"Xiao Xi is too young, and she looks just like you. It's better for her to stay at home."
"But why would my sister drink with you? Aren't Yan'er and Su Ling there too?"
"They're still young. My older sister brought them back before they went out. I..." Before Xie Yuancheng could finish speaking, I threw a small pillow at him.
"You guys are going too far!" I'm getting angry. They all came back and went out again without even calling me! Which restaurant could make them so happy, and even bring me along!
"Ying'er~ My dear Ying'er~ There are some things we need to say about the drinks we had at Zuiweiju. We just used drinking as a cover, so don't be angry. We were at the government office today, taking care of some things, and then we went to drink."
"Go away, don't bother me!" I rolled up in the blanket and went inside. I was worried that something had happened to them, and they went drinking without even calling me!
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng came closer, but I covered my head with the blanket and refused to talk to him. What was there to talk about? A grown man going out drinking without his wife is a bad guy.
"I was wrong. Next time my sister comes back to the manor, I'll have her take you out with her."
"How about I kneel outside and wait for you to calm down before I come back in? Or I can kneel by the bed; it's still cold outside."
"Ying'er~ Talk to me, I promise I won't come home so late next time~"
Xie Yuancheng came over and pulled my blanket over me. I pretended to be asleep, and even if he cried his heart out, I wouldn't pay him any attention. However, I underestimated Xie Yuancheng's skill in poking my face.
No matter how attractive he is, I can force myself to fall asleep. Just as I was starting to feel drowsy, he began to touch me downwards, and I immediately woke up with a start.
"You annoying bastard~ If you bother me again, I'll throw you out the door!" I pushed him to the ground, covered myself with the blanket, and went back to sleep, too lazy to deal with this person who had come home drunk.
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng pulled the blanket up and spoke in a soft voice. I changed to a new blanket and threw the old one on the ground, letting him keep company with the blanket.
Knowing he was back put my mind at ease, and I fell asleep quickly. I sometimes sleep late, but today, with my mind relaxed, I drifted off. I could still hear him yelling in my ears. Serves him right for sleeping on the floor; let's see if he dares to do it again.
The next morning, I ignored him completely, letting him say all the nice things while I coldly watched him. If I didn't show him some authority, he wouldn't know that the gates of the Marquis's mansion are wide open.
"I'm not saying anything more!" Xie Yuancheng sat down angrily on the side. "I work so hard for you every day, and you criticize me even for drinking a little bit!"
I went to the soft couch to read a book; he had been bothering me all morning, and my ears were about to give way. Xie Yuancheng came over again, eagerly turning the pages for me.
"Ying'er~ I've already apologized. I promise I'll take you out next time and I definitely won't try to appease you~"
"Don't make a sound." I turned over again and continued reading the book. Although the book only had a few pages, I found it interesting after just one page; there was so much content.
I was enjoying reading the short story when the book was taken away. When I looked up, I saw Xie Yuancheng smiling shyly. He had the nerve to smile shyly after snatching my book; that's really too much.
"Go away! Don't come near me! Go wherever you want!" I hugged my little pillow, refusing to look at his face.
"Ying'er, I know I was wrong. You were never this fierce before. I'll tell you everything that happened yesterday, I promise I won't miss a single word."
Xie Yuancheng began explaining in my ear while holding the book that they had left the manor yesterday and gone straight to the yamen (government office). It was because they had arrested some people who had caused trouble in a place called Yinyun Village outside the city. This village was originally very ordinary, but a child prodigy had emerged, and many people had come to see the spectacle.
In reality, when people talk about child prodigies, it's often just that adults tell the children things in advance and then have them pretend to be very smart. If they encounter a true expert, especially someone skilled at breaking through pretense, they'll be quickly exposed.
Because the two families had a long-standing feud, what was originally a minor matter became a source of trouble. The family that caused the disturbance was upset because their child was being ostracized by a child prodigy at school, and the two children ended up fighting.
After they started composing poems and matching sentences, and were evenly matched, the troublemaking child made up some lies on the spot. Surprisingly, the child prodigy had never heard of them before and actually believed them.
The troublemaking children exposed the prodigy's pretense. After being told off, the prodigy went back and exaggerated the story several times, turning what was originally a conflict between children into a fight between the adults.
The villagers naturally sided with the child prodigy. With a child prodigy, there would be more people in the village, and they could also make money from the child prodigy's reputation, so they were naturally very happy.
However, the troublemakers deliberately exposed the family's deception and repeated the child's question in front of everyone. The child prodigy thought it was a test, so he deliberately spoke loudly. At this point, everyone in the village knew that the child prodigy was an imposter, and then the whole village started fighting, which escalated the situation.
"It's just kids causing trouble. You're supposed to be a marquis, yet you have to meddle in such trivial matters?"
"Finally, you're talking to me." Xie Yuancheng came over and hugged my hand. I opened it but still shamelessly hugged it. "The key thing is that this family used Lord Wu's reputation to spread rumors. We thought it was true. Later we found out that the family failed the exam and the male head of the household was Lord Wu's former classmate. They used his reputation to elevate their status."
"Get away!" I pushed him a few more times, but he still wouldn't budge. "You guys are just looking for trouble."
"Yes, but they've hidden the son of the marquis who was taken down by the old emperor, so we're being a little careful. Otherwise, we wouldn't care about such a small matter."
"The Marquis's child? Wasn't he wronged? His mother was kidnapped, and now he's being accused of harboring her."
"Ying'er!" Xie Yuancheng grabbed me and twisted my neck with his hand: "If you don't talk to me, I won't know who you're talking to!"
"Stop changing the subject, just tell me!" I pulled my hands off his grip, hugging my little pillow as I looked at him.
"Of course, he'd only be punished if there was something wrong with him. He's already been sent away, and he'll probably be able to meet his mother tomorrow." Xie Yuancheng leaned on my shoulder; he's such a scoundrel. I couldn't break free, so I just let him be.
"What will happen to them? Will they be taken to the capital? Didn't they ask for your help? Why did you send her child away?"
"So many questions, which one should I answer? Or should I just stare at Ying'er instead of answering any of them? The sun is barely shining outside, and you've been talking about me since last night—and you're ignoring me."
"Fine, don't tell me then. I don't know anyone here, so I don't care!" I moved to the side with my little cushion, and Xie Yuancheng fell onto the soft couch. Seeing his bewildered look, I just laughed.
"Come back here!" He started getting angry again. I just wouldn't go over, but he was too fast for me and grabbed me again. "Try dodging one more time."
I turned away and ignored him. All he does is berate me. I have a temper too!
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