The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 267

The children laughed and played merrily, while the adults, knowing better than to disturb them, watched their youthful innocence and exuberance from a distance—a scene of tranquil contentment.

"How lovely," someone sighed admiringly.

The Emperor nodded with a smile. "Indeed, what a heartwarming sight. My ministers must continue serving the people diligently, for only when the realm is at peace can children remain carefree forever."

"Your subjects will spare no effort," the officials chorused in response.

Xu Wan and the others turned their attention to the four conspicuous troublemakers. Compared to the three sisters who had long grown accustomed to their antics, Xu Wan felt her own composure still needed some tempering.

Lady Wei remarked, "Last year, Xinglu came home and begged us to make him a robe like that. Night pearls are already expensive, yet he insisted on grinding them into powder to embellish the fabric. I daresay no one in the capital but your household could produce such a thing."

Xu Wan chuckled sheepishly. "Next time, sister, you must tell me. I’ll have an extra one made for Xinglu."

Lady Wei teased, "Now that the boy practically lives at your manor, why would you need me to remind you?"

Xu Wan: "..."

Madam Shen suddenly interjected, "Look—that child chasing after them, isn’t that General Pang’s son, Pang Jing?"

Xu Wan followed her gaze and indeed, it was Pang Jing. At last year’s palace banquet, he had stubbornly pursued Wenxiu, demanding to take his robe, only to be thwarted by Xu Wan—earning her Madam Pang’s displeasure.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

"He wouldn’t dare bully Yi Bai this time, would he…?" Xu Wan fretted, ready to intervene.

Madam Shen held her back, grinning. "Don’t worry. Our Yi Bai might not match your Jin Cheng, but he’s no pushover either. With Wenxiu absent, those four little rascals can boldly gang up on him—four against one."

Xu Wan: "???"

Four against one???

Thrilling as it sounded, this was the imperial palace!

Madam He added reassuringly, "No need to fret. The guards are nearby. Children’s squabbles never escalate too far."

Xu Wan: "..."

So this was just an open gang-up?

Lady ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍Wei, thoroughly entertained, clicked her tongue. "Xinglu and the others have improved leaps and bounds these past six months. Even without lifting a finger, their sharp tongues alone could reduce that Pang boy to tears. Let’s find a good spot to admire Sister Wan’s educational achievements."

"..." Sister Wan was mentally digging herself a hole the size of a Disney castle.

Yet, unable to resist the three sisters’ enthusiastic urging, she let herself be dragged along to spectate. Xu Wan sighed helplessly at the sky. *Ladies, this is a palace banquet, not a theater. Must you revel in the drama?*

But these high-ranking matrons, brimming with confidence, not only showed no concern—they even brought melon seeds.

Xu Wan: "...I’m clearly not keeping up."

Accepting the seeds Madam Shen pressed into her hand, Xu Wan turned her gaze to the scene. Pang Jing was chasing Shen Yibai, shouting, "Take it off! Let me wear it—just for a while!"

A year had passed, yet Pang Jing’s obsession with the glittering robe—visible to the entire palace—remained undiminished.

Shen Yibai, thoroughly enjoying himself, had no idea who Pang Jing was. He stuck out his tongue. "No way! It’s mine! Only the four of us have these. Why should I give it to you?"

Pang Jing chased after them, panting. "Zong Jincheng, your family must’ve made dozens! Last time, you even lent one to your brother. Now you’ve given new ones to these three. I remember clearly—these are all fresh!"

The little troublemaker, mid-scuffle with Wei Xinglu, turned at the accusation. In high spirits, even the sight of his nemesis Pang Jing couldn’t dampen his mood. Instead, he taunted, "Weren’t you all high and mighty before? My mother offered to gift you one for the Lantern Festival, but you refused—just had to snatch my brother’s. Tyrant! Bully! I’d never give you one now. Nyeh!"

Pang Jing, incensed, grabbed Shen Yibai’s sleeve. "I don’t care! I want it! Take it off!"

Shen Yibai froze, then pointed at himself in disbelief. "Wait—what? You think I’m the easiest target among the four of us?!"

He Zheng, meeting his gaze, immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Brother Bai, I *strongly* object to that statement!"

With him around, who could possibly be the weakest link among the four little rascals?

"Pfft—" The mothers burst into laughter.

Madam Shen teased, "He Zheng is such a character. Why’s he competing with Yi Bai over who’s the softest persimmon?"

Xu Wan rubbed her forehead. *Oh, it’s worse than that.* He Zheng didn’t just argue—he played the devoted underling to his three "big brothers," keeping them thoroughly charmed.

Madam He coughed. "After butting heads with his father for so long, he’d never have straightened out without his sister’s guidance. He Zheng learned to act the meek persimmon just to stay in school."

Her son was no true pushover—not with his habit of breaking arms while scaling walls, nor his audacity to drug his own father.

Since being sent to study at the marquis manor, He Zheng had realized the folly of his past defiance. Now, he deliberately kept a low profile, knowing full well the benefits of being sheltered by his "elders."

Pang Jing, however, *had* pegged Shen Yibai as the weak link—after all, the fourth troublemaker was a recent addition. He scoffed. "Enough chatter. Hand it over."

With Shen Yibai cornered, the other three abandoned their games and rallied to his defense, forming a united front. A ring of curious onlookers encircled them.

Shen Yibai, bolstered by his comrades, felt his honor at stake. Rolling up his sleeves, he declared, "You insolent brat! Do you even know who you’re dealing with? I’m not just one of the famed Four Little Talents—I’m also one of the notorious Four Little Rascals!"

Wei Xinglu shot him a look.

*Hold on—didn’t you get that backwards?*

*And since when were we the Four Little Talents? Wasn’t that just a hopeful aspiration? An aspiration! Who ratified this?!*

Shen Yibai, brimming with pride, continued his tirade at Pang Jing: "Open your ears wide! This robe is *mine*—Shen Yibai’s! What I wear stays on. If you want one, figure it out yourself. Can’t? Go beg Yangyuan Marquis Manor. Don’t go around snatching what isn’t yours. This is the capital—the imperial palace, under the Son of Heaven’s very gaze! My grandfather is the Minister of Personnel, head of the Ministry of Rites, and he’ll be the first to discipline a brute like you!"