Chapter 299 Six Years Later

The grass is lush, the warblers are flying, the flowers are red and the willows are green. The spring pond in the marquis's mansion is rippling with clear waves, and the green lotuses are blooming and withering.

Time passed quietly, and in a blink of an eye, six years had passed.

"Big brother, second brother, my kite!"

A gust of wind blew, and a paper ibis landed on the top of a tall tree. Three children aged six or seven gathered under the tree.

The two little boys saw the paper ibis hanging on the tree and said, "Xiuying, don't worry, I'll take it down for you."

The one who spoke was the tallest boy. He stared at the paper iris above his head with dark eyes, and his square face showed seriousness. He used his hands and feet to climb up the tree in no time.

But when he climbed halfway, he still couldn't reach the paper iris hanging at the highest point, and then a long pole was handed to him from below.

"Brother, use this." Under the tree, a little boy dressed in brocade clothes, with a face as white as jade and a delicate appearance, handed him a pole.

Cheng Bingan on the tree took the pole, and the two of them worked together to poke the paper ibis down, along the corner of the wall to the outside of the wall.

The little girl under the tree saw the paper ibis falling down and clapped her hands happily, "It's coming down, it's coming down!"

She ran happily towards the place where the paper iris fell. Just as she was about to pick it up, a small hand snatched it away.

A pair of siblings, about four or five years old, grabbed the paper iris. They took turns holding it, and the fragile skeleton of the paper iris was deformed by them.

"Lanying, Bingzhi, that's my paper iris! Give it back to me!" When Siying saw her paper iris being squeezed and deformed, she immediately screamed.

That was specially sent by her mother, Aunt Wang from Jiangnan.

It is a hand-painted paper iris unique to Jiangnan. The surface of the paper iris is made of the most expensive and thinnest paper from Chengxintang, and the frame is bamboo from Jiangnan. The patterns painted on it are unique to Jiangnan. There is no other paper iris like it in the whole capital.

It is her favorite paper ibis.

"Run!" The little boy looked at her, turned around and ran with his sister holding the paper iris.

When Siying saw this, she rushed over to chase after him. How could a child of four or five years old outrun a child who was almost seven years old?

The little girl who ran slower was caught by Siying in an instant. She threw the paper iris in her hand to her brother, "Bingzhi, don't give it to her!"

Seeing this, Su Ying let go of her and turned to grab the little boy, "Give me back my paper iris!"

"I won't give it back! I won't give it back!" The little boy was forced into a corner. He raised the paper iris in his hand high, and in front of her, he tore it into pieces in two quick strokes.

When Siying saw this, she rushed over angrily and pushed him down with great force. The little boy fell on his butt on the stone road and burst into tears.

"Xiying, what's wrong?"

"What happened?"

Cheng Bing'an and Cheng Binghao ran over and saw Cheng Bingzhi crying on the ground.

Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying are both children of Aunt Li. During these six years, Aunt Li first gave birth to Cheng Lanying and then gave birth to Cheng Bingzhi the following year. They were both raised by Aunt Li, but they were both very much favored by Cheng Yunshuo and were usually quite arrogant.

"Suying, what's wrong?" Cheng Binghao ran to Cheng Suying.

Cheng Suying held up the torn paper iris in her hand, her eyes filled with tears as she stared angrily at Cheng Bingzhi who was crying loudly on the ground.

"Who broke Xuying's paper iris?" Cheng Binghao shouted.

Cheng Lanying took two steps back, and Cheng Bingzhi, who was crying on the ground, cried even louder.

Just then, a tall and upright young man walked over.

In six years, Cheng Yunshuo has changed a lot. He has grown a beard, which makes him look much more stable than when he was young. His green and sharp eyes have also become more restrained and silent, and he looks like an adult.

"What happened?"

The moment he opened his mouth, all the children in the yard fell silent.

Seeing him coming over, Cheng Lanying trotted towards him and threw herself into his arms, "Daddy!"

Her voice was very tender, as if she had suffered a great injustice, and she flew into Cheng Yunshuo's arms like a little butterfly.

Cheng Yunshuo bent down and picked up Cheng Lanying. "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

"They, they bullied my brother!" Cheng Lanying pointed at Cheng Suying and the other two.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Binghao immediately stood up and said, "You are talking nonsense! It is obvious that you two stole Siying's paper iris! And you tore her paper iris into pieces!"

"We don't know who it belongs to. We picked it up." Cheng Lanying hugged Cheng Yunshuo's neck tightly.

"Dad, I said it was my paper iris!" Cheng Suying held the torn paper iris in her hand and stared at Cheng Yunshuo, "They refused to give it to me and tore it into pieces."

Cheng Yunshuo met Cheng Suying's tearful eyes and turned his head away immediately, "Even if it's yours, what's wrong with letting your brother and sister play with it for a while? You are the older sister, why do you always have to argue with your younger brothers and sisters?"

When Cheng Suying heard her father say this, she fell silent.

Cheng Binghao on the side said indignantly, "Dad! They were wrong first! Why did you say that about Siying?"

"I haven't punished you yet. As a brother, you don't know how to comfort your crying brother, and you come to question me? This is the rule you learned!"

"Dad, you..."

"Second brother." Cheng Bing'an hurriedly stopped Cheng Binghao and looked at Cheng Yunshuo. "Dad, I was wrong. I didn't take good care of my brothers and sisters. We know we are wrong."

Although Cheng Bing'an was young, he already acted like an older brother. Upon hearing him say this, Cheng Yunshuo stopped talking.

He looked at Cheng Bingzhi who was still sobbing and crying, "As a man, why are you crying? Get up and go back to your aunt!"

Cheng Bingzhi was arrogant in front of the three of them and didn't dare to say a word in front of his father. When he heard him say that, he quickly wiped his tears, got up, and followed Cheng Yunshuo to Bishuiyuan.

Cheng Suying watched the three of them walk away, and stood there clutching the paper eagle, her gaze fixed on Cheng Yunshuo who was walking away holding Cheng Lanying, her eyes full of grievance.

As far as she could remember, her father had never hugged her.

Of course, her brothers and sisters were not hugged by him either, but it would be fine if Cheng Yunshuo didn't hug any other child, but he chose to hug Cheng Lanying.

Every time Cheng Lanying acted coquettishly, he would pick her up. No matter whether what she did was right or wrong, he was partial to her. Everyone could see his preference for her.

"Sister, don't be sad. Daddy is too partial! Let's tell Mom! Ask Mom to give us justice!"

Cheng Suying shook her head when she heard this. She looked away. She looked precocious despite her young age. There was even a hint of Lu Lingyun between her brows. "It's useless. People who are biased will never change."

Lu Lingyun still found out about this.

It was Li Bixiang who personally brought her two children to her courtyard to apologize.

"Both of you kneel down before the young lady!"

Early the next morning, Li Bixi brought Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi to Lu Lingyun's yard.

The young noblewoman sitting in the flower hall saw the two children kneeling below and asked slowly, "What happened?"