When they arrived at the Marquis Manor, it was already dark. The three children went to bathe and change their clothes, erging again as sparkling young nobles.
The Old Marchioness had already prepared dinner, waiting for them to join. The family ate and chatted happily, enjoying the warm atmosphere.
He Zheng, lacking tact, couldn't help but share a happy mont: "Before we entered the examination hall, there was a question we didn’t know how to answer. Qin Ye told us the answer. And guess what? It actually appeared on the exam!"
Everyone was imdiately surprised.
The Old Marchioness laughed heartily: "Oh my, how fortunate! eting such a benefactor before the exam—this must an you’ll pass!"
Zong Wenxiu also smiled and said, "If we pass, we really should thank Qin Ye."
"Of course," Baili Weihong agreed.
As everyone continued to praise Qin Ye, Zong Jincheng’s cheerful smile soon faded. He angrily placed a piece of at into Zong Wenxiu’s bowl: "Brother, eat so at."
"Oh, thank you," Zong Wenxiu replied, still smiling, as He Zheng vividly described how other scholars praised Qin Ye.
Qin Ye, Qin Ye, it was all about Qin Ye…
Zong Jincheng’s face darkened.
Whose family dinner was this anyway?
Hmph!
Xu Wan nudged him and asked, "So, did you write that answer?"
Zong Jincheng snorted and turned his face away: "None of your business."
Of course, he had written it. A young master like him wouldn’t throw a tantrum over sothing so important. But admitting that he had used Qin Ye’s answer? He’d rather die than say it.
Xu Wan was puzzled: "Huh? Why are you angry? Weren’t you fine just now?"
Zong Jincheng glared at her, suddenly standing up: "I’m full. I’m going to bed."
He was too angry to eat. It felt like a thousand needles were piercing his heart.
So annoying!!
The table fell silent. Zong Jincheng’s bowl was only half-empty, far from his usual appetite.
Xu Wan stood up as well: "I’ll go check on him. You all continue eating."
"Wan’er, Jincheng must be tired. Have the kitchen send the food to his courtyard. No need for him to co back," the Old Marchioness instructed.
"Alright."
At the table, He Zheng and Zong Wenxiu exchanged confused glances.
In the dimly lit courtyard, only the faint glow of the streetlights illuminated the path. Zong Jincheng walked briskly ahead, his steps quick, forcing Xu Wan to jog to keep up.
"Slow down, Jincheng. Wait for ."
Hearing her voice, Zong Jincheng, though still angry, unconsciously slowed his pace, allowing Xu Wan to catch up.
Walking side by side, Xu Wan asked what was wrong, but Zong Jincheng remained silent, sulking with his head down.
"Are you upset because everyone kept talking about Qin Ye?" Xu Wan guessed, recalling the earlier conversation.
Zong Jincheng stopped and glared at her: "Do you also think I’m not as good as Qin Ye?"
Xu Wan: "..."
Well, Qin Ye was indeed impressive.
But seeing the little one like this, if she dared to admit it, their harmonious mother-son relationship might shatter tonight.
Zong Jincheng angrily accused her: "I knew you’d think so—"
"No," Xu Wan denied.
Zong Jincheng was taken aback: "What?"
Xu Wan explained, "I said no, I don’t think you’re worse than Qin Ye. It’s just that you’re still catching up to him, so he seems more impressive. But the future is uncertain. No one can say for sure."
Zong Jincheng cald down.
A smile even crept onto his lips as he declared proudly, "The future is certain. I will defeat Qin Ye and beco the top scorer in the imperial examination!"
Xu Wan chuckled softly: "That’s a great ambition. I’ll do my best to help you achieve it."
Hearing this, Zong Jincheng rembered her unique teaching thods, things no other academy offered.
The little one secretly gloated, feeling even more triumphant.
With being invincible and my mother being invincible too, we’ll definitely defeat Qin Ye!
The gentle breeze in the courtyard was refreshing. As they strolled back, Zong Jincheng felt at ease but couldn’t help asking awkwardly, "Why are you being so nice to now?"
"Is this what you call being nice?" Xu Wan raised an eyebrow. "I treat Wenxiu and He Zheng the sa way."
Zong Jincheng imdiately stopped smiling: "Hmph, you’re biased."
"Huh? I said it’s the sa. How is that biased?" Xu Wan couldn’t understand his logic.
Zong Jincheng seriously analyzed it for her: "You’re my mother, and I’m your son. You should treat the best. But you treat the sa as them, which ans you’re lowering the standard of how much you care for . That’s bias, hmph."
Xu Wan: "..."
Honestly, with his convoluted reasoning, it almost made sense.
She coughed and said, "Nonsense. I still treat you the best. On the way back, I only wiped your face, only rode in the carriage with you, and now I’m only accompanying you."
No matter what, she couldn’t lose an argunt.
Zong Jincheng looked up at her, staring so intently that Xu Wan felt uneasy: "Why are you staring at like that? What are you looking at?"
Zong Jincheng asked, "Are you being nice to because of the hundred thousand taels?"
He still rembered that Xu Wan had taken on the task of educating him because his grandparents had dangled a reward of a hundred thousand taels.
Apart from that money, what were her true feelings for him? Once she got the silver, would she abandon him?
Xu Wan countered, "What do you think?"
Zong Jincheng pouted: "I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you."
"Guess," Xu Wan teased him.
"I can’t guess," Zong Jincheng said, growing impatient. He grabbed her arm and urged, "Just tell !"
Xu Wan chuckled and flicked his forehead: "Stop overthinking. Of course not. People develop feelings over ti. You’ve been good to , so I’m good to you. Even if we started with ulterior motives, it’s different now, isn’t it?"
She could sense that the little one was becoming increasingly dependent on her. He was starting to see her as his mother.
"Oh," Zong Jincheng replied, pretending to be calm, but his heart was filled with joy.
As he had guessed, she genuinely cared for him. It wasn’t because of their formal relationship or the money. It was real, heartfelt affection.
Zong Jincheng tried to suppress his smile, but it was hard. He pretended to be in a hurry to go to bed, walking ahead without looking back, afraid she’d notice his flushed face.
"Hey? Why are you running off again? Slow down," Xu Wan called after him.
Zong Jincheng waved without turning back: "Don’t follow . I’m going to bed. I’ll accompany you to the banquet tomorrow. Goodnight!"
Xu Wan stood there, both amused and exasperated.
"That little rascal, his moods change so quickly," she said, then turned to Cui Zhi. "Go take the food to his room. Make sure he eats a bit more before sleeping, so he doesn’t wake up hungry in the night."
"Yes, ma’am."
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