The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 81

Chapter 081 Sending the Tiger on a Cold Night
It was dark early in the capital in winter, and it was already completely dark at dusk. The snow that had been falling for several days had finally stopped, but the north wind was still howling outside, causing his face to hurt like a knife.

The light in the Sparse Shadow Pavilion lit up early. The four basins of charcoal in the room were burning brightly. Purple smoke, red rain, and two other little girls were roasting around the brazier. They were holding dark fire chopsticks as they moved the sweet potatoes in the brazier. A thick fragrance drifted out from the room.

“Cold to death, cold to death.” The curtain outside moved and Bi Yun stamped her feet and ran in.

Seeing this, Hong Yu hurriedly handed over a matriarch.

“Biyun, you’re back so soon!” A little girl said to Bi Yun as she dragged a small stool over.

“If you don’t come back, it will become frozen tofu. This year is much colder than usual.” When Bi Yun saw the answer, she sat on the small round stool and raised her eyebrows when she saw the pile of sweet potato peels on the brazier. “Alright, I’m working outside freezing to death. You guys are fine. You guys are actually hiding in the house and eating.”

Zi Yan blinked her eyes and smiled, “Biyun sister, are you blaming Miss for sending you to work?”

“Nonsense, I didn’t say that before.” Bi Yun raised her hand and pushed Zi Yan. Then, she turned around and looked at Xiao Xiwei, who was nest on the warm couch doing embroidery. “Miss, look, they are bullying me.”

Xiao Xiwei put down the needle and thread in his hand and smiled helplessly, “Alright, you guys can play with her now.”

“Alright, we’ll keep it for you. We have sweet potatoes and corns. It’s time to ripe.” As Hong Yu spoke, he picked up the fire clip on the ground and flipped out a few roasted sweet potatoes and corns from the brazier.

When Bi Yun saw the sweet potato, she was so happy that she could feel nothing. Without caring about the heat, she directly picked up the hot sweet potato and peeled off the outer skin at a fast speed. She peeled it and ate it with her mouth desperately. Occasionally, she would even lift it up. Obviously, it was very hot. The greedy look made the little girls in the room giggle.

Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but laugh as he watched them make a mess.

It had been a long time since she had felt such a warm and lively atmosphere.

Hong Yu picked up a few good ones and placed them on the tray before Xiao Xiwei. “Miss, do you want to try them too?”

Seeing that Bi Yun was enjoying her delicious food, Xiao Xiwei was also aroused by her greed. She simply put down the needlework in her hand and said, “Alright.”

Hong Yu quickly peeled the sweet potato and handed it to Xiao Xiwei.

It had been many years since she had eaten roasted sweet potatoes. Now that she tasted this taste again, she really felt as if she was in another life.

“Right, there must be something you haven’t heard.” Bi Yun ate two roasted sweet potatoes and rubbed her stomach contentedly.

“What is it? Sister Biyun, don’t make a fuss. Tell me!” When the few little girls heard the gossip, they immediately raised their spirits and urged Bi Yun to quickly speak.

Bi Yun covered her mouth and smiled, “Alright, since you guys still have a bit of conscience left for me to roast sweet potatoes, I’ll tell you.” As she spoke, she cleared her throat. “Didn’t I go to the kitchen to count the food? Guess what I heard?”

“Aiya, big sister Biyun, don’t make a fuss!”

“Do you still remember that cousin of the Li Clan?”

“You’re not talking about the niece of the lady who was divorced from our mansion, are you?”

“Miss, did you know that Miss Li is engaged? She will be married in a few days when Lord Li returns from Su Yang.” Bi Yun turned to look at Xiao Xiwei and smiled.

“Is that so?” Xiao Xi lightly replied.

Ever since Madam Qi was dragged to the Martial Temple to slap the board, it had been a long time since she had heard the names of Madam Qi and Li Lin, and she had even forgotten about them when she heard them. Bi Jing, she and the people from the Li Clan are just ordinary people. As long as they don’t provoke her, she naturally won’t do anything to them.

“Then Miss, do you know who Miss Li is promising?” Bi Yun pursed her lips, an unconcealable smile in her eyes.

