Going Out

"It's already late, mother should rest early." Yang Chenning didn't respond to her, only leaving this words before walking away.

Old Madam Yang was so mad she was speechless.

"Mother, please calm down, here let this one pour you a cup. Young Master is indeed busy, he says it isn't tiring but as you can see from all the days he had been returning so late, that it isn't easy at all. What he said, I'm sure he doesn't mean it, he's just tired, let him rest today, alright?" Gu Anxi tried to calm her mother in-law, but the Old Madam looked at her and felt distressed.

"Xi'er, you're too kind, look, look at that son of mine, why can't he see this?" She didn't say anymore for fear she'd say something that might hurt her daughter in-law.

Yang Chenning hadn't gone far and heard the conversation between the two. He hated Gu Anxi because she always made herself look good, and made him look like an unreasonable person in front of his mother.

He remembered the time his father was sick and bedridden, his mother used him and made him marry Gu Anxi. He swore in his heart that though he married her he wasn't going to be responsible for her. It might seem as if it was his own way of protesting, but it was his way of showing respect to his late wife-to-be, he couldn't marry, nor mourn. His original intention was to remain single. But as the only heir, this was only his wishful thinking. No matter how much it pained him, there was nothing he could really do about it. In the end he poured out his frustration onto the new wife.

It's just that Gu Anxi was the perfect example of a good wife, with no flaws. She was hardworking, caring and filial. As a sheltered young miss that she was, she even knew how to cook, very well. What else could one ask for? Though compared to her sister, she wasn't as beautiful, but the grace with which she carried herself couldn't be overlooked.

He couldn't once find fault with her, she never raised her voice at him, nor complained about how she was being treated. Such a saint! He felt like he was punching the air!

He was sure she didn't even care at all about him, if not why would she remain so calm no matter what he did to her?

She didn't seek for his attention not even once, only playing her role of the 'wife'. The night of their wedding when he didn't return to meet her, she hadn't mentioned it, in addition to that, after that day, when she was him, there was a playful smile on her lips, it was so radiant and didn't look sad at all! He wondered, all he has done in the past to annoy her, who was actually suffering from it?

Zhao Xing was in her manor, and had received the invitation about the same time as Madam Yang, she looked at it with a bored look. She really didn't want to go. One she was afraid of giving herself out, two; she just didn't want to go. She just moved into her manor, such a new environment, which belonged to her alone, it was already so overwhelming, now some rich girl out of nowhere wanted to pull her into the mud, seriously who would actually be willing to go? Well except they trusted in their ability so much that they were sure nothing would happen to them once they get there.

Well that was them, this is her. In the past she could be willful because she only bullied the Crown Prince, but things were getting more and more complicated.

"Nuo Nuo" She groaned as she rolled on the bed with the invitation in hand. The two servants understood why she was like this and sympathized with her.

"Mistress shouldn't worry, Mistress still has Miss Tang." Nuo Nuo said with a comforting smile.

Lan'er, on the other hand had other plans. "Mistress isn't in a good mood, why doesn't Mistress go out for a walk? See how things are outside…"

Nuo Nuo heard this and nudged her naughty little sister, to which Lan'er responded with a grimace.

Zhao Xing thought about it for a second, it wasn't such a bad idea…

"Mistress, it's not early anymore, it wouldn't be okay to go out at this time, why not wait till tomorrow…"

Nuo Nuo hadn't finished talking when Zhao Xing rolled out of bed and stood up. "Alright, let's go."

Nuo Nuo: "…"

Lan'er was pleased.

"Where are you going? Listen, you can't leave as you like…"

"Xiao Qi, come with us, the more the merrier." Zhao Xing suddenly thought it wasn't good to punish herself like this, when she was in her world, during summer break the evenings where the best times to be out. The afternoon would be too hot, who would want to step out and goo for a walk and get tanned? The evenings would be spent with her friends, sometimes she'd even go on a small trip. It was very interesting.

If it was a matter of safety, Xiao Qi was there, there was no need to worry.

Also she trusted Zhang Zhengyang, he was sure to secretly protect her. Even more reason to be at ease. Zhao Xing smiled but Xiao Qi wasn't amused. "No, I'm not going." She replied bluntly.

Zhao Xing raised a brow, "Not going? Eh? Do you remember what your master told you before you left?"

Xiao Qi knew the Crown Prince wanted her to treat Zhao Xing as her master, but she really couldn't bring herself to do so, plus, Zhao Xing was so childish and unreasonable, if she just followed everything she said, she was afraid it would only bring them trouble in the end.

Zhao Xing saw her hesitate and continued. "It's ok, I'll go with Nuo Nuo and Lan'er, you stay here, if anything were to 'accidentally' happen to us, I'll be sure not to blame you, after all, you did warn me. I just wonder if a certain someone would be happy about it…"

Xiao Qi groaned unhappily. "If you want to go then let's go, I can't believe I have to babysit someone like you, seriously."

And that's how the group of four set out for the streets. Zhao Xing wore a veiled hat that covered her whole face. She didn't want to disguise herself too much, after all it was evening, the sun was slowly setting, no one would easily recognize her just by her figure, right? Right?

Immediately they set foot out of the manor, Zhao Xing felt the breeze that penetrated the muslin fabric making her veil flutter in the air and gently touched her face.

She exhaled happily. "Sigh, this is freedom."

Xiao Qi looked at her, then rolled her eyes, she had long lost the words to describe Zhao Xing's silliness.

Lan'er also joined in and sighed in relief, "It's the first time Mistress is taking me out."

Zhao Xing seemed to have also realized this. "Right? Then we must enjoy this evening to its fullest."