An hour had passed by the time Chen Yi returned to the Xiao Family.

From a distance, he saw Xiaodie standing at the entrance, peering in another direction.

Pei Guanli was squatting beside her, digging the big toe of one pearly-white foot into a bluestone slab as if trying to exfoliate the sole.

She was muttering, "Brother-in-law will be fine, really. Just trust me this once."

Without turning her head, Xiaodie said, "I don’t."

She clearly remembered the time Pei Guanli went to the poetry gathering at Guiyun Academy, promised to be back soon, and then disappeared for hours.

"Hey, why don’t you trust me? Brother-in-law, he..."

Pei Guanli looked up and saw Chen Yi approaching. A smile instantly brightened her round face. "Brother-in-law, you’re finally back."

Hearing her voice, Xiaodie kept looking the other way. "This is the third time you’ve tried to trick me. I’m not falling for it."

Chen Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. He lightly tapped Pei Guanli on the head and said with a smile, "Don’t bully Xiaodie."

Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and giggled, saying she understood. Then she hugged Xiaodie, who had turned around. "See? I wasn’t lying this time."

Unable to break free, Xiaodie let herself be held and looked at Chen Yi. "Young Master, you’re back late again today."

"Yes, I was wandering around the West Market."

As Chen Yi spoke, he held up a half-eaten stick of candied hawthorns as proof. "I haven’t even finished..."

Before he could finish, Pei Guanli had already snatched the skewer, which had only two hawthorn berries left, and ate them in two quick bites.

"Delicious, Brother-in-law."

Chen Yi shook his head helplessly and entered the Xiao Mansion first. "Let’s go. We’ll talk more once we’re back at the Spring Lotus Garden."

Xiaodie quickly pulled Pei Guanli along, following closely behind him.

"Young Master, have you eaten?"

"Not yet. Go to the kitchen later and see what’s left to eat."

"No need. The Young Mistress had me save some food for you tonight. It’ll be ready as soon as I heat it up."

Hearing this, Chen Yi turned his head to look at her and asked with a raised eyebrow, "The wild game?"

Xiaodie nodded, a look of fond remembrance on her face. "It was delicious. Young Master Wuge ate two whole bowls."

"I... I got a bowl too, and so did Cui’er and Juan’er."

Pei Guanli muttered from the side, "Tingyun, Huatang, and I got back too late, so we didn’t get to eat any."

Chen Yi let out a soft "oh" and turned to look at the corridor at the end of the central courtyard, almost picturing Xiao Wan’er’s face as she pretended to be calm while ordering them to save some food for him.

’She must have been conflicted about it.’

At the thought, a smile touched Chen Yi’s lips. "Then you’re out of luck."

"Brother-in-law, shouldn’t you share some with me?"

"Wan’er is biased. She left a huge bowl just for you."

"Is that so? I’m still not sharing with you."

"Hmph."

When Chen Yi finally saw the "huge bowl," he froze for a moment before telling Xiaodie to heat the food. Then he invited Pei Guanli to eat with him.

’Who serves food in a bowl this big and heaps it up so high?’

’Even if I use my True Essence to speed up digestion, I’d still struggle to finish this much food.’

Pei Guanli wasn’t thinking that far ahead. She pulled Xiaodie over to join them as well.

She called it "good sisters must know how to share."

Chen Yi certainly wasn’t going to refuse. While chewing on some meat, he asked about what she’d accomplished during her outing that day.

"I bought lots of things."

"Two carts of flour, two carts of coarse grains, and some cured meat. I had it all sent to the Mountain Race."

After speaking, Pei Guanli didn’t forget to add with praise, "Wan’er is so nice. She didn’t even make me pay."

Chen Yi was taken aback. "That’s all you bought?"

Pei Guanli nodded. "My people live off the mountain, and we have to trade for grain at the market. So I thought I’d buy some to send over."

"...And you hired an Escort Agency to transport it?"

