Early in the morning on the day after the lantern festival, Yun Xi sent a visiting card and took a carriage to the General's Mansion.
The day before, she had made an appointment with Zhen Bao to go to the lantern festival together. Unexpectedly, Zhen Bao's two elder brothers were both injured by Qi Rong. She felt extremely remorseful and thus wanted to visit the mansion as soon as possible to offer her condolences and apologies.
As soon as Yun Xi's carriage arrived at the General's Mansion, Zhen Bao's charming figure rushed out of the mansion.
"Yun Xi, I've been waiting for you for ages. You're finally here!"
Zhen Bao enthusiastically took Yun Xi's arm as usual, showing no sign of blame on her face.
While feeling relieved, Yun Xi also felt a twinge of self - reproach.
Looking at Zhen Bao's red nose and cheeks, she smiled and reached out to hold the latter's hand, asking in surprise,
"Why are your hands so cold? How long have you been waiting here?"
She had been holding a hand - warmer on the way but still felt the chill of the spring. Zhen Bao's hands were even colder!
Yun Xi covered Zhen Bao's hands with her own, but Zhen Bao just smiled indifferently. Mrs. Zhen, who came out behind them, shook her head and said,
"After receiving the card from the Prime Minister's Mansion, she has been standing here like a wooden stake. No one could persuade her to leave!"
In the past, when her daughter had no friends, she was worried.
She was afraid that her daughter, who liked to practice martial arts all day, would be disliked by girls of the same age, and her character would become more and more like that of her elder brothers, making it difficult for her to find a good marriage in the future.
Now that her daughter finally had a bosom friend, she was still worried.
Because her daughter always mentioned Yun Xi. Fortunately, the two families were far apart. Otherwise, her daughter would stick to Yun Xi like a plaster!
She wondered how she could have given birth to such a silly daughter.
Fortunately, she really liked Yun Xi. She could tell that Yun Xi cherished her daughter, which made her feel a little more at ease.
"Good morning, Mrs. Zhen."
Yun Xi bowed respectfully, with a look of guilt on her face,
"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Zhen. I caused the two young masters of your mansion to get injured yesterday. I'm here today to apologize to you."
Because of her relationship with Zhen Bao, Mrs. Zhen had always taken good care of her, which really touched Yun Xi.
After what happened yesterday, she didn't even know how to face this elder.
But she didn't choose to avoid blame. Instead, she sincerely came to apologize, hoping that even if she couldn't be forgiven, she could at least convey her apology.
As soon as Yun Xi finished speaking, before Mrs. Zhen could say a word, Zhen Bao pouted and said eagerly,
"Yun Xi, it's not your fault at all! It's all that bad guy Qi Rong's fault!"
"Everyone in the capital knows his notorious reputation. After you left, I was really worried that he would hurt you. I'm finally relieved to see that you're safe today!"
The Zhen family had never had any conflicts with the Prince of Xian before. Zhen Bao didn't know why Qi Rong had beaten her elder brothers. She only knew that Qi Rong was infamous and would beat anyone he disliked!
In that situation last night, Yun Xi had clearly sacrificed herself to protect them and was taken away by that bad guy.
Instead, she felt extremely guilty, thinking that with so many elder brothers around, she still hadn't been able to protect Yun Xi!
Seeing the two girls standing at the door, holding hands and both looking guilty, Mrs. Zhen suddenly laughed.
She stepped forward and patted Yun Xi on the shoulder, consoling her,
"Just as Zhen Bao said, it's not your fault. You don't need to blame yourself!"
"Come to think of it, it's all because of those useless sons of mine. They're not well - trained in martial arts but always think highly of themselves. This time, it's just a lesson for them!"
Mrs. Zhen was naturally optimistic. She believed that a loss may turn out to be a gain.
Her sons were young and arrogant, not knowing that there were always people better than them. It might not be a bad thing for them to have their edges and sharpness blunted.
As for her sons' injuries, she didn't take them to heart at all.
Since they came from a family of military generals and had been training hard since childhood, getting injured was almost a common occurrence. Her sons were not so delicate.
"Come on. It's cold outside. Let's go into the mansion and talk."
Mrs. Zhen looked at Yun Xi lovingly, smiling as she stroked Yun Xi's head, and then walked into the mansion first.
Seeing that Mrs. Zhen not only didn't blame her at all but also comforted her like this, Yun Xi was deeply touched. Her eyes welled up with tears, and the anxiety that had been weighing on her finally subsided.
This was almost the first time she had felt the warmth and concern of an elder from someone outside her family.
Not only Mrs. Zhen but also Zhen Bao and even Zhen Bao's elder brothers. In just a short period of getting along, she had felt the kindness and generosity of this family.
If possible, she would do her best to help the Zhen family avoid that great catastrophe!
"Hey, Third Brother, why are you here?"
Not long after they entered the mansion, Yun Xi saw a tall and straight figure in a blue robe in front of them. It was Zhen Yuanfeng, the third son of the Zhen family.
Zhen Bao was surprised to see her third brother, who should have been lying in bed, standing in the yard, dressed neatly.
"Your stomach doesn't hurt anymore? What are you doing wandering around in the yard?"
When Zhen Yuanfeng saw Yun Xi coming in, his eyes instantly lit up. He immediately waved at her with a smile and stepped forward politely to greet her.
Afraid that his sister would expose him, he deliberately waved the book in his hand and said,
"Such a nice day. It would be a waste to stay cooped up in the room. It's better to read some books in the yard."
His words made him seem like a diligent and self - improving young man.
However, the next second, Zhen Bao completely destroyed the image he had painstakingly created!
"Wow! There's really a book?"
Seeing that her third brother, who was usually obsessed with martial arts, was actually holding a book, Zhen Bao was stunned and couldn't help but step forward to take a look at the content of the book in her brother's hand.
Suddenly remembering something, she blurted out stupidly,
"Third Brother, this book isn't that *Jin Ping Mei*, is it?"
As soon as Zhen Bao said this, Zhen Yuanfeng's handsome face instantly turned bright red. Without thinking about anything else, he immediately covered his sister's mouth.
"Zhen Bao, shut up!"
The book Zhen Bao mentioned was not a good book at all. It was full of descriptions of men and women's affairs.
At that time, he had been deceived by the fourth and fifth brothers, who said it was a military book. Who knew that as soon as he read the beginning, he was caught by Zhen Bao, and he burned the whole book to ashes!
But Zhen Bao was naturally curious and only remembered the title of the book, so she pestered him to ask about it for a long time.
Not only was he severely punished by his parents, but it also became a nightmare in his life!
Looking at her nervous son and her innocent daughter, and then at the completely bewildered Yun Xi, Mrs. Zhen sighed helplessly.
She walked forward with a smile and pinched her third son's ear,
"Your injury doesn't hurt anymore? You've learned to bully your sister. How about you go and stand on the plum - blossom stakes with the fourth and fifth brothers?"
Because the eldest and third sons had returned injured, Mrs. Zhen had temporarily ordered them to stay in their rooms to recuperate. But the fourth and fifth sons, who had watched their elder brothers being beaten without lifting a finger, were punished by Mrs. Zhen to stand on the plum - blossom stakes for two hours every day. Only after that could they have their meals!