Xiao Jinghong walked into the Wooden Tower, closed the door, glanced at Chen Yi through the latticework, then climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Just as she was about to push open the wooden door to the side room, her earlobe twitched. She vaguely heard a faint, slow thumping sound.
She looked over the empty hall below, thought for a moment, then reached out and pushed open the door. She took two steps in place and quietly waited for something.
A moment later.
Pei Guanli, hiding in the study room, heard the sound and let out a breath of relief.
Why had Sister Jinghong come back at a time like this? She had not even had time to hide in advance.
With that thought, she smoothed down her wildly thumping little heart, covered the bell beneath her neck with her palm, and quietly shuffled outward on her bare feet.
Who would have thought that the moment she reached the stairs and raised her head to check on the side room, she would meet a pair of bright eyes hidden behind Silver Half-Armor.
Pei Guanli froze, then broke into a grin. Her two tiger teeth made her look especially adorable.
"Sister Jinghong, welcome home, hehe..."
Xiao Jinghong looked at her calmly until her smile turned into an awkward dry laugh. Only then did she say, "Come inside and talk."
With that, she turned and entered the side room.
Pei Guanli's posture sagged, and the smile vanished from her face. "Sigh, I still couldn't get away..."
She looked at Chen Yi, who was squatting beside the pond and washing his hands, then thought better of asking him for help.
Her brother-in-law's talent on the Martial Path was indeed high, but with his Cultivation Base, even if the two of them were tied together, they would not match a single finger of Sister Jinghong's.
Pei Guanli sighed, Hanging Her Head as she went upstairs and entered the side room.
The instant she closed the door, she immediately skipped over with a playful grin. "Sister Jinghong, aren't you happy to see me here? Hmm? Hmm?"
Xiao Jinghong sat before the table, her gaze sweeping over the messy bed beside them without saying a word.
Pei Guanli's smile stiffened again. "Well, I'm only staying here temporarily... I'll fold the quilt later, I promise!"
Xiao Jinghong stared at her for a moment before saying, "No need. The maidservants in the mansion will throw them away."
"..."
Pei Guanli grumbled to herself, then sat beside her with puffed cheeks, wearing an expression that said, "This is just how I am, do whatever you want with me."
Xiao Jinghong would not actually do anything to her. In an even tone, she asked, "Does Husband know you are here?"
"He knows... no, he doesn't."
After saying that, Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and could only nod. "Brother-in-law knows I'm here. He's been bringing me food these past few days."
Xiao Jinghong gave a hum. "Tell me what you have all been doing."
Thinking of all the things she and Chen Yi had done over the past few days, Pei Guanli fought back a smile and said with a straight face, "We haven't done anything."
"Do you think I would believe that?"
"We really haven't done anything. That's the truth."
After hearing that, Xiao Jinghong merely looked at her calmly.
Yet this time, she discovered that Pei Guanli was no longer as guilty and frightened as before. There was even a trace of smugness in her expression.
Because of Chen Yi?
Xiao Jinghong had originally thought Chen Yi would suffer a little in Pei Guanli's hands, but it seemed that was not the case.
That made her think of Xiao Die, who had spoken up for Chen Yi outside the Mounting Shop against Mr. Yue Ming, and Wang Lixing, who had still offered an explanation despite knowing her temperament.
It seemed that during this period, Husband had gotten along very well with all of them. Even Pei Guanli herself had changed somewhat.
Thinking of this.
Xiao Jinghong's lips moved faintly. "Then tell me how you met Husband."
"I snuck in directly, and then I met my brother-in-law."
"When?"
"A few days after I met you."
"More specifically, was it morning, afternoon, or night?"
"Of course it was at night..."
Faced with that string of questions, Pei Guanli's toes unconsciously curled against the smooth, spotless floor as she silently encouraged herself.
Don't worry, brother-in-law. I promise I won't reveal anything else, including your secret.
Chen Yi, washing his hands by the pond, was not reassured in the slightest.
That Tiger Girl Pei Guanli would not sell him out, would she?
In truth, there were only two things he wanted to keep hidden.
One was his Cultivation Base and talent on the Martial Path. The other was Liu Si'er, Uncle Gui, and that group of "Hidden Guards."
Other than that, he was not afraid of Xiao Jinghong finding out.
