Chapter 16: I'm grounded again.
After leaving Lihong Courtyard, Chen Yi had Liu Si'er drive the carriage around the south of the city a few times, only to find that they were all pretty much the same.
Aside from having an elegant storefront, a larger shop, music playing, and being frequented by high-ranking officials and dignitaries, there's no difference between them.
It's much more fun to fish in the mansion.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Yi led the group back to the Marquis's residence, without even having lunch outside.
Not long after.
After escorting Chen Yi, Xiao Die, and Xiao Wuge back to Chunhe Garden, Wang Lixing looked around at the Marquis's personal guards.
"Second son-in-law, how did he grow up to be so bold?"
"Who knows? In my opinion, he must have been cooped up in the mansion for too long and went to the south city to feast his eyes."
"If the old Marquis and the second master find out, our son-in-law will be in deep trouble."
"However, the fact that the scholar surnamed Liu was cornered at Lihong Courtyard earlier really amused me."
"Haha... You should have said it, now that you've mentioned it, I want to laugh even more."
Wang Lixing didn't stay long. After changing into his armor, he went to report to Xiao Xuanshuo.
"You bastard!"
"He, he actually dared to take Wu Ge to a place like that! He has no shame! My Xiao family can't afford to lose face like that!"
Xiao Xuanshuo slapped the armrest of his wheelchair, his square face full of anger.
Wang Lixing stood to the side, not daring to move, and couldn't help but feel worried for Chen Yi.
After cursing for a long time, Xiao Xuanshuo's temper remained unabated.
But he knew that such a matter was not something to be discussed openly, and that it would only cause trouble for the old Marquis, so he immediately gave the order:
"Lixing, go and inform the guards in the manor that from this day forward, Chen Yi is not to be allowed to leave the manor even a step!"
Wang Lixing responded with a "yes," glanced at his face, and hesitated before saying, "Then the young master... the second young lady wrote earlier saying that he would be released from confinement."
"I'll speak to Jinghong myself. Just do as I say," Xiao Xuanshuo snorted.
"Also, go and tell that bastard that after Jinghong returns to the manor, I will test his martial arts progress. If he fails to break through to the lower level of the ninth rank, I will send him to report to the Xuanjia Army!"
Wang Lixing opened his mouth, but thinking of Chen Yixi's performance in practicing stance training these days, he secretly shook his head.
Even with the profound-level spear stance skill, it is not easy to hone one's physical body and raise one's cultivation to the lower ninth rank.
Most people need two to three months, but only those with extraordinary talent can complete the first step of refining their internal energy within a month.
Even the Second Miss took more than half a month to cultivate.
This is the result of diligent work every day, but the son-in-law... the son-in-law is in big trouble now.
However, to Wang Lixing's surprise, Chen Yi not only did not cause a scene after learning about it, but remained calm, as if he had expected it.
"You're not allowed to leave the Marquis's residence, but you're free to stay within it, right?"
"That's right, young master..."
Chen Yi waved his hand to interrupt him, "I know, just continue with the stance training as usual."
He had indeed anticipated this.
If they are not discovered, that would be fine. With Xiao Wuge and the others following them, the matter will inevitably reach the ears of the elders of the Xiao family.
After all, the Xiao family was the ancestral family of Marquis Wu of Wei. It was already a mercy that he, a son-in-law, was allowed to stroll around the brothels in the south of the city in broad daylight without being beaten up.
Wang Lixing gave a wry smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and turned to leave Chunhe Garden.
The person just left.
Large tears streamed down Xiaodie's face, and she began to sob uncontrollably.
"Aunt, Uncle, it's all my fault, I didn't stop you..."
Chen Yi couldn't help but chuckle when he saw her tear-streaked face.
"Why are you crying? Try to think positively."
"You're grounded again, and you still have to take a martial arts exam? What's so great about that?"
"Because of the lockdown, I won't be able to run around anymore, right? Think about it, you won't have to worry about me anymore, will you?"
Xiaodie thought about it with teary eyes and realized that it made sense.
She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, her face flushed red as she tried to laugh but held it back.
"Young master, you...you really are..."
She couldn't quite put her finger on what it really was.
Having lived in the Marquis's mansion since childhood, she had seen many people, including high-ranking officials, wealthy young men, and well-read scholars, but none of them were like her son-in-law.
