Chapter 58
The Imperial Palace.
Emperor Chongzhao was looking through the list of people who came to Beijing to report on their work this year.
There is a row of military generals, with a few highlighted ones circled.
Eunuch Yu: "Your Majesty, you are still awake? There is a lot of government affairs to deal with. You can take a break these few days. Otherwise, you should wait until tomorrow to see what happens."
Emperor Chongzhao pinched his brows.
"Is Xiaoqi asleep? Go and take a look to see if he's kicked off the quilt."
Eunuch Yu: "Your Majesty, you forgot that the young prince left the palace tonight and went to Xu Hou's mansion."
Emperor Chongzhao: "...I really can't remember it. It seems that I am really tired and confused."
He dipped the brush in ink, found a piece of blank paper, and wrote down the names of the circled generals on it.
"Tell the Ministry of Personnel to hurry up and check the backgrounds, political achievements, connections, character and affiliations of these people as soon as possible." Emperor Chongzhao folded the paper and pondered for a few seconds. "Send a copy to the East Factory as well. Check both places together. Make sure it is true."
Eunuch Yu: “Yes.”
After doing this, Emperor Chongzhao went back to bed.
There were still two quilts on the dragon couch, and the funny smiley faces on the bedposts were still there, but the people were gone.
It seems that the Marquis Chijian's Mansion has not been repaired for many years. I don't know if people can get used to living there with so many things to do.
-
The bamboo shadows are slanting.
In the courtyard, it is like algae and waterweed in the water.
In the Marquis' Mansion, the two were still confronting each other.
Xu Jin looks rough on the outside, but the fact that he was able to mediate with the various tribes in Northern Xinjiang and severely suppress them for so many years shows that he is not a man with brute force but no brains.
He was skeptical about what Yi Twelve said: "Whether it is true or not, we need to try it out a bit first."
After saying this, Xu Jin suddenly lowered his body, approached him, and made his palm into a tiger claw, fiercely strangling Yi Twelve's throat. The latter leaned back, dodged like a ghost, supported himself on the ground with his palms, and just as he raised his head, he was fiercely hit by a horizontal split kick!
Yi Twelve exerted force with his palm and caught the leg with his other hand, and the true qi collided, bang!
His arm suddenly felt numb, Yi Twelve's eyes narrowed slightly, and he used the force to suddenly raise his body, landed lightly on the bamboo branch, and turned around.
Xu Jin stood on the broken floor tiles, raised his head and said: "The true energy is a little weak, but the body movement is very good. It's a common problem for tracking secret guards or assassins. Are you originally a man of His Majesty or..."
B Twelve: "Now he belongs to the Seventh Prince."
Xu Jin put his hands behind his back and said, "I am worried about leaving you with my grandson. Can I kill you?"
B12: "Only the Seventh Prince can decide my life or death."
"Really?" Xu Jin's old eyes were as sharp as fire. "I don't believe that you would have no restrictions after coming out of that kind of place."
Yi Twelve flew down from the bamboo branch and landed in front of Xu Jin. He stretched out his hand and said calmly, "You can also use something to control me."
Xu Jin stared into his eyes for a moment, then slowly turned around.
"Never mind. There is nothing annoying in your eyes. Take good care of him. I am going to see my grandson."
After walking for a distance, Xu Jin took out a small medicine bottle from his arms and threw it to Yi Twelve without looking back.
"Dirty places, dirty means of controlling people, that's all. The Qianqian Pill can delay the onset of the poison. I'll give it to you. It may be useful in the future."
Yi Twelve stood in the yard for a while holding the medicine bottle, then looked in the direction of the bedroom.
He jumped onto the roof of the house, sat cross-legged, and quietly watched the small reunion below.
-
The next day.
Qu Dubian opened his eyes from a sweet dream, and the warm quilt made him stretch lazily.
"Um……"
So comfortable.
He opened his eyes and smelled the clean cotton scent coming from the bedding, and he almost fell into it.
"Woof!"
Hearing the familiar dog barking, Qu Dubian instantly lost his sleepiness, turned over in surprise and stuck his head out, "Wow, Dahei! How come you left the palace too!"
