Chapter 237

Chapter 237

Tong Sui was an excellent student, though her one flaw was asking so many questions that it sometimes wore out the tutors. Overall, Old Master Ma had always enjoyed teaching at the Xiao Family—until Tong Sui suddenly added three burly and robust military students to his class. These three brothers, equally shameless and unconventional, had the audacity to sleep on their desks in front of him!

Old Master Ma was furious and even considered quitting. He told Tong Sui that he wanted to resign from his position.

Tong Sui: "You know how things are with our family. The three younger brothers are all about martial arts and don’t care much for books. Now that we’re in mourning and staying at home, the Marquis and I are worried they might cause trouble out of boredom. We could only think of this method to help them pass the time. Please forgive them, and just treat them as three pieces of wood. Don’t pay them any mind."

Xiao Zhen: "Just treat them like three extra bodyguards—or three dogs, if you prefer."

Old Master Ma was speechless for a moment.

With sincere persuasion from the couple, Old Master Ma finally agreed to continue teaching at the Xiao Family.

However, no tutor could truly ignore such large students. Old Master Ma tried various ways to spark the three brothers' interest in the lessons.

His persistence paid off, and he hit on a clever idea: teaching Confucianism, history, and law using the same lively storytelling style you’d hear in a teahouse.

Especially when teaching law, he would use Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, and Xiao She as examples. One day, Xiao Yan might get fifty lashes for breaking a law. The next, Xiao Ye could end up in prison and exiled to the frontier. And the day after, Xiao She might lose his head for embezzlement.

Xiao She: "Hey, you’re favoring them! They just get punished, but I’m the one who loses my head!"

Old Master Ma: "There are plenty of capital crimes. The three of you can take turns."

Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye: "..."

Meanwhile, Tong Sui always played the role of the tough female imperial inspector, handling arrests and trials!

The four of them studied and caused mischief together, from summer through autumn and into winter.

Soon enough, it was the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and time to celebrate Xiao Huai Zu’s first birthday. As the eldest grandson of the second branch, this was a significant occasion.

The little guy wasn’t very good at speaking yet, but his legs were quite strong. Despite wearing thick clothes, it didn’t hinder his walking. He wobbled all the way from the side room to his parents' bedroom. The wet nurse followed the little boy in and, seeing Third Madam still getting ready and Third Master still in bed, quickly bowed her head in respect.

Xiao Yan was just lying there, but he was awake. Seeing his son giggling foolishly while holding onto the bed, he shifted to his side, propped his head with one hand, and poked his son's chubby cheek with the other. Sighing, he poked his son’s chubby cheek and said, "Why did Grandfather give him such a name? Every time we call it, it brings back memories of the old man. It makes everyone feel sad."

Lin Ningfang: "The name 'Zu' is actually pretty common, like in Yaozu, Guangzu, or Qingzu. But since Grandfather passed away recently, hearing it feels a bit painful. It’ll get easier with time."

Xiao Yan: "Even Mianmian’s name, Qingning, was chosen by Grandfather. Sigh, it seems only they, brother and sister, were blessed with his attention."

Lin Ningfang finished combing her hair, walked over, picked up the little one, and placed him on her lap. She urged Xiao Yan to get dressed quickly.

Xiao Yan smiled again: "I get to sleep in thanks to my son. Otherwise, you would have woken me up to go to the school by now."

Lin Ningfang: "Let’s hope Huai Zu doesn’t grow up to be like you."

Xiao Yan: "What’s wrong with being like me? In the future, he can become a great General and marry a beautiful woman like I did."

Lin Ningfang: "..."

——

After the old master’s funeral, the two branches of the Xiao Family hadn’t gathered to eat together for a long time. At first, they lacked the mood, and later it became a habit to eat separately.

Today, it was the little one’s first birthday, and although the Xiao Family didn’t invite relatives and friends for a banquet, they decided to have a simple and joyous family gathering.

Everyone gathered in the warm room on the Duke's residence side. The uncles and nephews sat on chairs, while the women sat on the warm couch, entertaining the child.

Madam He, the grandmother, Xiao Yuchan and Liu Chu, the aunts, Tong Sui and Yan Mingxiu, the aunts and aunties, and there was also elder sister Mianmian and cousin Qi Yao.

