Second Sister, You Mustn't!

Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Jinghong entered Qingjing Residence together to pay Old Marquis Xiao a visit.

No one was allowed within thirty paces of the surrounding area. Even Zhang Xuan, Duke of Gan, and Sun Fu, the former Provincial Governor, were temporarily asked to leave.

After Shen Huatang, Su Zhenyue, Xiao Die, and the others carried the gifts the two young ladies had brought into the residence, they stepped outside and stood guard by the door.

Facing Qingjing Residence, Zhang Xuan sat by the pond before the Main Hall in the Central Courtyard, playing chess with Sun Fu.

On the board before them, the Black Stones and White Stones each occupied four corners. Clearly, the game had only just begun.

Looking toward the gates of Qingjing Residence, Zhang Xuan sighed. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious."

Sun Fu glanced at him, then looked back over his shoulder with a genial smile. "Your Duke of Gan's Mansion is flourishing with descendants. What is there for you to envy Old Xiao over?"

"Heh. Plenty of descendants, but not many capable ones. Shao Jie has courage to spare but lacks strategy. He's headstrong and willful—there'll be plenty of suffering waiting for him down the road."

"So that's why you've been clinging to this old man's place?"

"You old fellow do see things clearly."

Zhang Xuan slapped a White Stone onto the board and let out a chuckle.

He truly had been entertaining thoughts of luring Sun Fu back to Jiaozhou.

As the saying went, having an elder at home was like having a treasure.

Sun Fu might be somewhat lacking when it came to schemes and strategy, but with his background as a Provincial Governor, he was a master at handling internal affairs.

With his assistance, at the very least, Duke of Gan's Mansion would not descend into chaos over money and grain for the next ten years.

"Are you going or not? Give me an answer."

"I'm not going." Sun Fu used a Black Stone to block the White Stones' vital point, refusing outright without a moment's thought.

"Why?"

"Wealth does not last beyond three generations. Why bother stirring things up?"

At that, Zhang Xuan glared at him. "Who are you talking about?"

Fearless, Sun Fu kept his eyes on the board and said evenly, "Rather than wasting your time here with this old man, you should think about how to properly educate Heng'er's generation."

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow. After pondering for a moment, he caught on. "You're saying Shao Jie is finished?"

"No breadth of mind, no courage, no brains. What do you think?"

"Heh, and how much better are you, you Old Thing? That one in your family..."

"A commoner in plain clothes, living a life free of worries—that is enough."

Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes, placed a stone with an angry huff, and began cursing under his breath.

"Damn it, when I get back, I'll find Heng'er a good teacher. I'll make you, you old fellow, look at him with new eyes."

Sun Fu smiled and answered with a Black Stone.

"They say one can see the old man in a child of three. In this old man's opinion, Wu Ge will surely have a brighter future than your Heng'er."

"Shut up. Play chess, play chess..."

Every family had its own difficult scripture to recite; many things were not fit to be spoken of to outsiders.

In the Inner Hall of Qingjing Residence, Old Marquis Xiao's delight at the arrival of his two granddaughters lasted only a moment.

"Jinghong, how is the training of the Three Towns New Army?"

"They have spirit, but their Cultivation Bases are slightly low. New-style weapons and armor are insufficient, horses are lacking, and money and grain are in short supply."

Xiao Jinghong spoke concisely, yet not a single word conveyed satisfaction.

Old Marquis Xiao frowned at her report. "Have you asked the Protectorate and the Supervision Court?"

Xiao Jinghong nodded. "After the memorial was submitted, the Minister of Land objected, saying that all the money and grain raised by the Ministry of Revenue this year already had their uses and could not be allocated to my Dingyuan Army."

"The Minister of War spoke a few words for us, but to little effect."

"In the end, His Majesty adopted the Minister of Land's proposal and allocated ten percent of Shuzhou Salt and Iron tax revenue toward the establishment of the new army."

Old Marquis Xiao's brows drew tightly together. Leaning back in his armchair, the hand pressing against the armrest trembled several times despite itself.

