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墨書 Inktalez
“Are you interested in that temperamental Shen Er?”
Her shout was a bit too loud, but fortunately, it was just the two of them and Shen Muhan, who was tidying up things in the Workshop. As soon as Xia Muxin said this, Yan Zhouwan snapped back to reality, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at Xia Muxin. Then, feeling guilty, she chuckled and said:
“Muxin, what are you talking about? How could I possibly be worthy of Shen Er Ye?”
After saying that, she lowered her head to continue working. However, upon seeing the crushed mushroom in her hand, she felt a bit dazed. A blush crept onto her face as she awkwardly glanced at Xia Muxin and then stood up, saying:
“Muxin, I’m going to do the laundry.”
With that, she hurried into the house and soon emerged carrying a full bucket of clothes.
Xia Muxin stared at her hasty retreat in a daze. Then she met Shen Muhan's contemplative gaze and nervously said:
“Uncle, your brother shouldn’t come back again, right?”
While Xia Muxin admired Shen Muqing's devotion, she also disliked his lack of warmth. Yan Zhouwan was her first friend here besides her family; she didn’t want her to get hurt.
Shen Muhan looked at Xia Muxin. After a moment of contemplation, he replied:
“It’s hard to say.”
He had returned mainly because that egg was in his possession; he was merely fulfilling his responsibility. Once that was done, he would leave.
“Uncle, why do I feel like your family’s way of interacting is strange? You’re clearly family, yet it feels like you’re all strangers who have nothing to say to each other.”
Xia Muxin lowered her gaze, mentally scolding Shen Muqing. Then she spoke with a critical tone:
“That’s the reason for attracting attention; there are eyes everywhere. The more you talk, the greater the danger. The more frequent the concern, the more accidents will occur.”
What kind of logic is this?
“Wait, isn’t the emperor your sworn brother? He wouldn’t have arranged for someone to spy on your family while pretending to be your brother, would he?”
“Haha, he hasn’t held this position for even three years. This is all the scheme of the Retired Emperor. There are many things I can’t explain clearly right now; time will reveal everything.”
Xia Muxin was becoming increasingly confused. Everything he said today seemed to have hidden meanings that she couldn’t comprehend. However, that wasn’t her concern. After a pause, she turned to Shen Muhan and said, “I’m going to the riverbank too.”
Before Shen Muhan could respond, she had already lifted her skirt and dashed away.
Shen Muhan watched her run off before raising his hand to whistle. Moments later, a pigeon flew in from somewhere. He took the note tied to its leg, read it, then shattered it with his internal energy before releasing the pigeon.
Songzi had been sent to school by Xia Muxin a few days ago since he had just turned eight and it was time for him to go. With all the complicated matters at home, their grandfather didn’t have the energy to teach him anymore. The school was well-known in Town, thanks to Shen Muhan’s connections. Songzi would stay there for meals and lodging, only returning home every ten days or so, which worried his parents.
Ever since Small came to their home, Xue Er had been clinging to him every day, needing him by her side for everything—eating, drinking, and even using the toilet. If she woke up and didn’t see him, she would cry loudly. Aunt Xia, feeling helpless, set up a small bed in her room just for Small to rest on. It was said that if Xue Er woke up crying in the middle of the night, as long as she was brought to Small’s bed, she would stop crying. Xia Muxin had her father make a guardrail for the bed to prevent the two little ones from falling out. Since that day, Small had become Xue Er’s little caretaker; even when sleeping, they were always together.
Xia Muxin couldn’t help but sigh about her siblings; the youngest one was quite remarkable—already seeking a husband even as an infant. Truly impressive.
With her head down as she walked, Xia Muxin was lost in thought about recent events until she bumped into something and fell to the ground.
“Xia Muxin, are you blind? You can’t even walk properly!”
Before she could get up, Zhou Guilian’s sharp voice pierced her ears. Xia Muxin looked up and saw freshly washed clothes scattered all over the ground beneath her feet—still twisted into braids—and now covered in dirt from the muddy ground.
Xia Muxin stuck out her tongue; this time it was indeed her fault. Silently picking up the clothes for Zhou Guilian, she said softly, “I’ll wash them clean for you.”
She wasn’t unreasonable; she just didn’t want to get involved with the Zhou family too much. Besides, this incident was indeed her fault.
Listening to her self-righteous words, Zhou Guilian nearly scoffed out loud. Wash? Did she think this was just any ordinary clothing? These were the garments of the Zhao Family Young Master and Ouyang Young Master.
