Xie Ming

Chapter 18 Dreaming of Yuzhen (Part )

Xiaochuan curled up on the ground, being beaten severely by the third son of Zhou Kui's family.

Following the swallowtail butterfly flying out, not far away, the red sun was in the sky, and the sky was full of auspicious colors. Yuzhen was wearing a new red silk skirt from Hangzhou and plum-bottomed shoes on her feet. She walked towards them slowly, facing the bright sun, like a fairy.

Behind her, Xiao'e, wearing a plain goose yellow silk skirt and a gauze jacket, also appeared in front of everyone following her sister.

When approaching Xiao Jingchuan, Yuzhen frowned, and a hint of worry appeared on her face.

She stretched out half of her arm, but inadvertently stopped in mid-air, stunned for a moment, then slowly retracted it without saying a word.

But Xiao E, who was behind him, came closer and saw the injuries all over Xiao Jingchuan's body, and she became uneasy.

She was now six or seven years old and had none of the reserve of an older sister. Knowing that Mr. Zhou was the culprit, she puffed out her cheeks, raised her two little fists, and was about to step forward to speak up for her big brother Xiao!

"Zhou Bao, you bad guy! You hit my brother Xiao, I'm going to hit you! Hit you!"

As she spoke, she clenched her tender little hands even tighter and was about to rush over, rolling up her sleeves.

When Yuzhen saw Xiao'e making a fuss, she quickly stopped her and shook her head to indicate that she should be polite.

"Mr. Zhou San, our two families are good friends, but I am from the Chengguo Mansion, so it is not your turn to teach me a lesson!"

Zhu Yuzhen had a cold face and responded coldly.

"Hehehe, Yuzhen, I... I was also very angry just now."

"This kid is so ungrateful. I was just curious and wanted to take a look at his torn bag, but he refused to give it to me!"

"He's just a servant. How can I forgive him for offending me like this?"

"Eh? By the way, Steward Xue just said he was some kind of adopted son. What adopted son? Whose adopted son?"

When Master Zhou San saw the beautiful Yuzhen coming over, he lost all his temper and just stared at her with a silly smile.

"Ah, it's nothing. My father picked him up from outside. I don't know why he was kind-hearted and took him in to raise him. Mr. Zhou San, don't worry about it. Please come in. Madam Liu has prepared some snacks. Mr. San, go and have a taste."

Hearing the other party suddenly asking about the adopted son, Yuzhen didn't know what her father's intention was, so she didn't say much. She could only quickly evade the question, gracefully stepped aside and extended her hand, leading the other party to the main room to entertain the guest.

Seeing that Yuzhen was thoughtful and knowing that she liked the snacks from the Duke's Mansion, Mr. Zhou was so happy that he almost jumped up and down. He threw aside the previous incident and walked towards the main hall of the main house with a focused mind.

"Butler Xue, please stay!"

Behind the young master of the Zhou family, Xue Zhong, with a shameless face, also wanted to accompany the third young master to the main hall, but unexpectedly, he was stopped by his own eldest lady as soon as he took a step.

"Ah? Miss, what do you want?"

Xue Zhong stopped and bowed obsequiously. As Yuzhen was only eleven or twelve years old, the old butler bowed even deeper.

"Butler Xue, I don't care why Xiao Jingchuan was adopted by my father, but since I've given him a status, he is now a member of the Chengguo Mansion!"

"No matter what, you shouldn't humiliate him like this in front of outsiders. If you do this, you will end up bringing disgrace to the people of our mansion and slapping my father's face!" Yuzhen's words were a bit harsh, probably with the intention of protecting Xiaochuan.

"Oh, miss, how dare I do that."

"You have taught me a lesson. I will never dare to do it again next time!" Xue Zhong was stunned and bowed in regret.

"Alright, if you do this again, I won't let you off easily!"

"Ah, yes, yes! I understand."

After the two of them finished talking, Yuzhen did not stay any longer. She walked back to the main hall along the same path she came from without turning her head back.

"Yuzhen!"

Suddenly, Xiao Jingchuan called her out of nowhere.

