Chapter 29: Academy Atmosphere

“He is the third legitimate son of the Hou Fu, named Zaijing; at seven or eight years old, he could already ride and shoot arrows, and received imperial rewards.”

“This young master Jing is truly impressive—he can ride at such a young age.”

“He even messed up the emperor’s fish together with the second legitimate son of the Ningyuan Hou Fu.”

Fang Mama said nothing; in her understanding, damaging the emperor’s golden fish should have drawn punishment,

and now the reward and punishment canceled each other out.

“The Empress helped the children cover it up. Kong Mama’s letter said the Yongyi Hou Fu has seen some improvement—my convenient nephew has secured a position through the Cao family and become a powerful general in the Western Army.”

“Kong Mama has been in the palace far longer than you, Miss,” Fang Mama said.

“Hmph, what do you mean by that, Suqin!” The old lady glared at her personal maid.

“Miss, I mean, she has spent so long in the palace—she has seen far more than we have. Kong Mama’s letter must have been carefully considered.”

“You are growing older year by year, and Hongge’s career is going smoothly—you should think more about yourself.”

“What is there for me to think about? Once Hualan and Changbai marry, I can close my eyes. I won’t be an eyesore anymore.”

“Miss, once married, no matter your age, having a family to return to is not the same as having none.”

“Kong Mama has seen too many of the palace’s old imperial consorts,”

“and whether they had accomplished brothers or sisters in their families—was their status in the palace the same?”

“Enough.” The old lady said.

Fang Mama did not press further.

Walking to the old lady’s side, Fang Mama prepared to attend her for her afternoon nap.

“Miss, the ancestral offerings of the old marquis and his lady must be maintained by that family.”

The old lady said nothing more, waved her hand, and Fang Mama withdrew from the room.

As the old lady’s personal maid, Fang Mama had grown up in the Yongyi Hou Fu since childhood, and the old lady’s mother had shown her great kindness.

That was why she cared so deeply about their ancestral rites.

After her nap, the old lady closed her eyes while Fang Mama wiped her face.

“Send for my son later—I have something to instruct him.”

Soon, Sheng Hong appeared at the old lady’s Shou’an Hall.

Sheng Hong sat respectfully to the side, and the old lady said:

“For this evaluation, don’t rush to transfer back to the capital—find a wealthy prefecture or county and serve well for a few more years. You are a jinshi; your promotion is naturally faster than others.”

The old lady sipped tea and glanced at Sheng Hong:

“Your position as assistant prefect is directly under the emperor’s notice—more experience won’t hurt. When you return to the capital, if the chance arises, pay a visit to the Sun family and the Xu family.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Sheng Hong adjusted his posture:

“Mother, I was thinking—when we return to the capital, I’d like to see if there’s a suitable match for Hua’er.”

“No need to consider the Xu family. Hua’er is such a precious legitimate daughter—you, as her father, shouldn’t be the one to initiate the proposal.”

“Yes, Mother.”

After leaving Shou’an Hall, Sheng Hong glanced at Wei Shi, who was heavily pregnant, gave her a few instructions, then returned to Weirui Pavilion.

Wang Shi, with the help of Liu Mama, helped her husband remove his robes.

Liu Mama stepped out of the room, leaving Sheng Hong and his wife alone.

Sheng Hong: “In a few days, I’ll be returning to Bianjing—you and the children need not come with me.”

“Yes, Husband. Ru’er has just come into this world—she can’t endure long journeys.”

“For this evaluation, Mother says there’s no rush to return to the capital—better to serve in a wealthy prefecture or county for experience.”

“My mother also wrote—she agrees with the old lady. My elder brother said he’ll ask my father’s disciples to help.”

“Write back on my behalf to thank my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law. Just now, Mother told me to visit the Xu family when I return to the capital.”

“Ah? This… Husband, since the old lady has always been at odds with the Xu family in the capital, my mother mentioned other things in her letter—I’m too embarrassed to tell you.”

“She said that young master Jing of the Yongyi Hou Fu was praised during the emperor’s birthday banquet—clearly caught the emperor’s attention, and he’s still so young.”