Just yesterday, her grandmother and mother had worked tirelessly to invite these esteemed guests into their home. Moreover, the Zhao Family Young Master seemed to have a prior acquaintance with Su Xiuning, who facilitated their visit. They readily agreed and even gifted a large sum of gold for her mother to renovate the house, including new furniture.
That was gold that sparkled brightly; she had only seen such wealth once in her life when they exchanged over three hundred taels of silver in Town. Her parents had been grinning from ear to ear, and they had already invited workers to come and start the renovations.
With such noble guests in their home, she naturally took the initiative to wash clothes and prepare meals. The two young masters had praised her cooking skills just yesterday.
At that moment, Xia Muxin also realized that the quality of these clothes was beyond what someone from Zhou Guilian's family could afford. Furthermore, the white fabric looked very familiar. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she guessed the general situation.
Her gaze shifted towards the Zhou family, noticing several unfamiliar faces moving items in and out.
"Are these clothes from Zhao Yangwu and Ouyang Xuan?" she asked directly.
Zhou Guilian's face flushed with anger as she bit her lip, feeling quite indignant.
"Do you really need to ask? These clothes are something our family couldn't afford even if we starved for ten years! You..."
She hated Xia Muxin for always being one step ahead. Feng Liulang was still infatuated with her; Shen Muhan adored her deeply. Even these three young masters had known her first, and it seemed that Ouyang Young Master was willing to temporarily stay at their home just for her sake.
She felt robbed of her fiancé by her sister, ridiculed by others, and scorned by her family—all because of Xia Muxin. How wonderful it would have been if she had died under Daimiao Mountain or if Wang Dafu had taken her as his concubine; then everything would have been hers.
Moreover, today she had taken the initiative to wash their clothes. She had spent a long time washing them carefully, not daring to scrub too hard for fear of ruining them. She used plenty of Soap Pods, and even after washing them, the fragrance remained strong. But now with Xia Muxin meddling, if she had to wash them again, they might end up wrinkled, tarnishing her impression.
Thinking about this made Zhou Guilian's heart burn with anger; she wished she could twist Xia Muxin into a pretzel and throw her into the river.
"Muxin dear sister, did you hurt yourself? Are you in pain? It's all my fault for being so careless while walking and causing you to fall. Though these clothes are a bit expensive, you needn't worry; I will find a way," Zhou Guilian said sweetly.
Xia Muxin knew Zhou Guilian well enough. With several wealthy guests visiting their home, it was likely that the Wu Family and others would be eager to please them without complaint. After all, only two of their four daughters had been married off so far; they would surely promote Zhou Guilian vigorously. It was rare to see her wash clothes at home; this was too obvious and contrived. Initially thinking that Zhou Guilian might shamelessly demand compensation from her, Xia Muxin was surprised when she suddenly turned into an understanding and caring older sister.
Look at those misty eyes, so helpless and pitiful, Xia Muxin couldn't help but applaud.
"Lian'er, what's wrong?"
Suddenly, a neutral male voice came from behind. The way he called Lian'er sent shivers down Xia Muxin's spine.
That figure swiftly passed by her and approached Zhou Guilian, concern etched on his face as he looked at her. Zhou Guilian's cheeks flushed, and two lines of tears fell.
Damn... Zhao Yaowei.
Seeing the man's expression, Xia Muxin cursed inwardly. Ever since she learned about Yan Zhouwan, she had looked down on the Zhao siblings from the bottom of her heart. They were all just actors putting on a show, yet they still wanted to uphold their own virtue. They truly were a perfect match for the Zhou family.
"It's nothing, I was just careless."
Zhou Guilian's heart raced under Zhao Yaowei's intense gaze. Her face nearly sank into her neck as she shook her head in a voice barely above a whisper.
In truth, her heart was leaping with joy; indeed, this Second Young Master Zhao treated her differently. She had felt it yesterday.
"Oh, did the laundry end up in your arms? Shouldn't you also consummate the marriage while you're at it?"
Ouyang Xuan appeared out of nowhere, teasingly commenting on the strange scene before him.
His gaze lingered on Xia Muxin's calm little face, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. Xia Muxin rolled her eyes at him and then slightly curled her lips into a smile. She stepped onto the clothes lying on the ground and deliberately jumped a few times. The first piece she stepped on was Ouyang Xuan's because his clothes were the easiest to identify—pure white. She then moved to step on the clothes beside it but ended up leaving none untouched.
The twisted fabric was completely trampled into a muddy mess, blending in with the dirt beneath it and resembling a rag that was unrecognizable. After finishing, she raised an eyebrow at the others.
