Song Yi smiled and went downstairs, her face still a bit pale. However, she saw Jian Li Miao hadn't entered the house, but was waiting in the courtyard, so she hurried forward to greet him.

  "Did I scare you just now?" Jian Li Mao called out to her and said with a smile, "These two servants of mine don't quite understand etiquette, please don't mind."

  "Third Uncle, you're being serious." Song Yi smiled and pursed her lips. Jian Li Miao didn't let the two men retreat, she stole a glance at them and was surprised to find that they didn't have ferocious appearances after all. One of them had clear and elegant features, looking rather weak. They both looked somewhat embarrassed, smiling awkwardly in a very proper manner.

  If it weren't for the lingering fear in her heart, she would have suspected that the murderous gaze just now was just her own illusion.

  "What about Ah Xiao?" Jian Li led her into the house and asked those around her, not seeing Jian Xiao Bai.

  "Master Gong just said he was tired and went to the side room to rest," the steward hurriedly said, "I'll go invite him right away!"

  Jian waved his hand to signal him to go, then turned to Song Yi and smiled: "I saw you were just upstairs, thinking of looking at things inside? Is there anything you like?"

  Song Yi smiled knowingly and was about to send himself off, but he hastily declined, saying: "I'm just a shallow scholar, I'll just watch the excitement."

  "We're all family, what's with the politeness?" Jian Lianmo smiled and said, "You're really too formal!"

  "It's just that I'm not afraid to speak the truth in front of my own family. If it were outsiders, I couldn't let them know about my lack of learning and poor skills, or else it would be a loss of face for my husband!" Song Yi smiled, although she was amazed by their wealthy background, but didn't have any envy, and quickly changed the subject, "Speaking of which, Third Uncle's complexion is really good today, are you feeling better?"

  Jian Li smiled and said: "You're a humble kid... I've indeed gotten much better over the past two days."

  The sedan chair was just beside them, and after these two sentences were spoken, Jian Yu Bai arrived.

  After entering the door, he greeted Jian Li Miao and nodded slightly to the two people before him, with a warm tone: "Uncle Lü, Brother Luo!"

  "Hello, Master!" The two men bowed and asked for forgiveness, saying they had startled Song Yixiao earlier. Before Song Yixiao could speak, Jian Yu Bai chuckled and said, "She's always been very brave, how could she be startled by just one glance?"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  Is he praising her?

  But that's all over now, and the kitchen has just sent up some freshly steamed pastries. Jian Li is on one side calling out to his nephew and niece-in-law to eat, while on the other side he's inquiring about their recent situation - this uncle is obviously well-read and very knowledgeable.

  As they chatted, not only did various anecdotes and interesting stories come up, but also learned that Song Yiliao was skilled in embroidery, and could even offer some guidance. When the conversation reached its peak, someone was called to bring out a guqin, and on the spot, played a piece of "Cold Crow Playing with Water". Amidst the clear and cheerful sound, it seemed as if a misty smoke and water had emerged from within the room, with several cold crows flying and perching, chasing and playing, carefree and content. The exquisite skill was fully displayed, causing Song Yiliao to repeatedly sigh in admiration.

  In short, the three of them had a wonderful time together until after dinner when the couple finally said their goodbyes.

  On the way back, Song Yi couldn't help but ask: "Who are those two men, Lü Shu and Luo Xiong? They seem to be extraordinary people."

  "You'll know later." Jian Yu Bai heard this and looked at her with a hint of playfulness, "You're asking like this, were you really scared today?"

  "It's just that I didn't expect to see another man." Song Yi smiled and replied with a lukewarm tone, catching the teasing intent in his voice.

  Jian Yu Bai smiled meaningfully and didn't say anything else.

  They returned to the Yan State Duke's mansion when it was already late at night. Since they had eaten in Jianli Mao, the two of them went their separate ways to bathe and change clothes.

  Song Yi laughed and put away the things, after returning to her room she saw several scrolls on the table, as well as a brocade box, they all looked very unfamiliar, so she asked: "What are these?"

  Jin Xun smiled and reported: "Just now, Third Master sent it over, saying it's for you to play with."

  She opened it and found that it was the ancient painting of the previous dynasty that she had been staring at before. Not only was there that one, but also several other paintings with similar artistic conception and style, all of which were masterpieces and well-preserved. In the brocade box was a gilded inlaid jade incense burner.

