Xiao Wenliu was obviously uninformed and didn’t know this was her Fourth Grandfather deliberately tripping her up. She stamped her foot resentfully and reluctantly took Feiyu to change clothes.
Those astute Xiao family children saw through the situation. Although the Xiao family young ladies were quite interested in the ethereally beautiful Tie Ci, with Fourth Grandfather’s attitude being what it was, and since they all already had marriage prospects, none dared board the boat. The other Xiao family sons all claimed they had drunk too much and felt dizzy. In the end, only some maids and servant women boarded to attend them.
Xiao Wen stood at the boat’s edge, awkwardly hanging her head, her fingers gripping the boat rail so tightly that veins stood out on the back of her hands.
On shore, Fourth Master Xiao watched the fragrant boat drift away, the smile on his face gradually fading. A follower behind him said: “Fourth Master, looking at Miss Wen’s appearance, she seems quite unwilling.”
“This girl has big ambitions,” Fourth Master Xiao said lightly. “But actually her mind isn’t clear. I don’t understand what she has to be unwilling about. A talent like Ye Ci—even being his concubine wouldn’t wrong her. If she knows how to use some tactics, she might even have a chance to be elevated to wife in the future. How is she being wronged?”
The follower smiled: “Indeed, Miss Wen has always been a sensible person. This time, for some reason, she’s being rather contrary.”
“Perhaps some people just don’t connect. I can see Ye Ci is also indifferent toward her. I hope she’ll show some backbone this time.” Fourth Master Xiao said, “If it weren’t for the embankment incident causing trouble, requiring us to appease these people, why would we need to resort to such methods? In the past, this kind of matter could be easily suppressed. But recently our family has had frequent troubles. Last time we barely managed to suppress the Ziyang incident, but we still can’t find out where that batch of abyss iron weapons went. This time with the academy affair, I sent people to Qingyang County to retrieve that group of stewards, only to discover they had already been escorted away early. Now there’s much discussion in the capital. It’s only because our family controls the Censorate that we’re temporarily suppressing it. When He Zi and his students arrive in the capital, there will likely be more trouble. The Empress Dowager has already had several outbursts in the palace… Our family cannot have any more incidents!”
The advisors behind him also sighed, then said: “It’s hard to believe—were all these incidents really exposed by the Crown Princess alone…?”
“Whether they were or not, she’s definitely someone the Xiao family must eliminate.” Fourth Master Xiao said, “I had you investigate Ye Ci and his group at the academy—what did you find?”
“All our people at the academy have been detained. Among the remaining batch of masters, some temporarily returned to their hometowns, some accompanied He Zi to the capital, and some went with students for practical training. The students have also been temporarily dispersed. Superintendent Rong received us and confirmed Ye Ci’s identity, even producing Ye Ci’s school records. Our people weren’t satisfied and secretly infiltrated the academy’s archives at night, finding another copy of the school records. Everything matched what Superintendent Rong had shown us, except the place of origin was blank.”
This seemed to further corroborate that Ye Ci’s background was indeed from a distinguished sect outside the world. Fourth Master Xiao pondered for a long while and nodded. But then he said: “Rong Pu as a person ultimately cannot be fully trusted either. Continue investigating. Aren’t there still students coming to Dongming for practical training? I heard someone went to the county office—go ask them about it later.”
The advisor accepted the order. Fourth Master Xiao suddenly remembered something: “Is Second Brother’s side still stable?”
“I was about to report to you, Master. Last night at the second household, somehow a venomous snake slipped into Eighth Master’s bedroom and nearly bit the immobilized Eighth Master. Second Madam cried and made a scene again, saying Fourth Master wants to silence him permanently, saying very… unseemly things.”
“Nonsense! Little Eight is already in that condition—what would I want his life for? He’s my own nephew!”
The advisor remained silent, thinking that being a nephew or not wasn’t really a reason not to kill someone. The key was that if you really wanted to harm your nephew, why would you use such an obvious and clumsy method as a venomous snake, and how could you miss and let that shrew notice?
“The second household in the old residence isn’t without people we can use. I’m afraid once they learn about today’s banquet for Ye Ci, they might tamper with the pleasure boat…”
“Then let them tamper.” Fourth Master Xiao smiled indifferently. “Isn’t Ye Ci someone who grew up at sea? Could a mere small lake drown him? Even if something goes wrong, Miss Wen is also a good swimmer… Perhaps it might even create an opportunity for good fortune!”