“Early brilliance doesn’t guarantee later success.”

“Back then, they wanted to marry off a collateral branch’s concubine-born daughter—Mother, out of face, went to meet her.”

“Turned out she was utterly inferior in both character and appearance! Truly outrageous.”

Sheng Hong sneered, as if recalling the humiliation he once endured.

Wang Shi’s eyes shimmered with quiet pride—she was a legitimate daughter of the Wang family, virtuous and well-bred, with a lavish dowry.

“Husband, my elder sister also wrote—Xu’s eldest lady and the Bai lady of the Ningyuan Hou Fu are very close.”

“The Ningyuan Hou Fu’s marquis is a powerful lord of the Great Zhou—only slightly below the Dukes of Qi and Ying.”

“I’ve also heard that this current eldest lady of the Yongyi Hou Fu suffered greatly under her mother-in-law’s cruelty. In recent years, my sister told me often enough about the Xu family’s decline.”

Wang Ruofu was speaking enthusiastically when Liu Mama tugged at her sleeve.

Wang Da Niangzi glanced at Liu Mama in confusion,

then noticed her husband’s expression.

She immediately clamped her mouth shut.

Her earlier gleeful tone, mocking her own mother-in-law’s family, was indeed inappropriate.

“My nominal cousin has become a powerful general in the Western Army, and now his wife is close to the Gu family, and this young nephew has caught the emperor’s eye—definitely worth cultivating.”

“You’re right, Husband. I heard Xu’s eldest son is now of marriageable age—what about Hualan...”

“Mother said not to consider the Xu family. If Hua’er marries into the Xu family, how many people in Bianjing will laugh at Mother?”

“I’ll go to the capital first to take a look—Hua’er is still young; waiting a few more years won’t hurt.”

“Then I’ll begin preparing your luggage for this trip.”

“Mm. While I’m away, watch over the children.”

Sheng Hong set out on his journey back to the capital.

Bianjing,

the firecrackers lit during the Spring Festival were being cleared by the Street Office.

Xu Zaijing had passed another Spring Festival.

This year, when paying New Year’s respects to the emperor, he received even more gifts.

This puzzled Xu Zaijing.

The Duchess of Yingguo sat in the palace this year, watching the noblewomen who gave gifts to Xu Zaijing, her lips curling with faint mockery.

She merely liked the six- or seven-year-old boy for his poise.

One day.

Quyuanjie.

Xu Zaijing was practicing his daily routine of archery, spear, and breathing techniques in the courtyard’s riding ground.

Yet there was no sign of the groom by his side.

Inside the inner courtyard, behind a screen, the groom spoke in a hoarse voice to Sun Shi:

“Lady, the Great Zhou now favors literature and suppresses martial arts. Although Zaijing’s martial talent is the greatest I’ve ever seen, true advancement still comes through scholarship.”

“Lady, as the daughter of a military family, you know how little regard martial officers receive in our Great Zhou.”

“Then let Sanlang join his two elder brothers at the capital’s academy.”

“It would be better to hire a renowned master. Lately, I’ve often heard servants in the household say the academy’s atmosphere is quite poor.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Lady, you’re too formal—I’m merely a groom.”

Later, Sun Shi summoned the servants of the two young masters of the Xu family and questioned them.

That evening, before dinner, Sun Shi had Xiao Zhu stand behind her holding a bamboo board one foot long,

and Xu Zaijing watched curiously as his two elder brothers stood in the hall.

“You two—kneel,” Sun Shi said.

Xu Zaiuan and Xu Zaihang exchanged glances, puzzled, but knelt down.

“I come from a military family and have little education. Today I asked Daxlang—what have you learned at the academy?”

[If you have votes, ladies and gentlemen, please cast them.]

The editor said the new book is getting a trial push—asked me to call out.

Embarrassingly, I just saw the editor’s QQ message.

It’s been two days already,

and I ignored the editor for two whole days!~~o(>_<)o~~]

(End of Chapter)