Ning Ze didn’t realize his mother was still hopeful for him. He had taken Su Rong and Fen Ling out from the Marquis Nanping Residence and shown them all the places he thought were good to eat, drink, and play, bringing them around for a tour.
After a day, Ning Ze was so tired that his back ached and his feet felt as though they were about to wear out. Seeing the two of them still in high spirits with unchanged expressions and brisk steps, he lamented, "People can’t be compared with one another."
Compared to them, no matter how he looked at it, he felt like a useless piece of trash. Even walking too much made his feet sore.
Fen Ling patted his shoulder, "You should exercise more, brother. You’re too wasted, this isn’t right."
Ning Ze nodded, agreeing that he was too wasted, but he also felt that he was already helpless, lamented once more, "Doing martial arts at this point...it’s too late." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"It’s not too late. I’ll teach you a set of boxing techniques, practice them every morning, and run three laps around the Marquis Nanping Residence, I guarantee you, after a year, you’ll be strong and robust, able to take down a bull."
Ning Ze was skeptical, "Really, or are you just saying that?"
"Of course it’s real."
Ning Ze was conflicted, "Wake up early...how early?"
"In the wee hours."
"I can’t, I won’t be able to wake up."
Fen Ling was speechless, "It’s the wee hours, and you still can’t wake up? When you used to study, didn’t you go to sleep after the rooster crowed for the third time and get up at the fifth rooster’s crow to continue studying?"
Ning Ze shook his head, "No."
He looked at Fen Ling with embarrassment, "I always go to sleep late at night and don’t get up until dawn."
Fen Ling tutted, "No wonder you’re so wasted."
He commented, "I remember when the examination results were announced, you ranked around 137th in the second class? Given your lack of drive, how did you manage that score?"
Ning Ze scratched his head, "My old tutor used to think that I’m quite good at studying. It’s just that I’m not fit for martial arts, unlike my elder brother who excels both in literature and martial arts."
Fen Ling tutted again for a while.
When the three of them returned to the Marquis Nanping Residence, it was already nightfall.
Once Ning Ze returned to his courtyard, he saw his mother waiting for him in his room. Seeing him return, she instantly smiled, "You’re back? Are you completely exhausted from the day’s activities?"
From a single glance, the Marchioness realized that her son was exhausted. He was dragging his heavy feet while walking, but he did not seem unhappy or despondent.
Ning Ze nodded, sat down and extended his legs, "My legs hurt, my feet too. I walked all day and covered more than half of the city’s major and minor streets. I’m dead beat."
The Marchioness laughed, "You’re too weak, when I was young, I could also wander about the whole day."
Ning Ze muttered, "Fen Ling said the same thing."
He hesitated for a moment, "Mother, where is Master Wu from our residence? Can he teach me martial arts?"
The shocked Marchioness exclaimed, "You’re already so old!"
"Fen Ling said it’s not too late." Ning Ze explained: "He mentioned that my weakness is due to not practicing martial arts and although I can’t become very skilled, building up my physical strength and being able to withstand a beating from a bull should be achievable."
The Marchioness laughed and readily agreed, "Alright, we will have Master Wu teach you tomorrow."
She sighed, "He was your elder brother’s initial martial arts instructor. Squatting and practicing lower body strength was the hardest part. Your elder brother persisted, but when it came to you, you fainted crying three times. According to your father, all men should know some martial arts skills. So, you should have continued practicing, but unfortunately your mother was too soft-hearted and spoiled you. Now, you don’t know any martial arts at all. Such a big man, yet still having to suffer learning it."
"Don’t blame yourself, mother. It’s because I didn’t try hard enough." Ning Ze sighed as well.
The Marchioness looked at him, "I heard that you ranked in class two for the civil service exams. Although it’s the end of class two, I am still very pleased when I heard about it, considering you weren’t particularly hardworking."
Ning Ze was also very pleased, he truly hadn’t put in much effort, "I was also surprised that I could score so well."
When the results were announced, he was still locked up in the Rui’an King’s residence. At that time, he was only afraid of awaiting execution due to the imperial decree, and was in no state to worry about officialdom. When it got to that stage, officialdom was as good as finished.
The Marchioness asked him, "Ze’er, what do you plan to do in the future?"
Ning Ze really did not know. He scratched his head, "Resigned to my fate, I suppose!"
The Marchioness wasn’t unhappy about this at all, "What kind of wife would you like to marry in the future?"
Ning Ze was even more clueless at this point. He shook his head, "Mother, anything will do!"
The Marchioness smiled, "Didn’t you used to like your cousin sister?"
Ning Ze immediately replied: "I don’t like her now."
The Marchioness looked at him, "Why? Do you feel unworthy of your cousin sister now?"
Ning Ze coughed, "Not really that either."
He glanced around, there was no one else in the room. Looking out the window, the courtyard was quiet, and the servants had retreated. He whispered, "Mother, don’t laugh at me when I tell you this. Since I arrived in the capital, I’ve lost my affection for my cousin sister after meeting Lady Su Qi."
The Marchioness: "..."
She took a deep breath, "She’s not someone you should be fond of."
"I know that. Your son does have some self-awareness. Even if I didn’t before, I definitely do now." Ning Ze whispered: "The point of what I’m telling you is, I no longer like my cousin sister. As for who I’ll like in the future or what kind of person I’ll marry, I have no idea."
The Marchioness appeared worried, "For a woman like Lady Su Qi, it’s very easy for people to like her. Not just men, but women are fond of her too. I heard that once Duanhua Princess met her, she liked her very much, even inviting her to stay at the Princess Residence for quite a while."
Ning Ze nodded, "Yes, that’s true."
The Marchioness hesitated for a moment, then asked him: "Your mother has an idea, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate or not, you just listen."
Ning Ze nodded, "Mother, please speak."
The Marchioness said, "Your mother thinks that you are somewhat talented. In Daliang, you can no longer serve as an official, and you won’t be able to take the civil service exams in the future; this means your future career is completely over. Although I know that your safe return with your sister was already very fortunate and we should be content, I can’t help but feel sorry for you. Even if you didn’t work hard, you spent over a decade studying diligently. If you’re going to live an aimless and idle life under your elder brother’s hands, your mother won’t be at ease even if she dies. I want you to go to Nanchu with Lady Su Qi and make a go of it."
Ning Ze’s eyes widened in shock, "Mother, no, no... are you telling me to follow Su Rong to Nanchu?"
"Yes. You’re somewhat educated. Since there’s no future in becoming an official in Daliang, why not try in Nanchu? It’s better than relying on your elder brother. You are educated with the intention of becoming an official. I hear that Nanchu is very liberal in recruiting talents. Even if one is physically handicapped or a woman, they still have opportunities."
Ning Ze had his mouth wide open, and for a long while, he was unable to speak.
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