CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: SISTER, AH XIAO WANTS TO GO

Li Mu felt his face grow warm.

Originally, he planned to use his injury to make her call a doctor, which would allow him to use medicine long-term as a way to mask the scent from the medicinal baths.

At first, he thought achieving the goal was sufficient, but after she said that, he indeed felt a lot of shame.

Moreover, the goal wasn’t achieved...

"So, shall we agree that there’s no next time?" The young lady looked at him with wide eyes.

Li Mu turned his gaze away and nodded almost imperceptibly.

The young lady let out a laugh, "Puchi."

Suddenly, it was as if rain cleared to reveal the sun, with the clouds dispersing.

"You didn’t go today, so I brought back the homework for you. This is mine, and also..." The topic shifted as Tang Xiaobai started discussing business.

Requesting a leave due to injury is okay, but schoolwork shouldn’t be neglected!

Tang Xiaobai not only brought her own share but also brought back the middle-grade group’s work, and even secretly took notes on their class.

"Ahem, my handwriting is bad, just do the best you can to read it!" Tang Xiaobai handed over the notes.

Li Mu took the notes but hesitated to speak.

"What is it?"

Li Mu hesitated for a moment but still asked, "What was Fifth Cousin Gu’s homework today?"

Tang Xiaobai almost jumped up, "Gu, Gu Five?"

Gu Five was Gu Hui, a top student at the clan school, the pride of the class, and the hope of the village!

Her little ancestor had secretly jumped levels to Gu Hui’s level?

The young man watched her intently, eyes bright and hopeful.

Tang Xiaobai suddenly understood.

Her little ancestor was revealing his cards to her!

Realizing this, she smiled broadly, "Fifth Cousin Gu’s homework today is..."

Li Mu was indeed revealing his cards, so he hadn’t expected the young lady would actually remember Gu Hui’s homework.

Mr. Zhang lectured Gu Hui mainly on "Spring and Autumn Annals," and even Li Mu found it challenging, yet the young lady could recall roughly, showing extraordinary aptitude.

Li Mu felt an inexplicable pride as he watched the intelligent and lively light in her eyes while she spoke.

After explaining the homework, the young lady stuffed a pile of blank paper into his arms and stood up.

She put her hands behind her back and looked down at him with a stern expression.

"I’ll punish Tao Zi and the others for their mistakes, but I’m also very angry that you deceived me, so—tomorrow afternoon, I’m not bringing anyone!" She raised her eyebrows at him, with a hint of implication.

Li Mu felt like laughing but held it back, following her hint, "Tomorrow afternoon?"

She nodded with some pride, "Last time during Dragon Boat Festival, we didn’t go to Qujiang Pool to watch the boat race. I’ve agreed with classmates to go to Qujiang Pool tomorrow afternoon to play!"

Li Mu saw her proud little expression and couldn’t help feeling a bit mischievous, "I want to go too."

Tang Xiaobai shot him a cold glance, "You make a mistake, you must face punishment!" You must be principled in educating children!

The young man’s eyes flashed, his expression and eyes suddenly softened, "Sister, Ah Xiao wants to go..."

...

In the Crown Prince’s bedroom, the medicinal scent was heavy and bitter; Prince Jin Li Shu stayed for less than a quarter of an hour before hurrying away.

Li Mu stared at the doorway for a while and then lay down, resting his head on his arms and ordered to open the window.

Previously, the Imperial Physician always used the excuse that he shouldn’t be exposed to drafts and kept the windows shut, and the medicinal scent often made him drowsy. However, Feng Hua’s first action was to leave the windows open often.

He would only have the window closed when people came to visit him.

Especially for Prince Jin Li Shu.

No doubt today’s palace visit by Li Shu will result in an answer that satisfies the emperor.

With increased toxicity, his body would surely continue to weaken, possibly bedridden until next autumn.

Just unclear if Li Shu would continue blaming Second Miss Tang.

Yet, with the power of Duke Yan Mansion, such rumors couldn’t harm that young lady; she herself didn’t mind and happily went out to play with classmates?

This young lady is tough; she says not to bring him and indeed doesn’t, even after his humility yesterday—

Thinking about yesterday, Li Mu felt his face grow warm again.

Despite his humble approach, she made no concessions; she deliberately mentioned it to tease him, a true young lady!

Though he had never visited Qujiang Pool, he was long past the age of such whims, hardly tempted!

Li Mu rubbed his face, stood up, took a few steps, and entered the secret room.

While changing clothes, he couldn’t help but think, by now, the young lady should have arrived at Qujiang Pool, right?

...

Indeed, Tang Xiaobai had already arrived at Qujiang Pool.

The sun shone on the willow tips, summer heat lingering.

The youths rode horses at a trot under the tree shade, while Tang Xiaobai strolled by the water with the sisters from the Gu family.

Qujiang Pool was a famous spot in the capital, the water and scenery were beautiful, the pavilions elegant, captivating Tang Xiaobai so she had no time to join in the girls’ chatter.

But inevitably, their chatter turned to matters concerning her—

"How is Ah Xiao’s injury? How long to recover?" Gu Qinglan asked.

"About seven days," Tang Xiaobai replied.

Gu Qinglan didn’t really care about Ah Xiao: "Isn’t it better for Ah Yuan to take his place first? Didn’t Mr. Zhang say two servants should attend during lessons?"

"But these past two days, Ah Xiao hasn’t been here, and Mr. Zhang didn’t mention Ah Yuan taking over," Gu Yulan said.

When talking of this matter, Tang Xiaobai felt surprised too.

Yesterday when Qin Xiao was injured at home, she was worried Mr. Zhang would appoint someone else to replace Qin Xiao since tasks like collecting and distributing assignments were very replaceable.

Surprisingly, Mr. Zhang merely inquired about Ah Xiao once and said nothing else.

Since the teacher didn’t mention, no one would actively bring it up.

Not mentioning doesn’t mean not having any thoughts, such as now both young Miss Gu sisters had many ideas.

"I noticed Mr. Zhang seems particularly fond of Ah Xiao, otherwise, among so many attendants outside, why did he choose Ah Xiao specifically?" Gu Qinglan said.

Gu Yulan chuckled softly and said casually, "Perhaps he thinks Ah Xiao is handsome."

Those words, combined with that tone, sounded rather awkward.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t resist retorting, "Mr. Zhang picked Ah Xiao because he’s taller and seems older, and that’s why he was chosen to serve!"

Gu Yulan shrank back, timidly saying, "I didn’t mean anything..."

Tang Xiaobai: ...

There are schemers every year, are there particularly many this year?

Still, Gu Qinglan smoothed things over with a smile, "Our sisters also used to copy scripts ourselves, but we indeed haven’t read many books."

Just then, Gu Qinglan helped again, "Ah Xiao is tall, and looks good, anyone would like him, though he’s a bit too thin. Ah Yuan too, so thin, yet Cousin Jiaojiao lets them out?"

Tang Xiaobai: ...

You really know my sister well!

Gu Qinglan then changed the topic from Qin Xiao to the Young Crown Prince of Yongfu, "Yesterday I heard my father mention that the Crown Prince’s condition has worsened—"

"This time it’s not related to me, right?" Tang Xiaobai quickly clarified.

"It concerned you last time; it might concern you this time!" Responded Gu You, who, seemingly passing by, threw in a casual comment before urging his pony to trot away without even turning his face.

"Little Six is still angry with you!" Gu Qinglan giggled at him.

Tang Xiaobai was, however, stirred by Gu You’s words.

Could it be possible, it really is related to her?