You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal? Chapter 253 - 204: Anti-Xiao Alliance

Whatever he thought, Chen Yi couldn’t let it show on his face, especially not in front of Xiao Jinghong.

Chen Yi feigned recollection. "For a few days before she left, that girl was in secluded cultivation. There was nothing out of the ordinary."

"Before that, though, she, Tingyun, and Huatang were wandering around inside and outside the Prefecture City, and they bought a lot of things for the clan."

He paused, a slight smile gracing his lips as he continued,

"She can be a bit eccentric and willful, but her heart’s in the right place. She’s a good person, really. She even took a whole cart of things back with her before she left."

Chen Yi didn’t know how much Pei Guanli had let slip, so he had to do so damage control.

If he couldn’t dispel Xiao Jinghong’s suspicions, he at least hoped she’d go a little easier on Pei Guanli during questioning.

Xiao Jinghong listened, nodding thoughtfully. She didn’t press the matter, saying instead,

"I just ca back to grab a few things, then I have to leave. There are still so matters I need to attend to."

Chen Yi tilted his head to look into her eyes. "You already said that, my lady."

Xiao Jinghong t his gaze, a hint of awkwardness on her face.

Fortunately, her mask hid her expression, so she wasn’t worried about Chen Yi noticing.

"I have a few things I’d like to ask you to handle for ."

Chen Yi smiled. "Please, speak freely. I may be an Instructor at Guiyun Academy and the Shopkeeper at Jishi dicine Hall, but I still have so ti to spare."

On the surface, his words sounded reasonable enough.

But between the lines, the ssage was clear.

He was already busy, so she shouldn’t ask for anything too troubleso.

Of course, Xiao Jinghong caught his aning, and a faint smile touched her lips.

’My husband really hasn’t changed a bit.’

’So incredibly talented, yet still so lazy and carefree.’

No wonder the Old Master had specifically instructed her this morning to treat Chen Yi well, to give him more responsibilities when the ti was right. He had even told her, "Your husband has now reached Calligraphy Dao Perfection."

Even for soone as experienced and worldly as Xiao Jinghong, this news was rather surprising.

After all, the realms of the scholar’s Four Arts—Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting—were comparable to those of Martial Arts, and their cultivation was no less difficult.

Chen Yi raising his Calligraphy Dao to the Perfection Realm was actually on par with her Sword Dao Perfection.

The only difference was that Chen Yi used his brush to express his will. If he wanted to harm soone, he would have to attack their mind and spirit.

By channeling emotions like sorrow, joy, anger, or fear through his Calligraphy Dao, he could inflict harm without a trace.

She, on the other hand, could kill with her sword, which was far more direct and decisive.

Of course, Xiao Jinghong knew it was unlikely that Chen Yi, unlike her, would ever think of using the Calligraphy Dao for slaughter.

He would most likely use it for composing odes, singing praises, or expressing his innermost feelings.

’A warrior’s stereotype of a scholar, most likely.’

"Don’t worry. I only want you to rewrite these few poems for , then have them mounted and hung in our room."

As she spoke, Xiao Jinghong took out the letters she had previously received from within her robes.

There was "Thoughts of a Sumr Night," "Two Thoughts on a Sumr Night," "Thoughts of Sumr," and the first one he ever wrote for her, "Magpie Bridge Immortal."

"..."

Chen Yi glanced at the letters in her hand, then his gaze shifted to her face. He asked hesitantly,

"You’ve been carrying these with you this whole ti, my lady?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Xiao Jinghong’s eyes. Unsure how to answer, she simply shoved all the letters into his hands.

"Also, over the next few days, I need you to help prepare so gifts. For the Old Master, Second Uncle, and Third Grand-uncle in the family, as well as people outside—the two Commanders from the Commandant’s Office, the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office, the Governor’s Office, and so on."

"Prepare them in advance, so we don’t seem discourteous if my return is rushed."

Seeing her rush through her words, Chen Yi couldn’t help but smile. He nodded and said,

"The eldest sister should have a specific list of nas. I’ll go ask her in a bit."

But after saying that, he added teasingly, "My lady, my mory isn’t half-bad, you know. I still rember all the poems. Why don’t you hold on to these letters?"

Xiao Jinghong froze. Then, she snatched the letters back, stuffed them into her sleeve, and turned toward the inner wooden building, her face quietly flushing with embarrassed anger.

’How could I be so stupid? I can’t believe I forgot about that.’

’I could have just asked him to rewrite them from mory.’

’But no, now he knows I’ve been carrying these letters with this whole ti...’

So mortifying.

Watching her hurry back into the wooden building, Chen Yi had a good idea of what she was thinking and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

’So, she does get shy after all.’

With that thought, Chen Yi glanced at the sky. Estimating that the downpour wouldn’t let up anyti soon, he headed straight for his study.

The incident with the burning of the Three Towns’ sumr grain was over for now. What ca next depended on how the Old Master and Xiao Jinghong decided to handle it.

They should be able to use this as an opportunity to secure so advantages for the Xiao Family. At the very least, it would serve as a warning to their enemies and alleviate so of the pressure they were facing, both internal and external.

Chen Yi had a rough idea of how things would play out, but he didn’t plan on getting involved.

At least, he wouldn’t be making any moves himself anyti soon.

When he arrived at the study, Chen Yi looked around. The twenty-one calligraphy sheets he had written earlier were all fully mounted. He opened them one by one for a quick inspection, and after confirming there were no issues, he placed them back in their box.

The calligraphy sheets were ready. He just had to wait for the exhibition hall at Guiyun Academy to be cleared out so they could be hung.

’Looks like I’ll have a few more days of peace and quiet.’

At this mont, Xiao Wuge, who had received the news, ca running back with Xiaodie.

Chen Yi could hear him calling for his brother-in-law from a long way off.

Chen Yi put away the box and walked out to greet them.

Seeing him, Xiao Wuge imdiately smiled and asked, "Brother-in-law, when did you get back?"

"Just a little while ago."

"So, have you heard what’s been happening at the manor?"

Chen Yi saw the three words "ask about it" practically written on his face and couldn’t help but laugh. "No, I haven’t. What happened?"

"Sothing huge, Brother-in-law! Let tell you..."