No one knows a daughter better than her mother. My mother knew what I meant: "Alright, you should spend more time with him."
Wan'er suddenly ran in, her face unusual. My mother took Yu'er from me, and I went to the door with Wan'er to talk.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"
"The Second Prince says that a princess is hiding in the manor and insists on searching it, but the Marquis refuses, and now there is a stalemate."
"They're really bullying their father because he's been transferred to a higher position. If their father were still a general, would he dare to investigate? He's just a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong."
"Yes, but the Second Prince's men have already started."
"What!"
I went inside and told my mother. She told me to quickly take Li Zhaole to the backyard, where there was a cleverly designed mechanism where we could hide temporarily.
I told Wan'er to go to the front and stall for time as much as possible, and then go to Li Zhaole's courtyard. She had just put Xiao Junjun to sleep. I told Anxiang to go with Li Zhaole and come with me to hide in the backyard first.
“They’re here, that’s good. I won’t hide anymore. I want to see what tricks they have up their sleeves.” Li Zhaole’s attitude was very firm, so I could only bring up Xiao Junjun.
"He's so young. Are you really going to let him grow up without a mother just because of a moment of anger?"
"Me." Li Zhaole picked up Xiao Junjun and held her in her arms tenderly. "Okay, let's go."
We heard the noise as soon as we went out, so I led them to the shortcut. That was the place Xie Yuancheng and his father had converted into a maze behind the house. They originally intended it to be a maze for Yu'er, but now the other wall could temporarily protect Li Zhaole.
I told them to make do inside for a bit, then pushed the wall back to its original position. I saw some peach blossoms blooming brightly nearby, so I picked a small branch. There was an ice cellar below, which is why the peach blossoms here withered late.
Fortunately, my mother made me wear a veil this time, so I don't have to worry even if I run into someone on the way back.
But I was really unlucky. How did I end up running into the Second Prince? He's a two-faced bastard, a beast in human form. Seeing him reminds me of how he beat Caiwei.
Now, Caiwei doesn't know if she ran away on her own or went back with Cailu and the others. Either way, it's definitely better that she's not with the Second Prince.
"You are Yuan Cheng's wife, why are you wearing a veil?"
I held the peach branch in my hand, head down, not saying a word. Luckily, Xie Yuancheng came.
"My wife is always shy and not good at speaking, please don't take offense, Second Prince."
Seeing him approach, I put the peach branch in my other hand and went to Xie Yuancheng's side. He was truly a savior; he always appeared just in time whenever I encountered trouble.
"I wonder if the Second Prince has found anything?" Xie Yuancheng's tone was provocative. He genuinely felt sorry for him. The Second Prince was a member of the royal family, but he was ranked after the Crown Prince and was granted the title of Prince because his mother was favored.
He was a year younger than the Crown Prince, but his heart was just as black as the Crown Prince's; he was utterly despicable.
"I just got to the backyard, and I haven't seen it yet. Why don't you show me around?"
"I don't have the time for that. I need to take my wife to deliver flowers to the children, so I won't be searching with the Second Prince."
Xie Yuancheng was really cool; he just grabbed my hand and we left, and I looked at him with adoration.
After they had walked a distance, Xie Yuancheng spoke: "Ying'er, if you keep looking at me, I'm going straight back inside!"
"You're so stingy! I've already taken all the flowers, and you're not even going to let me see your handsome face."
“I don’t look at it every day.” Xie Yuancheng picked me up and said, “This time I’ll let you see it more clearly.”
"Ugh~ You're just trying to show off. You're not allowed to put me down until we're at Mom's door, or I won't let you sleep in my bed tonight."
"Alright, I dare not disobey what you say, Madam."
Xie Yuancheng quickened his pace, and I was afraid it would be too much for him to carry me, so I held tightly to his neck. No wonder Yu'er likes to hug my neck whenever he's happy or sad; he's afraid of falling to the ground.
I heard my father's voice as soon as I got to the door; he must be very angry. I asked Xie Yuancheng to put me down, and he only put me down after stealing a kiss on my face.
I straightened my clothes and went inside with him. Dad was talking to Xizhi, who is not yet three months old, but he is very cute. Dad was babbling to him, and Xizhi smiled when he saw Dad.
Su Ling slept so soundly that the father and son laughed at her for being able to fall asleep.
I wiped the peach blossoms on the bottle next to me, then went over and said, "Dad."
"Ying'er, come and see! Xizhi can smile now, she looks so cute."
“He just loves to laugh. Every time Yu’er comes to the bedside, he’s the first one to smile.”
Dad stroked Xizhi's little head: "You're too cute. I can't be with you, otherwise I won't be able to do anything all day."
His mother laughed at him from the side: "Every time Yu'er sends someone to call your grandfather, he still takes him around the mansion."
"It's a pity that Yu'er is asleep now, otherwise I would have let him talk to Xizhi with me."
“Master, Yu’er only wants his little sister now. He wants to hug Xizhi whenever he sees her.”
"When he gets a little older, we can talk to him properly, and he'll be able to understand."
We laughed on the sidelines, but I was worried inside. Dad and Xie Yuancheng weren't worried at all. The Second Prince was searching, and they were still here making fun of the little ones.
But my mother wasn't worried anymore, so I relaxed too. The mechanisms in the backyard were so complicated that anyone who didn't know the steps would never find their doors.
Dad started talking to Xie Yuancheng. They were actually discussing the crispy fish for dinner that night, and they said they were really looking forward to it.
I looked at my mother, and she just smiled and patted my hand to reassure me.
Because there were outsiders in the mansion, I always wore a veil. Wan'er and Qiao'er brought in some tea and snacks. They were also a little uneasy and stood to the side without saying a word.
My dad and Xie Yuancheng actually started laughing while chatting, and it was about food. I covered my face; I couldn't bear to watch.
Yu'er was sleeping soundly on the bed, his little hand raised to his ear. Just looking at him made you want to stay by his side and watch over him.
The Second Prince finally finished searching, but of course found nothing. When Father came in, his expression changed.
"Second Prince, I told you there's no one in the manor. You just exchanged a few blows with Yuan Cheng. Shouldn't you keep your promise?"
"Lord Ji, I will keep my word. Go to the Prime Minister's residence now and have him report my recklessness today at the morning court tomorrow."
I stood behind my mother. Where did the Second Prince get his imposing manner? He was even more arrogant than the Crown Prince. They had also searched Lin Yang's residence, which was why the wet nurse had died without cause.
Xie Yuancheng had Lin Chao take a lot of things to the countryside at the time, which was considered a way to make up for it, but the person was still gone.
As soon as the Second Prince left, Father ordered everyone in the mansion to start cleaning, saying that a group of bandits had just come and needed to be swept clean.
Xie Yuancheng and I went to pick up Li Zhaole and the others. When she saw Xie Yuancheng, she handed Xiao Junjun to Anxiang and began to tell him about her plans to leave the mansion.
Xie Yuancheng told her to give up the idea for now: "Sister Zhaole, the Second Prince is almost becoming the second Crown Prince. You should stay in the manor for now, and I will arrange things for you later."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
