won't be able to run around recklessly anymore. Think about it—won't you have nothing to worry about from now on?"

Xiao Die thought it over through teary eyes. That did seem to make sense.

She hurriedly wiped away her tears with her sleeve. A smile tried to break through her face, but she held it back, turning her whole face crimson.

"Son-in-law, you really are... you really are..."

What exactly he was, she could not put into words.

But having grown up in the Marquis's mansion, she had seen all kinds of people come and go—nobles and dignitaries, wealthy young masters, Xiucai and Juren scholars well-read in books. Not one of them had been like the son-in-law.

If one said he was learned, he certainly was, yet he was not arrogant because of his talent.

He read often, yet it was obvious he did not like reading. He merely used it to pass the time.

He also often said strange plainspoken things, yet every now and then he could say something quite profound... In any case, he was strange.

"If you're done crying, go see what the kitchen is making for lunch."

That single sentence had the little girl wipe her tears clean and trot out the door.

At this moment, Xiao Wuge, who had remained silent at the side, looked at Chen Yi acting as though nothing had happened and asked curiously:

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

"Depends." Chen Yi looked around, grabbed a fishing rod, and headed for the pond. "If there's nothing to do, leaving the Marquis's mansion is boring too."

Xiao Wuge followed him, carrying a fishing rod as well. After thinking for a moment, he smiled.

"I understand. Brother-in-law is right."

"What do you understand?"

"I understand that brother-in-law likes quiet and dislikes activity. You like fishing and drinking tea, and you don't like practicing martial arts or studying."

"I'll count that as correct..."

In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.

These days, Chen Yi had honestly remained in the Marquis's mansion, though he had not stayed entirely within Chunhe Garden.

His luck had been fairly good. During that time, three pieces of Daily Intelligence had happened to be within the Marquis's mansion.

He had Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die lead him around the manor, both to watch the lively happenings and to familiarize himself with the paths.

Though the intelligence was all about noisy squabbles and fights, and the rewards were not even as good as the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix body movement technique he had received outside Lihong Courtesan House that day, Chen Yi was still content.

At the very least, it was faster than relying on guaranteed Fortunes to improve while staying in Chunhe Garden as he had before.

Not only had he raised both "Martial Dao Fist" and the newly practiced "Martial Dao Step" to the Minor Accomplishment Realm, but his Collapsing Mountain Fist had also broken through to the Proficient Level. Even the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix body movement technique had made considerable progress.

Naturally, there was also his Cultivation Base.

After cultivating the Great Spear Stance Cultivation for this period, his Cultivation Base had already broken through from Ninth Rank · Lower to Ninth Rank · Middle.

The harvest had been plentiful.

That day, in the pavilion of Chunhe Garden.

A torrential rain poured from the sky, splashing down into the pond with a rushing clatter.

Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge sat side by side on the pavilion railing, one grown and one small, each holding a fishing rod and staring without blinking at their 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.

Resting her chin in her hand, she thought of the amusing events of the past few days, feeling somewhat strange.

She did not know whether it was an illusion, but whenever some noisy commotion broke out in the manor, the son-in-law always seemed to appear at once, cracking sunflower seeds as he watched the show.

Yet she did not even dare raise her head, afraid those people might vent their anger on her.

As she thought about it, a smile appeared on Xiao Die's face, and she asked softly:

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

"A Birthday Banquet... I really should prepare something."

Come to think of it, Chen Yi had been living in Xiao Manor for several months, yet he had not seen the Old Marquis even once.

He did not know whether the Old Marquis still held a grudge over his fleeing marriage or was busy with other matters. In any case, when Chen Yi had gone to pay his respects a few days earlier, he had been turned away.

So Chen Yi simply gave up on the idea. Staying in Chunhe Garden to drink tea and fish was quite nice too.

"By my count, Eldest Miss and Second Miss should be returning soon as well."

Chen Yi's ears twitched, and he suddenly realized.

For the Old Marquis's birthday, Xiao Jinghong truly had to return. He wondered what sort of attitude this wife of his would have after coming back.

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

Xiao Jinghong was unlikely to prepare any gift. When it mattered, he would still have to rely on himself, this live-in son-in-law.

Xiao Die thought for a moment. "Old Master likes wielding spears and staffs, but that was in the past. Now..."

Xiao Wuge turned his head and added, "Grandfather has been playing chess with several visiting grandfathers lately."

"Chess?" Chen Yi stroked his chin. He did not know how to play that.

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

During this period, his Running Script had improved considerably as well. Writing a Birthday Ode should be presentable enough.