Chapter 35: Acerbic Words

Chapter 35: Acerbic Words

Even though he knew Nangong Tao wouldn't be stingy, Nangong Jing couldn't help but gasp when he actually transferred 10,000 gold coins. Ten thousand gold coins! With these ten thousand, even if Nangong Tao didn't give her monthly allowance anymore, Nangong Jing could still grow up comfortably and even have enough money to buy the resources she needed for her cultivation.

"Thank you, father." Nangong Jing excitedly held the card and thanked Nangong Tao.

Nangong Tao looked at Nangong Jing, the money-grubber holding the card with such joy, and his heart softened. He rubbed Nangong Jing's head and said, "Actually, although your grandfather was not happy that your mother married me as a concubine and even said that he would sever ties with your mother, he loved your mother so much that he let her bring the dowry that he had prepared for her since she was born. After your mother passed away, I saved the dowry. You were ignorant and couldn't protect it before, and you are too young to take care of it now. When you are older, I will give you all your mother's dowry."

In his previous life, Nangong Jing didn't learn about this property from Nangong Tao until he was 18 years old and had taken it over. He didn't expect to know about it so early in this life. Although he couldn't get it because of his age, it was still different. It had changed again, Nangong Jing thought silently in his heart.

There are more and more differences between the two lives, and Nangong Jing believes that he will not end up like in his previous life.

After processing the magic card, Nangong Tao took Nangong Jing back to the Duke's Mansion. It was almost time for lunch and it was time to go back.

When Nangong Tao brought Nangong Jing back to the Duke's Mansion, it was just time for lunch. The Duke's Mansion only had families eat together during Chinese New Year and other festivals; on weekdays, each family ate their own meals. Therefore, Nangong Tao didn't need to wait for anyone and simply had the servants bring him and Nangong Jing's lunch to his own courtyard. The father and son had a quiet lunch together.

Nangong Jing finally got a day off and didn't want to bother with any work. He just wanted to rest comfortably for the day. But sometimes it wasn't that he didn't want to bother with any work, some people just couldn't bear to see him doing well.

Just as Nangong Jing was about to go back to his room to rest, he was told by the servants that the Duchess invited him to the garden, saying that the brothers and sisters had not gathered for a long time. What could Nangong Jing do? As long as he still wanted to have a reputation, he had to go when his stepmother called him.

Since it was just a gathering of brothers, Nangong Jing didn't change his clothes. Anyway, the clothes he was wearing were just made by the palace and were very new.

However, if Nangong Jing knew that this dress would cause trouble later, he would definitely change his clothes. Of course, it was not because he was afraid of trouble, but because Nangong Jing found it troublesome.

Unfortunately, Nangong Jing didn't know this. So when he arrived at the garden, Nangong Chen said with a look of jealousy, "Seventh brother, you are different now that you are the prince's companion. Even the clothes you wear are brocade that only the royal family can wear."

Although this brocade is also woven from silk, it's extremely rare because it uses silk from ice silkworms, and is usually presented as tribute to the royal family. Nangong Jing's brocade was a gift from the Imperial Concubine. Xuanyuan Xingyao said it was okay, so he had a maid take it to the clothing bureau to make a few sets of clothes. He didn't wear it specifically today; he just picked up a piece at random. Who knew it was made of brocade by such a coincidence?

Not to mention that there was already hatred between Nangong Jing and Nangong Chen from their previous life, Nangong Jing's character of not wanting to be wronged alone meant that he would not silently endure being confronted by Nangong Chen.

Nangong Jing felt relieved when he saw Nangong Chen's envious expression. In his previous life, Nangong Jing knew that his brothers were jealous of him, so he would try to keep a low profile and not attract attention. However, even though he kept a low profile, he was still killed by their jealousy. So after his rebirth, Nangong Jing decided that he would never keep a low profile for anyone again.

"Fifth brother is wrong. Not all study companions wear brocade. The brocade I'm wearing was given to me by the Imperial Concubine to congratulate my master for accepting me as his disciple." Nangong Jing said with a faint smile, and then he felt a sense of relief when he saw Nangong Chen's increasingly jealous and distorted expression.

Nangong Dao didn't want to talk at first, but when he heard that the clothes on Nangong Jing were given by the Imperial Concubine, he couldn't help but say jealously, "Seventh brother, as the Seventh Prince's companion, you are naturally from the Crown Prince's lineage. It's not good to be so close to the Imperial Concubine's lineage. It would be bad if people said you were a fence-sitter."

Nangong Dao's words seemed to be trying to persuade Nangong Jing, but in fact, wasn't he accusing Nangong Jing of being two-timing and a fence-sitter?

Nangong Mu didn't want to interrupt at first, but after hearing Nangong Dao's words, his brows frowned slightly. If Nangong Dao's words were to get out, Nangong Jing's reputation would definitely be damaged.

Nangong Mu was about to speak up for Nangong Jing when he heard Nangong Jing speak first, "Second brother is absolutely right. That's why I didn't want to accept the gift when the Imperial Concubine sent it to me at first. But the Seventh Prince said it was okay and told me to just accept it. He even personally ordered someone to take the clothes to the clothing bureau to make a few sets of clothes for me."

