《A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks for the Imperial Examination》


 CH 1

    The missing father was made a marquis?


    In the 12th year of the great cause, the spring is cold and the whole northern part of the country is still shrouded in depression.


    It was a time of chaos, and there was chaos everywhere. Perhaps today I heard that a certain general led his troops to occupy the county seat. And soon there was news that the general was beheaded by his subordinates, and the whole Zhuo County was panicked. Many people have closed their doors, trying not to go out if they can.


    In Tongmu Village, an eight-year-old boy was carefully feeding water to his mother.


    There was a middle-aged beautiful woman in her thirties leaning on the couch. She had fair skin and a beautiful face. She was very different from the peasant women in Tongmu Village. However, this beautiful woman had a sick face, and from time to time she tilted her head and coughed.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve been sick for five days, and you can¡¯t drag it on any longer. Should I go and beg my grandmother to ask her to find a doctor for you?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Zhao Xiu Lan put down the water and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a normal cold. It¡¯s fine. Your grandmother never likes me. Don¡¯t bother her. It¡¯ll be bad if she gets mad at you.¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, her throat tickled for a while, and then a piercing cough.


    Zhao Xiu Lan was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. But unfortunately, she was not favored by her mother-in-law, and even her son Xiao Jing Duo is not favored. Zhao Xiu Lan felt bitter in her heart. Her son was obviously the eldest grandson of the eldest house. But in front of her mother-in-law, he was not as good as that rascal of the second house. She blamed her and made Duo er tired.


    Xiao Jing Duo quickly patted his mother on the back. Zhao Xiu Lan coughed for a long time before stopping, and even her voice was hoarse. The boy frowned, stood up directly, and walked out of the house: ¡°How can I do this, I¡¯ll go find my grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Duo er, come back quickly!¡± Zhao Xiu Lan shouted from behind.


    However, Xiao Jing Duo looks delicate and delicate, but his personality is completely opposite to his appearance and tough. He closed the door for his mother, and then quickly ran towards old lady Xiao¡¯s main house.


    Old lady Xiao was furious in the kitchen at the moment. She pointed to the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground and asked fiercely, ¡°Tell me, who did it?¡±


    The Xiao family is an ordinary farming family in Tongmu Village, Zhuo County, living together for three generations. After Grandpa Xiao passed away, Grandma Xiao was the oldest, and the whole family had to look at her face to live. The old lady has a total of three sons and a daughter, all of whom have married. Now only three sons live with the old lady. The old lady favored her second son since he was a child, so the second room was the most domineering in the family. The second house has two daughters and one son, Xiao Yu Fang, Xiao Yu Li, and Xiao Jing Hu according to age. The third house has a daughter and a son, Xiao Yu Mang and Xiao Jing Wu. Although Xiao Yu Mang is the eldest of the third room, firstly Xiao Yu Mang is younger than the two girls in the second room and ranks third in the family, and secondly, her younger brother Xiao Jing Wu has just been able to walk, so Xiao Yu Mang is always bullied by the second room¡¯s people.


    At this moment, Erniang Xiao Yu Li and Sanniang Xiao Yu Mang stood in front of the old lady with their heads down and dejected, not even daring to breathe. Old Lady Xiao holds the family¡¯s money in her hand. She has a strong desire to control, and she prefers sons over daughters. She is extremely stingy. Now she sees her two granddaughters cooking in the kitchen. Of course, the old lady was furious. She wished to give the culprit a good kick and lock her up for three days and three nights.


    Xiao Yu Li glanced at the old lady quietly. She shrank from her grandmother¡¯s face. She said as delicately as a mosquito, ¡°It was broken by Sanniang¡­¡±


    The old lady¡¯s knife-like gaze immediately turned to Xiao Yu Mang. Xiao Yu Mang trembled and waved his hand quickly: ¡°I don¡¯t have it, grandmother. Xiao Yu Li, you are so nasty. Obviously, I was walking with a bowl in my hand, but you suddenly bumped into me and caused me to throw the bowl. You still dare to be wicked now. Complain first!¡±


    ¡°You are talking nonsense!¡± Xiao Yuli also responded eloquently. She swept a figure out of the corner of her eye. When she rolled her eyes, she suddenly had an idea, ¡°Grandmother, the bowl was broken by Sanniang, if you don¡¯t believe me, ask the second brother!¡±


    Xiao Yu Li pulled Xiao Jing Hu over, pinched him quietly, and asked, ¡°Hu Er. You also think Xiao Yu Meng broke the cup, don¡¯t she?¡±


    The author has something to say: [Congratulations on entering the original son upgrade system, the character Xiao Jingduo has been activated]


    [Current status: weak Teenager (crossed out); current progress: Novice Village]


    [Please go to the village chief to pick up the task and start the next level.]


    [NPC excitation conditions: random combination of comments and collections]

 CH 2

    After the village chief knocked on the door of the Xiao family that day, all people in the Xiao family seemed to be stepping on the clouds, with an extremely unreal feeling.


    When the village chief heard the news of Xiao Ying¡¯s being a marquis, he was stunned on the spot. After he reacted, he immediately came to report to the Xiao family. The Xiao family¡¯s ancestral tomb was smoked. There was a marquis. Although I don¡¯t know how long the new imperial court could exist, it was a marquis after all. Even if the official rank is low, Tongmu village can prosper for hundred years, not to mention a Huo Ye. The village chief staggered excitedly and threw himself on the road. But he got up and continued to run without caring. Seeing that the Xiao family was about to develop, he now had to make a good relationship with the Xiao family in advance and has to be the auspicious person who reported the news. Maybe Hou Ye1 of the Xiao family is happy and he will give him some benefits. It will be enough for his lifetime.


    The village chief patted the door vigorously. Old Lady Xiao ordered her third son to open the courtyard door. She almost suspected that she had heard it wrong: ¡°What did you say, village chief? What happened to Xiao Ying?¡±


    The village chief ran with sweat all over his head. But he didn¡¯t care about wiping his sweat. He hated the iron not becoming steel and looked at this ignorant family. He almost wished he could go to Da Xing City to enjoy their happiness for them. Oh yes, now it¡¯s time to call Chang An City.


    ¡°What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and prepare. The nobles in the capital will come soon. Don¡¯t let the nobles see the jokes of our Tongmu Village!¡± The village chief said eagerly.


    This change woke up the whole family. Not only the Xiao family but also the lights of the neighbours are lit up. Xiao Yu Li and Xiao Yu Fang hid behind the door, poking their heads to watch what was going on in the yard.


    Xiao Yu Li turned her head and spoke to Xiao Yu Fang in a low voice: ¡°Sister, did you hear that? The village chief said that the uncle has become a marquis.¡±


    ¡°I heard it.¡± Xiao Yu Fang nodded, with an expression on her face that was both excited and apprehensive. She glanced in the direction where the big room lives and said to his sister with dissatisfaction, ¡°Look, I already said it. Don¡¯t mess with the big room. It¡¯s alright now. He has become the son of Hou Ye. I see what you do.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t only accuse me. I didn¡¯t do the previous thing alone. Didn¡¯t you take part in it?¡± Xiao Yu Li shouted angrily. She also remembered that at the beginning of the year, they designed to let Xiao Jing Hu ask the grandmother for money to buy a rocking horse just to embarrass Xiao Jing Duo. Because the grandmother is partial to the second room, the people in the second room are quite indifferent. They never thought of leaving a line for the big room. Just as they never thought that the uncle of the big room who had disappeared for ten years could be named a marquis. Now that the big room is about to develop, Xiao Yu Fang and Xiao Yu Li are a little panicked and worried about what they should do in the future.


    Second Aunt Xiao naturally thought of this. She put on her clothes indiscriminately, and stood in the yard with her husband, listening to the village chief show off the wealth and honour of Hou Fu: ¡°You don¡¯t know. The temperament and grandeur of noble people, it¡¯s more than we can imagine. I also heard the nobles say that Xiao Ying, the big man, has not disappeared in recent years, but has joined the army! Back then, that group of labourers rebelled halfway through. He went round and round and transferred to the army of Xuanguo Gongrong¡¯s family. Then along with Duke Xuan¡¯s expedition to the north and south to fight, they invaded Da Xing City together last year. They captured the rebels alive and established a new emperor. A few months ago, the new emperor ceded the throne to Duke Xuan, and Duke Xuan was enthroned. The country¡¯s title is declared Xuan. The sage is very friendly to the ministers who have merit. Many generals who follow the sage to conquer the world have been named marquis. The great man, Xiao Ying, was named Marquis of Ding Yong by his military merit!¡±


    The villagers who joined in the fun all sighed in admiration. Old Lady Xiao was so happy that she burst into tears. She kept reciting the Buddha: ¡°Thank you Buddha for your blessing. I knew that Da Lang was clever since he was a child. He wouldn¡¯t die outside for no reason. It turned out to be a marquis. Good! Good!¡±


    The neighbours all gathered around to congratulate Old Lady Xiao. Second Aunt Xiao listened for a while. Her heart became more and more uncomfortable. Finally, she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and withdrew from the crowd.


    Just after exiting, Second Aunt Xiao looked back with a feeling. Just in time to see Xiao Jing Duo standing under the eaves, looking at her with a mocking expression.


    Second Aunt Xiao gave Xiao Jing Duo a stiff smile, with an ingratitude that she was unaware of. After that, she no longer wanted to face the big room, and immediately turned her head and walked into the room.


    Xiao Ying has now become a marquis. In addition to complimenting Old Lady Xiao for giving birth to a good son, everyone is also looking at Xiao Jing Duo secretly. Originally, they thought that Xiao Jing Duo was just an orphan who lost his father. But now he suddenly became the son of Hou Ye. Everyone was secretly envious of Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s good life. Those who were smarter had already surrounded him and became close to him.


    As the village chief said, it didn¡¯t take long before the convoy from Hou Fu to pick up Old Lady Xiao to Chang An arrived. The fat and strong horses parked at the gate of the courtyard. The gorgeous carriages blocked the entire alley in front of Xiao¡¯s house. Even so, there were still several carriages that could not get in. The well-dressed servants had to get out of the car and move the boxes in the car to the yard. The beautiful and slender maids got down from the carriage gracefully and instructed the sergeant¡¯s servants to move and put things away. For a time, the Xiao family¡¯s not-so-small courtyard was crowded with people. It was even difficult to turn around.


    A woman in a long dress that tugged on the floor came from outside the courtyard. The maids, who had just been eloquently instructing the next person to carry the box, saw her, all bowed their heads and respectfully saluted, ¡°Sister Xue Lan.¡±


    Xue Lan just nodded casually without looking at the crowd who retreated to both sides. She walked straight towards Old Lady Xiao.


    When Old Lady Xiao saw the person coming, she was so nervous that her palms were sweating.


    With a long robe and a warm fragrance, Xue Lan stopped three steps away from Old Lady Xiao. Then she stretched out her arms and gave a graceful bow, ¡± Slave Xue Lan, I have seen the old lady. The old lady is very happy and safe. ¡±


    The old lady Xiao immediately became embarrassed. She hurriedly waved her hand, trying to help Xue Lan to get up, afraid of soiling her clothes: ¡°You can¡¯t do it, girl. Hurry up. I can¡¯t let you salute this poor old lady.¡±


    ¡°Of course, the old lady can bear it. You are the mother of Hou Ye. Old Madam will be the ancestor of the manor. You can afford the courtesy of anyone.¡± Xue Lan stood up and smiled gracefully.


    Old Lady Xiao has only dealt with people in the village all her life. Most of the village women are rude and straightforward. When have you seen such a delicate beauty? Xue Lan was beautiful. And she was quite good at talking to the Old Lady. After a while, Old Lady Xiao took Xue Lan¡¯s hand and was unwilling to let go.


    Xue Lan was led by the old lady to recognize people. When she saw everyone, she was smiling and polite. Xiao Yu Fang and the sisters all bowed their heads embarrassingly when they saw her, showing a look of shame.


    When she came to Xiao Jing Duo, the old lady hurriedly introduced: ¡°Xue Lan, this is Xiao Jing Duo, Da Lang¡¯s son!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Xue Lan raised one eyebrow, obviously a little surprised. Hou Ye has a son. Why didn¡¯t she hear Hou Ye mention it? Xue Lan looked at Xiao Jing Duo calmly. She smiled and said ¡°It turned out to be the son of Hou Ye. Hou Ye still doesn¡¯t know. Xue Lan greets Da Lang Jun. When Hou Ye sees Da Lang Jun in Chang An, how happy Hou Ye must be!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Old Lady Xiao said aside, ¡°When Da Lang left home, Xiao Jing Duo was not born yet. The eldest daughter-in-law was diagnosed pregnant only a month after he left. Speaking of which, the father and son are also poor. Duo er has never met Dalang and Dalang doesn¡¯t know Duo er.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about this? After returning to Hou Fu, Da Lang Jun and Hou Ye can recognize each other.¡±


    Old Lady Xiao laughed. But Xiao Jingduo was acutely aware that something was wrong. He was the son of his father. Why did they have to recognize each other?


    But the lady Xue Lan stood in front of her with a faint smile. There was no difference in her eyes. Xiao Jing Duo was not sure whether he was thinking too much or whether Xue Lan had something to say.


    Xiao Jing Duo didn¡¯t bother about it. He reminded Old Lady Xiao dissatisfiedly: ¡°Grandmother, you haven¡¯t introduced my mother yet.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, I forgot.¡± Zhao Xiu Lan, all these years, only thought she didn¡¯t have this daughter-in-law. Now, when she is happy, she completely forgets Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s existence. If it weren¡¯t for Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s reminder, Old Lady Xiao still couldn¡¯t remember her eldest daughter-in-law, Xiao Ying¡¯s serious wife.


    Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s body is still a little weak. But her face is crimson and there are faint tears in her eyes. She waited for nine years, and finally waited until Xiao Ying came back!


    With a smile on Xue Lan¡¯s face, she moved her steps slightly and saluted Zhao Xiu Lan with her hands folded. She squatted like this, just to show her graceful figure. Xue Lan¡¯s delicate voice like a yellow warbler came out of the valley and said slowly: ¡°I have seen my wife. My wife is very happy.¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s face was a little stiff for some reason. She looked down and glanced at her clothes. The grey-blue top, the washed-white bottom skirt, and a patch sewn on the cuff. Zhao Xiu Lan didn¡¯t want to stand in front of Xue Lan for some reason. She turned her head and stumbled back two steps.


    Old Lady Xiao looked at Zhao Xiu Lan with disgust. She scolded her inwardly as ¡°disgraceful¡±. She had to laugh with Xue Lan on her face: ¡°She is like this. A village woman who has never seen the world. Don¡¯t care about her, Xue Lan.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother! ¡± Xiao Jing Duo frowned in displeasure, and said aloud, ¡°My father splits the earth to seal the marquis, and my mother is Madam Hou. How can you say that to her?¡±


    ¡°As Day Lang Jun said, Madam is gold and jade. It is a life of happiness. Being able to serve the madam is a great honour for us servants.¡± After speaking, Xue Lan shouted behind her, ¡°Qing He.¡±


    ¡°The servant is here.¡± A beautiful maid in green clothes came out.


    ¡°I will transfer you to Madam. In the future, you must serve Madam well. If Madam loses a hair on the way to the capital. I will punish you.¡±


    Old Lady Xiao was frightened by this battle and murmured: ¡°Zhao Shi can do everything by herself. How can you serve her!¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan also quickly waved her hand: ¡°I don¡¯t need it. You can go back.¡±


    ¡°Madam, that is bad.¡± Xue Lan smiled, ¡°In Chang An, besides the wife, there are all servants like clouds. And those without servants will lose their status. We went out in a hurry and didn¡¯t bring enough staff. So we could only give Madam a servant girl and wait until we got back. When you arrive at the Hou Mansion, there is a yard of servants for you.¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan wanted to refuse again. But Xiao Jing Duo held her mother¡¯s hand and said, ¡°A Niang, you can accept it.¡±


    She didn¡¯t dare to retaliate against bullying. But she listened to his son the most. Since her son had said so, she could only nod nervously: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xue Lan¡¯s smile deepened. She called two more people, saying that she would give Xiao Jing Duo servants. Xiao Jing Duo glanced at the two maids whose clothes were fragrant and refused without thinking.


    Xue Lan persuaded for a long time, but Xiao Jingduo was unmoved. Later, Xiao Jing Duo simply said with a straight face: ¡°If I say no, that means I don¡¯t want it. Who is in charge here?¡±


    Although Xue Lan was the one who actually made the decision, when Xiao Jing Duo put these words on the surface, she did not dare to accept them. Xue Lan didn¡¯t expect this little master who appeared halfway to be so difficult to deal with. She was a little embarrassed. So she could only smile with all her might, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Da Lang Jun to have such an idea. It¡¯s my mistake. Please forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Duo er!¡± Old Madam Xiao stared at him angrily, dissatisfied with the embarrassment of Xue Lan. Even his mother showed disapproval.


    In this regard, Xiao Jing Duo just snorted softly, but still insisted on his own opinion.


    Second Aunt Xiao, who was eavesdropping on the sidelines, muttered in a low voice, ¡°He doesn¡¯t want someone to serve him. It¡¯s really pretentious.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo had good ears since he was a child. He just happened to hear what Second Aunt Xiao said. He turned his face sideways and saw Second Aunt Xiao hiding behind the corner, pretending to be passing by chance. While the two sisters, Xiao Yu Fang and Xiao Yu Li, were also lying on the corner of the wall, staring at him both enviously and fearfully. Aware of Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s gaze, the two of them turned their heads quickly. Xiao Jing Duo glanced at the maids standing by his side, and when his eyes swept over their fresh and gorgeous clothes, he showed a clear expression.


    The second Aunt Xiao using Xiao Jing Hu to snatch her mother¡¯s medical money is still vivid in his mind. The anger and grievance at that time seemed to be yesterday, but it had been a long time. And now even the most arrogant second room dared not look directly at him.


    All because his father, who had been missing for nine years, had returned.


    After the people sent by his father arrived at Xiao¡¯s house, Xiao Jing Duo felt refreshed for a few days. As if the depression that had been pressing on his chest for many years had finally been vented. His father came back, and in a gesture that he could not have imagined. He came back with glory and honour. He couldn¡¯t help but look forward to his father, whom he has not seen yet. Both his grandmother and mother said that he looks like his father.


    When Xiao Jingduo sat on the carriage back to the capital, he was still thinking. This is so good. His father is back. No one will dare to bully their mother and son in the future.


    Marquis

 CH 3

    How could the medicine that Qing He fried for her be poisonous?


    From Zhuo County to Chang An, the mountains are long and the rivers are far away. Although the Xuan Dynasty has pacified Guanzhong and recovered Zhuo County, many places outside Jingji are still caught in the chaos of war. The road from Zhuo County to Chang An is quite uneasy.


    Even with the escort of officers sent by Xiao Ying, the journey of the Xiao family to the capital still faced many difficulties.


    After a day of exhaustion, everyone in the Xiao family couldn¡¯t hide their tiredness. The soldiers who went to the front to explore the way ran back quickly and excitedly said to Military Officer Chang: ¡°Boss, there is a post station in front of us. We can stay at the official post station today! ¡±


    He ran to Old Lady Xiao¡¯s carriage on horseback, leaned over and said to Old Lady Xiao, ¡°Madam, there is an inn not far ahead. We can rest at the inn today and continue on the road tomorrow.¡±


    Old Lady Xiao was almost knocked to death halfway at this moment. It is natural to follow what the military officer said. With an order from Military Officer Chang, the convoy accelerated and hurried towards the inn.


    The carriage of the Marquis of Ding Yong stopped at the post station. After seeing the documents presented by the leading soldier, the post officer hurried over to greet the relatives of the Marquis.


    Xiao Jing Duo helped his mother get out of the car. He looked at his bloodless mother. His eyebrows twitched unconsciously.


    ¡°Mother, are you alright? Or I¡¯ll let them stop at the station for two days. We¡¯ll go on the road only when you¡¯re healthy.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Zhao Xiu Lan said quickly, ¡°There are so many people in the team. How can we be delaying the trip because of me?¡±


    Seeing that her son¡¯s face was still serious, Zhao Xiu Lan comforted him and patted Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s enough that you have this heart. I don¡¯t have any serious problems. It¡¯s just that I caught a cold on the road. So it¡¯s a little bit tired and weak. We¡¯d better go to Chang An as soon as possible. Your father must have wanted to see you a long time ago!¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s expression was both longing and sweet. Xiao Jing Duo also smiled and said, ¡°Yes, I also want to see my father soon! I haven¡¯t seen Da Xing City yet. I don¡¯t know what the capital looks like?¡±


    ¡°It should be called Chang An City now.¡± Zhao Xiu Lan smiled fondly.


    While the mother and son were joking, the handover documents from the inn had already been handled. Qing He walked up to Xiao Jing Duo and said, ¡°Lang Jun, the room has been arranged. I will take you there.¡±


    In the past few days, Qing He has been treating Zhao Xiu Lan respectfully and carefully. He also let go of his worry about this beautiful maid and accepted her.


    Qing He led the way. Xiao Jing Duo supported his mother and walked into the room with a smile.


    But Xiao Jing Duo still had a question in his heart. He didn¡¯t realize it when he first met the people from the Hou Mansion. Only later, did he feel that something was wrong. Since he had doubts in his heart, he asked generously: ¡°Sister Qing He, I heard about the Rong family¡¯s invasion of Zhuo County last year. Since my father worked for the Rong family, why didn¡¯t my father come to see us at that time? ¡±


    ¡± What do you know? There are many sons in the Rong family. Each of them leads an army to help the sage conquer the world. Last year, it was Second Master Rong, Qin Wang, who led the attack on Zhuo County. Although Hou Ye served the Rong family, he was not under the command of Qin Wang. So Hou Ye did not follow the army that day. It was also thanks to the Qin Wang that Zhuo County was conquered. Otherwise, the Marquis would not have been able to take the old lady and Da Lang into the capital!¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Xiao Jingduo nodded, but he was still in his heart. Something doesn¡¯t feel right. Since his father knew that the Rong family army was going to attack Zhuo County, it would be okay to ask someone to come to Xiao¡¯s house for a walk or two. But his father did not move. It was still strange to Xiao Jingduo.


    Maybe the military order is like a mountain, and my father is not easy to disobey. In the end, Xiao Jing Duo told himself that way.


    After Xiao Jing Duo and Zhao Xiu Lan, the mother and son left, the people in the station dared to look at Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s back.


    ¡°The one just now is the eldest son of Marquis Ding Yong? At a young age, he has such a good appearance!¡± The post station officer secretly spoke to his colleagues.


    ¡°When it comes to looks, who can compare to the current royal family?¡± Another replied, ¡°The emperor today is from the Rong clan, a noble in Longxi. Although the Rong clan is not high, the Rong family members are all brave and good at fighting. And this clan is like their surnames1, they are known for their beautiful appearance. In the beginning, someone made a joke about it, insinuating that the Rong family was as beautiful as a woman and had no manliness. Who would have known that they fought so fiercely, they took the capital in half a year!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the previous emperor flee to the south? And there are warlords entrenched in many places, those people will not obey the Rong clan.¡±


    ¡°So, how long can they sit in that seat? Let¡¯s see how long our beautiful royal family can last? Can they conquer the whole world?!¡± After finishing speaking, the post station officer leaned up again and glanced at Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s back.


    ¡°The Lan Jun2 of the Xiao family is really good-looking. I don¡¯t know how it compares with the legendary Rong family?¡±


    Old Lady Xiao couldn¡¯t wait to go back to the room. So the second uncle Xiao and the third uncle Xiao stayed to take care of the luggage in the backyard. Second Aunt Xiao took her two daughters back to the room and sat on the collapsed chair to rest.


    Just in a few days, Second Aunt Xiao is no longer the village woman who used to wear rough cloth and wooden hairpin. She changed into a silk robe with a double-strand gold hairpin on her head. Even the two girls in the second room have a new look, which is completely different from before.


    Although Xiao Ying sent someone to pick up his relatives and bring them to the capital, the journey was a long way, he couldn¡¯t have prepared all the clothes and accessories for all the family members. He, a soldier, would never have thought of preparing rings and hairpins for his younger siblings and nieces. These clothes and jewellery are not for them.


    Old Lady Xiao prefers her second son, and Second Aunt Xiao is her maiden¡¯s niece. So if there is anything good, the old lady will secretly stuff it into the second room. The night before the departure, the old lady secretly called Second Aunt Xiao over. She opened the box sent by Xiao Ying in front of her and took out some gold and silver jewellery from it. When Old Lady Xiao handed the gold ornaments to Second Aunt Xiao, she made it very clear that these things belonged to Xiao Jing Hu and were left for Ah Hu to marry his daughter-in-law in the future.


    Second Aunt Xiao agreed at that time. But weren¡¯t her son¡¯s things hers too? So she was enjoying wearing a gold hairpin for the time being. Thinking of this, Second Aunt Xiao also felt overjoyed. Even Zhao Xiu Lan didn¡¯t have these things! Second Aunt Xiao raised her eyebrows. Even if Zhao Xiu Lan was Madam Hou, she wasn¡¯t liked by her mother-in-law. But she wasn¡¯t the same.


