Chapter 61

"I\'ll have someone buy them for you. They\'ll be back soon."

"Brother, I also want to go outside and bask in the sun. Can you carry me there?"

"Sure, I\'ll carry you."

Shunzi: "..."

He really wanted to shout like Madam Xu Wan: Don’t you have legs of your own??

But when the Little Demon King acted sweet and spoiled, no one could resist him except Xu Wan. Even the Old Marquis and Old Marchioness, who had raised two outstanding sons, had fallen under the spell of this boy, watching helplessly as he grew into a mischievous troublemaker.

Outside the house, the two brothers were enjoying themselves—one comfortably squinting in the sunlight, while the other busily served tea and water.

Zong Jincheng lounged on the chair, completely at ease, and instructed, "Buyan, go ask Steward Liu to bring another recliner for my brother."

"Yes."

The Little Demon King added, "Make sure to tell Steward Liu that the recliner should stay here permanently. My brother will often come to sunbathe with me!"

"Yes."

Earlier, Xu Wan had ordered all the valuable items in the Little Demon King’s courtyard to be removed, leaving only one recliner. But now, since it was for Zong Wenxiu, Steward Liu wouldn’t refuse.

Zong Wenxiu was also delighted, his eyes nearly disappearing into a smile. He said gently, "Brother, since you can’t write these days, I’ll bring the books you need to read and have Shunzi read them aloud for you to memorize."

"Okay," Zong Jincheng replied with a squinting smile.

For the next few days, the Little Demon King didn’t study in his own courtyard. Instead, he insisted on being carried by Buyan to the large study to read with Zong Wenxiu.

The way he clung to his brother, calling him "Brother" repeatedly, made Xu Wan’s skin crawl. She asked Cui Zhi, "Was he like this with the Old Marchioness too?"

Cui Zhi chuckled, "Yes, the Old Marchioness couldn’t resist him. Whatever the Little Young Master asked for, she would give it to him."

Xu Wan’s face was filled with confusion.

She glanced through the window at the overly attentive Little Demon King and still felt something was off. "There’s always a reason for unusual behavior. Keep an eye on Wenxiu to make sure Jincheng isn’t scheming something behind his back."

"Ah? You mean Young Master Jincheng might be using Young Master Wenxiu for something…" Cui Zhi widened her eyes, finding it hard to believe.

Her Young Master Jincheng was indeed clever and sharp, but he was only eight years old. Surely he couldn’t… could he?

Xu Wan snorted, "I don’t know what he’s up to, but it’s definitely no good. Keep watching him and report anything unusual to me."

"Yes, yes…"

Before leaving, Cui Zhi took another look at Zong Jincheng.

Nothing seemed wrong—he acted the same way he did with the Old Marchioness, except this time it had been going on for a while…

Wait! It had been going on for too long!

Whenever the Little Demon King acted spoiled with the Old Marchioness, it was always because he wanted something. Once he got it, he wouldn’t be so clingy.

But he had been clinging to Zong Wenxiu for several days now.

There was definitely something going on!!!

That afternoon, Zong Wenxiu was sunbathing in Zong Jincheng’s courtyard while Zong Jincheng waited inside for Shunzi.

Shunzi came in and said, "Young Master, the lychees have been washed." He glanced at Zong Wenxiu outside, trying to signal him, but Zong Wenxiu was too absorbed in the sunlight to notice.

Afraid Shunzi might ruin his plan, Zong Jincheng quickly said, "You and Buyan go to the kitchen and make me some scallion pancakes. I want both of you to make them together."

Shunzi: "...Yes."

Neither he nor Buyan had ever stepped foot in the kitchen. Making pancakes together? The Little Young Master was clearly trying to get rid of them. Poor Zong Wenxiu was about to fall into a trap.

Unable to bear it, Shunzi whispered, "Young Master, this isn’t right. If Madam finds out, it’ll harm Young Master Wenxiu."

Zong Jincheng glared at him and said, "If Xu Wan finds out, I’ll take the blame and clear his name. At most, I’ll get another beating. I won’t drag him into this."

Shunzi urged, "But… why go through all this trouble just to get beaten again?"

Zong Jincheng snorted, "Don’t worry about it. Even if I have to suffer, I’ll make sure Xu Wan pays for it too!"

"Now, you and Buyan get out of here. Go, go, don’t get in my way!" Zong Jincheng nudged him with his elbow.

Shunzi looked reluctantly at his young master’s still-injured hand, thinking that by the time they returned, another part of him might be wrapped up like a white radish.

"Brother, come in and have some lychees. They’re chilled!" Zong Jincheng called out.

On the table were two plates of chilled lychees.

As soon as Zong Wenxiu entered, Zong Jincheng said, "I want the bigger plate."

Both plates were similar in size, but the one Zong Jincheng pointed to had a particularly large lychee on top. Zong Wenxiu picked it up and said, "Let me peel this one for you."

After peeling it, he fed it to Zong Jincheng, who ate it happily.

Zong Wenxiu said, "It’s still early summer. If we eat all these chilled lychees, we might get stomachaches."

Zong Jincheng nodded, "Shunzi made a mistake. He said this plate was originally meant for Xu Wan. I don’t want to give it to her, so I’m keeping it."

Zong Wenxiu hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t say anything.

The Little Demon King grew anxious.

Why aren’t you saying anything? Why aren’t you telling me not to hog the lychees? Speak up!

But no matter how much the Little Demon King’s mind raced, it was useless. Zong Wenxiu was focused on pleasing his brother and didn’t want to upset him.

After all, there were more chilled lychees in the kitchen. They could always prepare another batch.

But since Zong Wenxiu didn’t speak up, Zong Jincheng couldn’t hold back. These chilled lychees were actually spoiled ones he had asked Shunzi to prepare days ago. The chilling masked their taste, so by the time Xu Wan realized, she would have eaten enough to get a stomachache!

Hmph, that wicked woman dared to slap my hand three times. Now she’ll face my revenge!

Pretending to have reformed, Zong Jincheng said, "I’ve thought about it, and I’ll let her have the lychees. Even though she hit me, I was in the wrong first. I admit it."

Zong Wenxiu’s eyes lit up with pride. "Brother, you’ve grown up."

Zong Jincheng smiled innocently on the surface.

But in his heart, he thought, Grown up? Even if I was wrong, she shouldn’t have slapped my hand over such a small matter. She’s just looking for excuses to hit me!

Zong Jincheng said with a sweet smile, "Then you can take the lychees to her. They’ll melt soon."

"What do you want Wenxiu to bring me? I’ll come and get it myself," Xu Wan said as she walked in, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the two plates of lychees.