H-he… rattan ball… hit… hit, hit me… and made me cry…
Pei Maokun’s smile froze on his face. In an instant, he felt as though countless invisible slaps were striking his cheeks, stinging sharply.
“Why did you hit him?” Pei Jingzhou frowned slightly.
Jiang Zhaoyue replied matter-of-factly, “He hit me first.”
Pei Jingzhou was taken aback.
Pei Maokun was stunned.
“He hit you first, so you hit him back?” Madam Wang asked.
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded. “Naturally. I wouldn’t hit someone without reason.”
How dare she act so justified?
Suppressing her anger, Madam Wang asked, “Do you realize you’re an adult, and he’s just a child?”
Jiang Zhaoyue answered respectfully, “Your daughter-in-law is aware.”
“Then why stoop to his level?”
“Your daughter-in-law was playing with him.”
“Making him cry is what you call playing?”
“No conflict, no friendship.”
“Are you two friends now?”
“Yes, I believe we are friends now.”
“Jiang Zhaoyue!” Madam Wang’s tone suddenly turned stern. “Don’t take others for fools!”
Sun Momo and Xiang Qiao trembled in fear.
Jiang Zhaoyue maintained her gentle but firm stance. “Mother, what I’ve said is the truth.”
Madam Wang insisted, “Your ‘truth’ is that you injured Heng!”
“Mother, Fifth Brother is not injured.”
Refusing to admit defeat until faced with undeniable proof, Madam Wang had already been dissatisfied with Jiang Zhaoyue. She never expected that on the very first day of marriage, Jiang Zhaoyue would dare to strike a young master of the Zhenguo Duke Mansion. Would she dare to tear the roof off next?
Today, she was determined to teach Jiang Zhaoyue a proper lesson. “Someone! Go check on Heng’s injuries.”
“Mother, Fifth Brother will be here shortly.”
“You’re talk—”
“Second Sister-in-law!” Before Madam Wang could finish, Pei Heng’s childish voice rang out.
Hearing this, Madam Wang turned her head.
Jiang Zhaoyue and the others also looked toward the hall entrance.
Pei Heng, dressed in brand-new clothes, held a rattan ball in one hand and supported himself on the doorframe with the other. He lifted his short little leg, stepped over the high threshold of Songqing Hall, and happily ran up to Jiang Zhaoyue. Tilting his chubby little face upward, he said in a sweet, childish voice, “Second Sister-in-law!”
Jiang Zhaoyue responded, “Mm.”
“I didn’t cry anymore!” Pei Heng declared.
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded. “Right.”
Pei Heng continued, “My eyes aren’t swollen.”
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded again. “Indeed.”
“I even took a bath.”
“I can tell.”
“My throat isn’t hoarse.”
“That’s true.”
“My new clothes are scented—Auntie did it.” Pei Heng tugged at his clothes.
“Mm.”
Pei Heng immediately followed up, “I’m not a dirty, smelly ugly monster. I’m pretty.”
Jiang Zhaoyue agreed. “That’s right, you’re pretty.”
“Then, will you play rattan ball with me?” Pei Heng asked eagerly.
Before Jiang Zhaoyue could answer, Madam Wang spoke first. “Heng.”
Pei Heng looked at Madam Wang. “Mother.”
“Did she just hit you and make you cry?” Madam Wang asked.
“I hit her first,” Pei Heng blurted out the truth.
“You—”
“Second Sister-in-law and I are friends now!” Worried that Jiang Zhaoyue might not acknowledge him as a friend, Pei Heng turned to ask, “Second Sister-in-law, we’re friends, right?”
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded. “Yes.”
Now reassured, Pei Heng said happily and confidently, “Mother, Second Sister-in-law and I are friends now!”
Madam Wang frowned. “She made you cry, and you still consider her a friend?”
“Mother hits me and makes me cry, but you’re still my mother,” Pei Heng replied.
This child… Madam Wang was left speechless.
Pei Heng turned back to Jiang Zhaoyue. “Will you play rattan ball with me?”
“Alright.” Jiang Zhaoyue smiled and agreed.
“Then let’s go.” Pei Heng took Jiang Zhaoyue’s hand and headed outside.
“Wait a moment,” Jiang Zhaoyue said.
Pei Heng turned back, asking nervously, “You don’t want to play with me anymore?”
“No, we need to have breakfast first.” The tea-serving ceremony today wasn’t over yet.
Pei Heng said, “I’ve already eaten.”
Jiang Zhaoyue replied, “I haven’t.”
“I’ve eaten,” Pei Heng said, sounding a bit willful again.
Jiang Zhaoyue was even more stubborn: “I haven’t!”
Pei Heng thought for a moment and said, “Then after you have breakfast, we’ll play rattan ball, okay?”
