After leaving the Li Hong Courtyard, Chen Yi had Liu Si'er drive the carriage around South City for a few laps, only to find that everything was more or less the same.
It was nothing more than elegant storefronts and larger establishments from which the sound of music drifted. Aside from the patrons being high officials and nobles, there was no real difference.
'It's not even as interesting as fishing back at the mansion.'
With that, Chen Yi and his group returned to the Marquis's Mansion, not even stopping to eat lunch outside.
「Not long after.」
After escorting Chen Yi, Xiaodie, and Xiao Wuge back to the Spring Lotus Garden, Wang Lixing glanced at the other Personal Guards of the Marquis's Mansion nearby.
"That master-in-law of ours… where does he get the nerve?"
"Who knows? If you ask me, he's been cooped up in the mansion for too long and just went to South City to feast his eyes."
"If the Old Marquis and the Second Master find out, this master-in-law of ours is going to be in for it."
"Still, seeing that Scholar surnamed Liu get cornered in the Li Hong Courtyard really cracked me up."
"Haha… I was fine until you brought it up. Now I want to laugh all over again."
Wang Lixing didn't linger. After changing into his armor, he went to report to Xiao Xuanshuo.
"That damn scoundrel!"
"He… he actually dared to take Wuge to a place like that! He might not care about his own reputation, but the Xiao Family cannot afford such a disgrace!"
Xiao Xuanshuo slapped the armrests of his wheelchair, his square face filled with fury.
Wang Lixing stood to the side, not daring to move an inch. He couldn't help but break into a cold sweat on Chen Yi's behalf.
After cursing for a good while, Xiao Xuanshuo's anger showed no signs of abating.
However, he knew this was not a matter to be made public. Telling the Old Marquis would only create unnecessary trouble, so he immediately ordered:
"Lixing, go inform the mansion Guards. From this day forward, Chen Yi is not to take a single step outside the Marquis's Mansion!"
"Yes, sir," Wang Lixing replied. He glanced up at Xiao Xuanshuo's expression and said hesitantly, "But the master-in-law… the Second Miss previously sent a letter lifting his confinement."
"I will deal with Jinghong myself. You just do as I command," Xiao Xuanshuo snorted.
"Furthermore, go and relay this to that scoundrel—and tell him these are my words. After Jinghong returns, I will test his progress in Martial Arts. If he fails to break through to the Lower Ninth Grade, I'll send him packing to the Profound Armor Army!"
Wang Lixing opened his mouth to speak, but then he thought about Chen Yi's performance with his Pile Skill practice recently and inwardly shook his head.
'Even with a Profound Tier Big Spear Pile Skill, it's no easy task to temper the body and raise one's Cultivation to Lower Ninth Grade.'
'Most people need two to three months. Only exceptionally gifted prodigies can complete the first step and forge a Qi Mechanism within their bodies in under a month.'
'Even the Second Miss took more than half a month back when she started her Cultivation.'
'And that was the result of diligent, tireless practice every day. As for the master-in-law… he's in for a world of hurt now.'
However, what surprised Wang Lixing was that when Chen Yi learned of this, not only did he not raise a fuss, but he remained perfectly calm, as if he had expected it all along.
"I can't leave the Marquis's Mansion, but I'm free to move about within its walls, is that right?"
"That's correct. Master-in-law, you…"
Chen Yi waved a hand, cutting him off. "I understand. The Pile Skill practice will continue as usual."
'He had, in fact, anticipated this.'
'It would have been fine if he hadn't been found out. But with Xiao Wuge and the others following him, word was bound to reach the ears of the Xiao Family elders.'
'After all, the Xiao Family was a Noble Family, the Marquis Family of Great Wei. For a live-in son-in-law like him to go wandering through a brothel in South City Yanhua Lane in broad daylight, not getting a thrashing was already merciful.'
Wang Lixing revealed a wry smile, cupped his hands in a salute, and turned to leave the Spring Lotus Garden.
The moment he was gone, large tears began to stream down Xiaodie's face, and she couldn't hold back her sobs.
"Ma-Master-in-law, it's all my fault… I didn't stop you…"
Seeing her tear-streaked face, Chen Yi couldn't help but be amused.
"What are you crying for? You should look on the bright side."
"You-you're confined again, and you have to be tested on your Martial Arts! What part of that is good?"
"Because I'm confined, I won't be able to run around recklessly anymore, will I? Think about it. Doesn't this mean you won't have to worry about me in the future?"
Xiaodie thought about it through her tear-filled eyes, and it seemed to make sense.
She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve. She tried to stifle a smile, causing her whole face to turn red.
"Master-in-law, you… you really are…"
She couldn't quite put her finger on what he was.