    Xiao Yu Li looked at the gold jewellery on her mother¡¯s head. Her eyes couldn¡¯t hide her envy. She rolled her eyes and leaned over to speak to her mother in a low voice: ¡°A Niang, I think there is a ruby ??and silver hairpin in my grandmother¡¯s place. You can ask grandmother for it later. I want to wear it!¡±


    ¡°Ruby!¡± Second Aunt Xiao felt heartbroken after hearing Xiao Yu Li¡¯s words, ¡°I have spent half my life digging food in the soil. I have never seen what a gem looks like!¡±


    Then Second Aunt Xiao glanced at her second daughter and said: ¡± You little clever ghost, I have never seen these things in your grandmother¡¯s place. How did you see them?¡±


    ¡°Second sister is lying at the grandmother¡¯s door all day, just staring at the grandmother¡¯s private savings!¡± Xiao Yu Fang exposed her sister without hesitation, ¡°Didn¡¯t you beg the grandmother to give you a hairpin before? Why do you want this too? I don¡¯t even have one yet!¡±


    Only then did Second Aunt Xiao know that the second daughter was hiding things on her back. She didn¡¯t know whether to be angry or relieved. Knocking Xiao Yu Li¡¯s forehead, she said, ¡°You are really a traitor. You always cry poor to me. I didn¡¯t even know that you hid so many things behind my back!¡±


    ¡°A Niang!¡± Xiao Yu Li persistently pestered Second Aunt Xiao for jewellery, ¡°Grandmother secretly stuffed you so much gold. I saw it. You can give me one!¡±


    ¡°No, these are all for your brother. Ah Hu is still young. So I save them for him to marry in the future.¡± Second Aunt Xiao said without thinking.


    Xiao Yu Li was very angry and said bitterly: ¡°You are only partial to Ah Hu. He is the uncle¡¯s nephew. After we arrive at the capital, the uncle will be able to lose his things? Ah Hu has his uncle and grandmother to plan for him. But what about me? Even you are still partial to him!¡± After speaking, Xiao Yu Li went to stab Xiao Yu Fang who was silent, ¡°Eldest sister. You also talk. Don¡¯t pretend that you don¡¯t care at all. Don¡¯t let me come forward with everything while you make benefit in the back!¡±


    ¡°You two can really do it!¡± Second Aunt Xiao had a headache. Her two daughters, one was more worried than the other. Second Aunt Xiao lowered her voice, pointed to the door opposite, and said, ¡°Although your grandmother loves Ah Hu the most, your uncle doesn¡¯t. Usually, at home, every good thing should be close to Ah Hu, but when it comes to the capital, the good things? It¡¯s all to the big house! No matter how much your uncle loves his nephew, can he surpass his own son? If I don¡¯t save some for Ah Hu now, it will be too late!¡±


    Xiao Yu Fang and Xiao Yu Li both looked at Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s room. Second Aunt Xiao secretly mentioned her two daughters: ¡°You two, don¡¯t keep staring at your grandmother¡¯s private savings. Take advantage of these few days to get close to your eldest brother. When he arrives at the Hou Mansion, he will have a lot of good things. He is a man who doesn¡¯t need gold hairpins and jewellery. Isn¡¯t his things all yours?¡±


    As soon as Second Aunt Xiao finished speaking, she heard footsteps stopping at the door of Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s room, Xiao Yu Mang¡¯s voice sounded: ¡°Brother, are you in there? I boiled water for you. Do you want to use it now?¡±


    Hearing Xiao Yu Mang¡¯s words, the faces of the people in the second room immediately changed. Second Aunt Xiao said bitterly, ¡°This little hoof is used to flattery. This must be taught by her mother. The third room is always so annoying.¡± Second Aunt Xiao pinched her daughters hard. With one hand, she said with hatred, ¡°What are you two still doing here? Go to the kitchen to boil water. Don¡¯t let the girl in the third room grab it first!¡±


    After the daughters ran out in a hurry, Second Aunt Xiao touched the golden hairpin on her head, showing a complicated look.


    She came from a peasant background. So she never thought of playing a gold hairpin in her life. But God suddenly favoured her. Not only letting her get rid of the yellow land, but also allowing her to enjoy the gold and silver jewellery that noble ladies are qualified to play with. At the same time, Second Aunt Xiao was ecstatic, but her heart was deeply uneasy. At that time, the aunt clearly agreed to let her be Xiao Ying¡¯s daughter-in-law. But Xiao Ying¡¯s uncle went to Zhao Lang Zhong to see a doctor. When he came back, he set up Xiao Ying with Zhao Lan Zhong¡¯s daughter, Zhao Xiu Lan. Xiao Ying¡¯s father had no opinion. So he agreed to the marriage. She failed to marry her favourite cousin. She could only marry Second Uncle Xiao with embarrassment.


    Therefore, Second Aunt Xiao has been dissatisfied with Zhao Xiu Lan all these years. She feels that Zhao Xiu Lan is the third party who wins the love. However, she and her eldest cousin had no fate after all. She also gave birth to two daughters and a son to Second Uncle Xiao. Slowly, Second Aunt Xiao had put down the affairs of that year. However, a few days ago, the news that Xiao Ying was named a Marquis suddenly came. Zhao Xiu Lan hit the big luck and became Madam Hou. Second Aunt Xiao feels a lump has been stuck in her throat ever since she heard the news. The handsome and powerful cousin of that year also reappeared in her mind. Second Aunt Xiao thought angrily, Zhao Xiulan, why does she deserve such great luck? First, she stole her first cousin. Now she has to take away her Madam Hou position!


    Second Aunt Xiao was angry, but there was nothing else she could do. Zhao Xiu Lan was surrounded by many maids these days, as well as her son, Xiao Jing Duo. Second Aunt Xiao really didn¡¯t know what to do with her. So she could only grit her teeth in secret.


    After Xiao Jing Duo sent his mother back to the room, he went back to his room to rest. These days, Xue Lan refused to let him live with Zhao Xiu Lan on the grounds that he was getting older. Xiao Jing Duo knew that the big families lived separately. Everyone had a yard, not to mention the noble families in Chang An. So Xiao Jing Duo did not resist and let Xue Lan place him elsewhere.


    But after a while, his tranquillity was interrupted. First, the cousin of the third room came to bring him hot water, and then the two sisters of the second room also came to make trouble in his room. Xiao Jing Duo was so annoyed that he had no choice but to go to his mother¡¯s room.


    He closed the door, sat in front of his mother and complained: ¡°I have never seen them so attentive in so many years. When my father came back, their attitude changed suddenly.¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan looked at her son with a helpless and doting smile: ¡± It¡¯s human nature to follow the trend. They are all girls¡¯ families. They can neither be officials nor buy property. Your grandmother has always emphasized men and women. There is no side in favour of them. Naturally, they feel that there is no guarantee. So they can only find another way out. You are their big brother and also the son of Hou Ye. If they are not looking for you, who are they looking for? Yu Fang and others have to rely on you to support them after they get married, so you don¡¯t have to avoid these sisters too much. You can treat them like you usually treated them in the past. ¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Xiao Jingduo nodded.


    After a few days, Zhao Xiu Lan felt that her son had undergone earth-shaking changes. His appearance was still the same, but his gestures showed an indescribable majesty.


    Xiao Jing Duo used to be a very hard-headed person. When the people from Ding Yong Hou¡¯s mansion came back, no matter whether the maids in gorgeous clothes or the sergeants in military uniforms, they all treated him with respect. Walking among these people, Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s aura would naturally change. Slowly transformed from a thin country boy, he gradually revealed the majesty of the noble son of Hou Fu.


    Zhao Xiu Lan looked at her son who seemed to have grown up overnight, with a gratifying smile on her lips, but tears flowed from her eyes unconsciously: ¡°Mother¡¯s Duo er has grown up. When my mother was pregnant with you, I couldn¡¯t let your father see it. When you were born, he left home and joined the army. When my mother named you, I was thinking, your father is so handsome and dazzling as the sun in the sky, I will give you the word Duo, golden gallant iron horse, military type. This name, your father will definitely like it.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo knew that his mother had been caring about his father all these years. She almost cried whenever she mentioned his father. He was silent for a while, then he held his mother¡¯s hand tightly and said, ¡°A Niang, we will see my father soon. He will definitely like the name you gave me.¡±


    There were still tears in her eyes, but she nodded vigorously with a smile.


    At this time, the girls¡¯ voices came from outside the door. It seemed that Xiao Yu Li and Xiao Yu Mang were arguing again. Xiao Jing Duo found out that several of them had chased after his mother¡¯s room. He felt a headache, and immediately got up and said to his mother, ¡°A Niang, I¡¯ll go to the kitchen to make medicine for you. When they come in, stop them for a while.¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ ¡°Zhao Xiu Lan hasn¡¯t finished speaking yet. When she saw Xiao Jing Duo go through the window and leave, she showed a helpless smile, ¡°This child, Qing He has already taken over the errand of decoction. Where is the need for him to see medicine?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo avoided his cousins, with a flexible posture in the kitchen. He looked around, and there was only a small stove with a medicine stove on it. He pointed to the bubbling medicine stove and asked the handyman next to him: ¡°Is this the medicine for Madam?


    ¡± Yes. Sister Qing He has something to do. So she ordered this slave to look at the medicine here.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Jing Duo opened the medicine stove and poured medicine into the bowl next to him. But the handyman called out unexpectedly. Xiao Jing Duo turned around strangely: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    The handyman shook his head in embarrassment, his expression a little tangled: ¡°Sister Qing He said that no one is allowed to touch this pot of medicine except her.¡±


    ¡°Sister Qing He has a heart.¡± Xiao Jing Duo said without taking it to heart. He continued to turn around to fill the medicine and then walked out with the medicine bowl in his hand, ¡°If Sister Qing He comes back, you can say that the medicine was taken away by me. My mother is not in good health. So she has to take medicine and rest earlier.


    ¡± Yes.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo carefully brought the medicine bowl to Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s room all the way. He put the bowl on the low table and urged his mother: ¡°Mother, take the medicine quickly. It will not work well when the medicine cools down.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Xiu Lan said with a satisfied smile. She was willing to be controlled by his son. She picked up the medicine bowl and took a sip carefully. But she frowned and murmured, ¡°Why is it so bitter?¡±


    ¡°Bitter?¡± Xiao Jing Duo felt something was wrong. His mother was cold on the way. The prescription is the Zelan soup, which was more focused on nursing. The soup contains licorice, zelan, and honey. The taste should be sweet and slightly bitter. How can it be so bitter that it is impossible to swallow?


    Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s expression changed. He grabbed Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s medicine bowl with one hand and put it on the tip of his nose to smell it carefully.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Xiu Lan asked suspiciously. Although she is the daughter of a genius doctor, she doesn¡¯t know anything about medicine. Seeing her son¡¯s expression is wrong, she becomes more and more confused.


    ¡°There is something wrong with the medicine.¡± Xiao Jing Duo came to a firm conclusion. He stood up and walked out with the bowl in his hand, ¡°Mother, stay in the room and don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll go check the medicine.¡±


    Zhao Xiu Lan stayed in the room anxiously. Is there a problem with the medicine? How could this be possible? Qing He made the medicine for her with her own hands. Every procedure was watched by countless people. How could outsiders have the chance to manipulate medicine? ¡°Isn¡¯t someone putting the wrong ingredient?¡± Zhao Xiu Lan murmured in a low voice.


    After a while, Xiao Jing Duo came back. He holds an empty bowl in his hand. His eyes are dark as if he can swallow all the light: ¡°The medicine is poisonous. The dog at the station is dead.¡±


    The author has something to say:


    Dog at the station: ? ? ?


    Dog owner: ? ? ?


    Author: I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m guilty [cover face]


    ÈÝ(Rong)- appearance, look


    Lang Jun- young maste

 CH 4

    A murder plan occurred in the post station.


    Holding an empty bowl, Xiao Jing Duo stood silently at the door, not knowing what he was thinking.


    Who did it to his mother? Or is his goal the entire Xiao family?


    A burst of footsteps came from behind. Qing He hurriedly ran over, and when she passed Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s door, she slowly stopped. Qing He lowered her head and glanced at the familiar medicine bowl in Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Da Lang Jun, why is the medicine bowl here? Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± She said with a smile.


    Xiao Jing Duo also smiled: ¡°I went to the kitchen to get medicine for my mother. But I accidentally spilled the whole bowl of medicine.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo had already let his guard down on Qing He. But today¡¯s events made him suspicious again. He ate and lived with his grandmother and others for so long. If someone attacked the Xiao family, outsiders like Qing He and Xue Lan would naturally be the first to be suspected.


    ¡°Spilled?¡± Qing He looked at Xiao Jing Duo suspiciously, as if she wanted to see something abnormal on his face.


    Xiao Jing Duo did not evade and looked at Qing He. Their eyes met. Neither was willing to back down.


    The abnormality in the corridor quickly alerted the others. Xue Lan also came out of the room. Seeing the situation of Xiao Jing Duo and Qing He, her face froze. She asked loudly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Qing He took the lead to look away. She turned around and gave Xue Lan a salute: ¡°This slave was cooking medicine for Madam in the kitchen. But after going out for a while, Da Lang Jun took the medicine away.¡±


    Xue Lan¡¯s face changed imperceptibly: ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine? Madam, did she drink it?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Xiao Jing Duo said immediately. His eyes wandered over Xue Lan and Qing He. He said casually, ¡°I didn¡¯t pay attention and spilled the medicine outside.¡±


    Xue Lan wrinkled her eyebrows. But she immediately smiled again: ¡°I thought something happened. It turns out that Lang Jun just spilled a bowl of medicine. Qing He, don¡¯t hurry up and make another bowl.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Qing He promised. She was about to retreat, but was stopped by Xiao Jing Duo, ¡°No need. It¡¯s the son¡¯s responsibility to attend to mother¡¯s illness. I can decoct the medicine.¡±


    Da Lang Jun wants to decoct? Qing He stood in front of Xiao Jing Duo, frowning secretly after hearing this. She didn¡¯t know what to do. So she secretly glanced at Xue Lan, only to find that Xue Lan was just smiling softly and didn¡¯t say anything.


    So Qing He felt relieved and respectfully made way for Xiao Jing Duo.


    The voices in the corridor made Old Lady Xiao awake as well. She came out and saw Xiao Jing Duo walking out. ¡°Hey, Duo er, where are you going out so late without sleeping?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo couldn¡¯t trust any of the maids. So when he saw his grandmother coming out, he found a little sense of security: ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m going to make medicine for my mother. It¡¯s not early. Why haven¡¯t you rested yet?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡± Old Lady Xiao chattered when she saw someone, ¡°I¡¯m a village woman who grew up in the soil. I used to dare not look from a distance when I saw an official. Oh, who would have thought that one day I would be able to sleep in the official post? I don¡¯t dare to go to bed too early, for fear of losing my luck.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo showed a helpless smile. Xue Lan also smiled and took Old Madam Xiao¡¯s hand, saying ¡°Old Madam, you are a person of great fortune. There will be good days waiting for you in the future. Madam, why not let the slave sleep with you?¡±


    ¡°How is this good¡­¡± Old Madam Xiao quickly declined. Seeing that Xue Lan was about to take Old Madam Xiao back to her room, Xiao Jing Duo suddenly flashed the dog that fell to the ground in the backyard in his mind.


    ¡°I have something to tell my grandmother.¡± Xue Lan¡¯s suspicion has not been cleared. How dare Xiao Jing Duo let her get along with his grandmother alone? He controlled his expression, trying his best not to show any strangeness, ¡°Can I let Sister Xue Lan avoid our grandmother and grandson?¡±


    ¡°Xue Lan is beautiful and good-natured. She¡¯s just like our own family now. Why do you have to avoid her?¡± The old lady Xiao took Xue Lan¡¯s hand dearly. She was quite displeased with Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s words.


    Xue Lan glanced at Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s expression. She pulled out her hand with a smile, and took the initiative to say, ¡°Since the master has orders, the slaves will naturally obey. Madam, I will go outside to pack first. You should go to bed earlier.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± Old Lady Xiao replied reluctantly watching Xue Lan shut the door and go out.


    After the room was quiet, Xiao Jing Duo immediately stepped forward and said to Old Lady Xiao in a low voice, ¡°Grandmother, my grandson has something to report. In fact, I didn¡¯t knock over my mother¡¯s medicine. I suspect there is something wrong with the medicine!¡±


    ¡°Ah. ¡± Old Madam Xiao showed a look of surprise, ¡°How do you say this?¡±


    ¡°My mother said it was bitter when she drank the medicine. The grandson felt wrong. So I poured out the rest of the medicine.¡± Xiao Jing Duo hadn¡¯t thought about what to say about the rest. Suddenly, he found that the grandmother¡¯s expression was wrong.


    It was a kind of fear, but it was mixed with excitement.


    Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s next words were suddenly blocked in his throat. He originally wanted to tell his grandmother about his grandfather¡¯s medical books and his superficial understanding of the prescriptions, but his grandmother¡¯s expression made him give up this idea.


    Old Lady Xiao grabbed Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s arm. Her hands were involuntarily tight, almost pinching Xiao Jingduo in pain: ¡°Your mother, did she drink the medicine?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo looked at his beloved grandmother. In his eyes, the image of the old woman is clearly reflected in it. Xiao Jing Duo was expressionless. He nodded slowly: ¡°Mother drank half of it.¡± The old lady¡¯s strength suddenly loosened. Her expression was complicated. A hint of guilt appeared in her eyes: ¡°Half drank¡­¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo did not speak. In fact, his mother only took a sip, and then was stopped by him. He originally wanted to tell her about his guess. He suspected that the two maids, Qing He and Xue Lan, were trying to poison his mother. He also wanted to remind his grandmother to be careful. But now it seems I am afraid that my grandmother is not in danger at all.


    Who was it that she could collude with his grandmother and let his grandmother help him to mutilate his mother? Grandmother has always been unprincipled and biased towards the second room. Could it be that the second room moved her hands and feet this time?


    Xiao Jing Duo was in a mess. He didn¡¯t want to stay with his grandmother any longer. So he asked to retire and wanted to go to the kitchen to look at the dregs.


    Before Xiao Jingduo went out, Old Lady Xiao suddenly stopped him and asked, ¡°Duo er, why did you pour out that bowl of medicine? Do you think something is wrong?¡±


    ¡°The grandson naturally thinks it¡¯s wrong.¡± Xiao Jing Duo stood at the door, turned halfway, and said to Old Lady Xiao with a smile.


    Old Lady Xiao¡¯s heart was tense, and then she heard Xiao Jing Duo continue to say: ¡°The bowl of medicine is so bitter that my mother doesn¡¯t like it. Of course I have to throw it out.¡±


    Old Lady Xiao was surprised at first. Then she felt the tense string in her heart loosens. Her face relaxed and she looked at Xiao Jing duo angrily: ¡°You child, good medicine is always bitter. You can¡¯t do this again in the future!¡±


    After Xiao Jing Duo came out of his grandmother¡¯s room. He immediately quickened his movements and walked towards the kitchen.


    Many things can be seen from the dregs of medicine. If there is no problem with the dregs of medicine, it means that someone secretly poisoned his mother in the middle. The murderer could not get rid of it and was in the inn. But if that pot of medicine is not Zelan soup at all, then Qing He, who is in charge of decoction, and even Xuelan, who is in charge of itinerary, are not clean.


    Later, Xiao Jing Duo almost ran over quickly. As soon as he entered the kitchen, he went straight to the stove. When he found the place to decoct the medicine, Xiao Jingduo immediately frowned: ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine residue? I remember it was still here just now. ¡±


    ¡± It has been cleaned up by the handyman.¡± The servant in the kitchen looked at the son of the Hou Ye in front of him and asked cautiously, ¡°Lang Jun, what are you asking about the dregs?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment. He said. ¡°Nothing¡±, he turned and walked out. After taking two steps, he suddenly turned his head and asked, ¡°Sister Qing He came to clean the kitchen so late, she really did her duty. ¡±


    ¡± She¡¯s beautiful, and she also does things so well. What a wonderful person!¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo smiled and walked away.


    On the way back to the room, Xiao Jing Duo happened to meet Xue Lan coming out of Old Lady Xiao¡¯s room. Seeing Xiao Jing Duo, she smiled kindly. The defense in her smile had already disappeared.


    Xiao Jing Duo smiled back and let Xue Lan go first, but Xue Lan refused and insisted on sending him back to the room.


    The two walked one after the other. After Xue Lan sent Xiao Jing duo back to the house, she resigned: ¡°Lang Jun sleep in peace. The slave will leave.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, sister Xue Lan.¡± When he spoke, Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s eyes rolled slightly. The whole pair of eyes shone brightly under the lamp. They were extremely beautiful.


    Xue Lan secretly praised in her heart, Da Lang Jun looks so good! She thought that Hou Ye was already the most beautiful man in ten thousand miles. But she didn¡¯t expect that the appearance of Da Lang Jun was even more than that of his father. His outline is as angular as Hou Ye. But due to the influence of his mother, his complexion is paler, and the details of his facial features are more delicate.


    Xue Lan was a little lost, until Xiao Jing Duo called out twice, she came back to sense.


    Xue Lan was a little embarrassed. She actually looked at Da Lang Jun in a daze! She looked up with awe, looked at the man in front of her respectfully, and pleaded guilty: ¡°Lang Jun, please forgive me. The slave is distracted.¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Xiao Jingduo asked indifferently, ¡°When will we arrive at Chang An?¡±


    Xue Lan laughed: ¡°It turns out that Lang Jun wants to see Hou Ye. At the current speed, we will enter Jingji in a month.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo nodded, then closed the door and took off his clothes to sleep.


    He thought silently in his heart. Although he couldn¡¯t see the dregs, since Qing He went to the kitchen to clean up the dregs, which just proved that there was something wrong with the dregs. Since Qing He was not clean, Xue Lan was probably also an accomplice. It¡¯s a pity that he is young. Although he is the son of Hou Ye, he has no right to speak in the team. So even if he knew the biggest suspect, he still had no chance to avenge his mother for a while. He could only endure it silently. When Chang An had his father in charge, everything would come to light.


    During this time, he could only be careful to stay by his mother¡¯s side, so that there was no chance for those behind the scenes to do anything.


    Naturally, this was extremely aggrieved. Xiao Jing Duo could only tell himself to endure it a little longer and wait until Chang An.


    The carriage squeaked and squeaked. In a blink of an eye, a month passed. Just when the Xiao family¡¯s elders and children could hardly stand it, Chang An was arrived.


    The towering city wall stands on the ground of the capital, overlooking the visitors from all directions. The city gate is both high and deep. People standing here are as small as ants. Xiao Jing Duo stood under the city gate. He had to lift his neck to see the flag flying above the city tower. Xiao Jing Duo looked up in fascination. Suddenly his body uncontrollably fell back, he quickly took a step back, and only then did he stabilize his body.


    He had never seen such a tall tower. He had been to the county seat of Zhuo County before. He had seen many towns along the way. He thought that the most magnificent city was nothing but the same, until he saw this big city in the middle of the pass. Chang An, he realized to his surprise, this is the style of the first city in the world.


    At the beginning of the new dynasty, the folks still had the introverted and mysterious atmosphere of the previous dynasty. The female family members all sat in the car and could not show their faces. They could only quietly spy on the momentum of the capital from the curtain of the car. On the other hand, Xiao Jing Duo had no such scruples. He stood in the team entering the city and looked around excitedly.


    The crowds coming in and out were constantly flowing. The soldiers at the city gate were busy checking the road guide and household registration of those who entered the city. There were soldiers with gold armor and silver swords patrolling under the city wall from time to time. The sound of neat and powerful footsteps kept beating pedestrians¡¯ eardrums. Xiao Jing Duo even saw a few foreigners with deep eyes and high noses in the crowd.


    All this surprised Xiao Jing Duo. He raised his head and looked up at this majestic city.


    Will he live here in the future? He suddenly had an infinite yearning for his father, who was not yet seen.


    ¡°Retreat. Retreat ahead!¡± Suddenly, the sound of horses¡¯ hooves swooped towards the crowd from far to near. The people waiting to enter the city hurriedly avoided. The originally orderly crowd was suddenly in chaos. The soldier in charge of security stepped forward and shouted loudly, ¡°Who is coming? Dare to ride a horse in front of the city gate? Get off the horse!¡±


    ¡°His Royal Highness Qin is returning to the capital. Do you dare to stop it?¡±


    ¡°Qin Wang?¡± The guards and their colleagues whispered a few words, and immediately waved their hands to let go, ¡°The idle people will leave. Let His Royal Highness Qin enter the capital first.¡±


    The Xiao family¡¯s people were also crowded apart. Xiao Jing Hu followed his father to watch the fun outside the car, but was pushed back. He was used to ordering things at home, only others let him, when did he let others? Xiao Jing Hu was immediately angry. He shouted at the top of his voice: ¡°Why do you want to make way for them. I tell you that my uncle is Marquis¡­¡±


    Before he could finish the rest of the sentence, he was covered by the military officer beside him. The military officer was so nervous that his forehead was covered in sweat. He looked around and found that no one paid attention to Xiao Jing Hu¡¯s words. He breathed a sigh of relief: ¡°My little ancestor, this is Chang An, the capital of the country. You can¡¯t say this in the future. It¡¯s over!¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo also heard the changes here. He turned his head and asked in surprise: ¡°My father is a marquis? Do you want to avoid others?¡±


    ¡°Da Lang Jun, a mere marquis, what is it in Chang An? The military officer said, ¡°The most important thing in Chang An is the powerful royals. For example, the one who just entered the city is His Royal Highness Qin Wang, the second prince of today¡¯s sage! Now half of the world has been captured by his Xuan Tie Army. We, Ding Yong Hou Fu , where would we dare to confront others?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo nodded as if he understood. He found that Chang An was far more complicated than he thought. His eyes were chasing the cavalry personal soldiers. He thought this is Qin Wang who conquered Zhuo County.


