Chapter 68: Chapter 66 Ruo Zhou Was Noticed Chapter 68: Chapter 66 Ruo Zhou Was Noticed Although Mada Zhou was “revered as” the wife of a Chiliarch, she couldn’t always afford to dine at Tianxiang Tower.
Zhang Feng ca from a humble background, and it was only after marrying Mada Zhou that he was promoted from a Centurion to a Chiliarch, hence he had no family fortune to speak of.
How much could the military pay of a Chiliarch be? She loved to dress up, and her family was far from wealthy, so she was unaware that Tianxiang Tower’s backyard held exclusive courtyards for guests of even higher status.
These courtyards were all designed with two floors, the ground level for entertaining guests and the second floor for work or rest.
Each courtyard was built independently over water, offering exceptionally pleasant scenery and utmost privacy.
That was the true place for entertaining noble guests.
However, at the mont she had no mind to pay attention to who Madam Liu was mingling with, as all the patrons of the restaurant were discussing matters related to the General Residence.
Mada Zhou’s good days were thanks to the favor of the old lady of the General Residence. Her husband, Zhang Feng, was eagerly awaiting the valorous General’s promotion to Deputy General. Hearing issues concerning the General Residence, she couldn’t care less about anything else. She worried that if trouble befell the General Residence, Zhang Feng would be stuck as a re Chiliarch.
She still dread of becoming the General’s wife!
One
Ruo Xuan and her companions, under the Shopkeeper’s guidance, headed toward the secluded courtyard in the backyard and overheard the patrons’ discussions about the General Residence.
Only then did Ruo Xuan learn that the General Residence had hastily buried the deceased without stopping for mourning rites or performing rituals, and during the burial procession, when they passed by a stream, a sudden flash flood swept away the old General’s coffin, leaving no remains to be found.
“Brother Xuanyuan, is it because the people behind the General Residence dare not show themselves that they didn’t hold mourning rites?” Ruo Xuan softly tugged on his sleeve and whispered.
Xuanyuan Que had let go of Ruo Xuan’s hand as soon as they entered Tianxiang Tower.
He had rely prevented her from using Immortal Techniques, especially since Yan Heng was close by; with Yan Heng’s sharp senses, he surely would have noticed her slight actions.
“They will appear,” he said, pulling his sleeve back calmly.
And it should be soon.
Yan Heng had returned to the city with Jiang Liang this ti.
Jiang Liang was the eldest son of the old lady from the General Residence and the only support for the elderly Madam Zhou. Everyone else in the General Residence despised the elderly Madam Zhou, who could only rely on Jiang Liang and his connections.
His visit to the city to see Yan Heng was also to ask him to secretly investigate an old battle incident involving Ruo Zhou’s grandfather in the barracks.
It was ti to settle new grudges and old feuds together.
Yan Heng overheard the conversation between the two youngsters but did not understand; their talk seed like that of him and his strategists, as if they were planning sothing significant.
Have the topics of children’s conversations beco so profound nowadays? He recalled when he was three or four years old, discussing with the Emperor how to steal his father’s hidden wine, how to help the Emperor escape the palace through a dog hole to play, and how to get the little eunuchs to help copy books… He had never engaged in such sophisticated topics! Who was that person?
The Shopkeeper was leading them to the tallest three-story courtyard building in the middle.
As they passed by a spot, Ruo Xuan saw about a dozen n attempting to erect a three- to four-ter-long giant lake stone.
Yet the stone was too tall and heavy; halfway through their effort, they lacked the strength, and the entire giant stone seed poised to tumble down.
The Shopkeeper was startled!
Yan Heng and Ruo Zhou surged forward at the sa ti!
Ruo Xuan ran over but was pulled back by Xuanyuan Que!
Ruo Xuan: “…”
Xuanyuan Que: “Are you tall enough to touch the stone?”
Ruo Xuan: …Not tall enough!
At that mont, Yan Heng and Ruo Zhou simultaneously mustered their strength, bracing the giant stone, then with a powerful push, it stood erect!
Yan Heng looked at Ruo Zhou with surprise and admiration in his eyes, “You’re very strong.”
This youth, seemingly only eleven or twelve, possessed such imnse strength; if well cultivated, he would certainly beco a formidable warrior in the army!
Ruo Zhou blushed and smiled shyly, his introverted nature leaving him at a loss for words.
