“Then you try!” I challenged him, noting it’s easy to talk when you’re not actually caring for children.
“That’s women’s work, you do it,” Huo Ling Yun replied matter-of-factly.
“If I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” I declared, heading upstairs to ‘Wan Xi Lou’.
“What method do you have?” asked those following, puzzled.
“A mountain man has his tricks!” I said mysteriously, sitting down at the guqin and started playing to the night sky. Music is a great way to communicate; I chose a gentle piece to calm the two little ones.
“Seems quite effective.” Xiao Pizi observed the now-sleeping children. “So this is how you soothe them!”
“There’s wind here, we should take the children back inside,” Nangong Mo suggested, going downstairs with Moshui. “The lake seems quite lively recently!”
Looking at the distant flickering lights and boats drifting back and forth, we could occasionally hear music and laughter. Previously, there was no business here, and it seemed odd to have people on the lake so late.
“I’ve discovered an interesting phenomenon,” Xie Ying said mysteriously, pausing until we urged him to continue. “Haven’t you noticed that anyone who comes into contact with us, the Tang family, will approach them and become connected?”
The little rascal analyzed, “Tang Liuli with the Qiao family, Tang Ying Ying with Mosi Island, Tang Xiaomeng with Bermuda Island, and Tang Yiyou with Little Ai Ai. How are they related to Brother Qiao’s two female cousins?”
“It’s just another move, using those two women to get to know Qiao Ruosi!” I suddenly understood – this was how each of the Tang sisters was ‘unique’.
“The current situation seems quite unfavorable to us!” Huo Lingyun said, his gaze sweeping toward the back garden.
Following his look, we noticed two figures standing there—Bai Yuqing and Tang Xiaomeng. Could Bai Yuqing’s emotions have been compromised?
“It’s so late; why is this little girl still here?” the little rascal asked curiously.
“She won’t leave before midnight,” I thought, blaming myself for wanting to bring them together, which resulted in granting the Tang sisters special privileges.
“Could she be one of the little demons?” Xiao Yao asked skeptically, “She looks just like a child.”
“Ruofeng, be careful about your brother and Tang Liuli’s situation,” Nangong Mo said, patting Qiao Ruofeng’s shoulder, “If you tell him directly, he might not believe you, and we could alert the enemy.”
“Even if Tang Liuli deliberately approaches Qiao Ruosi, we can’t be sure she doesn’t have genuine feelings,” he continued, recalling their eye contact. “Let’s investigate secretly and gather evidence. Once your brother believes it, we’ll step back and let them handle it.”
“What’s the plan?” Qiao Ruofeng asked anxiously.
“Isn’t it said that Tang Liuli has a fiancé in the Chiyan Kingdom? Have your brother go there under the pretext of business to check if such a person exists. Additionally, the Azure Flame Order should investigate the Tang family’s social connections in Chiyan, tracing back to their ancestors to confirm their origins.”
“Hehe…” Everyone laughed, with Cold Proud Soul saying, “Ai Ai, I think you’re the Azure Flame Order’s mistress, making very reasonable suggestions.”
“Anyway, we have no status, and Little Ai Ai has to make all the decisions!” the little rascal pouted, looking unhappy.
“Isn’t it good that I make the decisions?” she said, tapping the little rascal’s head. “Someone has to lead this household, and I’m the least likely to cause disputes.”
“Hehe…” They laughed and shook their heads again.
“Moreover,” she continued, ignoring their laughter, “we can’t directly tell Bai Yuqing and Moshichen about these two who frequently visit. Since they’ve already taken the first step emotionally, we must be strategic.”
“Strategic?” Xiao Yao looked surprised.
“What are you planning?” Xie Ying seemed excited.
“Not yet decided!” As soon as my words fell, Xie Ying walked away, seemingly annoyed.
“It’s late, let’s sleep,” Nangong Mo tweaked my nose, laughing. “Who knows what crazy idea you’re cooking up?”
“Not really,” I thought. Sleep is most important.
Looking down from the small building at the two pairs, they seemed quite compatible. What a pity. Qiao Ruofeng returned to the Qiao residence early that day to go to Chiyan with Qiao Ruosi. Cold Proud Soul also left hurriedly after breakfast, knowing the Azure Flame Order needed to conduct the crucial investigation.
My husband hates me… woo…
Tang Xiaomeng suddenly burst into tears, leaving Bai Yuqing stunned. He never expected such a lively girl to cry. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a barely perceptible smile at the corner of her mouth. She was targeting Bai Yuqing’s weakness, and it wouldn’t be long before his heart was conquered.
“This… this…” Bai Yuqing stammered, looking at me for help.
“You’re the one who made her cry, so figure it out yourself!” I replied, giving him a helpless expression before walking away. I caught a glimpse of something unusual in Bai Yuqing’s eyes—he wasn’t indifferent to Tang Xiaomeng, just a bit avoidant.
“Xiao Ai, what do you mean?” Nan Gong Mo asked, confused about my praise for Tang Xiaomeng.
“Can I say anything bad about her?” I countered. Seeing no one speak, I continued, “From the surface, Tang Xiaomeng is a good girl, and they seem quite well-matched.”
“So, about Bai Yuqing and Tang Xiaomeng…”
“He has feelings!”
“Then…”
“Let’s wait and see how things go with Young Master Mo on the other side.” I walked toward the woods on the west side.
Mo Shuihen liked to practice swordplay there, while Tang Yingying often sat nearby for hours, watching. Mo Shuihen spoke little, and Tang Yingying chatted a lot, yet neither found the other annoying, and they got along well.
“I was wondering, won’t Young Master Tang say anything about you two being here?” I started a conversation to cover up the previous mistake.
“Big Brother won’t mind. As long as Sister Xiao Ai doesn’t mind,” Tang Yingying cleverly evaded the issue.
“How could I possibly mind? With you and Xiaomeng here, there are two people who are happy about this.” She smiled at Mo Shuihen, while Bai Yuqing lowered her head, seemingly deep in thought.
“Sister Xiao Ai, if you keep talking, my husband will run away again,” Tang Xiaomeng said warily, ready to handle any situation.
“…” Bai Yuqing suddenly looked seriously at Tang Xiaomeng.
“Yuqing!” Startled, I quickly interjected, “Let’s all eat, the dishes are getting cold.” Bai Yuqing glanced at me and then said nothing more. That was close—she almost said something that would terrify us.
Feeling this conversation was becoming unsustainable, I chose a moment when the Tang sisters were not around to call both Mo Shuihen and Bai Yuqing over.
“Madam, what matter did you want to discuss?” Mo Shuihen looked at me questioningly.
“Second Sister-in-law, what big event has happened that you’re being so cautious?” Bai Yuqing asked, glancing at the people outside, her brow slightly furrowed.
“About this matter… we just found out, and I hope you won’t be too shocked.”
“Seeing their tightly furrowed brows, I didn’t dare to speak too quickly. ‘What do you think of the two young ladies of the Tang household?’
‘She…’
‘She…’
Seeing them almost simultaneously start with this word, I felt somewhat reassured. ‘You should still remember their big brother’s name, right?’
‘Of course!’ The doubt in Mo Shuihen’s eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by shock. ‘Right Wing Hall! They are… people from Right Wing Hall?’
‘…’ Bai Yuqing beside him fell silent, equally unbelieving.
‘I don’t know if you have developed feelings for the two young ladies, nor if their feelings are genuine or feigned. I just want to tell you the facts.’
‘They are really people from Right Wing Hall?’ Bai Yuqing asked again in a low voice.