He is indeed talented, but he is not arrogant.
He reads often, but it's clear he doesn't enjoy it and only uses it to pass the time.
He often speaks strange colloquialisms, but occasionally he can say something quite reasonable... Anyway, he's weird.
"Stop crying and go to the kitchen to see what we're having for lunch."
One sentence was enough to make the little girl wipe away her tears and run out the door.
At this moment, Xiao Wuge, who had been silently standing by, looked at Chen Yi, who seemed unharmed, and asked curiously:
"Brother-in-law, don't you like going out?"
"We'll see." Chen Yi looked around, picked up his fishing rod, and walked towards the pond. "If there's nothing else to do, it's no fun leaving the Marquis's residence."
Xiao Wuge followed him, also carrying a fishing rod, and smiled after thinking for a moment.
"I understand, brother-in-law is right."
"What do you know?"
"I know that you prefer quiet to activity, like fishing and drinking tea, but don't like practicing martial arts or reading."
"You were right..."
...
Ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.
These days, Chen Yi has been staying obediently in the Marquis's residence, but he has not been completely absent from Chunhe Garden.
Fortunately, three of the "Daily Intelligence" reports happened to be delivered from inside the Marquis's residence during this period.
He then had Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die lead him around the Marquis's mansion, partly to see what was going on and partly to familiarize himself with the place.
Although the intelligence was mostly noisy and boisterous, and the reward was not as good as the Dragon and Phoenix Dance Technique outside the Red Courtyard that day, Chen Yi was still content.
At least it's faster than when he was at Chunhe Garden, where he had a guaranteed chance of advancement.
Not only did it allow him to advance both "Martial Arts Fist" and the newly learned "Martial Arts Steps" to the minor completion level, but it also allowed him to break through to the proficient level with the Mountain Collapse Fist, and even his Dragon and Phoenix Playful Movement Technique made considerable progress.
Of course, there's also his cultivation level.
After practicing the spear stance technique for some time, his cultivation level has broken through from the lower ninth rank to the middle ninth rank.
A very fruitful harvest.
This day, in the pavilion of Chunhe Garden.
A torrential downpour was falling from the sky, cascading into the pond.
Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge sat side by side on the pavilion railing, one big and one small, holding two fishing rods, their eyes fixed on the floats.
Xiaodie sat at a stone table to the side, watching her son-in-law and the young master, and occasionally refilling their cups with hot tea.
She rested her chin on her hand, thinking about the interesting things that had happened in the past few days, feeling a little strange.
I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but whenever there’s some commotion or chaos in the mansion, the son-in-law always appears immediately, eating melon seeds and watching the show.
She didn't even dare to raise her head, afraid of incurring the wrath of those people.
Thinking about it, Xiaodie smiled and asked softly:
"Son-in-law, the old master's birthday banquet is in a few days. Would you like to prepare a gift?"
"A birthday banquet...it is indeed necessary to prepare."
To be honest, Chen Yi had been staying at the Xiao residence for several months, but he hadn't even seen the old Marquis once.
Whether the old marquis was still holding a grudge against him for running away from the wedding or was busy with other matters, he was stopped and turned away when he went to pay his respects a few days ago.
So Chen Yi gave up on the idea and decided that staying in Chunhe Garden to drink tea and fish was just fine.
"Judging by the time, the eldest young lady and the second young lady will be back soon."
Chen Yi's ears twitched slightly, and he suddenly realized what was happening.
It's the old Marquis's birthday, and Xiao Jinghong really has to rush back. He wonders what kind of attitude the lady will have when she returns.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi asked, "Xiao Die, what are Grandpa's hobbies?"
It's unlikely that Xiao Jinghong would prepare any gifts; in crucial moments, they'll have to rely on his son-in-law.
Xiaodie thought for a moment, "Grandpa used to like practicing martial arts, but that was in the past, now..."
Xiao Wuge turned his head and added, "Grandfather has been playing chess with several visiting grandfathers recently."
"Play chess?" Chen Yi stroked his chin; he didn't know how to play.
"Then let's send the old man a piece of calligraphy."
His calligraphy has also improved considerably in recent times, and he should be able to write a presentable birthday poem.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