Jiang Zhaoyue smiled. “That’s settled, then.”
Pei Heng said, “Then let’s eat!”
This… this easily handled Pei Heng?
Pei Maokun, Pei Jingzhou, and the others not only believed that Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Heng had become friends through their earlier clash, but they were also surprised to discover that Jiang Zhaoyue could effortlessly manage the willful, domineering, and tear-prone Pei Heng, leaving them astonished.
Madam Wang’s earlier aggressiveness now seemed particularly harsh and rude. Her face turned pale and then flushed, looking extremely unpleasant.
“Mother, may we have breakfast?” Pei Heng looked at Madam Wang.
Madam Wang didn’t want to respond.
Pei Maokun quickly chimed in cheerfully, “Let’s eat, let’s eat.”
The group moved to the large round table.
Pei Heng squeezed himself in to sit next to Jiang Zhaoyue.
Pei Maokun smiled.
Madam Wang glanced at Jiang Zhaoyue but said nothing.
Pei Jingzhou and the others remained silent as well.
Pei Maokun couldn’t help but summarize the incident of Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Heng becoming friends through their clash, clearing Jiang Zhaoyue’s name while also advising Pei Heng not to be so willful in the future.
Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Heng both nodded.
Pei Maokun glanced at Madam Wang, wanting to preserve her dignity, and said, “Today, your mother was angry for your own good.”
Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Heng nodded again.
But Madam Wang didn’t appreciate Pei Maokun’s gesture. “Duke, the food is getting cold.”
Hearing this, Pei Maokun sighed inwardly but smiled and picked up his chopsticks.
Jiang Zhaoyue and the others also picked up their chopsticks.
Pei Heng took a spoon and scooped up the steamed egg custard in front of him, eating with great relish.
Jiang Zhaoyue turned and asked, “Didn’t you already have breakfast?”
“I did, but I can have it again,” Pei Heng said matter-of-factly.
Jiang Zhaoyue teased, “No wonder you’re so chubby.”
Pei Heng heard her and replied, “Chubby kids grow up tall, just like Second Brother.”
Jiang Zhaoyue agreed, “Yes, you’re right.”
Pei Heng giggled.
Breakfast proceeded smoothly, and afterward, the group went to the ancestral hall to add Jiang Zhaoyue to the family register.
By the time everything was finished, it was already noon.
Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Jingzhou could finally return to Linhua Courtyard.
Pei Heng hugged the rattan ball, pouting and muttering as he followed Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Jingzhou.
“What are you mumbling about?” Jiang Zhaoyue turned and asked.
Liar!
Big liar!
Mean woman!
But with Pei Jingzhou present, Pei Heng didn’t dare to curse. He said pitifully, “Second Sister-in-law lied.”
Jiang Zhaoyue asked, “How did I lie to you?”
“You promised to play rattan ball with me after breakfast.”
Jiang Zhaoyue deliberately played with words: “I promised you, ‘after breakfast, I’ll play rattan ball with you,’ but I didn’t say ‘immediately after breakfast.'”
Pei Heng’s chubby face froze, unable to fully grasp Jiang Zhaoyue’s meaning.
“Now is also after breakfast,” Jiang Zhaoyue asked. “Want to play rattan ball?”
Play now?
We can play now?!
Pei Heng didn’t dwell on Jiang Zhaoyue’s wordplay, nor did he mind having waited for her so long. He immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Kick it!”
“Alright!” Jiang Zhaoyue responded.
Pei Heng was about to kick it right away.
“Wait a moment.” Jiang Zhaoyue quickly stopped him.
Pei Heng instantly became displeased.
Jiang Zhaoyue turned to Pei Jingzhou and asked, “Second Master, would you like to join us?”
“No,” Pei Jingzhou flatly refused.
“Then you should go back and rest. Fifth Brother and I will kick the rattan ball here for a while.”
“Be mindful of your strength. Don’t hurt him,” Pei Jingzhou said.
“Why isn’t Second Master worried about him hurting me?” Jiang Zhaoyue asked.
Pei Jingzhou was taken aback.
Jiang Zhaoyue continued, “I am such a delicate and fragile person.”
“…” Pei Jingzhou stared expressionlessly at the bright and energetic Jiang Zhaoyue, unable to detect even the slightest hint of delicacy. Nevertheless, he turned to Pei Heng and said without emotion, “Don’t hurt your second sister-in-law.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Pei Heng nodded vigorously.
“Thank you for your concern, Second Master.” Jiang Zhaoyue smiled brightly. “See you later.”
Pei Jingzhou walked to the entrance of Linhua Courtyard when he suddenly heard Pei Heng cry out in surprise.
His heart tightened, and he quickly turned to look.