Li Can and Tang Qiu took a shortcut and arrived at Jiahe Courtyard earlier than He and his daughter.
The main house of Jiaheyuan is connected to the courtyard wall. There are two sliding windows at the back of the house. There are several lilac bushes planted on the side, which are piled with greenery and have not yet bloomed.
The weather was still a bit cold and the windows were not opened.
Li Can wrinkled his face and asked Tangqiu worriedly: "Can you hear people talking in the room here?"
"Unless the Second Madam goes into the inner room, you won't be able to hear anything. Otherwise, if we are here, we can clearly hear any movement outside." Tang Qiu's tone was very sure, and he just patted his chest to ensure it.
"Okay." Li Can nodded with a smile.
The master and servant waited for a while, then heard the sound of the door in front being pushed open. They looked at each other and held their breath.
"Mom, listen to me, I didn't hit Li Can at all, she was the one who confused right and wrong..." Li Lainan explained as soon as he entered the door.
Mr. He ignored her and walked to the main seat and sat down.
"Mom, why don't you speak?" Li Lainan felt a little uneasy.
Li Can talked about Chen Nianli, and she didn't know what her mother was thinking, but thinking that there was nothing between her and Chen Nianli, she felt righteous again.
"You all go down." He ordered the maids and nuns: "Close the door."
Li Lainan looked back and finally realized something was wrong. He clasped his hands together in front of him, feeling extremely scared.
"Kneel down!" He scolded.
"Mother..." Li Lainan hurriedly explained: "I really didn't hit Li Can..."
"I tell you to kneel down!" He raised his voice and slapped his hand on the table.
Li Lainan did not dare to say any more and knelt down with his knees bent.
"Tell me!" Mr. He looked down at her with a majestic face: "What's going on between you and Chen Nianli?"
"No, nothing happened..." Li Lainan's voice was crying: "I really have nothing to do with him, we just met and talked occasionally..."
It was impossible to muddle through at this time, so she could only try her best to explain.
"A Shuang, come in!" He ignored her and shouted towards the door.
Li Lainan started to cry. Of her two personal maids, A Ling was smart and capable and had clear rules when it came to things. Although A Shuang was also capable, she was honest and would never cover up anything for her.
As she thought about it, her breathing became a little faster, and her chest felt tight, as if she was suffocating.
"Second Madam."
Ah Shuang entered in response, closed the door, lowered his head and looked at his toes anxiously.
"Let me ask you, who takes the initiative when the fifth girl meets Chen Nianli on weekdays?" He asked.
"Yes..." Ah Shuang couldn't help but look at Li Lainan.
"Don't look at her, look at me!" He scolded.
"The slave said it was the fifth girl." Ah Shuang told everything she knew: "The fifth girl often talks to Master Chen when she has nothing to do.
Master Chen shirks it every time. Sometimes he says he wants to study, sometimes he says he wants to study ethnic origin, and sometimes he says men and women are different and should not be together for long, but the girl goes every time..."
"Okay, let's go down." He looked at Li Lainan and interrupted Ashuang's words.
Ashuang lowered his head and retreated, closing the door.
"Mom, please listen to my explanation, I just have nothing to do..."
Li Lainan was busy trying to explain that he was just too bored, so he went to find Chen Nianli to kill time.
"Crack!"
Only halfway through what he said, he received a heavy slap on the face.
She covered her face and froze on the spot, staring at He with hatred.
Mr. He has beaten her several times. It was just to show off in front of Li Can, so she doesn't care.
But what about this time? There was no one here, but He still slapped her hard.
For so many years, Mr. He has never laid a finger on Li Xiangnan or Li Shu. Is she his biological child?
Mr. He was furious. Seeing her dissatisfied look, he stood up, picked up the dust fly from the table, and slapped Li Lainan on the head and face.
"Mom... have mercy on me... I know I was wrong..." Li Lainan cried and dodged and begged for mercy: "Ah... don't hit me... please..."
Li Can squatted outside the window, and could only hear Li Lainan crying and screaming, but could not see what was going on inside the house, and felt very itchy in his heart.
After beating for a while, Mr. He didn't know whether he was angry or tired. He stopped panting and pointed the whisk handle in his hand at Li Lainan: "Have I told you earlier to stay away from the mother and son of the Chen family?"
?”
"I said..." Li Lainan huddled in the corner, holding his hands in front of him.
