[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-100":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2307878,4510,"Chapter 100: The Xu Family Gate Is No Longer What It Once Was [Thank You All for Your Support!]","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-100",100,"\u003Cp>“Father, I want Mother to smile more.” Gu Tingyi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yan Kai’s expression froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servants standing by also wore varied expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Gu Tingye walked over and pleaded, “Father, it’s the first of the month tomorrow—let’s skip spear practice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, no practice today. Go play with your sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi’er, come, let’s set off firecrackers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing in the hall, Gu Yan Kai felt something was missing and turned to see Gu Tingyu speaking with Ping Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingyu didn’t even look at him—he kept talking to his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first of the month, Gu Tingyu still didn’t say a word to his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Gu Tingyu’s imperial examination, Gu Yan Kai could only swallow his anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting alone in the hall, he saw Ping Mei bowing and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My daughter-in-law still knows proper etiquette.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, a silk pouch for receiving New Year greeting slips hung on the Xu family’s main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the gate opened, visitors could toss their slips inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, it was merely decorative—there were hardly any slips inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Close families always visited the Xu father and son in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing, with his father and elder brother, stepped out early and saw the silk pouch on the gate stuffed full of slips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most were from military officers and noble families; a few were from civil officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exchanged a glance with his father and elder brother,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and Xu Minghua said, “It’s only natural—don’t take it personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After visiting several well-connected noble families in the capital, Xu Minghua went to attend the grand court assembly, where he heard foreign envoys would attend this year, making it grander than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Minghua spoke for a while with Gu Yan Kai at the Ningyuan Marquis’s residence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then went together to the imperial palace—such status demanded face-saving rituals, as long as no open breach had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Xu Zaijing and his brothers returned to the Xu residence to prepare for their imperial New Year audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After preparations, all of the Xu family—except Xie Shi, who remained behind due to pregnancy—arrived at the Great Zhou imperial palace. While waiting outside, Xu Zaijing was surprised\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>because the Duke of Qi and Princess Pingning, along with Qi Heng, had not yet entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, Princess Pingning had already taken her seat inside by this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Xu family, Princess Pingning smiled; Qi Heng whispered something to her, and she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng ran over, bowed deeply, and said, “Good morning, Lady Da, Lady Anmei, Brother Jing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi praised him with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing nodded and said, “Heng’er, what’s going on today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng glanced back at his mother and said, “The nobles of Bai Gao and the Yelu clan of Northern Liao have come to pay New Year respects—we’re just showing hospitality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bai Gao sent someone too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. After we beat them last year, they sent envoys this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Northern Liao? Why are they here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Gu Tingyu walked over and said, “I heard the Northern Liao emperor fell off his horse while hunting. Tribes in the east and north are stirring, afraid we’ll take action—so they’ve come to show goodwill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger generation hurried to bow and greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother-in-law.” Gu Tingyu bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi smiled. “Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gu Tingyu, Sun Shi turned and saw Bai Shi standing nearby, supported by Ping Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Sun Shi’s gaze, Bai Shi smiled; Gu Tingyi and Gu Tingye waved to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before anyone could say more, a eunuch hurried out of the palace, scanning the crowd of nobles as if searching for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw Xu Zaijing, his eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu family’s fifth son, hurry—come inside the hall!” He then spotted Gu Tingye and called out urgently, “Gu family’s second son, you too—hurry inside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye blinked, then told Bai Shi something and rushed over to Xu Zaijing’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two boys stood side by side—Xu Zaijing was slightly taller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young lords, once inside, pick suitable weapons from the archery squad. These brats from Bai Gao and Northern Liao are underestimating Great Zhou’s talents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, the eunuch stormed back into the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before entering the hall, Gu Tingye said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jing-ge, long time no see. You’ve made my life hell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing said, “Didn’t your Marquis father beat you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Gu Tingye fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father hadn’t struck him—his elder brother had psychologically tormented him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why haven’t you gone to play with the Duke family lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Summon Gu Yan Kai’s second son, Tingye, and Yongyi Marquis’s fifth son, Zaijing, to the palace entrance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This announcement drew the attention of all nobles outside the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye moved to the front, near the palace entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the military nobles, they saw the Zhang family of Yingguo—positioned at the very front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several Zhang sons were eager to step forward,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but they hadn’t been called in yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging nods with the Zhang sons, Zhang Fang, standing close to the entrance, waved and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, crush their arrogance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the sons of the Grand Secretaries also looked displeased; seeing the two boys approach, they hurriedly bowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too disrespectful! Too disrespectful! A disgrace to scholarship! You must win!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye were curious—what had happened inside the hall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the palace, they saw several sons of the imperial clan standing grim-faced behind their fathers, while several imperial princesses watched their brothers with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rong Xian had been beaten so badly his eye was already turning black; beside him stood a striking girl, young yet radiant as moon and flower,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>now tugging at Rong Xian’s sleeve, deeply worried by the bruise on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beauty in tears drew covert glances from several Bai Gao and Northern Liao youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some imperial clan youths, their hair disheveled, whispered among themselves, glancing toward Rong Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing whispered to the fourth son of the Zhang family: “Fourth brother, what happened here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Northern Liao envoys are from the Yelu clan. They proposed a ceremony where their young warriors compete with our noble youths in wrestling and archery. The Empress consulted His Majesty, who approved. Look—the chairs are arranged in a large circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their confusion, Zhang’s fourth son continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixteen boys under fourteen from noble and imperial clans compete together before the Emperor and Empress. Before you arrived, six boys from the princely houses and the Rong family had already taken the field.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up into the hall and added, “Rong Xian claimed he was under fourteen—ha, got beaten badly. Now only seven remain. Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Fang whispered, “Brothers, not a single Great Zhou youth remains. Too bad my two elder brothers are too old to compete—otherwise, they wouldn’t dare be so bold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She huffed in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strong sense of Great Zhou’s honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing looked up and saw the Empress had ordered eunuchs to clear a large open space in the hall, covered by a massive carpet, surrounded by a circle of chairs—some occupied, some empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the open ground, several foreign noble youths wore expressions of arrogant pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continue revising; if you find typos or awkward phrasing, please kindly point them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1218,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","84f9e3e5023537437c711327c6b927256d12c1a3851011b1112bd0c151a4b76f","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-101","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-99",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]