After leaving the Princess of Ning's place, Song Nanxin hooked her arm through Song Yihuan's and said to Ji Lingchuan, "Your Highness, this humble wife still has some private words to say to Yihuan. I'll return to Shulan Courtyard first."
Ji Lingchuan didn't comment. Instead of turning away immediately, he stood there watching them leave.
Feeling Ji Lingchuan's gaze on them, Song Nanxin gritted her teeth secretly. All the way, she affectionately hooked her arm through Song Yihuan's and carefully asked what Song Yihuan had been doing in the Prince of Ning's Mansion these days. Meanwhile, Song Yixuan was picked up by "Baishao" and followed behind the two sisters.
"Baishao" was much stronger and taller than an ordinary maid. Logically, it should be no problem for her to pick up Song Yixuan. However, there was not a bit of comfort on Song Yixuan's face. Instead, he frowned, and his face turned a bit paler. He peeked at Ji Lingchuan over "Baishao's" shoulder, as if asking him for help.
"Stop," Ji Lingchuan suddenly said.
Song Nanxin and Song Yihuan stopped in their tracks and turned around to look at the man.
Ji Lingchuan walked up to "Baishao," who was a bit shorter than him, and said, "Give him to me."
"Baishao" hesitated for a moment and then let go. Ji Lingchuan then smoothly picked up Song Yixuan into his arms. Song Yixuan also stretched out his arms and hugged Ji Lingchuan tightly. His complexion improved a bit compared to before.
Ji Lingchuan's gaze swept across "Baishao's" hands and said, "I'll take him back. You may do as you like."
Seeing Ji Lingchuan taking such good care of Song Yixuan, Song Nanxin was secretly surprised. She said with a calm smile, "Then I'll trouble Your Highness to take care of Xuan'er."
After walking forward with Song Yixuan in his arms for a while until they could no longer see Song Yihuan and Song Nanxin, Song Yixuan whispered in Ji Lingchuan's ear, "Thank you, Brother-in-law."
Instead of taking him back to Tinglan Courtyard in a hurry, Ji Lingchuan took him to a pavilion in the garden. He placed Song Yixuan on a stone bench and sat facing him.
"Why did you ask me for help?" Ji Lingchuan asked.
Song Yixuan clasped his two small hands together, looking a bit cramped. "Xuan'er doesn't like that person."
"Why don't you like her? She's a maid the Princess of Ning gave to your eldest sister. You should have never met her before," Ji Lingchuan asked in a soft voice.
Song Yixuan really had never seen "Baishao" before. At most, he had only heard her voice. But he just felt that when he got close to that person, he felt uncomfortable all over. His chest felt stuffy, as if there was something weighing on it.
He told Ji Lingchuan what he was thinking in his heart, and Ji Lingchuan pondered.
Children have pure minds. Moreover, he had grown up in such an environment, so his feelings of like and dislike for people were very obvious. He felt uncomfortable getting close to that maid, perhaps because the maid didn't think much of Song Yixuan and didn't treat Song Yixuan as a "master."
It seemed that the rumors in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion were really harmful.
However, this maid named "Baishao" was really worth paying more attention to. He also felt that this maid gave him an inexplicable feeling.
"Since you don't like her, stay away from her in the future. If you want, when I'm in the mansion, I can have someone bring you to my courtyard. I'll teach you how to read," Ji Lingchuan said.
Song Yixuan's eyes sparkled. "Really? That's great! Fourth Sister said that Brother-in-law is very smart. You're even smarter than Fourth Sister!"
Ji Lingchuan could hardly hold back the upward curve of his lips.
"Really? Did she really tell you that? What else did she tell you? Did she..."
Ji Lingchuan tightened his fingers. "Did she ever mention 'Mr. Lingji' to you?"
Song Yixuan shook his head blankly. "No, Fourth Sister never mentioned this person to Xuan'er."
Ji Lingchuan thought for a while and then asked, "Your fourth sister can write many kinds of characters and has read so many books. Do you know where she learned all that? Has she ever gone to school?"
Song Yixuan still shook his head. "Fourth Sister said she learned from Eldest Sister."
Ji Lingchuan closed his eyes disappointedly. When he opened them again, he picked up Song Yixuan and said, "I'll take you back."
Song Yixuan wrapped his arms around Ji Lingchuan's neck and secretly sized up his cold and handsome side face. Although Brother-in-law always had a straight face and looked scary, he just felt extremely at ease when he was by Brother-in-law's side.
An uncontrollable thought popped up in his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.
The little boy lowered his soft eyelashes and got a bit closer to the man.
When Ji Lingchuan appeared in Tinglan Courtyard with Song Yixuan in his arms, he happened to run into Fuling coming out from behind the courtyard with washed clothes in her hands. When she saw Ji Lingchuan's face clearly, Fuling's complexion changed drastically. The wooden basin in her hand slipped out and fell to the ground with a loud noise.
Chunxing was cleaning the dust in the room. When she heard the noise, she rushed out. "What's going on?"
Ji Lingchuan sat on the only chair in the yard with Song Yixuan in his arms. Song Yixuan was startled and was having a bit of difficulty breathing. Ji Lingchuan's expression was extremely gloomy. Fuling knelt in front of Ji Lingchuan and kowtowed continuously. Beside her were the overturned wooden basin and scattered clothes.
"Your Highness, please forgive this lowly maid. This lowly maid didn't know Your Highness was coming. I was so scared that I lost my composure and frightened Your Highness and Young Master Wu. This lowly maid deserves to die," Fuling said.
Seeing Ji Lingchuan here, Chunxing was also extremely frightened. She quickly stepped forward and knelt beside Fuling. "This lowly maid, Chunxing, pays respects to Your Highness."
Song Yixuan had a ginseng slice in his mouth. He leaned against Ji Lingchuan for a while before he recovered. His forehead was already wet with sweat, and his little face looked pale and weak.
Ji Lingchuan reached out and touched his slightly cold cheek. His gaze on Fuling was full of oppression.
"I remember you were transferred here from Shulan Courtyard. You're one of the dowry maids of the Princess?"
Fuling lay on the ground and said in a trembling voice, "That's right. This lowly maid used to serve by the Princess's side. It's this lowly maid's fault. Please, please punish this lowly maid, Your Highness."
This was the first time Chunxing had been in such close contact with Ji Lingchuan. The intimidating aura on the man made her not know how to plead for mercy even if she wanted to.
It was Song Yixuan who pulled on Ji Lingchuan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother-in-law, it's not Fuling's fault. Fuling takes good care of Fourth Sister, and Fourth Sister likes her very much. It's just that Xuan'er has a weak body and can't stand being frightened. It has nothing to do with others."
Only then did Ji Lingchuan's expression soften a bit. At this moment, he also heard a soft meowing sound in his ear. Taxis came out from the bushes and walked up to Ji Lingchuan, affectionately rubbing against him.
Song Yixuan looked surprised and said, "Brother-in-law, it seems that Taxis really likes you."
Ji Lingchuan looked at the two maids kneeling in front of him again and said coldly, "Remember, it's Young Master Wu who pleaded for you. I'll spare your life for now. If you're so reckless again next time, you'll be executed."
Fuling kowtowed hard. "This lowly maid remembers. This lowly maid thanks Your Highness for sparing my life."
Chunxing helped Fuling up. The two of them together started to pick up the wet clothes scattered on the ground. Ji Lingchuan had been looking down, teasing Taxis on the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, something flashed by. He looked up and at the two maids.
"Wait a moment."