WK Chapter 60

At the temple.

 

After leaving Master Wenruo’s meditation room.

 

The group rested at a pavilion. Da Hei was getting older and couldn’t keep up with the energy of younger dogs. Now it lay panting on the steps. Qu Dubian fed it some water and dried meat.

 

Xu Jin sat with Wu Siwan, speaking in low voices.

 

The two elderly people were still concerned about what Master Wenruo had said earlier.

 

Xu Jin said quietly: “If it’s good, then it’s accurate. If it’s bad, then it’s inaccurate. We can visit other temples to check.”

 

Wu Siwan thought for a moment and said: “When I came here a few days ago to arrange for the blessing tablet, Master Wenruo told me something.”

 

Xu Jin: “What did he say?”

 

Wu Siwan said softly: “He said I would enjoy peace and happiness, and die when my time comes.”

 

“That’s the best kind of prediction. If our little darling were destined for early death and suffering, I certainly wouldn’t die peacefully of old age. So our little darling must have a good fate.”

 

Xu Jin held her hand: “Don’t talk nonsense. Both of you must be well. If anything happened to either of you, I couldn’t bear it.”

 

These were the only attachments he had left.

 

After a while, he stroked his chin. “If we reason this way, I could also ask the master for a reading. Couldn’t we then deduce our little darling’s future from mine?”

 

Wu Siwan: “You’ve spent too long on battlefields with too much killing energy. The master won’t read for you.”

 

Xu Jin hadn’t even acted yet, and his idea was already killed in its cradle.

 

The little child on the steps called out: “Grandfather, Grandmother, have you rested enough?”

 

The two weren’t tired to begin with and stood up: “Yes, is Da Hei rested?”

 

Da Hei, having eaten and drunk its fill, shook its fur, once again looking like a fine warrior.

 

Leaving the temple, the surroundings gradually became lively again. Qu Dubian sat on Xu Jin’s shoulders as they leisurely returned home.

 

–

 

This morning.

 

After being driven out of the Sword-Holding Marquis’s residence yesterday, Xu Jianyan had been nursing a great resentment.

 

First, he had an argument with his elderly aunt, which ended unpleasantly.

 

Then he became dissatisfied with the Seventh Prince. No matter what, they were relatives, and he was the elder. How could the prince speak to him that way?

 

The position of Minister of Imperial Household Affairs might not be very important, but it was still an official position. It was certainly more helpful than the third branch of the family who were merchants.

 

He consoled himself.

 

The Seventh Prince was too young and didn’t understand the benefits of having relatives. When he grew older, he would know to maintain good relations with them.

 

Xu Jianyan’s youngest son, Xu Ziyun, said: “Father, the Seventh Prince wouldn’t really tell the Emperor what you said, would he?”

 

Xu Jianyan: “He won’t. Otherwise, if the Emperor really took offense, the entire Xu family wouldn’t escape punishment.” Daring to suggest there was something wrong with the royal bloodline could accidentally lead to the execution of nine generations of family.

 

As he spoke, he began to worry again: “Back then, Xu Jin treated Xu Tingfeng like his own son. Later when his leg was crippled, the third branch cut ties with Xu Jin. That’s when I thought I had a chance to have one of you adopted by him. But why doesn’t he agree? At least none of you have problems with your legs.”

 

Back then, when his niece Xu Yueqing returned to the capital from the border, she wasn’t familiar with anything here. It was he and his wife who took her around.

 

He knew that his elder brother Xu Jin wanted to find a reputable family in the capital to marry Yueqing into, or find a son-in-law to marry into their family.

 

But unexpectedly, she accidentally encountered the Emperor who was traveling incognito. He thought carefully—how could marrying into a regular family compare with marrying into the royal family?

 

The Emperor also had feelings for niece Yueqing, so he directly facilitated the match.

 

In the end, when the Emperor’s identity was revealed, niece Yueqing initially resisted, but didn’t she eventually agree? From then on, she never had to worry about food or clothing, enjoyed wealth and honor, and her relatives also benefited.

 

The entire Xu family should thank him. This way, with his elder brother’s family having no heir, he could generously give one of his children to be adopted.

 

It was a win-win situation!

 

He never expected Xu Jin to rush to his home and beat him up, nearly killing him, and then directly cutting ties.

 

Even the Emperor received cold treatment.

 

Xu Jianyan thought Xu Jin’s brain must have a problem.

