Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

On the day Ji Mingzhe returned from the academy, he noticed that his older sister was somewhat different from usual.

The older sister seemed to have something on her mind.

Ji Mingzhe didn't ask Mingyi directly. Instead, he took advantage of her afternoon nap to secretly find Yuegui and asked her indirectly:

"Sister, you've changed your handkerchief. Why aren't you using the old one?"

Yuegui was pruning the flower branches in the yard when she heard this and glanced at him with slight surprise.

Ji Mingzhe is nine years old this year. Because he has been weak and sickly since childhood, he is thinner than his peers. However, his clear black and white eyes are exceptionally bright, revealing a maturity beyond his years.

Yuegui was surprised by his attentiveness, noticing that Mingyi had even changed her handkerchief. Yuegui explained, "Miss accidentally lost her original handkerchief, so she changed to a new one."

As Yuegui spoke, her eyes flickered slightly.

Ji Mingzhe stared at Yuegui for a long time, making Yuegui's scalp tingle.

The boy glanced at the closed door, then turned back and whispered, "Sister Yuegui, did anything happen in the manor while I was away?"

Yuegui kept Mingyi's instructions in mind. Knowing that Mingzhe shouldn't know about this, she laughed it off and said, "It's nothing, it's just that Second Master is back and I'm a bit busy."

Ji Mingzhe then asked curiously, "Who is this Second Master?"

Yuegui replied, "The true head of the Zong family, you and Miss should both call him Second Uncle."

"So, you've met him, sister?"

"Yes," Laurel replied.

Ji Mingzhe asked innocently, "What's your second uncle's temperament like? Is he fierce?"

Yuegui said, "He's very fierce! If you see him, young master, stay as far away as possible. If you can't avoid him, remember to treat him with utmost respect!"

Ji Mingzhe nodded obediently, "I'll remember."

Ji Mingzhe didn't expect that he would meet his second uncle so soon.

-

Liu's eldest son, Zongyue, was a year older than him. Zongyue was intelligent but mischievous and often couldn't sit still when reading or writing. Even after returning from the academy, Ji Mingzhe had to go to the study to accompany him.

Mrs. Liu is very busy and doesn't come often; only an old gentleman is here.

The old man was prone to dozing off, and soon his snoring resumed. Zong Yue looked at him again and again, then couldn't sit still any longer.

He crumpled up a piece of paper and threw it at the old man, but he didn't wake up.

Ji Mingzhe saw it but didn't stop them.

Zong Yue, feeling playful, knew that the old man wouldn't wake up anytime soon, so he dragged Ji Mingzhe to dig up an ant hole.

Ji Mingzhe offered a few symbolic words of advice, but to no avail, so he let it go.

Just as they were having a great time, a shadow suddenly loomed over them.

Zong Yue was startled and turned around abruptly. "Second Uncle, what brings you here?"

As he spoke, he hid his hand behind his back and quickly threw the stick away.

Zong Xian gave him a cold look. "Why aren't you studying in your study? What are you doing here?"

"He's the one who encouraged me to come and dig up the ant holes!" Zong Yue didn't hesitate to shift the blame to Ji Mingzhe.

Ji Mingzhe's expression was rather unpleasant; this wasn't the first time he had taken the blame for Zong Yue.

He didn't refute, but just pursed his lips tightly.

The man's gaze then fell on Ji Mingzhe.

In an instant, Ji Mingzhe felt an invisible sense of pressure.

Is he the very fierce second uncle that Yuegui mentioned?

"What's your name?" Zong Xian asked casually.

"Ji Mingzhe".

Zong Xian paused, his gaze sharpening slightly. "Ji Mingyi is your older sister?"

"Yes." Ji Mingzhe nodded, standing upright, neither humble nor arrogant.

She does resemble that young woman somewhat.

Zong Xian put his hands behind his back, looked at Ji Mingzhe, and said, "Do you know who I am?"

Ji Mingzhe glanced at Zong Yue, then looked at the tall and imposing man in front of him. "He calls you Second Uncle, so you are the Second Master of the Zong family."

It was then that he realized Zong Xian hadn't come alone; there were two other men behind him, both unfamiliar faces.

Ji Mingzhe glanced at it quickly, then lowered his head without making a sound.

"Ah Yue just said that you encouraged him not to study properly. Is what he said true?" Zong Xian asked calmly.

Zong Yue was clearly afraid of his uncle. When Zong Xian asked him questions, he stared intently at Ji Mingzhe, afraid that he would say something inappropriate.

Ji Mingzhe hesitated for a moment, then glanced hesitantly at Zong Yue, whose eyes held a strong sense of threat.

-

"Girl, something terrible has happened!"

Upon hearing what had happened in the study, Yuegui rushed in.

Ji Mingyi, who was mending her younger brother's clothes, was startled and accidentally pricked her finger with the needle.

In the blink of an eye, Yuegui arrived, flustered, and said, "Young Master has done something wrong, and it seems he's been caught by the Second Master and is now being held in the study, unable to return!"

"What?!"

Startled, Mingyi jumped up and, without thinking, rushed out to find her younger brother.

It was still raining outside.

Yuegui called out to Mingyi, then quickly went back inside to get an umbrella.

The master and servant walked towards the study without stopping.

As they walked, Mingyi asked, "Is the situation serious? Have you found out anything? Why were you detained out of the blue?"

"This servant doesn't know either. If you ask me, it must be that young master Zong who caused trouble and implicated our young master!"

Zong Yue was spoiled growing up and was known to be unruly.

Mingzhe has always been honest and law-abiding, and never caused trouble. Mingyi also felt that it was probably related to Zongyue.

But Zong Yue is Liu's son and the eldest grandson of the Zong family. Even if he causes a huge disaster, nothing will happen to him. Ming Zhe is different.

Mingyi grew increasingly uneasy, especially now, as the image of Zongxian's ruthless manner when punishing the servants flashed through her mind that day.

Her fingers gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, and her palms were sweaty.

As we passed through the moon gate, we were almost there when we heard a mournful cry coming from afar.

Mingyi quickened his pace, stepping on the bluestone bricks, but suddenly slipped and fell, his body tumbling forward.

"girl!"

Strings of glistening raindrops fell from the eaves.

Zong Xian's tall figure stood under the corridor. Upon seeing this, he subconsciously took half a step forward, but ultimately did not go over.

Mingyi was helped up by Yuegui; her plain dress was stained with some dirt.

"I'm fine, it sounds like Ah Zhe is crying, let's go over there quickly..."

Mingyi paused in his speech.

She only saw the man under the eaves.

Following her gaze, Yuegui also saw Master Zong Er not far away, and her shoulders trembled violently.

"Miss, it's...it's Second Master," Yuegui called out weakly.

Mingyi disregarded her current disheveled state and quickly walked towards the person under the eaves.

Zong Xian watched her walk closer step by step. Her hair, wet with rain, clung tightly to her delicate face. Her simple appearance only accentuated her natural beauty.

Mingyi curtsied to him, her eyes red and her voice pleading: "Second Uncle, I've come to take my younger brother back. He's not well. Whatever he's done wrong, please forgive him for the sake of him being a child."