Chapter 299: Six Years Later

Chapter 299: Six Years Later

The grass grew lush, and orioles flitted about. The willows were green, and flowers bloomed brightly. The spring pond at the Marquis's Mansion rippled with clear waves, and a pool of green lotuses bloomed and withered.

Time slipped by quietly, and before they knew it, six years had passed.

"Eldest brother, second brother, my kite!"

A gust of wind blew, and a paper kite got caught in the high branches of a tree. Below the tree, three children, about six or seven years old, stood.

The two boys looked at the kite hanging on the tree. "Sù Yīng, don't worry, I'll get it down for you," said the tallest boy. His dark eyes were fixed on the kite above, and his square little face showed determination. He climbed the tree using both hands and feet, scaling it quickly.

However, halfway up, he still couldn't reach the kite hanging at the highest point. Just then, someone handed him a long pole from below.

"Eldest brother, use this," said a boy dressed in fine clothes, with a face as white as jade and delicate features, as he handed the pole to the boy in the tree.

Cheng Bingan, still in the tree, took the pole, and together they managed to dislodge the kite, letting it fall outside the wall.

The little girl under the tree clapped her hands joyfully as she watched the kite descend. "It's falling, it's falling!"

She ran happily toward where the kite had fallen, but just as she was about to pick it up, a small hand grabbed it first.

A pair of siblings, about four or five years old, grabbed the kite. They took turns holding it, and the fragile frame of the kite was quickly bent out of shape.

"Lanying, Bing Zhi, that's my kite! Give it back to me!" Sù Yīng shouted as she saw her beloved kite being crushed.

That kite had been specially sent by Aunt Wang from Jiangnan. It was a unique, handmade, and hand-painted kite from Jiangnan. The surface was made of the finest and thinnest Chengxin paper, and the frame was crafted from Jiangnan bamboo. The design on it was a unique Jiangnan pattern, and there wasn't another kite like it in all of the Imperial City.

It was her most cherished kite.

"Run!" the little boy glanced at her and then dashed off with his sister, clutching the kite.

Sù Yīng, seeing this, ran after them. A four or five-year-old couldn't outrun a nearly seven-year-old. The slower little girl was quickly caught by Sù Yīng, who tossed the kite to her brother. "Bing Zhi, don't let her have it!"

Sù Yīng, seeing this, released the girl and turned to chase the boy. "Give me back my kite, now!"

"I won't! I won't!" the boy, cornered, raised the kite high and, right in front of her, tore it into pieces with a few swift motions.

Sù Yīng, furious, rushed forward and pushed him hard. The boy fell onto the stone path, landing on his bottom, and burst into loud sobs.

"Sù Yīng, what happened?"

"What's going on?"

Cheng Bingan and Cheng Binghao ran over to find Cheng Bingzhi crying uncontrollably on the ground.

Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying were both children of Concubine Li. Over the past six years, Concubine Li had first given birth to Cheng Lanying and then, the following year, to Cheng Bingzhi. Both children were raised under Concubine Li's care, and they were particularly favored by Cheng Yunshuo, making them quite arrogant in their daily lives.

"Sù Yīng, what happened?" Cheng Binghao ran to Cheng Sù Yīng's side.

Cheng Sù Yīng held up the torn kite, her eyes filled with tears, glaring angrily at Cheng Bingzhi, who was wailing on the ground.

"Who ruined Sù Yīng's kite?" Cheng Binghao shouted loudly.

Cheng Lanying retreated two steps, and Cheng Bingzhi's wailing on the ground grew louder.

At that moment, a tall, upright young man approached.

Six years had changed Cheng Yunshuo quite a bit. He had grown a beard, giving him a more composed appearance than in his youth. His once sharp, spirited eyes now held a hint of restraint and quiet, now bearing the demeanor of an adult.

"What happened?"

At his words, the children in the courtyard fell silent.

Seeing him approach, Cheng Lanying ran towards him and flung herself into his arms, "Daddy!"

Her voice was delicate, as though she'd been terribly wronged, like a butterfly fluttering into Cheng Yunshuo's arms.

Cheng Yunshuo scooped up Cheng Lanying, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

"They bullied my brother!" Cheng Lanying pointed at Cheng Suying and the others.

Hearing this, Cheng Binghao immediately stepped forward, "That's not true! You two took Suying's kite and tore it up!"

"We didn't know it was hers; we just found it," Cheng Lanying clung tightly to Cheng Yunshuo's neck.

"Daddy, I told you it was my kite!" Cheng Suying clutched the remains of her kite, her gaze locked on Cheng Yunshuo, "They wouldn't give it back to me, and they tore it apart."

Cheng Yunshuo met Cheng Suying's tearful gaze, then quickly looked away, "Even if it's yours, what's wrong with letting your younger siblings play with it for a bit? You're the older sister, why must you always quarrel with your younger siblings?"

Hearing her father say this, Cheng Suying fell silent.

Nearby, Cheng Binghao bristled with indignation, "Dad! They were the ones in the wrong! Why are you blaming Suying?"

"I haven't even punished you yet. As an older brother, you didn't even try to comfort your crying brother, and now you're questioning me? Is this the behavior you've been taught?"

"Dad, you..."

"Second brother," Cheng Bingan quickly stopped Cheng Binghao and looked at Cheng Yunshuo, "Dad, it's my fault. I didn't take good care of my younger siblings. We know we were wrong."

Though young, Cheng Bingan already carried himself like an older brother. Seeing him speak like this, Cheng Yunshuo said nothing more.

He looked at Cheng Bingzhi, who was still sniffling and crying, "What are you crying for? Get up and go back to your mother!"

Cheng Bingzhi, who typically acted boldly around the other three, didn't dare utter a word before his father. Hearing this, he quickly wiped his tears and got up, following Cheng Yunshuo towards Bishui Pavilion.

Cheng Suying watched them leave, clutching the kite and standing still, her eyes fixed on Cheng Yunshuo as he carried Cheng Lanying away, her gaze filled with resentment.

For as long as she could remember, her father had never held her.

Of course, her brothers hadn't been held by him either, but if Cheng Yunshuo didn't hold any of his children, that would be one thing. However, he would always hold Cheng Lanying.

Every time Cheng Lanying acted spoiled, he would pick her up, no matter if what she did was right or wrong. His blatant favoritism was clear to all.

"Little sister, don't be sad. Dad is too biased! Let's tell Mother and have her set things right!"

Hearing this, Cheng Suying shook her head. She withdrew her gaze, and despite her young age, she already had a hint of maturity, even resembling Lu Lingyun in her expression, "It's no use. People who are biased will never change."

Lu Lingyun still found out about the incident.

Li Bihan personally brought the two children to her courtyard to apologize.

"Kneel down before the young mistress!"

Early the next morning, Li Bihan escorted Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi to Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

The young noblewoman seated in the flower hall looked at the two kneeling children and spoke unhurriedly, "What's going on here?"