He felt embarrassed before Yun Shu, but this was too much.
To his two concubines, with whom he had just exchanged sweet nothings, he said, "You may leave now."
The concubines in the manor were astute and immediately withdrew.
Yun Shu curved her lips slightly. Ruan Xi was quite adept at managing these concubines.
Seeing the concubines depart, Ruan Xi took swift steps into the pavilion.
"Um... I..."
He had been too brazen just now.
"My father saw Yun Xiao Jing near the General's manor. Send people to search the vicinity of the General's manor thoroughly. Find Yun Xiao Jing by tonight if possible and bring him to me," Yun Shu stated directly.
As soon as he opened his mouth, she knew what he was going to say.
"Ah, alright, I'll personally lead the search," Ruan Xi immediately agreed.
Then, with his luminous peach blossom eyes, he grinned and said, "Yun Shu, you are the only one in my heart! I don't genuinely care about those two women! Only you can capture my heart! You must believe me!"
What terrible luck.
No wonder his eyelids had been twitching earlier.
The credibility of his words now was extremely low.
Yun Shu set down her teacup and stood up. "The tea is good."
Ruan Xi felt a mix of amusement and despair.
It was over.
He felt he would never be able to win her over in this lifetime.
...
It was dusk.
Yun Shu still had not seen Yun Xiao Jing.
Watching the sky darken, Yun Shu knew that the sly Yun Xiao Jing must be hiding in a secluded spot, making it difficult for Ruan Xi to find him quickly.
Never mind.
She could still meet Zhan Xiao Li herself tonight.
The sky grew darker.
Yun Shu sat in the courtyard, waiting.
Night King's Manor.
Qiu Lu knocked on Zhan Xiao Li's door.
Zhan Xiao Li was in the room with Yun Xiao Jing at this moment.
They were playing Go.
It was only before dinner that they discovered they both enjoyed playing Go!
Yun Xiao Jing knew clearly why they liked the same thing – because they were twins!
But Zhan Xiao Li did not know.
After dinner, Zhan Xiao Li, who usually preferred solitude, proactively suggested that Yun Xiao Jing stay to play Go.
And they played until late at night.
The two four or five-year-old boys seemed determined to play all the games they had missed in previous years.
"Another draw? Let's play again!" Zhan Xiao Li was dissatisfied.
Yun Xiao Jing was also unhappy. "No winner, no sleep!"
He was a very skilled Go player!
Better than Mother!
Yet he couldn't beat his brother.
The two boys were so focused that they didn't hear the knocking.
Qiu Lu found it strange. The room was lit by candles, so why was there no response?
He knocked a few more times.
At this moment, Yun Xiao Jing heard it. "Someone's knocking."
Zhan Xiao Li didn't look up and asked, "Who?"
"It's me," Qiu Lu replied, somewhat surprised that Xiao Jing was there?
At this hour, the young master usually slept. How were the two boys still together and awake?
Suddenly, his back stiffened.
Could the two boys be planning another elopement?
No, this must be prevented!
"Uncle Qiu, is something the matter?" Zhan Xiao Li asked.
Qiu Lu grunted. "It's important. I need to take the young master to see someone. I'm coming in."
Then, he pushed the door open.
The moment he opened the door, Qiu Lu looked at Zhan Xiao Li and Yun Xiao Jing in disbelief.
They were playing Go?
Go, which he found headache-inducing just by looking at it!
"You are playing Go?" Qiu Lu asked incredulously.
The two boys nodded in unison.
They each placed a stone on the board, completely absorbed.
It was as if Go was more captivating to them than any toy a child might love.
"Let's play again tomorrow. Young master, we need to leave," Qiu Lu put away his surprise and attended to his task.
Zhan Xiao Li furrowed his small brow. "I'm not going. I still want to play."
Yun Xiao Jing was curious. It was dark and late, why were they going out to see someone? He looked at Qiu Lu curiously.
Seeing Yun Xiao Jing looking at him, Qiu Lu had a sudden idea. "Xiao Jing, you should come along too."
This would be a good opportunity to test Miss Yun Er, to see if she was merely attentive to the young master like Miss Li, and neglectful towards Xiao Jing.
Yun Xiao Jing blinked his starry eyes and agreed without hesitation. "Okay!"
If he went with his brother, he could protect him.
Zhan Xiao Li saw that Yun Xiao Jing was no longer focused on the game and stood up. "Uncle Qiu, who are we going to see?"
Qiu Lu smiled and said, "It's the lady the young master hugged in the palace earlier."
Hearing this, a spark lit up in Zhan Xiao Li's eyes.
Aunt Yun Shu smelled like Mother.
These past two days, he had occasional dreams of his mother, but strangely, his mother's face would transform into Aunt Yun Shu's.
"Okay," he agreed immediately.
Yun Xiao Jing was a little puzzled. His brother would voluntarily hug other aunties?
At the circus that day, didn't his brother dislike bad aunties?
He felt a pang of unease. His brother hadn't even met Mother yet. If he met Mother, he would surely want Mother to hug him!
"Let's go," Qiu Lu smiled.
He knew the young master would agree.
"Are we going to see the auntie from the circus?" Yun Xiao Jing tentatively asked Zhan Xiao Li.
"No," Zhan Xiao Li shook his head.
He then added, "It's Aunt Yun Shu."
"Aunt Yun Shu. She lives at the Great General's manor," Zhan Xiao Li explained.
However, he was unsure why Father had told him not to get close to Aunt Yun Shu, yet tonight, he was sending Uncle Qiu to take him to see her?
Yun Xiao Jing's starry eyes widened.
What?!
How did he not know his brother had already met and hugged Mother?
And also.
He couldn't go with his brother!
"What's wrong?" Zhan Xiao Li looked at Yun Xiao Jing, who had suddenly become agitated.
Qiu Lu also turned to look at them.
At that critical moment.
Yun Xiao Jing clutched his stomach and squatted down. "I ate too much tonight and my stomach hurts. I can't go."
Zhan Xiao Li looked at the feigning Yun Xiao Jing and found it a bit odd.
"Your stomach suddenly hurts? That's perfect. You can come with us to see Miss Yun Er. Her medical skills are excellent, and she'll make your stomach ache go away quickly," Qiu Lu said with concern upon seeing Yun Xiao Jing holding his stomach as if in great pain.
He stepped forward to embrace Yun Xiao Jing.
Yun Xiao Jing's expression turned dark. He forced out a few tears. "I ate too much. It's like this sometimes, and I just need to walk around. Walking will make it better! Uncle Qiu, quickly take my brother and go!"
Why had he so readily agreed to go with them earlier?
Mother was right; curiosity killed the cat, and he was that cat now.
Qiu Lu, however, was worried about Yun Xiao Jing. "It's different now from before. If Miss Yun Er charges a consultation fee, I'll pay it. We can't let you continue to delay seeing a doctor when you're sick, like before."