    After tossing to enter into the city with great difficulty, the female family¡¯s carriage entered through the side door and drove directly to the backyard. Xiao Jing Duo wanted to chase after them to visit his mother, but was stopped by a soldier in military armor.


    ¡°Da Lang Jun, please stay, Hou Ye summons you.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s expression lifted. He immediately smiled.


    He¡¯s finally going to see his father! It just so happened that he was going to report to his father that someone had poisoned his mother!


    The author has something to say: [Congratulations on leaving Novice Village successfully (alive) and arriving at Chang An]


    [Task character, Father, Xiao Ying, will be activated soon]

 CH 5

    Is the position of Madam Hou something she deserves?


    Under the guidance of the servant, Xiao Jing Duo walked toward the study.


    The servant stopped in front of the door, bent down and stepped back, and said to Xiao Jing Duo softly, ¡°Da Lang Jun, Hou Ye is inside.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo reached out to push the door. When the palm of his hand touched the warm sandalwood door, he couldn¡¯t help but stop going in.


    His father, whom he had longed for day and night for the past nine years, is now sitting behind this wooden door. Once the door is opened, he will no longer be that ordinary country boy but become the son of the marquis of this dynasty.


    Xiao Jing Duo calmed down and pushed open the wooden door that divides his fate, striding towards his father.


    Although it was still dark, candles were already lit in the room. Hearing the footsteps, Xiao Ying, who was flipping through the military newspaper behind the desk, raised his head, and his eagle-like eyes shot at the approaching person.


    Xiao Ying¡¯s eyes are sharp and bright as if there is a substance. Xiao Jing Duo felt nervous under such eyes. His voice trembled slightly and called tentatively: ¡°Father¡­Father?¡±


    Xiao Ying looked at him blankly. His eyes were on his face for a particularly long time. When Xiao Jing Duo almost thought that he had done something wrong to make his father unhappy, Xiao Ying said, ¡°You are¡­ Xiao Jing Duo?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo breathed a sigh of relief and replied quickly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xiao Ying nodded. Only then did he show a little smile: ¡°Very good. How old are you this year? Are you literate? What do you do on weekdays?¡±


    To be honest, when his subordinates came back and reported that there was a son left by him in his hometown, Xiao Ying was still not too sure. It wasn¡¯t until his subordinates brought Xiao Jing Duo in front of him and saw Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s face, Xiao Ying was more than certain in his heart.


    This child looks so much like him that everyone who sees this child will not doubt their kinship. After confirming that this was his own bloodline, Xiao Ying¡¯s mood became clear. During these years of war and chaos, Xiao Ying spent most of his time in the military camp and didn¡¯t have the energy to take care of his family business. Although he is not too old now, on the contrary, he is at the peak of the balance between men¡¯s power and physical strength, and some beautiful women would like to give birth to his sons. It is impossible for a man not to value his offspring. Xiao Ying is no exception. It is a secret regret in his heart that he has no offspring. But now someone tells him that he already has a nine-year-old son. Xiao Ying showed a rare smile and looked at Xiao Jing Duo with a much kinder gaze.


    This is his eldest son, a son who has been separated for nine years. In addition to being happy, Xiao Ying also quickly thought about his son¡¯s upbringing. Although Xiao Jing Duo has been living in the outside world these years, he is still young. From now on, he will be carefully cultivated. Everything will be on time.


    After answering his father¡¯s question, Xiao Ying did not speak for a long time, and Xiao Jing Duo naturally did not dare to speak. He secretly thought to himself that his father deserved to be the founding general of the country. He exuded the might of killing in every gesture of his actions. At first glance, he was a real soldier who had seen blood on the battlefield.


    The person in front of him was exactly the same as the image of his father in his imagination, even taller than his imagination. Xiao Jing Duo admired his father even more, and couldn¡¯t help peeking at his father out of the corner of his eyes.


    What kind of person Xiao Ying is? He naturally noticed the eldest son¡¯s small movements. He smiled lightly and said to Xiao Jing Duo kindly: ¡°These days, you are busy on the road. You are also tired. Go down and rest first. I have asked Xue Lan to take care of your yard. If there is still something missing, just tell the servant directly.¡±


    Xiao Ying was very generous with his only son.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Jing Duo promised. He should have stepped back and left. But there was no movement on his feet. Xiao Jing Duo raised his head and glanced at Xiao Ying quickly, and found that his father was still so easy-going and loving.


    ¡°Father, the son suspects that someone wants to be unruly with Mother, and even poisoned Mother in the medicine!¡±


    Xiao Ying¡¯s eyes flashed. But his tone did not fluctuate at all, he just asked lightly: ¡°Oh? What do you say?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo told the story of the inn, from when he found out that the medicine had been replaced, to testing it with a dog, and then going to the kitchen to check the dregs, all of them went to Xiao Ying.


    The difficult childhood greatly trained Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s ability to live in the world. He knew what to say and what not to say. It¡¯s fine to say anything about the poisoning. But I can¡¯t say a word about things related to my grandmother and my father¡¯s maid.


    After Xiao Jing Duo finished speaking, he waited eagerly for his father to make a ruling. However, Xiao Ying¡¯s reaction was very dull. Instead, he asked, ¡°Do you understand pharmacology?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I understand. I just know some common recipes.¡± In front of his father, Xiao Jing Duo didn¡¯t dare to be arrogant and humbly refused.


    Xiao Ying nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I know what¡¯s going on. You go down first.¡±


    Seeing that his father cared so much about him, Xiao Jing Duo thought that his father would be very angry about his mother¡¯s murder. However, he never expected that his father would pass this in such a light-hearted manner. Xiao Jing Duo frowned and wanted to speak: ¡°Father¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Ying made a stop gesture and said flatly, ¡°I will handle this matter. You don¡¯t need to worry about it anymore.¡±


    Since his father said that, Xiao Jing Duo could only swallow his words to his stomach no matter how unwilling he was. ¡°As ordered, I¡¯ll retire.¡±


    After Xiao Jing Duo left, Xiao Ying stared at the shaking candle and suddenly sighed.


    He is willing to admit Xiao Jing Duo, but it does not mean that he will admit Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s mother. Son and woman can¡¯t be the same. Xiao Ying and Zhao Xiu Lan didn¡¯t know each other before they got married. Not long after they got married, he left home to join the army. So on all counts, Xiao Ying and Zhao Xiu Lan didn¡¯t get along for a few days.


    It would be too much of a pity to sacrifice the position of the Madam of Hou Fu for a woman who was not very familiar, not very well-born, and even had an average appearance.


    He was uneasy about keeping Zhao Xiu Lan in his hometown. First, it would give others a hand. Second, he was afraid that something would happen to Zhao Xiu Lan. It would also be inconvenient to bring her to Chang An. If the Wu family knew about it, it would be even worse.


    So the best way is to let Zhao Xiu Lan die without knowing it on the way to the capital. It is normal for a weak woman to die due to illness on a bumpy journey, and on the way, many traces will disappear naturally. He does not even need to deal with the aftermath. For this reason, he suppressed his homesickness and did not send anyone to visit when Qin Wang was ordered to attack Zhuo County. It would be tricky if his colleagues in the military knew that he had a family in his hometown.


    It¡¯s a pity. Why did Zhao Xiu Lan come to the capital alive? Xiao Ying reached out to pick up the fallen fire core, thinking with regret in his heart. Xue Lan did not succeed on the road. It would be much more difficult to do it next.


    As soon as Xiao Jing Duo entered the mansion, he was called by Hou Ye. The sisters hid in the carriage and looked at his distant back enviously.


    Xiao Yu Li put down the curtains. She said with a bit of bitter taste: ¡°The biological and the next room are different. Just after entering the house, the eldest brother was called away by the uncle.¡±


    Xiao Yu Fang said: ¡°That¡¯s the case. If my father treats you and Xiao Yu Mang the same, can you accept it?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen my eldest uncle yet. So I don¡¯t know what the uncle looks like.¡± Xiao Yu Li looked at the furnishings of the Hou Mansion with envy. She lowered her voice and said to her sister, ¡°Eldest sister, you say, will these things in the Hou Mansion belong to the big brother in the future?¡±


    ¡°I think most of them are.¡± Xiao Yu Fang also showed an envious look. Thinking again in her heart, it would be great if she was the daughter of the big room.


    Unfortunately, she could only think about it. So Xiao Yu Fang quickly put the idea aside. Instead, she moved on to Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s idea.


    I heard from the maid that the eldest uncle has only one son, the eldest brother. Looking at the situation just now, the eldest uncle also values ??him very much. If she wanted to live well in the Hou Mansion and no longer be kidnapped by Xiao Yu Li, a traitor, then Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s attitude towards her would be particularly important.


    Xiao Yu Fang was thinking about how to please Xiao Jing Duo until she retired from the Gao Shou Tang. Xiao Yu Fang was amazed by the magnificence of the Gao Shou Tang. The three of them were secretly looking at the vases and jade objects on both sides. Hearing Xue Lan said that Gao Shou Tang was the most respected yard in the Hou residence, and only grandmother was qualified to live there. Xiao Yu Fang felt discouraged. All the good things are not hers.


    They were again fiddled with the etiquette of the morning and evening. After finishing everything, Xue Lan let the female relatives go out.


    Xiao Yu Fang has a quiet temperament. She has no temper when being manipulated like a doll on a string. Although the family said that her temperament would suffer, Xiao Yu Fang knew that many times, the loudest was not necessarily the loudest, and the honest people who kept silent would bite the most. When Xiao Yu Fang followed her mother, she was keenly aware that her aunt, Zhao Xiu Lan, was gone.


    Even the people from the second and third rooms guarded their grandmother in Gao Shou Tang. Xiao Yu Fang sensed something was wrong, but she said nothing and stepped back obediently.


    Gap Shou Tang.


    Xue Lan helped Old Madam Xiao to sit down. A maid in a lake blue dress gently stopped beside Xue Lan. Xue Lan just glanced at her lightly, and then said indifferently: ¡°Are the surroundings cleaned up?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the second Miss wanted to eavesdrop and was sent back by me.¡±


    Old Madam Xiao showed an embarrassed look: ¡± Xiao Yu Li is an ignorant girl. I¡¯ll let you see a joke.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xue Lan didn¡¯t care. She just said softly, ¡°Old Madam, the happy event is coming soon. With picking you up, we are in a hurry. It¡¯s a little bit more disrespectful. Please forgive this servant, Old Madam! ¡°


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. ¡± Old Madam Xiao waved her hand and said indifferently, ¡°Da Lang wants to marry a wife. Even if it is a sea of ??swords and flames, I will walk through.Da Lang has finally made a fortune, and of course, he has to marry the right lady of the official family! ¡°


    Xue Lan smiled and corrected: ¡°Old lady, our new lady is not a lady of the official family. She is a daughter of an aristocratic family, the daughter of the dignified Qinghe Wu family. The prestige of the aristocratic family is comparable to that of the current royal family. It¡¯s a great blessing for our house to be able to marry the daughter of the Wu family!¡±


    Old Madam Xiao doesn¡¯t understand Xue Lan¡¯s words. Her new daughter-in-law is not the lady of a high-ranking official? What is the difference between aristocratic and official? But these things she didn¡¯t care about, she only knew that Xue Lan and Xiao Ying had agreed that this marriage would be excellent, and all the people and things that prevented her son from marrying a high-level daughter-in-law would be ruthlessly swept away.


    Neither Xue Lan nor Old Madam Xiao mentioned the original wife who had disappeared. In their hearts, the position of the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family had already been vacated. To be able to enjoy a handful of glory and wealth before death is already a great luck. The rest is really not something that she, a peasant woman, should expect.


    Old Madam Xiao was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: ¡°Xue Lan, what do you think Duo er will do?¡±


    ¡°Da Lang Jun is the son of Hou Ye. Naturally he is the eldest young master of our mansion. ¡°Xue Lan said, ¡°Da Lang Jun will live separately from that person in the future. Anyway, Lang Jun is not too big now. After a few years, these things will be forgotten long ago. Moreover, Da Lang Jun is smart and clever. Wait for him to grow up. When he is older, he will understand the painstaking efforts of Hou Ye. There is a mother from an aristocratic family, which is a blessing that no one else can ask for!¡±


    Xue Lan repeated as if trying to convince someone: ¡± Hou Ye did this. This is for his own good.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all for Duo er.¡± Old Madam Xiao murmured.


    Old Madam Xiao paused for a moment, suddenly closed her eyes hard, and said in a low voice: ¡°In this few days, you can continue to deliver medicine to her. This time, it will take a longer time, but it will not cause suspicion. ¡°


    ¡°I understand.¡± Xue Lan also agreed in a low voice, ¡°Last time, we were ill-considered. There was a clue that Da Lang Jun saw. This time we will definitely handle it neatly.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± The old lady nodded. She thought of the woman who had always been weak. Although she didn¡¯t like her eldest daughter-in-law, Zhao Xiu Lan, she had lived in the same courtyard for ten years. The old lady felt heart palpitations when she thought that her life would be sacrificed at her hands. On the way, Xue Lan had turned her back on everyone and secretly relayed Xiao Ying¡¯s meaning to Old Madam Xiao. Although Old Madam Xiao hesitated, she was definitely towards her son, not to mention that Old Madam Xiao also believed from the bottom of her heart that Zhao Xiu Lan was not worthy of Xiao Ying.


    So it didn¡¯t take long for the old lady to agree to Xue Lan¡¯s plan to poison Zhao Xiu Lan at the inn. It is a pity that the poisoning plan was ruined in the hands of  a young child,  Xiao Jing Duo.


    Xue Lan was still talking to the old lady about the details of the chronic poison. During this conversation, Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s life and death had already been decided. At this time, Zhao Xiu Lan, who was brought to the side courtyard, didn¡¯t know that her life was no longer in her hands.


    While they were discussing, a hurried shout suddenly sounded outside the house: ¡°Da Lang Jun is here!¡±

 CH 6

    It was his father.


    Old Madam Xiao and Xue Lan were arbitrarily deciding Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s life and death when suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door. When the maid who was guarding outside the house saw the coming person, her hands trembled in panic. She raised her voice to warn the inside: ¡°Da Lang Jun is here!¡±


    Xue Lan was shocked. She and Old Madam Xiao looked at each other. Both stop talking and look at the door warily.


    Wasn¡¯t Da Lang Jun be called away by Hou Ye? Why did he suddenly visit at this time?


    After Xiao Jing Duo came out of the study, the first thing he did was to find his mother. Although he solved the poison quickly at the inn that day, Zhao Xiu Lan still took a sip of poison. Not to mention that Zhao Xiu Lan was not in good health, she became more and more sick these days. She was so weak that it was difficult to walk.


    Besides, the murderer who poisoned his mother has not been caught yet. So how could Xiao Jing Duo rest assured to let his mother live alone? Xiao Jing Duo searched for a long time in Hou Fu. He went to almost every spacious courtyard, but he still could not find his mother.


    Xiao Jing Duo did not dare to disturb his father with these trivial matters. So he could only come to Gao Shou Tang to find the old lady. Xue Lan was always by his grandmother¡¯s side, and she was in charge of the entire Hou Fu. Xue Lan must know his mother¡¯s whereabouts.


    When Xiao Jing Duo walked quickly into the Gao Shou Tang, he felt that the atmosphere was strange for no reason.


    He suppressed the strangeness in his heart. After saluting the old lady, he went straight to the topic: ¡°Grandmother, where does my mother live? I have been looking for her for a long time but I have not found her.¡±


    Xue Lan and the old lady looked at each other with surprise. Xue Lan was originally sitting on the couch, but at this time she straightened up and said softly with a smile: ¡°Lang Jun, you are the young master of our Dingyong Hou Fu. Your status is noble. So how can you live in the same courtyard with other people? In the future, you will have a separate courtyard. The servants around you are also indispensable. You can¡¯t be as casual as before!¡±


    After speaking, Xue Lan wanted to come down and hold Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s hand: ¡°Lang Jun has never seen Ning Yuan Court yet, right? Ning Yuan Courtyard will be the residence of Da Lang Jun in the future. It is located behind Hou Ye¡¯s study. I have already sent someone to clean it up. Come, I will accompany you to Ning Yuan Courtyard to take a look¡­¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo turned slightly and avoided Xue Lan¡¯s hand. Xue Lan was stunned for a moment as if she did not expect Xiao Jing Duo to be so ruthless in front of others. How did she know that Xiao Jing Duo had identified her as an accomplice in poisoning Zhao Xiu Lan? He was certain that Xiao Ying would not spare her easily, so how could he still save face for her?


    Seeing that Xiao Jing Duo had a bad attitude towards Xue Lan, Old Madam Xiao got angry: ¡°Duo¡¯er, what are you doing? Don¡¯t you want to make amends with Xue Lan?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo turned a deaf ear and insisted on asking: ¡°I don¡¯t want to see what yard. Mother, she¡¯s still ill. I¡¯m going to see her.¡±


    Old Madam Xiao frowned in embarrassment. She secretly glanced at Xue Lan hoping that Xue Lan could give her advice. Xue Lan stood behind Xiao Jing Duo and shook her head. The old lady understood what she meant. She said with a stern expression: ¡°How old are you and still clinging to your mother? We will arrange for your mother. You hurry back with Xue Lan now!¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo suddenly felt that something was wrong. His eyes became vigilant, and he walked around the old lady and Xue Lan: ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me see my mother? What happened to her?¡±


    The old lady¡¯s eyes were visibly flustered. She didn¡¯t dare to look at Xiao Jing Duo for a moment. Xue Lan secretly said that it was bad. She didn¡¯t expect this Lang Jun¡¯s vigilance to be so good. She quickly remedied: ¡°Of course, Madam is resting in the yard. If Lang Jun doesn¡¯t believe it, I will take you there.¡±


    Xue Lan waved her hand to call the little maid and asked her to take Xiao Jing Duo away. When Xiao Jing Duo went out with the maid, he glanced back again as if he was aware of it.


    The grandmother and Xue Lan behaved strangely, and the father¡¯s attitude was neither salty nor light. Xiao Jing Duo had an ominous premonition in his heart. But he didn¡¯t want to think deeply. Their family had just moved to Chang An. He had just met his biological father who had been away for nine years. Everything was going in a good direction, wasn¡¯t it?


    Xiao Jing Duo was trying his best to convince himself all the way. But when he stood at the door of the side courtyard, his heart sank heavily.


    ¡°My mother lives here?¡± Xiao Jing Duo turned around and stared at the maid who led the way badly.


    The maid remembered Xue Lan¡¯s order, hurriedly lowered her head, and said, ¡°My wife is weak and needs to rest. Sister Xue Lan was afraid that the people coming and going in Hou Fu would disturb my wife¡¯s recovery. So she deliberately placed my wife in a quiet place.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo glanced at the maid quietly and reached out to push the door in.


    The yard is full of decaying grass. There are fences in the flower beds, but it has long been deserted. When Xiao Jing Duo walked into the yard, he smelled a musty smell like people had not lived in for a long time.


    Compared with the Gao Shou Tang where the old lady lives, this place is rudimentary and miserable. Where is it like a place where the wife stays? Xiao Jing Duo had a nameless fire in his heart. He quickly ran towards the house.


    Zhao Xiu Lan was leaning on the table, covering her mouth and coughing. When she heard the door open, she slowly lifted her head. Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s eyes lit up when her eyes touched the person who came: ¡°Duo¡¯er!¡±


    ¡°Mother.¡± Xiao Jing Duo walked to her mother and squatted down, not knowing what to say for a long time.


    The maid who brought him over was still urging at the door: ¡°Da Lang, you should go back. Tomorrow, Hou Ye wants to test your knowledge. You have to go back early to prepare.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen your father?¡± Zhao Xiu Lan smiled. He said, ¡°He is willing to test your knowledge in person, which shows that he is satisfied with you. Go back quickly. Rest early today. Keep your spirits up, and don¡¯t make your father angry tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡± Xiao Jing Duo raised his voice suddenly while Zhao Xiu Lan still looked at him suspiciously, not understanding why his son was suddenly angry.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Xiu Lan asked softly. She knew that big families were very particular about their sons. They could not live with their mothers. They were afraid that if they grew up with their daughters, their masculinity would be wiped out. Therefore, Zhao Xiu Lan felt that Xiao Jing Duo living in another courtyard was very normal.


    Xiao Jing Duo felt helpless. His mother was soft-hearted and her mind was slow. She still hadn¡¯t seen that Xue Lan and her grandmother were harbouring ill intentions. So Xiao Jing Duo was even more worried about letting her mother live here alone.


    So Xiao Jing Duo turned his head and said in a very casual tone: ¡°Mother is ill and can¡¯t be separated from others. I will live here with my mother. You go back first.¡±


    The little maid was stunned for a moment, and then she understood what Xiao Jing Duo was saying. She opened her mouth in disbelief: ¡°Lang Jun, but Hou Ye¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell my father. You can tell Xue Lan when you go back and tell her what I want. It¡¯s decided, don¡¯t persuade again.¡±


    The little girl bit her lip in embarrassment and stood at the door without moving. Xiao Jing Duo raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°You¡¯re not leaving yet?¡±


    The maid then stepped back aggrievedly, and as soon as she went out, she ran towards Gao Shou Tang.


    The maid who led the way left. Only then did the maid Qiu Ju, who was assigned to serve Zhao Xiu Lan, dare to enter. She first bowed to Xiao Jing Duo and said, ¡°Slave Qiu Ju, I have seen Da Lang Jun.¡±


    A little maid of thirteen or fourteen, wearing a green narrow-sleeved shirt, stood by the door.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Xiao Jing Duo nodded, stood up and said while walking, ¡°You are the maid who came to take care of my mother? I will also live here these days. I will clean up the wing.¡±


    ¡°Lang Jun, how can I let you do it?!¡±


    After Xiao Jing Duo made an assertion, the old lady sent several groups of people to persuade him, but he sent them away. Then the next day, Xiao Ying, who originally said that he was going to test his knowledge, didn¡¯t show up either.


    Xiao Jing Duo was not surprised by this, disobeying his father naturally had to pay the price. Although he wanted to get close to his father, his mother¡¯s crisis had not been resolved. So he wanted to stay here to protect his mother.


    It¡¯s funny. Xiao Jing Duo is only nine years old. So Zhao Xiu Lan, a mother, should protect her son, but in their family, it was the other way around. Zhao Xiu Lan has been living in a daze for so many years, and she has never figured out what happened in the station.


    Xiao Jing Duo asked Qiu Ju, only to know that this desolate and remote courtyard was called Qing Ze Courtyard. This courtyard, like its name, is desolate.


    There was only Qiu Ju as a servant in Qing Ze Courtyard. Qiu Ju didn¡¯t talk much and was quick to do things. So Xiao Jing Duo had to endure the small flaws like she was not very smart.


    Xiao Jing Duo secretly guessed more than once that Qiu Ju might have offended someone unknowingly. So she was pushed to his mother¡¯s side.


    After Xiao Jing Duo instructed Qiu Ju to take care of his mother, he went out by himself thinking of buying medicine for his mother on the street.


    However, Xiao Jing Duo was not familiar with the structure of the new home. He walked around for a long time, but couldn¡¯t find the side door leading to the outside of the mansion.


    When passing through the corridor, Xiao Jing Duo saw a few servants carrying things into the mansion. He was overjoyed, knowing that these must be servants who had returned from shopping outside. If he asked them, he would know how to go out.


    Xiao Jing Duo hurriedly ran down the corridor, trying to chase after the people just now. Before he could get close, he heard one of them say: ¡°Hou Ye has a wedding event. This is too busy for us servants. I heard that the new lady is a daughter of an aristocratic family. You said that when the lady passes by, how much will she give us as the reward for the errands?¡±


    Father is marrying? Xiao Jing Duo was stunned on the spot as if struck by lightning.


    ¡°How do I know this! But the Wu family has been a big family for more than 100 years, and the Cui family of Qinghe is the backer. Even the royal family has to look at the face of the Cui family. The lady of the Wu family will be our mistress. The days to come will definitely be comfortable.¡±


    ¡°Hou Ye really has a good relationship¡­¡± The servant was about to sigh with emotion about the good luck of Dingyong Hou. He heard a hurried and clear voice from behind. They turned their heads and saw a handsome boy standing behind the rockery, staring at them motionlessly. This beautiful little man approached them step by step: ¡°You just said that Xiao Ying, the Marquis of Dingyong, wants to get married. Are you married to a proper wife?¡±


    The two servants both laughed: ¡°Of course, can the daughter of the Wu family in Qinghe be someone¡¯s concubine?¡±


    ¡°But he obviously already has a main room!¡±


    ¡°Hou Ye has a main room?¡± The servant looked at his companion. He glanced at him and scratched his head inexplicably, ¡°I remember that the Marquis has not been married in these years. There is only one concubine by his side.¡±


    The anger in Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s heart rushed directly to his head. He turned heavily and quickly ran towards the study.


