Chapter 38

Zong Wenxiu said, "The results of the monthly exam will only be out the day after tomorrow. Should we let my brother rest tomorrow?"

"He's already received his monthly allowance, so I'm afraid he won't come to the study room again, just waiting for the exam results the day after tomorrow," Xu Wan replied. She then asked, "How did you do? Was it smooth?"

Zong Wenxiu responded, "It was okay, it shouldn't be too bad."

Xu Wan nodded, "For your first exam, any score is a starting point. You've been reading books for so many years less than them, so it's normal if there's a gap. Otherwise, they'd be so stimulated they'd cry."

Zong Wenxiu laughed at her joke and replied, "I understand, thank you, Madam."

Xu Wan always felt this address was a bit distant, not like a family member. But thinking of Zong Zhao being the eldest, Zong Wenxiu should call her "Aunt" or "Elder Sister-in-law." This title made her feel ten years older, so she decided against it...

That evening when they got home, Zong Jincheng started eating like crazy.

Due to a whole day of intense brain activity, even Zong Wenxiu's appetite increased.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍seeing the kids eat with gusto made the adults feel good.

Cui Zhi instructed the kitchen to prepare more easily digestible food to prevent them from overeating and having trouble sleeping at night.

The next morning, the little devil Zong Jincheng wanted to sleep until noon, but after two months of early rising, his body clock had been set, and he couldn't sleep past dawn.

He pounded the bed and muttered, "This annoying bodily reaction!"

Shunzi brought water in to serve him, beaming with joy, "Young Master, Madam has already given us this month's allowance, and Buyan is back."

Zong Jincheng glanced outside and indeed saw Buyan's figure.

Excitedly, he jumped out of bed, forgetting to put on his shoes, and ran to Buyan, saying, "This family is too tough without you!!"

Buyan: "..." Young Master, you're overacting.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zong Jincheng, finally done with this miserable studying period, quickly dressed after receiving the fifty taels of silver, and called Buyan and Shunzi to head to the slums to see Jingzhe and check out Zhai Yao's tough life.

Xu Wan hadn't expected the kid to be so energetic, sneaking out to play so early in the morning. With such abundant energy, he still had the nerve to ask Wenxiu to serve him?

This little rascal...

Thinking of this, Xu Wan remembered something: "Cui Zhi, how's Buyan's martial arts?"

Cui Zhi replied, "Buyan used to accompany the young marquis in practicing martial arts. His skills are formidable, rarely matched in the capital."

"Accompanying the young marquis in martial arts?" Xu Wan knew Zong Zhao was the martial arts champion, so his sparring partner must be reliable.

But...

"Are they just going with the three of them? What about the coachman?"

"Buyan can drive the carriage."

"..." Truly a jack of all trades. No wonder the little devil is always crying out for him.

Xu Wan pondered for a moment and still said, "Have Cui Liu follow them secretly."

The slums are a complex place, and if someone harbors ill intentions towards the little devil, Buyan alone might not handle it.

Moreover, Zhai Yao is also there.

Last time, the butler of Zhai Manor snatched a child in the slums. Although she didn't understand the key points, her heart kept pounding.

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

Xu Wan had just finished speaking when someone came in to report: "Madam, Madam Zhai from Weiyuan Earl Manor requests an audience."

"Hmm? She's here to see me?" Xu Wan thought it was probably about Zhai Yao.

She stood up to greet the guest.

Before Madam Zhai even entered, Xu Wan heard her sobbing like pear blossoms bathed in rain, "Madam Zong, please save my son!"

Seeing Madam Zhai in plain clothes, looking haggard, Xu Wan felt uneasy. Just overnight, how did she become like this?

They say a mother's worry for her child makes her haggard, which is normal, but looking at Madam Zhai, she felt something was off.

Behind her, Cui Zhi tugged at her hem, whispering, "She's wearing whitening powder on her face."

Xu Wan: "..."

Without lipstick and with a lot of powder, she looked incredibly haggard.

No wonder she felt something was off.

It seems Madam Zhai came prepared.

Xu Wan showed concern, "Madam Zhai, please sit. How did you end up like this?"

Madam Zhai refused to sit and even tried to kneel, but Xu Wan stopped her.

She cried, "It's all because my son Yao was foolish and said those unpleasant things, which angered the Crown Prince. But Yao is only nine years old, raised in luxury since birth. How can he endure the slums? Madam Zong, please speak to the Crown Prince on our behalf and let our son come back. I'll take any punishment for him."

Xu Wan was troubled, "Madam Zhai, what are you saying? The order came from the Crown Prince. My husband and other male family members are not in the manor, how can I, a mere woman, speak to the Crown Prince? Why doesn't Madam Zhai ask Master Zhai to try?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhai's face changed instantly. A trace of impatience flashed in her eyes, caught by Xu Wan.

Indeed, it was all an act.

The next moment, Madam Zhai continued her plea, "My husband refuses to go and beg. I have no other choice but to come to you for help. After that banquet, everyone knows the Crown Prince favors your son Jincheng. If you let Jincheng plead on our behalf, the Crown Prince will surely agree to let Yao come back."

Xu Wan sighed, "Madam Zhai, it's not that I don't want to help, but I'm powerless. I'm just a stepmother newly married in, how can I be as effective as a birth mother? You know Jincheng's reputation in the capital, he doesn't cause trouble for me, that's good enough. How could he listen to my requests?"

She spoke these words against her will.

Although Zong Jincheng was not on good terms with her, if she used her wits, she had plenty of ways to make the little devil agree.

But why should she?

Zhai Yao being disciplined by the Crown Prince was what he deserved.

And this Madam Zhai in front of her, with her obvious acting, might turn hostile the next second.

Why should she waste her impression points with the little devil for such a pair of mother and son?

Seeing her refuse to help, Madam Zhai's displeasure became more apparent. She stopped her fake crying, stepped back, and said coldly, "It seems Madam Zong is unwilling to help?"

Xu Wan inwardly sighed, indeed, she changed her face.

She didn't even last a cup of tea's time.

Xu Wan replied calmly, "I'm truly powerless."

Madam Zhai coldly said, "My husband is the only son of the Pingyang Princess. Offending the Zhai family is not the same as offending an ordinary earl manor."