Xiqiu and Min exchanged a glance, a smile in both their eyes, as she held Min’s hand and left the courtyard.

"What do you like, Hua Biao or Mei Bottle?" Xiqiu spoke as they walked: "The pocket watch is small; perhaps let Tiancheng make a stand for it, what do you think?"

Min nodded eagerly: "Okay!" Pausing, he continued, "Mother, last time I saw a painting of Magpie and Autumn Colors in the storeroom. Can I hang it in the main hall?"

"Of course." Xiqiu responded lightly: "It’s your courtyard; you decide how to arrange and decorate it."

Min raised his head, looking at Xiqiu with a sly smile.

The mother and son chose a blue and white sea water cloud dragon pattern arched porcelain vase, a blue and white red glaze celestial sphere vase, took the Magpie and Autumn Colors painting, and led a few maids to the Rong’en Courtyard. Erquan stood on the table hanging the painting while Min directed from below: "Move it to the left a bit, yes, yes... higher..."

Xiqiu stood behind him, watching his vibrant enthusiasm, finally relieved. Regarding Min, she was indeed torn; wanting him not to be too sensible and to live joyfully and worry-free, yet also wishing him to be strong and brave...

Regardless of her desires, he kept growing, becoming mature day by day, still sensitive yet learning to hide it, still fragile yet learning self-defense—such a Min truly made her both love and feel pained for him.

"Mother!" In a daze, Min turned back to look at Xiqiu, seeing her stare at him with a gaze seemingly distant; he hesitated then smiled and asked, "Is this arrangement okay?"

Xiqiu shifted her gaze, looked at Erquan’s effort over half a day’s work, and nodded: "Very beautiful!" Her eyes fell again on the ritual table: "Once the palace bestows gifts and they are properly arranged, it will look even better."

Min laughed cheersfully.

Zhi ran in from outside, craning his neck to stare at the newly decorated central hall by Min, blinking and asking, "What does that painting depict? Why is it all trees..." Then tilting his head: "Why are there no birds in the trees?"

Xiqiu and Min both burst into laughter!

Xiqiu accompanied Zhi back to bathe and lull him to sleep, while Min headed out towards the outer courtyard, standing outside Fourth Master Xiao’s study. Tiancheng bowed and asked, "Young Master Min, is there something you need?"

"Is father inside?" Min asked softly, and Tiancheng glanced at the lit study, nodding: "Master is inside, shall I announce your presence?"

Min nodded, and Tiancheng knocked on the door: "Master, the elder young master is here."

A voice responded from inside, Tiancheng turned back to Min: "Young Master Min, please enter." He said as he opened the door, Min hesitated slightly before stepping inside.

The room was lit brightly in the corners by eight-sided lamps, Fourth Master Xiao was seated at the table, head down, reading memorials, he spoke without looking up: "Sit."

Min sat opposite Fourth Master Xiao, separated by a table, Tiancheng served tea then closed the door and left.

Min watched his father, who continued looking down at the memorials, he glanced at the bookshelf’s books from the corner of his eye, sitting rigidly upright without rushing to speak.

Fourth Master Xiao marked and annotated with a cinnabar pen, flipping through a few books before suddenly looking up at Min, he set down his pen and asked: "Is something the matter?"

"Yes." Min, momentarily paused, immediately responded when Fourth Master Xiao inquired: "I’m here to accept punishment."

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrow, nodding slightly, his gaze deep as he looked at Min, he then asked: "Are you aware of your mistake?" Min nodded: "I acted recklessly without thorough consideration, nearly causing a major mishap!" If not for Lord Shi’s familiarity and being in his own mansion, he feared he would now be a dead man.

"Hmm." Fourth Master Xiao acknowledged with a nod: "The Emperor’s presence was not explicitly declared, but since you’re aware—whether someone informed you or you deduced it yourself—in the former case, it shows your usual conduct is proper, instilling trust for others to confide; in the latter case, discerning from subtle details to identify the root is also keen observation..."

Min was taken aback, was his father praising him?

Fourth Master Xiao changed his tone, slightly stern: "Despite this, you still committed three errors!"

"First, being born in the Marquis Mansion, you should understand what you see isn’t always real; even though there aren’t guards inside or outside, it must be assumed there are hidden guards. You believed you were taking a shortcut unknowingly under someone’s watch.... This error is being blind to arrogance, belittling others!"

"Second, if you are curious, why not righteously report and seek an audience, instead of acting sneaky and deceitful?"

"Third, with the courage to perform such actions, why abandon midway when the goal isn’t achieved and, when investigated, do you not frankly admit but rather wallow in self-pity, weak and mournful?" Fourth Master Xiao stared at Min, one word at a time: "Do you admit to these three errors?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Min was greatly shaken. Realizing his mistakes, he couldn’t have fathomed the three errors his father pointed out. He stood there, looking at Fourth Master Xiao, momentarily speechless.

Fourth Master Xiao placed both hands on the table, patiently awaiting Min’s response.

Min’s heart churned, yes, father was right, he was Fourth Master Xiao’s eldest son, the eldest young master of the mansion. If he wished to meet, he should have been overt and dignified about reporting it, even if refused, it would be the mark of a gentleman. It shouldn’t have been an impulsive act of curiosity to sneak through the back door like an ignorant thief or clueless woman overhearing gossip...

Such actions weren’t fitting for the third young master of the Marquis Mansion, nor should they be the actions of the governor’s eldest son.

Thoughts quickly turned as Min looked at his father, solemnly nodding: "Father, I acknowledge my mistake!" Then stood to bow deeply to Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao waved his hand: "Sit and let’s talk."

Min complied, sitting again.

Fourth Master Xiao nodded in approval: "It seems you’ve understood my meaning." Min nodded affirmatively, Fourth Master Xiao continued: "Such events as tonight’s, I do not wish to witness again, do you understand?"

"Yes, I shall remember father’s teachings!" Min nodded in agreement.

Fourth Master Xiao sipped his tea, the tense atmosphere slightly eased; observing his father’s expression was not as severe as earlier, Min also subtly relaxed.

After a moment, Fourth Master Xiao set down the teacup, raising his head to look at Min, his voice softened a touch: "Your birth mother..." Min froze, this was the first time his father mentioned his birth mother, hearing Fourth Master Xiao’s words: "Hold fast to your beliefs; as your mother said, all mothers in this world are without distinction of rank."

Boundless joy welled up from within; father never mentioned matters of his birth mother, he thought his father hated her like others did, but unexpectedly, today he heard affirmation from his father’s lips. Clearly, he misguidedly assumed; father wasn’t as he thought but did not dislike her.