Zuo Xiangning returned to the courtyard and sat beside the man.
"Didn't bring back any apricots or cherries?" The man, seeing her hands empty, laughed and said, "Chuzhou's cherries are famous. While you're staying here, you should eat more."
"This courtyard is very large, yet you made me think it was a small one," Zuo Xiangning narrowed her eyes and slowly said, "There are many servants in this house, but you told me there were only Mother Liu and her husband. What are you scheming by deceiving me like this?"
"Why do you keep dwelling on this question?" The man was just as puzzled, "I'm not restricting your freedom now, nor am I mistreating you. Can't you just stay here quietly? Why do you always have to ask all these unnecessary questions?"
"Because I do not belong here, I have my own matters to attend to." Zuo Xiangning said harshly, "I don't like being forced to do things I don't want to do."
The man sliced a piece of mutton and asked, "Have I forced you?"