Chapter 35: Brother-in-Law, You Saw That, Right?

Chapter 35: Did You See It, Brother-in-Law?

Seeing the arrival of Liu Si Er, Chen Yi subtly furrowed his brows, his expression remaining as composed as ever as he spoke:

"Fourth Brother, what urgent matter brings you to Chunhe Garden at this late hour?"

Liu Si Er stood in the shadows within the porch, stepping forward upon hearing his words, exposing himself to the moonlight and meeting his bowed greeting:

"My intrusion is an impertinence. Upon hearing footsteps in the garden, I feared for your lord's safety and thus entered unannounced. I beg your forgiveness, my lord."

Chen Yi regarded him calmly, speculating on when Liu Si Er had entered the garden and whether he had glimpsed Pei Lang.

"My late-night cultivation was interrupted, causing you to misunderstand."

Liu Si Er hummed in agreement, maintaining his bowed posture, then raised his gaze to examine him. After a moment, he suddenly remarked:

"Your concern for the aftermath examinations is understandable, second brother. Your harshness in allowing you to reach the ninth-grade lower tier within two months is quite severe."

Before Chen Yi could respond, Wang Li Xing entered the garden, clearly having overheard their conversation. Glancing at their expressions, he frowned and said:

"Fourth Brother, you are acting inappropriately."

Liu Si Er immediately bowed twice in apology, smiling: "My lord, please forgive me. Li Xing, forgive me as well. I was indeed hasty."

Wang Li Xing patted his shoulder and bowed to Chen Yi: "My lord, I failed to intercept Fourth Brother. You must forgive me."

Chen Yi understood then that Liu Si Er had just entered the garden, drawn by Chen Yi's presence to test the waters.

Thinking this, Chen Yi smiled and said, "It is of no consequence. Fourth Brother's concern for the garden's safety is commendable. Tomorrow, I shall inform Guan Ge, and he may petition Elder Lord on your behalf."

Wang Li Xing blinked, "This... this..."

Liu Si Er felt a stirring of resentment, though he couldn't discern any peculiarity in Chen Yi's demeanor, he was displeased by the way he had been handled.

If he knew that Shi Li had been plotting against Xiao Nuo, he would not have spared her a mere glimpse of color.

Before either could speak further, Chen Yi waved them off: "I am weary, gentlemen. You may remain outside."

As Chen Yi entered the wooden pavilion, a lamp flickered to life in the inner study. Wang Li Xing's face darkened, and he led Liu Si Er away.

"Fourth Brother, you have overstepped!"

Liu Si Er chuckled weakly: "Forgive me. I mistook the sounds for those of the bandit who infiltrated the lord's residence earlier. I meant no harm."

"I did not dwell on it nor inform Elder Third, so I entered to investigate. My mistake."

Though he said this, recalling Chen Yi's earlier words, he turned the question: "My lord, have you been practicing the Great Pole Technique these days?"

Wang Li Xing looked at him, unmistakably genuine, and sighed: "Second Brother's examinations are no jest. My lord must understand the consequences. When that bandit entered previously, I knew he was secretly cultivating at night."

Liu Si Er muttered inwardly, acknowledging the truth.

Thus, he dismissed Chen Yi's suspicions.

After all, Chen Yi, this fledgling sparrow, was merely a frail scholar who had been imprisoned in the Chen family of Jiangnan for so long, his knowledge too limited to perceive such things.

Yet through recent investigations, he had confirmed that the maid who entered his chamber had been seen around the courtyard's outbuildings.

Since she was not in Chunhe Garden, she must be in the adjacent Xiangxing Park.

The latter was more likely—perhaps he had been seen by that person when sending the secret letter.

Liu Si Er inwardly mused, a bitter smile crossing his face: "What shall we do now? My lord intends to accuse Elder Lord..."

Wang Li Xing glanced at him, helplessly: "From what I've observed, my lord is reasonable. Go find him tomorrow and make amends."

"Very well..."

Inside the pavilion, Chen Yi leaned against the window, gazing at the tranquil garden below.

Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting shifting shadows across his form as the wind stirred, leaving an indistinct silhouette.

In the silence, he pondered quietly.

Liu Si Er must have traced Pei Lang's footprints to the courtyard. It would be necessary to warn Pei Lang afterward.

Though there was Xiao Jing Hong's connection, the lord's residence would not treat Pei Lang harshly, but Liu Si Er could not be certain.

Chen Yi then turned his thoughts to the contents of the secret letter, his mind wandering.

"What intentions do these 'Hidden Guards' have toward me?"

"Liu Si Er and your respected uncle, as peripheral figures of the 'Hidden Guards,' likely know nothing, for their years in the lord's residence do not align with the time I've been here."

"Perhaps the 'Hidden Guard' who replaced Liu Si Er, mentioned in the letter, knows something."

Here, Chen Yi paced the room, legs crossed, appearing to move slowly but actually circling swiftly.

As his star- butterfly step grew more fluid, his form blurred, eventually taking on a ghostly shadow in the darkness.

"The one who replaced Liu Si Er, who must appear frequently near Chunhe Garden, should not be difficult to uncover."

...

The next morning, Chen Yi dressed neatly and followed Wang Li Xing to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

While stretching his limbs, he asked: "Has the bandit from last night been captured yet?"

Wang Li Xing, noting his inquiry, explained: "Not yet, my lord. Within the lord's residence, aside from the rotating guards, others are investigating in secret."

"So Fourth Brother was understandably anxious last night upon hearing noises. I trust you will forgive him this time."

Chen Yi chuckled lightly: "I understand, my lord. Of course I won't blame Fourth Brother."

"However, if such a thing occurs again, Li Xing must intervene."

Wang Li Xing relaxed, quickly agreeing.

Fortunately, it was Chen Yi present; had it been Young Mistress instead, Fourth Brother might have faced punishment.

"Then we shall conclude here. Li Xing, you may rest."

Wang Li Xing opened his mouth, glancing at the seemingly idle Chen Yi, murmuring softly: "My lord, might I assess your pole technique?"

Chen Yi waved him off: "No need. You stay here. I feel more at ease practicing elsewhere. My cultivation will suffer otherwise."

...

After Wang Li Xing departed Chunhe Garden, Chen Yi delayed his training and quietly sought Pei Lang in the pavilion.

When, when.

A soft knock came, and Pei Lang, perhaps just awakened and drowsy, rushed out.

She wore her hair loose, her neck adorned with the pendant bells, and opened the door in a shirt of the garment, her voice sleepy and languid: "Brother-in-law, dawn has not yet broken..."

Chen Yi glanced at her, said nothing, and slid the written note through the door, whispering: "Remember to burn it after reading."

He then returned to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Pei Lang closed the door, rubbed her tired eyes, and read the note by dim light. Her small canine teeth gleamed.

"Alright, I hadn't found you yet. You're quite persistent."

"Once Brother-in-law spies on you, I won't let Jing Hong sister destroy you."

She muttered a few words, carefully destroyed the note, then noticed a chill on her body. Looking down, she gasped:

"Ah!"

Pei Wanli clutched her hands to her chest, and two flushes of red blossomed upon her face.

Her brother-in-law must have seen it, didn’t he?

He definitely saw it.

Pei Wanli’s cheeks burned like embers, and she hastened back to the chamber, leapt onto Xiao Jinghong’s bed, and buried herself beneath the quilt.

Now she was fully awake, yet utterly unable to sleep.

(End of chapter)