Chapter 54

Madam He's expression shifted, and she stepped forward to take Xu Wan's hand, speaking with an overly enthusiastic tone, "Sister, I have a favor to ask..."

Xu Wan instinctively pulled her hand back and took a step back.

This scene was all too reminiscent of when the Old Marchioness had entrusted the little troublemaker to her.

She smiled cautiously and said, "Please go ahead, Madam."

Madam He was momentarily taken aback by Xu Wan's retreat, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her eyes. She explained, "You see, my husband is quite fond of Yangyuan Marquis Manor and would like Zheng Er to practice martial arts with your child. I thought that if the two of them played together, they might develop an interest in martial arts. Would it be possible for him to accompany Jin Cheng?"

Xu Wan was momentarily speechless before replying, "To be honest, Jin Cheng doesn’t actually practice martial arts."

"How could that be?" Madam He exclaimed in surprise. "Your family has been a line of military officers for generations, and the Old Marquis is a highly decorated veteran. Could it be that Jin Cheng prefers studying over martial arts?"

Xu Wan wanted to say, "He doesn’t love studying at all..."

He doesn’t love learning anything—he just loves playing!

Xu Wan explained, "It’s the Old Marquis’s decision. My second uncle died in battle, and my husband has been missing for many years. The Old Marquis is getting on in years and can’t bear the thought of anything happening to his grandson, so..."

Madam He was stunned by this revelation. She murmured, "The Old Marquis would think that way... Yes, I can understand... If only my husband could see it that way, things wouldn’t be so strained with Zheng Er. Our family already has too many children practicing martial arts; it’s not as if we’re short of Zheng Er doing it too..."

As she spoke, Madam He seemed on the verge of tears. Xu Wan wanted to comfort her but didn’t know where to start.

Unexpectedly, Madam He suddenly grabbed Xu Wan’s arm and said, "Sister! I think it would be best for Zheng Er to go to your house and play with Jin Cheng. That way, he won’t keep sneaking out by climbing over the wall!"

Xu Wan was baffled. "Jin Cheng has to study at home. If He Zheng joins him, your husband would go mad."

"Jin Cheng is studying??" Madam He was well aware of Zong Jincheng’s reputation.

Wasn’t that boy the ringleader of the four little troublemakers, always causing mischief with others?

Just moments ago, a maid had mentioned that it was Zong Jincheng who helped Zheng Er climb over the wall. What ordinary child would dare do such a thing? Could he really be sitting at home studying so obediently?

Xu Wan nodded. "Yes, Jin Cheng has recently taken an interest in studying. He’s been diligently reading every day and even goes to the academy every month to take exams, trying to catch up with his classmates who are performing better."

Just then, the house physician arrived to tend to He Zheng’s injuries, and Zong Jincheng didn’t stay long before leaving. As soon as he stepped out, he overheard the woman talking about how much he loved studying.

He loved studying... like hell!

Zong Jincheng couldn’t stand Xu Wan tarnishing his reputation like this, so he stormed over and declared, "I’m not going to study anymore, not even a single page! What’s this about catching up with classmates? Do they even need me to catch up? They’re all losers compared to me!"

Xu Wan’s lips twitched. "The results of the four-academy joint exam haven’t even been released yet. You might not even make it onto the list, you overconfident little brat."

"Impossible! I’m definitely going to be first in this exam, no doubt about it!"

"It definitely won’t be you. You can’t even surpass Qin Ye."

"Nonsense! I’m definitely going to knock Qin Ye off his pedestal this time!"

"Oh, please. There’s no hope. I suggest you start burning the midnight oil now. Don’t wait until after the results come out to start studying again, wasting precious time."

"Impossible! I won’t study! I don’t need to study at all!"

Zong Jincheng and Xu Wan argued fiercely, their faces red with anger, their conversation entirely focused on academics. Madam He couldn’t get a word in edgewise and had no choice but to temporarily abandon her plan to send her son to the marquis manor.

True to his word, Zong Jincheng refused to study, convinced that he would soon see his name at the top of the exam results.

But that night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

His mind kept drifting to He Zheng’s earnest desire to study and Xu Wan’s firm assertion that he couldn’t surpass Qin Ye.

Zong Jincheng was a supremely confident person—how could he accept such a definitive assumption? Yet, Xu Wan’s predictions were rarely wrong...

But... but nonsense!

She must be wrong this time!

How could he, the great Young Master Zong, lose to someone else, especially to that cold, rude, and emotionless Qin Ye?

Impossible!

He absolutely wouldn’t lose!

The little troublemaker pulled the blanket over his head, trying to calm his racing mind with the darkness.

Unfortunately, he was unusually wide awake.

Zong Jincheng was suffering from insomnia.

He threw off the blanket and noticed that the sky outside was beginning to lighten—dawn was approaching.

But lying in bed was unbearable, so he called out that he was getting up. Buyan, who was on night duty, entered the room.

"Young Master, you’re up so early?"

Zong Jincheng grunted in response. "Couldn’t sleep. I’m going out for a walk."

At this hour, there wouldn’t be much to do.

If it were Shunzi on duty, he would have nagged endlessly, urging the young master to wait until daylight. But Buyan was obedient and spoke little. Without asking any questions, he accompanied Zong Jincheng out of the manor.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍morning air was crisp and refreshing. Zong Jincheng’s dark, bright eyes blinked as he looked around. The marquis manor was eerily quiet and dark, except for one spot of light.

"That’s..."

Buyan replied, "That’s Young Master Xiu’s room. He must already be up, studying."

Zong Jincheng frowned and muttered, "Bookworm, always studying."

He couldn’t care less about Zong Wenxiu’s diligent efforts. He strolled comfortably out of the manor and headed toward the busiest street in town.

The early morning vendors were pushing their carts, busily setting up their stalls. The steam from the freshly steamed buns in the breakfast shops filled the air with a tantalizing aroma, mixed with a hint of rawness—the scent of food still in the process of being cooked.

Since they were still preparing for the day, there were no calls to attract customers or enthusiastic greetings. The vendors were focused on their work, and no one noticed the young master wandering around so early.

It was Zong Jincheng’s first time seeing the city at its earliest hour, and everything felt new and intriguing. Yet, something inside him kept stirring. "They all have goals they’re working toward."

"Yes."

"Having a goal seems so interesting. It gives you something to strive for."

"Yes, yes," Buyan responded, trying his best to be a conversational companion.

The little troublemaker pondered, "Then what’s my goal?" He looked up at Buyan, his eyes filled with confusion.

Buyan didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t as eloquent as Madam Xu, nor did he have Shunzi’s knack for comforting the young master.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But he noticed something behind Zong Jincheng.

The little troublemaker turned around and saw the plaque of a mansion.

The Qin Residence.