Old Madam Ji, being the person in charge, spoke up.

“You two, the matter has already passed. The world has its laws, and families have their family rules. Yinshu pushed that girl Lingzhi and nearly crippled her hand. Her father used the whip to discipline her, which can also be seen as teaching her a lesson, lest she marry into the Wei household and cause you trouble.”

Oh my, what a good grandmother!

No matter what, Madam Wei understood respecting elders. She glanced at her own husband, and between pressed lips, merely smiled lightly.

With a tone that sounded polite, she said, “Old Madam Ji, Yinshu is so sensible and well-behaved. Even if she made a mistake, how could I bear to discipline her? However…”

She drew out a long note, then coldly smiled again without revealing any emotion.

She continued, “However, you just said Yinshu pushed that girl Lingzhi? I truly don’t believe it. After all, I know a thing or two about what kind of temperament that girl Lingzhi has.”

Though Ji Lingzhi was young, following that third brother Ji Yuanzhi around, she had done all sorts of wicked deeds.

Because her precious son was often bullied by those two despicable people.

Ji Shuhan and Old Madam Ji had no more words to deflect with and both fell into a rather embarrassing situation.

Meanwhile, Wei Yi and Ji Yinshu had just come out from the main hall, preparing to return to the west courtyard.

“Shu’er, let me carry you on my back. I walk fast. I’ll take you back to rest quickly, alright?”

Wei Yi was extremely anxious at this moment.

Ji Yinshu looked back and nodded. “Alright.”

So Wei Yi bent down, presenting his sturdy back before Ji Yinshu, and patted his own shoulder with his hand behind him. “Shu’er, climb on.”

His voice was very loud!

Seeing this scene, Ji Yinshu couldn’t help but secretly smile, her heart feeling very warm.

Ji Yinshu climbed onto his back. Wei Yi hooked his arms under her legs and, under her directions and guidance, headed toward the west courtyard.

“Shu’er, you’re as light as my older brother,” Wei Yi said.

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Ji Yinshu thought for a moment and asked him, “Wei Yi, do you really like me that much?”

He nodded vigorously. “I like you! Wei Yi likes Shu’er very much. In the future, Shu’er will be my wife, and we’ll have many, many little Wei Yis.”

Little Wei Yis again—you’ve really been brainwashed by your mother!

“But what if… I don’t like you?”

Her words were soft, but when they reached Wei Yi’s ear, they were clear enough for him to hear.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Wei Yi’s face. His footsteps slowed, his cheeks puffed out, and he asked, “Is it because I’m stupid?”

“No.” Ji Yinshu answered him definitively, a trace of heartache in her eyes as she spoke. “Wei Yi, you’re not stupid at all, do you know that? You’re smarter and more attentive than many people. And you possess something others don’t—innocence and sincerity. You’re one of a kind, do you know that?”

“Then why doesn’t older sister like me?”

Yes, if he’s so good, why don’t you like him?

“Because…” There’s someone in my heart!

These words, Ji Yinshu didn’t say aloud. She only said, “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”

By now, they had already passed around a corridor.

Ji Yinshu made sure there were no “eyes” following behind them, then patted Wei Yi’s shoulder. “Put me down.”

“No, Shu’er, you’re injured now. You can’t walk.”

“I’m not injured. Put me down first.”

Wei Yi was stunned for a moment before slowly setting Ji Yinshu down. He stared at her strangely, then walked around to her back, pointing and saying, “But Shu’er, your back really does have blood on it.”

She smiled, reached back with her fingertips to touch the “blood” on her back, then quickly smeared it on Wei Yi’s lips.

She asked him, “Taste it. Is it blood?”

Wei Yi stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. He squinted thoughtfully and said quietly, “I can’t tell.”

“Silly, this is paint, not blood.”

After explaining, Ji Yinshu turned and walked forward.

Wei Yi followed, pestering her with questions about what paint was. Ji Yinshu didn’t know how to explain it and casually brushed him off with a few words.

The two of them passed through the back garden when they were suddenly called out to.

“You two, stop right there.”

That voice was all too familiar.

Who else could it be but Ji Muqing!

Ji Yinshu looked toward the source of the voice. In a pavilion over the water not far away, Ji Muqing was sitting properly and elegantly, her body turned to the side, one hand resting on a support pillar, the other hand holding a delicate box, sprinkling fish food into the water.

The scene should have been absolutely beautiful.

But Ji Yinshu found it absolutely disgusting!

Ji Lingzhi was also in the pavilion, using a brush to draw something on the stone table.

Wasn’t her hand supposedly nearly crippled? It had only been a few days, and she could already hold a brush.

At this moment, Ji Lingzhi also looked toward Ji Yinshu, her small face written all over with disdain.

Ji Yinshu didn’t want to pay attention and continued walking with Wei Yi, but Ji Muqing spoke with cold sarcasm. “Fool, you came today to see your future wife, didn’t you? You’d better not look too closely. After all, a bastard is a bastard—if you look too much, your eyes will go blind.”

Then why are you looking!

Wei Yi didn’t understand what she meant. He glanced at Ji Yinshu and quietly asked, “Shu’er, what is that older sister saying?”

But Ji Yinshu turned to him and asked instead, “Can you swim?”

Wei Yi shook his head.

“Mm, that’s good then.”

Hm? What did that mean? Wei Yi was quite confused.

A meaningful smile instantly appeared on Ji Yinshu’s face. She walked along a water-spanning corridor and entered the pavilion.

She said, “Elder sister just called me. Is there something you need?”

“Nothing at all. I just called out casually because I felt like it.”

With an arrogant expression, Ji Muqing continued sprinkling fish food into the water, then suddenly noticed the bloodstain on Ji Yinshu’s back and wrinkled her nose. “Your back?”

Ji Yinshu smiled. “I just got some red water on it. Elder sister need not be surprised.”

Ji Muqing let out a cold snort with her sharp, acidic lips!

Ji Yinshu continued, “It just so happens that Young Master Wei came to the residence to see me. This pavilion is perfect for admiring the garden’s beautiful scenery.” Ji Yinshu turned to Wei Yi, who had come with her, and said, “Wei Yi, do you like it here?”

He raised his head, turned in a circle to look around, and nodded. “I like it.”

“Who gave you permission to come in? Get out! This is my place with eldest sister.” Ji Lingzhi pouted and started yelling, using the brush in her hand to angrily point at Ji Yinshu and Wei Yi.

“Lingzhi, don’t make trouble. Since third younger sister wants to bring this fool here to see the scenery, let them look. Otherwise, people from the Wei household will say we don’t understand proper etiquette,” Ji Muqing said.

Ji Lingzhi was obviously unhappy, her eyes glaring.

Just wait, you’ll be crying soon enough.

“What’s that over there?” Ji Yinshu suddenly pointed at the water’s surface and cried out in alarm.

Everyone’s gazes followed the direction of her finger—there was nothing unusual!

Perhaps catching Ji Muqing’s curiosity, Ji Yinshu continued, “Elder sister, can’t you see it? It’s right there.”

“Where?”

The fish took the bait!