Nangong Dao looked at Nangong Jing's boastful face and really wanted to strangle him to death. He let him show off. In the past, Nangong Dao did not take Nangong Jing seriously at all. In his opinion, his only opponent was his eldest brother Nangong Mu, and everyone else was nothing.

He hadn't expected Nangong Jing to show up before he and Nangong Mu even started fighting. Not only was he gifted, he'd also become the prince's study companion and was rumored to have a close relationship with Xuanyuan Xingyao. If Nangong Jing really let Xuanyuan Xingyao speak for him in the future, would he still be able to claim the Dukedom?

Nangong Jing looked at the murderous intent hidden in Nangong Dao's eyes and sneered inwardly. In his previous life, he had been too foolish to see the ill will Nangong Dao and his companions had for him. He wouldn't be so foolish in this life. Furthermore, it was because he had been betrayed in his previous life that he had fallen so easily into the schemes of Nangong Mu and his companions. In this life, Nangong Jing didn't plan to make any friends. Xuanyuan Xingyao and Feng Xuanzhou were enough for him. Nangong Jing didn't think Xuanyuan Xingyao and Feng Xuanzhou would betray him for a little benefit.

Nangong Dao and Nangong Ling were even more jealous when they saw how close Nangong Jing and Xuanyuan Xingyao were. They were about to say something when Nangong Mu spoke first, "Seventh brother, congratulations on finding a great master. We're not sure if we can attend your apprenticeship ceremony, so I asked mother to take advantage of your day off so that we can all get together and celebrate for you."

Nangong Jing looked at Nangong Mu's sincere smile, and the coldness in his eyes quietly retreated and was replaced by a bit of warmth. Nangong Jing had always respected Nangong Mu, no matter in his past life or this life. Because Nangong Mu was really a good brother, no matter which brother or sister he was, he cared about him very much.

Even in his previous life, when Nangong Dao started to openly challenge him, Nangong Mu only distanced himself from him but did not resort to any conspiracy or trickery to harm Nangong Dao. Instead, Nangong Dao secretly made many dark moves, but they were all blocked by Nangong Mu and the Duchess. It was only after Nangong Dao used his tricks on him that Nangong Mu completely lost his heart and distanced himself from Nangong Dao.

"Thank you, big brother. The time for becoming my disciple has not been decided yet. I will tell my father when it is decided, and you can come then. The teacher said that many friends will be invited, including magicians and warriors." In return, Nangong Mu truly cares about Nangong Jing, so Nangong Jing will naturally consider Nangong Mu.

Nangong Mu has good talent and good character. If he performs well, who knows, some powerful person might take a fancy to him. Even if no one takes a fancy to him, it would be nice to be able to go there and see the world.

Nangong Mu was no fool, so he naturally understood what Nangong Jing meant. He was a little flattered and said, "Isn't that good? Han Gongsheng didn't invite us to the ceremony..."

"My teacher won't object if my family comes to watch the ceremony." Although Nangong Jing has not officially become his disciple, Han Yan has already officially started teaching Nangong Jing.

Although they hadn't been together long, Nangong Jing could sense that while Han Yan was very strict with him in his training, he still took good care of him in his daily life. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Han Yan treated Nangong Jing like his own son. How could Han Yan refuse such a small request as asking Nangong Jing's family to attend the apprenticeship ceremony?

"Thank you very much, Seventh Brother." Although Nangong Mu was a bit honest, he was not a fool and naturally would not push away such a good thing.

Nangong Jing smiled and said nothing when he heard this. Since Nangong Mu was good to him, he was naturally willing to help him. But if it was Nangong Dao, they really couldn't even think about it.

Nangong Dao and Nangong Ling were not going to interrupt at first, but when they heard that Nangong Jing invited Nangong Mu to attend his apprenticeship ceremony but did not invite them, they could no longer sit still.

"Seventh brother, you can't be partial and only invite eldest brother and not us." Nangong Ling is the most impulsive one among the three Nangong Daos, so he is always the first to come forward when something happens, and this time is no exception.

Nangong Jing glanced at Nangong Ling and the other two, thinking, "I can't even suppress you in time, how could I possibly give you the opportunity to meet a strong person?" Of course, he couldn't say that out loud, but instead, he used the three's tempers to speak, "It's not that I'm partial, but Second Brother and Third Brother, you guys are sometimes too quick-tempered. If the people present are either powerful or royal relatives, what if you say something wrong in your haste?"

Nangong Dao knew that he wasn't worried about their impatience; he simply didn't want to take them with him. He was angry inside, but on the surface, he said nice things, hoping that Nangong Jing would take them with him. After all, with so many powerful people in attendance, if they performed well, they might even be accepted as disciples by a powerful person. Then, they would definitely have a bright future. They didn't want to miss such a good opportunity at all costs.

But Nangong Jing refused to give in no matter what, and Nangong Mu was in a difficult position to speak because he had already gotten the better of them. Speaking up for Nangong Dao and the others, Nangong Jing clearly didn't want to bring him along, so wouldn't it be ungrateful to speak up for him? Speaking up for Nangong Jing would seem to Nangong Dao and the others like he didn't want to help them, so it was wrong anyway, so it was better to remain silent.

Nangong Wu and Nangong Fei are girls and therefore not too close to other people. They are not particularly favored, so they usually act in a low-key manner. They never get involved in the fights between Nangong Jing and others, and this time they remain silent to the end.