Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

The carriage ride back to Li's house was awkward and quiet.

On the way home, Li Chenyang's usually unhappy face turned gloomy, and he kept staring out the window. Li Wenmin also remained silent, looking out the window.

Sandwiched between two boys with dark clouds over their heads, Xueyue could only sit quietly and pray for safety.

They had survived the stifling carriage ride home, and on arrival were shown into the house and straight into the dining room. The table was laid out with delicious food, which was a delight to the eyes, but the atmosphere was not so lively; there was silence around them, only the occasional clinking of spoons.

"How was your day out today?" Duchess Li Qixing tried to strike up a conversation, but only received bland responses like "nothing" and "hmm".

Her eyes swept from the unresponsive twins to the quiet Xueyue who was eating silently.

Sighing, Duchess Li Qixing asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. Why do you think so?" Li Wenmin responded immediately, his voice too high.

"Yeah, nothing happened, Xueyue?" Li Chenyang pushed the quiet girl beside him. The sudden push almost made her jump up.

“Uh…” Xueyue cleared her throat, not knowing what to say. She didn’t want to lie to Princess Li, who had always been so kind and patient with her. She also didn’t want to get the twins into trouble. Her eyes moved back and forth nervously.

Fortunately, the Duchess saved her life. "Are you sure nothing happened? Because Wenmin always chats during meals, and Chenyang is too picky and doesn't eat lotus root." She swept the three children with a stern look that only a mother can do.

Of course, Li Chenyang and Li Wenmin were already eighteen years old and too mature to be scolded, but this did not stop the Duchess. She would scold them whether they were sixteen or sixty-six, because they would always be little boys in her eyes.

"I can always ask the servants what happened, but I'd rather hear your side of the story first," Duchess Li Qixing pointed out.

She glanced at the three nervous people in front of her, seeming to find what was happening at the table very interesting. Neither boy wanted to make eye contact, and Xueyue was too busy staring at her bowl of rice to respond.

Duchess Li Qixing pointed her finger at the table and scanned the children in front of her with her eagle eyes. After a few seconds of silence, she said, "Kids, how are you?"

"We met that kid."

"We met the Fourth Prince."

The twins responded at the same time.

"Li Wenmin, you can't call the Fourth Prince a brat!" Duchess Li Qixing snorted and frowned. "He's your cousin!" she reminded him. She was annoyed and thought, "Oh my God, I hope they didn't call him that to his face!"

Li Wenmin said: "He is the son of the imperial concubine, not the son of the queen! He is not even the son of my aunt, why should I call him cousin - Ouch!" He groaned in pain when his mother twisted his earlobe.

"I taught you better etiquette than this, young man!" she scolded, and then pulled his ear again. "Excuse me, did you boys not offend him again?"

Li Wenmin and Li Chenyang looked at each other, crossed their arms, and looked provocative.

The Duchess lost her patience. "Li Chenyang, Li Wenmin—"

"But mom! It was the prince who started it!" Li Wenmin pouted and his eyes widened. He acted like a wounded puppy who was accused of tearing up the sofa.

"I don't care who started it first! You can't just insult the Fourth Prince! Although the Lone Eagle Princess showed mercy, she was just as cruel to her only son as I was!" Duchess Li Qixing frowned in anger and began to put food into the children's bowls, which violated various social rules. "And, how did you meet him in the first place?"

Li Chenyang looked away. Li Wenmin stared at the table, determined not to speak. Xueyue moved awkwardly in her seat.

Sensing the awkward silence, Duchess Li Qixing frowned again. "Excellent?" She continued to walk forward and put the fish fillets on everyone's plate.

"It's all my fault..." Xueyue said softly.

Duchess Li Qixing pricked up her ears, though somewhat surprised, after hearing this confession.

Xueyue told the whole story. After she finished, the Duchess had a thoughtful expression on her face.

Xueyue deliberately omitted the insults to the Fourth Prince. She didn't want to cause trouble for the children.

"I see... you're doing this to a little kid." Duchess Li Qixing hummed. After looking at the guilty children in front of her for a while, she sighed.

Neither of them wanted to reveal the truth, nor did they want to accuse each other. Their lips were sealed with deep trust and loyalty.

Princess Li didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry. "If the Fourth Prince doesn't discuss this with the Emperor, I won't care. But if the Fourth Prince asks and the Emperor knows about this, you have to go and talk to him in person. Do you understand?" She finally softened her heart.

"Yes ma'am." Li Wenmin grinned and saluted to his lovely mother in a playful manner. Li Chenyang said "OK" listlessly, and Xueyue nodded readily. The three prayed that the next few days would be peaceful, but if they knew, the situation would be counterproductive.