 

–

 

“You must remember the people who came yesterday morning. Xu Jianyan’s brain really has a problem,” Xu Jin said. “Although he is also related to our little darling, you must keep our little darling away from him in the future.”

 

He was training Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun.

 

Setting aside his hatred for Xu Jianyan’s collusion with the Emperor,scheming to make his daughter fall for the Emperor, just considering his stupidity alone:

 

Under the Emperor’s obvious wariness, to still persistently try to place children in the marquis’s household year after year—he really seemed eager to die quickly.

 

If he weren’t stupid enough to be easily controlled, the Emperor would never have kept Xu Jianyan around.

 

Xu Jin knew that his little grandson couldn’t stay with him for long, and he himself wouldn’t remain in the capital much longer either.

 

He had carefully observed that Wen Xiaochun and Ye Xiaoyuan were both loyal and meticulous in their work.

 

Tingfeng, under the guise of doing business, might have a few hidden agents in the court, but couldn’t interfere in palace affairs.

 

Wen Xiaochun had martial arts foundation. After entering the Inspection and Transport Office and settling in, he could form a secret connection with Tingfeng. When the little darling grew up, if anything happened, they could use this channel.

 

However, he didn’t tell Wen Xiaochun about Xu Tingfeng. While the little darling was still young, Tingfeng needed to remain in the shadows.

 

As for Ye Xiaoyuan who stayed by the little darling’s side, he needed to thoroughly understand the intricate relationships of the court and palace, so he and his wife took turns teaching him.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun absorbed the knowledge from them like sponges.

 

Xu Jin: “If you want to rise higher, you cannot openly maintain frequent contact with our little darling. Now they know you’re from the Seventh Prince’s side, use this opportunity to establish yourself. In a few years, when they forget, that will be the best time to climb quickly.”

 

Wen Xiaochun nodded: “I understand.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan took out a small notebook, occasionally making notes.

 

Qu Dubian was unaware that his grandfather, with his foresight, had already secretly laid the foundation for his future team and had planned career paths for Xiaoyuan and Xiaochun.

 

He accompanied his grandmother to the Xie residence.

 

Although the Emperor’s selection of Concubine Xuan as the Seventh Prince’s foster mother had not yet been officially announced, the edict would come after the New Year at the latest.

 

The two families needed to establish relations.

 

The Xie residence had prepared tea early, and Grand Tutor Xie and Xie Jingshan were waiting at the entrance to personally welcome them.

 

When they arrived, they were escorted to the main hall. The etiquette was thorough and courteous without seeming distant. Their manners and conversation clearly showed they were a family of proper upbringing.

 

Xie Jingshan’s wife, Lady Feng, had two daughters and one son, all around seven or eight years old. They were brought out to pay respects to Wu Siwan.

 

Qu Dubian couldn’t help but look more closely. The two little girls resembled Concubine Xuan somewhat, especially the elder sister, whose features were very similar.

 

In terms of family relations, Concubine Xuan was their aunt.

 

Since he had accepted Concubine Xuan as his foster mother, these three children were his cousins.

 

While the adults were chatting, Qu Dubian listened attentively while squatting outside talking with the Xie family children.

 

The Xie family had a clan school. The two little girls also appeared quite scholarly and refined. Upon asking, he learned that when they reached the appropriate age, they would study reading and writing together with their brothers and sisters from the clan.

 

Qu Dubian thought of Zhiyi. Sister Zhiyi was already over five years old but hadn’t formally started studying, only learning some etiquette.

 

He asked: “Sisters, do you enjoy studying?”

 

The eldest, Yuan’er, thought for a moment and said: “Of course it’s enjoyable. We know not every family allows their daughters to study. We can’t take the imperial examinations, but we can still understand many principles.”

 

She smiled shyly: “Father says that if you study too thoroughly and get stuck in rigid thinking, you’ll only become miserable. Be wise when wisdom is needed, and simple when simplicity is required.”

 

After hearing this, Qu Dubian had only one thought: how could his cheap father’s awareness be inferior to that of his own officials?

 

After staying at the Xie residence for about half an hour, the adults dispersed, and Qu Dubian also had to leave.

 

Before leaving, he noticed that Xie Jingshan had been watching him, so he took the initiative to ask: “Uncle Xie, do you need something?”

 

Xie Jingshan: “I have something I’d like to ask the Seventh Prince to deliver to Concubine Xuan.”