"I said it, I said it!" Seeing her virtue, Mr. He became very angry and slapped her twice: "Isn't it because she doesn't have ears? Isn't she not good at remembering?"
"Mom, mother, I won't dare to do it next time, I will never go there again..." Li Lainan hugged herself hurriedly, crying and promising.
"You'd better remember what you said. Next time something like this happens again, I'll beat you to death so that you don't embarrass me everywhere."
Li Lainan just stood there crying.
"Why are you howling here? Go back to your yard. You are not allowed to come out for a month. You can shut up and think about your mistakes!" He pointed at the door. She was afraid that she might not be able to help but do something again.
She actually knew in her heart that Li Lainan was too upright and would definitely be resented if he took action, but she couldn't help but feel that way in her heart.
They are all her children. Gaigai knew that people would go to higher places and sharpen their heads to become Princess Qi. But what about this one who failed to live up to expectations? He actually got entangled with a poor student. Isn't this self-destructive for his future!
If you really indulge this child, I'm afraid her old face won't be enough to disgrace in the future!
Li Lainan timidly opened the door and went out.
Aunt Xi walked in, her one eye full of anxiety and worry: "Second Madam, why are you beating the fifth girl?"
"The one who doesn't live up to his expectations will be useless if he doesn't fight!" He was still angry and walked to a chair aside and sat down.
"Alas." Aunt Xi sighed and bent down to pick up the fly whisk: "It's not like you don't know that the fifth girl has a bad temper. If you hit her like this, she will hold a grudge."
"Mommy, do you think I want to beat her?" He said helplessly: "Look at what she has done. She just wants to provoke Li Can if she has nothing to do. She is not involved with Chen Nianli. I am afraid of delaying her.
For life."
"That's right." Aunt Xi said, "The matter has come to this, madam, don't be angry.
This old slave will go to see the fifth girl on behalf of the madam, see if she needs medicine, and give her a few words of comfort."
"Then there's Grandma Lao." Mr. He was sure.
"Ma'am, why are you so polite with me?" Aunt Xi said and left.
Li Can heard that there was no more movement in the room and knew that the drama was over. She stood up holding on to the wall and raised her chin towards Tang Qiu.
Tang Qiu understood and helped her slowly leave the back of the house.
Li Can deliberately went around the garden, intending to go out to the East Palace, so that no one would notice her coming to watch the show.
She walked slowly in front, Tang Cake and other maids followed behind, and Tang Qiu was always by her side.
Tang Qiu suddenly pulled her down and hid behind a cluster of hostas.
"What's wrong?" Li Can turned to look at Tang Qiu.
Although she didn't know what happened, she still lowered her voice subconsciously.
"Girl, look." Tangqiu pointed secretly: "Isn't that Aunt Xi?"
Li Can stuck out his little head and looked in the direction of her finger. It was true.
In front of her was Aunt Xi who was talking in He's house just now. She originally thought that Aunt Xi should go to Li Lainan's yard at this time, but she didn't expect to meet her here.
Moreover, Grandma Xi was also hiding behind a bush of flowers and peering around. What was she looking at?
Aunt Xi looked at it for a moment, then turned around and hurried away. The direction she was looking seemed to be Jiaheyuan.
"Girl, please wait here while I go to see what's going on?" Tang Qiu whispered.
Li Can nodded and watched Tang Qiu walk over, his bright black eyes staring at her every move.
Soon, Tang Qiu turned back and waved to her.
Li Can walked over with a small waist.
"It's Mrs. Han." Tangqiu told her in a low voice.
Li Can leaned over and took a look, and it turned out to be Ms. Han. Li Lainan was leaning against her, crying with grievance.
Mrs. Han coaxed Li Lainan, wiped her tears, and spoke softly and softly, even more gently than her aunt coaxed her.
Li Can was dumbfounded. When did Li Lainan and the Han family get along like this?
If she hadn't known about it beforehand, looking at the scene before her, she might have thought that Han and Li Lainan were the biological mother and daughter.
"Let's go to the pavilion." Li Can pointed to the pavilion not far away.
The weather has not yet completely warmed up, and the gold silk brocade hanging outside the pavilion to block the wind has not been removed.
"From that way." Tang Qiu motioned for her to go around.
"Go and tell Tanggao and the others to stay away." Li Can whispered again.
