Shen Muzhi gave Yan Xiao an awkward smile. Just as he was about to explain, he saw Shen Qiyue, who had been pitifully huddled to the side, suddenly jump out as if she had been injected with chicken blood.

"Yes, sister-in-law, that's exactly what my brother meant."

Shen Muzhi glared at Shen Qiyue, warning her not to cause trouble, and then hurriedly explained:

"I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted July to learn some things that girls should do, to act like a girl. Please don't overthink it."

"Heh~"

Shen Muzhi's explanation was worse than no explanation at all. Yan Xiao only gave a cold laugh, then got up and walked out of the house, saying as she went:

"General, you don't need to explain to me. Since you think I'm ill-mannered and have corrupted her, I'll just keep my distance from her from now on, so she won't pick up my bad habits. You can teach her however you want from now on, and you don't need to come and talk to me again."

After Yan Xiao finished speaking, not only Shen Muzhi, but even Shen Qiyue, who had been gloating and waiting for her brother to suffer, became anxious.

She couldn't eat anymore, so she threw down her bowl and chopsticks and chased after him without even glancing at her brother, saying as she ran:

"Sister-in-law, please don't abandon me! My brother upset you, so you can hit him to vent your anger. I'm innocent! Sister-in-law, slow down, wait for me, sister-in-law..."

Suddenly abandoned by everyone, the lonely man Shen Muzhi:......

After Zhao Qian finished dealing with Granny Li and her daughter, he returned to find that only his general was sitting alone in the room.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that his general looked inexplicably desolate at that moment.

He quickly shook his head, dispelling the inexplicable feeling, and then hurried to Shen Muzhi's side to report:

"General, Granny Li and her daughter have calmed down now. They can move out once their accommodations outside are settled."

"Yeah, I know."

Shen Muzhi looked uninterested, and after finishing speaking, he gestured for Zhao Qian to leave.

As soon as Zhao Qian turned to leave, Shen Muzhi called him back.

"Is there anything else you need, General?"

"Were you the one who delivered crayfish to Ma Youcai yesterday?"

Shen Muzhi's tone was very ordinary, revealing no emotion, but it startled Zhao Qian.

He thought his general was going to settle scores with him later and punish him for failing to report something, so he quickly apologized.

"Your subordinate knows his mistake and begs the general to punish him."

"I didn't say you were wrong, why are you so nervous?"

As Shen Muzhi spoke, he leaned back slightly, rubbed his temples wearily, sighed, and continued:

"I don't have much free time. Since Madam wants to do business with Ma Youcai, you should help her mediate and make sure she doesn't suffer any losses. If necessary, you can use the name of the General's Mansion."

Zhao Qian's lips twitched slightly upon hearing Shen Muzhi's words.

He recalled how Ma Youcai had eaten the crayfish with a constipated expression yesterday, and then excitedly wanted to visit him that very night, and he really wanted to say to his general:

You're overthinking it. With someone like Madam, who would let her suffer?

However, he still remembered his place and obediently accepted the order and withdrew.

After laughing and sulking, Yan Xiao left the courtyard and headed straight for Yuanyi Hall.

She walked ahead sullenly, while Shen Qiyue huffed and puffed as she chased after her.

Upon arriving at Yuanyi Hall, she had barely sat down when Shen Qiyue approached her, her face full of ingratiating smiles, and asked:

"Sister-in-law, you're not really going to abandon me, are you?"

Yan Xiao glanced at Shen Qiyue upon hearing this, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

She knows her own personality and has never felt that there is anything wrong with her current personality. She doesn't care what others think of her behavior. Her own happiness is the most important thing.

But just now, when Shen Muzhi was lecturing Shen Qiyue, she heard Shen Muzhi's words and a nameless anger rose in her heart.

After walking for a while, the cool breeze outside cleared her head considerably.

Shen Muzhi's starting point was not wrong. Women of this era, especially women from wealthy families, were not necessarily proficient in all the arts, but at least they were well-educated and courteous.

Someone like her is definitely an anomaly.

It's perfectly fine for someone to want to raise their younger sister and worry that she might end up like her.

Even though he disapproved of her behavior, he didn't make things difficult for her or ask her to change. He turned a blind eye to it, so why did she get so angry?

There's absolutely no need for that.

Now that she's sober and thinks about it carefully, she realizes she probably got too caught up in the role and really started to see herself as someone's wife.

She took a deep breath, clearing her mind of those inexplicable thoughts, before looking at Shen Qiyue and saying:

"Your brother won't harm you. Learning more things will never be a bad thing."

Shen Qiyue naturally knew that Shen Muzhi wouldn't harm her, but she just didn't want to learn from strangers.

“But sister-in-law, I just want to become someone as capable as you, I don’t want any kind of teacher.”

Yan Xiao thought Shen Qiyue was just talking childishly, just like the children in her world didn't want to study. She probably wanted her help to escape her misery.

Unfortunately, she chose the wrong person. Yan Xiao didn't want a little tail following her around all the time. If that little tail had something to do, she could have a lot more peace and quiet.

But she couldn't say it outright; if she did, the little girl would probably burst into tears. So, after thinking for a moment, she patiently and earnestly advised her:

"Don't throw a tantrum like a child. You can't be illiterate forever, can you? If you were still that country girl you used to be, that would be fine."

But now your status is different, and the people you'll meet will be different. If you're empty-headed and lack cunning, you'll be devoured without a trace.

Yan Xiao is now like an idol to Shen Qiyue. She might not listen to what others say, but she will think that Yan Xiao makes sense even if it doesn't make sense.

Moreover, what Yan Xiao said was true. She wasn't stupid; she could figure it out with a little thought.

She lowered her head and replied softly:

"I understand, sister-in-law. I will study hard and won't let you and my brother down."

"Um."

Yan Xiao nodded, originally intending to send Shen Qiyue away like that, but when her gaze met Shen Qiyue's eyes, which were full of trust and reliance, her tone changed, and the words that were about to come out became:

"However, the most important thing is for people to live freely. Take the essence and discard the dross. Some unnecessary ideas, such as the nonsense about women being devoted to their husbands, are just something to listen to but not to talk about."

After listening, Shen Qiyue nodded as if she understood but not quite:

"Understood, sister-in-law, I'll remember."

Yan Xiao regretted her words as soon as they were spoken. She sighed inwardly, cursing herself for being nosy, but said nothing more. She simply raised her hand and gently stroked Chen Qiyue's head, smiling as she said:

"I have some things to take care of in a bit, you can go have some fun by yourself."

"Okay, then I'll be going now, sister-in-law."