Xiao Yun was bullied.

Xiao Yun’er’s cheeks flushed red and he hurriedly lowered his head and walked away. Yet Long Feihu caught him by the arm and said, “Not so fast! You little rascal, dreaming of marrying my ninth aunt—like a toad lusting for swan’s meat. Let’s see what skills you have today; I’d like to see them for myself.”

Xiao Yun’er knew he had no martial arts and was unfamiliar with this place, so he didn’t want to argue with Long Feihu. He turned to leave, but unexpectedly, Long Feihu stuck out his leg, tripping him. Xiao Yun’er fell face-first to the ground, and the others burst out laughing.

Angry, Xiao Yun’er shouted from the ground, “Do you even have any sense of fairness?” Long Feihu laughed, “You want to reason with me? Sure, stand up and let’s talk!”

Just as Xiao Yun’er was about to stand, Long Feihu stepped forward and yanked his arm hard. Long Feihu was several years older than Xiao Yun’er, had trained in martial arts since childhood, and his skills were decent, while Xiao Yun’er barely knew any self-defense at all. With that sudden pull, Long Feihu sent him crashing to the ground once more.

Long Feihu looked at Xiao Yun’er sprawled on the ground and laughed, “How does a dog-style tumble taste?”

Xiao Yun’er, furious, gritted his teeth and threw himself at Long Feihu. But he was no match—the moment he neared, he was knocked down again.

Long Feihu vented all his anger for Miss Nine’s disrespect toward his mother on Xiao Yun’er, believing that without him, Miss Nine would never have been so rude. He kicked Xiao Yun’er, who was lying on the ground, without mercy. Xiao Yun’er howled in pain, cursing, while the others watched the spectacle.

Xiao Jing returned to her room and, seeing Xiao Yun’er was missing, hurried out to look for him. Hearing the commotion outside, she saw Long Feihu viciously beating Xiao Yun’er. She hastily intervened, “Young master, please don’t hit him!”

Xiao Jing was Miss Nine’s chief maid, her martial skills even surpassing Long Feihu’s. As she spoke, she bent down and helped Xiao Yun’er to his feet.

Long Feihu cursed, “I’m beating him to wake him up! Who told him to be a toad dreaming of swan’s meat, wanting to marry my ninth aunt?”

Xiao Yun’er retorted angrily, “Who said I wanted to marry your ninth aunt? It’s your ninth aunt who said she wants to marry me!”

Long Feihu laughed, “Well then, I’ll hold you to that. Tomorrow, you’ll declare in public that you don’t want to marry her.”

Having been beaten for no reason, Xiao Yun’er fumed, “I won’t marry her, so be it. What’s so rare about that? But what about the beating you gave me today?”

Long Feihu laughed heartily, “Fool! You want to settle accounts with me? Dream on.” With that, he swaggered off with his entourage.

Xiao Yun’er called after his retreating figure, “Remember this—you’ll pay for today’s debt, and I’ll make it double!”

Xiao Jing quickly wiped the blood from Xiao Yun’er’s nose and spoke gently, “What happened just now? Are you hurt badly?” She brushed the mud and snow from his clothes.

Xiao Yun’er forced a smile, “It’s not too bad, Sister Jing. I’m useless, that’s why I can’t beat him.”

Head bowed, Xiao Yun’er returned with Xiao Jing to the Osmanthus Garden where Miss Nine used to live. Xiao Jing saw the bruises on his face and inwardly lamented. She knew Miss Nine was fond of Xiao Yun’er; now that he’d been beaten like this, what would she do when she found out?

Just as Xiao Jing was fretting, Miss Nine returned from paying respects to the Old Lady Dragon. She entered and saw Xiao Yun’er’s disheveled clothes, covered in mud, with Xiao Jing hurriedly wiping blood from his nose. She quickly asked, “What happened, Xiao Yun’er? Why is your face like that?”

Xiao Yun’er forced a smile, “I just tripped and fell, and that gave me a nosebleed.”

Miss Nine shook her head slightly and asked Xiao Jing, “Jing, what really happened just now?” Xiao Jing answered softly, “Miss, young master Feihu and young master Yun’er were quarreling in the garden. I don’t know the details.”

Miss Nine’s voice turned cold, “I see.” She bent down and gently touched Xiao Yun’er’s face. “Does it hurt badly? Go lie down for a while. I’ll find some medicine for your wounds—it’ll stop hurting soon.”

Xiao Yun’er nodded, and Miss Nine carefully applied medicine to his injuries before helping him onto the bed, treating him as if he were seriously wounded. Then she said, “Yun’er, rest here for now. I’ll be back soon.”

Xiao Yun’er noticed her tone was gentle, but her gaze radiated anger. It seemed she was off to confront Long Feihu.

He hurriedly tried to dissuade her, “Sister, let it go. Don’t damage your relationship with the sisters over my troubles. My injuries aren’t serious—just a rest and I’ll be fine.”

Miss Nine shook her head. “It’s only a matter of time before I make things clear with them. I never wanted to marry that Zhao fellow, so I’ve already offended them. Since that's done, why should I fear them any longer? Besides, they know you belong to me—bullying you hurts me more than if they bullied me directly.”

Xiao Yun’er felt both moved and anxious. “Good sister, please let it go! It’s almost New Year’s—we should be happy. Don’t escalate things over my little incident and make everyone unhappy. Besides, in a few days, we’ll leave for Xianyang. Let’s just endure it.”

Hearing this, Miss Nine sat down in the room. Just then, Xing’er rushed in. “Ninth sister, eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law want you to come—they have important matters to discuss with you, and you must go.”

Miss Nine replied coldly, “If she doesn’t come to me, I’ll go to her. Come, Yun’er, you’re coming with me.” Saying this, she picked up the long sword hanging on the wall.

Xing’er rarely saw her so angry and was stunned for a moment. She quickly asked Xiao Jing, who explained the recent incident. Though Xing’er blamed Feihu for being too domineering, she was also puzzled by what had enchanted Ninth Sister so deeply, for now she was wholly devoted to a boy much younger than herself. Yet Xing’er felt it wasn’t her place to comment.

Miss Nine led Xiao Yun’er and Xing’er toward the Long family’s council hall. Along the way, Xiao Yun’er was uneasy, fearing Miss Nine might offend the family for his sake.

Passing through several courtyards, Xiao Yun’er followed Miss Nine until they reached the grand and dignified council hall. Entering, Xiao Yun’er saw many people seated inside and was seized by fear. Instinctively, he wanted to hide behind Miss Nine.