    ¡°Who is this little gentleman? Inexplicable¡­¡± The two servants were still murmuring in doubt.


    Xiao Jing Duo rushed to the front yard in one breath. Several groups of maids were overturned on the way. He slammed the door open and looked at the man in the seat with burning eyes.


    Xiao Ying and his concubine were discussing matters in the mansion. Suddenly the door was slammed open. Zhuo Ying, who was grinding the ink, was startled and screamed, and accidentally knocked over the ink. Xiao Ying frowned immediately and glanced at Zhuo Ying unhappily.


    Zhuo Ying immediately fell down and confessed her guilt: ¡°The slave is improper, please forgive the slave!¡±


    Xiao Ying ignored her but looked up at the door.


    Xiao Jing Duo stood at the door and stared at this scene with wide eyes. He almost immediately understood the identity of this woman. Xiao Jing Duo thought ironically in his heart. It turns out that this is the concubine in the servant¡¯s mouth. So his mother can¡¯t even be a concubine and can only disappear alive?


    Xiao Ying was still slightly embarrassed when his son bumped into this scene. He waved his hand and motioned for Zhuo Ying to step back.


    Zhuo Ying didn¡¯t dare to say anything. She stepped back on her knees, stood up and left quickly. When she went out, she also closed the door of the study for Xiao Ying.


    When there were only the father and son in the house, Xiao Ying also showed a majestic look: ¡°When you enter the elders¡¯ house, you go on a rampage. Is this your manner?¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°manner¡±, Xiao Jing Duo just wanted to sneer: ¡°Father abandoned his original wife and married another high-class woman. Is this the manner? ¡°


    ¡°Presumptuous!¡± Xiao Ying slapped the table heavily, causing a lot of dust to rise. ¡°Who taught you to talk to your father like this? You are simply being made lawless by the Zhao clan. If I don¡¯t teach you, you will sooner or later humiliate Dingyong Hou Fu!¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are the hero of the founding of the country. You are Hou Ye. But what about my mother? She is your first wife!¡± Xiao Jing Duo also raised his voice and complained, ¡°She worked hard for you for ten years, and she raised me to such an age. Do you have the heart to bear her down like this?¡±


    Xiao Ying narrowed her eyes and looked at Xiao Jing Duo dangerously: ¡°This is your father¡¯s own business, and you don¡¯t need to worry about it. You go back immediately and copy the house rules 20 times. I can let go of what happened today. After Wu¡¯s entry, you should learn the rules of the aristocratic family from her. Only the daughter of the famous Wu family is qualified to be the mistress of the Hou Mansion and your mother!¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡± Xiao Jing Duo sneered. He looked at the man in front of him as if he had just seen him clearly. ¡°Yes, you are dignified and heroic. Naturally only high-class women are worthy of it. Your status is different from the past, and we, disgraceful beings, must naturally be obliterated.¡±


    Xiao Ying raised her eyebrows. He was completely overwhelmed by Xiao Jing Duo. The disrespectful words angered him, but Xiao Jing Duo didn¡¯t give him a chance to attack and continued to ask: ¡°I don¡¯t care how you want to punish me. I just want to know in what way you are going to settle my mother. Demote your wife as a concubine or simply poison her to death? ¡°


    ¡± Presumptuous!¡± Xiao Ying shouted angrily.


    However, Xiao Jing Duo really saw exactly who his father was longing for. He only had fame and power in his heart, and kinship and conscience were no longer within his consideration. After getting to know Xiao Ying Bo Liang¡¯s true face, Xiao Jing Duo also completely lost his natural admiration for his father, and simply drew a line with him: ¡°I tell you clearly today. I am neither capable of justice for my mother now, nor do I want to care who you marry, but you better know that no matter how much you force me, I won¡¯t call another woman mother.¡±


    ¡°No one!¡± After saying it out loud, he looked at Xiao Ying again. Then he turned his head decisively and went out.


    Before crossing the threshold, he suddenly stopped, with an inexplicable smile, turned his face to Xiao Ying and asked, ¡°Father, have you found the thief who poisoned my mother in the inn?¡±


    Xiao Ying¡¯s face was ashen. He stared at this villain like a knife and did not speak.


    ¡°I guess naturally not.¡± Xiao Jing Duo happened to be standing at the intersection of light and shadow. The sunlight that accidentally leaked into the room spread on his sharp profile face, while the other half of his face was still hidden in the shadows. His delicate face showed a little bit of strangeness. ¡°But I don¡¯t need to bother my father about this. No matter who the murderer is, I will never let him go. I will definitely bring this person to justice with my own hands.¡±


    Submit


    ¦¤

 CH 7

    Divorce his wife to marry another. Introduction to new lady


    After Xiao Jing Duo came out of Xiao Ying¡¯s study, he still felt resentful.


    Without the slightest smile on his face, he walked quickly towards the backyard. The maids on both sides of the corridor wanted to greet him, but when they saw his face, they were all startled, and quickly lowered their heads and dared not speak again.


    When Xiao Jing Duo walked back to the vicinity of Qingze Courtyard, he heard Second Aunt Xiao¡¯s voice coming from the courtyard.


    Qiu Ju was guarding timidly in front of the courtyard. When she saw Xiao Jing Duo, she said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Lang Jun, Madam, she¡­¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo pursed his lips. He passed Qiu Ju and walked towards the main room.


    Second Aunt Xiao¡¯s voice in the house was sharp and harsh: ¡°Oh, sister-in-law, why do you live in such a poor place? Aren¡¯t you Madam Hou? How come you don¡¯t live as well as me?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Second Aunt Xiao covered her mouth and let out a malicious laugh, ¡°I almost forgot. You have been divorced by my cousin!¡± On the plain low table, there was a letter of divorce.


    Zhao Xiu Lan burst into tears, and her handkerchief was wet. She didn¡¯t want to listen to Second Aunt Xiao anymore, but Second Aunt Xiao ruthlessly dug out her wound and stepped on it. ¡°If my mother didn¡¯t mention it by accident, I wouldn¡¯t even know that you are no longer a member of the Xiao family. What¡¯s the use of having a good son? In the end, it¡¯s not raising a son for someone else. She¡¯s about to enter the door. At that time, not only the position of Madam Hou does not belong to you, but even your precious son will call another mother!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhao Xiu Lan covered her ears and roared sternly.


    Seeing Zhao Xiu Lan like this, Second Aunt Xiao was extremely happy. Who let Zhao Xiu Lan get in first when they got engaged and robbed her of the position of the eldest daughter-in-law? Now that Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s position of Madam Hou has been robbed by others, it is really unpleasant not to repay her. Second Aunt Xiao wanted to laugh up to the sky. What she couldn¡¯t get, Zhao Xiu Lan couldn¡¯t get either!


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You are nameless now. So no one will tell you¡­¡± Second Aunt Xiao wanted to ridicule a few more words, but she heard a cold and chilling voice from behind. This cold tone, even in the daytime, makes people tremble.


    ¡°Shut up and leave my mother¡¯s yard.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo stood at the door against the light. Second Aunt Xiao couldn¡¯t see his expression, but she was still stunned by his posture. Second Aunt Xiao secretly scolded this evildoer. How could Xiao Jing Duo look like a ghost who came to claim her life?!


    Second Aunt panicked in her heart, but she felt that it would be too shameful to leave like this. She didn¡¯t know what to do until she heard Xiao Jing Duo roaring, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Now Second Aunt Xiao no longer pays attention to her face. Her calf is weak, but this does not delay her slipping away. After running to the yard as if escaping, Second Aunt Xiao still feels that she can¡¯t let go, so she shakes her handkerchief hard. She said wickedly: ¡°Unfortunate! Sparrows are sparrows, don¡¯t try to fly up the branches, or even if you do, you won¡¯t be able to bear the good things!¡±


    After speaking, she quickly twisted her waist and left.


    In the Gao Shou Tang, the old lady and Xue Lan were also discussing this matter.


    ¡°You said the second daughter-in-law went to Zhao¡¯s place to make trouble?¡± The old lady grabbed Xue Lan¡¯s hand and asked anxiously.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xue Lan said, ¡°Second Madam¡­ It¡¯s too urgent. We and the Wu family are getting married soon. Now is a critical juncture. We mustn¡¯t make any trouble.¡±


    ¡°I understand what you mean. The news that Dalang once married a wife must not be known to anyone, especially the Wu family.¡± The old lady was embarrassed to see her niece make such a scandal, ¡°I will discipline this idiot well. Wait until she comes back to see. I will rip her skin off!¡±


    Xue Lan smiled softly but did not stop her. She continued to beat the old lady¡¯s legs: ¡°Actually, it¡¯s okay for the Wu family to know. After all, Da Lang Jun still lives in the mansion. Well, that one is still alive and well. The new lady will know sooner or later. The marriage of nobles is all about the good of two surnames. The purpose of marrying the Wu family¡¯s daughter is to raise the family status of Hou Ye and sell well in front of the royal Rong family. This marriage is far from what one or two people are willing to or not. It is the Wu family¡¯s, and even the Cui family¡¯s instigation. Otherwise, how could an aristocratic family with eyes above the top marry a commoner?¡±


    ¡°What commoner, my son is Marquis!¡± In just a few days, the old lady couldn¡¯t listen to talking about her lineage. She said unhappily, ¡°My Xiao Ying is good-looking and can lead troops to fight! Anyone who marries my son is a catch!¡±


    Xue Lan just smiled. She was noncommittal. After the old lady finished her anger, she still couldn¡¯t help asking the question she had been unable to figure out: ¡°Xue Lan, why did you write a divorce letter for Zhao Shi? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to directly demote her to a concubine?¡±


    ¡°How can this happen? Demoting the wife to be a concubine would be subjected to two years of prison. Hou Ye will have to be an official in the court in the future. How can he leave such a blemish?¡± Xue Lan replied.


    ¡°Then¡­¡± The old lady still felt uneasy in her heart, ¡°Is Xiao Ying divorcing his wife and marrying another?¡±


    Before, the old lady had been in contact with people from the market, so she naturally didn¡¯t know the many rules of concubinage. But I clearly know that if my family has a wife, but still proposes to someone else, this will be punished by the county government. Xiao Ying has already married Zhao Xiu Lan. Although Zhao Xiu Lan is not worthy of the current Xiao family, after all, she is the wife.


    Xue Lan pursed her lips and smiled. She said in a very gentle tone: ¡°That¡¯s why Hou Ye has to write a letter of divorce for the Zhao family, or else you will end up demoting his wife and marrying another, although in fact it is. But as long as there is no trouble outside, no one will know about this incident in our family, isn¡¯t that the case? Even if someone asks in the future, we can push it down to Zhao Shi, saying that Hou Ye had written her a divorce letter, and the marriage of the Wu family was decided later. The truth of this matter, the specific timing of divorce and marriage, as long as we don¡¯t say it, who else will deliberately pick it up and mess up  with the founder of the country, Marquis Dingyong?¡±


    Xiao Ying made up his mind to distort the facts and take advantage of the time difference. As for the time on the divorce letter, he had already asked someone to go to the government to take care of it.


    Although the Old Lady knew that this was the best way at the moment, she still felt uneasy. She sighed: ¡°If only Zhao Xiu Lan died, there wouldn¡¯t be so many troubles.¡± Xue Lan also felt it was a pity. It was the best time, but unfortunately, Xiao Jing Duo saw it through. They originally planned to go back to the mansion and then start, but Xiao Jing Duo insisted on living with Zhao Xiu Lan. So they didn¡¯t have the opportunity to start. And this little man seems to have a lot of insights into medical theory. Xue Lan didn¡¯t dare to make a fuss about medicine. They could only choose the stupidest way, the divorce.


    Gao Shou Tang fell silent. After a long time, Old Lady¡¯s old voice sounded: ¡°Do you think Duo¡¯er will blame us?¡±


    ¡°How can it be? On the one hand is , the abandoned commoner biological mother, and on the other is the prosperous Hou Ye father, Lang Jun will not so stupid.¡±


    ¡°What will Duo¡¯er do in the future?¡±


    ¡°If the new lady is willing to admit him, then the Da Lang Jun will be recorded in the name of the lady and counted as the heir. If the new lady doesn¡¯t want to¡­ Lang Jun will be the son of Hou Ye who stayed in his hometown. Although he has become a concubine lineage, we will not treat him lightly. He will be no different from the legitimate son, so Da Lang Jun will not care.¡±


    ¡­


    Qingze Courtyard.


    Xiao Jing Duo stood in the cold wind with his hands behind his back. He did not move for a long time.


    Qiu Ju quietly stood behind Xiao Jing Duo.


    ¡°Mother is still crying?¡±


    ¡°Well, the slave persuaded Madam. But she can¡¯t listen.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo raised his head and looked at the high blue sky, feeling so dazed for the first time.


    Why did it become like this? Overnight, his father changed. His grandmother changed, and all the relatives around him became disgusting, chilling down the spine.


    At the inn, if Xiao Jing Duo hadn¡¯t understood pharmacology, Zhao Xiu Lan would have died on the way. After all, according to ordinary people¡¯s thinking, good medicine is bitter and good for the disease. When Zhao Xiu Lan complained about the bitterness of the medicine, most people would persuade her to drink the medicine. Who would have thought that the bitterness of the medicine was due to being poisoned? Xiao Jing Duo was extremely fortunate that he knew some medical principles, and only then rescued his mother from the gate of hell.


    But in the end, the real culprit of poisoning was actually his biological father.


    ¡°He has no heart and lungs. In order to climb up, he will do whatever he can to get rid of his wife. So what should he do with his eldest son? Should I be raised as a concubine son whose biological mother is unknown, or should I just be killed to avoid future troubles?¡±


    Qiu Ju has nothing to say. She can only be silent.


    In the previous dynasties, there was a huge disparity between legitimate and concubine sons. The southern region was slightly better. But many big clans in the north were extremely harsh on their concubines and concubine sons. After years of wars and turbulence, the males continued to be exhausted. Now there are officials who refuted this ethos and asked the court to choose scholars regardless of their descendants, and the status of the concubines was slightly better.


    No matter what the status of the heir and the concubine son was, Xiao Jing Duo never cared about it previously. Because he is the eldest son, the heir, and a natural winner in the family, he will treat his younger brother kindly. So he doesn¡¯t care what the outside world thinks of the concubine. But the world is ridiculous. He didn¡¯t expect that he would worry about his identity so soon.


    It is absurd to change from a legitimate to a concubine lineage.


    Qiu Ju followed in silence with him. Finally, she couldn¡¯t hold back her persuasion: ¡°Lang Jun, you can¡¯t be angry with the Marquis anymore.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo could hardly believe what he heard: ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Lang Jun, don¡¯t be angry. Just admit your mistake to Hou Ye tomorrow. If you please the Hou Ye more, you can live a good life in this Hou Fu. If your life is good, the wife can live a good life. ¡°


    Xiao Jing Duo felt ridiculous. ¡°You asked me to please him?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise.¡± Qiu Ju also felt distressed for the miserable fate of the lady and young master, but what else could be done? ¡°Lang Jun, you still don¡¯t understand. The lowly people have no right to choose. They can only carefully speculate on their heart. No matter how unwilling they are, they have to endure until the high-ranking people are willing to give away a way to survive, and endure until they have a way back. You can retire. The slaves serve the masters. The youngers serve the elders. This is always the case. When you coax Hou Ye back, Hou Ye can help you find an official vacancy in the court in a few years. You can bear it now. Wait until you have an official position in the future and after a few years of business, you can take the lady to live with you after you have the ability to talk at home.¡±


    ¡°So, my mother was insulted this time. Do we have to swallow this grievance?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is the only way. Our whole family has to rely on Hou Ye. In the future Lang Jun will have to rely on Hou Ye, and even rely on the help of his new wife. How can we compete with Hou Ye? Lang Jun, you have the pity of Hou Ye right now, maybe Hou Ye will see your face and treat my wife better.¡± Qiu Ju persuaded Xiao Jing Duo in a low voice, ¡°Lang Jun, we have a low status, so we can only accept our fate.¡±


    Accept my fate? Xiao Jing Duo looked at the unreachable sky with a sarcastic smile.


    He will never surrender. He didn¡¯t believe that Xiao Ying¡¯s sympathy and support was the only road to success. Without Xiao Ying, he can still stand out and correct his mother¡¯s name.


    A few months later, the entire Dingyong Hou Fu was plunged into a sea of ??red. There were cheers and laughter everywhere.


    Xiao Jing Duo sat with Zhao Xiu Lan in the room, watching Zhao Xiu Lan bite her handkerchief and cry.


    Outside, there were loud drums and beautiful lanterns, but in this small courtyard with few people, the original wife was crying hopelessly.


    There was a burst of cheers outside the mansion, followed by the sound of firecrackers.


    Xiao Jing Duo knew that this was the arrival of the new wife Wu¡¯s wedding carriage.


    The young Xiao Jing Duo was very angry at this. He could not wait to rush out to ruin the wedding. But he knew he couldn¡¯t. The present him is far from being able to compete with his father.


    He swore to himself in his heart that in the future, he would do whatever it took to climb up to the status of a superior man so that no one in the world could humiliate him.


    However, until many, many years passed, when Xiao Jing Duo looked at the beacon in the sky from outside the fortress, he still couldn¡¯t convince himself that he liked dusk.


    At that time, he was already successful, married and had children. He had everything a man could yearn for. Logically, there was nothing that could make him feel unhappy, but he didn¡¯t like the time when the sky was dark.


    It was only later that he realized that his resistance to dusk began on the day Xiao Ying got married many years ago. The desperate cry of his mother and the sound of gongs and drums outside the mansion constituted an insurmountable nightmare in his youth.


    That was the beginning of his difficult boyhood, and the beginning of his journey to power.


    Just as a sword has two edges, so do things. The arrival of the Wu family is that double-edged sword.


    The author has something to say:


    [Warning!!! The stepmother is online. Please bring your medical kit, carry the nanny. The Hou Fu Copy mini-boss is about to appear.]


    [Special thanks: the heroine. Thanks to the hostess for a cameo without revealing her name or face]

 CH 8

    Strange new lady


    The day after the new wife Wu Junru entered the door, Zhao Xiu Lan fell ill.


    Since the departure from Zhuo County, Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s body has not been recovered. After finally settling down in Chang An, she should have taken the opportunity to recuperate. But she has been continuously attacked. On the day when Wu Junru and Xiao Ying got married, she was finally completely defeated.


    The illness was so severe that Xiao Jing Duo stayed in front of Zhao Xiu Lan¡¯s bed all night, barely closing his eyes. Qiu Ju handed a hot handkerchief to Xiao Jing Duo. She distressedly said, ¡°Lang Jun, you are going to see Hou Ye and¡­ Madam Hou today. I will guard madam, so you can go back to rest for a while?¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo placed the handkerchief on his eyes. After a while, he took off the handkerchief, got up and said, ¡°No need.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s eyes were covered with a thin layer of bloodshot. He smiled inexplicably and his tone with indifferent mockery: ¡± Since he dares to terminate his wife and marry another. I want to see how he plans to settle me, the original eldest son.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the main hall.¡± Xiao Jing Duo said to Qiu Ju as he walked out, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just take care of my mother. I may come back later.¡±


    Today is the day when the bride serves tea. The main hall of Dingyong Hou¡¯s mansion was full of people in the early morning.


    When Xiao Jing Duo arrived, the people from the second and third rooms were already there. Seeing Xiao Jing Duo appear, their eyes changed slightly, revealing meaningful smiles.


    The cousins ??seemed to have changed into different individuals overnight. Not only did they lose their attentiveness towards Xiao Jing Duo but they even vaguely shunned him. All of this happened within a few months.


    Xiao Jing Duo ignored the probing or pitying eyes from all directions. He stood on one side without moving. After a while, the old lady arrived with the help of Xue Lan. When she saw Xiao Jing Duo, she seemed to want to call Xiao Jing Duo over, but in the end, she still didn¡¯t say anything.


    Although she loves her grandson, there is no doubt that the eldest son is more important. What¡¯s more, Xiao Jing Duo has been repeatedly disobeying these days. The old lady is also temperamental. So she just took this opportunity to hang him for a few months and let him think clearly about whom he should stand for.


    After a while, the complicated footsteps gradually approached. Old Lady Xiao immediately cheered up, and the whispering in the room stopped.


    Xiao Ying walked steadily in the eyes of everyone, and beside him was a woman in red, obviously the bride Wu Junru.


    Seeing Wu Junru¡¯s face, many people couldn¡¯t hide their disappointment. This new lady was very powerful before and after marriage. She shook with the name of the famous family. While shocking everyone, she also invisibly raised everyone¡¯s expectations for her. Unfortunately, Wu Junru herself did not meet this expectation.


    It¡¯s not that Wu Junru looks ugly. She is average in appearance. She is considered a beautiful woman among the people. However, in the aristocracy, it is really not good-looking. To put it in a bad way, Xue Lan and several other favoured maids are also prettier than Wu Junru.


    What¡¯s worse is that although everyone in the Xiao family is from a low background, they have good looks. Xiao Ying could be favoured by the Wu family not only because the Wu family would use the marriage to win over him, but his appearance also played a big role. Xiao Jing Duo has gathered the strengths of his parents¡¯ appearance. Before he went to Beijing, he was a well-known handsome boy in eight townships. When he was raised in Chang An for a period of time, his appearance became more prominent. Even the cousins ??in the second and third rooms are not bad. Although the complexion has not been whitened yet, in terms of facial features, all of them are beautiful. Standing in such an outstanding family, Wu Junru forms a sharp contrast. The original appearance of six points was also contrasted into four points.


    In fact, I can¡¯t blame Wu Junru for this. In the past, when the officials were elected, they could only look at their family backgrounds. The aristocratic family, with its identity, refused to have an intersection with the commoners and had intermarried within several large families for hundreds of years. In this way, although the lineage is kept, there has been no fresh blood flowing in for decades. Many things have solidified and the progress of the offspring¡¯s appearance is not obvious.


    The servants whispered about her appearance but the new wife Wu Junru was very calm. She just smiled dignifiedly.


    With such a flawless smile, Wu Junru knelt down and offered tea to the old lady. ¡°My daughter-in-law will serve tea to my mother-in-law.¡± The old lady hurriedly took the teacup and drank it, and then handed Wu Junru the greeting gift that Xue Lan had prepared.


    Immediately after is the reception of the junior. Xiao Jing Duo stepped forward. The first thing he saw was Xiao Ying. The eyes of the father and son were fierce. Instead of father and son, these two are more like enemies. Then, Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s eyes met Wu Junru¡¯s. They both looked into each other.


    Neither of the two of them spoke first. The old lady felt bad. She said quickly, ¡°Duo¡¯er, give your mother a courtesy.¡±


    Xiao Jing Duo wanted to say that his mother was still sick in the backyard. But he knew that the situation was stronger than people. Since he is weaker than the opponent now, he can only admit defeat. There is really no need to be stubborn on such unimportant details. Maintaining the so-called face will not help the overall situation.


    Xiao Jing Duo paid the junior salute, but he did not call out the phrase ¡°mother¡± anyway.


    Seeing Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s willingness to cooperate, Old Lady Xiao was so happy that she was about to cry. How could she care about this little detail? Even Xiao Ying didn¡¯t expect his eldest son to be able to bend and stretch like this.


    The displeasure in Wu Junru¡¯s eyes flashed past. But it was quickly covered up. She put on a gentle and generous smile again with an impeccable mother-in-law attitude and said to Xiao Jing Duo: ¡°It turns out that this is Da Lang Jun. Seeing is better than hearing. This is what I embroidered at my mother¡¯s house. I¡¯ll give it to Da Lang to play.¡±


    Wu Junru walked in and out with a smile from the beginning to the end of the ceremony, as if she was a walking female beauty, and no one could fault it. Everyone in Xiao Mansion, who was still watching, was convinced by Wu Junru¡¯s demeanour. They secretly thought that this new wife, the daughter of an aristocratic family, was a lady who could be a housewife of the Hou Mansion. In comparison, Zhao Xiu Lan was nothing. However, Xiao Jing Duo keenly captured the hostility in Wu Junru¡¯s eyes, and his heart sank heavily. His stepmother was more difficult than he imagined. The most terrifying thing is that Wu Junru is clearly scheming, but she has to put on a gentle and generous appearance. It is not good news to be the enemy of such a person who is good at superficial skills. Wu Junru and Xiao Jing Duo fell into a strange silence here. Old Lady Xiao hurriedly motioned Xiao Jing Hu to go up.


    According to the sequence, Xiao Jing Duo is the eldest of the grandchildren, followed by Xiao Yu Fang, Xiao Yu Li, Xiao Yu Mang, Xiao Jing Hu, and Xiao Jing Wu, who is only two years old. However, there are differences between men and women. So the one behind Xiao Jing Duo is the little overlord, Xiao Jing Hu.