  The censer was only the size of a fist, with an ancient charm. Song Yi Xiao flipped it over and took a look at the base pattern, and immediately recognized that it was a palace object from 300 years ago. Although it wasn't a national treasure, its value was not insignificant either.

  "Third Uncle is too generous!" She sighed, not putting them away, and waited until Jian Yu Bai came in with his half-damp long hair scattered about before asking him, "Third Uncle sent these over, what should we do?"

  "It's just a trifle." Jian Yu Bai was unconvinced, "Third Uncle has many such things, if you like them, next time ask him for a few more, it's no big deal."

  Seeing his casual appearance, Song Yi Xiao also felt at ease and ordered someone to put it away in the warehouse: "Also, take out some of the best medicinal materials inside and send them to Third Uncle tomorrow."

  He glanced at the sky again and said to Jian Yu Bai, "The person your mother wants, should we tell the housekeeper tomorrow?"

  "Mind your own business in the backyard, just take care of it as you see fit." Jian Yu Bai stuffed the handkerchief into her hand, "Wring it out for me."

  Song Yi smiled and pulled the corner of her mouth, hinting at Jin Xun to withdraw. After seeing the door closed, she complained: "Isn't Ji Su supposed to be serving you while bathing? Why didn't he help you dry off conveniently?"

  "Then you're going to be lazy?" Jian Yu Bai, wearing only his undergarments, with his belt loosely tied, revealing a sturdy chest, with a few strands of hair dripping down, looked like jade carved in the firelight. He glanced at his wife with a hint of redness in the corners of his eyes from the steam, and a hint of seductiveness in his smile, "What's wrong?"

  "…." Song Yi smiled and angrily tied his hair, "When I didn't ask!"

  She stroked his ink-black hair that covered the couch, and seeing it was dry, she frowned and said, "Tomorrow I want to go to the Sī Kōng's house to pay my respects."

  "You can mourn, but don't take too long." Jian Yu Bai pulled open the quilt, lay down and said, "I'm busy tomorrow, you'll have to go alone."

  Song Yi Xiao looked at the place where he was lying, and slowly said: "I'm not familiar with other members of the Sī Kōng family either. I just came to pay my respects and reminisce about Sister Sī Kōng."

  She lifted her skirt and stepped onto the bed, taking advantage of the opportunity to crawl over him as he got into bed. Pretending to be careless, she stomped on his leg with force - but before she could even exert herself, her wrist was caught by a slender white hand. With a sudden yank, she let out a cry of surprise and tumbled heavily into Jian Yu's arms!

  "I knew you were restless!" Jian Yu's arm turned, pressing her down on the couch with force, coldly smiling, "It seems I have to teach you how to be a truly virtuous wife!"

  As he spoke, he bowed his head and kissed her lips heavily - but the bloody taste that flashed in an instant made him puzzled and let go of his wife. He lowered his eyes to see Song Yi Xiao's mouth slightly open, with a red and moist lip color that could only be distinguished by careful observation, where the inner side was slowly seeping out blood stains.

  "When I heard the bad news about Cai Gong's sister in Qingxi Hall, I was afraid of losing my composure in public, so I bit my lip. Song Yi also caught a glimpse of the bloodstain on his lip and immediately understood what had happened. 'After leaving the hall, Yu Guo aunt reminded me to wipe it clean, but I didn't think the wound hadn't healed yet.'"

  "Seeing blood, how can it be so quick to heal?" Jian Yu's tone was vicious, but he didn't continue and instead got up from the couch, went to a nearby cabinet, rummaged through it for a while, found a box of ointment, sat back on the couch, and said indifferently, "Come over here!"

  Song Yi Xiao moved over to the couch and stretched out her hand: "I'll do it myself!"

  "The wound is on your lip, I've kissed it before, what's there to be embarrassed about?" Jian Yu Bai chuckled and opened the ointment, dipped his finger in, and was about to apply it to her.

  "I'm afraid you'll take revenge!" Song Yi Xiao still turned her head to avoid, warning, "I just thought of stepping on you!"

  Jian Yu Bai heard this and narrowed her eyes, staring at her for a moment with a hint of a smile: "You guessed it!"