"Of course. I was afraid it would get stolen on the way."

Chen Yi’s mouth twitched. He decided against saying the three words "not cost-effective" and changed the subject to ask about the others.

Pei Guanli seemed to remember something and asked mysteriously, "Brother-in-law, I heard something fun. Want to know what it is?"

Chen Yi didn’t indulge her, serving her a flick on the forehead instead. "Cut the chatter."

Pei Guanli didn’t even feel the pain. She rubbed her smooth forehead and giggled.

"When we were coming back today, Ge the Third was taken away by men from the Punishment Hall. They said he was going to get ten strikes of the paddle."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Tell me the details."

"I heard that the day before yesterday, while we were out, he got involved with some young woman and caused her to threaten suicide."

"After the mansion sent someone to investigate and get the full story, he was punished."

"I heard from Cui’er and the others that the Punishment Hall ordered Ge the Third to handle it properly tomorrow—either buy the woman’s freedom or resolve the matter."

At this, Pei Guanli’s eyes widened. "Huh? Brother-in-law, that means he won’t be around tomorrow."

"Does that mean I don’t have to go out?"

Chen Yi hummed thoughtfully, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

’Ge the Third is certainly willing to go to great lengths.’

’To get away as soon as possible, he even resorted to a self-injury ploy.’

’I just hope he can remain this "resourceful" after he learns that someone wants to burn down the Three Towns.’

After they finished eating, they each went back to their rooms to rest.

Chen Yi changed into his nightclothes and stretched his limbs while gazing at the bright moon outside, running a few matters through his mind.

’The Liu Family affair isn’t over yet. The Xiao Family should be making some moves soon.’

’They can’t just let the Governor’s Office lead them by the nose.’

’As for burning the Three Towns, even if Ge the Third finds someone for the job, my interference has drastically increased the difficulty.’

’Then there are Xiao Dongchen and Cui Qingwu.’

’Xiao Dongchen’s goal is already clear. He just wants to use the power of the Hidden Guard to supplant the main branch of the Xiao Family.’

’What about Cui Qingwu?’

’Did she also come to Shu State to deal with the Xiao Family?’

’Last night, at least, she definitely made a move to frame the Xiao Family.’

’Besides them, there should be other Hidden Guards in Shu State.’

’A Silver Banner Officer... their superior?’

Chen Yi had no way of knowing.

’I should probably muddy the waters in Shu State first and see what sort of monsters are hiding beneath the surface.’

He then sat cross-legged on his bed and began his Cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill.

Not until the Zi Hour, when a flash of light appeared before his eyes, did he momentarily rouse from his state.

[Daily Intelligence · Yellow-level Middle Grade: At the Si Hour, the Prefect of Shu State will visit the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion with several people from the Imprisonment Department to request an audience with Xiao Yuan. A miniscule Opportunity can be obtained.]

After reading it, Chen Yi muttered a few words to himself and resumed his Cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill.

’The Si Hour is before noon. I’ll probably still be at Guiyun Academy and won’t be back yet.’

’I’m afraid I won’t make it back in time to see Prefect Liu and the Imprisonment Department visit the Old Master.’

’There’s probably not much to see anyway.’

’Liu Si and the people from the Imprisonment Department are visiting to report to the Old Master about Liu Jing’s death.’

’Given the Old Master’s status, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble in the Marquis’s Mansion even if they were ten times bolder.’

’Still, the Hidden Guard’s frame-up that night did lead the Imprisonment Department to focus its investigation on the Xiao Family.’

’This is a good chance for me to see how the Old Master will handle it.’

...

「The next day, just after the Yin Hour」

The starlight was gradually fading, but a bright moon still hung stubbornly in the night sky.

Street vendors had already claimed all the best spots.

This was especially true for the breakfast stalls.

A flatbed cart, a wok, two tables, and eight stools were all it took to provide a meal for passersby.

Ma Guan was one of them. "Two steamed buns."

