CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 20 ZHUOSHUI COUNTY 2

"Really?" A glint of light appeared for the first time in Xia Jingfeng’s lifeless eyes.

"Of course, it’s true, but you have to study hard!" Imperial Censor Zhou smiled.

"Mm!" Xia Jingfeng nodded fervently, his whole being brimming with vitality.

"I’ve already memorized the Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, and Analects. I recognize many characters. I want to study hard and go find Big Sister!"

His frail fists clenched tightly. At this moment, they seemed infused with infinite strength.

"Good! Shall I take you to see a teacher first?"

"Yes!"

Imperial Censor Zhou, carrying a box in one hand, led him out with the other.

Seeing the large sum of silver about to slip through her fingers, Lady Yao quickly kicked Old Master Xia and stepped forward to stop them!

"Your... Your Excellency! How... How could this be appropriate? We’d rather not trouble Your Excellency over such a trivial matter!"

Old Master Xia, wincing in pain, also stepped forward to block them.

"Your Excellency, the child has always been in poor health and constantly ill, so we haven’t hired a teacher for him. But rest assured, Your Excellency, we will immediately hire the best teacher from Zhuoshui County!"

"Yes, Your Excellency! We wouldn’t dare trouble Your Excellency with the child’s matters!" Lady Yao forced a smile.

Hire a teacher for him? What a beautiful thought! If Xia Jingfeng became successful, would their family fortune ever go to her son? After all, he was the legitimate son of the first wife! Not tormenting him to death was already a mercy on their part, wasn’t it?

The couple, in cahoots, blocked the way completely.

The frail little hand within his palm tightened and then tightened again, sweaty with anxiety.

Imperial Censor Zhou’s expression darkened. He set down the box. Turning around, he drew his long sword and placed it directly on Old Master Xia’s neck!

"When this official does business, I don’t like being obstructed!"

Old Master Xia was so frightened he nearly wet himself, and Lady Yao’s awkward smile froze on her face; she nearly fainted from fright.

Imperial Censor Zhou snorted coldly, put his sword away, and strode off with Xia Jingfeng.

With a family like this and a child like him, even without the Emperor’s edict, he would have intervened had he come across them randomly!

「...」

Imperial Censor Zhou was very efficient. Within half a month, he had purchased a small courtyard in Zhuoshui County for Xia Jingfeng. In such a small place, there were no greatly learned individuals, so he hired an upright scholar who had failed the imperial examinations to teach him. Since there was no one to care for his daily needs, he found several simple and honest servants to look after Xia Jingfeng, ensuring he was well settled.

Before leaving, Xia Jingfeng felt reluctant.

"Thank you, Uncle Imperial Censor, for saving me from the pit of fire!" the small, thin boy bowed respectfully.

"Alright, go back now! Remember to study hard!" Imperial Censor Zhou said gently.

"I’ll definitely remember, Uncle Imperial Censor. Don’t lose the letter I wrote to Big Sister!"

Tension was written all over Xia Jingfeng’s small, sallow face.

Imperial Censor Zhou chuckled and tousled his dry hair. "Understood, go back now!"

"Mm!" He nodded resolutely!

Imperial Censor Zhou mounted his horse and waved as he set off, quickly disappearing in the distance.

As the horse galloped away, the smile on his face gradually faded.

The place was too small, and no matter how secluded the courtyard, it wouldn’t stay hidden for long. He had done all he could. The rest was up to the child’s own destiny!

Meanwhile, having bid farewell to the Imperial Censor, Xia Jingfeng ran to the little study room and diligently practiced his writing.

After practicing for a while, he took out a crumpled letter from his chest and read it again.

It was a letter from his big sister. When the box had been opened, he had ignored all the gold and silver, taking only this letter!

"Big Sister is so silly, how could she forget how to write characters!" Xia Jingfeng laughed at the letter.

Thousands of miles away, Xia Ruqing, who had just gotten out of bed, suddenly sneezed!