    Several juniors greeted in turn. Wu Junru looked dignified and elegant the whole time. She asked them in a soft voice how old they were and what they liked to do. Xiao Yu Fang and the others grew up in the village, and her mother was also vulgar and unrefined. When she saw Wu Junru this time, she felt that the women she had been in contact with in the past were all inferior, not even compared to a finger of Wu Junru. At the same time, Xiao Yu Fang admired her. There was also a trace of self-pity in her heart.


    Although Wu Junru spoke to the Xiao family in a gentle voice, her attitude was still high, just like a noble and a corporal, which is a kind of gentleness of condescension. But everyone here didn¡¯t care. They even thought that this was the style of a noble family.


    The previous dynasties valued prestige. The officials in the dynasties all came from aristocratic families. It can be said that the aristocratic families controlled the entire court. The royal family changed every day, but the important officials in the dynasties were the same group. Therefore, the aristocratic families relied on their identity. They even looked down on the royal family. The folk worship the aristocratic families fanatically even more. Although the Wu family is not a well-known surname, it has been passed down for nearly a hundred years. It is still relying on the big tree of the Qinghe Cui family. So Wu Junru¡¯s willingness to marry Xiao Ying is really surprising. After all, even if Xiao Ying is awarded a marquis by military merit, it cannot change the fact that he is a civilian. The family rank of the Xiao family is far inferior to that of the Wu family.


    Xiao Jing Duo really couldn¡¯t figure it out, how could Wu Junru take a fancy to Xiao Ying who has a minor family background? No daughter of an aristocratic family who grew up in her hometown would have such a whimsical idea. After a while, the bride¡¯s serving tea and greetings are over. The second room and the third room went out one after another. Xiao Jing Duo did not want to face his so-called blood relatives, so he also left. Wu Junru¡¯s gaze was fixed on Xiao Jing Duo¡¯s back, and she didn¡¯t take it back until she could no longer see him. From an angle that no one was paying attention to, Wu Junru smiled lightly. Xiao Ying really gave her a big gift. She had just passed the door and then she had a nine-year-old son. Hunting wild geese all day long, the geese pecked at the eyes.

 CH 8.2

    When they returned to the new room, Nanny Wei supported Wu Junru¡¯s hand and angrily spoke up for her: ¡°The Xiao family is too much! The Eighth Lady condescended to marry into their family, yet they do not appreciate it. Instead, they secretly raised an illegitimate son! Truly, they are an uncultured clan, unworthy of being taught!¡±


    ¡°Nanny, I am already part of the Xiao family, what¡¯s done is done, and there¡¯s no point in saying more. Please don¡¯t speak of this in the future so as not to sow discord with my in-laws.¡±


    ¡°I understand, but I can¡¯t bear to see you suffer like this! If not for the sudden withdrawal of the Bai family¡¯s marriage proposal, you wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Nanny Wei suddenly realized what she had said, hurriedly knelt down, and apologized, ¡°Forgive me, my lady, I spoke without thinking and said something taboo.¡±


    Wu Junru smiled gently and said slowly, ¡°Why are you doing this, Nanny? You have raised and protected me in the Wu family; there¡¯s no need for such formalities. Please get up.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my lady,¡± Nanny Wei said awkwardly as she straightened up. It¡¯s strange¡ªNanny Wei had watched Wu Junru grow up, and although they were not mother and daughter, their bond was even stronger. Nanny Wei should have been very affectionate towards Wu Junru rather than this fearful. Nanny Wei herself couldn¡¯t quite understand the reason. In the past, she wasn¡¯t so cautious, but ever since last year, Wu Junru had changed.


    Wu Junru was initially betrothed to the young master of the Bai family, a true, noble lineage, unlike the third-rate Wu family. It was a dream come true for Wu Junru, a concubine-born daughter, to be engaged to someone from such a prestigious family. Unfortunately, Wu Junru¡¯s good fortune did not last. In June of last year, the Bai family came to break off the engagement, causing Wu Junru to lose face in front of her stepmother and sisters. Overcome with shame, she attempted to drown herself in the lake. After being rescued, she was bedridden for three months.


    It seemed that after her recovery, Wu Junru was no longer the same. The once vain and weak eighth concubine-born daughter had become more decisive and cunning, and she began to discipline the servants more strictly. It was from that time that Nanny Wei gradually stopped making decisions for Wu Junru and became much more cautious in her speech. She felt as though the child she had nursed since infancy had become a different person. Nanny Wei felt both bewildered and uneasy about this change, but she tried to comfort herself, thinking it would be fine as long as things continued to improve.


    Wu Junru sat on the couch, her eyes seemingly gazing ahead but unfocused upon closer inspection. She thought absentmindedly that she had been in this time and space for a year now.


    When she first arrived, she was bewildered and at a loss, lacking the original host¡¯s memories and having to find her way forward on her own. At that time, she had just been jilted, and her sisters ridiculed her openly and secretly. Wu Junru silently endured it, vowing to take revenge twice over. Not long after, Wu Junru accompanied her stepmother to a temple to pray and encountered mountain bandits on the way back. In the moment of danger, she was saved by Xiao Ying. That fleeting glance left a deep impression on her, and after returning home, Wu Junru kept Xiao Ying in her thoughts.


    Gradually, Wu Junru learned that Xiao Ying was a general under Duke Xuan, Rong Bo, renowned for his military prowess and deeply valued by the Duke. She even found out that Xiao Ying was unmarried, making him the dream lover of many young women.


    Wu Junru was not the original host and did not have the ingrained sense of family status that came with noble lineage. She thought that since she couldn¡¯t find a good marriage within the aristocracy, she might as well marry Xiao Ying. With her status as a noblewoman, Xiao Ying would undoubtedly treat her with great respect. Moreover, Xiao Ying had power and soldiers, which was the true way to establish oneself in chaotic times. This was far more practical than the so-called family reputation. Not to mention, Xiao Ying¡¯s appearance was quite exceptional.


    The more Wu Junru thought about it, the more sense it made. Indeed, after she merely hinted at her interest, Xiao Ying came forward earnestly to propose marriage. For some reason, the elders of the Wu family also agreed to this marriage. Although her sisters secretly mocked her for losing her mind, Wu Junru felt that this move was extremely wise. Rather than being a timid and submissive little concubine¡¯s daughter in the Wu family and later becoming an unimportant wife in another family, it was better to step out of the circle and become the honored wife of a marquis in the Xiao family.


    Everything progressed just as Wu Junru had anticipated until today when she learned that Xiao Ying already had a wife back in his hometown and even had a nine-year-old son.


    Wu Junru sighed silently. It seemed that starting off on a sweet and pampered path was a luxury she couldn¡¯t afford. In the end, she would still have to engage in household battles before enjoying a life of comfort.


    Wu Junru couldn¡¯t help but shift slightly, slowly restoring feeling to her numb legs. Even after a year of time travel, she still wasn¡¯t accustomed to the custom here of kneeling on mats instead of sitting on chairs. Nanny Wei noticed Wu Junru¡¯s discomfort and asked, unfazed, ¡°My lady, are your legs numb? Let me massage them for you.¡±


    Wu Junru replied with a faint ¡°hmm¡± and didn¡¯t refuse.


    As Nanny Wei massaged Wu Junru¡¯s legs, she couldn¡¯t understand why the eighth young lady, who never had this problem before, suddenly started finding it uncomfortable to sit recently.


    ¡°My lady, what do you think we should do about that young boy today?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just a child, nothing to fear. The real trouble lies with his mother,¡± Wu Junru replied gravely. ¡°We¡¯ve only just arrived, so let¡¯s bide our time. I¡¯m sure Xiao Ying wants Zhao Shi gone even more than I do.¡±


    ¡°You are right, my lady,¡± Nanny Wei said, her hands never stopping. ¡°What a pity, though. Being the legitimate eldest son is such an esteemed position, yet he holds it. Even if my lady has a son in the future, he will still have to take second place¡­¡±


    Wu Junru thought further ahead. This era greatly valued legitimacy and birthright. Even if a concubine¡¯s son was the eldest, he had no inheritance rights. The imperial family itself preferred to pass the throne to a legitimate son, let alone commoners. After time traveling, Wu Junru realized that this place was very different from the ancient times depicted in the dramas of her past life. Here, women¡¯s status was higher, and accordingly, the status of concubines and their children was lower. In her past life, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, concubines could be promoted, but in the Xuan Dynasty, this was a serious crime. The practice in the Qing dynasty of allowing fathers to pass titles to whichever son they preferred, regardless of legitimacy, was unthinkable here. In this context, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s status as the legitimate eldest son was critical. This almost meant that Wu Junru¡¯s own son would neither inherit the marquisate nor receive most of the Xiao family¡¯s assets.


    Wu Junru would not allow that to happen.


    After a long silence, Wu Junru smiled softly, ¡°The legitimate eldest son? I will not let him stay in that position.¡±


    ¡°My lady, what do you mean by that?¡±


    Wu Junru shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask. Also, you should call me Madam1 When Wu Junru asks Nanny Wei to call her ¡°Madam¡± from now on, the word she was asking her to use is ¡°·òÈË¡± (f¨±r¨¦n) which is for married ladies and main wives as opposed to Äï×Ó¡± (ni¨¢ngzi), which is what Nanny Wei called her when she was unmarried. from now on.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam.¡±


    ¡°Call Xiao Jingduo here. I need to show my kindness and generosity.¡±


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s Note:


    ¡°[Ding! Your little cutie September brand keychain reminds you that the minor boss of the housefight section is now online]¡±


    __________________________________


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    Buy Me A Coffee

 CH 9

    The maid lifted the curtain and greeted the visitor in a clear voice, ¡°Good day, young master.


    Hearing this from the inner room, Wu Junru quickly called out, ¡°The young master is here? Invite him in quickly.


    In the inner room, Wu Junru sat by the window, smiling broadly as she waved to Xiao Jingduo, ¡°You must be Xiao Jingduo. Come over and let me take a look at you.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo, curious about Wu Junru¡¯s intentions, obediently walked over.


    Wu Junru beckoned Xiao Jingduo to her side, examined him closely, and then pointed at him with a smile, saying to Nanny Wei, ¡°There were too many people in the main hall earlier, so I couldn¡¯t ask much. Now that I see him up close, the more I look, the more I like him.¡±


    With a gentle smile, Wu Junru slowly asked Xiao Jingduo, ¡°How old are you this year? What do you usually enjoy doing?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo really didn¡¯t want to answer these silly questions. However, it was clear that Madam Wu didn¡¯t intend for him to answer anyway. Before Xiao Jingduo could say anything, Nanny Wei started praising from the side, ¡°Madam is truly beautiful and kind-hearted, always gentle and considerate with everyone. You have always loved children the most. Everyone in the Wu family knows of your good name. Now that the Xiao household has so many children, there will always be someone to keep you company when you¡¯re bored.¡±


    ¡°Nanny, what are you saying? There are so many people here!¡± Wu Junru pretended to scold Nanny Wei with a glare.


    The two of them carried on as if they didn¡¯t need Xiao Jingduo¡¯s input at all. He stood silently on the side, watching their performance quietly.


    Seeing that the moment was right, Wu Junru slowly moved to the main point of the day. She smiled and asked Xiao Jingduo, ¡°You¡¯re at the age where you¡¯re still growing, and you mustn¡¯t be careless about that. Are your servants taking good care of you?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo immediately understood Wu Junru¡¯s intentions. After all this pretense, it turned out she just wanted to place some people around him. Realizing her true motive, Xiao Jingduo felt more at ease and vaguely replied, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I heard from the Marquis that you only have one maid by your side. How can that be enough? As your mother, it¡¯s my responsibility to take care of you properly. I should arrange a few more clever maids for you. But I wonder if you would agree?¡±


    After saying this, Wu Junru confidently waited for Xiao Jingduo¡¯s response. Her words just now were well-reasoned and considerate of Xiao Jingduo¡¯s needs. No matter how he tried to refuse, he couldn¡¯t avoid appearing ungrateful. She was ready to leverage this in front of Xiao Ying.


    After whispering a few words in front of the Old Madam, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s reputation for disrespecting his legitimate mother will be established. Over time, as these small mistakes happen more frequently, Xiao Jingduo will lose favor with the elders, and compared to him, her son will be in a much better position.


    Wu Junru felt that her words were flawless. She looked at Xiao Jingduo with a sense of satisfaction, smiling proudly.


    ¡°Do you want to assign maids to me?¡± Xiao Jingduo smiled back and readily agreed, ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Wu Junru was taken aback, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve long thought that Qingze Courtyard doesn¡¯t have enough staff. If you want to assign people, that would be great!¡± Xiao Jingduo said, ¡°Mother is seriously ill, and Qiu Ju is almost entirely occupied with decocting medicine and taking care of her. If we could get a few more maids, it would be much better. That way, when I need to assign someone to do something, there will be people available.¡±


    Wu Junru sensed that something was off. The fewer people who knew about Zhao Xiulan¡¯s existence, the better. It would be best if she stayed obediently in the secluded courtyard without stepping out. However, if Wu Junru really assigned people to Xiao Jingduo, although she would have her spies around him, the increase in staff would inevitably expose Zhao Xiulan¡¯s presence.


    Wu Junru¡¯s mind raced, and she silently overturned her original plan. It wouldn¡¯t do to insert people around Xiao Jingduo. She forced a smile and didn¡¯t respond to Xiao Jingduo¡¯s suggestion, instead shifting the topic to other matters.


    Inwardly, Xiao Jingduo let out a faint laugh.


    The most classic strategy in household intrigue¡ªplacing spies around the legitimate heir¡ªhad failed, so Wu Junru had to adopt another approach: flattery. She continued to maintain a gentle smile and asked patiently, ¡°Can you read? What kind of books do you usually read?


    Xiao Jingduo paused almost imperceptibly before saying, ¡°Read? Why should I learn to read? Grandmother said that I will inherit the title of Marquis of Dingyong in the future. The entire marquisate will be mine, and the Xiao family¡¯s brothers and sisters will all rely on me. Why should I bother learning these things? Isn¡¯t it enough to recognize common characters?¡±


    These words struck Wu Junru deeply. Her heart ached, but bound by her role as a virtuous wife and good mother, she had to smile and agree, ¡°Yes, Grandmother is right. In the future, you can just enjoy yourself¡­¡±


    Having started the conversation, Wu Junru wanted to continue, hoping to soon turn Xiao Jingduo into a worthless playboy. However, just as she began to speak, Xiao Ying arrived.


    Wu Junru was startled. She couldn¡¯t let Xiao Ying hear these words, so she immediately shut her mouth and reluctantly swallowed the words she had almost spoken.


    ¡°Marquis.¡± The maids on both sides bowed in greeting.


    Wu Junru also walked up with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo, however, remained standing still. Upon seeing Xiao Jingduo, Xiao Ying¡¯s expression quickly turned cold.


    Neither father nor son spoke, and the originally harmonious atmosphere in the room became awkward. Wu Junru glanced around and spoke up with a smile, trying to ease the situation: ¡°Marquis, why did you come so late? Eldest Young Master came specifically to greet you and has been waiting for a long time. Who would have thought that at such a young age, he already understands manners so well.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo turned his head, a mocking smile on his lips. Even Xiao Ying sneered at this: ¡°Him, understanding manners? What a joke. He acts recklessly just because he¡¯s the only son. He¡¯s neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts. I intended to have someone teach him about being an official and military strategies, but he doesn¡¯t appreciate it. He¡¯d rather idle away in the back courtyard than make progress.¡±


    Hiring someone to teach Xiao Jingduo about officialdom and military strategies? Wu Junru frowned inwardly. This clearly indicated that Xiao Ying was grooming Xiao Jingduo as his heir. This wouldn¡¯t do; she had to find a way to dissuade Xiao Ying from this idea.


    ¡°The Eldest Young Master is only nine years old; it¡¯s too early for him to learn these things,¡± Wu Junru frowned, like a mother who cares deeply for her son, and said, ¡°Though it¡¯s good to study literature and martial arts, we shouldn¡¯t rush it. Otherwise, it might change his disposition for the worse.¡±


    But then Xiao Jingduo suddenly spoke: ¡°But you just said that I don¡¯t need to learn these things, just recognizing some characters is enough. Why have you changed your mind now?¡±


    Xiao Ying frowned, his gaze sweeping between Wu Junru and Xiao Jingduo: ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo stood there in silence, but Wu Junru couldn¡¯t remain seated.


    Wu Junru¡¯s face showed undisguised embarrassment. She hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Jingduo to reveal their conversation just now. Some things could be subtly instilled in Xiao Jingduo privately, but must never be openly discussed. She hadn¡¯t taken a nine-year-old seriously, but now this child was causing her great trouble. Wu Junru tried to cover it up: ¡°What are you saying, child? The teachings of the sages must be learned. How can you become talented without studying? Your father¡¯s arrangements for you are excellent. Just do as the Marquis says, and you must not disappoint his hard work for you.¡±


    Wu Junru¡¯s words were extremely insincere. She had originally intended to persuade Xiao Ying to neglect Xiao Jingduo, but now she had to contradict herself. Wu Junru felt a surge of frustration and silently resented Xiao Jingduo. This child was truly troublesome, always revealing things that shouldn¡¯t be said.


    At this moment, Wu Junru hadn¡¯t realized that Xiao Jingduo was doing it on purpose.


    Xiao Ying¡¯s voice was filled with angry frustration, with a hint of malice. Xiao Jingduo believed that everything Xiao Ying said was true. This man was fully capable of confining his disobedient eldest son in a remote courtyard, stifling his growth and ensuring he would never pose a threat to Xiao Ying in the future.


    Xiao Jingduo clearly understood the threat in Xiao Ying¡¯s words, but his steps did not falter. Even though he knew he had just ruined his greatest opportunity for success and destroyed a path paved by the family, he had no regrets. While he was eager to achieve greatness, he wanted even more to remain true to himself and his principles.


    What was rightfully his, no one could take away. He would reclaim everything in his own way.


    In the main courtyard, Wu Junru was unaware that Xiao Jingduo and Xiao Ying had fallen out. She was convinced that Xiao Ying had become suspicious of her, which was why he had specifically called Xiao Jingduo out to discuss lessons. In fact, Wu Junru¡¯s guess was not wrong, but she would never have imagined that Xiao Jingduo would reject the grand future arranged by the family.


    Nanny Wei, following behind Wu Junru, anxiously chattered, ¡°Madam, what should we do? Are we really going to let the Marquis treat that child as the legitimate eldest son? This is raising a tiger to invite calamity.¡±


    ¡°Impossible, I absolutely won¡¯t allow it!¡± Wu Junru spoke firmly, with a hint of ruthlessness in her expression. ¡°The title of Marquis of Dingyong and the Xiao family¡¯s properties are for my son. No one else should even think about taking them!¡±


    Wu Junru paced on the floor, growing more anxious the more she thought about it. Today, she had intended to test the waters and initially ruin Xiao Jingduo¡¯s reputation, but instead, her plans had backfired. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.


    She wanted to appear as a virtuous wife while secretly being a fierce competitor, benefiting from both sides. Thus, she had always been reluctant to use her family background to pressure others. But now, it seemed she couldn¡¯t have it both ways. Weighing the lesser of two evils, she had to sacrifice her gentle and virtuous image.


    ¡°Nanny Wei, bring me a pen. I need to write to the Wu family and have them apply pressure.¡± Wu Junru said each word slowly and clearly. ¡°I absolutely disagree with letting Xiao Jingduo be registered under my name as the legitimate eldest son.¡±


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Power Minister Game Latest Announcement: Xiao Jingduo abandons the minimalist mode, choosing the hell route.


    New Player Information Update:


    **Wu Junru enters the battlefield, house-fighting index: four stars.**


    **Other participants in the same scene: Marquis Xiao Ying, house-fighting index: full stars; stepson Xiao Jingduo, house-fighting index: full stars.**


    **Wish player Wu Junru a happy house-fighting.**


    __________________________________


    If you enjoy my translations, you can consider supporting me on ko-fi! Thank you!


    Buy Me A Coffee

 CH 10

    On the day Xiao Jingduo and Xiao Ying had their falling out, Xiao Ying, intending to teach Xiao Jingduo a lesson, indeed canceled Xiao Jingduo¡¯s literature and martial arts courses, planning to use this method to force Xiao Jingduo to bow his head.


    Naturally, Xiao Jingduo would not let Xiao Ying succeed. However, foundational education could not be delayed. Xiao Jingduo was well aware of the gap between being educated and uneducated. He needed to find a way to secure his own path under Xiao Ying¡¯s blockade.


    He thought for a moment, then set his sights on Xiao Jinghu.


    When Xiao Jingduo walked into Gaoshou Hall, Xiao Jinghu was in the courtyard playing with a wooden sword, shouting loudly. Many maids around him watched nervously, afraid he might make any mistakes.


    Xiao Jingduo paused briefly, then walked straight toward Xiao Jinghu. ¡°Grandmother is still inside. What kind of behavior is this, shouting in the courtyard?¡±


    ¡°Who cares? Grandmother let me play here!¡± Xiao Jinghu had heard some rumors from his second aunt and knew that Xiao Jingduo¡¯s current status was lower than his own. So, he became bolder and was no longer afraid of this elder brother.


    The maids looked embarrassed. As expected, Xiao Jingduo frowned and scolded, ¡°If you keep messing around like this, I¡¯ll have Grandmother send you to the academy and assign you the strictest tutor to discipline you!¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xiao Jinghu was infuriated. He hated school the most, avoiding the academy even when he was in the village. Now, hearing Xiao Jingduo talk about having a tutor just for him made the little tyrant Xiao Jinghu furious. He angrily ran over and gave Xiao Jingduo a push before running off.


    ¡°First Young Master¡­¡± The maids quickly gathered around. Xiao Jingduo waved his hand, indicating he was fine. ¡°I¡¯m okay. You should go look after Second Young Master.¡±


    Although Xiao Jinghu was small, he had a lot of strength. If he had pushed an unprepared maid like that, she would likely have been thrown off balance. But Xiao Jingduo stood firm, unscathed. The maids couldn¡¯t understand how that was possible. After bowing to Xiao Jingduo, they were about to chase after Xiao Jinghu when he called out to them again, ¡°Second Young Master is rowdy and still holding a wooden sword. If he accidentally hurts himself, Grandmother will surely blame you. I suggest you take him to a spacious area and let him burn off his energy there.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo pointed to an open area, giving the maids a suggestion, ¡°I think that spot over there would be perfect.¡±


    The maids looked up and saw that the area was surrounded by trees with an open space in the middle, an ideal spot for watching over a child. Grateful, the maids bowed to Xiao Jingduo, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Young Master.¡±


    After the maids left, Xiao Jingduo smiled slightly and turned to go inside.


    The old madam was inside, busy with the account books. She was used to being in charge and giving orders, and even in her son¡¯s marquis household, she had to manage things. Madam Wu, constrained by her own virtuous image, could not openly compete for control, and the second and third daughters-in-law of the Xiao family had no objections. It was a joke to think they would object; as long as the old madam was in charge, they could skim money from her to support their own households.


    Seeing Xiao Jingduo enter, the old madam, who was feeling dizzy from the account books, waved him over, ¡°Duo¡¯er, what brings you here today?¡±


    It was rare for Xiao Jingduo to come by, as he spent most of his time at Qingze Courtyard. The old madam wasn¡¯t used to seeing him suddenly.


    ¡°Grandson came to greet Grandmother.¡± Xiao Jingduo brushed off the topic lightly, then casually remarked, ¡°I heard Second Brother¡¯s voice from a distance. He¡¯s so lively and robust, just like a little tiger.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Mentioning her beloved grandson immediately brought a smile to the old madam¡¯s face. She instinctively looked around the courtyard for Xiao Jinghu¡¯s whereabouts, and what she saw startled her. ¡°Where is Hu¡¯er? He was just outside!¡±


    Xiao Jingduo raised his hand and pointed towards the back window. ¡°Grandmother, look, he¡¯s over there.¡±


    ¡°I told him to play in the courtyard, why did he run so far!¡± The old madam exclaimed in displeasure. ¡°What are those maids doing, taking Hu¡¯er to the garden? I can¡¯t see him there. What if he gets hurt?¡±


    ¡°Maybe they didn¡¯t want to disturb you,¡± Xiao Jingduo suggested calmly. Then, he furrowed his brow slightly, showing a hesitant expression. ¡°Grandmother, there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure if I should say.¡±


    ¡°Speak freely. There¡¯s no need for formalities with Grandmother,¡± she replied.


    ¡°When I was coming in, I happened to see Second Brother. He was almost poking himself several times with his wooden sword, so I said a few words to him. But instead of listening, he pushed me. However, when the maids intervened, he listened to them. Look, Grandmother,¡± Xiao Jingduo pointed to the back window, where they could see an open area surrounded by trees. ¡°Second Brother has already thrown away his sword and is playing hide-and-seek with the maids.¡±


    The old madam watched Xiao Jinghu and the maid chasing each other, her eyebrows unconsciously knitting together. Female elders have a peculiar sense of possessiveness over their own bloodline. This applies to their sons as well as their grandsons. They hope their descendants will be close to and dependent on them, yet they don¡¯t want to see them getting close to other women.


