Just Like You, Pei Guanli

At nightfall, the once tranquil Marquis Dingyuan's Estate became lively.

Especially Qingjing Residence.

Old Marquis Xiao Yuan sat at the head, with Duke of Gan Zhang Xuan, who looked eager to watch the show, and the thoughtful Sun Fu beside him.

On the other side sat Second Master Xiao Wang of the Xiao Family, Second Master Xiao Xuanshuo, as well as Xiao Dongchen and Xiao Qiuyun of the Second Branch.

Yet compared to the Old Marquis's calm, everyone else wore furious expressions.

They were silent for a while.

Old Marquis Xiao slowly spoke. "Wuge, did Chen Yi really do that?"

Xiao Wuge stood in the hall with his head hanging. "Grandfather, brother-in-law only did that as an act. It was for the Third Place Scholar..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Xuanshuo exploded in fury. "Showing off, is he!"

"How can an outsider interfere in another family's matters? And with how recklessly he acted, did he ever consider the impact it would have on our Xiao Family?"

"If outsiders learn of this, what will they think of our Xiao Family?"

Old Marquis Xiao raised a hand to signal him to be quiet, then looked at Xiao Wang beside him. "Second, you're in charge of the Disciplinary Hall. What do you think?"

Xiao Wang looked somewhat younger than him. Sitting upright in an armchair in a black brocade robe, both hands gripping the handle of his cane, he said coldly:

"This isn't the first time he's behaved this way."

"Setting aside his earlier flight from marriage, the last time he left the mansion, he actually ran off to Yanhuaxiang south of the city. This time was even worse—he dared to forcibly seize a woman. What will he do next?"

He looked at the Old Marquis and said expressionlessly, "In my view, fifty lashes and expulsion from the family."

Old Marquis Xiao's eyes flickered as he looked toward Duke of Gan Zhang Xuan and Sun Fu on the other side.

Before he could speak, Zhang Xuan said in a strange tone, "Don't look at me. I'm an outsider—I wouldn't dare interfere in your family matters."

Xiao Xuanshuo opened his mouth, immediately growing frustrated.

Sun Fu, however, looked around and broke into a grin. "Brother Xiao, this grandson-in-law of yours really is quite an interesting person."

"Oh?" Old Marquis Xiao winked subtly.

How could Sun Fu fail to understand what he meant? He secretly cursed the old thing a few times. The old thing wanted to play the good guy and make him play the bad guy.

"Though he was somewhat rash in this matter, look at it now. Neither the Third Place Scholar nor his family has come to the door, which means the outcome must have fulfilled their wishes."

"Perhaps when people mention this in the future, not only will they not say Chen Yi overstepped his bounds—they may even praise it as a fine tale."

Noticing the unfriendly looks from Second Master Xiao and the others, Sun Fu coughed. "After all, Li Huaigu is this year's Tanhua. If his wishes are fulfilled, then in the future, he and your Xiao Family..."

He left the rest unsaid.

But he had already made it clear: by befriending Li Huaigu on this trip, Chen Yi had helped the Xiao Family form a good connection with the Third Place Scholar.

Xiao Wuge nodded repeatedly, just short of blurting out, "Yes, yes, yes."

As for Xiao Wang, Xiao Xuanshuo, and the others, they all frowned deeply. This was simply twisted logic—who formed a good connection like this?

Besides, their Xiao Family had two hundred years of heritage in Shuzhou. Others had always fawned over them; when had they ever been reduced to taking the initiative to befriend a mere Third Place Scholar?

But seeing that the Old Marquis said nothing, they all understood his meaning.

Xiao Qiuyun looked left and right, then smiled. "Uncle Sun makes sense. That Third Place Scholar will soon enter the Shuzhou Provincial Administration and serve as an official alongside Elder Brother. Resolving his concerns does indeed count as a good connection."

Xiao Dongchen's eyes flickered. Nodding in agreement, he said, "Little Sister is right. Uncle, Father, what do you say?"

Xiao Wang gave a cold snort and closed his eyes to rest.

Old Marquis Xiao glanced at him, then waved a hand. "Since that's the case, let this matter be handled as before. Once Jinghong returns home, she can decide."

"However, after several incidents in a row, I think Chen Yi should stay in the mansion for now. As for Wang Lixing and the others, have them stand guard outside Chunhe Garden."

At this, Xiao Wang immediately stood up with his cane. After taking two steps, he turned his head and said, "Eldest Brother, don't blame me for not warning you—the Disciplinary Hall still exists in this family!"

With that, he walked out the door with a cold expression.

Seeing this, Xiao Qiuyun and Xiao Dongchen bowed to the Old Marquis, then followed him out under the excuse of going to persuade him.

In a moment, Qingjing Residence became much quieter.

Looking at his two old friends, Old Marquis Xiao shook his head with a bitter smile. "You've seen something embarrassing."