“Alright, don’t make a fuss!” Zi Yan finally couldn’t help but push Bi Yun.

Bi Yun smiled and said, “Xu’s Uncle Ping An’s concubine.”

“No way … Then why is Uncle Ping An in his fifties? If I remember correctly, Miss Li will only be seventeen at the beginning of next year. Why would she allow him to do so?” Zi Yan frowned.

Xiao Xiwei frowned slightly.

Madam Li was divorced and the Qi clan was rewarded in public. Obviously, the loyal and courageous Marquis Manor could no longer be used as a support for the Li Clan, and Li Qingfeng was about to return to the capital to report on his work. Without the recommendation of the Xiao Clan, even if he returned to the capital, he would not be able to fill a good vacancy. Therefore, he had to find another way out. However, this way out was to sacrifice Li Lin. If she remembered correctly, Uncle Ping An’s youngest son was a year older than Li Lin.

“What a pity. I saw Miss Li when she came to our mansion years ago. She looks very good. Sigh.” A little girl sighed softly.

Bi Yun glanced at the girl who was speaking and coldly snorted, “What a pity. Perhaps she was willing.”

The little girl was snorted by Bi Yun, and then she remembered that the Li Clan had dirtied their young miss at the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, so she hurriedly lowered her head and did not dare to speak.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat awkward.

“Little girl, you don’t have any other abilities. Your mouth is getting slimmer and slimmer. I don’t know who you learned it from.” Xiao Xi smiled and looked at Bi Yun.

Bi Yun stuck out her tongue and smiled, “Isn’t there a saying that I’m close to something scarlet? I’ve been following Miss every day. Even a piece of wood is about to open its aperture, isn’t it?”

Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh a few more times when he saw Bi Yun like that. “Alright, stop talking nonsense. It’s getting late. You guys should tidy up the ground and go back to rest.”

Hearing this, the few little girls quickly put away the sweet potato peel and chestnut shell on the ground before leaving.

“Miss, I’ll fetch a basin of hot water to clean your hands.” Hong Yu blessed Xiao Xiwei.

Xiao Xiwei nodded.

After Hong Yu left, only Zi Yan and Bi Yun remained in the room.

“Miss, there’s actually one more thing I didn’t say just now.” Hong Yu, the calmest of the three girls, left. Bi Yun hurriedly moved closer to Xiao Xiwei and said mysteriously.

Xiao Xiwei looked up at her and said, “What else can I do?”

“It’s Madam Li. I heard that she seems to be crazy.” Bi Yun whispered.

“Are you crazy?” Xiao Xi raised her eyebrows slightly.

Bi Yun nodded. “No, Madam Li has locked her up. I heard the young man who delivered the food say that when he entered the Li Manor to deliver the food a few days ago, he heard a woman in the courtyard shouting crazily. It didn’t scare him to death.”

Hearing Bi Yun’s words, Xiao Xi pursed the corners of his lips and did not snort.

From the moment Madam Li was dismissed from the manor, the grudges between her and Madam Li had dissipated. Therefore, whether she was crazy or dead had nothing to do with her.

“Crazy shouting, crazy shouting. Did that person hear what she was calling?” Zi Yan asked excitedly.

“I seem to be cursing someone for being heartless. I heard that the courtyard is filled with sounds of smashing things. The young man didn’t go far when he saw Mrs. Li leading the girl out in a hurry. Her face was covered in bloodstains.” Bi Yun said.

Back then, Madam Qi had been tricked by her to buy cloth at the Silken Embroidery Square in order to save face. At that time, she had already hated Madam Li in her heart. In addition, Madam Li had not saved her at the Old Lady Monarch’s birthday banquet, so she and Madam Li were already on the same page. In the past, she had to swallow her anger because she was worried about the Li Clan’s status as the Marquis Mother. Now that the Li Clan had been crippled, it was no longer of any value to the Li Clan. Moreover, Li Qingfeng was still far away in Su Yang, and the Qi Clan was a narrow-minded person who would definitely repay her kindness. She did not need to think about what would happen to the Li Clan if she fell into her hands.

