Xie Wan's smile at the corner of her lips continued until she returned to the mansion, and when she saw the person in Yi Feng Yuan who was laughing so hard that only a slit was left between their eyes, she was stunned!

  Wei Jiong sat alone in white clothes in the front hall of the courtyard, sipping tea with Xie Lang. Xie Hua and Xie Tong were below them, and although they were also wealthy young masters with refined features on ordinary days, now they looked like servants from a rich family compared to him.

  "How come you're back so late? I've been waiting for half a day!"

  Xie Lang saw Xie Wan and suddenly beamed with joy.

  Wei Xiao also stood up, smiling at her with the same elegant demeanor as when they first met. If not for the hint of childishness still lingering in his eyes, no one would have thought that this noble young master would do something like secretly taking a package of meat bones and "eloping" with Xie Wan to the countryside to dig winter bamboo shoots.

  Xie Wan thought of the snow on the back of her neck and couldn't help but shiver with cold.

  "It's actually Lord Wei's son who has arrived." She said with a hint of playful teasing.

  Ever since she went to Tianzhuang last time, she has become more casual with him, just like treating a mischievous younger brother, always wanting to tease him.

  Wei Xiao's face flashed with a hint of shyness, but he immediately said: "What Wei Gongzi not Wei Gongzi, they all call me by my courtesy name. My courtesy name is Meng Qiu, you can also call me that." After thinking for a moment, he added: "Or, you can call me brother, anyway I'm older than you."

  Is it possible to be her brother just because he is older than her? In front of everyone, Xie Wan didn't argue with him and, suppressing a smile, called over Yu Xue, took the silver and had the Pang family arrange for tables of wine and food to be sent to Yi Feng Yuan. She instructed them to also invite Qi Jie and Ren Yun over.

  Wei Zuo arrived at noon, and Wang Shi originally wanted to let the kitchen prepare a seat. Who knew that Xie Wan had already taken precedence here, so he gave up.

  Xie Qi and Ren Shuang arrived one after another. After exchanging greetings, the atmosphere suddenly became warm. Wei Cuo was born into a good family, but because of his straightforward nature, he had no arrogant attitude and got along with everyone present. It was said that Xie Zhuang had recently hired a highly skilled bodyguard, so he hurriedly suggested meeting Qian Zhuang.

  Qian Zhuang never dealt with officials, and because of his past imprisonment, he had a prejudice against those in power. However, since Wei Xiao was a guest of Xie Zhan's, he cooperated and talked about his own weapons and martial arts skills. Wei Xiao's admiration for him overflowed from his words, but due to his upbringing in a scholarly family, he still maintained some reserve.

  Qian Zhuang smiled all along, never saying a word.

  Wei Jia followed Xie Wan and started whispering privately.

  When Ren Sheng saw Xie Wan, he spoke in a low voice and smiled lightly. His expression had unknowingly become a little more subdued.

  Xie Qi looked at Ren Yun's gloomy expression as he stared at Xie Wan, his lower lip also bitten tightly.

  Xie Lang saw Xie Wan and Wei Jiao communicating harmoniously, but couldn't help laughing nonstop.

  As for Xie Hua and Xie Tong, they were busy listening to Wei Xiao describe the prosperous scene of the capital, staring at Wei Xiao without blinking, and didn't care about others.

  Yu Xue, who was standing by, looked at the people sitting around the table with their own thoughts and couldn't help but sigh quietly.

  The mansion had a young master, and it was already lively. Now, with the sudden arrival of another young master, Wei, it's even more so. The second daughter has always dreamed of marrying Ren Yu. Unfortunately, one has feelings while the other doesn't. Ren Yu has his heart set on the third daughter, but she looks down on him. She doesn't know what the daughters are thinking, but now it seems that they get along better with Wei than with Ren.

  Last time Wei Xiao left, she thought there would be no chance of meeting again. So she never put her in the reserve for Xie Wan's future husband. Now he has come to find her again, and it seems that Mr. Wei still likes to get close to San Niang. With the family background of the Wei family, if San Niang marries him, can it be considered glorious?

  These two years following Xie Wan, she has learned some things that she didn't dare to think about before. Since Xie Wan let her take charge of Yu Fang, she also understands Xie Wan's thoughts better. Moreover, Xie Wan keeps gathering people around her who are beyond her expectations, which shows her determination.

  So she had better think carefully about her future path in life.

  Should I wait like Yufang for two years and then get married, or should I follow San Guniang and help her with troubles, while also planning a glorious future for myself? Although she is still a slave even if she is glorious, there is an essential difference between a glorious slave and a useless slave.

  Yu Fang's idea of climbing high branches wasn't wrong, but her mistake was choosing the wrong person. In these two years of following Xie Wan, she still didn't understand that Xie Wan is the mainstay of the second house and the one who can control their fate. Even if she managed to climb up to Second Young Master, as long as Third Miss says no, wouldn't her future be doomed anyway?

  And in that case, she would be destined to be a concubine in the second young master's house for the rest of her life.

  But with Xie Wan, it's different. Not to mention her extraordinary appearance, just talking about her intelligence, she is absolutely the most outstanding among all the people she has met. She was able to make Wang Shi, who had been helpless against Er Ye in the past, lose several times, and even though she was holding back her breath, she didn't dare say a word. With this, even if she couldn't win against Wang Shi, who had an official son in the imperial court, she would definitely be able to secure a good future for herself.

  Xie Wan has a good ending, as her trusted sidekick who has always been by her side, how can she not be glorious?

