After entering October, the weather became increasingly cold.

Every day, regardless of the weather, Xu Bai would get up promptly at the beginning of the morning (3-5 AM), practice horse stance and boxing in the courtyard, and then run a few laps around the training ground behind the house. At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), after having breakfast, he would start writing large characters, followed by reading and catching up on his homework. His diligent efforts even reached the ears of the old lady.

After dinner, when the family had nothing to do, they would go back to the old lady's courtyard to sit for a while, whether to chat or do something else. Whoever had time could go, and there were no rules about who had to go.

Xu Bai set a goal to go every five days. When he arrived, the old lady asked him to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed), and sat with him on the edge of the kang. She stroked Xu Bai's head, and while bringing him some dried fruit and candied fruit from the table, she said with concern, "I heard that our Bai-ge'er has been getting up early to practice kung fu these past few days. Bai-ge'er, it's good that you want to improve, but you're still young. If you practice too hard, what if you don't grow tall?"

Xu Bai ate a piece of candied fruit, which was a bit sweet. He quickly picked up the tea on the table and took a sip before saying to the old lady, "Grandmother, I did some stretching after my exercise. It won't affect my growth. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll grow taller than my older brother."

Hearing this, Xu Bin, the sixth young master sitting next to him, laughed and said, "Seventh brother, your eldest brother's height is not something that ordinary people can grow to. Look at yourself now, I just don't believe it."

Xu Bin is five years older than Xu Bai and is Xu Quan's child.

Xu Di is indeed quite tall; he's considered one of the taller people in the capital. Xu Bai knows that Xu Di did a lot of things to grow taller.

Adhering to scientific methods can always bring unexpected benefits. Xu Bai, who has studied science, naturally understands that his training volume will not affect his physical development. After training, doing some appropriate stretching can also help him grow taller.

Xu Bai was considered tall for his age, but compared to boys five years older than him, he was somewhat lacking. Not wanting to lose the argument, Xu Bai pouted and said, "Sixth Brother, this isn't something you can decide to believe right now. We'll have to see in a few years, or even a decade or more. But my dad is tall, my mom isn't short, and my older brother and sister are all quite tall. Do you think I could be short?"

Xu Bin nodded and said, "Indeed, among all the branches of our family, your family members are the tallest."

Xu Bai said smugly, "There's nothing we can do. If parents are tall, their children will have an advantage in height, right, Grandmother?"

The old lady was amused by the children and kept laughing. Seeing that it was getting late, she urged them to go back and rest. The Marquis was in charge of the children's studies. Xu Bai was studying with Wu Muyue, while the other children studied at the clan school in the family. Every morning, they had to get up early to go to a small courtyard next to the Marquis's mansion, which was the Yongning Marquis's school.

Xu Bai followed the maidservant who was serving him toward his own courtyard. Halfway there, he saw Xu Di hurrying toward the front yard and called out to him. Xu Di saw that it was Xu Bai and told him to go back and rest, while he continued walking.

Xu Bai stroked his chin. It was so late, and Xu Di was still rushing to the front yard. Something must have happened.

Xu Bai was very curious, but he knew that he would have to follow behind Xu Di. If Xu Di got angry, he would be in big trouble. But he couldn't bear to leave him like that.

Seeing that Xu Di was heading towards his grandfather's study, Xu Bai wanted to go over, but the maid who was with him quickly stopped him, saying, "Seventh Young Master, it's getting late. The Eldest Young Master wants you to go back quickly. You'd better not go."

Xu Bai thought for a moment, and figured he could find out what happened by going to the Marquis's study tomorrow.

Xu Di had no time to consider what his curious younger brother was thinking.

He went straight into the study of the Marquis of Yongning.

In the study, the Marquis sat behind his desk, his hand supporting his forehead. A man dressed in a black outfit stood in front of the desk. Seeing Xu Di rush in, the man bowed and said, "Young Master."

This was the head guard of the manor. Xu Di quickly returned the greeting and asked, "Brother Zhao, what's going on?"

Chief Zhao glanced at the Marquis and said to Xu Di, "Our men have been guarding the Zhou family's courtyard. During the afternoon shift change, a few thugs sneaked into the Zhou family's courtyard. Just as we were about to make a move, the Zhou family's daughter used a red-tasseled spear to knock them out."

Xu Di was surprised by Zhou Junhong's high level of combat skills and stroked his chin, asking, "Were those people properly interrogated?"

Chief Zhao nodded and said, "We've already interrogated them. Our men followed the trail to the Yongping Marquis's residence. It was one of the stewards of the Yongping Marquis who found them."

Xu Di nodded and asked, "What does Miss Zhou mean?"

Chief Zhao said, "The Zhou family girl took those people's testimonies, but she didn't inquire about what happened to them."

Xu Di looked at Marquis Yongning, who sighed and said, "I really didn't expect that a century-old marquis's mansion would raise such a shameless person. The Zhou family's daughter is their betrothed, yet they actually hired someone to ruin her reputation. No one would believe this."

Chief Zhao glanced at Xu Di, who waved to him. Chief Zhao bowed and then left.

Xu Di sat opposite the Marquis. Seeing that the Marquis was still in a bad mood, he smiled and said, "Grandfather, what are you doing? It's not like we did anything wrong."

The Marquis sighed softly and said, "At first, I thought you were overdoing it by arranging the manpower like this, but who knew you would guess it. Di Ge'er, sigh, I just feel disgusted by those people."

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