Although the Qingping Earl's Mansion is now managed by the Qingping Earl's wife, the Qingping Earl has long since stopped managing affairs and focuses his main energy on refining elixirs. He is a fervent enthusiast of Taoist culture and believes that he can definitely refine the elixir of immortality by following Taoist classics.
The Earl of Qingping originally had a fairly good family background, but unfortunately, alchemy was an expensive business. At first, the Earl of Qingping practiced alchemy in the mansion, but after two courtyards were destroyed, he could only go to the Taoist temple in the suburbs. Over the years, the Earl of Qingping has been living in the Taoist temple, and he only returns during festivals or when there are important events in the mansion.
Cheng Kai is the future hope of the Qingping Marquis's Mansion. Fortunately, Cheng Kai is a promising man and has become the deputy commander at a young age.
When Cheng Kai returned to the manor, the gatekeepers naturally greeted him from afar. However, after opening the side gate, they were surprised to see their young master accompanied by a little child dressed in red.
What's even more alarming is that Cheng Kai's attendant was carrying several rather large food boxes. The food boxes were decorated with the signboard of Jinshiji, the most famous pastry shop in the capital. Jinshiji is famous for its incredibly delicious pastries, but the prices are so high that most people can only dream of them.
Cheng Kai dismounted in front of the hanging flower gate. Naturally, the stable staff led Cheng Kai and his attendant's horses to the stable and took good care of them. Cheng Kai held Xu Bai in his arms, while Cheng Kai's attendant carried the food boxes. Behind them were several servants who were obviously not from his own household. The group slowly strolled towards the backyard.
When the Qingping Marquis's mansion was built, it was divided up along with several other marquis's mansions by imperial decree issued by the current emperor. The mansion was a large courtyard that was long and narrow from north to south and slightly narrower from east to west. Such a mansion was excellent in terms of the arrangement of flowers and trees in the courtyard and the layout of the courtyard. The disadvantage was that because it was surrounded by other marquis's mansions, it was not easy to expand the mansion when the family grew up.
Cheng Kai carried Xu Bai and walked towards the courtyard where he was currently living. At first, Xu Bai was looking at the surrounding scenery with great interest, but as he looked around, he felt something was wrong and said to Cheng Kai, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, please wait a moment."
Cheng Kai stopped and tried to put Xu Bai down, but Xu Bai's chubby little arms sensed Cheng Kai's intention and clung tightly to Cheng Kai's neck, refusing to get down. Cheng Kai could only continue holding him and asked, "What do you mean by making me stop?"
Xu Bai said, "Brother-in-law, aren't you the heir of your Qingping Marquis's mansion?"
Cheng Kai said, "Yes, I am the heir of our household."
Xu Bai said, "Shouldn't the heir apparent live in a more prominent place? You've led me all the way to the backyard of your residence. Look, further back, there are some rather dilapidated courtyards. Is this the kind of place you live in?"
Cheng Kai said somewhat nonchalantly, "It's my own home, so it doesn't matter where I live."
Thinking of the large family described by Mr. Cao Xueqin, Xu Bai sighed and said, "Brother-in-law, you're not in charge of this family anymore. Where you live really makes a difference. You are the heir of your household, so naturally you should live wherever is best. This isn't a matter of modesty; it's a matter of face. It's not just about your and my sister's face, but also the face of your Qingping Marquis's household. How can a dignified heir live in such a remote place? Where are the rules of your household?"
Seeing Xu Bai's serious yet smiling face, Cheng Kai was speechless. Yes, he was the heir of the Qingping Marquis's mansion. After the spring, moving to the back courtyard would naturally be less convenient than living in the front courtyard. Cheng Kai was not a person who liked to enjoy life, but because he lived in the back courtyard, he had to get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning to ride a horse to the front and go to the yamen.
Seeing Cheng Kai's eager expression, Xu Bai sighed and said, "Even my four or five-year-old child can understand this principle. I don't believe that the head of your household doesn't understand it. If the head of your household really doesn't understand this principle, then your Qingping Marquis's household shouldn't bother. All those academic achievements are no match for a single sentence about not knowing the rules."
Cheng Kai's face changed. Xu Bai patted Cheng Kai's shoulder and said, "Brother-in-law, we are close relatives. We're not doing this for anything else, but so that my elder sister can live comfortably and well in your family. Our Marquis's Mansion will also take good care of you. We help you not because of the prestige of your Qingping Marquis's Mansion, nor because of your reputation, Cheng Kai, but because of my elder sister. If my elder sister lives well in your family, you will naturally live well. If my elder sister doesn't live well in your family, you will naturally not live well. Do you understand?"
Cheng Kai looked at Xu Bai as if he were some kind of monster. Xu Bai smiled gently and patted Cheng Kai's face lightly with his chubby little hand, saying, "Brother-in-law, you're a smart man. Some things don't need to be said outright. Don't think that just because my eldest sister married into your family, she has to listen to your every whim. My eldest sister is a person, not an object. Our Yongning Marquis's Mansion isn't the kind of family that just stands by and watches its married daughter be bullied, especially by my eldest brother and me. Our other brothers may be upright gentlemen, but we aren't. If someone bullies us, there's no reason we shouldn't get revenge, don't you think?"
Upon hearing Xu Bai's words, Cheng Kai no longer wanted to treat this chubby little guy as a child. He had underestimated his opponent from the beginning, and now he could only let this little guy lead him by the nose.
Xu Bai said, "Brother-in-law, our Marquis's Mansion isn't a powerful or influential family. Compared to many families in the capital, we're not particularly outstanding. But our family is united. If anyone bullies a member of our family, I promise we'll make them understand why flowers are so red. My great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt are adults, and there are some things they can't say, but I'm just a child. If I say it, no one will think it's inappropriate. Even if my eldest sister says she doesn't want to live with you anymore, I can take charge and bring her back to the Marquis's Mansion. No one in the manor will say anything to me. Brother-in-law, what do you think?"
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