Chapter 41: Tigress Girl, the Little Traitor

Chapter 41 Little Tiger Girl, Little Traitor

Xiao Jinghong stepped into the wooden structure, shutting the door behind her. Through the lattice screen, she cast a fleeting glance at Chen Yi before ascending the stairs to the upper floor.

Just as she reached out to push open the door to the side chamber, her ears caught a subtle rustle—the faint, deliberate cadence of hesitant movement.

Gazing down at the vacant hall below, she paused in thought, then nudged the wooden door open, taking two measured steps in place as she waited in the silence.

A brief moment passed.

Concealed within the study, Pei Guanli let out a quiet breath of relief upon hearing the sound.

Why had Sister Jinghong returned at such an hour? It had left her no time to find a proper hiding place.

With that thought, she soothed her racing heart, cupping the small bell beneath her neck with her palm as she crept outward on bare feet.

Yet the moment she reached the edge of the staircase and lifted her head to peer toward the chamber, she looked straight into a pair of brilliant eyes half-hidden behind a silver visor.

Pei Guanli froze, then flashed a wide grin, her twin canine teeth lending her a thoroughly endearing air.

"Sister Jinghong, welcome home, hehe..."

Xiao Jinghong regarded her with a dispassionate gaze, watching until the girl's smile withered into a strained smirk, before she finally spoke: "Come inside."

With that, she turned and entered the chamber.

Pei Guanli's shoulders slumped, her smile vanishing entirely. "Ah, caught after all..."

She looked out toward the courtyard where Chen Yi knelt by the pond washing his hands, but after a moment's consideration, she abandoned any hope of rescue.

Her brother-in-law's martial talent was indeed remarkable, but given his current cultivation, the two of them tied together could not withstand a single finger of Sister Jinghong's.

With a heavy sigh, Pei Guanli walked up to the second floor with a bowed head and slipped into the room.

The instant the door closed, she forced a cheerful smile and sidled over. "Sister Jinghong, aren't you happy to see me here? Hmm?"

Xiao Jinghong sat at the table, her gaze drifting toward the rumpled state of the nearby couch, remaining silent.

Pei Guanli's smile faltered once more. "Well, I'm just borrowing the place for a bit... I promise I'll fold the quilts neatly in a moment!"

Xiao Jinghong stared at her for a long beat, then said, "No need. The estate maids will discard them."

"..."

Muttering complaints under her breath, Pei Guanli pouted and sat beside her, adopting an air of complete resignation.

Xiao Jinghong had no true intention of punishing her, asking in an even tone, "Does your brother-in-law know you are here?"

"He knows... No, no, he doesn't."

Catching herself, Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and could only nod. "Brother-in-law knows. He has been bringing me food these past few days."

Xiao Jinghong offered a soft murmur of assent. "Tell me what you two have been up to."

Recalling the antics she and Chen Yi had shared, Pei Guanli suppressed a urge to laugh, keeping her face perfectly rigid. "Nothing at all."

"Do you truly expect me to believe that?"

"We really did nothing, it is the simple truth."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghong merely continued to watch her calmly.

But this time, she noticed that Pei Guanli no longer showed her previous guilt or fear; there was even a trace of smugness in her posture.

Because of Chen Yi?

Xiao Jinghong had initially assumed Chen Yi would suffer somewhat at Pei Guanli's hands, but the reality seemed quite the opposite.

This brought to mind Xiao Die, who had stood up for Chen Yi outside the framing shop against Master Yue Ming, and Wang Lixing, who had spoken up despite knowing her temperament.

It appeared that during this period, her husband had gotten along remarkably well with them all, and even Pei Guanli had undergone a subtle change.

Reflecting on this,

The corners of Xiao Jinghong's lips twitched slightly. "Then tell me how you and your brother-in-law first met."

"I simply slipped into the estate, and then I met him."

"At what time?"

"A few days after I saw you."

"Precisely when? Morning, afternoon, or night?"

"Night, of course..."

Faced with this barrage of questions, Pei Guanli's toes curled against the smooth, clean floorboards as she silently encouraged herself.

Do not worry, brother-in-law, I promise not to reveal anything else, including your secrets.

... Meanwhile, Chen Yi, washing his hands by the pond, felt no such peace of mind.

Surely that wild tiger girl wouldn't sell him out, would she?

In truth, the matters he wished to conceal amounted to only two things.

One was his martial cultivation and talent; the other was the band of hidden guards under Liu Sier and Uncle Gui.

