The dark clouds that had hung over the Marquis of Wenyang's residence gradually dissipated with the deaths of Lady Wen and Zheng Xiulan.
Su Junyao took leave today to watch the executions, and only left after witnessing their wailing and crying until they stopped breathing.
The first thing to do upon entering the house was to have Chen He prepare water for a bath, "Prepare bathwater, and also have someone prepare some pomelo leaves to ward off bad luck."
Chen He followed the instructions and, remembering what Dong Xiao had told him, said to Su Junyao, "Your Majesty, no, you are now a Marquis."
"My lord, Madam sent Dongxiao to tell you to go see her after you return." Chen He thought for a moment and then thoughtfully added, "I think it must be because of Miss Qiuqiu. You should change into clean clothes before you go."
The young lady is young, and although she usually seems energetic and vigorous, there is no need for her to break taboos because of such filth.
Dongxiao recently complained to him that a group of people vying for his favor had come to the mansion, and he wanted to be more proactive in helping Dongxiao win!
These two are definitely the people who have the most favor with their master!
Su Junyao washed away the non-existent smell of blood and changed into clean clothes. After thinking for a moment, he hung up a five-blessing sachet for warding off evil spirits.
When he got to the bedroom, he realized that it wasn't Chen He who was exaggerating, but everyone in Jingxin Garden was exaggerating.
Su Junyao casually stopped a servant boy who was running around carrying a brazier: "What are you doing?"
If you didn't know better, you'd think it was a Taoist temple that had moved into your home, with all that smoke and mist!
The servant looked terrified, but his eyes were blank, showing that he himself didn't know what he was busy with.
"Replying to the Marquis, it was the lady who instructed us to find all the remaining sulfur and mugwort from the Dragon Boat Festival and put them on display again."
Su Junyao inherited his father's title, but he wasn't used to being called Marquis. He paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, and by the time he wanted to ask something, the servant had already run off with the brazier.
"They call me 'Lord Marquis' with their mouths, but their actions don't treat me like a lord at all."
Su Junyao walked slowly into the house with his hands behind his back. Yun Jinglan sat on a stool at the doorway, looking into the house with a complicated expression, while inside, the master and servant were committing their evil deeds.
"You're finally back."
For some reason, Su Junyao felt a chill run down his spine when he heard these words. He smiled ingratiatingly at his wife, then quickly stepped forward, grabbed Qiuqiu's armpit, and lifted the little cub up.
"Are you rebelling at home?!"
With her current physical condition, Qiuqiu is not capable of sitting in a chair to read a book, but she can lie down.
The books scattered throughout the room are all her and Thirteen's masterpieces.
Yun Jinglan pinched her temples wearily: "You two, father and daughter, are responsible for cleaning this place up!"
Is Chiu Chiu eager to learn?
It really is possessed!
Su Junyao held Qiuqiu in his arms, not finding anything wrong with her behavior. "Madam, please don't be offended. It's a good thing for children to be curious. They are quick to learn and not ashamed to ask questions. Qiuqiu, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask your father, understand?"
Su Junyao casually picked up a book, glanced at the cover, and stared at Qiuqiu in shock: "The Great Zhou Chronicles?"
He opened another book, "Records of Local Counties and Districts?"
"Chirp chirp, this isn't a book you should be reading, is it?"
Shouldn't this age be for listening to bedtime stories?
And does Chuchu know how to read?
Su Junyao suddenly remembered a very serious question, "These books wouldn't be..."
Yun Jinglan mocked him: "That's right, those are the ones you've collected."
"Su Qiuqiu, you're going to get a beating!"
Thirteen said there were no idle princes in the southwest, not even a decent general. Qiuqiu wondered what was in the southwest of the Great Zhou that would make Qiao Muyang want to go there.
For someone who wouldn't do anything without a profit, surely he wouldn't go out of his way to sell mushrooms to raise citrus fruits!
I've already told you my name isn't Su Qiuqiu!
She is a girl with a great name!
Books are the best teachers; if Chiu Chiu has any questions, she'll definitely ask the teacher. Why is my dad so angry? He's even getting wrinkles around his eyes.
[Old age and fading beauty, no one loves you anymore. Father, you should be more mindful!]
Su Junyao stood frozen in place, unable to move.
Old age and fading beauty? Him?
He really wanted to shake Qiuqiu right now so she could see just how young and handsome her dad was!
The handsome middle-aged man from Beijing is also on the list, okay!
Yun Jinglan was struggling to suppress her laughter, and fearing that her husband would really teach this audacious little brat a lesson, she immediately snatched Qiuqiu from his hands. "You yourself said it's a good thing that the child likes to read, so who are you giving me that sour look for!"
【that is! 】
[Chirp loves reading!]
Su Junyao remained expressionless, utterly helpless against the mother and daughter who were in cahoots.
"Since Qiuqiu loves reading so much, let's go to Qingyang Academy and study with your brother after the autumn examination when she can walk and talk!"
Chirp: "!!!"
[Could I have been adopted?]
Su Junyao: Ha, you picked up this rotten cotton!
My father became a marquis, he got arrogant, and he doesn't love me anymore. I've sacrificed so much for this family, and he actually wants to send me to school!
【Thirteen, let's go!】
【We're heading to the southwest now to go mushroom digging with Qiao Muyang.】
"Mom, I'm leaving! I'll support you by digging mushrooms from now on."
Chirp chirp, without hesitation, stuck out her bottom and struggled to get off and run, pressing against her mother's belly. "Dear Mother, tonight I'm setting sail! I'm going to row the little boat of my dreams!"
Yun Jinglan slapped Qiuqiu's bottom. "Want to leave? Where to?"
[Heading to the Southwest!]
Qiuqiu mentioned the Southwest more than once today, but no one has mentioned going there recently. Just now, Qiuqiu said Qiao Muyang is going to the Southwest?
Su Junyao and Yun Jinglan exchanged a worried glance. Qiao Muyang's trip to the southwest was definitely not simple; they needed to be careful.
Thirteen observed the couple from the side and confirmed one thing—he wasn't the only one who could hear Chiu Chiu's thoughts!
What secret does Chiu Chiu hold?
Su Junyao subtly probed Thirteen: "Thirteen, who did Qiuqiu meet today? Also, was it you who dug out all my books?"
Thirteen wouldn't take the blame for Qiuqiu, so she shook her head and said, "It was Miss who instructed her."
Our bond between master and servant is so fragile!
"Who did you meet?" Thirteen. "Does meeting Qiao Muyang and the maid in their courtyard count?"
It was no secret in the courtyard that Yuanxiang was Qiao Muyang's person. They initially thought she was a pawn Qiao Muyang had planted there, wanting to see what she was up to. Who knew that besides being cunning, deceitful, and prone to tattling, she knew nothing.
After keeping an eye on her for a while, I gave up.
"I didn't want to alert her, but I forgot about it later." Yun Jinglan then remembered that there was still a round incense stick that hadn't been dealt with. "I'll have the steward find a reason to expel her from the manor later!"
"Did you hear what they said?"
Thirteen was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, and must have known that he had heard the news. The couple looked at him expectantly.
After considering for a moment, Thirteen slowly said, "Qiao Muyang said he's going to the southwest to dig for mushrooms and cultivate shiitake mushrooms."
"What?!"
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