"Pfft~"
A muffled laugh came from another window, startling Ye Xi and Yi Yaofeng.
Following the sound, Ye Xi's surprised, water - colored eyes caught sight of a handsome face with curved eyebrows and eyes, full of smiles.
Unlike Yi Yuan's cold and chiseled features, this man had gentle eyebrows and a handsome face. When he smiled, there was a small dimple on his fair left cheek.
【Bad uncle!】
Yi Yaofeng's angry voice rang in Ye Xi's mind.
Unaware of this, the man gave Ye Xi a thumbs - up and said with a smile in his voice,
"Miss, you're so brave."
Ye Xi felt a bit embarrassed by his smile.
She glanced at Yi Yaofeng, who was angry for some unknown reason, and nodded slightly, saying,
"May I ask who this young master is?"
Yi Yuan's face had already darkened.
He gave Ye Xi a cold look and then said condescendingly,
"Old fox."
【Haha~ It's a fox, a stinky fox! Bad uncle!】
As soon as his words fell, Yi Yaofeng's crisp childish laughter exploded in Ye Xi's mind.
Ye Xi: …
She kind of wanted to laugh too, but it seemed impolite.
Seeing Ye Xi's strange expression, the man let out a soft tsk, climbed in through the window, and formally bowed to Ye Xi, saying,
"I'm Xie Huaiyue. May I ask the miss's name?"
Ye Xi quickly stood up and returned the courtesy.
"Master Xie, you can just call me Ye Xi."
This name seemed familiar...
Ye Xi thought to herself. But since she didn't socialize much on weekdays, she really couldn't remember.
"What are you here for?" While Ye Xi was still thinking, Yi Yuan had already spoken coldly, seemingly about to drive the man away.
"I just missed you," Xie Huaiyue said with an unruly smile. "Your Highness is really heartless. If I didn't come to find you, you..."
"Enough," Yi Yuan's forehead veins were throbbing. He gave Xie Huaiyue a cold look and interrupted his nonsense directly.
"Let's go. Qingcang Pavilion."
The two left one after the other.
Ye Xi quietly moved closer to Yi Yaofeng again. After thinking for a while, she asked,
"It's still early. Does the young heir want to fly kites with me?"
【No...】
"I've heard that kites can carry people's wishes and convey the thoughts of the living to the deceased," Ye Xi continued quickly before Yi Yaofeng could refuse. "It's just the right time in April. The wind in the capital has been especially good these days. They say the higher the kite flies, the clearer the relatives in the sky can see."
【Well...】Yi Yaofeng was a bit hesitant.
He felt that this auntie was lying to him, and he was also angry that his mother had left him without a second thought. But he truly missed his mother and father.
【Should I go or not?】
Hearing Yi Yaofeng's wavering, Ye Xi continued to tempt him,
"I heard earlier that the young heir is extremely intelligent. Since he started his education at the age of three, he has been well - versed in the Four Books, and he can recite The Analects fluently..."
Ye Xi heaped praise on Yi Yaofeng.
"I'm sure it won't be a problem for you to write a few sentences of longing on the kite. It's just..." Ye Xi looked at Yi Yaofeng as if she didn't quite believe him, and continued in a low voice as if talking to herself,
"I don't know if it's really true. I wonder what your writing will look like."
【Of course it's true!】
"Humph!"
Yi Yaofeng was first highly praised by Ye Xi and then doubted. He was only a five - year - old child. How could he stand such provocation? He immediately snorted.
Ye Xi couldn't help but curl her lips.
"Steward Chen," Ye Xi raised her voice slightly. "Please help me find a few kites. I want to practice my calligraphy."
Ye Xi didn't just ask for two kites, and she deliberately didn't mention that Yi Yaofeng would be writing, so as not to make Yi Yaofeng feel forced.
Steward Chen, who had been waiting outside the door, opened his eyes wide.
He had heard Yi Yaofeng's snort clearly.
He silently praised Miss Ye for her great ability. The young heir had been back in the mansion for three months, and in all these days of his daily service, Steward Chen had hardly heard the young heir make a sound. But as soon as Miss Ye from the Ye family came, the young heir directly snorted angrily!
Steward Chen was a bit touched for a moment.
He was the old steward of the mansion and had watched Yi Yuan and his older brother Yi Zhuo grow up. Later, Yi Zhuo got married and had a son. For the sake of the Great Yin Dynasty, he was stationed on the south - western border. The young heir was only two years old when he left, kicking his short legs and throwing a tantrum in the courtyard. The scene was still vivid in his mind. Who would have thought that in just three short years, things would have changed so much.
Steward Chen had secretly shed tears in the dead of night.
Now, hearing Ye Xi's order, Steward Chen quickly agreed and rushed to fetch several fine blank kites.
The table in front had already been cleaned. Ye Xi spread out the kites and turned to Yi Yaofeng, saying,
"Please help me choose one, young heir. I always have a hard time choosing things."
Yi Yaofeng looked at Ye Xi and then at the pile of kites in front of him. Although he instinctively wanted to refuse, his eyes still couldn't help but fall on them.
【There's a kite in the shape of a hawk...】
【But... will it really work?】
Yi Yaofeng thought secretly as he looked at a kite in the shape of a kite - hawk.
Hearing Yi Yaofeng's choice, Ye Xi picked up the kite - hawk kite and said with a gentle smile,
"A kite - hawk soars in the sky, and nothing else can compare. It will definitely fly the highest. Although the young heir is still young, he will surely be like a mighty hawk in the future, soaring in the clouds. How about choosing this kite - hawk kite?"
Ye Xi put away the other kites and then picked a kite in the shape of a swallow for herself.
She handed the kite - hawk kite to Yi Yaofeng. Her voice was gentle and firm,
"The young heir is just like this mighty hawk. Let this kite - hawk kite convey a few words from the young heir to His Highness and the princess. They will be extremely happy when they receive them."
Yi Yaofeng looked at Ye Xi in astonishment.
Although her face was dirty with makeup, she looked especially gentle, bright, and charming. Although he knew she was trying to coax him, there was something about this auntie that made him trust her.
Yi Yaofeng blinked his eyes, tightened his lips, and finally grabbed the writing brush that was casually placed beside him.
Steward Chen, who had been watching from the side since the kites were brought in, was so excited that he wanted to jump up, but he didn't dare to move for fear of disturbing Yi Yaofeng.
My old lord... The young heir has actually started writing!
After both of them had finished writing, Steward Chen steadied his trembling hands, led them to the back garden to fly kites, and at the same time sent someone to rush and inform Yi Yuan.
Inside the Qingcang Pavilion—
"It's just the beginning of the new year, and that day was the fifteenth. Everyone was caught off - guard by the sudden attack of the Ying Army. Chan Shi said that Uncle Zhuo was stopped by the military supervisor on his way to the city gate that day. For some unknown reason, he was delayed for a while. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so hasty and unprepared."
Putting away his previous joking demeanor, Xie Huaiyue frowned slightly and told Yi Yuan the news he had received.
"However, the military supervisor has also died in battle. Chan Shi hasn't found out what exactly happened that day for the time being."
Yi Yuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window. His dark eyes were like abysses.
"It's similar to the news from Lin'an."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Looking at the far - off blue sky, Yi Yuan then continued, "A few days before the Ying Army's attack, elder brother was very restless. He secretly sent me a letter."
There was a hint of uncontrollable anger in his calm voice. Yi Yuan's knuckles were white from clenching.
"But it's already been more than three months. Yun Weisheng has already defeated the Ying Army, making them flee in a hurry and beg for peace with silver compensation. But I still haven't received elder brother's letter."
"Elder brother must have discovered something."