    The old madam could never have imagined that everything she saw was orchestrated by Xiao Jingduo, and with a slight reversal of cause and effect, the scene presented to her was completely different from the truth.


    Xiao Jingduo continued, ¡°Second Brother is lively and clever, but spending too much time in the inner quarters might not be good for him. Especially since the second household is filled with women, both Yufang and Yuli depend on him, and when he¡¯s outside, he¡¯s always surrounded by maidservants. These women cater to his every need. I¡¯m worried that over time, he¡¯ll become soft-hearted and lose his masculine spirit.¡±


    ¡°You are right. We can¡¯t let these people spoil my Hu¡¯er,¡± the old madam agreed, nodding and racking her brains for a solution. ¡°What should we do then? Should we find some male playmates for him from outside the residence?¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, how could you forget,¡± Xiao Jingduo said, seeing that the old madam still hadn¡¯t gotten to the point, and he gently steered the conversation. ¡°The academy is full of children his age. Wouldn¡¯t it be best to send Second Brother there? The academy has teachers to guide him. Learning to read and write under the teachers¡¯ supervision would be far more beneficial than being cooped up at home.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡± the old madam murmured. Even though their status had drastically changed, her thinking hadn¡¯t quite adjusted yet. She instinctively thought they were still a poor village family without the spare money to educate their children. With Xiao Jingduo¡¯s reminder, she realized their current status was much different, and sending her grandson to school was not difficult at all.


    However, just as the old madam made up her mind, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s next words made her hesitate. ¡°Although the children in the academy like to fight, Second Brother is strong and robust. Even if he gets into a fight, he won¡¯t suffer much as long as he avoids being targeted by a group.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± The old madam was alarmed. ¡°Do they really fight?¡±


    ¡°Kids will be kids, Grandmother. You know how it is, even in our village, boys aged seven or eight often end up in fights, even with adults watching over them. At the academy, the teachers can¡¯t always keep an eye on everyone, and with so many boys gathered together, fights are bound to happen.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the old madam refused firmly. ¡°Our Hu¡¯er is precious, even a small injury is unacceptable. How can we send him there to be bullied by common children? Absolutely not.¡±


    Not long ago, the Xiao family were commoners themselves, and now they were looking down on the children of commoners. Xiao Jingduo felt a twinge of irony but appeared to be swayed by the old madam¡¯s words. ¡°Grandmother, you¡¯re right. Sending Second Brother to an outside academy isn¡¯t appropriate. I¡¯ve heard that in Chang¡¯an, the families of high officials and nobles invite learned teachers to their homes to privately tutor their children. Grandmother, why don¡¯t we hire a tutor for Second Brother?¡±


    ¡°How much would that cost!¡± The old madam, thinking about the expense, was ready to refuse without a second thought. But Xiao Jingduo¡¯s mention of noble families doing so gave her pause, and she hesitated, unsure of what to do.


    Xiao Jingduo, seeing her hesitation, feigned confusion. ¡°Is it really that expensive? I thought education was quite affordable. I¡¯ve heard of a destitute scholar living two streets away in Tongshan Lane. A few years ago, when the imperial court announced the civil service exams, he eagerly went to the capital to take the exam. However, before he could pass, war broke out. The previous dynasty could barely sustain itself and had no resources to support these exam candidates, so he ended up stranded in Chang¡¯an, living in poverty and often hungry. Given how difficult it is for scholars to make a living, I thought hiring a tutor would be quite cheap.¡±


    The founding emperor of the previous dynasty had the radical idea of establishing the imperial examination system, allowing even commoners with sufficient education to become officials. This system attracted a lot of attention upon its inception, facing resistance from aristocratic families and scorn from officials. After the founding emperor¡¯s death, his successor, Emperor Chen Wang, was overly ambitious, engaging in continuous conscription and causing widespread discontent. The imperial examination system gradually fell into disuse. As wars broke out, the capital itself was barely sustainable, and no one had the energy to conduct official selection exams, leaving many exam candidates stranded.


    The scholar Chu Shuxin was one of the many candidates left in limbo by these circumstances.


    The old madam listened and was slightly moved. She asked, ¡°Jingduo, who is this scholar you speak of? What is their family situation?¡±


    ¡°His name is Chu Shuxin. I heard he almost passed the imperial examination back then, so his knowledge shouldn¡¯t be lacking. But now his family situation is really bad. His wife is ill, and his child is young. Scholar Chu can only copy books to make some money for the household. However, in these chaotic times, who has the mind to buy books? So Scholar Chu earns very little, and even now, he can only afford to rent a house.¡± After speaking, Xiao Jingduo sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a pity. He is knowledgeable and virtuous, yet his life is so destitute.¡±


    The old madam thought of a brilliant idea. She clapped her knee in delight and eagerly said to Xiao Jingduo, ¡°Jingduo, how about inviting him to our home to teach Hu¡¯er? This way, we can help this scholar with some household expenses, and our Hu¡¯er can study well without having to endure hardships at the academy. It¡¯s a win-win situation. What do you think?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo smiled, as if he had just thought of the idea as well: ¡°Grandmother, you are absolutely right. Your grandson is ashamed of not thinking of it sooner.¡±


    ¡°This idea is good,¡± the old madam muttered to herself, becoming more excited the more she thought about it. She raised her voice and instructed the maid outside, ¡°Quick, bring Hu¡¯er to me!¡±


    When Xiao Jinghu returned and heard that the old madam was arranging for a strict tutor to come and teach him, he glared angrily at Xiao Jingduo and immediately began to throw a tantrum, crying loudly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I don¡¯t want to, I don¡¯t want to go to school! I want to play with the maid sisters, I don¡¯t want to study!¡±


    ¡°You worthless child!¡± Hearing Xiao Jinghu yelling about wanting to play with the maids, the old madam became even more convinced that the maids were to blame and became more determined to send Xiao Jinghu to study. What she didn¡¯t know was that Xiao Jinghu¡¯s resistance to studying was entirely due to Xiao Jingduo¡¯s earlier threats. Furious, the old madam jabbed Xiao Jinghu¡¯s forehead, ¡°This matter is settled. I will send someone to invite Scholar Chu from the Chu family over. You better get ready and stop playing with the maids every day.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go!¡± Xiao Jinghu threw a fit, rolling on the ground and screaming.


    ¡°You¡­¡± The old madam was so angry she nearly fainted, and Xiao Jingduo hurried over to support her. Seeing Xiao Jingduo calmed her down a bit. ¡°This disobedient little troublemaker is going to drive me to my grave! If only you were half as sensible as your elder brother.¡±


    Luckily, the old madam did not know that today¡¯s events were entirely orchestrated by the very grandson she deemed sensible. It was Xiao Jingduo who had instructed the maids to take Xiao Jinghu outside, yet he claimed the maids were at fault for taking Xiao Jinghu away. It was his earlier threats that made Xiao Jinghu so resistant, yet now he could calmly act as the peacemaker.


    Now, just hearing Xiao Jingduo¡¯s name annoyed Xiao Jinghu. Xiao Jingduo had just threatened him outside about hiring a tutor, and now, their grandmother had actually listened. Thinking about the harsh methods of the strict village tutor made Xiao Jinghu tremble all over. He shot an angry glare at Xiao Jingduo, then scrambled up and ran off.


    ¡°Hu¡¯er!¡± The old madam called out several times, but Xiao Jinghu didn¡¯t look back. Furious and trembling, she held onto Xiao Jingduo for support. She then turned to Xiao Jingduo with an idea. ¡°Jingduo, you are the elder brother and should look after your younger brother more. Why don¡¯t you accompany Hu¡¯er to the school? It won¡¯t take much of your time. You can watch over him to ensure he doesn¡¯t get hurt.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo nodded, displaying a filial demeanor. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s my duty to ease Grandmother¡¯s worries.¡±


    Yet, out of sight, he allowed himself a slight smile.


    Objective achieved.


    Xiao Jingduo had often pondered why Xiao Ying dared to act so brazenly. On the surface, it seemed because Zhao Xiulan was an only daughter, her father had passed away, and there were no brothers in the family. This left her at Xiao Ying¡¯s mercy, unable to protest even when stripped of her rightful position as the main wife. But ultimately, the root cause was that Xiao Ying was an official, while the Zhao family were mere commoners.


    Poor people shouldn¡¯t contend with the rich, and the rich shouldn¡¯t contend with officials. This principle has been applicable from ancient times to the present.


    To have the power to resist Xiao Ying, and even to confront him on equal footing, he must also become an official. Nowadays, becoming an official relies on family background and ancestral influence. If one¡¯s grandfather or uncle holds a position in the court, they can arrange for their descendants to enter the government. However, since the Xiao family is not a noble family and Xiao Jingduo does not want to rely on Xiao Ying, he has to take a much harder path.


    Although the imperial examination system of the previous dynasty was only in place for a few years, it was an earth-shattering opportunity for countless commoners. For thousands of years, officials had always been officials, and commoners remained commoners for generations, with no possibility of changing their status. However, the previous emperor¡¯s unprecedented method opened a path to success for countless children of humble families. Even though the chances were slim, it provided a glimmer of hope for changing one¡¯s fate.


    Now, a new dynasty has taken the throne and renamed the land. Although the imperial examination system has not yet been reinstated, Xiao Jingduo has a nearly unwavering intuition that the current beautiful and warlike new royal family will not abandon this path.


    The power of noble families has been too great for hundreds of years, firmly occupying high positions and ruthlessly seizing power and wealth while preventing others from rising. The noble families implemented a selection system based on family background, which greatly disadvantaged humble families, leaving commoners almost no chance to change their fate, except for seizing opportunities in chaotic times. This poses a great danger to the country and to the monarch.


    Thus, Xiao Jingduo is confident that the imperial examination system will be reinstated. What he needs to do is to prepare in advance by studying and practicing calligraphy, so that when the examination resumes, he can register and enter the court as an official. He manipulated the situation to have the old lady invite Chu Shuxin to the mansion to teach, precisely because of Chu Shuxin¡¯s background as an aspiring scholar. To this end, Xiao Jingduo intentionally provoked Xiao Jinghu to ensure he could legitimately attend the lessons.


    Sometimes Xiao Jingduo felt that he himself was a terrifying person. His mother had been in critical condition several times, and while Xiao Ying was certainly the main culprit, the old madam was also an accomplice. Yet he could sit in the same room with the old madam, maintaining a neither-close-nor-distant relationship. He knew the old madam felt guilty towards him, so he deliberately kept her at arm¡¯s length, making her feel that with a little more effort, she could melt the barrier in Xiao Jingduo¡¯s heart. As a result, she continuously accommodated him.


    However, strangely enough, while he was willing to maintain a facade with the old madam who had aided the villain, he was not willing to compromise with Xiao Ying at all. In fact, he didn¡¯t need to go through all this trouble. If he just asked, someone would naturally arrange a good tutor for him, and even arrange his future official position. The prerequisite was that he had to bow his head and submit to Xiao Ying.


    But Xiao Jingduo was unwilling to do so.


    So he could only rack his brains and use various unorthodox methods to achieve his goals.


    Xiao Jingduo was quite open about using these unorthodox methods. He admitted that his intentions were not pure, but as long as he could grasp the possibility of the imperial examination and hold onto that sliver of hope for an official position, he was willing to give it his all.


    The journey to become an official had just begun.


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s note:


    Small scene:


    Old Madam: These maids are really troublesome; they only know how to play with my grandson all day.


    Maid: ?


    Old Madam: What¡¯s more infuriating is that Tiger (Xiao Jinghu) doesn¡¯t listen to me, but as soon as they speak, he puts down his wooden sword and follows them outside to play. It really makes me furious!


    Maid: ???


    Maid: What happened?


    __________________________________


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    Buy Me A Coffee

 CH 11

    In a few days, Chu Shuxin sent a reply agreeing to come to Dingyong Marquis Mansion to teach.


    Xiao Jingduo was not surprised by this outcome. After the old madam¡¯s maid informed him that the formal classes would start the next day, Xiao Jingduo spent the entire afternoon tidying up things in Qingze Courtyard.


    Although the new dynasty had been established, the prices remained high. Ten liters of rice cost as much as eight thousand coins, making it unaffordable for even the wealthy, let alone the common people. As for writing materials like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, which were never cheap to begin with, the years of war had severely disrupted production, causing the price of paper to skyrocket.


    Since Xiao Jingduo had been relegated to a remote courtyard, naturally, no one would prepare these scholarly supplies for him. Everything he currently had was painstakingly acquired bit by bit with his own money from outside the mansion


    Qiuju was organizing the brushes and ink for Xiao Jingduo, unable to hold back her complaints: ¡°The marquis is really heartless. The young master is meeting his tutor tomorrow, yet he doesn¡¯t even ask about it, let alone prepare any scholarly supplies for him. Such coarse ink is not worthy of the young master¡­¡±


    Xiao Jingduo, however, smiled faintly. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Qiuju looked up, puzzled. ¡°Why not? Even if you¡¯re still upset with the marquis, you shouldn¡¯t be at odds with money! Paper and ink are expensive.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo did not explain further. His gaze shifted to the window as he fell into deep thought.


    Qiuju¡¯s words reminded him of an important point: the cost of paper needed for his studies alone was a significant expense. Since Xiao Ying would not provide this money and Xiao Jingduo did not want to use Xiao Ying¡¯s money, figuring out how to cover these costs became his most urgent problem.


    When Xiao Jingduo went to the capital, he had not yet fallen out with Xiao Ying. At that time, the servants had given him many gold, silver, and jade items, which he still had. However, despite their value, they could not solve his immediate problem. The cash he had on hand was less than 500 coins.


    In addition to his own writing supplies, he also needed to support his mother¡¯s medical treatment. Although a doctor came to the mansion every ten days to check her pulse, saving some medical expenses, Xiao Jingduo did not mean to belittle him, but the doctor¡¯s skills were truly mediocre. His medical approach was far inferior to that of his maternal grandfather, and no matter the ailment, his only solution seemed to be exorcism.


    Xiao Jingduo had tolerated this incompetent doctor for a long time. Finally, he decided to find another way and spent his own money to prepare medicinal supplements for his mother. Unfortunately, his maternal grandfather passed away early; had he learned medicine himself, there would be no need to rely on outside doctors.


    Compared to his mother¡¯s illness, his own expenses were much less important, so when Xiao Jingduo went to the street to buy writing brushes and ink, he didn¡¯t choose the best ones but instead picked the most economical ones.


    Because of this, Qiuju kept saying, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re being too hard on yourself. Writing tools are your face at school. You¡¯re the eldest son of the Marquis¡¯s household; how can you lose face?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo himself didn¡¯t care: ¡°It¡¯s just empty fame.¡±


    He had more important things to do.


    Qiuju looked at Xiao Jingduo, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes: ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re only nine years old. What child at this age isn¡¯t playful and competitive? Yet you¡¯re so sensible.¡± Qiuju wiped away her tears forcefully, her tone firm, not knowing if she was trying to convince Xiao Jingduo or herself, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ll surely have great achievements in the future!¡±


    Xiao Jingduo was amused by Qiuju. He nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a good omen.¡±


    Qiuju looked at Xiao Jingduo¡¯s smile and seemed to be stunned for a moment: ¡°Young Master, you just smiled! You haven¡¯t smiled in a long time.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± As he spoke, Xiao Jingduo unconsciously suppressed his smile, returning to his cold and indifferent appearance.


    Then Xiao Jingduo saw that Qiuju, the crybaby, was about to cry again. He felt a bit at a loss and immediately stood up: ¡°You go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll go check on Mother.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t dare to look at Qiuju¡¯s expression and ran out in a flash.


    In the main room, Zhao Xiulan was leaning on the bed, looking absent-mindedly at the falling leaves outside the window. ¡°It¡¯s already autumn¡­¡±


    As soon as Xiao Jingduo entered the room, he saw his mother¡¯s dispirited appearance. His heart sank for a moment, but he forced himself to put on a smile and walked towards Zhao Xiulan, pretending to be cheerful: ¡°Mother, tomorrow I¡¯ll start studying with the teacher.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhao Xiulan showed a weak smile, ¡°That¡¯s wonderful; my Duo¡¯er can now study too.¡±


    Studying has always been a privilege of the noble families. For commoners with better circumstances, being able to recognize characters was already quite good, let alone reading those Confucian and Taoist classics. Moreover, many books were not circulated in the market. These books were kept within noble families, passed down from generation to generation as family property, and were never shown to outsiders.


    It wasn¡¯t until the previous dynasty when one could become an official through studying, that schools gradually became popular among common people. Otherwise, if reading and writing were useless, why would ordinary people spend enormous sums to send their children to study?


    Because Zhao Xiulan¡¯s father was a doctor, she could read, but she didn¡¯t understand the Four Books and Five Classics. These were books that only aristocratic families had the opportunity and the right to read.


    Thanks to Zhao Xiulan, Xiao Jingduo could also read, but he hadn¡¯t received a systematic education. So, having a tutor come to teach him was extremely beneficial.


    As Xiao Jingduo kept Zhao Xiulan company and talked with her, he quickly noticed that her mind was elsewhere. She would occasionally cover her mouth and cough lightly, clearly suffering from a chronic illness that was hard to cure.


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s heart sank. He knew he only had a basic understanding of medicine, far from the level needed to treat people. Yet he still boldly prescribed and decocted medicine for Zhao Xiulan based solely on a medical book. Beyond this, he was at a loss for what to do.


    Even so, Zhao Xiulan¡¯s health deteriorated day by day. It was clearly a sickness of the heart, one that no amount of tonic medicine Xiao Jingduo gave her could cure. ¡°Mother,¡± Xiao Jingduo couldn¡¯t help but grasp Zhao Xiulan¡¯s ice-cold hand, once again reaffirming to her, ¡°I will grow up quickly and take you away from this place as soon as possible. Mother, I will definitely seek justice for you. You must hold on and live to see that day come with me.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Xiulan smiled and nodded, then urged him to rest. ¡°It¡¯s late. You should go back and rest now. You still have to see your tutor tomorrow.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo sighed heavily and left as she said.


    Under the lamplight, he stroked the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, his eyes flashing with intense light.


    He was determined to fulfill his promise to his mother, to make a name for himself early, to reclaim the honor of the Marchioness for her, and then take her away from this oppressive place.


    He firmly believed that this day would not be too far off.


    The next day, Xiao Jingduo arrived at the study room early, waiting for Chu Shuxin¡¯s arrival.


    In the middle of the Chen hour (7-9 am), a middle-aged scholar wearing a blue robe slowly walked in from outside.


    Xiao Jingduo hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully to the teacher: ¡°Xiao Jingduo pays his respects to the teacher.¡±


    Chu Shuxin nodded lightly, clearly having heard something about the Xiao family¡¯s situation. He glanced briefly and recognized Xiao Jingduo: ¡°You are the eldest young master of the Xiao family?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    Chu Shuxin nodded again and then said no more. This former imperial examination candidate was thin and unkempt, but his face was quite indifferent, as if he cared about nothing. Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t dare to speak rashly, lest he displease the teacher.


    After waiting a while longer, Xiao Jinghu arrived. Xiao Jingduo could hear the commotion from afar. Xiao Jinghu walked impatiently in front, followed by many servants ¨C some from the old madam, some from Second Aunt Xiao, and even some from the sisters Xiao Yufang and Xiao Yuli. Second Uncle Xiao walked beside Xiao Jinghu, seemingly still giving some instructions.


    In comparison, Xiao Jingduo alone was truly efficient.


    Second Uncle Xiao led Xiao Jinghu to Chu Shuxin, exchanged a few polite greetings, then had Xiao Jingduo and Xiao Jinghu bow to the teacher as their master. Immediately after, they presented the gifts for the teacher, knelt to pay respects to Confucius, and by the time all this fuss was over, it was already quite late. Second Uncle Xiao gave Xiao Jinghu another warning glare, then left with the servants, leaving the space to Teacher Chu and his students.


    After all the unnecessary people had withdrawn, Chu Shuxin sat at the head and inquired about Xiao Jingduo and Xiao Jinghu¡¯s literacy. ¡°Can you both read?¡±


    Xiao Jinghu vigorously shook his head, while Xiao Jingduo carefully said, ¡°My maternal grandfather and mother have taught me a bit; I know the commonly used characters.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Chu Shuxin nodded indifferently, then said, ¡°Open the Thousand Character Classic; today, we¡¯ll start by recognizing characters.¡±


    ¡°Heaven and Earth, dark and yellow, the universe vast and wild. Sun and moon, wax and wane, stars and constellations spread across the sky. Cold comes and heat departs, autumn harvests and winter stores¡­¡±


    After Chu Shuxin led them in reciting once, he started from the first line, explaining the meaning and structure of each character. Chu Shuxin¡¯s explanations were detailed and well-referenced, showing his solid foundation. Although Xiao Jingduo had learned some characters from medical books before, he had never studied systematically. Now, with Chu Shuxin¡¯s explanation, he felt enlightened, thinking ¡°so that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    Chu Shuxin taught them characters using the Thousand Character Classic. While this required a high level of knowledge from the teacher, it was perhaps too boring for children. Sure enough, before long, Xiao Jinghu was squirming on his reed mat, clearly impatient.


    Chu Shuxin noticed but pretended not to, and Xiao Jingduo was happy with this. The teacher not paying attention to Xiao Jinghu greatly sped up the progress, which was very beneficial for Xiao Jingduo.


    At the same time, Xiao Jingduo became more certain of his guess. Teacher Chu probably didn¡¯t want to come to the Marquis¡¯s mansion to teach children, but was forced to do so due to financial circumstances.


    Half an hour later, Xiao Jinghu couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. Considering it was their first lesson, Chu Shuxin generously ended the class, allowing them to rest for a moment.


    As soon as the teacher left his seat, the servants who had been waiting outside rushed in, surrounding Xiao Jinghu. They were adding water, fanning him ¨C Xiao Jinghu was used to this and ordered them around without hesitation.


    It hadn¡¯t been long, yet he had already been spoiled like this. Xiao Jingduo shook his head inwardly. He didn¡¯t want to pay attention to the commotion around Xiao Jinghu, instead turning his head to diligently recite the content the teacher had just taught.


    Xiao Jingduo had wanted to read quietly, but he was destined not to have his wish. His three female cousins had somehow learned that Xiao Jinghu¡¯s class was over and now came running to curry favor. Xiao Yufang brought a plate of pastries, while Xiao Yumang went even further, directly bringing a bowl of cold soup, saying it was to refresh Xiao Jinghu. The three of them surrounded Xiao Jinghu, trying to show concern while subtly excluding others. Even from a distance, Xiao Jingduo found their behavior quite impressive.


    Were Xiao Yufang and the others really here to look after their brother who had just started school? Obviously not. Xiao Jingduo was very clear that the real purpose of these three was to please the old madam. After all, it was the old madam who held the power in the marquis¡¯s household. If they wanted to live well, they could only rack their brains to please their grandmother. In the past, Xiao Yumang¡¯s attentiveness to Xiao Jingduo was for the same reason. However, after Xiao Jingduo fell out with Xiao Ying, these three shrewd cousins found that Xiao Jingduo was no longer profitable, so they turned to coax Xiao Jinghu instead.


    All these ups and downs happened within a few months. As a member of this household, Xiao Jingduo had a deeper experience of the warmth and coldness of human nature. Power was indeed a good thing ¨C as long as one had even the slightest connection to those in power, people would flock to show their concern.


    Xiao Jingduo had come to see clearly the intricacies among these women in the inner courtyard. At this moment, he even felt somewhat fortunate that he was male, able to leave the family and establish his own career, not having to focus all his thoughts on how to please the head of the household. In the inner courtyard, status was disregarded and only power mattered. The ways of the world were just like this.


    The strong rely on self-improvement. Xiao Jingduo¡¯s interest in the inner courtyard¡¯s affairs gradually cooled. He decided not to waste any more attention here, and instead lowered his head to silently recite today¡¯s lesson.


    ¡°Heaven and Earth, dark and yellow, the universe vast and wild.¡±


    While Xiao Jinghu was surrounded by a cloud of servants and three pretty elder female cousins saying nice things, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s area was deserted. This stark contrast was undoubtedly awkward. Although no one in the room dared to approach Xiao Jingduo, everyone was secretly observing his reactions. When they saw that Xiao Jingduo¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed at all from start to finish, and he just kept his head down reading, they found it uninteresting. However, along with their disappointment, they also developed some admiration.


    At such a young age, the eldest young master had such good composure, able to accept even this kind of disparity.


    Fortunately, the chaos in the study room only lasted for a short while. Soon, Chu Shuxin returned. Seeing the teacher come back, Xiao Yufang and her two sisters, however unwilling, had to make way. They couldn¡¯t risk being accused of interfering with the young master¡¯s studies.


    As Xiao Yufang and her sisters left, looking back repeatedly, Teacher Chu pretended not to see. Without waiting for everyone to be seated, he opened his book and continued the lesson.


    Xiao Jingduo immediately forced himself to focus and immerse himself in the book.


