Xin He playfully snuggled into his arms: "I’m not in a hurry. I thought one month would be more than enough. But now it seems that time is really not enough. There are so many things to prepare, and I cannot help but be busy."
Mu Houchu pinched her face: "What is there to be busy about? The girls are the ones who should be busy. What does this have to do with you? It’s not your time to take the stage."
Xin He lifted her head and glared at him lightly: "Even if it’s not me on the stage, this is more laborious than me getting on the stage!"
If she was on the stage, things would be straightforward. After all, she was adept at and familiar with all these, there was nothing difficult. But these girls are a different story. They have never experienced these before. It took time to learn and extra effort to practice.
However, even so, Xin He must ensure that the Oiran competition to be held next month runs smoothly. Absolutely no allowances can be made.
"So you’re saying that this is hard work?" Mu Houchu asked with a light laugh.
He knew that this little girl wanted an opportunity to vent her difficulties. If he did not let her speak, she would probably feel aggrieved.
Then Xin He said, "Imagine, I must teach them new skills, things they’ve never been in touch with before. And I’m not teaching just one or two; there’s a crowd of them! Today I haven’t even started teaching them. I just picked one person, and my eyes are already weary. Then there are the music teachers to arrange, and the choreography, and the preparation of the stage for the Oiran competition... Oh! And the most important thing: costumes! This is crucial, and I should be the one in charge, otherwise the outfits they prepare themselves would surely be unsuitable. Ah, it truly is so troublesome!"
Mu Houchu pinched her palm: "You don’t have to work so hard."
Xin He nestled in his arms, muttering: "I’m willing to. Since I’ve chosen to do this, I must do it spectacularly! Otherwise, I’ll never feel at peace."
Mu Houchu just smiled. He was well aware of her character, so he didn’t say anything more: "Alright, just do as you wish. Can I even stop you?"
Just as he was talking, there was a knock on the door. As soon as Xin He heard the systematic knock, she knew it must be Ling Feng. Mu Houchu, though he had arrived in Lian’an Town, was not idle. Ling Feng would bring news and documents from the capital nearly every day for Mu Houchu to look over.
Xin He lifted her head from Mu Houchu’s chest: "Alright, I’ll stop talking now. I’m going to check on Xiao Bei."
"Okay."
Xin He opened the door and left. As expected, Ling Feng was already waiting outside, with a respectful bow.
"Madam," he greeted.
Xin He nodded, then headed toward the front yard.
It was still hot, and Xiao Bei hated the heat the most. There was a big basin of ice in his room. When Xin He entered the room, she saw him playing with the ice along with Xiao Chaihuo.
"I thought you were studying hard, but you’re just here enjoying yourself." Xin He said, laughing as she entered. Her tone was free of any reprimands.
Xiao Bei playfully stuck out his tongue: "I didn’t. I’ve already completed all the assignments Teacher assigned. We are just taking a break. Xiao Chaihuo can corroborate my story!"
Xiao Chaihuo quickly hid his hands reddened from playing with the ice behind his back, looking somewhat guilty.
Xin He laughed, "Fine, it’s best for you two to play together, saves me from worrying."
Initially, she was worried they might not get along. But now it seems she was worrying unnecessarily.
"You two can continue playing. Just don’t play with the ice all the time and risk freezing your hands. How come you didn’t go out and play with Gou Dan?"
Xiao Bei murmured, "Gou Dan has been busy with chores at home these past few days, he doesn’t have time to play with me."
Xin He gently patted his head, "That’s true."
As they were speaking, she saw Ji Dong come in with a gloomy expression on his face.
Xin He looked at him in surprise, "What’s wrong, big brother?"
The type of person Ji Dong is, he couldn’t keep anything from showing on his face.
"I just came back from the workshop, and I saw Ji Xiulan. She’s swaggered back to the village arrogantly as if she’s looking down on everyone else. She ran into me and mocked me. I’m incredibly frustrated..." Ji Dong said, flustered.
Xin He expressed her surprise, "Ji Xiulan? What is she boasting about?"
Xiao Bei tugged Xin He’s sleeve before saying, "Sister probably doesn’t know. Ji Xiulan got married not long after Sister went to the capital."
Ji Dong scornfully responded: "Married? She only became someone’s concubine! An upright and respectable girl from our family, who would be a concubine for someone else? If you become a concubine, you can never lift your head high. But she is quite the opposite, she’s arrogantly flaunting around, as if she thinks herself an important person!"
Amused, Xin He poured Ji Dong a cup of tea to cool down his anger: "What’s the big deal? It’s just a small matter. How could it make big brother this angry? She has been showing off uncaringly, and it didn’t start today or yesterday. Ji Xiulan becoming someone’s concubine doesn’t surprise me in the least. What good can come from someone with such high standards but low ability?"
"More than just a concubine, she’s a concubine to a decrepit old man on the verge of death!" Ji Dong’s face was filled with contempt. "Forget it, let’s not talk about it anymore. I get annoyed whenever I bring her up!"
Xin He said with a chuckle, "Big Brother is the one getting upset here, just ignore her. Why should we bother ourselves about her."
Ji Dong complained, "But she still..."
"Still what?"
Ji Dong glanced at Xiao Bei and Xiao Chaihuo, and the two boys quickly excused themselves and went out.
Only then did Ji Dong speak, "She mocked you. Her words were extremely harsh. I’m just so mad!"
Upon hearing this, Xin He immediately asked, "Big Brother, where’s Lady Ding?"
"Lady Ding? Why are you suddenly asking about her?"
Xin He knitted her eyebrows slightly. Lady Ding had been to the capital before and sent to the Princess’s mansion. The Princess deliberately humiliated her, so Lady Ding knew everything about her. If Lady Ding was loose-lipped and let something slip, it might not be easy.
Therefore, Xin He straightforwardly asked, "What exactly did Xiulan say about me?"
Ji Dong gritted his teeth and said, "What else could she say? She just said on the day of your wedding, you were deserted by your husband, then shamelessly ran out to find him, and finally pleaded with him to come back insincerely. Her mouth is as malicious as her mother’s."
Listening to this, these words didn’t even touch a bit on her affairs in the capital. Given Ji Xiulan’s foolish nature, if she were to know something, she would certainly say it. If she didn’t say anything, doesn’t that mean she doesn’t know?
Maybe when Lady Ding was released from the Princess’s residence, she was threatened, hence didn’t dare to speak out.
Feeling a bit relieved, Xin He then casually asked, "Who did Ji Xiulan become a concubine for? She’s so arrogant?"
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