On the vast training ground, the early - autumn wind blew, refreshing people. But for Feiyu, it made him drowsy.
Suddenly, there came a whooshing sound, and something was flying straight towards his face. Feiyu quickly reached out and grabbed it. It was a handkerchief.
Looking up, he saw He Xun glaring at him coldly.
"Just getting up a few hours earlier and you can't bear it?"
Apparently, He Xun was referring to his dozing off just now.
Feiyu immediately tensed up and bowed with cupped hands, "This subordinate admits his mistake."
It wasn't that he couldn't bear it; it was just too sudden.
His master hadn't gotten up so early to practice sword - fighting for a long time. He wondered why today.
"Twenty strokes of the cane. Go back and punish yourself. How's the matter I told you to investigate?"
Feiyu quickly reported,
"Reporting to my master, so far, we haven't found any problems with that Shao Tan."
He Xun picked up a spear and weighed it in his hand.
No problems. It seemed that this time, Su Nansheng's guess was off.
"Keep investigating. Also, from today on, have a lighter diet."
After saying that, He Xun swung the spear and continued his drill.
Behind him, Feiyu looked utterly dejected.
Getting up early was bad enough, and now a lighter diet. Were they going back to the northern border?
...
"My lady, the second young mistress lost her temper again today. Goodness, she stabbed so many holes in the brocade quilt."
Since Bitao became famous after the last incident, all the servants in the mansion admired her.
Even the servants in Bitaoyuan were no exception. She was the one who dared to fight against the second young mistress.
So Bitao knew a lot of the secrets in Bitaoyuan. For example, every time Su Hele lost her temper, she never smashed cups or bowls.
She lost her temper quietly. One day she would cut her silk skirt, and the next day she would stab through the brocade quilt.
There was no noise, but it sent shivers down people's spines.
Su Nansheng was tracing patterns again. She wanted to make something for He Xun on her own initiative.
"Because He Jin didn't back her up?"
After that day, He Jin had been very quiet. Even Chen Wanrong found it a bit strange.
Had He Jin finally seen the light?
"Not only that. I heard that the second young master scolded the second young mistress that day, and he hasn't been home at night for several days."
Seeing that Su Nansheng finally asked, Bitao quickly reported what she had heard.
Su Nansheng paused with her pen. He really had seen the light.
But this was bound to happen sooner or later. In her previous life, although Su Hele had behaved so elegantly and nobly, He Jin still got tired of her and took in one concubine after another.
In this life, he just got tired earlier. She just didn't know when those concubines would be taken in.
At this time, Ruyi came in and said, "Concubine Su, the mistress has invited you over."
...
When Su Nansheng arrived at Qionghuayuan, she saw Concubine Li and Su Hele there, so she knew there was something big going on.
Seeing her arrive, Chen Wanrong said,
"Three days later, the Princess of Huaqing is hosting a flower - viewing banquet. You're all on the guest list, so you have to attend. I'm telling you in advance so that you can prepare well and don't break any rules at the banquet."
As she said this, she gave Su Hele a meaningful look.
Concubine Li looked delighted. She never thought she would receive an invitation from the princess.
In the past, the Princess of Huaqing probably didn't even know she existed.
So it must be He Jin's credit. The socializing in the past few days must have worked. His efforts hadn't been in vain.
Overjoyed, she didn't even notice the hidden meaning in Chen Wanrong's words. She said loudly,
"Don't worry, mistress. This concubine will be cautious in words and deeds and will surely not break any rules."
"You're well - behaved, so I'm naturally at ease. It's these two young people that I'm worried about."
Chen Wanrong glanced at Su Hele again. She might as well have said directly that she was worried about Su Hele.
Su Nansheng couldn't help but smile and said softly,
"Mother, don't worry. I'll surely behave myself and won't cause trouble for the Marquis Mansion. Second young mistress, the Princess of Huaqing is not someone to be provoked. Am I right?"
If Chen Wanrong was not suitable to say these words, then she would say them according to her own mood.
Su Hele glanced at Su Nansheng sideways and lifted her chin slightly,
"I've always been proper and polite. I don't need your reminder. Concubine Su, just take care of yourself."
Such rudeness! If it weren't for Chen Wanrong being there, she would surely humiliate Su Nansheng.
She was just a concubine and still had the nerve to go to the princess's mansion.
Concubine Li glared at Su Hele fiercely and said to Su Nansheng with a fake smile,
"Ale is a bit naughty. Thank you for your concern."
Su Hele was really hateful, but Su Nansheng was also not a worry - free person.
She had only been in the Marquis Mansion for a few days, but she had already tamed everyone in the mansion. She had even bypassed her.
It was all Su Hele's fault for being useless. Otherwise, how could the power of managing the mansion fall to Su Nansheng?
Thinking of this, Concubine Li glared at Su Hele again.
Su Nansheng smiled brightly,
"I didn't really want to concern myself with it. But the second young mistress's previous actions were really worrying. Since you, Concubine Li, also know that I've been bothered, then for the Princess of Huaqing's banquet, I won't concern myself anymore. You can take good care of the second young mistress instead."
Concubine Li didn't expect the usually gentle and quiet Su Nansheng to talk to her in such a sarcastic way. She was stunned.
Before she could get angry, she heard Chen Wanrong say,
"We really need to keep an eye on them. The Princess's Mansion is different from the Mansion of the Imperial Academician Feng. There's no generous Lady Feng."
After hearing this, Concubine Li and Su Hele both looked a bit uncomfortable.
Concubine Li said reluctantly, "This concubine understands."
Chen Wanrong nodded, indicating that they could leave.
Seeing this, Concubine Li looked at Su Hele and said, "You come back to Yurongyuan with me."
But Su Nansheng didn't leave. After the two left, she said,
"Mother, do you know why the Princess of Huaqing is hosting this flower - viewing banquet?"
Even concubines like them were on the invitation list. It seemed that the purpose was not just for socializing.
Chen Wanrong shook her head,
"Don't try to guess the thoughts of these people. You can never figure them out. We just need to attend the banquet."
Su Nansheng lowered her eyes. She was a bit worried. She always felt that the purpose of this banquet was not simple.
It was a pity that in her previous life, Su Hele didn't like to attend such banquets, so she couldn't predict what would happen this time.
Should she ask Bitao to find someone to inquire? She had to know something...
"Nansheng."
Su Nansheng looked up and saw Chen Wanrong looking at her lovingly,
"Don't think too deeply and worry too much about everything. There's always a way out. Otherwise, you'll be too tired!"
Her voice was not gentle, but it made Su Nansheng's heart soften and her eyes warm.
Actually, she wasn't tired at all. In her previous life, she had lived like this, calculating everything. She was used to it.
But after hearing what Chen Wanrong said, the string that had been tightly wound in her heart suddenly loosened a lot.
"Look at Concubine Li and Su Hele. They make a ruckus every day, but they still live happily. You can also throw a tantrum. Fight fire with fire. Let's see what she can do."
Su Nansheng: "..."
She was just about to be touched.
After Su Nansheng left, Nanny Zhao served tea to Chen Wanrong,
"They're both girls from the Su family. I don't know why they're so different."
Chen Wanrong lowered her eyes and looked at the floating tea leaves. Her face was solemn,
"No one is born sensible. They're just forced to be."