Aside from these, he harbored no great fear of Xiao Jinghong finding out.

After weighing the options,

Chen Yi fell back on a rather reckless conviction—if Xiao Jinghong truly forced him into anything against his will, he could simply leave the Marquis's estate.

Though traveling the wider world with his current martial prowess carried risks, as long as he remained cautious, the world was vast enough to accommodate him.

Could a living man truly be cornered by circumstance?

Having cleansed his hands, Chen Yi noted Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Wuge, and Zhang Heng seated within the pavilion, and after a moment's thought, he walked straight toward them.

Yet as he drew near, he overheard Xiao Wuge chattering away with great enthusiasm:

"Eldest sister, brother-in-law is truly extraordinary."

"The poetry he composed made Grandfather rejoice for days, and his calligraphy is magnificent. I heard the birthday verse he wrote previously was stolen right from the framing shop."

"And then there are the things he said—like when he discussed the imperial examination topics with the third-ranked scholar, explaining that the solution lies in 'water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it,' leaving even the scholar full of admiration."

"There is also how man can conquer nature, and the prejudices within people's hearts..."

"No more, that is enough!"

Hearing this, Chen Yi stepped quickly into the pavilion to interrupt the conversation, offering a polite smile:

"Wuge, your eldest sister has just returned to the estate and must be weary. We ought not disturb her further, correct?"

Defenses were impossible to maintain.

He had not expected that before Pei Guanli could cause him trouble, his closest ally, Xiao Wuge, would turn traitor first.

Had he not seen the sudden light dawning in Xiao Wan'er's eyes?

If this little turncoat continued to speak, he feared the Marquis's estate would soon find a way to put his talents to use.

Seeing Xiao Wuge obediently shut his mouth and nod, Xiao Wan'er turned her gaze toward Chen Yi, speaking softly:

"I must trouble you, brother-in-law, for looking after Wuge these past days. He has not caused you any grievances, I trust?"

"The young master is exceedingly well-behaved." Chen Yi patted Xiao Wuge on the head, gesturing outward. "Weren't you clamoring to go fishing just now? The earthworms have been gathered for you. Off you go."

Xiao Wuge glanced at him and promptly ran over to fish nearby.

Young master Zhang Heng flicked his eyes around and grabbed another fishing rod, then sat obediently beside him.

If it were only Auntie Da Biao here, he could cause a ruckus.

But since Auntie Er Biao had returned, he’d better keep his distance.

There was no other reason—just sheer fear.

Seeing this, Xiao Wanyue’s fragile, pale face broke into a smile, as though Wuge had made the right choice in following his brother-in-law’s lead.

If Wuge were to journey to Jinling afterward, and could live peacefully here in the courtyard, fishing and sipping tea, it would bring joy to the Xiao family.

Thinking this, Xiao Wanyue motioned for Chen Yi to sit down, then fetched from beside her a brocade box containing congratulatory calligraphy.

She said, “On our way back to the manor, we happened upon Xiao Diao and their companions, and we brought back the calligraphy scroll. Along the way, we also encountered an interesting incident.”

Chen Yi looked at her unabashedly and smiled, asking, “What incident?”

Xiao Wanyue cradled the brocade box, her pale jade hands brushing against it, and began to recount: “At Guiyun Academy, Mr. Yue Ming…”

After she had finished speaking, Chen Yi fell silent, a faint, incredulous laugh escaping him.

He had originally assumed that the “artistic cursive script” would only spread after the old lord’s banquet, but he hadn’t expected it to be noticed so quickly.

It was, of course, that renowned scholar of Shu, Mr. Yue Ming.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Wanyue couldn’t help but ask, “Brother-in-law, this calligraphy—truly written by you?”

She didn’t doubt what Xiao Diao and their companions had said, but rather wished to hear Chen Yi confirm it himself.

After all, the calligraphy on this scroll was exceedingly rare, and those skilled in writing would certainly be particular about it.

Chen Yi, unhesitating, nodded and admitted, “Indeed, it was my own hand.”

Xiao Wanyue relaxed, smiling warmly: “Brother-in-law’s calligraphy will surely become renowned throughout the great Wei dynasty.”

“Perhaps in the future, many people of high standing, like Mr. Yue Ming, will come knocking at your door, seeking your ink treasures.”

Chen Yi paused, realizing such a fate might indeed bring endless troubles to his doorstep.

(Chapter Complete)