Chapter 567: Chapter 567: The Elderly Couple of the Xia Family
That evening, Xia Tingfeng stayed at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion.
The mansion wasn’t large, and renovations had been completed a month before the wedding.
Only the pond and the artificial mountain with its strange rocks in the back were still being worked on by craftsn, but even these were expected to be finished in at most half a month.
In any case, it wouldn’t affect the wedding next month.
The front courtyard had long been ready.
So, Xia Tingfeng could move in directly.
Early the next morning, he didn’t go to Zheng Qianhu Manor but went straight to the imperial palace for duty.
「anwhile, at Zheng Qianhu Manor.」
Xia Jingfeng had a simple breakfast and was now bent over his desk writing sothing.
Tiger had also gone for duty.
In the courtyard, only Rat and Monster were left.
The two peeked around and walked in from outside the door.
Xia Jingfeng quickly put down his pen.
"It turns out to be the two of you!"
Rat and Monster then said with a smile,
"Ah..."
"I say, big brother, have you had a good life these past two years? How co you look so much better after not seeing you for two or three years?"
Xia Jingfeng was dressed in a simple cotton robe, his hair casually combed, appearing very ordinary.
However, this ordinary attire didn’t detract from his good looks at all.
They weren’t noticeable in his childhood but beca apparent as he grew up.
He had a pair of bright eyes just like Consort Xian Pin, dense eyelashes, a lofty nose bridge, and thin lips.
He was handso but not frail, scholarly but not pedantic.
His deanor was neither servile nor overbearing, elegant to the bone—a truly dashing young noble.
His hands, with their distinct knuckles and slender fingers, made the act of holding a pen particularly attractive.
This prompted Rat’s question.
Xia Jingfeng simply smiled.
"These two years, I’ve been studying at the academy, living and eating with my classmates, which I think is sowhat better than ho!"
Of course, it was better than ho.
In the academy, everyone was a classmate, and no one bullied him.
Even if soone tried to bully others using their power and influence, they couldn’t bully him, right?
After all, who didn’t know he had a sister serving as a consort in the palace?
Therefore, his life these past two years had been smooth sailing.
Even the teachers who instructed them said he had opened up, becoming smarter and less timid than before.
With such confidence, and classmates who were willing to befriend him, he gradually regained the self-assurance he had lost.
To sum it up in one sentence, if he was still an unfledged eagle two years ago, he was now an eagle about to spread his wings and soar.
The teachers from White Horse Academy all said he had an eighty to ninety percent chance of passing the imperial examination next year.
Therefore, he took leave from his teacher in advance and ca to the Capital City early to prepare for the exam.
Of course, the main reason was to attend his elder brother’s wedding.
Besides, he also hoped to find an opportunity to see his elder sister again.
He had said that once he was capable, he would definitely co to the Capital City to find her!
Rat and Monster looked at the huge stack of books by his bed and then at the unfinished letter on the desk by the window.
After a few more pleasantries, they quickly took their leave.
"We’re leaving!"
"We won’t keep you from writing!"
Xia Jingfeng laughed.
"Won’t you stay a bit longer? The stuff I’m writing isn’t urgent!"
Rat and Monster both waved their hands repeatedly.
"No, no!"
With that, the two of them made a hasty exit!
After leaving Xia Jingfeng’s room, the two quickly wiped their sweat.
"Ah... People with knowledge really speak differently!" Monster remarked.
Rat was silent for a while, then nodded in agreent.
"Exactly. Looking at him, I’d be embarrassed to invite him to drink at a brothel!"
"I feel... that bunch of courtesans don’t deserve our brother!"
Monster highly agreed.
"This is like... fresh flowers stuck in cow dung!"
"Ah no, that’s not right. Is it cow dung stuck in fresh flowers? That’s not right either!"
"Ah... I don’t know how to say it, but it’s just different!"
"Compared to him, I feel like we’re just muddy pigs and scabby dogs!"
Rat was utterly speechless.
"You’re the muddy pig and scabby dog!"
"It’s so cold today. Want to go for a drink?"
Monster glanced towards Xia Jingfeng’s room, sowhat hesitant.
"That’s not good, is it? He’s just arrived, and we’re planning to run off?"
Rat was also torn.
"But if we don’t go, we’ll have nothing to do either!"
Monster nodded, "That’s true!"
The two were conflicted back and forth but eventually decided to go for a drink.
They’d go quickly and co back quickly. It was broad daylight, and they were unfamiliar with the area. Xia Jingfeng should be alright, right?
With that, they changed into their clothes, ready to go out and drink at the brothel!
Who would have known? The mont they opened the courtyard gate, they saw several carriages on the cobblestone road outside heading their way.
"Wow! Who’s this? Those carriages look pretty lavish!"
Monster had a bit of an ominous feeling inside.
Rat stared at the approaching carriages for a mont, his pupils suddenly dilating.
"Damn, it’s probably the old couple from the Xia Family!"
Monster’s face imdiately changed, filled with scorn, "Damn, I’ve stepped in dog shit—they actually dared to co!"
"What in the world is their face made of?!"
Rat didn’t have the ti for irony or sarcasm and quickly shut the door.
"Quick! Tell Xia Jingfeng to leave through the back door!"
"I’ll hold them off here, hurry up!"
Having said that, he blocked the door with his body.
Monster understood as well and, not caring about his expression, sprinted toward the house.
anwhile, the carriages had arrived.
Old Master Xia and Lady Yao got off the carriage, helping each other down.
Lady Yao, with a thick face, stepped forward to knock on the door.
Old Master Xia looked left and right, seeming a bit ashad yet helpless.
After knocking for a while, with no response from inside, Lady Yao began to scold.
"The Second Young Master cos to the Capital City and doesn’t even tell us. How can he call himself a son? He’s clearly avoiding enemies!"
"Don’t you agree, Old Master?"
Old Master Xia was also quite angry.
"He is thoughtless, and you still ca. If you ask , the Old Master shouldn’t have co at all!"
A young lad who doesn’t even respect his own father is unfilial!
He didn’t believe it; who would be shad if word got out?!
He still wanted to pass the imperial examinations and beco an official; he couldn’t possibly discard his good na!
Lady Yao’s eyes shifted as she quickly anded her words.
"Oh, Old Master, please calm your anger. I was just speaking out of frustration!"
"How could we not co? The Eldest Master is now a Marquis, and the Second Master is the brother of Consort Xian Pin in the palace!"
"No matter how high their rank becos in the future, you will always be their father!"
And I will always be their mother.
Even a stepmother is still a mother; they can’t fail to recognize that.
Now’s the ti to nd relations, to save face, for the sake of paving the way for my own children in the future!
Such a good relationship is not to be wasted!
As for what she had done before? Tsk, tsk! She had returned all that hefty sum of gold and silver; what more did they want?
The Eldest Master surely couldn’t deny her, hmph!
So, the advantages that could be taken still had to be taken!
Old Master Xia thought about it and agreed, but still... The idea of having to personally ask to see his own biological son—he still couldn’t get over it.
In his heart, a son should be filial and respectful to his father!
Now, with things as they were, the boy had shut him out; what did that make of him?
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