Part 2
He pointed at He Xunfang, his eyes red, crying and saying hatefully, “You wait! Everything will be my brother’s in the future! In the future, I’ll have my brother kick you out!”
Through the gaps in the leaves, He Mingshou saw it clearly. His face was terrifyingly dark, and two sharp gazes fixed behind the bushes, almost burning through them.
The attendant looked at his face, daring not even breathe loudly, then turned back to look at the Second Young Master, his expression even more uncertain.
Taking a few deep breaths, He Mingshou walked out from behind the tree and ordered in a deep voice, “Take Second Young Master to his father. Let his father discipline him properly.”
Seeing it was him, everyone in the garden was shocked. Hearing this order, five or six people knelt down in unison.
He Mingshou looked at the woman kneeling at the front and asked coldly, “Are you Second Young Master’s wet nurse?”
The woman lowered her head and said, “Replying to Duke, this slave is indeed Second Young Master’s wet nurse. Second Young Master is still young and doesn’t know things; hope Duke can be lenient.”
“Master asks you something, you answer it. Did anyone ask you to say so much?” The attendant standing behind He Mingshou stared at the woman and scolded coldly.
He Mingshou couldn’t help sneering, his voice indifferent. “Instigating the master, her heart is punishable. Such a servant who deceives the master, my manor absolutely dares not keep. Give her thirty strokes and sell her off.”
The wet nurse urgently wanted to kowtow and beg for forgiveness, but her mouth was gagged by servants, and she was dragged away.
The garden became quiet again, leaving only the mess after the commotion just now.
He Mingshou touched He Xunfang’s head and asked in a low voice, “Do you feel wronged?”
Looking up at her father, He Xunfang nodded with red eyes, refusing to speak.
“Is it because Father only punished the wet nurse and not the Second Young Master that you are unhappy?” He Mingshou asked again. Without waiting for her answer, he smiled himself. “Rest assured. Another day, Father will stand up for you.”
After speaking, he turned and left directly.
Inside the main room, He Mingshou had a face full of anger. He suddenly smashed the tea cup on the ground and said furiously, “Bastard! I’m not dead yet!”
Married for decades, he had always kept his emotions hidden. Even when furious, he would at most scold in a low voice.
Rarely was he angry like this.
Lady Wen only felt that if someone gave him a knife right now, he might chop someone.
“What happened?” Lady Wen waved her hand to order servants to clean up, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. “What happened in the court to make you angry like this?”
“Not official business.” He Mingshou’s face was dark, but he eased up slightly and recounted today’s events to Lady Wen.
Lady Wen was greatly shocked. “This… should we call the Second Brother over and have a good talk? That Second Young Master too, not learning well at such a young age, having such bad intentions!”
He Mingshou sneered, “No need to say anything. As for Second Young Master, if the adults didn’t say it at home, and he followed their example, how would he say such words?”
He had always known that this group of people at home was restless. But since the trouble wasn’t big, and for the sake of the surname He, he just turned a blind eye, only telling his daughter to stay away from the second branch.
But today’s matter touched his bottom line; he was truly enraged.
“No wonder when I said let Fang’er stay at home, they got anxious…” A cold smile appeared on He Mingshou’s lips. Looking at the list in her hand, he asked, “What is this?”
Lady Wen replied, “Bixia asked me to manage the coming-of-age ceremony for the Zhao family’s Second Miss. There isn’t much time left, so I am preparing.”
He Mingshou nodded gently. “She has no mother and no eldest sister-in-law. Since Bixia personally instructed it, and she is Empress Niangniang’s sister, be more careful. Make it even better than Fang’er’s.” Thinking for a moment, he added, “I will depart for Chang’an in a few days. I will have to trouble Madame to pack my luggage.”
Lady Wen covered her lips and smiled. “Look at you being polite, as if it’s the first time I’m packing for you.”
With her smile, the atmosphere instantly relaxed a lot.
Only then did the servant dare to enter and report: “Duke, Second Young Master brought Young Master Ah Yao over, saying he is apologizing to Eldest Miss, and brought a kite as well.”
He Mingshou smiled yet not smiled. “Does he truly not know, or is he pretending not to know?” He leaned back on the armrest, closed his eyes, and waved his hand. “Let him go back. Say I’m asleep and have no time to see him.”
Since they had the guts to covet, they should be prepared to bear the consequences, right?
Although the earthquake didn’t shake violently, many objects were placed in the pagoda, and the pagoda was high. With everything crashing down at once, it was still somewhat terrifying.
Zhao Yiyi’s arms and ankles were scratched slightly by the scrolls in the pagoda.
The scratches were fine, not deep, but because there were too many scratches, it still looked somewhat scary.
After carefully applying ointment and nursing for a good period of time, once the scabs formed, it was no big deal.
After resting for just these few days and recovering slightly, Zhao Yiyi wanted to go out and play again.
For ten days in a row, she wandered around the East and West Markets, occasionally going out of the city to play.
“Niangniang should rest a bit more; the wounds haven’t fully healed yet,” Yunzhu persuaded in a low voice from the side.
Zhao Yiyi refused, whining for a long while, pulling her arm and saying, “But I haven’t been to Chang’an for a long time, and there are still many places I haven’t visited.”
She blinked her eyes, looking pitiful. Anyone who saw it couldn’t say words of refusal.
Just being looked at by her like this, Yunzhu had no choice and said helplessly, “Then this servant will send someone to prepare the carriage. Will Niangniang go to the inner hall to change clothes first?”
Mancao picked a crimson pleated skirt embroidered with butterfly patterns. The butterflies circled the skirt hem as if about to fly, resembling a cluster of butterflies under the glow of rosy clouds.
While changing clothes, Zhao Yiyi asked, “Any news from Chang’an? How is Duanduan’s coming-of-age ceremony?”
Mancao laughed, “Just two days ago, Lady Wen sent a letter to tell Niangniang the progress. Niangniang can’t wait again.”
“Not being in Luoyang, it’s inevitable to worry,” Zhao Yiyi couldn’t help but sigh softly.
After changing clothes, Zhao Yiyi instructed Mancao with a few more words and left the inner hall.
But she didn’t want to ride in a carriage today.
“No need,” Zhao Yiyi ordered softly. “Bring Taxue here; I will ride today.”
Yunzhu hesitated slightly. “Niangniang…”
Zhao Yiyi glanced at her sideways. “I’ve been riding these past few days, and Taxue has a gentle temperament. Don’t worry.”
Taxue (“Treading Snow”) was the name of the horse she bought in the East Market that day.
Compared to ordinary horses, Taxue was indeed not bad; both endurance and speed were among the best. But compared to the Dayuan horse the horse dealer claimed that day, it was far inferior.
In just a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the entrance of the West Market.
Zhao Yiyi went to a restaurant she had visited in her childhood, found a private room on the third floor facing inward, leaned on the railing, and watched the Huji (foreign dancer) dance gracefully below.
The Huji dressed boldly, wearing countless gold and jade ornaments all over her body. Moving with her dance which was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, the gauze clothes on her body flew lightly along with her.
Zhao Yiyi held a wine cup in one hand and propped up her head with the other to admire, her hand unconsciously tapping the beat.
“Haven’t drunk Yunxia Wine for a long time; I’m a bit unaccustomed to it.” Zhao Yiyi smiled, moving the wine pot towards Yunzhu. “Since drinking Yunxia Wine in this tavern, no other wine has caught my eye. You haven’t drunk it, right? Try it.”
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