Zhang Xuan lounged lazily against his chair. "What is there to be embarrassed about? When you were young, you behaved even more outrageously than that boy Chen. Never saw you laugh at yourself."

Old Marquis Xiao's face darkened. "You old fellow..."

"Am I wrong? Have you forgotten how you took this old man to visit brothels back then?"

"Shut up!"

He knew that old fellow never had a single good word in his mouth.

Used to the two of them, Sun Fu glanced outside and said, "Old Xiao, a digression."

"Mm?"

"Your grandson-in-law joining the Xiao Family may not be a bad thing."

Seeing his serious expression, Old Marquis Xiao thought for a moment, then nodded as sudden realization dawned on him.

"What are you two talking around in riddles for?"

"Can't say..."

Chen Yi had long expected this outcome, so it was not something he could not accept.

The Xiao Family was, after all, a hereditary family of Marquises of Military in Great Wei. It was only natural for them to value their standing and reputation.

Thus, after comforting Xiao Die, Xiao Wuge, Wang Lixing, and the others, he ate and slept as though nothing had happened.

Outside Chunhe Garden.

Wang Lixing wore a bitter expression as he gazed at the moon and sighed.

The other armored soldiers were much the same. Only Ge Laosan differed, clicking his tongue without pause.

"You didn't see the scene back there. If we hadn't run fast enough and those people had caught us, a vicious beating would have been the least of it."

"And that Third Place Scholar really struck gold when he ran into the Son-in-law. If it had been anyone else... how could he possibly have ended up in such a situation? Don't you agree?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Liu Si'er, leaning against the wall beside him, looked utterly annoyed.

Had he known it would turn out like this, he never would have agreed to be Chen Yi's "accomplice."

Now he had been dragged into standing guard outside Chunhe Garden, with Wang Lixing and the others watching beside him. Whatever thoughts he had, he had to swallow them all.

Seeing his expression, Ge Laosan sheepishly shut his mouth.

After a moment, he recalled something and said, "Fourth Brother, I heard a pretty maidservant went to your room today. Those two coachmen were green with envy."

Liu Si'er froze, his heart jolting in alarm. Once he understood, he forced himself to remain calm and asked, "Went to my room? When?"

"Not long after we left the Marquis's mansion. You didn't know?"

"Oh, her..."

"Tell us, who was she?"

Liu Si'er shot him a glance but did not answer. Instead, he cupped his hands toward Wang Lixing and said he wanted to go back and fetch some things to get through the night.

"Go early and come back early. Second Master and Second Young Master have spoken—this time, they mean it."

"Don't worry."

Watching him walk away, Ge Laosan chuckled. "Brother Xing, do you believe Fourth Brother definitely has someone in his heart now?"

Wang Lixing glanced at him. "Fourth Brother said something that wasn't wrong."

"What?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Leaving aside the gloomy mood outside Chunhe Garden, Liu Si'er hurried back to his room, lit a candle, and looked around.

Seeing nothing unusual in the surroundings, he went to the bedside, bent down, and lifted a floor brick beneath the bed. When he saw that the Secret Letters inside were all there and undamaged, he finally let out a breath of relief.

Then he took out the newest Secret Letter and compared it against a playbook as he read.

[You have been exposed. Find that person and kill him!]

[Also, the Fledgling has been taken over by someone else. He will contact you when necessary!]

After reading it, Liu Si'er's face immediately filled with killing intent. "Who was it?!"

Late at night, once Xiao Manor had quieted down.

After dozing for a while, Chen Yi quietly rose and made his way into another wooden building.

At the sight of him, Pei Guanli came over as though seeking credit.

"You found something?"

"Brother-in-law, you can rest easy when I'm handling things."

"Tell me."

After Pei Guanli finished recounting what had happened, Chen Yi stared blankly at her. "You just strutted around the Marquis's mansion that openly?"

Recalling what had happened that morning, Pei Guanli laughed nonstop. "They were all so stupid. Not a single one noticed me."

Just like you, Pei Guanli.

Chen Yi secretly shook his head. He had known she was bold, but he had not expected her to be this bold.

Next time, no matter what... forget it. He still needed her help with something.

"Where's the list?"

"Here." Pei Guanli pulled out a slip of paper from her clothes and handed it to him. "I turned his room upside down. I even dug out the slips of paper beneath his bed and copied everything down."

Chen Yi unfolded it and looked it over. They were all common miscellaneous books, playbooks, and the like...

Wait.

He looked at the final string of Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and numbers, then couldn't help turning to Pei Guanli and asking:

"You said something about a slip of paper just now?"

"Yes, it was the same as the previous Secret Letter."

"You put them all back where they belonged, right?"

"Of course." Pei Guanli grinned. "Brother-in-law, aren't I amazing?"

"Amazing. You're the most amazing."

Chen Yi rolled his eyes and began following the list of names on the paper, pulling them out one by one from the Study Room and comparing them against the Secret Letter's contents in an attempt to decipher it.

"So it's this opera script—Huangmei Opera... Not bad taste."