Xiao Jingchuan struggled to get up from the ground and brushed off the dust on his body.

"Yuzhen, that's the swallowtail butterfly I just caught for you. It's a blue-feathered one. It's rare to get a few of them. Do you like it?" Xiao Jingchuan said.

Yuzhen was stunned after hearing this. She stopped and turned around, looking at Xiaochuan with a complicated expression.

"I was just saying it casually, why do you take it seriously?!"

"Next time, don't make a fool of yourself in front of others, or you'll be laughed at!" As she said this, Yuzhen seemed to feel that it was inappropriate to say this, as if she had done something wrong. She hurriedly pretended to be calm and cast her eyes towards Jiao Da standing beside her.

"Uncle Jiao, take him down quickly and ask Doctor Zhao to see him. Tell him what I said."

"It would be bad for father to see him with all these injuries."

"Yes, yes! Jiao Da will remember it!" Uncle Jiao knew that the young lady was kind-hearted, so he rarely smiled.

"Xiao E, let's go back. Mr. Zhou San is a guest after all. Don't let people think we are neglecting him!" Yu Zhen said.

"Hmph!" Xiao E pushed her sister away, obviously still a little angry.

Yu'e took big steps with her legs akimbo, walked towards Xiao Jingchuan in a mischievous manner, and reached her hand into the sleeve of his clothes to grope around.

Suddenly, he took out two red bean buns, the white skin of which was sprinkled with osmanthus flowers, which looked delicate and sweet.

"Brother Xiao, this is for you!"

"I stole two of Xiao'e's favorite red bean buns and couldn't bear to eat them. I'll give them to you!"

"After eating red bean buns, the pain from being beaten won't be felt anymore!"

Yu'e pouted her chubby little face and spoke seriously to Xiao Jingchuan.

After being teased by Yu'e, Xiaochuan finally had a slightly relaxed smile on his face.

"Okay, Xiao'e, let's go!"

But before Xiao Jingchuan could say anything, Yuzhen had already called Xiao'e back to her side. The two sisters, along with the annoying Xue Zhong, did not stay any longer and went straight back to the main hall.

Xiaochuan was left alone in a daze. Uncle Jiao behind him pulled him a few times and barely managed to pull him away from the door of the main house!
"Old Xiao!"

"Old Xiao?"

"Wake up, wake up!"

"What kind of dream is this? Why are you crying?"

Xiao Jingchuan was in a daze and suddenly felt someone pulling his collar.

Then, Qiu Zhizhong's ridicule and mockery of him came into his ears. Xiao Jingchuan heard it clearly and woke up suddenly!
"Hey, General Xiao, I sincerely advise you not to let anyone get close to you when you sleep in the future!"

"Good fellow, he is like a young wife who has been bullied. Look how aggrieved he is!"

"What's the matter? You turned into a young lady in your dream, and you had a quarrel with your mother-in-law!"

Qiu Zhizhong couldn't hold back his laughter, and tried his best to imitate and tease Xiao Jingchuan, without caring about Xiao Jingchuan's life or death.

Fortunately, there were no other soldiers in front of the two of them, otherwise Xiao Lang's image of a majestic general would not be maintained!

"Are you done?!"

"Where did I cry?!"

"If you spread rumors again, you will be subject to military law!"

Xiao Jingchuan made a few pale arguments, but seeing that Qiu Zhizhong was still not satisfied, he kicked him hard and knocked him off the stone platform.

"Ouch! Lao Xiao, you bastard!"

"I really kicked you!"

"Alright, alright! I won't say anything anymore!"

Qiu Zhizhong was caught off guard and had a big rock kicked down. As soon as he stood up, he saw Xiao Jingchuan was coming, so he quickly begged for mercy and admitted his defeat, leaving the other party a way out.

"Okay, Lao Xiao, I asked you to get up because I have something to tell you!" Qiu Zhizhong took two breaths and gradually spoke in a serious tone.

"What's the matter? If you have to fart, do it now!"

"The scouts I sent out just now reported that the capital has fallen."

(End of this chapter)