Xiao Wan'er, seated beside him, felt some pity when she saw it. But she also knew that they were discussing matters of great importance concerning the Dingyuan Army, so she did not say much.

After a moment of silence.

Old Marquis Xiao let out a sigh. "Such a small sum isn't even enough for military pay... What did the Protectorate say?"

Sitting Upright in her chair, Xiao Jinghong answered calmly, "They were unable to help."

She paused, then asked, "Grandfather, our Dingyuan Army now has three hundred thousand soldiers, with men eating and horses consuming. Money and grain are already stretched to the limit. As for those who have retired..."

Before she could finish, she saw a flicker of pain cross Old Marquis Xiao's eyes and immediately understood.

"I will properly arrange a place for the retired veterans."

Old Marquis Xiao was slightly stunned. "You have a way?"

"Recently, the Mountain Tribe and several others sent people to approach me about jointly building a Mutual Market. If it is managed properly, this granddaughter wishes to place some of the veterans there."

"Good, very good... A Mutual Market is good. It benefits the Thirteen Tribes, and it also benefits the three towns of our Dingyuan Army."

Old Marquis Xiao's expression visibly eased at her words.

After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Do you intend to inform the Protectorate of this matter?"

Xiao Jinghong shook her head. "They already have the Salt and Iron Monopoly in their grasp. Your granddaughter does not intend to let them meddle in the Mutual Market as well."

Old Marquis Xiao nodded lightly. "That is fine. The Xiao Family is now beset by troubles within and without. To support such a vast Dingyuan Army, we truly ought to have some selfish motives of our own."

Xiao Jinghong's eyes flickered. She very much wanted to correct him.

The Dingyuan Army was not the Xiao Family's private army, but the Imperial Court's troops.

Yet the Imperial Court provided neither money nor grain, leaving everything for them to fend for themselves. What sense was there in that?

But after thinking it over, she ultimately said nothing.

After a long while.

Old Marquis Xiao looked toward Xiao Wan'er. "How are things at home?"

Xiao Wan'er said with a smile, "Grandfather need not worry about the household. The medicinal herb business is doing well now, bringing in several thousand taels of silver each month."

"A few days ago, Uncle Dongchen put in some effort and called in favors to bring back a batch of medicinal herbs from Northern Prefecture. It will be enough to supply those Medicine Halls for half a year."

Old Marquis Xiao nodded. "That is good. With you there, and several people from the Second Branch helping out, I need not trouble myself too much over household matters."

Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Jinghong exchanged a glance. After chatting idly for a few more moments, they rose to leave.

"Jinghong, now that you have returned, stay at home for a while longer. As for your husband, Chen Yi..."

A smile appeared on Old Marquis Xiao's aged face. "He is not a bad man. Let the matter of fleeing marriage be water under the bridge."

Xiao Jinghong dipped into a curtsey. "Your granddaughter understands."

Xiao Wan'er immediately recalled that Graceful Spirit Ode, and a flush surfaced on her pale face.

As for her feelings, she was likely ashamed, angry, and vexed all at once, with no idea how to deal with it.

The two bade farewell to the old marquis and left Qingjing Residence together, preparing to return to Chunhe Garden.

Just then, a voice drifted over from afar. "Jinghong, Wan'er, it has been so long since we last met. Your elder brother has missed you dearly."

Xiao Jinghong's brows drew together slightly. With her keen hearing, she had known who was coming long ago. She had wanted to retreat inside with her sister, never expecting him to be so relentlessly persistent.

Xiao Wan'er looked at Xiao Jinghong. Seeing that she had no intention of speaking, she dipped into a curtsey toward the newcomer. "Elder Brother, I trust you have been well."

"Well, well, hahaha..."

Before the man arrived, his voice did. Then they saw a tall young man in dark green brocade striding swiftly toward them.

He was strikingly handsome, with a square face, thick brows, and large eyes. Only his bronze-colored skin revealed that he had long endured wind and sun.

When Shen Huatang, Su Zhenyue, and the others saw him, they all bowed. "Greetings, General Li."

Li Changqing, Tiebi Town Commander of the Dingyuan Army, waved a hand. "No need for such ceremony. We are all family."

