Chapter 72: The Double Standards of Sikou Yan

Even if that girl truly wasn’t from an ordinary family, even if she paid no heed to propriety...

It was still unacceptable. What if she were changing clothes, or perhaps lying in the courtyard, resting in nothing but her undergarments?

If it were himself... that would be fine.

But for others? Absolutely not.

Si Kouyan’s double standards were, as always, crystal clear.

“I admit my mistake!” Lin Si bowed his head in contrition and immediately went to accept his punishment.

It was only as he stepped outside that he recalled... He seemed to remember that, in the past, His Highness had not been so particular about etiquette.

He scratched his head and continued on to receive his penalty.

Si Kouyan raised a brow ever so slightly, then picked up an ancient tome that had been set aside and began to read it unhurriedly.

The page he turned to recorded the legend of the ancient ferocious beast, the Taotie.

Suddenly, a little black dog appeared in the General’s Manor. At first, the household had intended to chase away the unruly animal, but upon learning that it belonged to Lady Tianxin of the Southern Courtyard, their attitudes shifted dramatically.

Now, everyone practically vied to pamper the dog.

And so, in a household that had never before kept pets, a dog was adopted.

What’s more, this dog had an enormous appetite—almost always eating, at every hour.

Ji Huaili was in his study attending to official business when a black shadow darted past the doorway.

“What was that?” he frowned, standing up at once.

The steward promptly entered. “General, that’s the little dog Lady Tianxin brought back with her. We’re keeping it here now.”

Hearing it was just a dog, Ji Huaili relaxed. “A dog?”

“Yes, and quite a voracious one at that,” the steward replied, a strange look flickering across his face.

Ji Huaili was unconcerned. How much could one dog eat, after all?

“It’s just a dog. Let it stay, but make sure it doesn’t injure anyone,” he instructed in a low voice, then sat back down.

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Ji Huaili suddenly remembered, “How are the young master and second miss?”

His heart still ached with guilt for the siblings, so recently bereaved of their mother.

“Returning to the General, the young master has resumed his daily martial training and lessons at the academy. Apart from speaking much less, he is much as he was before. He hasn’t caused trouble in the Southern Courtyard again, but...”

“But what?” Ji Huaili’s voice sharpened.

“But the young master does often appear near the Southern Courtyard, quietly watching from afar,” the steward continued.

Ji Huaili frowned. “So long as he doesn’t make trouble, let him be.”

“As for the second miss, she’s been causing a stir for some time, but in the last two days, she’s settled down and has been quiet.”

Ji Huaili nodded. “Now that she’s calm, lift her confinement. As it happens, the palace banquet is tomorrow. Send her some jewelry and dresses—those she used to like.”

“Understood,” the steward replied and withdrew.

Ji Huaili sighed softly. His feelings toward these two children were a mixture of anguish and fear that they might cause trouble on account of that little devil residing in the manor.

His household simply couldn’t withstand any further turmoil.

What worried him most, of course, was that the siblings would seek out that little troublemaker, only to end up being bested by her...

Ah! That was why he had confined them to their quarters.

In truth... if it weren’t for the fear that they might provoke Ji Tianxin, he wouldn’t have bothered.

Ji Tianxin was quiet and composed, not given to tantrums or tears, unlike other children. In that sense, her presence in the manor was actually a blessing.

The pity was, she was the sort who wouldn’t cry or shout—but could stir up the gravest of troubles...