    In the second half of the lesson, Xiao Jinghu was extremely impatient. He tasted the pastries Xiao Yufang had brought while looking around boredly, wishing the class would end the next moment. When he finally saw Chu Shuxin stop and appear to be putting away his books, Xiao Jinghu didn¡¯t wait for the teacher to dismiss the class and immediately ran out.


    Xiao Jingduo felt somewhat embarrassed and apologized to the teacher: ¡°My younger brother is rash, please don¡¯t mind him, teacher.¡±


    Chu Shuxin waved his hand: ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± After saying this, he was about to leave.


    Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t bother to tidy up his writing materials and hurriedly caught up with him: ¡°Teacher, I heard that you once participated in the imperial examinations of the previous dynasty. May I ask what classics were covered in those examinations?¡±


    Chu Shuxin gave Xiao Jingduo a strange look, his tone still cold and unwilling to discuss further: ¡°You are the eldest grandson of the Marquis¡¯s family, the Marquis¡¯s own son. You don¡¯t need to participate in the imperial examinations, so why ask about these things? Besides, there are no more imperial examinations now.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo smiled bitterly, but not wanting to reveal his family¡¯s situation to an outsider, he simply bowed deeply to Chu Shuxin: ¡°Please, teacher, don¡¯t withhold your guidance.¡±


    Chu Shuxin also sighed deeply: ¡°You don¡¯t want to speak, and I don¡¯t want to hear. But the imperial examinations were abolished in the previous dynasty, so you shouldn¡¯t entertain such thoughts. People should accept their fate. If Heaven has allowed you to be born as a common citizen, then don¡¯t be overly ambitious, thinking of soaring high. Your family has inherited privileges, and in the future, you can easily obtain an official position through your father. There¡¯s really no need to inquire about these things.¡±


    After saying this, Chu Shuxin seemed unwilling to speak further and walked away quickly. He hadn¡¯t taken more than a few steps when he suddenly heard the young man¡¯s voice from behind: ¡°Teacher, if the new dynasty were to reinstate the imperial examinations, would you truly be content to give up?¡±


    Chu Shuxin¡¯s steps only paused for a moment before he continued striding forward. He sighed inwardly, thinking that young masters these days were truly unlikeable.


    As night fell and all was quiet, many had already entered dreamland, but the light in the east wing of Qingze Courtyard was still lit.


    Xiao Jingduo held a brush, writing characters stroke by stroke under the lamplight.


    He had already started his education late, so to catch up with others, he could only put in double the effort.


    That night, the light in Qingze Courtyard stayed on until midnight before going out. By this time, the old madam in Gaoshou Hall, Xiao Ying and Wu Junru in the main courtyard, and even all of Chang¡¯an, had long been asleep.


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s note:


    Congratulations on collecting all the fragments; you¡¯ve unlocked a beautiful image:


    ¡°Xiao Jingduo, who developed prejudices against women and the inner court due to his bitter experiences as a youth.jpg¡±


    __________________________________


    If you enjoy my translations, you can consider supporting me on ko-fi! Thank you!


    Buy Me A Coffee

 CH 12

    Early in the morning, Wu Junru was washing up and changing clothes with the assistance of Wet Nurse Wei.


    ¡°I heard that the old madam invited a failed imperial examination candidate to be the tutor for Xiao Jinghu, and Xiao Jingduo went along? Didn¡¯t the Marquis arrange lessons for him? Why didn¡¯t he go to the Marquis?¡±


    ¡°This old servant doesn¡¯t know either. I heard from the old madam¡¯s maids that it seems the old madam thought the second young master couldn¡¯t settle down, so she asked the eldest young master to go to the study room to keep an eye on him. Perhaps the tutor invited by the Marquis hasn¡¯t arrived yet, so the eldest young master went to accompany his younger brother in studying first.¡± Wet Nurse Wei didn¡¯t take this to heart and casually speculated.


    ¡°No, something¡¯s not right here.¡± Wu Junru, however, sensed something unusual. ¡°The Marquis isn¡¯t such an indecisive person. It¡¯s just a tutor, how could it take so long? Could it be that the relationship between father and son isn¡¯t as I assumed?¡±


    Wu Junru felt uneasy. If her guess was correct and the relationship between Xiao Ying and Xiao Jingduo was very distant, then why did she still write a letter asking the Wu family to put pressure on them? If Xiao Ying had no intention of passing the title to Xiao Jingduo in the first place, then Wu Junru could have just gone along with it. Why did she have to step forward and be the villain?


    ¡°This is terrible!¡± Wu Junru grew increasingly anxious, afraid she might have done something foolish in her haste. She no longer had the patience to let her maid fuss with her hair ornaments and hurriedly instructed Wet Nurse Wei, ¡°Nanny, where was that letter from last time sent? Quickly, go and retrieve it!¡±


    ¡°Oh my.¡± Wet Nurse Wei responded in a flustered manner, but before she could leave the room, a dowry maid ran in cheerfully: ¡°Madam, a letter has arrived from the Wu family!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Wu Junru stood up abruptly, waving away the maid who was doing her hair, and quickly opened the letter, skimming through it rapidly.


    After she finished reading, Wu Junru¡¯s expression became even more grim: ¡°It¡¯s too late. Father has already brought this matter up with the Marquis, threatening that he must not allow Xiao Jingduo to become the legitimate eldest son under any circumstances¡­¡±


    [The scene appears to shift here to Xiao Jingduo]


    Xiao Jingduo, unable to bear it any longer, said: ¡°Qiuju, Mother was just calling for you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Qiuju was bewildered, ¡°Really? How come I didn¡¯t hear?¡±


    ¡°She definitely did. You must not have heard because you¡¯re hard of hearing. Quickly, go and check.¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Qiuju actually turned and went to investigate in Zhao Xiulan¡¯s room.


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s ears were finally at peace. He quickly gathered his books and slipped out of the room silently.


    Xiao Jingduo arrived early, and the study room was empty. He sat in the quiet room, peacefully reviewing the content he had memorized yesterday, his hands unconsciously mimicking the motions of writing.


    Since childhood, Xiao Jingduo had been forced by Doctor Zhao to memorize medical prescriptions. If he could memorize those dull prescriptions word for word, the Thousand Character Classic was much more interesting in comparison. Xiao Jingduo simply wet his finger and began to write silently on the desk.


    After an unknown amount of time, a sigh came from behind him: ¡°One shouldn¡¯t be so careless when practicing writing.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo was startled and immediately stood up. ¡°Teacher Chu.¡±


    Chu Shuxin still had his indifferent and cold demeanor, but this time, he asked Xiao Jingduo to pick up the brush. ¡°Write two characters on the paper for me to see.¡±


    In truth, Xiao Jingduo had never formally learned calligraphy. His private practice last night was one thing, but to actually write in front of others was entirely unacceptable. However, since the teacher had asked, Xiao Jingduo had no choice but to steel himself, pick up the brush, and write the characters for ¡°heaven¡± and ¡°earth¡± on the paper.


    Chu Shuxin¡¯s expression was hard to describe. He sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so eager to study and practice writing, but you must remember, too much is as bad as too little. If you don¡¯t lay a good foundation at the beginning, you¡¯ll be the one to suffer in the end.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s expression became serious, realizing he had been too impatient lately, and that the teacher had seen right through him. He lowered his head and sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, teacher.¡±


    Chu Shuxin waved his hand, seemingly impatient with such pleasantries. He took the brush from Xiao Jingduo and, next to Xiao Jingduo¡¯s scrawl-like writing, wrote two large, perfectly formed characters:


    Ìì (Heaven), µØ (Earth).


    ¡°A thousand-story building rises from level ground. I know you¡¯re a person with great ambitions. When you achieve your goals in the future, I hope you won¡¯t forget the first character you wrote. Look up without shame to heaven, look down without disgrace to earth. I hope you¡¯ll conduct yourself well.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s expression had become completely serious. ¡°This student will remember carefully,¡± he said.


    Seeing Xiao Jingduo¡¯s proper attitude, Chu Shuxin¡¯s expression softened. He turned his brush and wrote down a list of book titles on the paper. ¡°These tracing copybooks are quite good, with proper calligraphy techniques. They¡¯re most suitable for beginners. When you have time, go to the East and West markets to buy them,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thank you, teacher,¡± Xiao Jingduo hurriedly expressed his gratitude. This was not part of Chu Shuxin¡¯s duties, and his willingness to guide him was already a great fortune. Chu Shuxin was deeply knowledgeable and wrote excellent calligraphy. Getting book recommendations from him was far better than fumbling around on his own.


    Chu Shuxin asked a few more questions and found that Xiao Jingduo answered fluently, obviously having put in effort after returning home. Although Chu Shuxin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, he was very satisfied inside. At first, he had been unwilling to teach these noble children, but once one becomes a teacher, it¡¯s hard to avoid falling into conventional patterns. Seeing his student so diligent and hardworking, Chu Shuxin couldn¡¯t hide his happiness.


    With his improved mood, Chu Shuxin became even more attentive in guiding Xiao Jingduo. The two engaged in a lengthy question-and-answer session until Xiao Jinghu arrived, at which point they began the day¡¯s lesson.


    Xiao Jingduo was excited to have gained Chu Shuxin¡¯s approval. Even though he was mature for his age, he was still a child at heart. His grandmother was indifferent, his father cruel, and his new stepmother was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Everyone around him was self-interested. Having been in such an environment for so long, even Xiao Jingduo couldn¡¯t help but doubt himself. Perhaps the harsh treatment from his relatives was his own fault? But today¡¯s praise from the teacher was extremely precious to Xiao Jingduo, who had long been in a desperate situation, and it made him more confident in himself.


    It wasn¡¯t that he had a problem; it was that his luck was truly bad, and there wasn¡¯t a single good person around him.


    However, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s good mood didn¡¯t last long before it was interrupted by an unexpected visitor.


    As class was dismissed, just as Xiao Jingduo was about to try to get closer to Teacher Chu ¨C no, to seek his advice on life principles ¨C he saw an officer walking around the corner. His target was very clear: Xiao Jingduo and Chu Shuxin.


    ¡°Teacher Chu, Young Master,¡± Xiang An bowed and greeted the two.


    Xiao Jingduo also recognized him as one of Xiao Ying¡¯s trusted aides. His expression immediately turned cold, with no trace of the earlier smiling and pleasant demeanor.


    Chu Shuxin returned the greeting, ¡°Officer Xiang. What brings you to the study today? Does the Marquis have any instructions?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, Teacher Chu is too kind,¡± Xiang An said with an ambiguous smile, his gaze seeming to sweep over Xiao Jingduo. ¡°I¡¯ve come today regarding the household¡¯s eldest young master.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Chu Shuxin glanced at Xiao Jingduo and said, ¡°The eldest young master is intelligent and studious, clearly the result of the Marquis¡¯s excellent guidance. For the Marquis to specially send someone to inquire about the young master¡¯s studies shows great care indeed.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo scoffed lightly, knowing that Xiao Ying sending someone could mean nothing good. He just didn¡¯t know what Xiao Ying intended to do this time.


    Xiao Jingduo scoffed lightly, knowing that Xiao Ying sending someone could mean nothing good. He just didn¡¯t know what Xiao Ying intended to do this time.


    Xiang An glanced at Xiao Jingduo and continued, ¡°The eldest young master was raised in the old hometown since childhood, and the Marquis, busy with military affairs, was unable to look after him. Now that things have finally settled down, the Marquis wishes to make some amends to the eldest young master. Our Marquis¡¯s intention is that regardless of their origin, as long as they are children of the Xiao family, all should be carefully nurtured and taught to become upright men. This is the Marquis¡¯s sincere wish as an elder. Teacher Chu, the eldest young master will rely heavily on you in the future. I¡¯m here to thank you on behalf of the Marquis.¡±


    Chu Shuxin gave Xiao Jingduo a strange look and bowed in return, ¡°The officer is too kind.¡±


    By this time, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s expression had become very unpleasant. Though Xiang An¡¯s words sounded nice, they concealed daggers between the lines. What did he mean by ¡°regardless of origin, all should be carefully nurtured¡±? This was clearly hinting that Xiao Jingduo was not born of the principal wife, that his status was not legitimate, and therefore he needed the teacher¡¯s careful guidance. Xiao Jingduo¡¯s fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles visibly whitening. What was Xiao Ying¡¯s intention with this? To give him a warning, or was this just a signal, a signal that negotiations between Xiao Ying and the Wu family had broken down? Did the Wu family disagree to register Xiao Jingduo under Wu¡¯s name, and Xiao Ying, not wanting to fall out with the Wu family, planned to acknowledge to outsiders that Xiao Jingduo was just an illegitimate son left in the old hometown, who wouldn¡¯t obstruct the path of Wu¡¯s legitimate sons in the future?


    Previously, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s status had been kept vague, with no one willing to discuss whether he was legitimate or illegitimate. Now, were Xiao Ying and the old madam planning to officially demote him to the status of an illegitimate son?


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s heart tightened. Once such matters of status were settled, it would be difficult to rectify in the future. Xiao Jingduo absolutely couldn¡¯t let Xiao Ying alter his identity as the legitimate eldest son like this. His expression remained unchanged, but his mind was racing, considering how he could assert his rightful status.


    The more he thought about it, the colder Xiao Jingduo¡¯s heart became. Xiao Ying and the old madam were the two highest authorities in the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s household. Who could oppose their decisions?


    Lost in his thoughts, Xiao Jingduo remained silent for a long time. Chu Shuxin glanced at this young master he quite admired, understanding dawning in his heart. No wonder he studied so diligently despite being the eldest son, and even inquired about the imperial examinations indirectly. So, he was merely an illegitimate child.


    Chu Shuxin sighed. There were many dark secrets in noble families, and as an outsider, he really couldn¡¯t say much. Having understood this, Chu Shuxin cupped his hands and bid farewell to Xiang An.


    After Chu Shuxin left, Xiang An sighed to Xiao Jingduo, ¡°Young Master, why must you be like this?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t want to deal with this person and walked quickly ahead.


    However, Xiang An followed behind, talking incessantly: ¡°Why do you have to go against the Marquis? The Marquis arranged good tutors and martial arts masters for you, but you don¡¯t go. Instead, you come to find such a down-and-out scholar. I really can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re doing. This is an opportunity others would beg for, it¡¯s right in front of you, and you actually refuse?¡±


    ¡°My affairs are none of your concern,¡± Xiao Jingduo coldly replied.


    ¡°Ah, Young Master!¡± Xiang An called from behind, but Xiao Jingduo walked away without looking back. Feeling rebuffed, Xiang An rubbed his nose awkwardly. ¡°I really can¡¯t understand what these noble young masters are thinking. Their elders arrange official positions for them and they actually refuse? The Marquis holds a second-rank title, by law his descendants can enter the left and right guards. Such a great opportunity, and he not only doesn¡¯t rush to please the Marquis, but actually discards it like worn-out shoes, fantastically thinking of relying on studying for the imperial examinations! Not taking the ready-made path to success, but insisting on exhausting himself on an impassable road¡­¡± At this point, Xiang An sighed in frustration, ¡°I, as a poor man, really don¡¯t understand the thoughts of these noble young masters.¡±


    ¡°Teacher Chu!¡± Xiao Jingduo, calculating Chu Shuxin¡¯s pace, took a shortcut to catch up with the teacher. Standing before Chu Shuxin, he suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Chu Shuxin saw through Xiao Jingduo¡¯s thoughts and smiled faintly, ¡°Just be as usual in front of me. I¡¯m not someone who judges people based on status.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Xiao Jingduo felt the irony. He was indeed the rightful legitimate eldest son, but even if he said so, the teacher wouldn¡¯t believe him. Xiao Jingduo simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain and asked the key question he most wanted to know today: ¡°Teacher, to be honest with you, I want to participate in the future imperial examinations. Do you have any book recommendations?¡±


    Chu Shuxin¡¯s previously smiling face immediately darkened: ¡°What did I tell you this morning? Have you forgotten so quickly? Haste makes waste. Your foundation is already shaky, you haven¡¯t even mastered the basic Thousand Character Classic, yet you dare to think about reading texts for the imperial examination? There¡¯s no need to speak of this again. I won¡¯t tell you about the exam content.¡±


    With that, Chu Shuxin left, his sleeves swinging. Xiao Jingduo knew Chu Shuxin¡¯s words were for his own good. No matter how eager he was to change his current situation, he had to take it step by step. He sighed deeply, thinking, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just honestly work on building my foundation for now.¡±


    But compared to the imperial examination, Xiao Jingduo¡¯s biggest problem now wasn¡¯t the exam, but the crisis of his own identity.


    He needed to find a way to protect his status as the legitimate eldest son.


    __________________________________


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 CH 13

    Xiao Jingduo needed to find a way to preserve his status as the eldest legitimate son. With this matter weighing on his mind, he deliberately made a visit to the Hall of Longevity.


    The old madam was holding Xiao Jinghu in her arms, smiling as she listened to her maids and granddaughters flatter her. When she saw Xiao Jingduo enter, her expression faltered for a moment before she quickly turned her head away.


    Seeing him arrive, his three cousins stood up to greet him, but there was a hint of disdain in their eyes.


    Xiao Jingduo became even more certain that his status as the eldest legitimate son was truly in jeopardy.


    The old madam was discussing Xiao Su¡¯s situation: ¡°When we came to the capital last year, although we left her with plenty of wealth, without her natal family to look after her, it¡¯s inevitable that her husband¡¯s family might bully her. A few days ago, she sent me a letter saying that her in-laws are mistreating her, and she wants to bring her daughter to the Marquis¡¯s mansion.¡±


    Mistreated by her in-laws, so she¡¯s coming to the capital? Xiao Jingduo found his aunt¡¯s excuse laughable. Xiao Su was the old madam¡¯s only daughter, married into a neighboring village of Tongmu Village, living a fairly prosperous life. However, no matter how prosperous a rural household might be, it couldn¡¯t compare to the Marquis¡¯s mansion. Xiao Jingduo easily guessed the truth of the matter: clearly, Xiao Su saw that her brother and mother had come to Chang¡¯an to enjoy prosperity, and feeling dissatisfied, she simply decided to separate from her husband¡¯s family so she could rightfully come to the capital to share in the glory.


    The others also understood the situation clearly, but dared not contradict the old madam. They simply smiled in agreement: ¡°The old madam speaks truly. You are indeed a loving mother, caring so much for your daughter.¡±


    The old madam was thoroughly pleased by the flattery. Soon after, Xiao Ying returned, and the whole family moved to the side room for a meal.


    While the food was still being prepared, the old madam spoke to Xiao Ying about Xiao Su¡¯s situation: ¡°She had someone deliver a letter, saying she¡¯s being mistreated in the Cheng family. Why don¡¯t we bring Asu over here?¡±


    Xiao Ying frowned imperceptibly, clearly seeing through the ruse. He had already been made a marquis; how would the Cheng family dare mistreat his sister? But even though he understood, Xiao Ying couldn¡¯t say anything. While he didn¡¯t care about his origins, he also cared about them the most. To embarrass Xiao Su would be to embarrass himself.


    So Xiao Ying nodded and was about to speak when he was interrupted by someone from outside. A messenger rushed in hurriedly. Xiao Ying, already in a bad mood because of Xiao Su, was about to rebuke the messenger for his rudeness, but the messenger¡¯s next words stopped him short: ¡°My lord, terrible news! There¡¯s trouble in the palace!¡±


    Xiao Ying said nothing, put down his chopsticks, and left. The others sat at their tables, looking at each other in confusion.


    What had happened?


    The women whispered anxiously inside the room, while Xiao Jingduo quietly stood up and walked towards the door.


    As soon as he stepped outside, he heard faint sounds of fighting from the north. He looked up and saw flashes of fire in the direction of Taiji Palace. Had something happened in the palace?


    On the third day, news from the palace finally reached the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s mansion.


    ¡°¡­That night, His Majesty was holding a banquet to celebrate Prince Qin¡¯s victory. In May, Prince Qin crossed the Yangtze River and fought all the way to Jiangdu, trapping the former emperor in his temporary palace. As you know, a few years ago, the former emperor Chen Wang abandoned the capital and fled, crossing the Yangtze to establish a small court in Jiangdu. Although the young emperor had already abdicated the throne to our current emperor, the former emperor Chen Wang was still alive, and he remained a major concern for His Majesty. Chen Wang used the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to hold Jiangdu, standing against the Rong family. In May, Prince Qin led the Xuantie Army across the river. At that time, everyone thought Prince Qin would return empty-handed, that his expedition was merely paving the way for the Crown Prince. But who could have imagined that Prince Qin would actually cross the river undetected and nearly capture Chen Wang alive? It¡¯s said that Chen Wang was trapped in his temporary palace, failed to break out multiple times, and cursed Prince Qin and the Rong family on the battlefield for betraying their loyalty and breaking the bonds between ruler and subject. Then he set fire to his temporary palace and took his own life.¡±


    The women gathered around gasped in surprise, with several of the more timid ones repeatedly patting their chests to catch their breath. Others pressed for more information: ¡°Then what? What does this have to do with the events of the other day?¡±


    It was common knowledge that the current royal family was once the Xuanguo Gong, the Governor of Taiyuan during the previous dynasty. The former emperor¡¯s failed expedition to Goguryeo had caused widespread discontent in the country, leading to frequent rebellions. In the 12th year of Daye, Xuanguo Gong Rong Bo raised an army in Taiyuan and marched into Daxing City as if divinely aided. Emperor Chen Wang abandoned the capital and fled, hiding in Jiangdu where he proclaimed himself emperor again. However, the Rong clan, who had occupied the imperial city, did not recognize Chen Wang. Instead, they established a new emperor, supporting a young emperor of only ten years old to ascend the throne. This young emperor sat on the throne for merely two months before abdicating in November, yielding the throne to Xuanguo Gong Rong Bo. After repeatedly declining, Rong Bo finally accepted the imperial seal, ascended the throne, changed the country¡¯s name to Xuan, and established the era name as Jianyuan. In the first year of Jianyuan, the emperor greatly rewarded his meritorious officials, with Xiao Ying among those honored. As soon as the political situation stabilized, Xiao Ying sent people to Zhuo County in December to bring his parents and relatives, which was how Xiao Jingduo and others had the opportunity to enter the capital.


    However, although the Rong family had taken the capital, the country was not yet pacified. Many warlords held onto their troops and didn¡¯t recognize the Xuan dynasty. The princes and imperial sons-in-law had to continue leading armies into battle. Among the princes, Prince Qin had achieved the most significant military accomplishments, far surpassing even the Crown Prince.


    ¡°And therein lies the problem. Prince Qin eliminated the former emperor and pacified Jiangdu ¨C what a glorious achievement! This should have been the Crown Prince¡¯s accomplishment, but Prince Qin snatched it away. How could the Crown Prince accept this? Yesterday, His Majesty held a banquet in the palace to welcome Prince Qin back. The Crown Prince led his private troops to surround the palace, intending to kill Prince Qin. Fortunately, Prince Qin was surrounded by capable people who not only protected him but also counterattacked, managing to subdue the Crown Prince.¡±


    The maid delivering the news lowered her voice, glancing around before continuing: ¡°Do you know what Prince Qin did after subduing the Crown Prince? He ordered the Crown Prince¡¯s execution, and didn¡¯t even spare more than ten of the Crown Prince¡¯s children and grandchildren. Now, the Eastern Palace is filled with cries, and the stench of blood fills the air! What¡¯s worse, it¡¯s said that Prince Qin is forcing His Majesty to abdicate!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± All the women were shocked by this news. old madam Xiao clutched her chest, breathing heavily: ¡°This is a sin! For a younger brother to kill his elder brother, this is truly¡­ oh, I don¡¯t even know what to say. My heart is still pounding.¡±


    Second Aunt Xiao chimed in agreement, and even the Xiao Yufang sisters turned pale. Wu Junru was also greatly frightened by the news. Seeing Wu Junru¡¯s pale face, a maid quickly stepped forward to pat her back.


    A maid from the Wu family standing behind Wu Junru sighed: ¡°The Rong family, after all, comes from barbaric places like Longxi. To do such things that violate moral principles¡­ These barbarians truly cannot be taught.¡±


    A maid openly judging the royal family, yet the Wu family members showed no objection. Even old madam Xiao and the other women nodded in agreement. This clearly showed the immense influence of the great families.


    Sitting to the side, Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t quite agree. He didn¡¯t know which parts of the news were embellished by the messenger maid, but he did know that without the Emperor¡¯s permission, who could hide troops in the palace? Even if it were the Crown Prince, it would be impossible.


    So, if Xiao Jingduo wasn¡¯t mistaken, the person who truly wanted to kill Prince Qin at the celebratory banquet was likely the current Emperor himself!


    The Emperor had used the Crown Prince as a pawn, placing hidden troops outside the palace. If successful, it would have been killing two birds with one stone, not only eliminating Prince Qin, whose achievements overshadowed his father¡¯s, but also resolving the issue of the Crown Prince. However, unexpectedly, Prince Qin was prepared and turned the tables. Xiao Jingduo guessed that Prince Qin had not only subdued the Crown Prince but also overpowered the Emperor. Seeing the situation was lost, the Emperor had no choice but to sacrifice the Crown Prince¡¯s lineage to ensure his own safety.