As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Jinghong and Xiao Wan'er with a smile. "You have just gone to see Old Master?"

"Yes." Xiao Jinghong glanced at him. "We still have matters to attend to. Elder Brother, please do as you please."

Seeing that she was about to leave, Li Changqing reached out to stop her. "Sister Jinghong, I missed your wedding a few days ago. How about I make it up to you later?"

"There is no need."

Xiao Jinghong answered coldly, then supported Xiao Wan'er as she turned and left.

Li Changqing watched them depart, still smiling as he called after them from afar, "Give my brother-in-law my regards."

Xiao Jinghong ignored him entirely, but Xiao Wan'er seemed to want to speak, only to hesitate.

"Second Sister, you and Elder Brother Changqing..."

"No need to pay him any mind. He only needs to do his duty."

"Oh."

The group crossed the Central Courtyard and entered the long corridor of the rear courtyard. Xiao Jinghong's brows furrowed once more.

At its far end, Xiao Wang and Xiao Qiuyun stood waiting with several armored soldiers.

Xiao Wan'er sighed inwardly, though a smile appeared on her face. "Second Grandfather, it has been a long time. Have you been in good health?"

"You trouble yourself to remember me, Wan'er."

"Wan'er greets Aunt Qiuyun."

After they had exchanged greetings, Xiao Wang braced both hands upon his cane and spoke evenly. "Jinghong, you have not returned for a long time. There are a few things I must say."

Xiao Jinghong dipped into a curtsey. "Please speak, Second Grandfather."

"Your husband's recent actions have been somewhat excessive. How do you intend to deal with him?"

Seeing the coldness in Xiao Jinghong's eyes, Xiao Qiuyun immediately tried to smooth things over. "Father means that he hopes you will discipline him more strictly, lest he do anything improper."

Xiao Wang's expression turned stern. "What I mean is—punish him severely!"

Xiao Wan'er took Xiao Jinghong's hand, afraid that she might clash with an elder.

But Xiao Jinghong had already spoken. "Though my husband may be somewhat rash, matters are not as serious as Second Grandfather claims."

Xiao Wang frowned slightly. Just as he was about to speak again, she continued, "Jinghong knows that Second Grandfather now oversees the Disciplinary Hall, and that many matters are handled with the Xiao Family's interests in mind."

"But I hope you will heed Jinghong's advice: as for Husband's affairs, simply pretend you never saw them."

"You..."

Before Xiao Wang could speak, Xiao Qiuyun hurriedly took his hand and said with a smile, "Father should listen to Jinghong. Why should you worry over the affairs of a young married couple?"

Then her tone shifted. "But Jinghong, you must have heard about the things Chen Yi has been doing lately, haven't you?"

Xiao Jinghong nodded. "I have."

Xiao Qiuyun smiled. "Then why not hear what Aunt has in mind?"

"Just as you said, Chen Yi is merely somewhat reckless by nature; his character is not bad. And he has some talent as well. Why not have Uncle Dongchen and me find him something to do?"

"There just happens to be an opening for a Registrar at the Provincial Administration. The post is not a high one..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Jinghong cut her off in an indifferent tone. "Aunt is now the Duchess of Gan. It would be better for you not to meddle too much in the family's affairs."

With that, she paid the others no further heed and led Xiao Wan'er straight through the corridor.

Xiao Qiuyun's face darkened. Xiao Wang was so furious that his eyes turned red, yet he could not utter a single word.

Xiao Wan'er sighed inwardly, but she did not know how to persuade her Second Sister.

As for Shen Huatang, Xiao Die, and the others, they scarcely dared breathe.

When the two of them reached the entrance to Chunhe Garden, Xiao Jinghong seemed to have pondered it all the way there before suddenly saying, "Sister, on careful thought, what Aunt Qiuyun said does make some sense."

"Husband's talent is indeed being wasted by keeping him at home all the time. But the Provincial Administration truly is unsuitable. How about having him assist you instead?"

Xiao Wan'er opened her mouth at this. "Th-this..."

Second Sister, you mustn't.