"That's true," Han Jitong sighed.
He had studied it for over a year without understanding it, so how could he expect a little child to cure that boy's illness?
"It's your first day of school today, so you can go home as usual. Go on, but don't be late next time."
Su Yunmo gave a soft "oh" and bowed obediently before leaving.
As she exited, she still heard Han Jitong sighing and muttering about how it was "hard to cure." She wondered who he was worrying about.
Ziyuan hadn't returned yet, so Su Yunmo waited at the schoolhouse entrance as agreed.
From a distance, she saw a group of people approaching.
There were about four or five of them, and the person leading the way was dressed as a scholar.
As he drew closer, he sized up Su Yunmo and then said disdainfully, "You look like you have no manners. Little girl, kneel and apologize."
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched, and she shifted her shoulders. "You look like you deserve a beating. Kneel and beg for mercy."
"How rude! I am your cousin. You bullied my sister Yin Yin. Not only should you kneel, but according to our ancestors' rules, you should perform three kowtows at the mansion's entrance. That's the proper way."
Su Yunmo had met many people, and many of them had annoying ways of speaking, but he was the first one who was so pedantically annoying.
However, since he was Su Yinyin's brother, it wasn't surprising.
"I remember Mother saying before that the children of the second uncle's family were expelled from the academy for cheating in the examination. Is that you?"
Bringing so many people to surround a child, the second uncle's family truly had poor upbringing and character. No wonder he was expelled.
Her words struck a nerve with Su Xingfu. "You little girl, you shouldn't meddle in adult affairs. It seems you not only lack manners but are also shameless. How dare someone raised by an outside mistress enter the General's Mansion?"
He scrutinized Su Yunmo with disdain. "Apologize, and then go back and tell your family to give the position of嫡女 (di nu - legitimate daughter) to Yin Yin. Otherwise, as your cousin, I will teach you a good lesson."
Su Xingfu adopted a posture of "courtesy before force," and the people behind him surrounded Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo calculated the time; Ziyuan would be back soon.
She rotated her wrist and picked up a brick from the ground. "I hate it most when people threaten me."
She threw the brick, aiming for Su Xingfu's face.
With a splat, Su Xingfu fell backward onto the ground, and blood spurted out.
"This little brat dares to hit someone! Today, we brothers will make you crawl to the mansion's entrance on your knees!"
The other men lunged forward.
A red light flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes. The brick flew back into her hand at high speed and then was thrown again, hitting the calves of the men.
Screams of pain erupted.
One of the men, closest to Su Yunmo, raised his hand to slap her face.
Su Yunmo took a step back, about to kick him, when a female voice came from not far away.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
This voice was Yu Ning's!
Su Yunmo quickly looked up and froze when she saw the figure in white.
The woman's skin was as fair as snow, her eyes like clear springs, and she glanced at each person's face with a slight frown, seemingly displeased.
"It's the Second Miss of the Marquis's Mansion. Let's go quickly."
This person was not to be trifled with.
The troublemakers quickly helped Su Xingfu and fled.
The maid, Jiaobai, shouted angrily at the fleeing group and then said indignantly, "These people do nothing proper all day and only bully the weak. They are truly detestable!"
Lin Yuning walked up to Su Yunmo and crouched down, patting the dirt off her clothes. Her voice was as melodious as an oriole's. "Are you alright?"
Su Yunmo opened her mouth, wanting to ask how she had been recently, how her family was, and to tell her that she had returned.
But a thousand words were blocked in her throat. In the end, she just clenched her fists tightly and shook her head.
It wasn't time for them to reveal themselves yet. She hadn't figured out Ye Jingcheng's intentions. If she were to let Lin Yuning know she was alive rashly, it would be dangerous.
"Are you injured?" Lin Yuning noticed the small wound on her tiger's mouth, and her flowing eyes showed a hint of sadness.
The maid handed over a handkerchief, and Lin Yuning helped her wrap her hand, although the wound was not significant enough to warrant bandaging.
"Are you a student at the academy? If those people bother you again, you can come and tell me," Lin Yuning said gently.
Su Yunmo's heart ached. She knew Yu Ning's nature; she had always been like this since childhood, unable to bear seeing others injured.
When she heard the news of her death, she must have cried for a long time.
As Su Yunmo lowered her head to bandage her hand, her eyelashes trembled lightly.
She desperately suppressed the urge to rub Lin Yuning's hair to comfort her and nodded gently.
Lin Yuning showed a smile, her gentle gaze like a pool of water. "My home isn't far. Do you need me to escort you back?"
"The person picking me up will be here soon. It's getting late, you should go back. Be careful on the road," Su Yunmo said, a little worried.
She had been frail since childhood and easily fell ill, and the weather was getting cold.
Lin Yuning didn't insist. "Then you be careful. If those people from before come back, run into the academy."
Su Yunmo nodded in agreement and watched as she got into the carriage. The carriage slowly moved away until it disappeared from sight.
Su Yunmo finally breathed a sigh of relief, clutching the handkerchief. "That's great, you're alright."
She was alright, so Brother Chenxi was also alright for now. She still had time.
Yu Ning, wait until your sister resolves all the trouble, and I'll come back to find you immediately. I won't let anyone hurt you.
"Master, your subordinate is late." Ziyuan arrived in the carriage from another direction.
She jumped off the carriage and glanced at the direction Lin Yuning had left: "Is that the Marquis's carriage?"
Su Yunmo nodded. "I've seen her. The family is safe for now. Ye Jingcheng shouldn't make a move against them in the short term."
Ziyuan wanted to ask if she had inquired about the 'delay in firefighting,' but then she thought better of it, realizing that such questions couldn't be asked at the first meeting; it was too easy to expose herself.
"Your subordinate also found some information today. Zhao Xuncheng, under the orders of Prince Cheng, used the pretense of eliminating rebels to conduct widespread searches for innocent people, suppress dissent, and seek personal revenge."
The brothers of Liman Tower were constantly being watched. If they were to be rescued entirely, they would have to deal with Zhao Xuntian.
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes. She remembered that Zhao Xuncheng's youngest daughter was in the same class as her. Perhaps she could find a breakthrough.
"Well done. Now, you focus on recovering from your injuries. I will find a way to deal with the Zhao family."
Ziyuan was a little worried. "Master, it might not be easy for you to do things like this now. Perhaps your subordinate should do it."
Su Yunmo curled her lips, a hint of pride appearing on her face. "I don't think approaching a child is difficult."
Many times, this child-like appearance was quite convenient.
Su Yunmo was very confident.
Zhao Xiaoxiao's seat was at the back of the classroom, by the window, four tables away from Su Yunmo.
At noon that day, after class, Zhao Xiaoxiao didn't go to the cafeteria. She hid in the classroom and took out a bag of small pastries from her schoolbag, holding a piece and eating it secretly with a serious expression.
Coincidentally, Su Yunmo had also brought pastries that day. She was about to go over and say hello.
The table in the middle suddenly bumped into Zhao Xiaoxiao's table.
Zhao Xiaoxiao cried out in surprise, her hand was hit, and the pastries fell to the ground.
"I didn't mean to." The owner of the voice had a hint of sarcasm in her tone, with no intention of a sincere apology.
Su Yunmo frowned and looked over. Su Yinyin was sitting in her chair, her foot still propping against the corner of the table.
That bump was clearly a kick.