Amid the DRIP, DRAP of the falling rain.

Xiao Jinghong explained calmly.

"Bringing you back was just on the way."

"I’m going to the Ministry of Engineering later, then I have to rush back."

Pei Guanli simply said, "Oh," not suspecting anything.

Then she saw the hotpot on the table and, without much ceremony, sat right down beside it. "Can I have some?"

Xiao Wan’er smiled gently. "Of course you can."

While instructing Cui’er to fetch two sets of bowls and chopsticks, she went over and pulled Xiao Jinghong to a seat.

"Second Sister, you came back in the rain. Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Eat something to warm yourself up first. Brother-in-law had this hotpot specially prepared."

Xiao Jinghong didn’t refuse, her eyes fixed on the hotpot, unwilling to look away.

Evidently, Pei Guanli’s earlier words had made her somewhat uncomfortable.

Especially after seeing the half-smile on Chen Yi’s face, the ripple in her heart began to spread.

’It seems the decision to bring Pei Guanli back was a bit rash.’

Chen Yi sat down as well, the smile still on his face. "Go on, try it. It’s not bad."

As he spoke, he took his own chopsticks, rinsed them in a bowl of water, and picked up some food for Xiao Jinghong.

Xiao Jinghong took it without any hesitation and began eating with his bowl and chopsticks.

After rushing about all night without a single drop to drink, she was indeed hungry.

Xiao Wan’er took this in, a complex emotion flashing across her pale, delicate face.

After a moment of silence.

Her expression returned to normal as she began to recount the events of the past few days.

She recounted everything, down to the last detail.

"I was planning to send you a letter today to explain everything. Since you’re back, you might as well go ask Grandfather about it."

After eating some meat and vegetables, Xiao Jinghong felt a warmth in her stomach. "Good. I’ll tell Grandfather about the Mutual Market at the same time."

Afterward, the group continued to make small talk in the pavilion.

It was mostly Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Jinghong who did the talking.

Xiao Wuge, of course, didn’t miss his chance, eagerly placing food on Xiao Jinghong’s plate.

Chen Yi, however, barely spoke, nor did he make any other significant moves.

He just sat to the side listening, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

But he couldn’t help but guess at the reason for Xiao Jinghong’s return to the mansion.

For a moment, his thoughts were exactly the same as Liu Si’er’s and Ge the Third’s.

’The old master is going to make a move on the Liu Family, so he summoned Xiao Jinghong back.’

’But thinking about it carefully, it doesn’t seem like the time is right yet.’

’Besides, if Xiao Jinghong or the Xiao Family were going to strike at the Liu Family, they wouldn’t bring Pei Guanli along.’

After thinking it over and over.

Chen Yi decided to assume for now that Xiao Jinghong had simply made a special trip to bring Pei Guanli back for a temporary stay.

’She couldn’t possibly have come back for me, her husband.’

During this time, Xiao Wan’er naturally introduced Xie Tingyun of the Celestial Sect.

She explained that it was thanks to her that Hundred Herbs Hall had remained safe last night.

Xiao Jinghong nodded. "Thank you for your assistance, Fairy Tingyun."

But Xie Tingyun waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, not at all. Ol—... I was here for Elder Demon Jia, but unfortunately, he escaped."

These few polite and proper words made Shen Huatang give him a sidelong glance.

She’d never expected her always-casual, unconventional senior sister to have such a reserved moment.

But what she didn’t know was that at this moment, Xie Tingyun’s heart was reeling.

’Holy hell.’

’In all my years running around the martial world, this is the first damn time I’ve been so scared my legs have gone weak.’

’Xiao Jinghong... she’s only in the Fourth Grade Realm?’

’Bullshit!’

’She must have entered the Upper Three Grades!’

Although everyone had different thoughts, on the surface, they all seemed happy and harmonious.

Xiao Jinghong had filled her stomach, seen that the Xiao Mansion was safe, and that Chen Yi’s Medicine Hall was unaffected. She could finally relax.

After a bit more small talk.

Xiao Jinghong said, "It’s getting late. I’ll go see Grandfather, and then I’ll head straight back to the Mutual Market."

Xiao Wan’er said in surprise, "In such a hurry?"

"Once the surveying is done, the blueprints are finalized, and construction on the Mutual Market has begun, I’ll come back."

"If that’s the case, then I won’t keep you..."

Hearing their conversation, Chen Yi glanced at the rain outside the pavilion, then stood up and went back inside without a word.

Xiao Jinghong watched him walk away. Although she was puzzled, she still stood up as planned to say goodbye to Xiao Wan’er and the others.

Just as she was about to leave, she saw Chen Yi walk out holding an Oil Paper Umbrella.

