Chapter 51

Xu Wan silently sighed: This Crown Princess truly has a great capacity for tolerance, silently bearing a heap of criticism for the Crown Prince, and seemingly enjoying it.

The Crown Princess descended and spoke softly: "The Crown Prince has little understanding of the slums and didn't anticipate that Zhai Yao would struggle to survive there. I will discuss the situation with him later, and I believe with his soft-hearted nature, he will agree to bring Zhai Yao back."

Xu Wan quickly stood up and said: "Thank you very much, Your Highness Crown Princess."

The Crown Princess stepped forward, amicably holding her hand, and whispered: "I hear that you've been working with Baili Xi to rapidly improve Jin Cheng's studies. It must have been quite taxing."

Xu Wan thought, of course it's tiring, dealing with a mischievous boy like Jin Cheng is more exhausting than managing ten scholarly disciples.

But she still humbly replied: "It's what I should do."

"You always say that, but the actual effort is evident to everyone." The Crown Princess's tone shifted suddenly, asking: "By the way, when is Jin Cheng's birthday?"

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Wan truthfully answered: "June 16th."

"Oh... so he was conceived at the end of August..." The Crown Princess murmured.

Xu Wan calculated and said: "Yes, that's the time."

The Crown Princess then asked her: "Do you know who Jin Cheng's biological mother is?"

Xu Wan's heart skipped a beat; she finally understood.

That day, the Crown Prince showed an unusual fondness for Jin Cheng and mentioned holding him as a newborn, which was easily misinterpreted. The Crown Princess had indeed started to wonder.

The Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace five years ago, and three years before that, there were no women serving in the Crown Prince's residence. But... who knows if there was someone else?

The Crown Princess had been pondering this for some time, unable to recall any noblewoman in the capital who disappeared for a year eight years ago to give birth. So, she decided to ask Xu Wan.

A mother would never bear to be apart from her child, but if she had secretly visited Jin Cheng, Xu Wan, as the head of the household, would have noticed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xu Wan lowered her head and said: "I know nothing about Jin Cheng's birth mother. I only know that my husband brought him to Marquis Manor eight years ago and had his father register him as the first legitimate grandson. For more details, you might need to ask his father."

When it came to the Crown Prince, Xu Wan dared not even think in that direction.

Knowing Jin Cheng was from Marquis Manor, she could manage without pressure; if he were a royal child, even with eight hundred times the courage, she wouldn't dare discipline such a mischievous child!

The Crown Princess was silent for a few seconds, eventually deciding not to pursue the matter further.

Xu Wan stood for a long time without hearing her speak, so she politely took her leave: "Your Highness, I have matters at home, so I won't stay and disturb you."

The Crown Princess smiled: "Go ahead. At the end of the month, the Crown Prince will hold a hunting event at Autumn Sun Mountain. You can bring Jin Cheng and the others to join in the fun."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness."

Xu Wan finished her thanks and left the Eastern Palace, only to run into the Duchess of Jin just as she stepped out.

The noblewoman she had offended at the last banquet.

If not for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's intervention, the Duchess of Jin would not have apologized to them.

Seeing Xu Wan, the Duchess of Jin's eyes practically grew on top of her head as she sneered: "Back at the Eastern Palace to fawn over the Crown Princess again?"

Xu Wan stopped and, looking at the direction the Duchess of Jin was heading, retorted: "Aren't you, Your Grace?"

The Duchess of Jin, hit where it hurt, was so angry she wanted to lunge forward, but her maid managed to restrain her.

Finally, she said: "A neglected daughter of a noble family, married into a merchant-focused Marquis Manor, gaining nothing from either side. I wonder how you have the confidence to challenge me!"

Xu Wan smiled: "I wouldn't dare. As long as Your Grace doesn't trouble us, we certainly don't wish to offend Duke Jin's Manor."

The Duchess of Jin snorted: "Smooth talker. You and your simple-minded sister are worlds apart!"

Simple-minded sister...

Xu Wan remembered. Xu Lian'er's marriage had been arranged with Duke Jin's Manor, and the wedding would take place next month.

But the word "simple-minded" associated with Xu Lian'er? The Duchess of Jin had clearly been deceived too easily.

Knowing the background, Xu Wan now looked at the Duchess of Jin with a sense of pity. Hopefully, this fiery mother-in-law could withstand Xu Lian'er's gentle tactics in the future.

Returning to Marquis Manor.

Xu Wan asked: "Is Jin Cheng in the study?"

Though it seemed unlikely, what if?

What if he just refused to sleep, refused to play with birds and cats, and absolutely wanted to immerse himself in the sea of knowledge...

Cui Liu, with a wooden expression, matter-of-factly said: "Young Master has gone out to play."

Xu Wan: "..."

Alright, he absolutely refused to study.

This damn rascal.

Xu Wan asked again: "Where did he go to play? Did he go to find Jing Zhe again?"

Recently, Jin Cheng had been frequently visiting the slums, which had caused quite a stir there. Fortunately, his presence had deterred anyone from bullying Jing Zhe's family.

Cui Liu's face grew even more wooden, saying: "He went to Minister of War's Mansion, to He Zheng's place."

"He Zheng? Sounds familiar." Xu Wan had some impression but couldn't recall who it was.

Seemed like a friend of the little rascal.

But the little rascal's previous friends were all...

"One of the Four Young Scoundrels," Cui Zhi reminded.

Xu Wan: "..."

Alright, her worries were finally laid to rest.

Xu Wan wearily lay on the chaise lounge, closing her eyes: "Come, tell me how this He Zheng is also a scoundrel."

After meeting the little rascal and Zhai Yao, she had no good impressions of the Four Young Scoundrels. Any one of them was a headache for life.

Fortunately, they were raised by four influential families. If they were all in one household, it would truly be a case of crying to heaven and earth for help.

Cui Liu brought over a booklet and handed it to Cui Zhi to read:

"He Zheng, nine years old, third son of the Minister of War, legitimate birth. Once broke his arm climbing the wall of the Minister of War's Mansion, broke his arm again climbing the wall of the academy, broke his arm a third time climbing the wall of the training ground, broke his arm a fourth time climbing..."

"Stop, stop, stop..." Xu Wan opened her eyes and shouted, "Did you pick up the wrong booklet from the hospital? He's a legitimate son of the Minister of War, not a performer in a martial arts troupe. With such a precious status, breaking his arm every day, can he even keep that arm?"

Cui Liu rigorously explained: "Once the arm is broken, it becomes fragile and easily breaks again upon further stimulation. This is normal."

Xu Wan: "..." Normal, my foot!

She rubbed her forehead, unable to help feeling sorry for He Zheng's parents. Raising such a child who plays recklessly with his own life would scare anyone without a heart condition.

Xu Wan took a deep breath and asked: "Why does he keep climbing walls? Does he have a wall-climbing obsession?"