“You’re still so arrogant after being divorced back to your mother’s house. Madam Li is not a good match for you either. This Li shi is trying to kill herself!” Zi Yan curled her lips in disdain.

Zi Yan’s words caused Xiao Xiwei’s eyebrows to twitch slightly.

In the Li family’s situation, the only way to survive was for Fu Xiaozuo to let Madam Qi out a sigh of relief. Only until Li Qingfeng returned did she have a chance of survival. How could Madam Qi allow her to be so angry and even scratched Madam Qi’s face? She was very clear about Madam Li’s thoughts and methods. She would never do such a stupid thing? Could it be …

Silver. Madam Li had secretly deducted quite a few silver taels from Marquis Mansion over the years. She had used this money to buy a few shops in the capital. Madam Qi must have been eyeing these shops to force Madam Li to take them out.

“Who do you think is courting death?” A deep voice suddenly sounded. Xiao Xiyang walked in with a black cloak embroidered with auspicious patterns.

“Brother, why are you back?” Upon seeing the person, Xiao Xiwei hurriedly lifted the quilt covering her feet and stood up from the warm couch. “Biyun, quickly, bring a warm woman over.”

“No need! As a grown man, I don’t need anything from your little daughter’s family.” Xiao Xiyang frowned.

Just as Xiao Xiwei was about to speak, Xiao Xiyang’s embrace suddenly moved. Immediately after, there were a few whining sounds. She frowned and subconsciously took two steps back, “Brother, you can’t be hiding a cat in your embrace, right?”

Xiao Xiyang smiled, “You guessed it!”

Xiao Xiwei’s face turned pale, and the place where the cat had grabbed her forehead started to hurt.

“However, the one in my arms is not the cat, but the cat’s little disciple.” Xiao Xiyang laughed loudly, and then he took out a small ball of furry stuff from his bosom.

Xiao Xiwei fixed his eyes and saw that the little thing had a pair of big round eyes, and there were a few faint patterns on its body.

“Young Master, what is this?” When Bi Yun saw the little thing, he was instantly overjoyed and wished he could reach out and ruthlessly rub it a few times.

“It’s a tiger.” Xiao Xi replied with a smile.

“Tiger? Tiger looks like this?” Bi Yun’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe that this cute little thing was actually a tiger.

“Big brother, where did you get such a little tiger?” Xiao Xiwei frowned.

Xiao Xiyang smiled again. “I didn’t get this. It was Zimu. This guy didn’t know how he came back these past few days and came to the Yan Cloud Guard to hunt for me every day. Isn’t that right? Today, when he was hunting a mother tiger, he saw a litter of cubs. The other cubs were trampled to death by the horses and saved this one.” Xiao Xiyang said as he gave the little tiger in his hand to Xiao Xiwei’s embrace. “Hey, hurry up and take it over. My hands are almost sour. I’m afraid that I might accidentally be crushed to death by it.”

Before Xiao Xiwei could react, the little tiger had already been stuffed into her embrace. She frowned and said, “What are you doing for me? I have never raised a tiger before!”

Not to mention tigers, she had never raised animals at all.

“It’s like raising a cat or a dog. It’s easy! Besides, you can’t let me raise this as a grown man, right?” Xiao Xiyang waved his hand. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the white cloak on the couch that hadn’t finished its work. “Hey, sister, you made me another cloak!” As he spoke, he reached out and picked up the cape.

The corner of Xiao Xiwei’s mouth twitched as he hugged the little tiger in his arms and did not say anything.

Xiao Xiyang held the cape and gestured at her body. Suddenly, she saw a small rose embroidered on the hem of the cape. She frowned and said, “It’s fine if you say you make me a white cloak. Why are you still embroidering on it? I hate these sissy things the most! Forget it, stop making the cloak and make me a few pairs of shoes!”

“Shoes? Didn’t I ask someone to bring you shoes a few days ago?”

“Don’t mention it, I was taken away by that guy Chu Xizhi before I even wore those shoes for a day! You said that our shoe sizes are different, so what’s the use of him taking my shoes?” Xiao Xiyang frowned.

Purple Smoke, who was beside Puchi, couldn’t help but laugh.