Chapter 21 The eldest brother doesn't have a wife, so he's not involved in this kind of holiday.
"Little Fish, don't say anything, I understand." Xiao Jingxuan sighed heavily, as if to say that there was no need for him to explain, that any explanation would only be a cover-up.
Immediately afterwards, he quickly pulled out a small oil paper packet from his pocket and stuffed it into Su Xiaoyu's arms without saying a word.
"This is all I can offer you for now. I'll treat you to a big meal another time."
He paused, then added, "It's still hot, eat it quickly to replenish your energy."
Su Xiaoyu opened the oil paper package and found two pieces of jujube paste cake. They were probably freshly made and still had a pleasant aroma.
"Oh, right!" Xiao Jingxuan added, "Tomorrow at noon, wait for me near that small side gate on the west side. I'll find a way to get rid of the old woman guarding the gate and take you out to relax. It's so stifling to always be in the manor facing my elder brother's icy face. I'll take you out for some fresh air and some good food!"
Although Xiao Jingxuan was short of money at the moment, he could still borrow money from his cronies for a meal.
We absolutely cannot bear to see the little fish lose its vitality due to being "tortured" by its older brother.
"Ah? Second Young Master, isn't this inappropriate? The Young Master, he..."
Su Xiaoyu wanted to stuff the jujube paste cake back in.
go out?
She dared not follow the second young master again; wasn't the lesson from last time profound enough?
"Don't worry!" Xiao Jingxuan said, "Based on past experience, my elder brother always stays at home reviewing official documents during the Shangsi Festival every year and won't go out."
"He doesn't have a wife, so these kinds of holidays don't apply to him. You can come out without worry."
Su Xiaoyu was speechless. She thought to herself:
Second Young Master, would you like to hear what you're saying?
The prince doesn't have a wife, but do you have one?
After saying that, Xiao Jingxuan seemed to be in a hurry, "Don't make a sound! Don't let my brother's men know. It's settled then. Meet me at the side gate at noon tomorrow. Wait for my signal!"
Then, without giving Su Xiaoyu a chance to refuse, he disappeared behind the artificial hill in a few flashes, like a nimble monkey, without a trace.
Su Xiaoyu stood there, holding the bag of pastries, completely bewildered!
What... what kind of mess is this?!
Anyway, she's not going tomorrow.
Little did they know, Changfeng had witnessed this entire scene from a short distance away.
He originally intended to come and find Xiaoyu, to tell her to set aside time tomorrow and make some preparations.
Then the second young master suddenly appeared and rambled on to Su Xiaoyu.
Changfeng did not hesitate and went straight into Moyunzhai to deliver the news to Xiao Jingheng.
...
The next day, as soon as Su Xiaoyu arrived at the study, she was stopped by Changfeng, who was waiting in the corridor.
He was also holding a thick booklet in his hands:
“Miss Xiaoyu, the young master has instructed that you must finish copying these ten pages of the ‘Dali Temple Law’ before noon today. The handwriting must be neat and there must be no corrections. After you finish copying, the young master will make an exception and allow you to leave the manor today, without having to stay at the hospital to work.”
When Su Xiaoyu heard the first half of the sentence, she frowned.
But after hearing the second half of the sentence, his eyes lit up again!
"What? I can leave the manor after I finish copying it?"
So does that mean I can leave the manor with the Second Young Master this time, and I don't have to stand him up?
She stared at the booklet in Changfeng's hand. Ten pages was a lot, but if she kept up the pace, she could definitely finish copying it before noon.
Changfeng nodded firmly.
Without saying a word, Su Xiaoyu took the booklet and turned to leave.
Changfeng watched her hurried figure disappear into the distance, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
The young master had long anticipated that the young lady would think this way.
These ten pages of legal provisions, seemingly a task, are actually a "delaying tactic," waiting for the girl to finish before giving her a "surprise."
Su Xiaoyu quickly sat down at her desk, not even bothering to drink water, and buried herself in copying.
To pass the test, she put in all her effort, trying her best to write neatly and beautifully.
As a result, he became more and more engrossed in writing, until his wrists ached and he ran out of ink.
He would occasionally glance up at the hourglass, and seeing that there was still enough time, he would lower his head and continue copying.
The last time I studied this hard was on the eve of my college entrance exam in my past life.
She's really going all out for an afternoon of freedom!
Soon, when the hourglass showed that it was noon, she had just finished writing the last word. She let out a long sigh of relief, rubbed her sore wrist, and looked at her obvious improvement, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
"Finally finished copying! Freedom! Here I come!"
She happily thought about what to eat later while packing her things.
At this hour, the Second Young Master should already be waiting at the West Corner Gate. Hopefully, we can still make it there in time.
However, at that moment, Changfeng suddenly appeared at the door.
"Little Fish Girl? Have you finished copying?"
"All copied, all copied!"
Su Xiaoyu quickly handed over a stack of copied papers, looking expectantly at Changfeng, waiting for him to nod and let her pass.
As a result, Changfeng only glanced through it a few times, confirmed that the handwriting was neat and the page numbers were correct, and then nodded:
"You've had a long journey, young lady. In that case, please come with me."
"Huh? Where are we going?" Su Xiaoyu was dumbfounded!
Didn't they say they'd let her leave the manor this afternoon once the copy was done?
Changfeng showed a perfectly timed "doubt" on his face and explained, "Naturally, we're leaving the manor. The young master's carriage is already waiting outside. Miss Xiaoyu, please hurry."
"Ah? Your Highness?"
Su Xiaoyu's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Hey, wait a minute, Brother Changfeng, didn't we agree that I could leave the manor on my own after I finished copying it?"
Changfeng gave him a look that said, "You've misunderstood," and said seriously, "Miss Xiaoyu, the young master only instructed that you could leave the manor after you finished copying the assignments. He did not allow you to leave the manor alone. Today, the young master happened to be going out, so he instructed his subordinates that if you finish your assignments on time, he would take you with him on the journey."
Su Xiaoyu: "!!!"
Why did she feel like she had fallen into an elaborate trap?
Her hand was sore from copying all that...
"Um... Brother Changfeng, could I... could I go and tell the Second Young Master first? I made an appointment with him..."
"That's not appropriate!" Changfeng said seriously.
“The young master is already waiting in the carriage. If we are delayed… Moreover, I heard that the second young master was assigned a task by the madam today and left the city early this morning. He is not at home at the moment.”
Xiao Jingxuan was certainly not in the mansion; at this moment, Wu Bai was pinning him down in the document storeroom, where he was wailing over a mountain of letters.
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoyu's heart sank completely.
The second young master is not here, and we cannot keep the young master waiting for too long.
It seems that this trip with the Crown Prince is inevitable.
She followed Changfeng somewhat nervously toward the door, telling herself for the hundredth time that she must sit in the front of the carriage later.
I will absolutely not enter the carriage.
Outside the mansion gate, the luxurious carriage, a symbol of power and status, was parked quietly.
The carriage curtains were drawn low, obscuring the people inside, yet they exuded an unsettling pressure.
Before Changfeng could speak, Su Xiaoyu spoke up:
"Brother Changfeng, let me sit in the front with you!"
"Don't worry, I'm dressed warmly today and haven't been drinking, so I'm not afraid of the wind!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com