Zhou Guilian trembled with anger at her actions, staring wide-eyed yet hesitant to speak, looking extremely lovable.
"You said you bumped into me; shouldn't I get some compensation?"
Xia Muxin looked at her theatrical expression and raised an eyebrow, speaking confidently.
Zhou Guilian clenched her fists under her sleeves, never expecting Xia Muxin to take advantage of this situation. At this moment, even if she wanted to complain, she had no reason to do so, right?
This hidden grievance had to be swallowed down.
"Not bad. Should I take off this piece of clothing as well for you to vent your frustrations?" Ouyang Xuan said dismissively. When he saw Xia Muxin glaring at him in silence, he began to remove his clothes.
Xia Muxin turned her gaze away from Shen Muhan's approaching figure, a slight smirk appearing on her lips. Without saying a word, she picked up the tattered clothes she had stepped on in the mud and threw them at Ouyang Xuan's head. Caught off guard, Ouyang Xuan was hit squarely, his head and face covered in dirt, even getting some in his mouth. He immediately stopped undressing, yanked the shirt off his head, and glared coldly at Xia Muxin.
"Ah... hahahaha..."
Seeing the clothes in his hands, Xia Muxin burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. Meanwhile, Zhou Guilian's face turned crimson with embarrassment as she lowered her head, unable to look at anyone.
Ouyang Xuan glanced at the woman's underwear in his hand, his eyes narrowing with fury as he directed a menacing look towards Zhou Guilian.
"Zhou Guilian, did you take one of my underwear from the pile?"
Yan Zhouwan's voice came from a distance. Upon seeing Zhao Yaowei, he paused, fixing a cold glare on him that lingered for a long time without shifting.
Xia Muxin realized something was wrong and quickly ran toward Yan Zhouwan, positioning herself in front of him to block everyone's view.
She exchanged glances with Yan Zhouwan while her small hands rummaged through her bucket. After a while, she angrily shouted at Zhou Guilian:
"Hmph! Shameless! Stealing underwear, and it's my grandfather's underwear!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a white shadow swooped down from above and landed in the nearby Donghe.
With tears welling in her eyes, Zhou Guilian looked helplessly at Zhao Yaowei and explained:
"Young Master Zhao, I—I really didn’t know I took it..."
Ouyang Xuan had a severe case of obsessive cleanliness, which was evident in his all-white attire from head to toe. Zhou Guilian understood that it wasn't intentional, so she comfortingly patted her frail shoulder.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Xia Muxin found the situation strange; the idea that Zhao Yaowei would be interested in Zhou Guilian was laughable. No one would believe it, and she sensed there was some kind of conspiracy at play.
At that moment, Shen Muhan approached and took the wooden bucket from Yan Zhouwan's hands. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Yan Zhouwan's delicate voice.
"Um... the clothes aren't fully washed yet."
She had rushed over earlier out of concern for Xia Muxin, and in her haste, she had mixed the clean and unwashed clothes in the bucket. Moreover, Zhou Guilian had been close to her earlier and had said some rather harsh things, questioning how someone could be so ugly and why they would even dare to show their face. If it weren't for her restraint, she would have pushed that hypocritical woman into the river right then.
However, she never expected the Zhao Family Brothers would end up with Zhou Guilian. She was even more worried about her identity being exposed and causing trouble for the Xia Family. What she feared most was losing control and confronting him.
"I see. Then let's finish washing the clothes before we head back," Xia Muxin said, quickly adapting to Yan Zhouwan's words. Shen Muhan pinched his brow and carried the bucket toward the riverbank.
Zhao Yaowei watched their retreating figures thoughtfully, something flickering in his mind but slipping away just as quickly. Suddenly, he heard Zhou Guilian's timid voice.
"Young Master Zhao, the clothes..."
Zhao Yaowei glanced at her dismissively before turning to leave.
Zhou Guilian felt a tightness in her chest; he must be angry—angry at himself. In a rush, she abandoned the wooden basin filled with clothes and hurried after Zhao Yaowei's retreating figure.
"Damn it."
In the river, Ouyang Xuan scrubbed his long hair vigorously with his hands, cursing under his breath. His strikingly beautiful face twisted in frustration as he ground his teeth together.
When Xia Muxin and the others arrived, this was the scene they encountered. It had to be said that Ouyang Xuan was truly a sight to behold—his skin was as white as cream and as tender as tofu, yet he possessed a man's height and muscular build. At that moment, his white robe hung on him, exposing everything above his collarbone above the water—a sight both sensual and enchanting. Xia Muxin couldn't help but stare in awe.
