Chapter 391: The Clever Sizi

Evening, Chen Yan returned home from Zhe Chong Residence.

Just after sitting down, Sizi pitter-patted over and clung to his leg, opening big eyes and said, "Brother, may I ask you a question?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow upon hearing it, lifted the little creature onto his lap and sat, "You little troublemaker never used to ask my thoughts before; when you have something, you just say it straight."

"Aiya." Sizi pressed her small head against his chest, cooing, "Just tell me if it's okay~"

"Alright, alright, I agree, go ahead and ask."

He couldn't bear it any longer; the little head seemed to press against his heart. Chen Yan instantly gave up trying to tease Sizi, surrendering.

Seeing Chen Yan agree, Sizi turned her head slyly, looking left and right; with only the two of them there, she whispered, "Brother, did you argue with sister?"

Chen Yan's gaze paused briefly, then he smiled, feigning ease: "You have so many sisters, how could I know which one you mean?"

"Not counting those in the palace, we have two at home."

Sizi pouted, her chubby cheeks pretending to be serious: "Brother, you mustn't fool me, stop treating me like a three‑year‑old child; I'm three years and two months old!"

Chen Yan: "......"

He wondered, what's the difference?

Is an extra two months really meaningful?

Depriving him of a chance to speak, the little one thrust her hips, lifted her chin proudly, and said, "Also, although you're trying to dodge my question with improper words, that's exactly why I'm sure you definitely argued with sister."

"After all, if you hadn't argued, why would you evade this question?"

"Don't forget who taught me; I'm very smart!"

Chen Yan: "......"

In a short span, he was silenced twice.

Fine, Chen Yan must admit, Sizi is indeed clever; the extra two months of age do matter.

But precisely because of that, Chen Yan feels both gratified and weary.

What gratifies him is that Sizi truly is smart, evolving from a toddler who couldn't finish sentences to a clever child who deduced the truth from a sidestepping answer.

What tires him is that the little one will become harder to fool in the future; this time, she hasn't yet figured out a solution.

"Brother, since just now you haven't spoken for a long time; are you thinking of a flawless excuse to fool me?" Sizi tilted her head.

She continued on her own: "Of course, I believe with your skill, even if my question catches you off guard, you just need to keep pulling up a few topics to chat with me, and you'll devise a perfectly logical answer that leaves no trace of flaw from any angle to handle me."

"But brother, do you really have to do that?"

"I'm the sister you raised since childhood; does fooling me hurt your conscience?"

At this point, her long lashes fluttered lightly; in those gem‑clear eyes, a thin mist of tears rose, reflecting a hint of grievance and sadness.

That little look—who could stay hard‑hearted? Even stone hearts would melt.

"Sss!" Chen Yan inhaled a cold gasp, his body went numb.

Since Gao Yang, another person who knows him well has appeared.

And still a three‑year‑old brat.

From just a few short sentences, Chen Yan realized today couldn't be taken lightly.

He sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, I concede."

"I indeed had some friction with your sister, but that's the kind of conflict that arises in daily interactions with your two sisters. You don't want it to accumulate, so you want to resolve it as soon as it shows signs, thus both your sister and I need to cool down."

"Did you understand?"

Sizi was a bit confused, but her memory is good; after pondering for a while, she gradually grasped Chen Yan's meaning.

She thought aloud, "Is it because you're closer to Sister Gao Yang, making Sister Li Lizhi feel uneasy?"

"Yes, you understood perfectly." Chen Yan replied patiently, "You enjoy the blessings of the Qi people, so you must also bear their hardships!"

"Both of your sisters aren't ordinary women; their personalities are opposite. Your Sister Gao Yang is too domineering, speaks more directly, doesn't mind details, so in daily interactions she has more topics to chat with me, and we spend longer together."

"Your Sister Li Lizhi is gentle and serene, handles matters properly, so in daily life there aren't many topics to discuss with you."

"If this continues, short periods are fine, but long stretches won't work, because when I talk with Sister Gao Yang, your Sister Li Lizhi is always listening nearby, laughing along. Over time, Li Lizhi will feel ignored, and her smile will become increasingly forced."

"She, like Gao Yang, fears loss!"

"Oh… oh~" After that long speech, Sizi frowned, thinking for a long time before understanding.

"So, it's because Sister Li Lizhi fears losing that she made a mistake?"

"No wonder you're our little princess, truly clever," Chen Yan praised.

"But you misunderstand; Sister Li Lizhi only has that thought, and you stopped it. Strictly speaking, she hasn't done anything wrong yet."

"Actually I don't know what's up with her; she used to be unhurried, but ever since returning from the Eastern Palace, Sister Li Lizhi seems like a different person."

"Brother, you must find a way to balance the relationships and conflicts between me and your two sisters; making her return to the palace is a reluctant move."

Hearing this, Sizi seemed to recall something, her eyes full of guilt.

Could it be that when she spoke in the Eastern Palace, Li Lizhi heard her words?

If so, then all the inconsistencies can be explained.

Sizi, fearing Chen Yan would notice, quickly raised her little hand and said, "Brother, I can help you."

"Sure!"

Chen Yan replied cheerfully, "Then when your Sister Li Lizhi returns, you must earnestly persuade her for me."

Sizi's little face instantly broke into a smile.

The reason she likes Chen Yan so much is largely that he doesn't, like others, constantly treat her as a child.

Besides playing various childish games with her, it's also because Chen Yan often listens patiently to her, truly hears her, and offers trust and respect.

Just like last time in the Eastern Palace, when it came to her own counsel, Li Lizhi always said what could a little brat understand, and didn't take to heart Chen Yan's offer to help.

Even Li Lizhi and Empress Changsun often imposed things on her, claiming it was for her benefit.

For example, they used to make her eat vegetable leaves, drink tasteless porridge, and swallow hard‑to‑swallow medicine...

By contrast, Chen Yan is willing to listen to her complaints, respect her opinions, and when encountering things she dislikes, Chen Yan also wouldn't say it's for her own good.

Chen Yan will patiently lay out the pros and cons for her, placing all the advantages and disadvantages before her, then use reasonable words to persuade her, so that she accepts it from the heart.

This is the reason Sizi likes Chen Yan.

"......"