  He held down Song Yishuo, who was trying to escape into the bed, with one hand, and waved his hand with the ointment in front of her face, smiling mischievously. "If you move around, I'll just smear it on randomly, who knows where it will end up, huh?"

  Song Yi Xiao, who was struggling to hold back her laughter, almost spat out blood. After weighing the pros and cons, she reluctantly stopped: "I have to go out tomorrow, don't be too excessive!"

  As they spoke, Jian Yu Bai's fingertips had already brushed over the wound on her lips, applied ointment, and suddenly a sharp pain - she frowned and endured it, after a moment, the wound no longer hurt, only leaving a coolness - but saw Jian Yu Bai had already put away the ointment, placed it beside the pillow, and then lifted his robe, stepped into the bed and lay down.

  "From now on, you sleep outside." Seeing his wife looking at him in confusion, he smiled and announced, "So I won't have to get up early and disturb you while serving me!"

  Song Yi laughed: "!!!!!!!!!!"

  The next morning, Jian Yu Bai did just that. When he got up, he first woke up his wife and forced her to help him get dressed before calling in the servants to attend to him.

  What made Song Yi speechless was that, in front of the servants, this guy was clearly enjoying her reluctant appearance with a pleased expression, yet his mouth was hypocritically considerate: "I said it before, let them serve you, why bother getting up with me?"

  Watching Jin Xun and others with faces full of "Master treats Grandma so well", Song Yi smiled silently swallowing a mouthful of blood.

  It wasn't easy to see him off, and now that the sky was already bright, Song Yi Xiao rubbed her forehead, ordered someone to invite the major manager, conveyed Jin Guo's long public main's request to him, saw that he indeed let out a sigh of relief, also didn't bother saying more, waved his hand letting him go do things - then picked a plain and clean set of clothes, changed out of her original bright attire, went to the Si Kong Fu to pay condolences.

  Although Si Kong Yi Luo was the darling of the Si Kong family and had been promised to Prince Liang, she was still just a young girl who hadn't even reached adulthood yet. With her grandparents and parents all still alive, it wouldn't be possible for her funeral to be held on a large scale. Therefore, although there were more carriages and horses in front of the Si Kong estate than usual, it couldn't be considered lively.

  After entering the second gate, Song Yixiao was greeted by Chang Shi's elder sister-in-law, Chang Shi. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she apologized: "My grandmother and mother are both too heartbroken to receive guests, please forgive them!"

  "It was I who disturbed you." Song Yi hurriedly said, "How dare I disturb my elders?"

  "Please come this way!" Mr. Chang said with a bow, "My sister is young and the mourning hall shouldn't be set up in the main hall, it's a bit far away."

  Two people walked and sighed, regretting the empty clothes of Luoyi. When they arrived at the Moon Cave Gate, they were about to enter when a hemp-clothed girl came out from inside the gate first. Her face was beautiful, but her eyebrows had a hint of anger, it was the same girl who had hit the horse in front of Donggong Palace the day before.

  She caught sight of Changshi and Song Yi laughing, bowed her head slightly, called out "elder sister-in-law", and asked: "Is this a close friend of my sister's from before?"

  Chang's eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if he had some concerns: "Little sister, how did you come out?" He then turned to Song Yi and smiled: "This is my husband's younger sister, Yi Han. Due to her poor health, she has been living in a villa outside the city for many years, so you didn't see her when you came to our house last time."

  "This is the wife of Yan Guo Gong, Mrs. Song, a close friend and acquaintance of my elder sister, who has come to pay her respects."

  "She still has the face to come and mourn her sister?" But as soon as Sī Kōng Yī Hán heard this, her expression sank, and she coldly said, "If it wasn't for her helping that despicable woman surnamed Wei testify yesterday..."

  "Shut up!" Chang knew from an early age that this little girl was not reliable, and he couldn't bear to listen to her anymore. He didn't care that the mourning hall was just nearby, and hastily shouted loudly, "The grandmother has ordered you to stay in and reflect on your actions for these days! You can still come out, but what are you talking nonsense with the noble guest? I know you're heartbroken over your sister's passing, but you can't be so crazy!"

  At this point, Si Kong Yirou still wanted to refute, and was so frightened that he hastily ordered his attendants, "Drag him away! If he dares to say another word, I'll have his mouth stuffed!"