But having lived in the Marquis's Mansion since she was little, she had seen many people come and go—high officials and nobles, wealthy young masters, and well-read Scholars and scholars—but none of them were like her master-in-law.
You could say he was talented and learned, and he certainly was, but he wasn't arrogant about it.
'He often reads, but you can tell he doesn't actually like it. He just uses it to pass the time.'
'He also often says strange, modern-sounding things, but then occasionally he'll say something very profound… Anyway, he's just strange.'
"If you're done crying, go to the kitchen and see what's for lunch."
A single sentence was enough to make the young maid wipe her tears dry and scamper out the door.
Just then, Xiao Wuge, who had been standing silently to the side, looked at the unfazed Chen Yi and asked curiously:
"Brother-in-law, you don't like going out?"
"It depends." Chen Yi glanced around, picked up his fishing rod, and headed for the pond. "If there's nothing going on, it's boring even outside the Marquis's Mansion."
Xiao Wuge followed him, also carrying a fishing rod. He thought for a moment, then a smile spread across his face.
"I get it now! Brother-in-law is right."
"What is it you get?"
"I know that you prefer quiet over action, that you like fishing and drinking tea, and that you dislike practicing Martial Arts and studying."
"I guess you've got that right…"
…
「In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.」
During this time, Chen Yi had obediently stayed within the Marquis's Mansion, though that didn't mean he never left the Spring Lotus Garden.
His luck was rather good. During this period, three of his "Daily Intelligence" reports were located right inside the Marquis's Mansion.
He had Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie lead him on a tour around the mansion, partly to watch whatever was going on and partly to familiarize himself with the layout.
Although the intelligence was just about arguments and scuffles, and the rewards were nowhere near as good as the Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique he'd gotten outside the Li Hong Courtyard, Chen Yi was still content.
At least his progress was faster than when he had to rely on the basic guaranteed Opportunities back when he was confined to the Spring Lotus Garden.
Not only had he raised both his "Martial Arts·Punch" and his newly practiced "Martial Arts·Step" to the Minor Success Realm, but his Mountain Shattering Fist had also broken through to the Skilled Level, and even his Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique had improved considerably.
And then there was his Cultivation.
After this period of cultivating the Big Spear Pile Skill, his Cultivation had broken through from Lower Ninth Grade to Ninth Grade Middle.
His gains had been substantial.
This day, in the pavilion at the Spring Lotus Garden.
A torrential downpour fell from the sky, DRUMMING against the surface of the pond.
Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge sat side by side on the pavilion's railing. The two of them, one big and one small, held their fishing rods and stared unblinkingly at the floats.
Xiaodie sat at a nearby stone table, watching her master-in-law and the Young Master while periodically refilling their cups with hot tea.
She rested her chin in her hand, thinking about the amusing events of the past few days, a strange feeling in her heart.
'She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but whenever some noisy ruckus broke out in the mansion, her master-in-law would always appear at the first opportunity, snacking on melon seeds as he watched the drama unfold.'
'Meanwhile, she didn't even dare to raise her head, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.'
As she thought about this, a smile graced Xiaodie's face, and she asked softly:
"Master-in-law, the Old Marquis's birthday banquet is in a few days. Are you going to prepare a gift?"
"A birthday banquet… I really should prepare something."
Speaking of which, Chen Yi had been in the Xiao Mansion for several months but had never once met the Old Marquis face-to-face.
He didn't know if the Old Marquis was still holding a grudge over him fleeing the wedding or was simply busy with other matters. In any case, when he had tried to go pay his respects a few days prior, he had been stopped and turned away.
So, Chen Yi had given up on the idea. 'Staying in the Spring Lotus Garden, drinking tea and fishing, is quite nice anyway,' he thought.
"Counting the days, the Eldest Miss and the Second Miss should be back soon too."
Chen Yi's ears twitched as realization dawned on him.
'For the Old Marquis's grand birthday, Xiao Jinghong would certainly have to hurry back. I wonder what kind of attitude this wife of mine will have when she returns.'
Thinking of this, Chen Yi asked, "Xiaodie, does the Old Marquis have any hobbies?"
'Xiao Jinghong probably won't prepare a gift. When the time comes, it'll be up to me, the live-in son-in-law.'
Xiaodie thought for a moment. "The Old Marquis enjoys practicing with spears and staves, but that was in the past. Now…"
Xiao Wuge turned his head to add, "Grandfather has been playing chess with a few visiting elders recently."
"Chess?" Chen Yi rubbed his chin. 'I don't know how to play that.'
"In that case, I'll just gift the Old Marquis a piece of calligraphy."
'My Cursive Script has improved quite a bit lately. A piece of congratulatory calligraphy should be presentable enough.'