Chapter 52: Brother-in-Law Dotes on Me the Most

Chapter 52 Brother-in-Law Loves Me Most

That figure leaning beneath the porch wasn't Pei Menglè, was it?

She heard the sound, and her previously bored face instantly lit up with a smile, hastily bouncing over, her necklace jingling with each step.

Ting-ting, ting-ting.

"Brother-in-law, it's already past noon, why are you coming back so late?"

Pei Menglè's mountain people's dialect came tumbling out.

Chen Yì, after all, understood. He gestured for Xiao Waixiong, Wang Lixing, and others to take Xiao Wugou into the Spring Lotus Garden first.

Xiao Wugou curiously glanced at Pei Menglè's attire and grooming, only to meet her scowling face, and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother-in-law, she calls you brother-in-law too, right?"

Chen Yì patted his shoulder, "Your second sister does recognize a younger sister."

"Oh, that's why I never saw her at the manor."

Once Xiao Wugou and Xiao Waixiong had entered the Spring Lotus Garden, Wang Lixing and Yan Hong went to the main hall to report to Uncle Xiao Sduanqiong.

After scanning the area, Chen Yì asked, "Was the mistress the one who sent you out?"

Pei Menglè nodded vigorously, smiling playfully, "I've been pestering Sister Xiao Jinghong for days, and today she finally let me out, even saying I should represent the mountain people at Old Master's banquet tomorrow."

Chen Yì raised an eyebrow inwardly, recalling her mentioning the mountain people's plan to establish a mutual market with the Principality of Qing's estate, he understood.

After thinking it over, he pondered aloud, "You need to be careful. You've already made an appearance at the manor, so be mindful not to be recognized."

The maids and servants might recognize her, but he feared Liu Sier would suspect something about her head.

After all, the secret letter had stated, "You've been exposed, find him and kill him."

With the mysterious "Invisibility Division" and their infiltration of the Xiao family, if Liu Sier found out Pei Menglè had been to his room, he might take action.

Pei Menglè, however, seemed unfazed, patting her chest, "Tomorrow I'll put on a nice makeup, I'm sure no one will recognize me."

Chen Yì saw her confidence and nodded, "I hope so."

Before he could speak further, Pei Menglè suddenly cried out, pulling his arm and rushing toward the Spring Lotus Garden, saying, "Brother-in-law, rest assured, nothing will happen."

"What's this?"

"I have a more urgent matter, tomorrow is Old Master's grand birthday, and I haven't prepared any gifts."

"..."

Chen Yì couldn't help but facepalmed, "No gifts? Are you planning to just eat and drink without offering anything? The Xiao estate won't accept that."

Pei Menglè covered her head, looking pitifully at him, "Brother-in-law, you're good at writing, you also write poetry, help me, please."

"You think I take poetry seriously? Say it and it's done, but we're already short on time to properly frame and mount calligraphy and paintings."

"Brother-in-law, save me..."

Chen Yì glanced at her, unmoved, asking, "Does the mistress know?"

Pei Menglè's pitiable expression faded, she licked her tongue, "Not without telling you, it's Sister Xiao Jinghong who sent me to find you."

Chen Yì's gaze shifted toward the wooden pavilion where Xiao Jinghong was, but she seemed to have left, and he didn't know where she had gone.

Pei Menglè noticed his gaze, bounced over to block his view, smiling, "Don't look, brother-in-law, Sister Jinghong has gone out."

"She said she was going to the Chancellor's Office, and mentioned something about memorials and documents."

Chen Yì sighed in resignation, nodding, "Then don't stand there, I'll write a piece of calligraphy for you, take it to be framed, hopefully we can still get it done today."

Pei Menglè immediately broke into a smile, grabbing his arm and swaying, "It's brother-in-law who loves me most, isn't it?"

Love?

I'd rather see you back in the mountains right away.

Chen Yì eyelids twitched, taking her to his study, spreading the cypress paper, letting her grind the ink.

"Brother-in-law, what do you want to write?"

"Fortune like the eastern sea, longevity like the southern mountains."

"Oh, that sounds impressive... where is the southern mountains? Is it Mount Wumen?"

"Not exactly, but it's not bad either."

Chen Yì chattered back, and when the ink was ready, he swept his brush decisively, writing eight large characters.

This time, he didn't invoke the qi to influence the world's spiritual forces, relying purely on his calligraphy skills.

And to distinguish it from the poem he wrote titled "Celebrating the Marquis Xiao," he deliberately used the Wei Qing style of characters.

Even so, this was still a fine piece of work, at least in the eyes of calligraphy masters.

When he finished, Pei Menglè took it, drying it by blowing on it, glancing left and right, nodding feigning understanding, "It's no wonder, brother-in-law, your writing is beautiful."

