A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Ning Chengxian's carriage stopped at the gate of Bixu Village.

"Mr. Dong is indeed elegant and unique. Zhuangzi is very pleased to see him here. But given Fourth Uncle's personality, it's strange that he has been living in Jinhan City for so long."

Ning Chengxian walked into the manor and asked Ren Wei, the servant next to him.

"The Fourth Master and Mr. Dong are good friends privately, and Mr. Dong doesn't know the Fourth Master's identity, so this matter has been kept low-key."

Ren Weihui, the son of the prefect Ren, returned.

"Mr. Dong is as smart as a person from another world. Do you think he really doesn't know the identity of Fourth Uncle?"

Ning Chengxian smiled and then shook his head and said.

"I've inquired privately. Mr. Dong and the Fourth Master spend long nights chatting by candlelight at this Bixu Manor every year."

Ren Wei continued.

"It's not surprising that Fourth Uncle behaves differently from others. Besides the two of them, who else comes here often?"

Ning Chengxian continued to ask.

"this…"

Ren Wei's face looked a little ugly and he hesitated to speak.

"how?"

Ning Chengxian stopped and looked at him strangely.

"Master, the Xiao family's carriage arrives every day, but we don't know who is in the carriage, and the guards dare not get too close."

Ren Wei lowered his voice and whispered in her ear.

"Hmph, this is interesting. What problem or confusion did Xiao Yi have that made him come to Mr. Dong?"

Ning Chengxian sneered without thinking. Could it be that the Eastern Palace was already panicking and now wanted to win over his military advisor?

"Master, I also sent people to watch the gate of the Xiao Mansion, but there is nothing unusual. Then, the second young master Xiao sent Princess Nan to Tianmen. Did he do anything along the way?"

Ren Wei suddenly remembered this and continued to ask in a low voice.

"It's a good thing that the princess is getting married. There's no need to join in the fun. Just keep an eye on the Xiao family."

Ning Chengxian said, "What has the fourth brother been doing recently?"

"The Fourth Prince is still the same as before, going to look for the Prince Consort every day."

Ren Wei glanced at Ning Chengxian and then spoke.

"Well, let's go."

After passing through two archways and reaching the inner courtyard, Ning Chengxian saw a white figure lying on a wooden table from afar.

"No wonder Fourth Uncle likes to live in this desolate wilderness. It turns out it's because there's a beautiful woman here."

Ning Chengxian had a meaningful smile on his face.

"Changping, why are you here, painting?"

Ning Chengxian walked behind Lin Qinghuan and saw clearly that the woman was lying there painting.

Lin Qinghuan looked up at the uninvited guest in surprise.

"Third Prince, why are you here?"

"I'm here to visit Mr. Dong, but why are you here?"

Ning Chengxian didn't know that Lin Qinghuan had become Dong Yuange's disciple. He was very surprised at this moment. It seemed that the woman in the carriage of the Xiao Mansion that Ren Wei mentioned was this woman. Now he couldn't figure out what tricks the East Palace and the Xiao Mansion were playing.

"The person you want to visit is my master. I am naturally here to learn painting. If you are here to look for my master, I am afraid he is not available to see you at this time."

Lin Qinghuan had been somewhat displeased with Ning Chengxian since they parted ways in Tuyan County, and now he seemed to be trying to provoke him.

"Really? Then what is Mr. Dong busy with?"

Ning Chengxian simply sat on the stool next to Lin Qinghuan, and waved at Tong Hua, indicating that the silly child should give him some tea.

"The master is chatting with his good friend in there. I'm afraid he doesn't want to see outsiders at all."

Lin Qinghuan was speechless when she saw that Ning Chengxian not only did not leave but also sat down.

"Hahahaha, outsider, now I have become an outsider in Mr. Dong's house, interesting."

Although Ning Chengxian understood Lin Qinghuan's resistance to him, the words coming out of this beauty's mouth would not make him angry.

"Could it be that you are one of us? I have never heard the master mention you. He only mentioned Aoki Fumi-kun, the person the master admires."

Lin Qinghuan deliberately provoked and belittled Ning Chengxian, telling him to have some self-awareness and not to stay here.

"Aoki Fumi-kun, well, I was also fortunate enough to hear Mr. Dong mention him. Could it be that the person he was chatting with inside was him?"

Ning Chengxian asked deliberately.

"Now that you know, the Third Prince should go back first. Going in here would certainly disturb the leisure time of these two elegant scholars, which is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Lin Qinghuan was very eloquent today, and every word he said was to send the guests off.