Shen Muhan, feeling displeased, placed the bucket by the riverbank, blocking Xia Muxin's line of sight, and glanced down at his own chest.
Xia Muxin raised her eyebrows and then burst into laughter.
The way the uncle was acting jealous was simply too funny; oh my... today had truly been a day full of laughter.
Her laughter caught the attention of Ouyang Xuan, who was still in the water. He turned to look at Xia Muxin, but all he could see was that annoying straight back.
Suddenly, he frowned, tilted his head, and bent over, resembling someone struggling with constipation. This scene was caught by Xia Muxin, who immediately laughed uncontrollably again.
In the end, Ouyang Xuan shot up from the water with wide eyes and a twisted expression, splashing countless droplets everywhere. He soaked Yan Zhou Wan, who had just crouched down. Her face turned red, but she couldn't help but laugh.
"Ah... what is this?"
As Ouyang Xuan came ashore, he found a large lobster pinching his backside, with one on each knee as well. There was even one positioned similarly to where Feng Liulang had been last time.
Xia Muxin completely lost it and leaned sideways into Shen Muhan's arms, laughing uncontrollably.
Shen Muhan's eyes sparkled with amusement as his shoulders shook; he simply couldn't hold it in any longer.
Yan Zhou Wan, witnessing his current predicament, finally broke her earlier restraint. The two women laughed so hard they nearly fell over, their laughter ringing out like silver bells, echoing far and wide.
"Ah... it's getting tighter!"
Ouyang Xuan winced in pain. Seeing Xia Muxin laugh so joyfully made him feel that his suffering was somewhat worthwhile. However, as he reached for the offending creature, it pinched him even harder. He stood there unsure of what to do.
He didn't dare use his internal energy; after all, that was a sensitive area.
After enough laughter, Xia Muxin emerged from Shen Muhan's embrace and began to negotiate.
"If I help you get this thing off, you have to agree to three conditions."
As she spoke, her eyes curved into a playful smile, and she extended three cute fingers towards Ouyang Xuan.
Ouyang Xuan was charmed by her smile but turned his head away. He had seen Xia Muxin's cunning before; who knew what outrageous conditions she might propose? He was a man of integrity.
"Well, if you don't agree, just wait for that thing to get crushed and turned into a snack," Xia Muxin said, startling not only Ouyang Xuan but also Shen Muhan, who began to rub his temples in frustration.
Should he teach her how to stay away from men other than him? Otherwise, with their daily interactions like this, trouble was bound to happen.
Ouyang Xuan hesitated as well. He reached back to touch his rear, only to gasp in pain. His body jerked forward, and he exclaimed, "What’s going on? Is this against the principles of morality?"
Xia Muxin paused for a moment, then looked at him as if he were a monster and laughed, "I can't believe those words came out of your mouth. It's truly unbelievable."
"......"
Ouyang Xuan was at a loss for words. Was he really that bad?
After a moment, he saw Xia Muxin stroking her smooth chin thoughtfully. After a pause, she said, "I hadn't thought of that, but as long as you agree to my request now, I’ll let you know when I come up with something. Also, there’s only one chance; I never do things twice."
She even resorted to threats. Shen Muhan couldn’t help but find this quirky girl both amusing and exasperating.
Ouyang Xuan glanced behind him and then down at himself. Finally, gritting his teeth, he replied, "Fine."
Xia Muxin's lips curled into a triumphant smile as she walked towards him. Before Ouyang Xuan could fully comprehend the situation, she swiftly snatched away the object in front of him, followed by the two behind it, and finally took the one near his knee.
"It’s that simple."
When he finally realized Xia Muxin's technique, he felt an overwhelming urge to pound his chest and lament his foolishness, exclaiming in surprise.
Xia Muxin, however, was beaming with joy and nodded at him, saying, "Yes, it really is that simple."
"......"
Soon after, Xia Muxin began washing clothes alongside Yan Zhouwan, while Shen Muhan squatted beside them, helping to wring out the cleaned garments. Ouyang Xuan remained seated quietly, watching them with a sour feeling in his heart.
"Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Once Xia Muxin and the others finished washing the clothes, she noticed Ouyang Xuan propping his chin up and staring at them as if he were turning into a statue. She asked him curiously.
Shen Muhan shot him a glare before picking up the bucket and walking ahead. Ouyang Xuan immediately ran over to walk alongside Shen Muhan and said earnestly, "I want to compete with you."
- End of Chapter -
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