While Chen Xi and Liu Bei were enjoying food and drinks, Fan Jian had already returned with a group of girls. However, due to Liu Bei's presence, she merely greeted them briefly before leading the others into the inner courtyard.
"Zichuan, I won't bother you any further," Liu Bei said, patting Chen Xi on the shoulder. "Just remember to come to my residence tonight."
"Of course, I won't forget," Chen Xi replied with a smile as he saw Liu Bei out of his courtyard. Watching Liu Bei's carriage travel only a few hundred meters to reach his own residence, Chen Xi turned back to find a flock of ladies behind him, led by Fan Jian. Seeing Chen Xi turn around, Fan Jian and Chen Lan bowed respectfully, saying, "Welcome home, husband."
"Enough with that," Chen Xi said with a slight smirk. "We don't need such formalities here. You and Lan'er seem to be doing well, and I'm doing fine too. That's all that matters. As for the rest of you..."
Chen Xi's expression turned cold as he addressed the others, "Mi Zhen, Zhen Mi, explain what happened to my study. Why were you burning things in my study when you had nothing better to do? Do you have a grudge against me?"
"Who has a grudge against you?!" Mi Zhen instantly reacted like a startled cat, leaping forward to defend herself. "It was an accident, and besides, I only burned a tiny bit."
Zhen Mi tried to tug at Mi Zhen's sleeve, but Mi Zhen slapped her hand away and looked at her with annoyance.
"I am Jia Yun, daughter of Jia Wenhe," Jia Xu's daughter stepped forward and spoke. "This incident is also partly my fault. My two younger sisters were searching for books at the time, and I failed to stop them. Please do not blame them, Lord Chen."
"Jia Wenhe's daughter?" Chen Xi sighed. Normally, he considered himself on the same level as Jia Xu, but seeing Jia Xu's daughter now left him somewhat speechless. She seemed even older than Fan Jian.
"Yes, my father is Jia Xu," Jia Yun replied with a bow.
Compared to the other women, Jia Yun's appearance was quite ordinary. Mi Zhen and Zhen Mi were still young, but both had excellent temperaments and looks. As for the second Miss Cai, although she didn't possess the same scholarly and intellectual aura as her sister, she certainly wasn't an airhead and had a lively charm. Fan Jian had developed a graceful and dignified presence over time, while Chen Lan maintained a delicate and gentle beauty, each with their own merits. Only Jia Yun appeared plain in comparison.
"Forget it, I didn't intend to argue with this girl in the first place. She used to be so well-behaved when she was a lady-in-waiting, but ever since Zizhong let her out... hmph!" Chen Xi glared at Mi Zhen and huffed.
"Hmph, who needs your forgiveness? It was just some books that got burned; I'll replace them!" Mi Zhen pouted. She didn't like owing anyone favors, but Chen Xi's teasing had brought out her usual defiance.
"Miss Mi, you shouldn't say such things carelessly. If it weren't for Zizhong's sake, I wouldn't let you off so easily for playing with fire in my study. Now, go find someone to marry already; you're driving me crazy," Chen Xi said, waving her off. Although he found her mischievousness endearing at times, she could be quite troublesome.
"Marry whom?" As soon as Chen Xi pushed her aside, Mi Zhen bounced back in front of him with enthusiasm, completely devoid of the usual shyness of a young lady. Instead, she was eager, like a child excited about a new toy.
Mi Zhen's response nearly choked Chen Xi. In the past, she would at least blush and hide, but now she was so brazen.
Before Chen Xi could respond, Mi Zhen had already started counting on her fingers, "If it's about marriage, in all of Mount Tai, the only suitable ones are the son of Advisor Jia, the son of General Guan, and you!"
"You're going to be the death of me," Chen Xi muttered helplessly. "Jian'er, who taught her this? Last year, when she was serving Lord Xuande as a lady-in-waiting, she was so well-behaved. How did she turn into this?"
"Zhen'er is just a little... well..." Fan Jian fidgeted with her fingers, unsure of how to explain.
After spending time with Mi Zhen, Fan Jian realized that Mi Zhen had always had this personality. In the past, she had been constrained by her family's circumstances. But now that things had settled down, Mi Zhen no longer felt the need to pretend to be a good girl. Previously, she had been mindful of her behavior in public, but now, everyone around her knew her true nature, so there was no need to put on a facade.
As Chen Xi sighed, Mi Zhen had already tallied up the eligible young men in Mount Tai. "What do you think about me marrying Zhuge Kongming?"
"I am already married," came a voice from Zhuge Liang's courtyard, instantly dashing Mi Zhen's hopes.
"Then, what about Fa Xiaozhi? He's pretty good too," Mi Zhen muttered.
"He also has a wife," Zhuge Liang, despite his disagreements with Fa Zheng, didn't want to see him suffer, so he spoke up again.
"Hmph, can you stop talking? It's not like I don't know!" Mi Zhen grumbled, then dreamily added, "Actually, I think General Zhao is quite good." She finished with a smile, her eyes narrowing into crescents as she looked at Chen Xi.
Chen Xi exchanged a glance with Fan Jian, who sighed. It was clear what Mi Zhen was thinking. "Sure, sure, General Zhao is indeed impressive—handsome, skilled in martial arts, and well-versed in governance. He's a man of both literary and military talents. I'll make sure to tell him."
"That would make me the happiest," Mi Zhen giggled, though she seemed to remember something troubling. "But what should I call him when I see my brother?"
"If I were Zizhong, I wouldn't acknowledge you as my sister. You're not even married yet, and you're already making fun of your brother," Chen Xi said helplessly. "Miss Mi, what are you trying to accomplish?"
"Miss Cai said that if a woman has the chance, she should seize her own marriage. And Miss Cai is the smartest among us, so I think she's right. That's why I'm determining my own fate," Mi Zhen said solemnly, her earlier excitement and frivolity gone.
"I'm beginning to regret entrusting you all to Cai Zhaoji. Second Miss Cai, do you think your sister is right?" Chen Xi asked, turning to the second Miss Cai.
"My sister only recently realized this truth," she replied with a chuckle, covering her mouth. "When I asked her to run away with me to escape marriage, she refused. She even read The Lessons for Women over and over, but in the end, it didn't help."
Chen Xi looked into her eyes, noticing the faint sadness hidden behind her sharp words. Cai Yan, despite her exceptional talents, had reached a point where no one could marry her. Her status, knowledge, and position made it harder for her to find a match. Sometimes, the second Miss Cai wanted to tell her sister to just find someone she liked and get married.
But Cai Yan was Cai Yan, and her sister was just her sister. If it weren't for the loss of their father and their family's decline, Cai Yan wouldn't be so indulgent with her rebellious sister, let alone consider her advice.