The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 323

The noblewomen around them began whispering, instantly turning the quiet banquet hall into a hive of chatter.

"That Zong Jincheng truly doesn’t know his place—daring to say he hates Luo Jingfeng in public! If word of this reaches that man’s ears, he might not even keep his life."

"Children’s words shouldn’t be taken seriously. Besides, Zong Jincheng now has a general for a father, and the two generals have already joined forces. Surely he wouldn’t take his anger out on a child."

"That’s hard to say. The Duke of State Protection is unpredictable. Just two years ago, he nearly strangled that boy. If he gets angry enough, he might turn against the Zong Family again."

"Your words sound a bit reckless, but I can see the Duke doing just that…"

"……"

Zong Jincheng ignored these voices and instead asked Madam Luo, "I’ve answered your question. Are you satisfied now? The banquet is about to start, and I’m hungry."

The implied meaning was clear: Could you move? You’re blocking my meal.

Madam Luo’s face turned cold. "What an ill-mannered brat. I don’t want to be your stepmother anyway." With that, she flicked her sleeve and left, refusing to sit anywhere near them.

Zong Jincheng nodded in satisfaction. "This is the right way for us to interact with the Luo family. All that nonsense about stepfathers, stepsons, and stepmothers can go to hell."

Xu Wan burst into laughter and patted his head. "Sit down and eat. Thankfully, Madam Luo didn’t take your words to heart."

The little troublemaker smirked confidently. "What’s there to fear? Cui Liu is here, and Father is also in the mansion. She wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me."

Xu Wan sighed inwardly: Truly a young master raised in luxury, always brimming with that fearless confidence.

The rest of the banquet proceeded smoothly.

After it ended, Xu Wan bid farewell to the other noblewomen and prepared to take the children to the carriage to wait for Zong Zhao. But beside the carriage, she spotted an unexpected figure.

Madam Luo.

Zong Jincheng muttered under his breath, "Why is she here again?"

Xu Wan nudged him. "Keep your voice down. She can hear you."

Both Luo Jingfeng and his wife came from military backgrounds, and Madam Luo likely had excellent martial skills—her hearing was naturally sharp.

Zong Jincheng groaned. "Why does everyone have super hearing except me?"

Xu Wan forced a smile. "Not everyone. I don’t either."

The boy immediately perked up. "Hah! It’s always better to have company!"

"Madam Duke." Xu Wan nodded politely.

Madam Luo still carried herself with pride, but her expression was visibly conflicted, as if she had something to ask. She motioned for Xu Wan to step aside for a private conversation.

Behind them, Zong Jincheng made exaggerated gestures at their retreating figures. "Villains, always whispering behind my back."

In a secluded spot, Madam Luo asked, "When is your child’s birthday?"

Xu Wan replied, "The sixteenth of June." This was common knowledge, easily obtained with a simple inquiry.

"Oh…" Madam Luo murmured. "So that would be around August of the previous year? Wait, no—pregnancy lasts nine months, so it must have been September."

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍Wan: "……?"

This conversation felt eerily familiar.

Hadn’t someone else asked her the same thing before?

Madam Luo was still counting on her fingers. "Eleven years ago in September… the general wasn’t even in the capital. Was it premature birth? Or did I miscalculate? Let me recount."

Xu Wan: "……"

Then it hit her.

The Crown Princess had asked the same question two years ago. Back then, the Crown Prince had treated Jincheng so well that rumors spread—could he be the Crown Prince’s son?

And now… Madam Luo suspected Jincheng was Luo Jingfeng’s child?

Xu Wan’s lips twitched. Ignorance would have been bliss. At least then I could’ve played along with her wild guesses. But knowing the truth, I can only watch as she spirals into absurd theories.

Still, it was strange. Luo Jingfeng had shown such keen interest in Jincheng, yet he hadn’t even told his own wife. Was he afraid too many people knowing would put Jincheng in danger?

Ah, right—the Crown Prince hadn’t told the Crown Princess either. Matters of this magnitude were best kept secret.

Wait…

Then why did she know?

Zong Zhao had only met her a few times before entrusting her with such a massive secret. Did he really trust her that much?

Madam Luo was still recalculating dates when Xu Wan resisted the urge to scratch her head. "Madam Luo, I see General Zong has arrived. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be heading back now."

Madam Luo immediately straightened, resuming her dignified demeanor. "Very well. You may go."

Xu Wan smiled and left.

Inside the carriage, Zong Zhao and Zong Jincheng were already seated, the latter having recounted Madam Luo’s approach.

Xu Wan settled in and said, "Nothing important—just a casual chat. Madam Luo may seem fierce, but in reality… well, she’s not the brightest."

Zong Zhao glanced up at her.

"Pfft—" Zong Jincheng burst out laughing. "Mother, how could you tell she’s not smart? She barely spoke at the banquet, and her tone was so harsh. I thought she was just as bad as Luo Jingfeng."

Xu Wan sniffed. "I gave her a date, and she spent ages counting on her fingers, coming up with several different numbers."

"Hahaha! She’s that slow? Must be a military family thing, right?" Zong Jincheng’s confidence soared. "What’s the use of sharp hearing if you can’t even do basic math? We scholars are clearly superior."

Xu Wan flicked his forehead. "Don’t get cocky. Literature and martial arts each have their merits. Never underestimate a warrior, nor overestimate a scholar. Staying humble keeps arrogance from clouding your judgment."

Zong Jincheng shrank back. "I know, Mother. I was just talking. When it comes to action, I am humble. Remember when my handwriting was terrible? I still slowed down during exams to write neatly and ensure my performance wasn’t affected."

Xu Wan smirked. "And what about those self-praising poems of yours?"

Zong Jincheng: "……"

Mother knows best. She always sees right through my excuses.

Desperate to change the subject, the guilty troublemaker coughed. "So if Madam Luo is so dim-witted, why did Luo Jingfeng marry her? Was her family influential? Did it benefit the Luo family?"

Xu Wan pondered. "Not really. From what I recall, Madam Luo’s family were just ordinary military officers—no titles or notable achievements. When Luo Jingfeng married her, she was… marrying up?" She glanced at Zong Zhao for confirmation.

He had been in the capital back then and would know better.

Zong Zhao nodded. "She was. Madam Luo had admired Luo Jingfeng for years. Rumor has it he was moved by her devotion. But I suspect he valued her loyalty most."

"Loyalty?" Xu Wan blinked.

Zong Jincheng, ever the blunt speaker, voiced her thoughts. "Isn’t that something you demand from subordinates? When choosing a wife, shouldn’t it be about beauty?"

Both Zong Zhao and Xu Wan turned to stare at him.

Xu Wan raised a brow. "So your criteria for a wife is that she must be beautiful?"

Zong Jincheng rolled his eyes before nodding firmly. "The most beautiful."

Xu Wan gave a deadpan evaluation of the ten-year-old’s dating standards: "Superficial."

Zong Jincheng cried out in defense: "It’s not superficial, it’s about face! Just think—if I marry the most beautiful woman in the world, wouldn’t I have face? Wouldn’t you have face? The moment we step outside, people would say, ‘Hey, look! That’s the mother-in-law of the most beautiful woman alive.’ Your gorgeous daughter-in-law wouldn’t even need to speak. Just one glance, and word would spread like wildfire, making you famous across the capital!"