Chapter 520 These Days Seem Particularly Unlucky

Chapter 520: Seems Like Nothing’s Going Right Lately

A few more days passed, and Wei Zihang hit up Xingxing again.

This time, Wei Zihang went about it sideways by persuading Ju Geer to bring Xingxing along. Currently, both Wei Zihang and Ju Geer were studying at Zhizhi Academy alongside Song Shouqing. They mentioned that their academy was hosting a small poetry and couplet gathering with some activities, allowing attendees to bring female family members—essentially a small-scale garden party at Zhizhi Academy.

Though Ju Geer suspected Wei Zihang had shady ulterior motives, he still found the event quite interesting. When he returned home, he asked Xingxing if she wanted to go.

Of course, Xingxing agreed.

Despite being brothers, Ju Geer couldn’t help but warn Xingxing, “Wei Zihang looks at you like a pig eyeing a cabbage. Don’t pay him any attention.”

After a pause, Ju Geer sneakily glanced outside to ensure no one was around, then quickly added, “On paper, he’s family, but you should still keep your distance from Song Shouqing.”

He had assessed the situation—this was another pig with designs on his precious cabbage.

Xingxing could only sigh.

On the day of the garden party, Zhizhi Academy was on their ten-day holiday break. Ju Geer woke up early, got ready, and headed straight to Qiushui Courtyard (Xingxing’s residence) to fetch her.

Xingxing had excellent daily habits and was accustomed to early mornings unless something else came up. However, Ju Geer arrived so early that Xingxing hadn’t even finished breakfast yet.

Qiushui Courtyard had a private kitchen, making it convenient for Xingxing to enjoy snacks whenever she pleased.

When Zhao Ying saw Ju Geer arrive, she immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare some of his favorite breakfast dishes.

Ju Geer didn’t stand on ceremony. Pointing at the steaming bowl of wontons with cilantro in front of Xingxing, he remarked, “This smells amazing.”

He grabbed a fresh spoon, scooped up a wonton, and took a bite. “Huh, it’s really flavorful.”

Xingxing nodded. “Eldest Aunt taught the kitchen here how to make them because I liked them so much.”

“No wonder it’s this good.” Without hesitation, Ju Geer told Zhao Ying to hook him up. “Get me a bowl of this too.”

Zhao Ying just laughed and obliged.

But before Ju Geer could settle in, a servant came to announce that Young Master Bai from the Jiping Commandery Prince’s residence had come to see Fifth Brother.

Ju Geer almost lost it. “Is Wei Zihang out of his mind?!”

Bitching aside, he couldn’t just leave the guest waiting outside.

Annoyed, Ju Geer barked, “Take him to my courtyard and make him wait there!”

The servant scurried off.

Soon after, the servant returned to report, “Young Master Wei says he didn’t eat enough breakfast and is hungry again. He’s asking if Fifth Brother has any food to spare.”

Ju Geer was on the verge of exploding. “Showing up this early is bad enough, and now he wants to mooch off our food?!”

If he was here to freeload today, would he be after his little sister—his precious cabbage—tomorrow?!

Talk about bad judge of character!

Ju Geer was *so* done.

Xingxing found it amusing and didn’t mind much: “I’ll have Zhao Ying ask the kitchen to prepare some more. You can take them back for him later.”

Ju Geer, however, was unwilling: “Why should he get the food from my sister’s courtyard? He’s getting too lucky!”

Xingxing simply smiled faintly.

Still, despite his grumbling, after finishing his meal, Ju Geer wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and still packed some breakfast into a food box.

“Xingxing, take your time eating. I’ll go back first to tend to the pigs,” Ju Geer said. “Once you’re ready, just have a maid come to my courtyard and let me know.”

Xingxing agreed, and Ju Geer added, “No need to rush, take your time! Serves him right for coming so early!”

“Alright, alright, I got it,” Xingxing replied, exasperated.

Only then did Ju Geer leave, still grumbling as he carried the food box away.

When Ju Geer returned to his courtyard, Wei Zihang, who had been waiting idly, perked up and hurried over: “Bro, did you bring me anything to eat?”

Ju Geer slammed the food box onto the table with a huff: “Eat, eat—why don’t you just eat yourself to death!”

Wei Zihang grinned, opened the lid, and took a deep sniff: “This smells incredible!”

Ju Geer frowned deeply: “Man, can we not look so pathetic?”

Wei Zihang chuckled: “Just thinking that this breakfast came from Xingxing’s courtyard makes me happy. I know it’ll be delicious.”

Ju Geer rolled his eyes so hard they might’ve gotten stuck.

Despite his scolding, Ju Geer still told a maid to fetch hot water for Wei Zihang.

He knew that lately, the household of the Jiping Commandery Prince had been cursed.

Rumors said that in the back quarters of the Jiping Commandery Prince’s residence, three concubines had lost their babies one after another, leaving the Princess Consort of Jiping furious.

However, no one suspected her. After all, the Jiping Commandery Prince’s household had many heirs and by-blows, all living decently, which proved the Princess Consort was at least not a cruel matriarch.

If she hadn’t interfered with the children all these years, why would she start now?

Losing babies among concubines alone wouldn’t qualify as "cursed," as such incidents were nothing new in other troubled households.

But beyond that, Wei Zihang’s eldest brother—the heir who had barely passed the imperial exams as one of the lower-ranked Gongsheng—first broke his leg, then mistakenly consumed two incompatible tonics, suffering like hell.

That was one incident. Others in the Jiping Commandery Prince’s household also suffered injuries or misfortunes to varying degrees.

Wei Zihang had been in a funk these past few days because of it, which was why Ju Geer, despite his grumbling, hadn’t actually kicked him out.

As Wei Zihang ate, Ju Geer suddenly sniffed around, then sniffed again, finally tracing the scent to Wei Zihang himself. His brows furrowed deeply: “Did you set yourself on fire? I smell something charred.”

Wei Zihang was puzzled too. He sniffed his sleeves and eventually traced the smell to the sachet at his waist.

Opening it, he found a charred mess inside.

Ju Geer frowned: “What’s this?”

Wei Zihang stared in shock: “It’s that lucky charm you gave me before.”

Ju Geer went quiet.

He remembered all too well that charm.

At that time, Xingxing went to the temple to pray for many good luck charms and distributed them to the family. Ju Geer also had a few, but one of them was grabbed by Wei Zihang.

This was around the same time when the Jiping Commandery Prince fell off a cliff and was rescued by Xingxing and Daxisipo. Seeing that his friend's father was so severely injured, Ju Geer didn’t want to argue with him over a single good luck charm.

But who would have thought that today, this charm would end up like this?!

Wei Zihang suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead, and looked grim: "Oh crap, I just remembered—when I was riding here earlier, a carriage lost control and nearly crashed into me. Luckily, they got it under control at the last moment, and nothing happened."

Wei Zihang and Ju Geer exchanged glances, the same thought rising in their minds.

Could it be that this good luck charm had taken the blow for Wei Zihang, which was why it had turned into this burned-up, blackened mess?