Xie Qigong was originally looking at the words and paintings on the wall, practicing qigong in secret. Upon hearing this, he suddenly turned his face around, as if he had heard something unbelievable, stood up and stared at her: "You've been exchanging letters with Jing Yong all along?"

  Wang and Huang also looked over in surprise, Ruan didn't understand why, but seeing everyone staring at her, she also stared along with them.

  Xie Wan wiped away her tears and said: "My uncle often writes to ask about my brother's studies. He also sent several precious books to my brother."

  Everyone's attention shifted back to Xie Liang, who was still kneeling on the ground.

  Xie Qigong was petrified for a moment, then came back to his senses and said: "Get up! What book did Lord Jing send you? Bring it over and let me take a look!"

  His voice was filled with a great deal of urgency, and upon closer listening, there was also a thread of excitement.

  Jing's son is now a trusted official of the emperor, and Xie Rong needs his power to enter the government, so he has long been an unattainable figure in Xie Qigong's mind.

  Now, without his knowledge, Jing Yong has been exchanging letters with Xie Liang and others, and even gave them a rare book. What does this mean? Xie Qigong suddenly felt that the second house's grandchildren didn't seem so despicable after all. Unexpectedly, the second house had cut off contact with them for so long, but Jing Yong still cared about them so much. No wonder Xie Rong had instructed last time to be kinder to them!

  Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Xie Wan again.

  This child has been well-behaved since childhood, and now with tears still wet on his face, he looks even more fragile and helpless.

  Compared with what she just revealed, her lie about going out is nothing!

  Xie Qigong's anger gradually dissipated, and after Yin Suo handed him the few precious books, he looked at the private seal of Jing Yong on the title page. He could no longer see any signs of anger.

  Wang was secretly shocked, she had originally planned to take advantage of this opportunity to severely punish Xie Wan. But unexpectedly, the situation that was about to be settled was turned around by Xie Wan's few words! Looking at Xie Qigong's face, it seemed that he didn't plan to deal with her anymore. Wouldn't her plan have to change again?

  "Master. Wan's sister is like this..." She half-hinted and half-reminded.

  Xie Qigong closed the book, looking at her expression, thinking of her past pillow talk, and felt that it was not suitable to give her an explanation. So he said: "Sister Wan, from now on, wherever you want to go, it's up to you. Just be sure to pay attention to safety and don't do anything that would make everyone look bad. As for punishment - just punish you by making you stand by the madam's side for two months to learn etiquette and rules."

  "Old Master!"

  There was no precedent for morning and evening shifts in the mansion. To establish rules and regulations naturally meant serving in the upper house from dawn till dusk. This was originally a very easy way to punish people, but when Wang's expression changed, she showed a face full of unwillingness.

  Xie Wan buried her face in Yu's chest, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up high.

  It's strange that the Wang family would keep her by their side! The whole Zhengyuan is her own little kingdom, and she has so many dirty secrets to guard against people that she can't even keep up. How could she be willing to let her stay by her side again? Especially after secretly finding out that Xie Wan had already taken over the second house at a young age, was she afraid that Xie Wan wouldn't be able to figure out her true nature?

  "Since the old master has said it's settled, then let's consider it settled."

  Wang clenched his teeth and waved his hand downward.

  Yu's family stood up happily. "In that case, standing in the cold all day is not suitable! Wan sister and Lang brother, let's go back to the room to warm ourselves!"

  Wang stood up with a strong spirit. He saw them off as they walked out of the courtyard, his face turned away and gloomy enough to squeeze out water.

  "After all, they are the descendants of the original partner. The old master treats them differently! Do you really believe that Sister Yuannv has gone to Huangshi Town? Don't even investigate what she's doing there!"

  Xie Qigong stroked his beard. Just as he was about to speak, Pang Fu walked in and reported: "Master, just now Pang Sheng went to Huangshi Town and saw Luo Ju pouring dirty water outside the second house."

  If you didn't live in Huangshi Town, where did the sewage come from?

  Xie Qigong gave Wang a sideways glance and walked out with his hands behind his back.

  Wang sat down on the chair with a thud, and the handkerchief in his hand was crumpled beyond recognition.

  Yu brought Xie Liang and his sister back to the Yifeng Institute, where Wu Mama had already lit the charcoal in the incense burner. When she saw them enter, Wu Mama first greeted Yu with a bow, then looked at Xie Wan and almost shed tears.

  Yu's family was afraid that Xie Wan would have been tortured in the main room, and then had to worry again, and couldn't bear the cold weather, so she hurriedly asked Wu Mama to go down and make tea, and then personally helped Xie Wan change her clothes, washed and dressed up, everyone happily ate dinner, only then did they pull Xie Wan onto the kang, and their expressions became serious.

  "Tell your aunt honestly, where have you been these days?"

  "Aunt!" Xie Wan buried her head in her bosom, "Aunt, I'm going to the capital to see my cousin Jing."

  "What?!"

  Yu's family almost fell off the kang. She grabbed Xie Wan's two arms, her eyes wide with surprise: "You, you went to the capital?!"

  Xie Wan nodded and looked at Xie Liang beside her, saying: "I heard that Aunt Jing is seriously ill in bed. I think of the good treatment we received from the Jing family before, so I also want to go see him."