Chen Yì glanced at her, at least taking her for a connoisseur, that statement was at least somewhat comforting.

After thinking, he called for Xiao Waixiong.

Letting her take Pei Menglè to the framing room, so she wouldn't wander around the manor wastefully.

Pei Menglè gratefully followed Xiao Waixiong, riding in the manor's carriage, leaving the Xiao estate together. She didn't know, however, that the carriage driver was the same person leading her to Liu Sier's room.

The Spring Lotus Garden was empty.

Chen Yì, pleased, sat quietly, intending to study the opportunity he'd just received, taking the time to elevate his "Martial Arts—Body" to the Great Completion realm.

But Xiao Jinghong wasn't there, leaving him no leisure time.

Not long after Xiao Waixiong and Pei Menglè departed, Shen Huatang came looking for him in the courtyard.

Chen Yì straightened his desk, glanced at her, casually asked, "Looking for Young Master Xiao? He's resting upstairs, tired from visiting the manor this afternoon."

But Shen Huatang shook her head, "I'm looking for you, Uncle."

"Oh?"

"My younger sister isn't here, many guests have come to the manor, and the young mistress can't handle them alone, so I'd like you to help out."

Chen Yì thought for a moment, and didn't refuse, following her to the Garden of Prosperous Affairs.

"What kind of guests are they?"

"Mostly distant relatives of the Xiao family, though some nobles and young lords, young ladies, have come, and some are inconvenient."

"Understood."

Chen Yì suddenly nodded, Xiao Yan'er's delicate nature indeed wasn't suited to dealing with rough men.

Shen Huatang glanced at him sideways, seeing his calm demeanor, a nonchalant expression, felt somewhat at a loss.

This Uncle Xiao usually lounged around lazily, how could he handle those guests?

In fact, she had overthought it.

Chen Yi arrived at Jiaxing Yuan, first paying a respectful bow to Xiao Wan’er in the inner chamber, letting her guide him around, introducing himself formally, and then sending her away.

Within the span of less than a teacup’s time, all those distant Xiao kin—old and young—were laughing and chatting with him as if old friends.

To speak of it simply, it was hardly difficult at all.

It merely boiled down to greeting and being greeted, the usual courtesies of human relations, plus a touch of reading faces and catching words, enough to keep things smooth.

Even when a few so-called young lords ventured to speak insolently, accusing him of fleeing marriage and forcibly seizing common women, Chen Yi merely smiled them down, even chuckling self-deprecatingly:

“My mind’s gone muddled, probably not as upright as Brother Feng’s.”

“That is…”

Ahem.

Whether life or death need not be decided yet, at least the atmosphere among the gathered folk remained civil.

Then Chen Yi, having achieved his aim, quietly withdrew, needing only to steer the conversation and warm the awkward silence into something tolerable before finally passing the afternoon.

Compared to the ease and leisure of his side of things, Xiao Wan’er, by contrast, must have felt some strain. Those women in attendance—regardless of age—were no idle lamps, burning bright but never dimming.

Those aunts and uncles, those older cousins, were all prattling about her marriage, remarking how fair her looks and graceful figure were, yet her age was advancing, making her a late bride.

Those younger cousins and female cousins dared not speak boldly, but their words carried a venomous edge.

“Sister Wan’er, you’re so beautiful, surely many young lords adore you?”

“Sister Wan’er, before yesterday, another young lord penned a poem for me—I’d like to recite it to you…”

A poem?

Xiao Wan’er’s confused thoughts suddenly cleared, her gaze snapping to the speaker—her younger sister—and she said, “Nonsense.”

“It was truly well-written, little sister. I nearly fell for it myself.”

She ignored her, turning to her mother, gently saying, “Aunt Wen, don’t fret over my marriage. Let’s first find a good match for little sister.”

She knew already how the poem would end.

After all, someone else’s jade was already in the forefront…

Thinking this, Xiao Wan’er peered through the window, spotting Chen Yi among the crowd, laughing and chatting merrily.

What was he saying? How could he smile so brightly?

“Wan’er, Wan’er?”

She snapped back to herself, a faint blush rising on her pale face. She rose, bowed, and said, “Allow me a moment, elders and sisters—I’ll fetch some refreshments.”

She stepped out of the wooden pavilion, heading toward the kitchen with Shen Huatang, glaring at Chen Yi all the while.

Just then their eyes met—his calm gaze met hers, and she felt suddenly awkward.

Xiao Wan’er quickly lowered her head and hurried away from Jiaxing Yuan.

Chen Yi glanced at their departing silhouettes, feeling a strange, unspoken emotion stir within him.

“Does she entertain such visits from relatives every month?”

(Chapter Complete)