    Xiao Jingduo felt his speculations about the royal family were too vicious, so he stopped himself from thinking further. The exact details of what happened that day weren¡¯t important; what mattered was that the victor becomes the king, and the loser becomes the rebel. Clearly, Prince Qin had won.


    Xiao Jingduo recalled seeing Prince Qin from afar at the city gates when he entered the city. At that time, the prince was surrounded by many soldiers, and Xiao Jingduo could only vaguely see his silhouette. But even that profile was enough to reveal the man¡¯s decisiveness and sharpness. Xiao Jingduo still remembered the aura of bloodshed that surrounded that man.


    The rumors were indeed true. While the Rong family¡¯s sons were said to be as beautiful as women, when they struck, they did so with a ruthlessness that chilled the heart.


    Xiao Jingduo suddenly felt a great interest in these royal figures. However, he quickly shook his head in self-mockery. The gulf between his status and the royal family was vast; the sons of the Rong family were not people he could meet just by wishing to.


    The old madam was still muttering, ¡°Such treachery, such a sin¡­¡±


    ¡°If even the royal family behaves like this, how can they rule the country with virtue? Truly, heaven is blind,¡± the Wu family members whispered among themselves, shaking their heads. The great families controlled both the court and public opinion. Even their maids had adopted the aristocratic arrogance, daring to criticize the royal family, and even implicitly placing themselves above the royals, as if the emperor needed the approval of the great families to be considered qualified.


    Xiao Jingduo felt slightly uncomfortable, but others showed no objection, blindly revering the great families: ¡°That¡¯s right, after all, it¡¯s the great families that are truly reliable.¡±


    Wu Junru merely smiled at this, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. It showed how truly terrifying one¡¯s environment could be; in just a year, Wu Junru had begun to grow accustomed to the attitude of great family women lording over others.


    The Wu family members continued to criticize the current royal family: ¡°It¡¯s one thing for their men to be violent and aggressive, but even their women are learning bad habits. I heard that one of Prince Qin¡¯s granddaughters is especially favored, and he often brings her along when discussing matters with his subordinates. What kind of propriety is this? For a woman to not only meet with men outside her family, but to easily enter the council chambers ¨C where is the feminine virtue and decorum in that? The entire Rong family lacks proper conduct. Who knows what kind of princesses they¡¯ll raise in the future. They can¡¯t keep their own house in order, so they can¡¯t blame others for preferring not to marry, rather than marrying one of their princesses.¡±


    Old madam Xiao strongly agreed, ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. It¡¯s fortunate that our eldest son was clear-headed and declined that princess, choosing to marry Junru instead. It¡¯s truly a blessing.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo raised his eyebrows in surprise. Xiao Ying and a princess? What was this about?


    Suddenly, Xiao Jingduo had a strange intuition that the solution to his legitimate son crisis might lie with this princess!


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s note:


    The palace coup storyline begins, and Xiao Jingduo¡¯s entanglement with the royal family starts~


    Quietly whispering, a warning that an important character is about to appear¡­


    __________________________________


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 CH 14

    Old Madam Xiao said with deep gratitude, ¡°Fortunately, our eldest son was clear-headed. He declined that princess and brought Junru home instead. It¡¯s truly a blessing.¡±


    The other daughters-in-law, including Second Aunt Xiao, all followed old Madam Xiao¡¯s lead with flattery. In the midst of this harmonious atmosphere, a single thorn suddenly appeared.


    ¡°Is that really true?¡± Xiao Jingduo, taking advantage of his young age, deliberately put on a disbelieving expression. ¡°Grandmother, you¡¯re not deceiving us, are you?¡±


    Wu Junru let out a soft laugh, and her maids also giggled, clearly looking down on Xiao Jingduo¡¯s question. Preferring to marry a daughter from a great family over a princess was common among prestigious clans. How could someone of common birth like Xiao Jingduo understand?


    Old Madam Xiao looked at Xiao Jingduo with amusement. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. Why would I lie about such a thing? I heard she was even a legitimate princess. Seems her name was¡­¡±


    Xiao Ying being favored by a princess was a mark of honor for the Xiao family, while his declining the princess for Wu Junru was a point of pride for the Wu family. This explained why the old madam and Wu Junru spoke so flippantly about the Rong family¡¯s princess. The old madam, eager to show off in front of everyone, used Xiao Jingduo¡¯s question as an opportunity to elaborate. By now, she had completely forgotten Xiao Ying¡¯s warnings. She didn¡¯t understand why Xiao Ying had told her not to spread this information; she only knew that even a princess had favored her son, yet they had turned her down. This was incredibly face-saving for them. After thinking for a moment, the old madam finally recalled the princess¡¯s title: ¡°I remember now, I think she was called Princess Pingwei. I heard that when they conquered the state of Wei, she entered the city alongside her father and brothers, so she was given the title Pingwei.¡±


    Princess Pingwei, Xiao Jingduo repeated silently to himself. So, there was such a history between Xiao Ying and Princess Pingwei.


    After the old madam finished speaking, Second Aunt Xiao also put on an expression of disbelief: ¡°For a young woman to join so many men in attacking a city? That¡¯s really¡­¡±


    Touching on royal matters, Second Aunt Xiao didn¡¯t dare say more, but the implication of her words was clear to everyone present.


    After discussing the princess, the old madam couldn¡¯t help but turn her attention to her grandson: ¡°Duo¡¯er, in the future, you should stay far away from these princesses and noble ladies. You¡¯re our family¡¯s eldest grandson, and you absolutely cannot marry a princess. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t respect His Majesty, but the princesses of the royal family these days are just too¡­¡±


    Vicious, Xiao Jingduo thought to himself, feeling contemptuous. The old madam was taking the Xiao family far too seriously. While Xiao Ying was indeed a marquis, he was just one among many meritorious officials, and not even part of the currently powerful Prince Qin¡¯s faction. Their future was uncertain, yet they already dared to be picky about princesses.


    However, before Xiao Jingduo could speak, Nanny Wei, who was by Wu Junru¡¯s side, spoke up: ¡°Old Madam, you jest. A son born of a concubine cannot marry a princess.¡±


    Nanny Wei¡¯s words instantly silenced the entire room. The women who had been chatting excitedly just moments ago all stopped, their eyes suddenly fixed on Xiao Jingduo.


    The old madam forced a smile and said, ¡°Junru, what do you mean by this?¡±


    Wu Junru sat upright, only smiling gently as she replied, ¡°I am now a wife of the Xiao family, and it is my duty to serve my in-laws, attend to my husband, and educate the children. However, the Wu family has many social connections. If the eldest young master were to be registered under my name, how should I respond when relatives and friends inquire? I truly dare not agree to this, and I beg for mother-in-law¡¯s understanding.¡±


    Although Wu Junru¡¯s words were gentle, their meaning was very firm. The old madam knew there was no room for negotiation on this matter. The Wu family could not be offended, so comparatively, Xiao Jingduo would have to make a slight sacrifice.


    So the old madam remained silent, tacitly agreeing. For the older generation, as long as all grandchildren were of their own bloodline, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate didn¡¯t really matter. In fact, having a legitimate son from a prestigious family background might be even better for the Marquis¡¯s household. With the old madam¡¯s tacit approval, the matter was almost settled. Second Aunt Xiao lowered her head, secretly smiling, while Third Aunt Xiao cast a sympathetic look towards Xiao Jingduo. Even the three Xiao Yufang sisters lowered their heads and sighed, looking at Xiao Jingduo with a mix of sympathy and detachment.


    As for Xiao Jingduo, the subject of this discussion, he remained remarkably calm, as if unconcerned about the matter of legitimacy and seniority. Seeing Xiao Jingduo¡¯s composure, the old madam assumed he had come to terms with the situation and felt greatly relieved. After Wu Junru left, the old madam purposely kept Xiao Jingduo behind to console him: ¡°Duo¡¯er, you heard today that Madam Wu is unwilling, and we have no choice. Don¡¯t worry. We family members don¡¯t care about these empty titles. It¡¯s just a name for the outside world. Within the household, everyone will be treated equally. Your treatment will remain the same as before, and there won¡¯t be any difference.¡±


    No difference? Then why not make Xiao Jinghu the illegitimate son? Xiao Jingduo laughed coldly inside but outwardly maintained an obedient demeanor as if truly persuaded by the old madam¡¯s words. He sincerely thanked his grandmother: ¡°Thank you, Grandmother. Your grandson is now at ease.¡±


    The turmoil of Prince Qin killing the Crown Prince had not yet settled when another shock came from the palace. Throughout August, the troops in Chang¡¯an were particularly restless. In early September, the Emperor finally couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. He wrote an edict abdicating the throne to his second son, Prince Qin, while he himself retired to become the Emperor Emeritus.


    One wonders if he remembered that a year ago, it was the same situation when he forced the young emperor to abdicate. Yet in the end, the young emperor¡¯s history repeated itself with Rong Bo, who was now forced to yield the throne to his son, who was in his prime and had glorious military achievements.


    Even more ironic was that despite this great humiliation to the emperor, the entire Chang¡¯an showed no resistance, demonstrating the extent of Prince Qin¡¯s power. It¡¯s no wonder Rong Bo felt compelled to strike first.


    Prince Qin unhesitatingly accepted the throne offered by his father, ascending as emperor. He immediately began lavishly rewarding his children, siblings, and loyal generals and established his eldest legitimate son as the Crown Prince. While all of Chang¡¯an was in a celebratory mood, the atmosphere in the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s mansion was quite the opposite.


    Xiao Ying had been by former Emperor Rong Bo¡¯s side for years and was not part of Prince Qin¡¯s faction. The former emperor¡¯s forced abdication was not good news for the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s household.


    With Prince Qin¡¯s faction suddenly in ascendance, even a simple chrysanthemum-viewing banquet hosted by the Duke of Zhao stirred up all the nobles in Chang¡¯an. Even Madam Wu had to dress up and attend, representing the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s household, to subtly curry favor with the new emperor.


    Unable to resist Xiao Jinghu¡¯s persistent pleading, old madam Xiao allowed him to go out as well. Still worried, she decided to send Xiao Jingduo along, instructing him to keep a close eye on Xiao Jinghu and ensure her precious grandson didn¡¯t get hurt.


    Xiao Jingduo agreed readily at the time, but as soon as they arrived at Duke Zhao¡¯s mansion, he quickly left Xiao Jinghu behind and hurried towards the back courtyard.


    He had deliberately provoked Xiao Jinghu to go out and used various means to accompany him, but not for the sake of attending the banquet.


    Duke Zhao was a powerful ally of the Emperor, and his wife¡¯s banquet would be honored by the presence of imperial concubines and princesses. So Xiao Jingduo anticipated that Princess Pingwei would also attend.


    This was his true purpose for coming.


    The situation where great families lorded over imperial power had existed for nearly a hundred years. Even now, these families maintained their superior attitude. Xiao Jingduo, an outsider, felt uncomfortable with this. He didn¡¯t believe that the current royal family, known for their beauty and ruthlessness, would truly tolerate this slight.


    This was his only chance. Like a desperate gambler, he was putting all his assets on the table. From here on, he would either lose everything or completely turn his fortunes around.


    Xiao Ying had kept the news about Zhao Xiulan tightly under wraps, not wanting the outside world to know he had abandoned his first wife. Even if people learned of this, they wouldn¡¯t say much out of respect for Xiao Ying. After all, who besides the Zhao family would seek justice for Zhao Xiulan? Xiao Ying had calculated this and dared to take the risk. But it wasn¡¯t a glorious matter. While Xiao Ying could use his power to suppress others, he still had his official career to consider. This kind of scandal, where he was clearly in the wrong, would be detrimental if it became public.


    Xiao Ying wanted to keep things hidden, but Xiao Jingduo was determined to expose him.


    Xiao Jingduo had considered spreading the news among the common people to ruin Xiao Ying through rumors, but he lacked the manpower. It would be foolish for him to spread the news himself, so that method was impractical. He also thought about reporting it to the authorities, but the local officials might not accept the case, and officials often protected each other. The local official might even turn around and inform Xiao Ying. Therefore, reporting it to the authorities was also out of the question.


    After thinking it over, Xiao Jingduo realized that the only people unafraid of Xiao Ying¡¯s title and willing to confront Xiao Ying and the Wu family directly were members of the royal family.


    The best choice was Princess Pingwei, who had been rejected by Xiao Ying. As a princess, she would not feel comfortable being rejected by a mere official. As the saying goes, ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡± Xiao Jingduo believed he could use the princess to achieve his goal.


    However, this plan had a significant flaw: Xiao Jingduo did not know the princess. Thus, he could only try his luck in the back courtyard, hoping to encounter Princess Pingwei.


    Carefully avoiding people, Xiao Jingduo headed to the back courtyard without looking back. He could faintly hear the servants of the marquis¡¯s residence calling out behind him. Eventually, many people started chasing after him, clearly aware that Xiao Jingduo was up to something.


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xiao Jingduo started running. He had to find Princess Pingwei; this was his only chance to turn things around, and he couldn¡¯t let the servants interrupt him.


    However, Xiao Jingduo was still disadvantaged by his age. Soon, the servants of the marquis¡¯s residence caught up with him. The guard in the front reached out and was almost able to grab the back of Xiao Jingduo¡¯s collar.


    Xiao Jingduo ran with all his might, but the next moment, he collided head-on with someone. The guards took the opportunity to seize him, gritting their teeth and shouting, ¡°I¡¯ve got him! Daring to cause trouble behind the Marquis¡¯ back¡ªjust wait and see how the Marquis deals with you. Someone, take the young master back to the residence!¡±


    __________________________________


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 CH 15

    Upon arriving at Duke Zhao¡¯s residence, Xiao Jingduo took advantage of a moment when the servants were not paying attention and quickly turned in another direction.


    He needed to find Princess Pingwei as soon as possible.


    However, the servants who accompanied their masters to such gatherings were exceptionally astute. It didn¡¯t take long for someone to notice Xiao Jingduo sneaking away. They called out to him twice, and when they saw that he continued walking forward without any intention of stopping, a realization struck them: Xiao Jingduo had a different agenda.


    The servants from the Marquis¡¯s residence didn¡¯t dare be negligent and immediately sent several agile people to chase after Xiao Jingduo. Being young, Xiao Jingduo was quickly caught up to.


    The footsteps behind him grew closer and closer, and several times Xiao Jingduo was nearly caught. He was anxious, knowing that he hadn¡¯t even glimpsed the princess. If he was captured now, he might never have another chance to leave the house. Determined, he gritted his teeth, made a sharp turn, and dashed down another path.


    At this point, his only option was to shake off his pursuers first.


    As luck would have it, just as he turned the corner, a group of people emerged from the other side. Charging too fast to stop, he collided directly with them.


    The palace maids screamed in fright. When they realized what had happened, their faces turned pale. They were attending to the most important person in the palace, and now she had been involved in an incident right under their noses! Terrified, the maids quickly helped their mistress up, creating chaos.


    Seizing the opportunity, the marquis¡¯s guards grabbed Xiao Jingduo, gritting their teeth, and said, ¡°You thought you could escape? Come on, let¡¯s take the young master back to the residence!¡±


    Xiao Jingduo didn¡¯t expect someone to be in front of him, which caused him to fail to avoid the collision. As he charged forward, he realized it was a young girl. Thinking that the girl was innocently caught up in this and if he knocked her to the ground, it would be even worse, he reached out to protect her head and tried to take the impact himself. He fell hard to the ground, and the little girl landed on top of him. Already in pain from the initial fall, Xiao Jingduo was further hurt by this collision and was immediately grabbed by the guards. Feeling dejected, he thought today¡¯s attempt had failed.


    The guards held Xiao Jingduo and were about to escort him back when a sharp voice stopped them: ¡°Bold! You collided with a noble and still want to leave?¡±


    A young voice followed, ¡°Enough, Eunuch Miao. I am not injured, so there is no need to pursue this matter.¡±


    Hearing the sharp voice, the guards of the Marquis¡¯s residence realized they were in trouble. Fortunately, the noble did not intend to press charges, and they breathed a sigh of relief. However, they noticed Xiao Jingduo struggling fiercely.


    Xiao Jingduo had initially thought he would have to leave empty-handed today, but his luck turned. He unexpectedly encountered someone from the palace. A girl accompanied by a eunuch must have a high status, and this young girl could be a favored member of the palace, perhaps even connected to the princess. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Jingduo struggled desperately and shouted, ¡°Let me go, I have something to say to the noble!¡±


    The palace maids all showed disapproving expressions and were about to persuade their little mistress to leave, but the young girl seemed very interested and, ignoring the maids¡¯ attempts to stop her, asked, ¡°Who are you, and why are you being chased?¡±


    Since a noble from the palace was asking questions, the people from the Dingyong Marquis¡¯s residence didn¡¯t dare to ignore it, no matter how bold they were. They reluctantly released Xiao Jingduo, casting threatening looks at him.


    Xiao Jingduo stood up and looked at the young girl. In the earlier chaos, he hadn¡¯t seen clearly, but now he was astonished to find that the little girl was as exquisite and translucent as if carved from ice and snow, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He hesitated for a moment before remembering what he needed to say: ¡°I am Xiao Jingduo, the son of Marquis Dingyong Xiao Ying. I need to see Princess Pingwei.¡±


    ¡°She should be addressed as Grand Princess now,¡± the girl replied lightly.


    Xiao Jingduo hadn¡¯t expected the girl¡¯s attention to be so peculiar. He could only reiterate, ¡°That was my oversight. I have urgent matters to report to Grand Princess Pingwei. May I ask if you could¡­¡± Xiao Jingduo hesitated, unsure how to address her. The little girl was incredibly beautiful, looking no older than four or five, but he didn¡¯t dare call her sister. He could only vaguely say, ¡°Please help convey my request.¡±


    The young girl remained silent, and Eunuch Miao quickly seized the opportunity to coax her back: ¡°Little ancestor, please come back with your servant! The princess must be getting anxious!¡±As he spoke, Eunuch Miao and the palace maids made way, guiding the young girl back. Surprisingly compliant, the young girl turned and started walking away.


    Xiao Jingduo¡¯s heart sank. It seemed this noble girl didn¡¯t want to help him.


    The guards from the Xiao residence looked pleased and were about to grab Xiao Jingduo when the palace noble, who had taken a few steps, turned around and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you following?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo was overjoyed and quickly followed her.


    Once they were out of sight of the Xiao residence guards, the young girl leisurely asked, ¡°Now tell me, why were they chasing you?¡±


    Although Xiao Jingduo was eager to find someone, he was not foolish. He knew what could and couldn¡¯t be shared with outsiders. He replied vaguely, ¡°I have something very important to discuss with Grand Princess Pingwei. Please help me get an introduction.¡±


    ¡°You are a stranger. How could I possibly let you meet my grandaunt? Since you won¡¯t tell me, forget it,¡± the girl sighed softly, ready to call the maids to take Xiao Jingduo away.


    Grandaunt£¿ Noticing how the girl referred to Princess Pingwei, Xiao Jingduo suspiciously asked her, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Bold!¡± Immediately, Eunuch Miao, following her closely, blew his beard and glared. The young girl gently raised her hand, and Miao Gonggong fell silent, reverently calling out, ¡°Princess!¡±


    ¡°I am Rong Ke; they also call me the Princess of Yangxin.¡±


    ¡°Princess of Yangxin¡­¡± Only the daughter of the Crown Prince could be given the title of Princess. Xiao Jingduo looked at the little girl in front of him with shock, ¡°You are the Princess?¡±


    The eldest daughter of the Crown Prince, most beloved by the Emperor, even brought along to court discussions, the eldest granddaughter Rong Ke?


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rong Ke nodded, her face showing impatience. ¡°Are you going to tell me or not? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo hadn¡¯t expected the little girl in front of him to have such a significant background. He furrowed his brow in hesitation, ¡°Princess, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to say, but this matter is of great importance and concerns my mother. I can¡¯t easily tell outsiders.¡±


    ¡°Your mother?¡± Rong Ke¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly. Only the legal wife could be called ¡°mother¡± by her children. She distinctly remembered that the Wu family¡¯s daughter had entered the Duke of Dingyong¡¯s mansion this August. The person in front of her clearly couldn¡¯t be Wu¡¯s child. The Duke of Dingyong had even refused her grandaunt for the sake of marrying into the Wu family. How could he have an older son without making a sound?


    Rong Ke paused, then suddenly asked out of the blue, ¡°Are you the son of the Duke of Dingyong¡¯s first wife?¡±


    Xiao Jingduo was startled. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Rong Ke confirmed her suspicions and found the matter even more interesting. She smiled and said, ¡°Tell me about your situation. If your reasoning is sound, I¡¯ll take you to see my grandaunt.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo carefully stared at the little girl in front of him, who was more than a head shorter than he was. However, her composed demeanor and confident gaze made him give in. He began to explain, ¡°My mother is Xiao Ying¡¯s first wife. Xiao Ying forced my mother to divorce so that he could marry the daughter of the Wu family. My mother is still ill¡­¡±


    Xiao Jingduo recounted everything that had happened recently. Rong Ke listened intently. At the end, she smiled meaningfully and said, ¡°Your stepmother, Wu Ba, is from the Qinghe Wu family, a subsidiary family of the Cui family, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Jingduo nodded, unsure of her intentions.


    ¡°Do you know why your Wu family married into the Duke of Dingyong¡¯s household?¡± Rong Ke turned her head, smiling nonchalantly. ¡°You should be aware that in terms of status, the Duke of Dingyong¡¯s household is far inferior to the Qinghe Wu family.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo had never considered this question before. He only knew that Xiao Ying was fickle and wanted to raise the status of the household by marrying a noblewoman from a prominent family. But why would the Wu family agree to let Wu Junru marry into the household? Even if the Wu family wanted Xiao Ying¡¯s military power, would the Qinghe Cui family really allow the Wu family to lower their status in this way? Xiao Jingduo looked at Rong Ke and tentatively asked, ¡°Are you saying¡­¡±


    ¡°Qinghe Cui family has far-reaching plans. But you don¡¯t need to worry about that. As long as your stepmother is from the Wu family, that¡¯s enough.¡± Rong Ke, who had been strolling leisurely, suddenly changed direction and walked briskly forward. Xiao Jingduo instinctively followed. Rong Ke gestured for Xiao Jingduo to lean in closer and whispered, ¡°When you meet my aunt, just say this¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°So the Wu family knew Xiao Ying¡¯s first wife was still alive, yet they eagerly married her off?¡± Princess Pingwei looked at the child before her and slowly asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Jingduo replied with his head lowered. Ever since he met Rong Ke, his life had been full of surprises. He never imagined that one day he would be speaking in front of a princess.


    Rong Ke added from the side, ¡°The Wu family also refuses to acknowledge Xiao Jingduo¡¯s status as the legitimate eldest son, probably even planning to demote his mother to a concubine.¡±


    ¡°Heh,¡± Princess Pingwei scoffed, ¡°Xiao Ying, Xiao Ying, you play your cards exceptionally well! I always thought the so-called noble families had some integrity. In the end, they resort to taking over others¡¯ nests and forcing wives to divorce.¡±


    Pingwei had followed the army since childhood, fighting alongside her father and brothers once they started to mobilize, considering herself equal to any man. After her husband died shortly after their wedding, she had no intention of remarrying. However, during a hurried march, she caught sight of Xiao Ying and was struck by his appearance. Instantly captivated, Pingwei wanted to take Xiao Ying as her husband. Unexpectedly, not only did Xiao Ying refuse to become her consort, but he also turned around and married the daughter of the Wu family, a woman who had been previously rejected. This was a blatant insult to Pingwei. With her high self-regard, she couldn¡¯t accept being seen as inferior to a noblewoman, especially one who had been previously jilted. Pingwei didn¡¯t think Xiao Ying¡¯s act of divorcing his wife was excessive; she simply couldn¡¯t swallow the humiliation of being rejected. Thus, she was determined to meddle in this matter out of spite.


    Pingwei asked more about Xiao Jingduo¡¯s hometown, his arrival in the capital, and what had happened since he entered the mansion. Following Rong Ke¡¯s advice, Xiao Jingduo recounted everything in the most pitiable manner.


    ¡°Truly pitiful,¡± Pingwei sighed. Then she stood up with a determined smile and said, ¡°Come, follow me outside. Today, I am going to thoroughly embarrass the Wu family.¡±


    Xiao Jingduo hesitated for a moment as he followed Princess Pingwei out the door.


    Xiao Jingduo knew that once he stepped through that door, regardless of whether he could retain his status as the legitimate eldest son, he would thoroughly offend Wu Junru and Xiao Ying. From then on, no one in the Xiao family would treat him kindly, and life for him and his mother would become even more difficult. All of this hinged on the whims of the two royal guests before him.


    Rong Ke took a few steps ahead, noticed he hadn¡¯t followed and stopped to look back at him.


    ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± Rong Ke¡¯s slow voice rang out.


    __________________________________


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Mini Theater:


    Congratulations on unlocking the character ¡°Rong Ke,¡± identity: Daughter of the Crown Prince, Princess Yangxin.


    Congratulations to Xiao Jingduo for unlocking a hidden level and starting the ¡°Hundred-Year Entanglement with the Royal Family¡± side quest.


    __________________________________


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