Looking at the dumbstruck Yang Rong, Su Zhouyue said mildly, "You needn't worry now, madam. In my opinion, Feng Chu is sure to achieve great things in the future."
Yang Rong clenched the handkerchief in her hand, nearly grinding her teeth to pieces, yet still had to pretend to be considerate and magnanimous. "Really? Then may your kind words come true."
Yang Rong was in no hurry to leave, so Su Zhouyue kindly asked, "Was there something else, madam? Would you like to stay for a simple meal?"
"No!"
Yang Rong turned and left. This Su Zhouyue was a tiger with a smiling face, every word stabbing straight into her heart!
Her personal serving matron hurried over to support her.
Once they were in the carriage, the matron asked, "Madam, shall we return to the marquis's residence?"
Yang Rong snapped impatiently, "What for? Go to the city gates to meet the marquis."
"Yes."
Yang Rong thought darkly, So what if Feng Chu went? I already had Ying'er get there ahead of him. When the time comes, I'll stir things up with a few words. There's no fear the marquis won't loathe Feng Chu.
At this thought, Yang Rong smiled.
After Yang Rong left, the onlookers dispersed as well.
Standing on the steps, Su Zhouyue deliberately teased Tong Aning. "Who's this? She's had her fill of the spectacle, yet still won't come home?"
Tong Aning went over to Su Zhouyue with a grin, linked arms with her, and nuzzled against her. "Mother's good daughter, of course."
Su Zhouyue couldn't stop laughing.
The two walked into the residence together.
As they walked, Su Zhouyue asked, "Aning, Fengye said you got out of the carriage partway. What did you go to do?"
Tong Aning said, "Buy something."
"What was it?" Tong Fengye came over, sounding jealous. "You even had to buy it behind your third brother's back."
I can't exactly say I bought a slingshot and shot a pebble into Prince Yong's residence.
What???
Unable to conceal the shock in his eyes, Tong Fengye looked at Su Zhouyue. Her lips were pressed together and her arm was faintly trembling-a sure sign she was about to fly into a rage.
What should I do?
Maybe I should... save my little sister.
Tong Fengye gritted his teeth and threw caution to the wind.
"Mother, the teacher wants you to come to the Imperial Academy."
Both Su Zhouyue and Tong Aning were distracted. Su Zhouyue frowned and asked, "What for?"
Tong Fengye scratched his cheek and lowered his head sheepishly. "I kept zoning out in class today."
Sure enough, Su Zhouyue flew into a rage. "Tong Fengye, your hide's getting tough again, is it!"
"Mother, spare me!"
Su Zhouyue chased Tong Fengye all around the courtyard, having long since tossed Tong Aning's matter to the back of her mind.
Tong Fengye: Little sister successfully rescued.
That night.
Tong Aning hadn't slept well the night before, so she went to bed early.
Looking at Tong Aning's peaceful face, Su Zhouyue lowered the bed curtains, then checked every window.
Only after making sure they were all shut did she feel reassured enough to leave Tong Aning's room and head to the study.
The study was brightly lit.
Everyone in the Tong family was there except Tong Aning.
Su Zhouyue looked at Tong Fengye. "Go on, then."
Tong Fengye said, "...About what?"
"Why your little sister shot a pebble into Prince Yong's residence, of course."
Tong Fengye muttered, "I'm not a roundworm in Fourth Sister's belly."
"Tong Fengye, I didn't catch you this afternoon, but now..." Su Zhouyue raised her brows. "Do you think your father and eldest brother can hold you down?"
Urgh!
Tong Fengye suddenly felt his backside ache a little. Pulling a long face, he said, "Wasn't this already behind us?"
Su Zhouyue said, "That was an act."
Tong Fengye: "..."
He huffed. "Old ginger really is the spiciest."
Su Zhouyue glanced at him and said clearly, "Don't say I didn't warn you. Your sister has quite the divine ability now. The more people know, the more eyes will be on her. Your father already has plenty of enemies at court. If they abduct Aning..."
Frightened pale by Su Zhouyue's words, Tong Fengye hurriedly said, "She might have gone to tell the Heir of Prince Yong that someone wants to kill him."
Tong Fengye told them the whole story.
Su Zhouyue said, "That really is possible."
Su Zhouyue and Tong Aobai knew their daughter well. Tong Aning would bring home even stray kittens and puppies soaked in the rain. She couldn't possibly stand by and watch the Heir of Prince Yong be killed.
"Prince Yong's residence looks deserted from the outside, but its depths are unfathomable. Perhaps Aning had already caught the eye of the Heir of Prince Yong when she went to deliver the message."
Seeing the worry on his wife's face, Tong Aobai added, "But he knew and did nothing. Perhaps he accepted Aning's kindness."
Su Zhouyue nodded, though she remained worried. "Let's hope so."