Madam Liu said, “It’s inherited, the n in my family have always been quite strong.”
Yan Heng, the Zhenguo Crown Prince and a military officer, bore the heavy responsibility of protecting his family and the nation. He had always favored soldiers with great strength and enjoyed nurturing such soldiers, for they had more endurance than the average soldier on the battlefield.
And their combat power, needless to say, was impressive!
“How old is he?” Yan Heng asked Ruo Zhou again.
“Almost twelve,” Ruo Zhou replied.
He was simply unaccustod to responding to others’ complints, but he was capable of normal conversation.
Yan Heng was even more satisfied to see that a boy not yet twelve had such strength and height. A body that grew so well was even more suitable for the military camps.
However, since he was under twelve, there was no need to rush into military training; he could start by studying at an academy first.
“Are you studying? Would you be interested in training at Dengfeng Martial Arts Academy? If you’re interested, I could recomnd you. The Dengfeng Academy just happens to have an enrollnt competition at the beginning of next month.”
The Dengfeng Martial Arts Academy, built by the Imperial Court, exists in every major city and specializes in discovering and cultivating martial talents with both intelligence and bravery for the court.
Many of Xuanyuan Country’s famous generals ca from Dengfeng Academy.
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu was delighted. They had co to the city hoping to explore the academies with their children.
However, she was unsure whether Ruo Zhou wished to attend the Academy or the Martial Arts Academy?
The Academy was for those pursuing the path of a Civil Official, while the Martial Arts Academy was for military officers.
She turned to Ruo Zhou, “Eldest son, do you wish to go?”
Ruo Zhou certainly wanted to go. Compared to the Academy, he preferred martial training and desired to fight enemies like his father. However, he heard that the tuition fees at Dengfeng Academy were high.
Ruo Zhou shook his head, “I won’t go.”
Ruo Xuan saw that Ruo Zhou wanted to go and felt that her brother’s features made him even more suited to beco a military officer, “Why not go if you like it, elder brother? If you want to go, then go!”
It was not that he did not want to go, but rather the family’s financial situation. Yan Heng, observing his eagerness, guessed it might be due to financial constraints and said, “The top ten in the Dengfeng Academy’s admission trials can be exempted from tuition. There is no need for silver for als, as each academy has a thousand acres of fertile land that students work on.”
This was new information to Ruo Zhou, who after a mont of thought said, “I will ask my father.”
“Of course, you must,” Yan Heng responded. “Once your father agrees, you just need to take my recomndation letter and register for the trial at the academy.”
Yan Heng then instructed the Shopkeeper to prepare a recomndation letter.
As they conversed, the group arrived at the largest courtyard.
Ruo Xuan rembered her father had gone to pick up her maternal grandfather and said, “Brother Xuanyuan, my father has gone to fetch my maternal grandfather. He will be here shortly.”
Yan Heng then told the Shopkeeper, “When Mr. Ruo arrives, have soone bring him in.”
The Shopkeeper respectfully agreed and then ordered a waiter to watch for Ruo Shui at the main entrance.
Once everyone was seated, Yan Heng said to Madam Liu, “Madam, take a look at what you want to eat and order so dishes the children will like.”
Madam Liu did not dare to order and simply said the children would eat anything, and anything would be fine.
Ruo Xuan wiggled her little bottom, wanting to order roasted lamb.
Madam Liu suppressed her daughter’s eager movents.
Xuanyuan Que suggested, “Braised rabbit at, palace-style rabbit at, rock mountain braised lamb, roasted lamb ribs, lamb skewers, lamb rolls, lamb soup…”
Then Yan Heng noticed that with every dish he nad, the little girl’s eyes sparkled a bit more, and the curve of her lips grew a little wider.
It was evident that he was ordering what his little niece cherished.
Yan Heng recalled the Empress Dowager ntioning that Queque had been a bit earthly lately.
Yan Heng mused to himself, the Empress Dowager was mistaken; Queque was not just a bit earthly, he had beco a delightfully considerate little knight!
By the end of the ordering, all the dishes were either rabbit or lamb; it seed like he had nad every dish containing “rabbit” or “sheep” at least once, even the desserts were to be crafted in the shape of bunnies.
The corner of Yan Heng’s mouth twitched fiercely. Couldn’t his nephew consider ordering one or two other types of dishes?
Did his little nephew actually rember that his uncle detested eating rabbit and lamb?
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