Any behavior with a hint of delay must have a lot going on behind it.
Tang Xiaobai already started imagining that something happened with Little Qin, and alarm bells rang in her heart as she quickly thought of a way to escape.
"Yes! I do have a conspiracy! What can you do?" Miss Tang sneered.
Her words actually dispelled more than half of Tang Xiaobai's doubts. She sighed and sat back down, "Go on, what else do you want me to do?"
"You don't think just two are enough, do you?" Tang Jiaojiao's eyes showed three parts dissatisfaction, three parts helplessness, and ninety-four parts disdain.
"Need to pick two more?"
The disdain in the young lady's eyes was still at ninety percent.
"So, sister, how many do you think are appropriate?" Tang Xiaobai asked humbly.
"At least six!" Tang Jiaojiao said, "When traveling by carriage, one at each corner, two more to open the way in front of the carriage—" At this point, Tang Jiaojiao frowned, thought for a moment, shook her head, and overturned her previous words, "Six aren't enough. There should also be two more behind the carriage, making them tall and mighty so everyone knows not to mess with our Duke Yan Mansion!"
She had just finished speaking when she reflected for a moment and shook her head again to overturn her decision: "No, eight are too few—"
"Not few, not few! That's enough!" Tang Xiaobai finally came to her senses and interrupted, "Eight is fine! Four in front and four in back, mighty and imposing!"
Tang Jiaojiao still shook her head persistently: "No, eight can't even block a street, how can you beat people up?"
Tang Xiaobai was silent for a moment and, once again, asked humbly, "Um... Sister, who am I supposed to beat up?"
Tang Jiaojiao gave her a look that seemed to say "you don't even know this" and said, "Whoever offends you, beat them. Whoever you're displeased with, beat them. Didn't I teach you that? Didn't you do well last time, even making Gu You cry?"
What? She beat someone up? And made them cry?
Is that really her character?
Tang Xiaobai really didn't know her own character setting.
It's because her role in the original book was extremely unimportant.
So unimportant that not only did she not have any scenes, she didn't even have a name.
Now it seems like this name was randomly generated by the system when she entered the book.
Otherwise, why in their family her father is called Tang Shigong, her brother Tang Ziqian, her sister Tang Jiaojiao, and she's just Xiaobai?
Tang Xiaobai sighed and said, "Sister, upon reflecting, I think it wasn't very good to have hit someone last time—"
"Of course it wasn't good!" Tang Jiaojiao shot her a look, "You, the dignified second miss of the Duke Yan Mansion, having to fight someone yourself, does that make sense?"
"I'm not—" That's not what I meant.
"So this time sister will choose some good guards for you! In the future, if you meet someone who doesn't know the rules and goes down your path, or someone who sees the same set of jewelry as you and wants to fight over it, teach them a lesson!" Tang Jiaojiao said, eyes showing a fierce light.
Tang Xiaobai looked at her for a while and nodded.
Alright! As expected of you!
...
No matter what reason the young lady had for not letting her go, Tang Xiaobai couldn't resist.
After being watched for an entire afternoon, the day finally ended.
The next morning, as in previous days, Tang Xiaobai went with her sister to the main room to have breakfast with their mother, Madam Gu.
As per her routine since entering the book, after the three of them had breakfast, the young Tang Xiaobai was free to leave, while Tang Jiaojiao stayed to report some household affairs to Madam Gu.
Just as Tang Xiaobai was thinking of going to see Qin Xiao later, a servant came to report, "The second son of Vice Minister Xue in Chongyi Village, Xue Tenth Son, and Lady Xue's fourth wife from their third branch—along with County Captain Xue of Wannian County have come with gifts to see Madam and the young lady!"
With so many titles mentioned, Tang Xiaobai didn't understand much else, but she did catch the words "County Captain Xue."
Tsk tsk!
Being thrown out and still coming to apologize, Duke Yan Mansion sure is intimidating.
Originally, Tang Jiaojiao would maintain a high profile, but unexpectedly, she looked at Madam Gu in surprise.
Madam Gu remained calm, lightly coughed into a snow-white handkerchief with an orchid pattern, and with an air of elegance, softly muttered between her delicate brows, "I'm unwell, Jiaojiao, receive them with Mr. Zhou."
Tang Jiaojiao responded with a "yes," took Tang Xiaobai's hand, and left.
Tang Xiaobai assumed these external social obligations had nothing to do with her, but just as she turned, Madam Gu called her back.
"Xiaobai, go with them too," said Madam Gu feebly after a single phrase, granting the sickly beauty's tone even more weakness, "The Xue family might want to apologize to Xiaobai in person with tea."
Tang Jiaojiao nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, mom! I'll make sure the Xue family kneels and apologizes to my sister!"
Ha!
Tang Xiaobai looked at Tang Jiaojiao in horror.
Sister, how did you reach that conclusion?
Madam Gu coughed twice, softly saying, "You should not be too overbearing—"
Tang Xiaobai nodded repeatedly.
"Having one of them kneel should be enough."
Tang Xiaobai: !!!
"I don't want anyone to kneel to me!" Tang Xiaobai exploded.
Yesterday, that Chief of Evil surnamed Yao did indeed upset her, but Tang Jiaojiao made their lives more uncomfortable, and over time, she was already halfway over it, especially since the other side was just doing their job.
Today, County Captain Xue, fearing the power of the Duke Yan Mansion, came to apologize, gaining both face and content. Why humiliate them any further?
"If you keep this up, I won't go!" Tang Xiaobai said angrily.
The two were both taken aback.
Tang Jiaojiao was the first to react, scolding, "Adults are speaking, what are you interrupting for, little child!" snapping, and slapping towards the back of her head.
"Cough cough..." Madam Gu coughed twice, and Tang Jiaojiao reluctantly withdrew her hand.
Madam Gu sighed softly and gently said, "Alright then, if they bring over that agate cup set, take it as a gesture to forgive them for Vice Minister Xue's sake."
Tang Jiaojiao frowned with reluctance, "Mother, you're always so soft-hearted!"
Tang Xiaobai: ...
Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the term "soft-hearted"?