Dahei came up to him enthusiastically, his paws resting on the edge of the bed, but he didn't jump on her. He didn't wait for his cub to come back to Shunning Palace, and he was so anxious that Concubine Xuan sent him out as well.
"Young Master, are you awake?"
Mother Fang pushed the door open and said with a smile, "You have been sleeping for a long time. If you don't wake up, I'm afraid the Marquis and his wife will be worried."
Qu Dubian touched Dahei's head and asked, "Have I slept for a long time?"
He glanced at the time on the simulator. It was already eleven o'clock! Except for staying up late to read books, his sleep and rest schedule was always very regular, waking up around nine in the morning.
He didn't feel anything at all and slept soundly.
Ye Xiaoyuan came in carrying toiletries. Qu Dubian quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, then put on his clothes. As a result, it was time for him to eat, and he didn't see his grandparents.
"Mother Fang, grandpa and grandma are not at home. Did they go to pay New Year's greetings?"
I used to hear other children say that if they couldn’t get up during the Chinese New Year, their parents would leave them at home, prepare the dumplings for them, and go out to visit each family to wish them a happy new year.
He is going to go through this too?
Mother Fang looked a little strange when she heard this. "It's okay. It's just a few small matters that need to be dealt with. They are all in the front hall. If the young master is in a hurry, I will go and urge him."
There's something going on in the front hall.
Qu Dubian ran out with the bowl in his hand: "I'll go see what's going on."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, how about I hold the bowl for you?"
"No, no, I won't drop this bowl of dumplings even if I drop it."
Ye Xiaoyuan: “…” I’m just afraid that you’d fall.
Dahei walked behind Qu Watanabe. Without the restraints of ropes and bite stoppers, it seemed more comfortable and majestic, with the demeanor of a veteran.
-
lobby.
Xu Jin looked extremely bad.
His second brother Xu Jianyan brought a group of men and women to the marquis's mansion to pay New Year's greetings, including children and grandchildren.
Originally he wanted to beat the men out directly, but Xu Jianyan also brought their mother's sister, who was also their aunt.
This person is one of the rare elders in the Xu family. When she comes here, Xu Jin always has to open the door to welcome her.
Of course, Xu Jin had all the stools in the front hall removed, leaving only three: one for him, one for Wu Siwan, and one for his old aunt.
The rest of the people could only stand, not even having any snacks or water to drink.
The unwelcome message is already clear.
"Brother, you finally came back from Northern Xinjiang, and it's Chinese New Year, how can I, as your younger brother, not come to visit?" Xu Jianyan said with a smile, "It's been so many years, and we are blood relatives, brother, you can't still hate me until now, right?"
Xu Jin didn't move. Wu Siwan walked up to Xu Jianyan with a sullen face and said, "Didn't I tell you that if you come here again, I will just kick you out?"
Xu Jianyan: "Sister-in-law, my brother is here, it's not your turn to speak yet."
Wu Siwan slapped him in the face.
"You!" Xu Jianyan glared at him, "Brother!"
Xu Jin: "Oh, your sister-in-law saw a mosquito on your face."
Xu Jianyan covered his face and said, "Brother, do we really have to be so awkward? We are all members of the Xu family after all. Can't we develop together in Beijing?"
"There is only one Xu Tingfeng in my third brother's family, and she is lame. I am the only one with many children. You can pick whichever one you want, a boy or a girl is fine. If you adopt her, there must be an heir, right?"
He pulled his children and grandchildren over and introduced them one by one.
“These guys are smart!”
Xu Jin stretched lazily, walked in front of Xu Jianyan, and slapped him again.
Xu Jianyan turned around in a circle, looking dazed, and his nose was bleeding. After he came to his senses, his face turned red and swollen. Who could save face by being beaten like this in front of their children and grandchildren?
But he didn't dare to fight back.
Xu Jin: "Sorry, there's another mosquito. Tsk, this is much more symmetrical, right? Hahaha."
