Moreover, her second brother, such a good person, planned a way out for his own brother, but in the end, he had to bear the crime of murdering his brother.

“Since Aunt doesn’t want to, why frame Cousin Yue? I’d better go and find my second brother and tell him what Aunt said.”

"Let my second brother hear this too. His well-intentioned plan is perceived by his aunt as a plot to harm his own brother."

These words sounded like a fit of pique, but she was always straightforward, and as soon as she finished speaking, she strode out of Chengyu Pavilion.

Li Shiyue glanced at Wei Shi, finally realizing what she had said too quickly. But Li Shiyue said nothing, curtsied, and quickly chased after Xu Lingzi.

Inside Shousong Hall, Xu Yunci was talking with Old Madam Xu.

"Grandmother, rest assured. General Cheng is in charge of the western suburban military camp, and his cavalrymen are all brave and skilled in battle. Military orders are absolute, and if it weren't for Father, Silang wouldn't be able to go."

Madam Xu nodded in agreement: "Very well. In this peaceful and prosperous era, sending him to the military camp to temper him will help him settle down when he returns."

"Si Lang, you've gone to so much trouble for me. You've really worked hard."

Before Xu Yunci could reply, Xu Lingzi strode in, her face contorted with indignation as she continued, "I'm afraid my second brother's good intentions will be seen by others as plotting against his own brother."

Li Shiyue followed closely behind and walked in. It was really difficult for her to keep up with Xu Lingzi's pace. She was slightly out of breath and her chest was rising and falling.

Perhaps from the rush, her cheeks were flushed. When she looked up and met Xu Yunci's gaze, Li Shiyue saw a hint of doubt in his phoenix eyes.

These words were nonsensical, leaving both Madam Xu and Xu Yunci bewildered.

Xu Yunci realized what was happening and shouted sternly, "Nonsense!"

Xu Lingzi pouted and explained the whole story of what happened at Chengyu Pavilion.

"Third Aunt's meaning was not only that Second Brother wanted to harm his own brother, but she also falsely accused Jiao Jiao, as if Jiao Jiao was in the wrong."

"How can it be that Jiaojiao is so beautiful? It is clearly Fourth Brother who had inappropriate thoughts, and he is blaming Jiaojiao, an unmarried girl."

"My fourth brother is neither good at literature nor martial arts, yet my second brother is so considerate of him, even at the cost of his own feelings. I feel ashamed to hear my third aunt say such things."

Li Shiyue glanced at the increasingly gloomy expressions on the faces of Old Madam Xu and Xu Yunci, and carefully tugged at Xu Lingzi's sleeve.

Suddenly meeting Xu Yunci's deep gaze, she couldn't help but take a half step back.

When she realized what was happening, she lowered her eyes.

That gaze was like that of a wolf, fixed on someone as if they couldn't escape. Xu Yunci, seeing this reaction, assumed she had been wronged by someone else, and that person happened to be an elder.

Xu Yunci called out "Sixth Sister," and only then did Xu Lingzi stop and notice the extremely unpleasant expression on Old Madam Xu's face.

Xu Lingzi pursed her lips and instinctively hid behind Xu Yunci.

The atmosphere instantly fell silent, but then one could see that Madam Xu's chest was rising and falling.

"Grandmother".

Li Shiyue stepped forward, breaking the eerie silence. She called out softly, interrupting Old Madam Xu's thoughts. She then gently stroked Old Madam Xu's chest.

"Cousin, you spoke too hastily. Please take your time. Neither my cousin nor I agreed to my third aunt's request. This is a serious matter, and we dared not make the decision on our own, which is why we came here."

Xu Lingzi quickly moved to the other side: "Grandmother, please don't get angry. If you get sick from anger, I'll punish you."

With two delicate young ladies flanking her, even Madam Xu, despite her dissatisfaction with Wei Shi, was gradually appeased. Her gloomy expression was slowly replaced by helplessness.

Old Madam Xu reached out and took the hands of her two cousins ​​on either side, but said to Xu Yunci, "You go and arrange Silang's matter. Go today, there's no need to wait until tomorrow."

Xu Yunci wasn't surprised; he actually had the same thought in mind: "Okay."

·

When Li Shiyue came out of Shousong Hall, she happened to run into Lady Yang, the Duchess of the State, and Lady Wei, whose eyes were lowered.

Without a doubt, kicking them out was to save face for Madam Wei. Madam Wei's eyes were red, clearly from crying.

Xu Yunci was the first to leave Shousong Hall, so Xu Yunbo has probably already been sent to the military camp in the western suburbs. This delicate young man, who usually only knows how to gamble and have fun, will surely have a very exciting life in the military camp.

It seems that Xu Yunbo in his previous life was also sent to the military camp by Xu Yunci. He really did change a lot afterward, but he didn't return home for several years.

Chunling followed behind and asked, "Miss, are you going back?"

Before Li Shiyue could utter the "No, not yet" from her lips, she bumped into someone through the round moon gate in front of her. The person was incredibly strong, and Li Shiyue, a delicate young woman, lost her balance instantly. Fortunately, Chunling was quick-witted and immediately supported her.

"Ouch, are you hurt?"

Holding a hand warmer, Zhou walked out from behind the young man and arrived in front of Li Shiyue in a few quick steps.

"What if my troublesome son gets hurt? Come here and apologize to your cousin."

Only then did Li Shiyue see the young man's face clearly. It was none other than Fifth Brother Xu Yunyao, who had picked up Xu Lingwan with one hand outside Shousong Hall that night.

"Cousin, it was my carelessness. Are you alright?" Xu Yunyao was a rough man. Apart from his face being very similar to that of Master Xu, he didn't resemble Zhou Shi or Master Xu at all.

Zhou stepped forward and laughed, "A-Yue, don't be like him. He's a stupid fool who didn't inherit a single bit of his father's charm. He has a mouth, but he can't speak properly; all he knows how to do is brandish a big knife."

Zhou's gaze fell on Li Shiyue. Although the sixteen-year-old girl was dressed in plain clothes, her skin was delicate.

Even though the Yunyang Earl's Mansion is unreliable, it still has real gold and silver stored in its storeroom. The daughter of the impoverished mansion is still beautiful, has this wealth to rely on, and has won over Old Madam Xu's heart. Whether the Yunyang Earl's Mansion is impoverished or not is irrelevant.

Mrs. Zhou was quite happy to have such a daughter-in-law, since she didn't insist that her son marry someone from a prestigious family.

Thinking this, Zhou looked at her supposedly simple-minded son. But the thought quickly faded when she remembered her fourth son, who had just been hastily sent to the military camp.

It's not the right time yet; we can't figure out Shou Songtang's intentions. If we end up like the third branch, it would be a huge loss. She did have this thought, but Xu Yunyao didn't share it, or if Old Madam Xu didn't agree, it would be pointless.

Zhou's eyes crinkled with a smile, and she asked warmly, "A-Yue, did you come from Shousong Hall?"

Li Shiyue placed her hands in front of her and smiled slightly: "Yes, my aunt went to pay her respects to my grandmother, so I thought I'd go back first."

Zhou understood: "Sister-in-law, if you're going at this time, it must be something important. I won't go either. I'll go pay my respects to Mother later. It'll be dark soon, so don't wander around. Go home early."

After saying that, Zhou and Xu Yunyao did not linger.