The Cui family, where brothers loved and respected each other, and sisters-in-law lived in harmony...

As the only innocent person present, Luo Shuyun suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Zhouyue stole a glance at Cui Ming. Seeing that he was completely at sea, she could not help drawing her brows together.

Everyone present had their own thoughts, but none outweighed their curiosity about whose child this actually was.

[System, why did you freeze up?]

The system apologized in its babyish voice. [Sorry, host.]

Tong Aning was very gracious. [It's fine, it's fine. Whose child is it?]

Looking at her bright-eyed daughter with her pearly teeth, Su Zhouyue saw that this was what occupied her mind. That little imp.

[The child belongs to someone named Gu Xin.]

Tong Aning was stunned.

No wonder the system had frozen. It had unlocked a new character.

Good grief.

Old Wang, Old Cui, Old Gu, and Luo Shuyun-there was already a whole string of people, and now there was another.

[System, who is Gu Xin?]

[Gu Xin is Gu Zhenye's personal servant and confidant.]

Wei Mingning beamed, feeling utterly delighted. She knew who Gu Xin was. Gu Zhenye had spent his whole life scheming, using her money to keep a mistress and even expecting her to raise that mistress's child. And what had happened? His trusted confidant had raided his own nest! Hahahahahahaha, served him right!

Wei Mingning's gloating was so obvious that Gu Zhenye frowned. "Don't get too smug, Wei Mingning."

Wei Mingning glanced sidelong at him. "His Majesty hasn't even said anything. What are you getting so worked up for?"

Gu Zhenye looked at the emperor's expression in considerable trepidation. Only when he saw that the emperor was not holding it against him did he relax.

Wei Mingning said magnanimously, "Gu Zhenye, since you cherish this child so much and love your Liu'er so dearly, I wish your family of three a harmonious, happy life together."

[It might be a family of five or six... Nothing matters more than all of them making a good life together.]

Luo Shuyun looked as though she wanted them to stay well away from her. Whoever wanted that sort of life could have it.

Those in the know were on the verge of laughing, yet the utterly oblivious Gu Zhenye had begun to look pleased with himself.

The sight made Cui Ming's eyes burn with jealousy.

He had never imagined that Du Liu'er would dare betray him, much less that she had already boarded the great ship that was the duke's household.

He was absolutely furious.

With the emperor still there, he and Gu Zhenye started trading blows right in court.

Eunuch Wang had people pull them apart, his throat nearly smoking with agitation. "His Majesty is still here! You have some nerve!"

Meeting the emperor's unruffled gaze, Gu Zhenye felt his legs weaken, and Cui Ming began to feel frightened after the fact as well.

The emperor had seen enough of the spectacle.

Gu Zhenye, Du Liu'er, and the child were all handed over to Wei Mingning to deal with.

Cui Ming was demoted three ranks in succession. The emperor also ordered Cui Heng to divorce Tong Siyan that very day and return the marquis's household's dowry in full.

Inside the carriage, Tong Aning propped her chin on her hand. "His Majesty is a good man."

Su Zhouyue covered her mouth. "Whether His Majesty is a good man is not for us to judge."

Tong Aning obediently nodded.

A Shu, who was driving, asked, "Madam, are we going home?"

Su Zhouyue raised her brows. "Not home. To the Cui residence."

Then Su Zhouyue said regretfully, "If only I'd known to ask His Majesty for an imperial decree."

Tong Aning's eyes widened. [Mother is even bolder than I am.]

Su Zhouyue smiled.

She took Tong Siyan's hand. "Don't worry. As long as the marquis's household stands, no one can dream of bullying you."

Tong Siyan nodded. Her smile was gentle and warm, but her eyes were a little red. "I know, Mother."

Luo Shuyun and Cui Ming reached the Cui residence first.

The two had probably fought again. Even Cui Ming's neck was scratched, and he wore a dark expression without so much as looking at Luo Shuyun beside him.

With the emperor's verbal command behind them, the visit went exceptionally smoothly.

Luo Shuyun watched them all but empty the residence, her heart trembling. Only then did Cui Heng emerge, supporting Cheng Wenmiao.

Luo Shuyun slapped him across the face. Cui Heng stared in disbelief, and Cui Ming kicked him as well. "Useless wretch."

[A father who keeps a mistress, a mother who shares a mistress, a younger cousin watching the show, and his useless self!]

Tong Aning had no fondness for the Cui family. Their son had clearly fallen for his younger cousin long ago and even gotten together with her, yet they had kept it from her second sister. Wasn't that marriage fraud?

Tong Aning asked with a grin, [System, is there any more gossip about the Cui family?]

[Yes. The person Cui Ming's elder brother actually loves is Luo Shuyun, and Cheng Wenmiao's mother only treats his husband as a substitute for the elder brother.]

Tong Aning sucked in a breath and marveled, [Wow, brothers loving and respecting each other, and sisters-in-law living in harmony indeed.]

Tong Fengye and Tong Yibin both froze.

Tong Fengye's brain could not keep up. He simply felt that something seemed wrong.

Tong Yibin glanced at his younger sister. Were those two idioms meant to be used like that?

Luo Shuyun was dumbstruck. There was-there was something like this too?

She plopped onto the ground and threw a tantrum. "What sins did I commit to deserve all this?"

The Tong family turned deaf ears to her. When they left the Cui residence, they were surprised to see that Tong Aobai had arrived, with a sedan chair waiting beside him.

Tong Aobai said, "I've come to take Siyan home."

Tong Siyan's eyes were a little red. She approached him and called, "Father."

"Mm." Tong Aobai personally lowered the sedan chair. "Get in."

Tong Siyan nodded.