"Okay, okay," the old aunt coughed twice, "Big brother, you two, it's New Year's Day, don't shed blood."
Xu Jin: "It's a good start, I don't mind."
Wu Siwan: "Auntie came to visit, what's the matter?"
The old aunt gently held her hand and said, "I know that due to the conflict between you and the second brother's family, adoption is impossible."
Wu Siwan: "If you weren't here, they wouldn't be able to enter the Marquis' Mansion."
"Then... do you want to adopt my grandson?" The old aunt's eyes gleamed slightly, and her tone became more gentle. "Although I am a married woman and my grandson doesn't have the surname Xu, after all, your mother and I are sisters, so we are still related."
Xu Jianyan couldn't believe it: "That's not what you said when you came here!"
The old aunt glanced at the fool.
The Xu family has produced so many talented people, but Xu Jianyan is the only one who is a failure.
At his age, he is as stupid as a pig.
The eldest brother's return at this juncture must mean that there has been a turning point in the affairs of the Northern Frontier. She originally did not want to get involved in the affairs of the Marquis' Mansion because she smelled danger. Now that she sees an opportunity for a turnaround, who wouldn't want to get closer?
I have many descendants, so I wouldn’t feel bad about giving away any one of them.
If the adoption is successful and Xu Jin dies in the future, he will get the title of Marquis for free. Who wouldn't be jealous?
Wu Siwan pulled her hand out of her aunt's palm. At this moment, the expression she gave Aunt Xu was not much different from the expression she gave Xu Jianyan.
The old aunt's expression changed slightly, but she still smiled lovingly: "Listen to me, when you are old, you will have someone to take care of you. The Seventh Prince is of royal blood after all, so he doesn't have any relatives..."
Xu Jin lost control of his temper and slapped the table, breaking it.
Everyone present fell silent instantly.
After a round of inspection, he smiled and said, "I finally understand that you are all trying to make me unhappy. Aunt, I am being polite to you because you are my late mother's biological sister. But you, you brought others to my house to cause trouble on New Year's Day. I, Xu Jin, have been known for my bad temper since I was young, and I don't want to embarrass you."
“Slurp——”
There was a slight slurping sound from the door.
Xu Jin paused and looked towards the door.
A child was sitting on the threshold, holding a bowl and chopsticks, picking up dumplings and drinking soup from time to time. I don't know how long he has been sitting here, watching the show with great interest.
"..."Xu Jin kicked with his toes, hiding the broken table leg slightly.
Wu Siwan immediately ignored the others and walked over quickly, "Xiaoguai, wake up, come to grandma, why are you eating here?"
Qu Dubian smiled and rubbed his grandmother's palm, "I came to look for you. You were not here. I missed you so much."
Grandma's face was full of smiles.
Qu Dubian stood up from the threshold, gave the bowl to Ye Xiaoyuan, put his little hands behind his back, and walked forward like an adult.
The fanged guard Dahei was guarding on the side. Its ferocious appearance really scared many people. The children and grandchildren brought by Xu Jianyan quickly made way for Qu Dubian to pass.
Qu Dubian walked in front of his grandfather, turned around and glanced at Xu Jianyan and Aunt Xu.
One he should call his second uncle grandfather, and the other he should call his great-grandmother.
He was in the palace before, so he wasn't very clear about the situation and didn't know that the relationship between his grandparents and Xu Jianyan was so bad.
He only knew that his great-uncle Xu Jianyan was the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and that he had prepared a ceremonial meal for him last time that looked ugly but tasted delicious.
Originally, he thought this relative was a nice person, but seeing how hostile his grandfather was today, Xu Jianyan was afraid that he had done something unforgivable.
The other aunt, to put it nicely, was just coveting my grandfather's title and the resources behind him.
Sure enough, no family is entirely good, there are always a few termites.
Qu Dubian smiled sweetly and asked the aunt in confusion, "This... old lady, you said that I am not close to my grandparents because I am the blood of my father. What does that mean? Is there something wrong with my father's blood?"
"Ye Banban, please remember what's wrong. I'll go back and ask my father to change it, and then I'll change it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com