"Hahahaha, Changping, ah Changping, you are becoming more and more likable."

Ning Chengxian looked at Lin Qinghuan and laughed again.

"Third Prince, the gentleman invites you."

Tong Shu walked over from the inner room, bowed respectfully to Ning Chengxian, and then delivered the message.

Lin Qinghuan looked at the two of them in surprise.

Ning Chengxian stood up with a smile, patted the wrinkles on his knees, and then tapped Tong Hua on the head a few times with the folding fan in his hand.

"An inopportune appearance."

Then he bowed to the angry Lin Qinghuan and said, "Changping, maybe I am not an outsider."

Then Tong Renwei walked towards the inner room with laughter. Tong Hua touched his head, looked at his twin brother Tong Shu in confusion, bowed to Lin Qinghuan, and followed Ning Chengxian.

"What? The master actually met him."

Lin Qinghuan sat down unhappily and said.

"Princess, the Third Prince was indeed a frequent visitor of yours before, but since you were learning painting recently, perhaps the Third Prince was not in Jinhan City, so he came less often."

Tong Shu stood aside and talked to Lin Qinghuan.

"Why didn't you wink at me just now."

Lin Qinghuan narrowed her eyes and said unhappily to the little brat who spent the whole day eating the cakes she brought.

"Tong Shu didn't know that the princess disliked the Third Prince so much, and he didn't react for a moment."

The little boy lowered his head and admitted his mistake in grievance.

Lin Qinghuan glanced again at the cup of tea that Ning Chengxian had just drunk from.

"Next time we come together, I won't let him taste this good tea. Remember that?"

Lin Qinghuan said in a stingy manner that it was He Su who brought such good tea to her from Luofeng, and now she brought it to her mentor as a gift.

"understood."

Tong Shu nodded obediently.

Lin Qinghuan stuck his head out and kept looking into the inner room, trying to hear what code was inside, but it was too far away and he could not hear anything.

Ning Chengxian entered the inner room and sat down next to Dong Yuange and Qingmu Wenjun.

"Mr. Qingmu came to Jinhan, but he didn't send anyone to inform me. Instead, he asked me to do my best to be a good host."

Ning Chengxian looked at his fourth uncle and said deliberately.

"How dare Qingmu bother the Third Prince? I'm so disrespectful."

Although Aoki Fumi-kun was being polite, she didn't really need to greet her own nephew.

"You have known each other for several years, so there is no need for such pleasantries. Qingmu is not an outsider, so there is nothing to be shy about, Your Highness."

Dong Yuange knew why Ning Chengxian came here today, so he put aside the trivial matters and got straight to business.

"Sir, you should already know that Lao Liu and Xiao Yi have set off for Cen Yao."

Ning Chengxian looked in the direction of Lin Qinghuan outside the house.

"I've known about this for a long time. I can't stop them. I'll just let them investigate. After all, they won't be able to find out anything. The dead can't talk."

After Dong Yuange finished speaking, a different look appeared in his eyes.

"It seems that Third Uncle has already dealt with it. That way, the two brothers won't have any trouble on the way."

After Ning Chengxian finished speaking, he looked at his fourth uncle again, only to see that Qingmu Wenjun seemed to be unable to hear what they were saying. He was drinking tea and studying the unfinished game of chess in front of him.

After about an incense stick's time, Ning Chengxian stood up, bowed and prepared to leave, but suddenly remembered something and said to Dong Yuange with a smile.

"I forgot to congratulate Mr. Dong on having such a good disciple. I didn't expect that Changping, besides being good-looking, also has such intelligence. It's really rare for Mr. Dong to take a fancy to her."

"Qing Huan is my disciple and has nothing to do with him. Your Highness, there is no need to worry."

Dong Yuange said.

"Don't worry, sir. This is a personal matter, and Cheng Xian is only happy for you. I'll be leaving today. If Qingmu Wenjun is free, you can come and have a few drinks with me."

Qingmu Wenjun nodded nonchalantly, and Ning Chengxian left the inner room. Lin Qinghuan kept sticking his head out and looking inside. It seemed that such a long time had passed and he couldn't hear any sound.

As Ning Chengxian took a step forward, he saw Lin Qinghuan who was secretly looking inside and was discovered by him. The woman pretended to be calm and rubbed her neck to ease the embarrassment.

"Changping, now that you've become my disciple, you must calm down and study hard."

Ning Chengxian joked with the woman and left in a leisurely manner, leaving Lin Qinghuan sitting beside the table with a dark face and resentful look at the back.