131: Chapter 0131 is outrageous.

The next morning.

At breakfast, the atmosphere at the table was somewhat subtle.

Xiao Qingxuan, Mu Wanying, and Leng Bingyan showed no surprise at all when they saw Su Wansha come out with Lin Xiao.

It was as if everyone had tacitly accepted everything that happened last night, finding it perfectly natural.

This "naturalness," however, left Su Wansha feeling somewhat at a loss. She just sat there, dazed, holding her porridge bowl.

"Come, Su Wansha, try these pickles. They're made from baby cucumbers. You won't find them anywhere else; they're very refreshing."

Xiao Qingxuan picked up a piece of cucumber and placed it in the bowl of her new sister.

"Th-thank you, Sister."

Although Su Wansha hadn't slept much, she showed no signs of fatigue; instead, she looked even more radiant than a flower.

"I'm two years younger than you, yet you're calling me Sister?"

Xiao Qingxuan feigned annoyance.

"Ah? Then... then..."

Su Wansha's face flushed red, and she didn't know what to do.

"Pfft," Mu Wanying laughed. "Su Wansha, Qingxuan is just teasing you. You can call her whatever you like; our family doesn't stand on the formalities of wealthy households!"

Only then did Su Wansha recall that when she came here for meals before, Mu Wanying and Alias for Leng Bingyan would just call her "Qingxuan" directly, never using titles like "Sister" or "Madam."

Xiao Qingxuan reached out, patted the back of Su Wansha's hand, and said earnestly, "Don't be nervous. Just get along with us as you did before. We've long considered you a sister."

Su Wansha finally relaxed, nodding with a sweet smile, feeling a warmth in her heart.

Lin Xiao drank his porridge and ate his side dishes heartily, watching Xiao Qingxuan's display, which had brought tears to Su Wansha's eyes.

As expected of an Empress; managing a small harem is child's play for her, isn't it?

It seems he can boldly expand his scale, hmm...

In the time it took to eat breakfast, Xiao Qingxuan was already discussing with Su Wansha about arranging a courtyard for her to live in and even adding her to the "shift schedule."

Su Wansha now realized that Lin Xiao enjoyed such comfort at home; it was no exaggeration to call him a local emperor!

The crucial part was that Xiao Qingxuan, the first wife, didn't seem to mind this at all? Completely selfless?

Su Wansha grew even more impressed with this primary consort.

Little did she know, for Xiao Qingxuan, who came from the royal family, this scale of her husband's was nothing at all.

Seeing that his Empress wife had finished assigning the key tasks, Lin Xiao spoke up, "Elder Zhu and his wife invited me to dinner. Su Wansha, why don't you accompany me?"

After all, she was a disciple of Zhu Ming; they should mention their relationship to the old man.

Su Wansha naturally agreed, "Very well, General."

"Still calling him General?" Leng Bingyan teased.

A faint blush spread across Su Wansha's cheeks as she softly called out, "Husband."

After a joyous breakfast, Lin Xiao had some small gifts prepared and made some freshly roasted chestnuts before heading with Su Wansha to Zhu Ming's residence.

When they arrived, several construction crews were already busy renovating the toilet at Zhu Ming's house.

Lin Xiao noticed the smell was quite strong; they would likely have to eat further away.

The workers, seeing it was Lin Xiao, hurriedly put down their work to salute.

"Greetings, Lin Xiao!"

"You've worked hard," Lin Xiao said, waving to greet them.

"Not at all! It's our honor to build a latrine for Elder Zhu!"

"That's right! Just thinking that Elder Zhu's poop will fall into the pit I dug makes me proud!"

The men grinned broadly.

Lin Xiao was deeply shocked—you guys have some heavy tastes!!

When they entered the house, Lin Xiao realized that the couple wasn't there at all.

"General, are you looking for Elder Zhu? He went to the small courtyard behind the mountain!"

The worker, seeing him looking for someone, immediately ran over to say.

"Behind the mountain?"

Lin Xiao was confused, but Su Wansha smiled and said, "I know, it's the small courtyard where Teacher first lived. I'll take Husband there."

The woman was already calling him "Husband" quite naturally.

The two followed the path behind the courtyard, walking toward the back of the mountain.

"When Teacher was young, his parents passed away, and he was raised by his uncle and aunt in the house down the mountain."

"Later, after Teacher became a doctor at the academy and a tutor to the Crown Prince, a renowned Confucian scholar, he returned here to retire."

"That courtyard wasn't big enough to cultivate much land, so Teacher and his wife built a new one in the front."

"However, that small courtyard is always kept clean. I suppose since they're renovating the toilet and the smell is strong, they've gone to stay there for a while."

Hearing Su Wansha's explanation, Lin Xiao suddenly understood; it seemed Elder Zhu was also a person who had suffered.

Upon reaching the courtyard, they indeed saw signs of life.

Lin Xiao knocked on the door, but suddenly felt a surge of killing intent emanating from inside the room?

Huh?

That wasn't Ding Cuihua; was there another expert inside?

Lin Xiao pretended to be nonchalant and called out, "Elder Zhu, Su Wansha and I are here to sponge a meal!"

Soon, Ding Cuihua walked over to open the door.

The old lady was full of joy. "You're here? Oh, and you brought so many things? Come on in."

The two entered the courtyard and found that although it wasn't large, it was very exquisite, with many cold-resistant bonsai plants placed about.

Zhu Ming was holding a scroll, sitting at the doorway, with a honeycomb coal stove lit beside him, boiling water for tea.

"Elder Zhu, we're here to disturb you!"

"Teacher!"

The two stepped forward to greet him.

Zhu Ming laughed heartily and put down his book. "I've been waiting for you to come. Looking at you two today, has something good happened?"

"Nothing escapes you. We came to share the good news: from now on, Su Wansha is one of our Lin family," Lin Xiao said generously.

"Good, good. You must treat my disciple well!" Zhu Ming nodded with a smile.

Su Wansha's face flushed with shyness, but her eyes rippled with joy.

Lin Xiao then looked toward the kitchen on the side.

There was a village girl wearing coarse cloth clothes and a headscarf, looking plain, busy cooking.

Lin Xiao glanced at her and asked, "Do you have guests at home?"

"Oh, you mean Little Liu? That's my niece."

"My sister's hometown suffered from bandits; her husband died. They are a lone mother and daughter who fled here to seek refuge."

Ding Cuihua introduced.

Hearing this, Su Wansha felt pity. "In these chaotic times, it's truly not easy for the common people."

Lin Xiao nodded, but inwardly thought, "Yeah, right!"

[Liu Hanyi, 21 years old, Soul-Snatching Envoy of Yanyu Pavilion, Aptitude: Earth Grade]

[Technique 1: Sand-Blasting Shadow (41 years of cultivation), an assassination weapon technique from an ancient and mysterious sect. Grade: Earth Grade]

[Technique 2: Meteor Chasing the Moon (38 years of cultivation), a Daoist movement technique pursuing extreme speed. Grade: Earth Grade]

[Weapon: Bodhi Blood, a peculiar assassination weapon resembling a blood droplet, impossible to guard against. Grade: mystic grade]

[Traits: Elusive (Special), Assassin, Disguise Artist]

Without a doubt, Little Liu was an alias, and her appearance was a disguise!

Lin Xiao felt it was simply absurd!

Didn't Ding Cuihua retire from the pugilistic world?

How did she end up with a "niece" who is a Soul-Snatching Envoy of Yanyu Pavilion?

Could her "sister" be the Master of Yanyu Pavilion!?