With so many people around, the little one kept darting from one person’s lap to another, climbing onto backs and giggling, playing happily with bursts of clear and joyful laughter.

Xiao Ye: "This nephew is much more likable than his father."

Xiao Yan: "With that comment, Huai Zu won’t be filial to you in the future."

Xiao Ye: "If he doesn’t respect me, I’ll give him a good talking-to."

Xiao Yan: "If you scold him once, I’ll scold your son twice."

Xiao Shouyi: "I’ll spank both of you. You’re both pushing thirty and still not as mature as Yao Ge Er."

The two uncles looked at Qi Yao simultaneously.

The eight-year-old eldest nephew: "..."

Madam He testified: "You brothers were both likable when you were young, each more handsome than the last. It wasn’t until you turned four or five that your personalities started to differ."

Xiao Ye: "According to Second Aunt's logic, is Fifth Younger Brother the most handsome and refined?"

Tong Sui and the others glanced at Xiao She, the most muscular of the brothers. He was handsome, but definitely not "refined."

Xiao She snorted: "There’s not a single good word in Fourth Brother’s mouth. Are you making fun of me again?"

Xiao Yuchan: "Don’t worry, except for Second Brother, the three of you are all cut from the same cloth."

Xiao Ye: "The three of us together don’t even weigh as much as you."

Xiao Yuchan glared and threw the melon seeds in her hand.

Yan Mingxiu watched and smiled. Although the Xiao Family was different from what she had imagined, her husband, though handsome, didn’t like to read. However, the brothers and sisters-in-law got along well and had never had any major disputes.

Liu Chu: "Should we start setting things out?"

Madam He: "Yes, yes, quickly clear this central area."

Without the help of the maids, Madam He personally brought over a red cloth, spreading it in the middle of the warm couch. Xiao Yuchan held a box, taking out the common items used for the *zhua zhou* ceremony, placing them on different parts of the red cloth.

Tong Sui held Huai Zu, the little one was sturdy, and Lin Ningfang's delicate arms couldn’t hold him for long.

Once everything was ready, Xiao Shouyi and his nephews gathered around.

Xiao Yan pointed to the small wooden red spear in the middle and encouraged his son: "Take the spear, grow up to be a General!"

Xiao Ye, leaning over his shoulder from behind, laughed: "Take the book, follow his great-grandfather, and become a Prime Minister in the future."

Xiao Yan immediately corrected himself: "Yes, take the book, become a Prime Minister!"

Xiao Yuchan: "If he follows your intellect, he might not even pass the scholar exam."

Tong Sui found it difficult, not knowing whether to hope the child would inherit the General's talent from his grandfather or the Prime Minister's talent from his great-grandfather in the Lin family.

After a while, Xiao Huai Zu finally picked up something and held onto it tightly. It was a gold ingot.

Xiao Yan: "Looks like he’s taking after you!"

Xiao Yuchan: "..."

——

After the vegetarian banquet at the Duke's residence, Tong Sui and a few others returned to the Marquis’s residence.

After washing her hands, Tong Sui sat on the daybed and sighed to Xiao Zhen, "The house hasn't been this lively in a long time."

Xiao Zhen threw a pillow behind her, lay down first, and patted the space next to him.

Tong Sui moved closer.

Xiao Zhen wrapped his arms around her, rubbed her hair, and said, "You seem to have a soft spot for Huai Zu."

Tong Sui: "Of course I do. The child is good-looking, and he's our nephew."

Xiao Zhen: "Is it because he's your nephew that you like him? It's clearly because you like his mother."

Tong Sui: "You're being silly."

Xiao Zhen pinched the button on her armpit, "This is what I call being silly."

Tong Sui: "..."

Even though they temporarily set aside their vows of abstinence during the summer, while still observing the mourning period, the couple hadn't been as intimate as before. Xiao Zhen only came to her when he really couldn't hold it in anymore.

Therefore, Tong Sui felt a bit unaccustomed, slightly frowning.

Xiao Zhen waited for her, lowered his head to kiss her brows and eyes, "It feels like when you first came to me?"