"Here you go, sir."

After paying, Ma Guan headed toward Guiyun Academy.

Today, as usual, he had gotten up to dress and wash just after the Chou Hour.

He then spent an hour reading, reviewing the classics and histories he had studied the day before and preparing for today’s lessons.

It was a habit he had developed after passing the County Examination and enrolling in Guiyun Academy.

Ma Guan had always believed that diligence could make up for a lack of natural talent. As long as he worked harder than his classmates, he was certain he could pass the Provincial Examination and qualify for the Metropolitan Examination.

Even though he had failed the Provincial Examination twice, wasting six years of his life, he remained undiscouraged, firmly believing he would pass on his next attempt.

Then, like Li Huai’gu, he would return home in silken robes, bringing glory to his ancestors.

About fifteen minutes later, Ma Guan arrived at the academy and went straight to the study hall.

The students who had arrived early were greeting each other.

"Brother Heming, you’re as early as ever today."

"I heard the Headmaster sent you to the Marquis’s Mansion yesterday?"

"Yes. The Headmaster had me deliver a Calligraphy practice booklet to Mr. Qingzhou."

Hearing this, two classmates beside him couldn’t help but sneer.

"Brother Heming, what kind of ’master’ just teaches Calligraphy? Even if his writing is a work of art, he can’t become an official."

"That’s right. Chen Qingzhou may have a reputation for his talent, write beautifully, and compose excellent poetry, but in the end, he’s only a mere Scholar."

"He’s nothing compared to Brother Xin Nian and Brother Gui Yun, who are both Provincial Scholars."

"On top of that, he’s now the Xiao Family’s live-in son-in-law. Hah. Even if he has some talent, I’d be ashamed to be associated with him."

Ma Guan pursed his lips at their words but didn’t argue, simply quickening his pace.

Seeing this, the two long-robed students were slightly taken aback.

Only after Ma Guan was some distance away did they recover, letting out another sneer.

"The master was right: birds of a feather flock together."

"That poor sod Ma Heming. We don’t look down on him, yet he’s the one who scorns our company."

"Pah! Who cares?"

Ma Guan vaguely heard the conversation behind him and quickened his steps again.

It wasn’t that he held any particular admiration for Chen Yi.

He simply kept his teacher’s lesson in mind: "When sitting quietly, reflect on your own faults; in idle talk, do not discuss the failings of others. This is the mark of a gentleman."

Even if Chen Yi truly lacked knowledge or had done something against moral principles, Ma Guan would not discuss it with others.

All in all, he was a gentleman who was strict with himself.

When he arrived at the study hall, a few students were already inside.

Glancing around, Ma Guan saw they weren’t reciting their texts and asked with surprise, "What are you all doing today?"

One of them pointed to the front of the study hall. "Brother Heming, didn’t you notice something different?"

Ma Guan followed their gaze and immediately sensed that something was off.

Where the sand tray should have been, there was now a white rack.

Looking closely, he saw that the white part in the middle of the rack was nothing other than stacks of paper.

And it wasn’t ordinary Xuan paper, but the thicker Yunsong Paper.

Ma Guan was astonished. "Did the academy bring all its Yunsong Paper to the study hall?"

"Looks like it."

"But I don’t understand what this is for. They can’t possibly be letting us use such expensive paper to practice our writing, can they?"

One of them seemed to have thought of something and said hesitantly, "I heard... that Mr. Qingzhou is coming to teach us Calligraphy today."

Hearing this, Ma Guan understood. "I get it."

"The Headmaster plans to replace the sand tray with Yunsong Paper for Mr. Qingzhou to use when he teaches us Calligraphy."

"Huh? That’s very likely. No wonder they’re using Yunsong Paper."

"Only this kind of paper is thick enough that you don’t have to worry about the ink bleeding through."

"Uh, the Headmaster is that generous?"

"Maybe he wants to preserve Mr. Qingzhou’s calligraphic works..."