After turning it over in his mind.
Chen Yi was left with only one barefaced notion—if Xiao Jinghong truly forced him to do something he disliked, he could simply leave the Marquis's mansion.
Though it would be somewhat dangerous for him to travel outside with his current Cultivation Base on the Martial Path, as long as he was careful, the world was vast enough for him to go anywhere.
Could a living man really be choked to death by his own urine?
After washing his hands clean, Chen Yi looked at Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Wuge, and Zhang Heng, who were sitting upright in the pavilion. After some thought, he walked directly over.
Who would have thought that as soon as he drew closer, he would hear Xiao Wuge chattering excitedly:
"Eldest sister, brother-in-law is amazing."
"The poems and lyrics he wrote made Grandfather happy for days. His calligraphy is amazing too. I heard the Birthday Ode he wrote last time was stolen from the Mounting Shop."
"And, and, the things he said too! For example, when he told the Third Place Scholar about this imperial examination's question, the answer was, 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' Even the Third Place Scholar admired him."
"And Man can conquer nature, and the prejudices in people's hearts..."
"That's all, that's all!"
Hearing this, Chen Yi hurried into the pavilion and directly cut off their conversation, saying with a smile:
"Wu Ge, Eldest Sister has just returned to the mansion, so she must be tired. We shouldn't disturb her too much, right?"
Trouble could come from anywhere.
He had not expected Pei Guanli to cause him no trouble yet, while Xiao Wuge, the one closest to him, had already become a traitor.
Had he not seen Xiao Wan'er's eyes light up?
If this little traitor kept talking, he feared the Marquis's mansion would soon arrange for him to put his remaining heat to use.
Seeing that Xiao Wuge actually obediently shut his mouth and nodded, Xiao Wan'er looked at Chen Yi and said gently:
"I must trouble Brother-in-law for taking care of Wu Ge these past days. He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"
"The Young Heir Apparent has been very well-behaved." Chen Yi patted Xiao Wuge's head and signaled to him. "You were just clamoring to go fishing. I got the earthworms for you, so go on."
Xiao Wuge glanced at him, then answered and ran off to fish nearby.
Young Heir Apparent Zhang Heng's eyes shifted. He grabbed another fishing rod and obediently sat beside him.
If only his eldest cousin were here, he could still make a fuss.
But now that his second cousin had returned, he had better stay far away.
There was no other reason.
He was simply afraid.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Xiao Wan'er's delicate, pale face. It seemed her decision to let Wu Ge follow Brother-in-law had been the right one.
If Wu Ge could remain as peaceful as this after going to Jinling, staying in the residence to fish and drink tea, it would be a joyous matter for the Xiao Family.
With that thought, Xiao Wan'er gestured for Chen Yi to sit. She picked up the Brocade Box containing the Birthday Ode from beside her and said:
"On the way back to the mansion, Second Sister and I happened to meet Xiao Die and the others. We brought the Calligraphy Copybook back along the way, and we also came across something interesting."
Chen Yi looked at her without the slightest attempt at concealment and asked with a smile, "What interesting thing?"
Holding the Brocade Box, Xiao Wan'er stroked it with her pale jade-like hand and began, "Mr. Yue Ming of Guiyun Academy..."
After hearing her account, Chen Yi could not help laughing.
He had originally thought the "Running Script style" would only spread after the Old Marquis's Birthday Banquet. He had not expected someone to notice it so quickly.
And it was Mr. Yue Ming, the great Confucian scholar with a considerable reputation in Shuzhou.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Wan'er could not help asking, "Brother-in-law, was this calligraphy... truly written by you?"
It was not that she disbelieved Xiao Die and the others. She simply wanted to hear Chen Yi confirm it himself.
After all, the calligraphy in this Calligraphy Copybook was far too rare, and the more skilled one was at calligraphy, the more one would care about such things.
Chen Yi was forthright as well, nodding in admission. "It was indeed written by me."
Xiao Wan'er felt relieved, her face lighting up with joy. "With such calligraphy, Brother-in-law, your name will surely spread throughout the Great Wei Dynasty."
"Perhaps in the future, many people of Mr. Yue Ming's standing will come to the door, seeking only a Calligraphic Masterpiece from you."
Chen Yi froze. Would that not mean an endless stream of troublesome matters coming to his door?
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