Tong Fengye cut in. "Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Sister, Fifth Sister, have you noticed that the people who can hear Aning's thoughts are all kindhearted?"
After thinking it over, Tong Fengye added, "At least, they're people who bear Fourth Sister no ill will."
"That's a good thing, too. If bad people heard her, who knows what they'd do to Aning?"
Having said that, Su Zhouyue inwardly sighed with relief. She looked at Tong Aobai and nudged his elbow. "How are things going with Lin Yu?"
Tong Aobai looked at Tong Yibin, who said, "Lin Yu has close dealings with the Eastern Palace. He's probably one of the crown prince's men."
Tong Aobai asked, "What else?"
"I can't investigate any further."
Tong Fengye's eyes went wide. "Why?"
"Otherwise, I'll be one of the crown prince's men, too."
Tong Fengye: "..."
He looked at everyone else and found that they all seemed to understand.
Tong Yibin said, "Read more books."
Tong Fengye: "..."
First the Heir of Prince Yong, now the crown prince. The marquis's household would probably be dragged into this sooner or later. What mattered most of all was Aning's safety!
Seeing everyone weighed down with worries, even Little Five wearing a miserable expression, Tong Siyan said, "Fourth Sister's situation isn't necessarily a bad thing. Besides, what could compare to our whole family working as one?"
Su Zhouyue nodded. "In any case, your father and eldest brother can handle the court, while Siyan and I can handle the inner household. As for the Imperial Academy..."
Su Zhouyue patted Tong Fengye's shoulder. "That's all up to you."
Tong Fengye suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavy. He nodded solemnly.
Tong Yi'an looked eagerly at her mother. "What about me? What about me? I want to protect Fourth Sister, too."
Su Zhouyue rubbed Tong Yi'an's head. "Yi'an will be responsible for preparing more tasty treats for Fourth Sister. How about that?"
"Okay!"
When Tong Aning woke the next morning, she was stunned by the pastries piled all over her bed.
Tong Yi'an threw herself into Tong Aning's arms and said in her soft little voice, "Fourth Sister, these are all from me."
Tong Aning smiled and stroked Tong Yi'an's cheek. "Thank you, Yi'an."
"You're welcome~"
After washing and dressing, Tong Aning went out to head to the Imperial Academy with Tong Fengye, only to discover that he wouldn't leave her side today.
Tong Aning: "?"
Outside, standing beside the carriage was not only A Shu, who drove it, but also Feng Chu.
Tong Aning: "..."
What's happened to this world?
Tong Aning and Tong Fengye boarded the carriage one after the other, and Feng Chu climbed in as well, making himself right at home.
Tong Fengye asked warily, "You're not going to come with us every day from now on, are you?"
Feng Chu said, "No, just today."
"That's a relief."
Such blatant disdain made Feng Chu frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
Feng Chu: "..."
Thinking of what he was about to tell them, Feng Chu swallowed it.
He said excitedly, "You have no idea how awful my stepmother looked yesterday."
Yesterday, Yang Rong had arrived after Feng Chu and started berating him the moment she stepped out of the carriage, only to turn green when she saw him standing beside Feng Bo.
Then she searched everywhere for Feng Ying. Feng Bo impatiently ordered his attendants to look for him themselves, and they found Feng Ying in a courtesan queen's bed at a brothel.
"Yang Rong rolled her eyes back and was about to faint. My father raised his riding crop high and said he'd beat Feng Ying to death, and Yang Rong woke right back up! Hahahahaha! You have no idea how funny it was."
"They really found him in a brothel?" Tong Fengye perked up.
"Of course. Feng Ying wasn't even properly dressed."
Tong Fengye laughed.
Feng Chu said proudly, "When I left home today, my father even praised me."
Beneath his proud expression, the rims of his eyes were faintly red.
Tong Aning said, "Just wait. There'll be plenty more days like this."
Tong Aning had a pair of exceptionally clear eyes.
That clear, limpid gaze made her words particularly convincing.
Feng Chu nodded, then looked at Tong Fengye.
Tong Fengye said, "Congratulations."
Feng Chu: "..."
"Watch out for bad luck!"
"Hey, you're actually cursing me?"
Tong Fengye made as if to hit Feng Chu, but just before reaching him, he sat back down.
He glanced at Tong Aning and said cheerfully, "Don't worry. With Aning here, I definitely won't have any bad luck."
Feng Chu snorted. With Tong Aning possessing such an ability, of course Tong Fengye wouldn't have any bad luck.
Why didn't he have a little sister like that?
Not necessarily. Third Brother might run into bad luck today... I'm finally getting some gossip about Third Brother, too.
Tong Fengye: "!!!"
Little sister, stop eating melon for a moment and save your third brother first!
Author's note:
Fengye: [Please] [Please] [Please]
Aning: [Calico cat head] [Calico cat head] [Calico cat head]