  It's either entering a high-ranking official residence like the Wei household, or becoming a wife of a local aristocratic family like the Ren household and being a respectable housekeeper.

  With this layer, Yu Xue became even more concerned about Xie Wan's marriage.

  After dinner, the banquet dispersed, and Xie Qigong also returned. Wang Shi explained what had happened, and Xie Qigong hurried to Yifengyuan to meet him. He asked where Wei Cen was resting, and Wei Cen, who was in the midst of discussing literature with Xie Lang, told Xie Qigong that he was resting at Yifengyuan, as there were many rooms inside.

  Xie Lang also welcomed her and hurriedly asked Qiu Shuang to collect the luggage.

  Xie Qigong returned to the main hall, the joyful expression on his face still hadn't faded. He said to Wang Shi: "I didn't expect that this Wei Gongzi and my Xie Manor would have such a good affinity, it seems that Rong'er is also destined to have a share of glory and wealth!"

  Wang said, "In that case, we should treat him well."

  "That's exactly what I said." Xie Qigong stroked his beard and nodded: "You'll take 500 taels of silver tomorrow, and have someone carefully find out what Wei Gongzi likes."

  Wang's wife smiled and said: "I will definitely treat Wei Gongzi well!" But in her heart, she was secretly delighted that the recent hanging matter had finally come to an end.

  Xie Wan returned to her room, and Yu Xue served her while bathing, and at the same time asked: "This Wei Gongzi seems pretty good-natured. He's also lively."

  Xie Wan didn't expect that she would have so many tricks up her sleeve, holding a dagger and smearing it on her arm, distractedly saying: "She's just a kid."

  Yu Xue smiled and said: "Miss, aren't you also a child? You're not even older than Wei Gongzi."

  Xie Wan remembered what Wei Xiao said earlier about calling him brother and smiled, continuing to apply the cream.

  Yu Xue looked at her like this, but she was even more delighted with a pursed smile.

  The next morning, Xie Lang and the others went to school. Wei Zhen was idle and had nothing to do, so he ran to the backyard sky well. He didn't see Xie Wan sitting by the window of the side house, first curiously circling around the sky well twice, then stepping down the stone steps, picking up a withered branch from the ground to poke at the two "heads" of fat fish in the water pool. The two fish suddenly swam wildly in the water pool, splashing a lot of water flowers.

  Xie Wan held a book by the window and coughed twice, suddenly startling him into turning his head.

  "What are you doing?" She raised her chin and pointed at the branch in his hand.

  He hastily threw down the branches, quickly climbed up to the corridor and said: "How did you raise the fish like pigs? I had to run down personally to see what kind of fish it was."

  It's all her fault now.

  She put down her hand and leaned against the window with both hands: "Wei Gongzi——"

  "Ah - Meng Qiu!" Wei Xiao stretched out one hand, correcting her form of address.

  She paused, straightened up, "Alright, how did you suddenly come to Qinghe again? Do your parents know where you're going?"

  Zhao Zhenxin said that because he was not in the mansion, and Madame Wei did not particularly welcome his marriage to Xie Yu, this matter had not yet been settled. When he came, there was only one small servant by his side, so it was suspicious that he was "not in the mansion". She didn't think that if he had come out openly and honestly, Madame Wei would have allowed him to bring only a small servant with him.

  "You're just not good at this one thing, little three."

  Wei Xiao shook his head with a pained expression.

  "Xiao San Er?" Xie Wan raised the tone of her voice, calling out in a strange manner. When did she have such an unpleasant nickname? However, she wouldn't let him smoothly divert the topic like this. She continued: "If I'm not mistaken, you sneaked out, right?"

  "What's the big deal? I'm already 14 years old!"

  He spread his two hands and was very disapproving.

  Xie Wan secretly sighed, he ran out so recklessly without considering the consequences, and didn't know how anxious Wei Furen would become. Thinking back to when she first appeared under the pine tree where she fell off the cliff, it wasn't anything unusual either. But at that time, there were at least two strong-looking guards watching over her, whereas now, he had no ability to defend himself and no one was guarding him by his side, how utterly reckless.

  "Meng Qiu was originally here? It made me search hard in the front yard."

  At this time, a smiling person walked in from outside the hall, surprisingly it was Ren Yun who should have gone to the county school.

  Wei Yan's face was filled with shock and he involuntarily nodded his head and said "Zhan Yan".

  Xie Wan also exclaimed: "Didn't Ren San go to school?"

  Ren Shuai said: "Last night I was so happy that I drank two more cups, who knew that this morning I woke up with a headache, so I let Xi Zhi and the others take my place to ask for leave."

  Wei Zuo said: "But got a cold and caught a chill? This is terrible! It's all my fault, I should have stopped while I was ahead last night."

  Ren Yun smiled and said: "How could it be Dream Autumn's fault? Wine meets a bosom friend, a thousand cups are not enough. It was my own greed for wine that led to this, I absolutely cannot blame you."

  Xie Wan looked at him deeply for a moment, then let them into the pavilion.

  Wei Xiao walked in and sat down, feeling that the furnishings in the house were novel and unusual.

  "It's indeed carefree beyond words." He praised.

  Ren Yuanduan held his tea cup, smiling and saying: "Third sister is like this, looking dignified and serious on the outside, but actually very carefree inside. If she starts acting spoiled and playful, it's really hard to deal with her. Who made her the youngest, and our most beloved little sister?" He glanced at Wei Xiao, then lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

  Wei Xiao nodded in agreement and suddenly said, "That's right, I've seen her fierce side before."