[{"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-28":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},2307806,4510,"Chapter 28: The Empress","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing and the other two were instantly pinned down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a dignified and elegant woman walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who else but the Empress?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the three men seized by the eunuchs by the pond: two had water stains all over their sleeves, one was drenched in sweat, the ground around them was littered with evidence, and their hands reeked of fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone! Someone! Bind these three little rascals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress waved her hand. “No need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing the nausea from the stench, she said, “The fish in this imperial garden are tied to the palace feng shui—they must not be disturbed lightly. Do you three understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, we understand. We won’t dare again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone, wash these three rascals’ hands—remove the fish smell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye quickly bowed in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Huan followed suit, offering his thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t cause trouble in the garden—you’ll ruin my flowers and plants, and I’ll have nowhere to complain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress waved her hand again; the three, as if released from a death sentence, scurried back to the banquet table before the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress’s personal eunuch supported her as she said, “Your Majesty, let’s leave this place quickly. You others, bury the three rascals’ catch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking slowly, the Empress mused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope the one in my womb turns out as lively as these three little monkeys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, naturally so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you this morning not to go fishing—yet you did anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I couldn’t help it—the fish were too stupid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing and the others trudged back to the banquet table before the hall and saw a middle-aged man with a sun-darkened face and an apologetic expression, holding a wine cup beside Prince Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Prince Yong, his heir scowled in anger; the prince’s retainers and young relatives were pale and drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they had not yet recovered from Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye’s two punches, and now they were exhausted from Xu Zaijing’s antics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man smiled apologetically; Prince Yong glanced at the Emperor seated above, then smiled and raised his own cup,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>accepting the man’s apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man returned to his seat and saw his son,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>glowering at him with resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Zhao Huan’s mother was anxiously asking if he had been hurt or disadvantaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her son shake his head, the lady gently patted her own son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Yongyi Marquis Xu family’s table, Xu Anmei looked at her younger brother with distaste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little brother, did you go to the fish market? Why do you smell so fishy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, just now, Ye Ge caught fish—must’ve grabbed my sleeve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Da niangzi said nothing, only shot him a stern glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Ningyuan Marquis household, Gu Tingye was being scolded by Bai Shi, who pointed at his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yan Kai’s expression was also grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingyu’s eyes sparkled with amusement and envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, the women and family members began their return journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High officials and nobles rested briefly within the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was also resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preparing to host foreign envoys who had come to celebrate his birthday that evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away in Quanzhou, Fujian Road, the atmosphere of the Emperor’s birthday was still felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Government offices and wealthy households had set up porridge stalls, offering free meals to passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchants had scattered copper coins from balconies along the streets to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the residence of Assistant Prefect Sheng Hong, Sheng Laofuren watched her grandchildren playing in the courtyard, her eyes filled with smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Hong sat beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before you know it, you have five children, and with the one in Wei Shi’s womb, that’s six. Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all Mother’s blessing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I dare not take credit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I want Mo’er raised by Lin Qige.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Decide for yourself—you’re a Department Magistrate now; old woman that I am, I dare not say more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Sheng Hong could finish, Sheng Laofuren rose and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Hong glanced awkwardly at his Lady Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Wang, you’re about to give birth—caring for Mo’er now is truly too taxing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang shot him a look and, clutching her swollen belly, walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concubine Wei Shi, holding her own small belly, followed behind Lady Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, only Chang Feng and the nursemaid holding Mo Lan sat quietly, watching their father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good children—staying by Shuang’er’s side, you’ll never suffer the hardships I endured as a boy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Lin Qige, Lin Qin listened as Xue Niang vividly recounted the events in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gazed at her nails stained with balsam flower dye,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her eyes filled with self-admiring longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This old lady’s family has produced no notable figures—she alienated her own kin for the Master’s sake. Her usefulness to the Master ends here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little miss, watch your tongue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the sake of the Sheng family’s dignity, the old lady must swallow her anger, teeth clenched. Over the years, I’ve watched her dowry from the Marquis household dwindle—otherwise, how could that small courtyard be so cold and empty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qin stopped admiring her nails and said coldly, “The Wei Shi that Wang Ruo bought—this child in her womb, who knows if it’s boy or girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d say that Wei Xiao niang is destined to bear a girl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were certain my child would be a boy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little miss, I—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let that child in Wei Shi’s womb not be a boy—if it blocks my Feng Ge’s path, I’ll make her regret it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she leaned back, resting her forehead ornament as she lay down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Shou’an Hall, Sheng Laofuren, free of her formal demeanor in her own room,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>slammed her hand on the table in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My son—he truly—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Mama hurried over to support Sheng Laofuren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, you’re no longer young—don’t ruin your health with anger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That concubine, Lin Qin, holds him in complete thrall. Just like his father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, but the one sent by the Wang family—she at least knows propriety and restraint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know well enough—her family is scholarly; had her father not fallen ill and ruined the estate, she’d have been sought after as a proper Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She carries herself with high spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, as a concubine, such pride will bring her suffering. Let’s see when she finally understands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, don’t take every burden on yourself—you’ve piled so much on your own shoulders for no reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. My son will soon return to the capital; I must send gifts to his father’s old classmates—perhaps he can rise a little higher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we try to approach Sun Da niangzi of the Marquis household?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their own family members rarely use that connection—how could we, so far removed, dare to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun rose and set,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Emperor’s birthday had passed more than two months ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streets of Quanzhou had returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A letter from Dongjing Bianliang arrived at the Assistant Prefect’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sheng Laofuren, recognizing the familiar handwriting, felt a deep pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, whose letter is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From Palace Maid Kong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, the one from Shandong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Sheng Laofuren opened the envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She read word by word; after half a cup of tea, she set the letter aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, what’s wrong? Is Palace Maid Kong leaving the palace to return home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s too young for that yet. She heard some news from within the palace, and about the commotion at the Yongyi Marquis household on the Emperor’s birthday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But did our tribute receive the Emperor's praise?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady waved her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1251,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","54c94049b2b33c9a608af39a8bce801d532b650572f287664e23ebb0d4176616","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-29","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-27",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]