Tong Siyan rode in the sedan chair while the others took the carriage. In the middle of North-South Avenue, they passed another carriage.

Seeing how beautiful it was, Tong Aning asked, "Whose carriage is that?"

Su Zhouyue took a look. "It looks like one from Prince Yong's Residence."

Su Zhouyue looked at Tong Aobai. "Has the Heir of Prince Yong returned?"

Tong Aobai shook his head. "I don't know."

Su Zhouyue clicked her tongue. "Why don't you know anything?"

Tong Aobai said, "Didn't you and our fourth child both tell me to be more careful at court? I've been very cautious in word and deed lately."

Su Zhouyue rolled her eyes. "Cautious in word and deed, not blind and deaf."

"All right. Whatever you say, my wife."

With a meek expression, Tong Aobai reached for Su Zhouyue's hand. Su Zhouyue was even more speechless, yet looking at his face, she could not muster the slightest anger.

Tong Fengye stirred up trouble from the side. "Is this what they call a beauty trap?"

Su Zhouyue: "..."

Tong Aobai: "...Has all your learning gone into a dog's belly?"

Tong Fengye scratched his head. Tong Yibin said, "This is a handsome-man trap."

Su Zhouyue: "..."

Why was her eldest son joining in the trouble too?

Tong Aobai said sternly, "Both of you will copy books when we get home."

Tong Fengye was angry but dared not speak. Tong Yibin did not mind.

Having escaped disaster, Tong Aning chuckled twice.

Hearing her laughter, Su Zhouyue smiled too and drew her affectionately into her arms, only to hear Aning's little person say-

[Host, it was the Heir of Prince Yong who tricked the emperor into going to the duke's residence.]

Everyone else in the carriage, apart from Tong Fengye and Tong Aning, froze.

Why had the Heir of Prince Yong tricked the emperor into going to the duke's residence? Could the duke's household be hiding some unspeakable secret?

The more they thought about it, the more alarmed they grew.

Clearly, however, neither Tong Aning nor her little person was interested in the matter.

Tong Aning said, "Mother, I wonder whether Little Five is back yet?"

Su Zhouyue said, "Your maternal grandmother only borrowed her to play for a while. She'll return her shortly."

Tong Aning: "...?"

Play with whom?

Little Five?

[Does this really make sense?]

When they reached the marquis's residence, the general's household's carriage arrived at the same time.

Tong Yi'an lifted the carriage curtain. She wore red, with her hair tied into two pretty little buns. As she jumped down from the carriage, her red hair ribbons fluttered in the breeze.

Tong Yi'an threw herself into Su Zhouyue's arms. "Mother, Father, Eldest Brother, Second Sister, Third Brother, Fourth Sister."

Su Zhouyue stroked her head and asked, "Your maternal grandmother didn't come?"

Tong Yi'an clenched her fists. "Grandmother wore herself out playing."

Su Zhouyue burst into a chuckle and led Tong Yi'an forward by the hand.

That night, Su Zhouyue returned to the room after bathing, her hair still damp.

Tong Aobai gently dried it for her. Su Zhouyue said, "I observed them today. Neither Cui Ming nor Gu Zhenye seemed able to hear it."

She said in puzzlement, "Could it distinguish between men and women?"

Tong Aobai laughed. "I can hear it."

Su Zhouyue was unconvinced. "You're Aning's father. It's no surprise you can hear it."

"What about those two boys?"

"They're Aning's elder brothers. It's no surprise they can hear it either."

Tong Aobai thought of someone and asked softly, "What about His Majesty?"

Su Zhouyue said evasively, "How would I dare look at His Majesty? I'm so timid."

"You're timid? Didn't you beat His Majesty up when you were little?"

Su Zhouyue pressed her lips together and said unhappily, "Must you drag out that old sesame and rotten grain?"

Tong Aobai embraced her and nuzzled her neck. "Let's sleep. We can only take Aning's situation one step at a time."

"True." Su Zhouyue nodded. "In any case, we're here to protect Aning. If anyone dares harbor ill intentions toward her, I'll slaughter him."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Looking at his wife, whose heroic spirit soared to the clouds, Tong Aobai coaxed her gently, and the two went to bed.

The palace, however, was still brightly lit.

Hearing footsteps, the emperor sent a memorial flying. "I thought you weren't coming."

Someone caught the memorial and placed it back before the emperor. The newcomer was a youth with handsome features, bright eyes, and an upright bearing, but his lips were pressed together, his brows furrowed, and a chill hung about him.

The youth said, "Imperial Uncle, what did you think of the spectacle at the duke's residence?"

"Excellent. The marquis's fourth daughter truly is extraordinary. She can actually..."

The emperor discovered that he could not describe what was extraordinary about Tong Aning. "Never mind. You'll find out in time."

The youth had no interest in the marquis's fourth daughter. He said, "I'll head back to the residence."

The emperor frowned. "Why not stay in the palace? It's so late."

"The residence is lonely. I have to go back and keep my father and mother company."

The youth turned and left, and the emperor said nothing.

Yet the youth who had said he was going home made a trip to the duke's residence instead.

Seeing his gaze searching back and forth through the grass, his personal guard asked, "Young Lord, what are you looking for?"

Without raising his head, Xue Lin said, "A grass-woven grasshopper."

It was woven so lifelike, much like the one in his room.

The guard searched with him, and they found it near a willow tree.

After some thought, Xue Lin went to apologize to Wei Mingning. Wei Mingning was busy dealing with people and knew his difficulties, so she did not hold it against him.

Returning to the prince's residence, Xue Lin placed the grasshopper beside one whose color had already faded and quietly gazed at them.

Author's note: