Who dares to be so bold?

Meanwhile, at a tailor shop in the West Market of Shu Prefecture.

Outside, traffic flowed like water; inside, it was no less bustling.

Several groups of masters and servants, from families of varying wealth, entered together, keeping the shop's apprentices extremely busy.

While arranging for the female apprentices to take their measurements, they also took out finished sample garments to introduce to them.

A lively scene, with women chattering and bustling about.

Behind the counter, however, the shopkeeper, dressed in a plain gray long gown with an ordinary face, frowned at a note beneath the table.

"Jia San, Ding Shi Wu... I you get out of the Marquis's Estate. If I catch you plotting behind my back again, I'll show no mercy!"

The shopkeeper read the note word by word, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Who dared to be so bold as to insult my 'Hidden Guard'?

Could it be that those Iron Banner officials were discovered by the Xiao Family's secret guards, or by the Old Marquis and the others?

That shouldn't be it.

Even if these aristocratic families and Martial Marquis nobles discovered something, they wouldn't act so rashly.

Especially a Martial Marquis and general's family like the Xiao Family.

Given their usual methods, if they discovered the location of the 'Hidden Guard', they would undoubtedly use thunderous means to capture them all.

"It seems the Silver Banner official's guess was correct. Someone else is targeting the Xiao Family."

Barbarian scouts?

The demonic cults from the northern demon lands, or perhaps local Shu Prefecture aristocratic families, mountain tribes?

Any of them were possible.

"It's just that their methods have become so crude lately?"

The shopkeeper slowly refolded the secret letter. After careful consideration, he signaled the apprentices in the shop to attend to the customers and then quickly walked back into the inner part of the shop.

He took out a widely circulated Huangmei opera script, "Dong Wan's Journey", opened it, and compared the contents with the note.

"The fledgling bird is content in the Xiao Manor, fishing and writing daily. However, rumors suggest his poems reveal dissatisfaction, indicating he is lying low. Also, last night a thief infiltrated the Xiao Manor; their identity is unknown."

After comparing, the shopkeeper read it once and then burned the translated content.

He then took out another opera script, used it to compare, and wrote a new secret letter with the translated text and his own thoughts.

He then scanned the room, slowly walked into the deep warehouse, lifted a hidden compartment, took out a carrier pigeon inside, and attached the two secret letters to the bamboo tube on its leg.

After the pigeon flapped its wings and flew away, the shopkeeper rubbed his face, put on a shrewd smile, and walked towards the front hall.

This matter was of great importance and needed to be decided by the Silver Banner official.

In the Xiao Family's Chunhe Garden.

Chen Yi looked at Zhang Heng, who appeared displeased, and then at Xiao Wuge, asking:

"Your Highness the Heir Apparent is so noble, how could you condescend to come here?"

Zhang Heng thought he was complimenting him and looked up at him, "Runaway groom, you know that."

"I didn't want to come either, but my mother insisted... ordered me to come here and play for a few days."

Xiao Wuge gave Chen Yi a fawning smile, then glared at Zhang Heng, "Call him brother-in-law, you're rude!"

"I won't! I'll call him runaway groom, runaway groom..."

Seeing Xiao Wuge about to say more, Chen Yi waved his hand, "Forget it, Your Highness the Heir Apparent, as long as you're happy."

"See? It's the runaway groom who knows proper etiquette. Little brother Wu Ge, learn from him."

Well, if it were a well-mannered Young Marquis, Chen Yi could still handle it.

But Zhang Heng was clearly a child spoiled by his elders since childhood, showing arrogance towards everyone, which was a headache.

"Your mother ordered it? Xiao Qiuyun?"

Thinking of that phoenix who had soared to a higher branch, Chen Yi had Xiao Die take Zhang Heng to the pavilion to fish first.

He then pulled Xiao Wuge aside to inquire about the Old Marquis's and the others' reactions.

Xiao Wuge smiled and recounted the whole story.

At his young age, he could still remember everyone's words and recount them so vividly; it was truly not easy.

"Brother-in-law, Grandfather said he forgives you."

After listening, Chen Yi paused, "That's all?"

"That's all. Grandfather only said that much, but I could tell they all really liked the birthday congratulatory poem you wrote."

Chen Yi could see that too.

He thought about it, shook his head inwardly, and didn't say anything more.

Although it was different from his expectations, being able to mend his relationship with the Old Marquis Xiao was still a good outcome.

At least his previous act of fleeing the marriage should be water under the bridge with the Xiao Family.

Thus, three to five days passed.

With the addition of the "heir apparent," Chunhe Garden was much livelier than before.

From time to time, one could hear Zhang Heng and Xiao Wuge's verbal sparring, back and forth, neither giving way.

They argued over fishing rods, or a piece of pastry or meat, completely lacking the brotherly affection expected from those from noble families.

This change left Chen Yi somewhat helpless, but he obviously couldn't lecture two half-grown children. He only privately advised Xiao Wuge:

"It takes a devil to tame a devil. Don't let anyone take advantage of you."

When facing someone like the Young Heir Apparent, the more you yielded, the more he would push his luck.

Therefore, Zhang Heng hadn't caused much trouble in Chunhe Garden these past few days.

Chen Yi, too, was as usual.

He would wake up before dawn to practice his stance for an hour, then after breakfast, he would practice his running script calligraphy.

After a nap of an hour, he would spend the afternoon fishing and drinking tea, and at night, he would secretly go to the purple bamboo forest to practice his fist techniques and movement skills.

However, only his Profound Tier movement skill, Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix, had seen a breakthrough in these past few days.

Of course, his other cultivation techniques and skills were also steadily improving.

One night.

Chen Yi was practicing Collapsing Mountain Fist. Sweat stained his light, thin robe, and the surging blood and Qi made his face flush slightly.

After completing the entire set of fist techniques, faint wisps of white mist rose from his head, a result of the churning Qi within his body.

Pei Guanli, who was squatting nearby, eagerly handed him a towel. "Brother-in-law, your fist technique is getting more and more powerful. Teach me, teach me..."

Chen Yi wiped the sweat from his body. "This fist technique is too fierce; it's not suitable for you."

"Then what kind of skill do you think is suitable for me, brother-in-law?"

"I remember you said you learned a cultivation technique passed down from your tribe. Just keep practicing it."

Pei Guanli pouted and mumbled, "If I could train it successfully, I would have broken through to the Eighth Rank Realm long ago."

"What?"

"N-nothing, brother-in-law. I mean, my aptitude is dull."

"Then you should practice even more," Chen Yi flicked her forehead and pointed to an empty space beside them.

"Come on, demonstrate your stance training and techniques so I can take a look."

Pei Guanli's eyes lit up. "Brother-in-law, you're willing to guide me?"

"For your sister Jinghong's sake, I'll reluctantly take a look. I'm not promising any results, though."

"No, no..."

As she spoke, Pei Guanli's expression turned serious. She brought her legs together, raised her hands to the sky, and took a deep breath.

Soon, her chest and abdomen began to rise and fall like waves, and the bell on her neck jingled continuously with her stance training.

Chen Yi watched for a moment longer, then steadied his mind, carefully observing the surging Qi around her and comparing it with his own Great Spear Stance Cultivation and the profound principles of "Martial Way: Body."

Pei Guanli's stance training is likely of a high grade, at least Profound Tier, perhaps even stronger.

However, her foundation is not solid enough. Her breath is clearly unstable, with noticeable pauses when she inhales and exhales.

Thinking this, Chen Yi asked Pei Guanli to stop and continue demonstrating her techniques and movement skills.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Pei Guanli finished her demonstration and looked at him expectantly, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Brother-in-law, did you see anything?"

"I did," Chen Yi rolled his eyes. "You were beaten too little when you were a child."

"Huh?"

"What 'huh'? Stand your stance first."

Pei Guanli let out a soft "oh" and obediently stood up to perform her wave-like stance training.

Just as Chen Yi was about to step forward, he hesitated, then found a long, thin bamboo stick and used it to point out the flaws in her stance.

"You're too eager for success. Your Dantian's Qi sea isn't fully opened, and the Qi within your body isn't enough to fully clear your four main meridians."

"Also, you haven't trained this part thoroughly. Your tendons, bones, and skin should be unified throughout your body."

Pei Guanli looked at the bamboo stick, which was frozen just below the edge of her bell. A faint blush crept onto her round face as she couldn't help but argue, "When I was little, I was still young..."