…
The fragrant boat drifted leisurely through the water. Tie Ci didn’t bother engaging with Xiao Wen and spoke with the Wei siblings instead. Wei Xing had indeed drunk quite a bit and was swaying back and forth on the boat. Tie Ci advised her to rest in the inner cabin and personally escorted her inside. Wei Xing dismissed the attendants and held onto her hand, refusing to let go, laughing: “Your Highness… I’m truly happy today… These past few days my heart has been heavy with worry… thinking of seeking Master Rong… yet fearing you… Now my heart can finally be at ease…”
Tie Ci looked at her delicate, sweet face, full of longing and joy for love. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said: “You’re only rejoicing there, thinking you can pursue Rong Wei, but what if he likes someone else? What would you do?”
Wei Xing was confused for a while before understanding the question. She asked in surprise: “Who does he like?”
Tie Ci propped up her leg, resting her hand on her knee, and laughed melodiously: “What if it’s me?”
Regardless, Rong Wei was someone she had set her sights on. He could go like someone else, but until he clearly rejected her, she wouldn’t be ambiguous in her attitude and give him up.
If she gave him up, she’d lose not only Rong Wei but possibly the friendship of the Wei siblings as well.
Wei Xing was stunned and sat up to look at her. After a long moment, she fell back heavily and said: “Your Highness, don’t joke. Setting aside that you have a marriage engagement, just speaking of your time at the academy, you presented yourself as a man. Would Master Rong really like a man?”
“Perhaps he’s a cut-sleeve,” Tie Ci muttered.
“If he’s a cut-sleeve, then he wouldn’t like you either!”
Tie Ci was struck.
Rong Wei was pursuing her, but he was a cut-sleeve pursuing that man Ye Shiba.
Once she changed back to women’s clothing and he knew her identity, would he still like her?
She heard that cut-sleeves don’t like women.
Not to mention, this seemed to be a three-person love affair—there was also Feiyu.
Tie Ci held her forehead with her hand.
It was over—this topsy-turvy, gender-confused love triangle.
Seeing her expression, Wei Xing laughed, saying drunkenly: “I was only afraid Your Highness would take a fancy to Master Rong and use your status to forcibly bring him into the palace, but how could Your Highness be such a person? So I worried for nothing.”
Tie Ci said weakly: “You should continue worrying…” Looking down, she saw Wei Xing was already fast asleep.
Tie Ci could only sigh and exit the cabin. Wei Xing stood by the boat rail, absent-mindedly counting the fish swimming below. Tie Ci heard him muttering: “One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four…”
Tie Ci touched his hair: “Xing’er, are you happy to be going home?”
“Not happy.” Wei Xing didn’t answer until quite a while later.
“Why?”
“They say I’m an idiot and scold Sister.”
“Who scolds your sister?”
“Great-grandfather, Second Grandfather, Great Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Uncle-in-law, Aunt, Second Cousin, Third Cousin…” Wei Xing counted on his fingers, obviously running out of digits.
“Then what do you plan to do?”
Wei Xing said nothing, looking up at her with eyes bright as starlight.
“Before, you ignored everything, turning your back on them, right?” Tie Ci said. “In the future, if anyone scolds you and your sister again, just hit them.”
“Hit them.”
“You can distinguish who truly treats you well. From now on, get close to those who treat you well, cherish them, obey them but don’t be too submissive. You must make many, many people follow you. Trust me—if you give just a little, many people will be willing to follow you. Only when you possess power can you protect yourself and your sister. You must let them know your strength, give them opportunities to submit to you. If they really refuse to submit, then kill them.”
“Kill them.”
Tie Ci squeezed his palm.
The bow and stern of the boat suddenly shook, followed by two splashing sounds. Xiao Wen screamed at the stern, and simultaneously the deck beneath their feet also shook.
Tie Ci looked down and saw the boat bottom had already cracked, with water flowing over the deck boards.
She had seen this scenario far too many times. She asked Wei Xing: “Can you swim?”
“Yes.”
“Go rescue your sister. Don’t panic too much. Don’t worry—someone will save you.”
Wei Xing trusted her completely, immediately turning to enter the cabin and carrying Wei Xing out on his back.
Tie Ci rummaged in her sleeve pocket, muttering, “I knew I’d have to take a trip through the water,” while pulling out a small leather pouch and an air pump. In a few movements, she inflated it into a ring shape and fitted it around Wei Xing’s waist.
This was one of the items from the treasure box her master had given her. Today, because there was water at the garden tour, she had brought it along.
In just these few moments, the boat had already sunk halfway. Xiao Wen, who hadn’t fallen into the water yet, was somehow pushed and fell into the water with a splash. She swam quickly toward her: “Young Master Ye, I’ll save…”
Her words were cut short as she stared in amazement.