She walked to the pavilion and looked out through the gap. It was not far but not close, and she could just see every move between Li Lainan and Han. However, Han's voice was softer and she couldn't hear clearly.
"Girl." Tang Qiu quickly followed.
"Mother will be here in a moment." Li Can turned his head and smiled at her with his eyes bent, looking as cunning as a kitten that had stolen a dried fish.
Aunt Xi ran so fast, she must have gone to call Mr. He.
Sure enough, not long after, Aunt Xi followed Mr. He and came in a hurry.
"Li Lainan!" Mr. He called out with a gloomy face, holding back his anger.
Li Can put his little face against the gap, and his energy was lifted, and he started!
She was looking forward to the match between the He family and the Han family. The He family was powerful, and the Han family was no less willing to give in. She wanted to see who was more powerful.
"Mother!" Li Lainan leaned next to Mr. Han, and when he heard Mr. He's voice, he almost jumped up in shock.
"Fifth girl, don't be afraid." Han patted her hand lightly.
"Come here yet!" He shouted sharply.
Li Lainan was so frightened that she shed tears and walked over slowly.
"Second Madam." Mrs. Han bowed to Mrs. He and said with a smile: "The fifth girl is so old that she is no longer a child. You have to save some face for her, but you can't scold her like this outside."
Mr. He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger: "I don't need Mrs. Han to worry about my daughter."
Mrs. Han just smiled and bowed again, neither humble nor overbearing: "Then the second lady and the fifth girl talk to each other, I will go back to the courtyard first."
Li Lainan turned around and looked at her reluctantly, tears flowing faster.
"Wait a minute." Mrs. He originally didn't want to speak anymore, but when she saw the bracelet on Mr. Han's wrist, she couldn't help but take a step forward: "Mrs. Han's bracelet looks familiar to me."
This is obviously the gold and jade bracelet she gave to Li Lainan on his birthday a few days ago.
This bracelet was originally a pair, and she divided it between her two daughters, hoping that they would become sisters.
Unexpectedly, not long after, the bracelet was put on Han's wrist upside down.
"This bracelet was given to me by the fifth girl." Han took a look at the bracelet and did not hide anything. She said it generously with a smile on her face.
Li Can's little face was full of amazement. The Han family is really amazing. You know, Li Lainan is no longer able to squander her money wantonly. Money is even very tight, but the Han family can still get her gifts.
The bracelet, its means can be seen clearly.
"If you accept a gift from someone else, you have to return the gift." Mr. He glanced up and down at Mr. Han: "I wonder what Mrs. Han gave my daughter in return?"
Before Mrs. Han could speak, Li Lainan pulled Mrs. He and said, "Mom, this purse is... embroidered with every stitch, and there is a pendant. I ate a lot of delicious food in the guest house..."
She wanted to call her "godmother", but hesitated but didn't dare.
"Using this worthless favor to coax something from a child." Mr. He laughed, and his tone was a bit rude: "What Mrs. Han did was not like a scholar's mother."
"What the second lady said about 'coaxing the children' is not right." Han's expression remained unchanged and she still smiled: "The fifth girl was already haircut last year, so she is no longer a child.
She and I also had normal interactions. Most of the time it was the fifth girl who came to talk to me. I asked myself if I was worthy of her.
If the second lady doesn't agree, she can ask the fifth lady to cut off all contact with me."
Mr. Han said and turned around and left without waiting for Mr. He to speak again.
Li Can was filled with admiration. What Han said was a wonderful reply. He was clearly saying that it was Li Lainan who rushed to the guest house to find her. If He was more angry, he would be angry to death.
What's more, Han took the bracelet away without any intention of returning it.
The more Li Can thought about it, the more he admired it. If it had been her, no matter how precious it was, she would have returned it by now.
Therefore, the Han family was able to teach Chen Nianli like this and go all the way to study at the clan academy of the Marquis of Jing'an Mansion. He really had two skills at his disposal.
"Girl, shall we go?" Tang Qiu asked softly.
"Why go?" Li Can smiled: "When Aunt Han goes far away, there will be good shows to watch."
Seeing the livid look on Mr. He's face, Li Lainan might not be able to survive another beating. What kind of auspicious day is today?
Seeing Li Lainan being beaten twice a day made her feel as happy as eating a bowl of honey smoothie on a hot summer day.