Tong Sui: "You were more mischievous back then."

Xiao Zhen: "How so?"

Tong Sui didn't say.

Xiao Zhen: "Did I like to make you cry?"

Tong Sui: "..."

Xiao Zhen: "Actually, I've always been the same. It's you who has changed."

Tong Sui didn't understand, "How have I changed?"

Xiao Zhen just smiled.

Before, as soon as he got into bed, she would wrap her legs together so tightly that no one could separate them. Now, she would now take the initiative to wrap herself around him.

——

Shortly after Xiao Huai Zu's first birthday, it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, marking the anniversary of the old master's death.

Members of both estates, Aunt Xiao and her family, went to pay their respects to the old master. Relatives from the Tong, Zhou, Yan, Zhang, and Sun families also came. Qi Yun and Jiang Tiankuo came separately, but Luo Xiao and Zhao Jin did not return.

The air was filled with weeping. Among the immediate descendants, only Xiao Zhen stood in silence, lost in thought.

The Xiao family needed to stay longer to accompany the old master, so the other families left at the same time.

As the Xiao family was also preparing to leave, a carriage appeared on the road ahead, with Commander of the Imperial Guard Fan Zhao riding at the front, and Crown Prince Han Bao and two prime ministers accompanying the carriage.

Xiao Zhen immediately knelt with his entire family to welcome the imperial entourage.

The carriage stopped, and Han Bao and Fan Zhao together helped the Xingping Emperor down from the carriage.

Tong Sui knelt beside Xiao Zhen and only quickly glanced up when the Xingping Emperor's dragon boots touched the ground.

The couple hadn't seen the Xingping Emperor for a whole year.

The Xingping Emperor's hair had turned completely white, his body was frail, and his face bore the marks of age and hardship, clearly in the twilight of his life.

Tong Sui, reminded of the patriarch's frail condition before his passing, couldn't help but shed tears.

Xiao Zhen, looking at the ground and recalling the day he entered the great tent to see the Emperor, finally let go of the emotions he had suppressed for a year. As the Xingping Emperor approached the family with his cane, Xiao Zhen bowed his head and wept, paying his respects: "Xiao Zhen pays respects to Your Majesty."

The Xingping Emperor scanned the gathered Xiao Family descendants, then turned to the lone tomb. His voice quivered as he spoke, "Rise, there's no need for such formalities. Today, I come to pay my respects to the Xiao elder. Think of me as an old friend."

Xiao Zhen replied, "Your Majesty's Imperial Grace, I accept on behalf of my grandfather."

The Xingping Emperor waived the formalities with a gesture and, supported by the Crown Prince, slowly walked to the tombstone. The memories of Jiange Road were still vivid, but the man who once stood there was now gone. The Xingping Emperor tilted his head back, and two streams of tears rolled down his weathered cheeks.

After a long while, the Xingping Emperor said to the Crown Prince, "Xiao elder was my savior and also the savior of the Great Yu Dynasty. Crown Prince, I want you to remember this favor for your entire life, to make good use of Xiao elder's sons and grandsons, and to treat the Xiao elder's family well."

The Crown Prince looked at the tombstone and said, "Rest assured, Father, I will remember."

After burning yellow paper in honor of the late patriarch, the Xingping Emperor turned and beckoned Xiao Zhen forward.

Xiao Zhen, his eyes red with emotion, stepped forward.

The Xingping Emperor said, "Xiao Zhen, my Eastern Camp has enlisted another 150,000 infantry. Are you willing to train them into elite soldiers, and in the future, lead these 150,000 troops to serve me, serve the Crown Prince, and serve the Great Yu Dynasty?"

Xiao Zhen knelt, tears falling from his face, his voice resolute, "With Your Majesty's trust, Xiao Zhen will spare no effort and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

The Xingping Emperor said, "Good. From this day forward, you shall be the Commander of the Eastern Camp. Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, and Xiao She will serve as Commanders of the Eastern Camp's guards. The rest of the military officers in the camp will be selected and recommended by you."

The cold wind swept away the smoke from the burning yellow paper, and the four brothers, united in their resolve, declared in unison, "We accept the decree!"