"Waaaaaah!"
An earth-shattering howling suddenly sounded.
Nan Baozhu held a braised chicken leg, choking with sobs, "What are you two crying about, it makes me sad too! Aaahh, stop crying you two!"
"You silly girl!"
The old madam smiled and scolded but she felt more relieved after saying it.
Nan Baoyi embraced the old lady's neck, and coyly kissed her cheeks, "Grandmother, I will be filial to you, so you must take good care of yourself and live for a hundred years!"
Old madam scraped the tip of her nose lovingly, "Grandmother only hopes that you two sisters will live a happy and peaceful life, you can live a long life only if you are treasured for a lifetime!"
...
After coming out of Songhe Yard, a heavy spring rain started pouring.
A maid held an umbrella for Nan Baoyi and walked outside of Jinyi Pavilion. Suddenly she saw a straight figure.
Nan Baoyi was stunned.
This was...
Her second elder brother, Xiao Yi.
Her eldest uncle brought back Xiao Yi from the country borders and said he was the son of a deceased friend. He planned to raise him as his own.
However, because no one knew where he came from, the people in the residence refused to recognize him as an official master. He was not allowed to enter the ancestral hall to worship and not allowed to greet the elders in the morning and evening daily. He was really an outsider living under people's charity.
Two years ago, Nan Baoyi's eldest uncle died in battle. Xiao Yi's position in the residence was even more awkward and lowly, almost becoming a servant.
However, Nan Baoyi remembered clearly. In her previous life, this brother was a successful examination candidate and stood out in the imperial examination. Step by step, he climbed up to the position of a high ranking judicial officer in the government office.
Later on, he abandoned his position, went into a military expedition, and accomplished outstanding results on the battlefield. At a young age, he achieved the highest official position, being granted minister of the First Ranking.
Because he helped the emperor to solve three difficult problems, he was regarded by everyone as the emperor's teacher. His authority and reputation in the imperial court and the ordinary people were definite. He was a powerful man, a man that could move the nation by just stomping on his feet.
While Nan Baoyi was reminiscing, Xiao Yi suddenly glanced over.
They locked eyes.
The future powerful minister was still only a teenager but he had good looks. His posture was slender and straight portraying an outline of graveness but yet attractive. His skin was fair in an abnormal state, his bridge of the nose curved in an extremely pleasant way. He had a pair of long, narrow, and flirtatious phoenix eyes obscured with graveness and pale red thin lips that pursed tightly.
He wore long black robes and stood as straight as a bamboo. The rain splashed on his robes and black hair, giving a mysterious vibe like morning fog surrounding the mountains.
Nan Baoyi praised him secretly. He stood there neither proud nor lowly, obviously an unyielding character, looking like a real powerful minister of the future that commanded with authority.
The maid whispered in her ear, "Miss, why are you looking at Second Young Master like that? He's here to send the kite, you should go over and take a look."
Nan Baoyi came back to her senses.
She had yet to rebirth two days ago and was still that fifth miss with the fiery spirit. The kite hung on the rockery and Xiao Yi happened to pass by. She made a fuss and wanted him to get the kite for her. He refused. And so, she lifted her sleeves and went to get it herself, resulting in her rolling down from the rockery.
She hit the back of her head and laid in bed for two days
Grandmother was angry. She ordered Xiao Yi to make ten kites by himself as compensation.
Nan Baoyi thought back while looking at the kite in the teenager's hands.
Such a crime, the future powerful minister was making kites for her!
She did rebirth, after all, and her mentality was not of a twelve-year-old. Knowing that in the future, she needed to deal with Governor Cheng's family and even the rich and powerful people in Shu County, relying on herself and the Nan residence's power was not enough. She needed to hold on to an important figure like Xiao Yi.
Not just her, everyone in the residence needed to hold on to him together!
Thus, she took the paper umbrella from her maid and ordered the maid to prepare a bowl of warm ginger soup.
She brought over the umbrella to the teenager's side and stood tiptoed, tilting most of the paper umbrella towards him, "Second Brother…"
This was the first time he called him brother. But the teenager did not react, his expression was still.
Nan Baoyi felt awkward for a while and tried to be nice again: "Second Brother must have waited very long and not had your lunch yet. I have some peach candy here, do you want to have some…"
She did not finish her sentence when the boy's eyes looked at her coldly, sharp as a knife.
The intense vibe from this boy quietly released, making the terrified Nan Baoyi shivered.
She bravely took out a piece of candy from her pocket, "I'm not lying to you, I really have some candy…"
The boy ignored her.
He raised the kites in his hands coldly and said gravely, "Here are ten kites, no more no less."
Without waiting for a response from Nan Baoyi, he tore up the kites with no emotions.
Old madam punished him by making kites, he already did it.
As to how to handle the kites later, that was his business.
Nan Baoyi looked at the colorful scattered shreds of paper.
The future powerful minister had a huge temper!
"I no longer mind about the kite thing…" she took the piece of candy and affectionately brought it close to the boy's lips, "Are you hungry? Why don't you have a taste of my candy?"
Xiao Yi looked sullen.
The little girl in front was like a small ball of white tender lotus, her clean hands pinched the candy ball, her small slender fingers even curved delicately.
Last time when she ordered him around, she also liked to curve her fingers.
His phoenix eyes looked at her coldly and slapped away her small hand mercilessly.
The peach candy fell on a bluestone tile.
The back of Nan Baoyi's fair tender hands immediately showed a red mark. She breathed in the cold air in pain. She looked at the future minister with teary eyes, feeling lost.
The rain was getting heavier. The girl's back and her skirt were soaked wet, even her embroidered shoes were getting soaked and she was feeling uncomfortable.
She swallowed her discomfort and said softly, "Second Brother, I was immature last time, please don't mind my ignorance."
This twelve-year-old body was very delicate.
After being soaked in the rain for a while, she started to feel dizzy. As soon as she finished speaking, the paper umbrella fell out of her hands and she fell towards Xiao Yi's arms ―
But Xiao Yi pushed her away coldly.
The girl fell on the bluestone tiles, her yellow skirt spread out like a delicate hibiscus unable to survive under heavy rain.
"Miss!"
The maid who came out carrying the ginger soup turned pale with fright and hurriedly called out another maid to carry Nan Baoyi in. She stared at Xiao Yi fiercely and placed her hands on her waist angrily, "This is all your fault! I will report to Old Madam in a bit, you watch out!"
After scolding him, she furiously entered Jinyi Pavilion.
A screen of rain floated around the sky, the garden in Nan residence was looking exquisite and magnificent.
The boy continued to stand on the bluestone tiles.
The rain drenched his robes. He was good looking but had a cold expression. He stared stonily at the magnificent building deep in the rain mist.
...
Nan Baoyi woke up when the sky turned dim outside the window. The room had lamps on; it was night time.
She arched her small body and got up, ignoring her sickness, she hoarsely called out, "He Ye, did you give the ginger soup to Second Brother?"
The maid He Ye carried in a birdnest porridge, looking indignant, "He was the reason you are sick now, why would I let him have the ginger soup? I scolded him and then reported the incident to Old Madam. Madam punished him with ten whips!"