The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 325

The long corridor fell silent as the maids cleaning with bowed heads trembled and retreated in unison. What followed was not meant for their ears.

Xu Wan tilted her body slightly, also waiting for an answer.

But Zong Zhao did not respond directly. Instead, he gazed quietly at the little troublemaker, patiently guiding his thoughts: "If considered by common reasoning, how should this be handled?"

"Huh?" Zong Jincheng tilted his head, following his father's line of thinking—this kind of perspective-taking was his forte.

The little troublemaker mused aloud: "Actually, that woman's betrayal of Luo Jingfeng was a moral transgression, not punishable by law. The only overstep was her embellishment of Luo Jingfeng's words, which would count as slandering a court official. And for falsely accusing an official, under Great Chu's laws, the punishment is a hundred lashes and exile three thousand miles away."

Xu Wan added, "But clearly, she wasn’t convicted of slander. The Emperor believed their words and blamed the entire Luo family."

Zong Jincheng continued along her line of thought: "Then, by common reasoning, Luo Jingfeng, as the falsely accused, could gather evidence to counter-sue her and clear his name. But after Luo Shu entered the palace, the Emperor stopped pursuing Luo Jingfeng’s careless remarks. Yet, would Luo Jingfeng let it go?"

The little rascal looked up at his parents.

After two and a half years of studying the classics, he was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, familiar with Great Chu’s laws—but not so much with human nature, for it changed in an instant.

He couldn’t understand why the Emperor would abandon the pursuit of the Luo family for the sake of a beauty. Nor could he fathom why the woman Luo Jingfeng loved would betray him without reason. And least of all, why Luo Jingfeng—known for his vengeful nature—had left no trace of conflict with that woman in the capital.

Zong Zhao wasn’t in a hurry to give him the answer either. Instead, he pressed further: "If you were Luo Jingfeng, in his position, embodying his character—do you think he would let it go?"

In the little troublemaker’s mind flashed scenes—Luo Jingfeng choking him, He Zheng cutting ties with his family over him, the way officials and commoners in the capital trembled at Luo Jingfeng’s name. None of that fear was unfounded.

Zong Jincheng shook his head decisively: "No. Anyone else might let it go, but never him. Luo Jingfeng is arrogant and domineering. Even without military power, he was ruthless—with it, he’d be even more unrestrained. If morality and law couldn’t restrain him, he’d take matters into his own hands… That woman—he wouldn’t spare her, right?"

Zong Zhao remained silent, not answering directly, but his silence seemed like tacit agreement.

Xu Wan also felt Zong Jincheng’s guess was likely correct. The absence of any rumors about that woman in the capital probably meant she was long gone—buried alongside Luo Shu’s entry into the palace and early death, lost in a storm of blood.

Zong Zhao asked the little one, "Disappointed?"

Zong Jincheng frowned. "Not really. I never had high expectations of him anyway. Luo Jingfeng was always this kind of person—why else would his name silence crying children at night?"

Zong Zhao reached out and ruffled the boy’s soft hair, murmuring, "Over these past two and a half years, you’ve learned well. I’m pleasantly surprised."

Though ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍traces of his mother and uncle lingered in this child, he was not them. He had been raised well—very well. He was his own person, with independent thought and character.

The little troublemaker’s eyes widened in shock at his father’s sudden praise. He jumped up from his spot: "Heavens! Father, are you praising me? Are you really praising me? Mother, did you hear? Father praised me! He praised me! Aaaaaah! I got praised by Father—by the Grand General who topped both civil and military imperial exams! This is even better than passing the child scholar exams!!!"

The little one bounced up and down the corridor, one hand clutching his father, the other his mother, as jubilant as if it were New Year’s.

Xu Wan couldn’t help but smile at his antics. "Must you act like you’ve never been praised before? Is it really this exciting?"

Zong Jincheng exclaimed, "Yes, yes! Father, praise me again! My policy essays are amazing too—I’m not just good at memorizing laws!"

Zong Zhao suppressed a chuckle. "What about poetry?"

According to his wife, the boy’s poetry was… exceptionally bad.

The little troublemaker deflated instantly.

He stuck out his tongue. "I’ll go study poetry with Teacher Pan right now! Father, Mother, just wait—this year, I’ll shine at the autumn exams! I’ll bring honor to you, to Yangyuan Marquis Manor, and to the Grand General’s residence!"

Xu Wan teased, "Alright, do your best. Let’s hope this isn’t just another one of your grand promises."

"Humph! It’ll happen!" The little troublemaker declared proudly, waving as he took his leave.

The couple walked back to their courtyard.

Xu Wan remarked to Zong Zhao, "Maybe this is the charm of your reticence. Those who praise him often don’t get this kind of reaction—no, not this exaggerated, at least. Even others’ praise makes him happy for ages. This kid can’t go a day without being complimented."

Zong Zhao agreed. "Naturally. Everyone likes hearing praise."

Xu Wan nodded. "True. Should I praise you too, then?"

Zong Zhao stopped and turned to her, his gaze faintly puzzled.

Xu Wan grinned. "I’ll praise you for being exceptionally impressive today—breaking five ribs of that ill-mannered Chen Yunyu. He probably won’t be walking for three to five months."

Zong Zhao frowned at the name. "Did he often disturb you… or your household before?"

Xu Wan hesitated. "Not really. Out of respect for Father, I met him a few times. After we fell out, I had Buyan give him a quiet beating. Never saw him again after that."

Zong Zhao lowered his lashes. "I’m sorry. I was stationed at the border for so long… I neglected things at home."

Xu Wan smiled. "It’s fine. You’ve done well since returning. Cui Zhi was right—with you back, the manor feels secure, like we have someone to rely on."

Zong Zhao stared at her for a long moment before turning away with a quiet, "I’ll pay more attention to household matters from now on."

"Good. We’ll work on it together," Xu Wan said.

"Mn."

After that, Zong Zhao fell silent. Xu Wan happened to glance at him and noticed—his ears were red.

"!"

Her mother-in-law’s words flashed through her mind.

So he really did have these little habits when embarrassed?

As if discovering a new world, she studied him, but Zong Zhao remained wordless.

Without thinking, Xu Wan blurted another compliment: "Your martial arts are incredible. When you kicked, your stance didn’t waver at all, yet the force was enough to break ribs. Is this the skill of the capital’s top fighter?"

Zong Zhao clenched his fingers.

His ears burned even redder, as if on fire.

After a long pause, he finally replied, "It’s been years since I last sparred in the capital. I don’t know if new masters have emerged."

The words were utterly ordinary, and his expression remained unchanged, yet it was enough for Xu Wan to confirm—

Zong Zhao seemed, truly, to like her.

This little secret she had quietly discovered came as a surprise.

Before, though she believed in love at first sight, she never thought it would happen to her.

Now, walking side by side with Zong Zhao, she could almost hear his heartbeat in the air—steady, yet thunderous.