Entering the backyard, they passed through the moon gate connecting the two courtyards and walked along the long covered corridor, arriving at the main hall of the second courtyard.
Su Xiaoqi dismissed Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, and others who were staying at home. She only kept Xiao Yi and Xiao Sanzi, making them sit below her and Shen Yun.
Guo'er, having been here before, was familiar with the layout and went to the tea room to prepare tea.
When the tea was served, Su Xiaoqi gently cupped the warm tea in her hands. After the warmth spreading through her hands brought her some comfort, she said, "Speak."
These abrupt three words left Xiao Yi momentarily bewildered. But he quickly understood. This was Xiao Qi jie giving him an opportunity to confess. He couldn't sit still and hurriedly stood up to reply, "Xiao Qi jie, I was wrong. Xiao Sanzi and I were both wrong. I admit my mistake, please don't be angry with us."
Xiao Yi was stubborn and sincere, not someone who easily admitted fault. His current state indicated that he had deeply reflected after his scheme was exposed. Perhaps someone had also advised him. In any case, he seemed to have come to his senses. However, it was not enough to teach him a lesson.
Su Xiaoqi took a sip of tea, and a warmth spread through her entire body. She said indifferently, "You were wrong, but Xiao Sanzi was not." This statement was like a tongue twister, but the clever Xiao Yi understood. Xiao Qi jie meant that what he had just said was wrong, and in this matter, he was the only one who had erred. Xiao Sanzi, whom he had dragged down with him, was not at fault.
Seeing that he seemed to grasp the meaning, Su Xiaoqi further explained, "Xiao Sanzi acted according to his elder brother's wishes, and his starting point was for the benefit of his family. What wrong did he commit? On the other hand, you were rash in your actions. You had no confidence in dealing with the He family, yet you arrogantly confronted them. Do you know that what Steward Liu of the He family did was not instructed by the He family's owner? If you had interacted with him, deceived him, and then exposed his intentions to the He family in front of others, what consequences would that have caused?"
Su Xiaoqi became agitated and forgot to maintain her Shudu accent. A pure Guan Hua accent flowed from her lips. Xiao Yi looked at her, then looked again. He was sure that the person standing in front of him looked exactly like their Xiao Qi jie. It was just that her accent had changed. Of course, this was easy to explain. Accents, unlike appearances, could be changed with effort.
However, Shen Yun stared deeply at Su Xiaoqi for several moments. He was becoming curious again: where exactly did Su Xiaoqi come from?
"How could that be? How could that be? Liu Yishou clearly said their master instructed him, otherwise how could he have produced a hundred taels of silver notes? Xiao Sanzi, tell me, didn't you see the silver notes too?"
Su Xiaoqi glared at him, saying irritably, "Look at yourself. You were about to scheme against the He family, yet you didn't even bother to find out about their internal affairs. You were used as a pawn and didn't even know why." Compared to Shen Yun, they were in completely different leagues. "Who is in charge in their family? It's the He family head, or at worst, Young Master Meng. Do you think those sons born of concubines can take charge just because they have money?" However, even if they couldn't take charge, it didn't stop them from acting like clowns to cause annoyance. Su Xiaoqi hadn't thought of this when she was at Zuifeng Tower earlier, but she had figured it out after Shen Yun's guidance on the return carriage. Fortunately, Shen Yun had quietly reminded He Qiulei. It was evident that Liu Yishou did not have the audacity to act alone. Even if He Qiulei acted with integrity and did not secretly instruct him to do such despicable things, it was certainly one of the He family's masters who was pulling the strings. The purpose was simple: to obtain their family's skill in making bitter buckwheat tea, and then use it to curry favor and profit from the He family head. Of course, even if they couldn't get it, the blame wouldn't fall on them. This black pot would only be borne by He Qiulei, the young master.
Xiao Yi was stunned. Hearing Su Xiaoqi talk about this matter, he suddenly realized that things did seem to be that way. He had been entangled in the He family's struggle between the legitimate and illegitimate lines. His body trembled, and he almost fell to his knees. But Su Xiaoqi, fearing it would shorten her lifespan, quickly asked Xiao Sanzi to hold him and push him back into the chair.
"This matter ends here. You don't need to worry about it anymore. From now on, whenever you have free time, visit Steward Zhao more often. Learn from him how to conduct yourself. Knowing yourself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle." Although Su Xiaoqi's expression was stern, she had already forgiven Xiao Yi in her heart. No matter how stubborn or capable he appeared, he was just an orphan from the marketplace, without parental guidance and uneducated. What knowledge could he possibly have? Thinking of this, Su Xiaoqi sighed and said, "Just like just now, you are a man. Although we call each other siblings, I am already married. How could you help me down from the carriage?"
Xiao Yi's mind immediately recalled their past life in the old City God Temple. At that time, they were poorly clothed and underfed, gathering together every day with no reservations or suspicion. They were so close that if someone managed to get a bowl of food, they would share it bite by bite. But Xiao Yi dared not say these words. Because the situation had changed. With Xiao Qi jie's help, they had already attained sufficiency and it was time to pursue something else. He had to learn to change!
"Yes, Xiao Qi jie, I was wrong." Although Xiao Yi was stubborn, he was someone who understood right from wrong. Moreover, Su Xiaoqi's care for them during this period and the great changes she had brought to their lives made him admire her from the bottom of his heart. He had always been willing to listen to her words.
"Xiao Sanzi, your actions were good and you were very clever. But in the future, you must remember not to overexert yourself. If there is something you cannot do or cannot bear, find someone who can, someone who can handle it, understand?" Su Xiaoqi lectured Xiao Sanzi earnestly, but her peripheral vision also encompassed Xiao Yi. She wanted to say this to him too. But she thought she had lectured him enough for today, and it was best not to overdo it. Nothing could be rushed; it had to be gradual and natural.
After saying this, Su Xiaoqi got up and went to the backyard. She wanted to check on Granny Wen and Zhao Xiaozhu. Shen Yun did not follow her but voluntarily stayed in the main hall. He then called out to Xiao Yi, who was about to leave, and said something with an unclear meaning: "When virtue does not match one's position, it is the first step towards ruin."
Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment before he immediately understood. Shen Yun was reprimanding him on behalf of Su Xiaoqi. He felt a little unconvinced. He listened to Xiao Qi jie's words because he believed Xiao Qi jie had the ability and the qualifications. But he didn't think Shen Yun did. He showed a defiant attitude towards the calmly composed Shen Yun.
"Not bad, you know how to judge the situation," Shen Yun said in a casual tone. Xiao Yi stood up and straightened his back. He didn't reply, but his body language clearly conveyed one message: If you want to teach me a lesson, you are not qualified.
"It's not that I want to teach you a lesson, but in the future, whatever you want to do, you must not involve Xiao Qi. Otherwise, not only will I not clean up your mess, but you won't even be able to stay by Xiao Qi's side." Shen Yun's tone was very mild, but his words were sharp.
Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment before he reacted. He looked at Xiao Sanzi, who had also stood up and was standing motionlessly, and said, "Today's matter..."
Xiao Sanzi straightened his body, his face full of reverence, "Brother Xiao Yi, it was Brother Yun who helped handle it. He also uncovered the He family's background... From now on, we should respect Brother Yun. After all, he is the Jieyuan scholar. He is so smart, the smartest person I've ever met besides Xiao Qi jie."