  She could never bear to deceive those who treated her with kindness, so she had to tell her aunt where she was going, but what she would do there, she couldn't say. Her aunt was a simple and kind-hearted woman, if she were to reveal everything, she would definitely be frightened by it.

  "How can you go and do such a dangerous thing by yourself? What if something unexpected happens on the way?"

  Yu's mother was so frightened that she began to tremble all over. She grasped her arm tightly and then got down from the kang, pacing back and forth in the room.

  "I brought six people with me, and I'm not someone who can be easily bullied. Look, I've returned safely, haven't I?"

  Xie Wan smiled gently and tried to alleviate her worries with a calm tone.

  "You naughty child! Don't be so reckless next time!"

  Xie Wan's behavior in her eyes was no different from being reckless and impulsive. How could she believe that Xie Wan had actually gone to the capital and back in just ten days? Her own daughter, who was almost thirteen years old, would worry about visiting relatives in a neighboring county. And yet Xie Wan, who was not even ten years old, dared to go to the capital! And Xie Liang was still covering for her! What if something really happened?

  She was frightened again and her heart tightened, thinking that they were so ignorant and childish, it was also the result of having no parents to discipline them, she couldn't help but feel sad.

  Xie Lang saw Yu Shi like this, and had long been ashamed to lower his head to the ground.

  "Aunt, this is my fault, if you want to blame someone, just blame me."

  Yu's tone was filled with self-reproach: "I'm blaming you, if it weren't for your failure as an older brother, how would our younger sister have ended up like this? But what right do I have to say that about you? I haven't even taken good care of you all myself."

  Aunt!

  Xie Wan hugged her waist, and the two of them cried together in a heap.

  Yu stayed overnight and left the next day. There were still preparations for the New Year at home, all of which were her own affairs.

  Xie Wan rested well for two days. Xie Lang listened to her detailed account of entering the capital with a mixture of regret and joy, was amazed by her inspection of the dock and her idea of opening a rice shop, and admired her for persuading Jing Yong to recommend Zhao Zhen. After that, he still felt unsatisfied and asked Wu Xing and Luo Ju to tell him again each.

  Xie Wan began to reflect on this incident.

  Wang must have known she wasn't at the Qi's, although it's unclear how she got the message, but at least it shows she has been secretly keeping an eye on her. Next time something like this happens, she must be doubly careful.

  Next is Chinese New Year.

  Xie Rong won't be back this year, Xie Qigong had planned to celebrate his return home, but after hearing Huang's words, he couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. However, the New Year still has to be celebrated, and the new county magistrate will come to visit, as well as friends from other counties who will also come to pay their respects.

  To dispel the bleakness of this mourning period, Xie Qigong had Pang Fu buy back many large lanterns. By the end of the year, on the 27th and 28th, the entire mansion was already a sea of red.

  But none of this has anything to do with Yufengyuan.

  Xie Wan still followed Xie Liang on the third day of junior high school in the morning, and they got into the horse-drawn carriage that came to pick them up at the Qi's house. They stayed at the Qi's house for a few days.

  The siblings of the Qis are all a bit taller than they were at Dragon Boat Festival, Qi Ruzheng is one year older than Xie Lian and slightly taller, the two of them standing together discussing poetry looks truly pleasing to the eye.

  Zi Ru Xiu continued to study her lyrics and composition, and played the pipa live for Xie Wan to hear. She asked about Xie Wei and entrusted her to bring a book of Song poetry over.

  Xie Wan always thought of looking for Xiū Gū whenever she arrived at Nányuán.

  This year, she didn't go to the theater to watch a play, but instead insisted on having Qi Ruzhuang accompany her to stroll around the vegetable market, and still found no clues.

  Of course, I also haven't met Ren Yu.

  Since Mrs. Xie took him out of the Xie Mansion last time, she hadn't seen him again.

  It's been almost a year now. The Ren and Xie families still interact with each other as intimately as before, as if the incident of Xie Qi stealing Yu had never happened. These so-called noble families are like this, they die to save face, even though they secretly can't stand each other, they still pretend to be affectionate. Whenever something good happens in one family, the other will rush to attend and show respect, but if there's trouble, it's not necessarily the case.

  Xie Wan went to Qingyuan Prefecture on the eighth day of the lunar month.

  The shop opened on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, and Luo Sheng happened to come to Gui Zi Fang to pick up goods. They had lunch together, discussed some business, and then headed to Yu Ming Fang. Shen Tian was acting as the second-in-command at Yu Ming Fang, wearing a long shirt with a dignified appearance, and speaking more fluently than before.

  Xie Wan returned to the Qi family in the afternoon and went back to the Xie residence with Xie Lang the next day.

  The Xie Mansion was filled with guests, the entrance covered in white snow, people coming and going, even a single branch of red plum blossoming from behind the wall seemed especially lively.

  Xie Lang was lazy about going in to pay his respects, and at the entrance of the alley he turned back to look for his fellow student. Xie Wan had no choice but to enter the mansion alone.

  Two doors down, a group of servants from another estate were waiting to pay their respects, dressed in fine attire that seemed particularly dignified, but it was unclear which estate they belonged to.

  As he was walking slowly through the hall, a group of people came out from the inner gate, led by two men in brocade robes, accompanied by Xie Qigong and a crowd of young masters. When they saw Xie Wan, the man at the front, wearing a sable coat, suddenly let out a low cry of surprise, then stood still.