"It’s chilly on a rainy day," he said. "You should take an umbrella."

Xiao Jinghong paused, a flicker of warmth in her eyes. She took the Oil Paper Umbrella, a faint smile on her lips. "Thank you... husband."

Chen Yi smiled and nodded. "You’re being too formal."

Seeing that smiling face, the two poems she had received earlier came to mind, and her expression became slightly unnatural.

Thankfully, her silver mask concealed it, so no one could see.

’With that thought,’ Xiao Jinghong opened the Oil Paper Umbrella, held it over her head, and turned to leave.

She had only taken a few steps when she remembered something and turned back.

"Husband, about Mr. Yue Ming’s invitation for you to become an Instructor at Guiyun Academy, what are your thoughts?"

Seeing her bring up the old topic again, Chen Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Wife, my learning is... not that advanced."

"I probably shouldn’t go to Guiyun Academy and lead the students astray, right?"

’If I didn’t know I couldn’t beat her in a fight, I’d snatch that umbrella back no matter what.’

Xiao Jinghong looked him straight in the eye. Seeing his earnestness, she nodded and said:

"Then I won’t try to persuade you anymore."

"After I’m done with the Mutual Market, I’ll come back and find a position for you that you’ll be more satisfied with."

Huh?

Another position?

Chen Yi’s smile froze. "Um..."

Before he could say anything more to argue his case, Xiao Jinghong had already turned and walked away under the Oil Paper Umbrella.

’My husband... I believe he is a man of great learning.’

’I can’t bear to see him waste his time away in the Xiao Family like this.’

With these thoughts, her tall figure disappeared from the Spring Lotus Garden, vanishing into the curtain of rain.

Like an immortal descending to the mortal world, her steps had an unconcealable, nimble lightness to them.

It’s just that...

Chen Yi was in no mood to appreciate the sight.

’All I want is to be a lazy, live-in husband in the mansion!’

Xiao Wan’er looked at the expression on his face and knew he didn’t want to go.

Although she should have offered a few words of comfort or tried to mediate, the scene she’d witnessed earlier left her feeling a bit complicated.

’Second Sister and Brother-in-law really are a match made in heaven.’

Xiao Wan’er sighed inwardly and didn’t linger in the Spring Lotus Garden any longer, bidding Shen Huatang and the others to return to Jiaxing Garden with her.

After everyone had left.

Only Chen Yi, Xiao Wuge, Pei Guanli, and Xiaodie remained in the Spring Lotus Garden.

Xiaodie naturally got busy again, calling for the kitchen staff to clear the leftovers from the pavilion and clean everything up.

Then she took Xiao Wuge back to his room for an afternoon nap.

Chen Yi also wanted to go back and consider his next move.

Seeing how serious Xiao Jinghong was today, he figured that when she returned after dealing with the Mutual Market, she would definitely find some other position for him.

’The barracks? The Commandant’s Office? Or somewhere else?’

’They were all possibilities.’

But to be honest, comparing the options, Chen Yi was starting to think Guiyun Academy wasn’t such a bad place after all.

’It’s true what they say. Everything is relative.’

Pei Guanli, however, didn’t go anywhere. She stayed by his side, looking this way and that.

Her big, bright eyes were full of inquiry.

"Brother-in-law, that person last night, was that..."

Before she could get the word "you" out, Chen Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and made a "zip it" gesture.

’Good grief, girl, you really have no idea how formidable a Martial Arts Powerhouse is.’

’Xiao Jinghong is still in the mansion!’

’If she finds out from Pei Guanli that I was the man in black from last night, I’m done for.’

’I probably wouldn’t even have to wait for Xiao Jinghong to return from the Mutual Market. I’d be dispatched from Jishi Medicine Hall to the army barracks by tomorrow.’

Seeing his serious expression, Pei Guanli understood.

"It’s the man who was injured last night."

"Just now, when Sister Jinghong and I were returning to the mansion, we ran into him."

"I remember his name is Liu Si’er, right?"

Chen Yi let out a sigh of relief. "It was him. You’ve seen him before."

"But what happened last night has nothing to do with you, so stop asking questions."

’I’ve gotta say, this girl is seriously reckless.’

...

Xiao Jinghong left the Spring Lotus Garden and, holding the umbrella, made her way to the Qingjing Residence.

Just as she entered the residence, she heard the voice of Second Master Xiao Wang, his tone furious:

"Marquis, how much longer are you going to wait?"

"If you’re worried about provoking retaliation from the Liu Family, this old man will just take the men from the Punishment Hall and go myself!"

Hearing this, Xiao Jinghong’s expression turned grim, and she immediately walked inside.

"Second Grand-uncle..."