 

He handed over a wooden box.

 

Qu Dubian accepted it: “Leave it to me.”

 

Both parties politely said goodbye. For their first meeting, they had made good impressions on each other.

 

After returning to the marquis’s residence and settling her little grandson, Wu Siwan went straight to find Xu Jin.

 

She took out a small note from her sleeve: “Grand Tutor Xie gave me this during our visit to the Xie residence. The matter of Noble Lady Chu using the addictive wangye fruit to harm our little grandson might have Noble Consort Lan behind it.”

 

“But there’s no conclusive evidence.”

 

Xu Jin frowned: “Grand Tutor Xie is a steady person. If he gave a note, it means he has some certainty about this matter.”

 

“Noble Consort Lan… my lady, do you know who in her maternal family holds significant positions in the court?”

 

Wu Siwan: “The Minister of Justice, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, a superintendent, and a censor—all have more or less some connection to Consort Lan’s family.”

 

Xu Jin: “I understand. Please thank them for me, my lady.”

 

–

 

Qu Dubian stayed at the marquis’s residence until the seventh day of the New Year.

 

Every day he slept until he naturally woke up, without any troublesome matters. His face visibly became more radiant.

 

When practicing Tai Chi and horse stance, he would be watched by his grandparents. Er Sen and Uncle Langqi would also lean against the wall watching him, their expressions curious and happy, like modern parents watching their children perform.

 

Seeing his interest in martial arts, his grandfather made him small wooden knives, swords, and a small bow and arrow.

 

In the early mornings when his grandfather practiced boxing and knife techniques, Qu Dubian would follow along behind him, swinging his small wooden knife with “hey” and “ha” sounds while practicing kicks.

 

He had the form down, lacking in fierceness but abundant in cuteness.

 

The onlookers laughed heartily.

 

As the Mianshou Jue – Part 1 circulated within him, and as Qu Dubian practiced more and more, he became increasingly skilled at moving the true qi through his meridians.

 

Even though he only had a tiny bit of true qi, with daily accumulation, opening the dantian and storing internal true qi would soon be achievable.

 

This completely relaxed period passed in the blink of an eye for Qu Dubian.

 

On the evening of the seventh day.

 

Someone came from the imperial palace. Head Eunuch Yu personally came to take him back.

 

As a prince, staying at his maternal grandparents’ home for seven or eight days during the New Year was already quite rare. The Emperor wouldn’t let him stay indefinitely.

 

Qu Dubian packed two carriages full of items.

 

There were toys and snacks he bought for his brothers and sisters in the palace, the toy knives, swords, and wooden bow his grandfather made for him, snacks his grandmother packed that weren’t available in the palace, and a new dog leash.

 

“After you return to the palace, if you have free time, you can come out and play here,” Wu Siwan said reluctantly. “Grandmother will keep your room for you, clean it every day, and not let any strangers in.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Don’t worry, Grandmother, I’ll come out whenever I have time. When I turn sixteen and establish my own residence outside the palace, I’ll be able to see you every day! I’ll try to come out a few years earlier.”

 

At most, it would be another thirteen years.

 

He held Wu Siwan’s hand, “Grandfather and Grandmother must wait for me, to watch me grow up.”

 

Wu Siwan’s eyes reddened, “Mm, we will.”

 

Xu Jin patted his head, “If anyone bullies you in the palace, just tell your father the Emperor that you’ll write a letter to complain to your grandfather. This way, His Majesty will definitely support you.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu raised his hands to cover his ears.

 

How could he listen to such talk?

 

“Alright, get in the carriage quickly!”

 

Xu Jin lifted him into the carriage, watching him go inside.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun said goodbye to them one by one, and the carriage slowly moved toward the imperial palace.

 

Qu Dubian lifted the carriage curtain and poked his head out, waving from afar: “Grandfather, Grandmother, goodbye!”

 

Wu Siwan: “Little darling, go back inside quickly, don’t catch cold.”

 

Xu Jin stood beside her, sighing: “Getting old, I find partings harder and harder to bear.”

 

The figures of his grandparents gradually became smaller and smaller until they were just two tiny black dots. After turning a corner, they disappeared from sight, and only then did Qu Dubian lower the curtain.

 

He raised his hand to press against his heart, a strange, sour, swelling sensation lingering.

 

After a long while, Qu Dubian finally exhaled slowly.

 

 

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