"Who is talking about me?"

「...」

In the Xia Family Old Residence, Lady Yao was not content. She lay sprawled across Old Master Xia’s plump body, desperately whispering in his ear.

"Old Master, the Second Young Master is our family’s young lord. If he falls into disgrace outside, people will laugh at us!"

With several thousand taels of silver lost to them, her heart felt as if a cat were clawing at it; it was unbearable!

Old Master Xia, caressing Lady Yao’s young body, closed his eyes and appeared unconcerned.

"Wasn’t this the idea of the Honored Lady? Let her fuss if she wants! Out of sight, out of mind for us!"

"Our second boy is so sick, who knows if he’ll even survive?" Old Master Xia felt somewhat dispirited at the thought.

"But...?"

"Enough with the ’buts’. Don’t you also dislike the second son? If his eldest sister is willing to provide for him, isn’t that for the best?"

"Studying is not a bad thing. Who would laugh at that?"

Old Master Xia didn’t see any problem with it. After all, the boy was his son, and reading some books would be good! If he could really achieve scholarly honors, that would be his own good fortune!

"You worthless thing! Look at you, such a coward. It’s just one Honored Lady," Lady Yao sneered, her eyes narrowing. "You’re merely a Seventh Rank County Magistrate. Do you really think your daughter can soar to such heights and become a phoenix? You’re scared for nothing!"

In her opinion, they should just scour every street and alley, bring him back, take the silver, and with the Emperor far away, nobody would know! Hmph! Just wait and see!

「...」

By the end of the ninth month, after the day marking the Start of Winter had passed and a few more spells of rain, the weather grew decidedly colder.

Ever since returning from Zhaochen Palace after the Double Ninth Festival, the Emperor had not flipped over the card for Zhaohua Pavilion again.

However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Imperial Kitchen dared not slack off! They continued to serve delicious foods and drinks diligently and ensured no outsiders knew, as per the Emperor’s instructions!

One morning, after Xia Ruqing paid her respects at Jiaofang Hall, she returned to find breakfast ready. A bowl of fresh chicken soup with shrimp, a basket of delicate soup dumplings, several pan-fried dumplings, and a bowl of soft, steamed egg custard! Green onions were sprinkled on top, and it was drizzled with sesame paste and soy sauce, looking utterly irresistible!

Though the food was ordinary, the fact that it was still hot when it arrived on such a cold day showed the Imperial Kitchen’s diligence.

If one were out of favor, they’d probably have been served something cold long ago!

Xia Ruqing was sipping the hot soup and eating the steamed egg custard when Xiao Xizi suddenly came in to announce that Little Zhuzi had arrived.

"Quick, let him in!"

Little Zhuzi bowed and pulled a letter from his bosom.

"The Emperor asked me to deliver this to you, Honored Lady. He said it’s a letter from your family!"

Xia Ruqing took the letter and, seeing it was still sealed, smiled and asked, "Did the Emperor say anything else?" Xia Ruqing’s eyes sparkled, her expression like that of a young wife yearning for her husband’s care.

Little Zhuzi also smiled. "The Emperor also said that as the weather is getting colder, you, Honored Lady, should consider adding more layers. If you need anything, just ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

Xia Ruqing was very pleased upon hearing this and quickly stood up to bow in the direction of Zhaochen Palace.

Then she turned to Little Zhuzi. "Go back and tell the Emperor I’ll remember his words. And tell His Majesty to eat well and take care of himself, especially now that it’s cold!"

"Yes! I will remember."

Xia Ruqing had Zi Yue give Little Zhuzi a generous purse and sent him on his way with care.

Encountering two happy events so early in the morning made her joyful!

Feeling elated, she polished off the delicious breakfast, one hand on her full belly, the other holding the family letter, grinning foolishly.

"My lady," Zi Yue asked, puzzled, "what two happy events? Isn’t there just one—the letter from home?"