"You were looking for me?"
Yan Xiao had just finished getting ready when she heard Shen Qiyue's voice. When she came out, she saw her.
Upon seeing the person she wanted to see, Shen Qiyue immediately abandoned Shen Muzhi and went to greet her.
She first looked Yan Xiao up and down, and only after confirming that she was alright did she smile and say:
"Yes, I'm waiting for my sister-in-law to have breakfast together."
Shen Muzhi, now relegated to the background, turned to look at her sister-in-law and felt heartbroken once again.
Out of sight, out of mind. He turned his gaze away and looked at Qianqiu Wandai, gesturing for them to prepare breakfast.
Just as the family of three was enjoying breakfast, some noise suddenly came from outside the yard.
Shen Muzhi rarely has the opportunity to have a proper meal with his family, but now he is disturbed by the noise outside, so naturally he can't be happy.
He frowned in displeasure and called out to the outside:
"Zhao Qian, get in here."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhao Qian trotted in with a bitter face.
Before he could even speak, he was immediately berated by Shen Muzhi.
"Who dares to make such a racket at the gate of the Madam and Miss's courtyard? As the head of the guards in the Madam and Miss's courtyard, you can't even handle such a small matter? What are you good for?"
Zhao Qian was heartbroken, feeling truly wronged, but dared not refute it, and could only honestly reply:
"Reporting to the General, it is Granny Li and Miss Qiao, mother and daughter, at the gate. They are not here to see the Madam and Miss, but to see you, General."
Despite my best efforts to persuade her, Granny Li refused to leave and became increasingly agitated, insisting that she had to see me today.
My subordinate originally intended to ask them to go back, but before we even reached them, Granny Li collapsed to the ground, insisting that her chest hurt. Fearing for her safety, my subordinate dared not move her.
After listening to Zhao Qian's story, Yan Xiao couldn't help but burst out laughing. Luckily, she didn't have anything in her mouth, or she would have been embarrassed.
Shen Muzhi, who was frowning in annoyance, turned to look at her upon hearing the sudden laughter, his eyes filled with confusion.
"What are you laughing at, Madam?"
Yan Xiao noticed that everyone in the room was looking at her when she smiled, so she quickly put on a serious expression and pretended that nothing had happened.
"It's nothing. I just think that Granny Li is a really strange person. She had a headache yesterday, and now, just one day later, her chest is aching again."
She's so old, and she's suffered so much to survive; she's really had a tough time."
The people inside the room reacted differently upon hearing this.
Zhao Qian suppressed a laugh and looked at Yan Xiao with admiration, then quickly lowered his head, pretending that he hadn't heard anything.
They didn't have the guts to say whatever they wanted. This Granny Li had a special status, and they didn't know what their general's attitude was right now, so they dared not offend her.
Shen Muzhi roughly guessed why Granny Li had made such a fuss, which further proved that what Zhao Qian had told him yesterday—that he had raised the appetites of Granny Li and her daughter—was true.
If they didn't have any other expectations, they should have been happy to know that he was going to find them a new place to live, so that they could have their own little home and land, and no longer have to live in other people's homes and depend on them.
Even if they had some concerns, it wouldn't be enough for them to come here so quickly, crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. This clearly shows they never intended to leave.
He waved his hand impatiently and gave the order:
"Go and tell Granny Li and her daughter that, out of consideration for the past relationship with Brother Qiao, I will make arrangements for their future lives."
"No one will dare to make things difficult for them after they leave the manor. They shouldn't have too many expectations, or they shouldn't blame me for being ruthless."
After saying this, he took out some silver from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Qian, continuing:
"Yesterday, Miss Qiao accompanied Miss to go shopping and spent quite a bit of money. I guess she doesn't have much money left."
Give these to her and tell her they are from the young lady, a housewarming gift. She should hope she finds a good husband and cherishes herself, and not harbor any improper thoughts that would disgrace her brother.
Zhao Qian took the silver and left. When Shen Qiyue heard Shen Muzhi say the rest, she knew that her brother knew about the good deed she had done yesterday.
She lowered her head further and further, trying to make herself less noticeable, hoping that her brother wouldn't think of her.
But in the end, she was going to be disappointed.
After Shen Muzhi withdrew his gaze, he looked directly at him, his tone indifferent and unreadable, but everyone knew he was not joking.
"I've already given the instructions to find you a tutor in July, and he should arrive at your residence this afternoon."
You need to learn from your teacher. It was my absence before that prevented me from properly disciplining you, which has led to your lack of manners and behavior; you don't act like a proper girl at all. This can't go on.”
Shen Qiyue had no desire to learn the Four Books and Five Classics, the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Compared to those, she preferred to learn martial arts and Gu poison from her sister-in-law. She only wanted to become as powerful as her sister-in-law.
She pouted, looking like she was about to cry, and was just about to say something to defend herself when she heard a "smack".
The sound was so sudden and unexpected that it startled both the brother and sister.
The two silently looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yan Xiao glaring fiercely at Shen Muzhi. The porridge spoon she was holding had been slammed onto the table by Yan Xiao, and upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the spoon was now broken into pieces.
Upon seeing this scene, the brother and sister swallowed hard in unison.
Shen Muzhi instinctively glanced towards the door, and only after confirming that the noise outside had subsided did he tentatively ask:
"What has made you so angry, Madam? I have already dealt with Granny Li and her daughter. Are you dissatisfied with how I handled it?"
Yan Xiao didn't respond to his question at all, but instead asked coldly:
"From what the general just said, you suddenly want to find a tutor for Qiyue because you think she is ill-mannered and lacks discipline, and that you have neglected to discipline her, is that right?"
Upon hearing this, and seeing Yan Xiao's chilling expression, Shen Muzhi's heart skipped a beat.
He might be a bit slow-witted, but he wasn't stupid. He had already realized the inappropriateness of what he had just said.
During the years he was absent, his sister was always taken care of by Yan Xiao.
Therefore, what he just said in front of Yan Xiao was a precise step on a landmine.
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