Chapter 456: Meeting Lady Qin

Chapter 456: Meeting the Lady of Xue

Cheng Bingzhi returned home empty-handed.

After arriving in the courtyard, Li Bihan hurried forward, "Son, how did it go today? Did you see the Lady of Xue?"

Hearing the question about his progress, Cheng Bingzhi immediately recalled being turned away again today, "Don't even mention it, they didn't let me see her at all!"

Listening to Cheng Bingzhi's words, Li Bihan asked, "So, did you at least enter the Marquis's Mansion and see her?"

"Yes, not just her, but I also saw my second brother," Cheng Bingzhi said, thinking of Cheng Binghao riding a tall horse earlier today, feeling a pang of envy.

If only he could be like Cheng Binghao, dressed so finely and riding a grand horse, how majestic and dashing that would be!

"Bingzhi, being allowed into the Marquis's Mansion today is a good sign. Go a few more times, and eventually, she will let you see the Lady of Xue."

"Mother, I'm out of money. If you want me to go again, give me some more money," Cheng Bingzhi reached out to his mother.

Seeing her son asking for money again, Li Bihan sighed and gave in, "Fine, take it!"

"When you go, bring something presentable, don't be too careless! We can't afford expensive things, and the Marquis's Mansion wouldn't value them anyway. Just buy some food. If the Marquis's Mansion really doesn't want it, you can bring it back for us to eat!"

Li Bihan calculated carefully.

"Alright, I understand," Cheng Bingzhi agreed readily.

The next day, he carried some items and headed to the Marquis's Mansion as planned.

Just as he arrived at the Marquis's Mansion today, before anyone could announce him, a voice called out from behind.

"Cheng Bingzhi, are you bringing sour pears to see grandmother again?"

Cheng Bingzhi turned around and saw Cheng Binghao striding in with a young lady.

"Binghao, he is still your sibling, why do you always speak to him like that?" Liu Xianxian, following behind Cheng Binghao, chimed in with a charming tone.

Hearing Liu Xianxian defend him, Cheng Bingzhi's eyes immediately lit up with admiration, staring at her with a silly grin.

Seeing his silly grin, Liu Xianxian couldn't help but defend him again, "Your sibling always brings things to see the Lady of Xue, demonstrating his filial piety. There aren't many such filial children these days."

"Yes, yes," Cheng Bingzhi nodded eagerly, "I miss the Lady of Xue dearly; it's been years since I last saw her."

"If that's the case, join us. We're just about to visit the Lady of Xue," Liu Xianxian waved her hand, inviting him to join them.

Cheng Binghao, standing nearby, furrowed his brow slightly, but his gaze fell on Cheng Bingzhi and the basket of peaches he carried today, so he said nothing and let him follow them inside.

Having not returned to the Marquis's Mansion in ten years, Cheng Binghao's memory of Cheng Bingzhi was still from their childhood.

Even though he knew that Cheng Bingzhi had been separated from the main branch of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion, in his eyes, they were still siblings. It wasn't unusual for him to visit their grandmother in the mansion.

He waved his hand, signaling the servants not to announce Lu Lingyun.

Cheng Bingzhi didn't expect such good luck today, gaining direct entry. He followed closely behind Cheng Binghao and Liu Xianxian.

Along the way, he kept trying to interject and engage in conversation with Liu Xianxian, but she was too busy joking with Cheng Binghao, the two of them exchanging rapid banter. Cheng Bingzhi ended up like a sidekick, nodding along to everything Liu Xianxian said.

"Yes, yes, Miss Liu is absolutely right."

"Exactly, that's how it is."

"That's right! I think so too!"

After he had showered her with compliments, Liu Xianxian burst into laughter.

"Bing Hao, did you hear that? Your brother also agrees with me. You're such a fool."

"Yeah, yeah, you're a total fool!"

Cheng Binghao's face fell instantly. He turned to Cheng Bingzhi with annoyance, "What's it to you!"

"Cheng Binghao, why are you bullying your brother? You can't just take it out on him because he's smart and knows who's right!" Liu Xianxian said, beaming with pride, as someone had been supporting her, making it rare for her to win an argument with Cheng Binghao.

Cheng Bingzhi kept nodding, "Yeah! Yeah!"

At this, Cheng Binghao was furious. He snapped at Liu Xianxian, "You're the fool!"

"You're the real fool!"

At that moment, the door to Ningxin Courtyard opened.

"Tong Er Ye, you're here!" The maid from Ningxin Courtyard said cheerfully, "Come on in!"

Cheng Binghao didn't feel like seeing Lady Qin anymore. "I'll pass for now. I'll come back this afternoon."

"What?" The maid was shocked as she watched her master walk away.

Liu Xianxian called after him, "Bing Hao!"

When Cheng Binghao didn't stop, she followed, "I'll come back this afternoon too!"

Both of them left, leaving Cheng Bingzhi alone.

Cheng Bingzhi felt a slight urge to follow Liu Xianxian, but he wasn't that foolish.

The maid, seeing that Tong Er Ye and Miss Liu, whom the old lady had been expecting, had left, was about to close the door when Cheng Bingzhi rushed forward.

"I want to see Grandma! If they're not coming, I will!"

Ningxin Courtyard.

Lady Qin was waiting for her accomplished grandson, Cheng Binghao, to come see her. She sat in the courtyard, waiting and waiting, until finally, the maid led someone in.

"Bing Hao, you're here."

Her wrinkled face broke into a big smile as she greeted the newcomer. But as soon as she finished speaking, the person before her dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Grandma! I finally get to see you!"

"Who are you..."

Lady Qin's health wasn't great, but her eyes were still sharp.

She looked at the short, chubby young man before her, who was clearly not her dignified grandson.

Only his face looked somewhat familiar.

"I'm Bing Zhi! Grandma!"

Bing Zhi...

Lady Qin remembered, "It's you!"

Her smile faded slightly, and the corners of her mouth drooped as she looked at Cheng Bingzhi and asked casually, "How are your sister and your stepmother?"

"They're all doing well!"

"That's good," Lady Qin murmured. "It's been a long time since I last saw you all. I didn't realize you've grown so much."

"Granny, these are the peaches I bought. I thought they tasted really good, so I specially bought them to offer to you!" Cheng Bingzhi glanced at the peaches he had brought and hurriedly presented them.

Fortunately, he had listened to his mother today and spent some money to buy these peaches.

Now they were just what he needed.

Lady Qin was momentarily taken aback as she looked at the peaches Cheng Bingzhi had offered.

"Granny, try them. I'm sure you'll be able to eat these peaches! I picked out the overripe ones—no, I mean, the fully ripe ones!"

The fully ripe ones were a bargain.

But his accidental choice turned out to be just what Lady Qin liked.

As people get older, they usually like their food softer and mushier. In her eyes, Cheng Bingzhi's deliberate selection of fully ripe peaches showed great thoughtfulness.

The elderly are especially touched by such thoughtful gestures from their descendants. She called for a servant girl to wash the peaches. Picking one up to taste, she smiled as she ate the soft and mushy peach and said, "Bing Zhi, you're so thoughtful."