CHAPTER 2124: CHAPTER 2122: ALWAYS DISLIKED

Si Yihuan’s expression stiffened momentarily, then he said, "I was thoughtless; please forgive me, Uncle Master."

"Master barely eats, tea will suffice, Yihuan, you don’t need to fuss, take a rest," Jiao Ling said, apologetically smiling at Si Yihuan, as it’s common for older people to be a bit eccentric.

Si Yihuan quickly glanced at Bai Zepei, paid respects to everyone, and withdrew.

Bai Zepei knew his wife felt aggrieved, his heart uncomfortable, but the elder was indeed his aunt’s master. When grandmother was imprisoned, he cared for and raised her, considering the hardships his aunt endured over the years, Bai Zepei couldn’t directly disregard Liu Lao’s face.

Moreover, Liu Lao didn’t openly humiliate Si Yihuan, yet a few words and an outburst would render them disrespectful juniors, leading possibly to discussions of Si Yihuan’s faults by outsiders.

Since the Enlightenment Tablet trial day, Bai Zepei realized his own feelings, vowing not to let his wife be sad and disappointed, determined to protect her well,

After Si Yihuan left, Liu Lao resumed his cheerful demeanor, no longer stern-faced, and chatted with everyone as if the prior events had never occurred, without mentioning Si Yihuan.

After a while, Wu Wu brought Bi Tao over, Liu Lao surveyed Bi Tao smilingly and said, "This girl Bi Tao is becoming more impressive, and I reckon her Mechanical Technique has advanced quite a bit?"

His gaze fell upon a wooden token at Bi Tao’s waist; it was obviously a Mechanical Puppet token.

Bi Tao, pleased at Master’s praise, laughed and tossed the token casually, it turned into a flying sparrow, quickly soared into the air, and circled in the house.

Liu Lao couldn’t help but nod and say, "Flying mechanical puppets are the hardest to make, your sparrow looks agile, I suppose it can deliver messages?"

Bi Tao, with a face full of pride, said, "Yes, Master, how did you spot it immediately? So amazing!"

She beckoned, and the sparrow landed on her hand, using the other hand she gently pressed the sparrow’s head, its beak opened, revealing a slender space.

Everyone saw it could hold letters, even small pieces of medicine could be concealed within, indeed intricate.

Even Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but nod in appreciation, despite the Jiuli Clan’s internal chaos, Bi Tao’s Mechanical Technique had indeed improved a lot. Maybe she hadn’t practiced diligently before, now she had the motivation to work hard.

"Good! Good! Good!" Liu Lao exclaimed thrice, "In the path of Mechanical Technique, you have more talent than your mother, now you’ve truly grasped the essence. Such enlightenment at a young age is truly rare."

Wu Wu, listening nearby, showed no anger, laughingly said, "That’s what surpassing the past means, I’m thrilled and couldn’t be happier."

Everyone joined in the laughter, the room filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

Liu Lao sat for a while longer before expressing weariness, wanting to return to rest. Jiao Ling and Wu Wu supported him left and right intending to escort him back, but he waved his hand and said, "You all hold off, I want to chat more with the younger ones, let the young ones accompany me."

He smiled at Bai Zepei and Bi Tao, "Zepei, Bi Tao, you wouldn’t mind escorting me, would you?"

Bai Zepei responded with a soft "Mmm," face slightly darkened, yet ultimately preserving his aunt’s dignity.

If Bai Ruozhu still couldn’t see signs at this point, she would not deserve her reputation for keen observation.

Anger surged in her heart, what right did this Liu Lao, merely her aunt’s master, have to meddle in her brother’s affairs? Is it because of age and idleness that he finds pleasure in gratuitous interference?

Upon reflection, she vaguely understood Liu Lao’s thoughts; he believed Si Yihuan was an ordinary person, unworthy of his outstanding apprentice Bai Zepei, preferring Bi Tao and trying to match them up. Considering Bi Tao’s previous sly intentions, who knows if Bi Tao and Wu Wu had a hand in this?

Watching them leave, Bai Ruozhu bid farewell to her aunt and grandmother and went upstairs to find Si Yihuan.

At this moment, Si Yihuan was sitting in the room, holding a pen, writing and drawing.

Bai Ruozhu knocked and entered, saying, "Second-sister-in-law, what are you doing? What are we having for dinner?"

Her tone was light-hearted, hoping to cheer Si Yihuan up a bit. Si Yihuan looked up and smiled at her, saying, "With these ingredients, what can we eat? Whatever we have, we’ll eat."

Though she seemed unaffected, Bai Ruozhu still sensed the loneliness in her eyes.

Considering she was the granddaughter of a prime minister who had traveled so far to unfamiliar places, felt disregarded often, others eyeing her husband, while her family was miles away unable to support her, even if she felt wronged, it was understandable.

Bai Ruozhu went to hold her hand, saying, "We’re not close with that Master anyway, don’t let his attitude concern you, treat him as merely an elder to be respected for appearances sake, when he’s not around we live how we please, why bother about him?"

Si Yihuan couldn’t help but laugh, "Only you dare say that, what’s it mean to respect an elder for appearance’s sake? Elders must be respected, not just for appearances."

Bai Ruozhu playfully tapped her head, "Come on, if he wants to break you and my brother up, would you still respect him?"

Si Yihuan’s face gradually darkened, "Seems that’s truly the case, I’m always being disliked."

"Why care about them? It’s their lack of insight, after all, Wei Hall’s Xiu Shao said your Divine Sense is extraordinary, without your crucial intervention, my brother might not have made it through two crises. You don’t know how envious Xiu Shao is—able to enter Wei Hall and having a wife who’s a Divine Sense expert, not everyone gets this fortunate."

Bai Ruozhu’s smile grew broader, "That’s what you call striking gold."

"Striking gold, it sounds awful," Si Yihuan wrinkled her nose, "Isn’t that likening me to gold? Ruozhu, you’re mocking me again!"

Bai Ruozhu pleaded innocence, realizing ancient people might not grasp such sharp words, she added, "Anyway, my brother marrying you is a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes, if you don’t believe, ask him yourself later."

Si Yihuan blushed, embarrassed, "I won’t ask."

But thanks to Bai Ruozhu’s words, she gained a bit of confidence, the gloom on her face lifted, replaced by a sweet smile.

Bai Ruozhu secretly chuckled, when her brother returned to find his wife in high spirits, shouldn’t he thank his wonderful sibling here?

Calling that Liu Lao "dog’s eyes see people low", when Si Yihuan’s ability gets confirmed, see what expression he would have.