Chapter 280: Chapter 281: Reunion Dinner
"Are you a little surprised?" Shan Ke’an grinned smugly. "You know I’m no good at studying or martial arts, but my father came up through the imperial examinations. He even achieved third place in the imperial examination back in his day.
These are all examination records he’s collected over the years. He originally prepared them for me, but it’s a shame I don’t have the talent. I couldn’t bear to let them gather dust, so I borrowed them for you to look at first."
The servant beside him... ’Borrowed? Did you even ask the master?’
Ancient Wen Heng said, "This isn’t right. You should take them back."
’Of course, he knew how important these materials were. But one look at the lad and he could tell he wasn’t being entirely truthful. This was a family’s legacy. Mr. Shan didn’t even know him, so how could he so casually lend these things out?’
"I’ve already brought them all this way. What’s the point of taking them back?" Shan Ke’an stood up, pressing a hand to his waist. "I won’t keep you from your reading. We’ll celebrate properly when Brother Wen Heng takes the top spot in the exams."
Ancient Wen Heng said, "I’m incredibly grateful. When I have some free time, I will certainly pay a visit to your home."
’Worst case, I’ll just prepare a gift for him then. That should count as repaying this favor.’
Bai Jinglie had just left the palace gates and was about to head to his country estate when he was stopped by men from the Marquis Wu’an Mansion.
Clutching the portraits he had just received, Bai Jinglie stepped into the home he had not returned to for many days.
The only person in the mansion he truly cared for was Old Madam Bai. But thanks to the Marquis Wu’an’s reputation for filial piety, no one in the household dared to slight her.
As soon as he stepped through the main gate, he didn’t even go back to his own courtyard, heading directly for Old Madam Bai’s.
"So, you rascal, you finally remembered to come back," Old Madam Bai grumbled, though her eyes were carefully sizing up her eldest grandson. "These servants must not be taking good care of you. You’ve gotten so thin."
Bai Jinglie chuckled helplessly. "Old Madam Bai, you say the same thing every time you see me. If I lost that much weight each time, I’d be nothing but a skeleton by now."
"Pah, pah, pah! Don’t say such unlucky things." Old Madam Bai lightly patted his shoulder. "You just say whatever comes to mind, good or bad. You really need someone to keep you in line.
My dear grandson, tell your grandmother the truth. Is there a young lady you’ve taken a fancy to?"
Bai Jinglie shook his head quickly. "I’m busy with my duties all day. Where would I find the time to go looking for a sweetheart?
Here, these are all young ladies from prominent families, personally selected by the Holy Emperor and the Empress. I brought them all back for you to look over."
Since this was a hurdle he couldn’t avoid, Bai Jinglie decided he’d rather trust his grandmother.
"Really?" Old Madam Bai looked at the scrolls with pleasant surprise. She blamed her failing health, which had prevented her from going out to help her grandson make a choice. For the Holy Emperor and Empress to show such care was an honor for the entire Marquis Mansion.
Bai Jinglie casually pulled one out. "You see? I’ve brought the scrolls back. As long as you pick one you’re satisfied with, I’ll go to the palace and request a decree of favor."
"Excellent," the Old Madam said, looking through the scrolls. "These are all fine young women, every one of them so full of life.
It’s rare that you still think of this old woman, bringing these back to let me make the decision for you."
"Grandmother, that ’cousin’ in the mansion... is she still living here?" Bai Jinglie wasn’t one to stand by and wait for others to scheme against him. And just as he’d expected, the Old Madam’s eyes widened the moment she heard his question.
"I told Ms. Kuang to send that girl back long ago! I can’t believe she’d feign agreement while doing the opposite. Was it her who made you come back today?" The Old Madam set the scroll in her hand down on the table. "She’s really got some nerve. Her family is in decline; it’s bad enough we got tangled up with one of them. I will not allow another woman from the Kuang Family to marry into this mansion, not even for Jingyang!"
Bai Jinglie put on an aggrieved expression. "I don’t even dare return to the mansion now. I’m afraid some... unclean thing will sneak into my private chambers."
Now that he had found an ally, Bai Jinglie naturally acted as wronged as he possibly could.
Sure enough, seeing him like this, the Old Madam’s heart immediately went out to him. "Is there a single good stepmother in this world? How could she possibly treat the child from a previous wife as her own?
And to think of the benevolent mother act she puts on in public. Her true colors are starting to show."
Bai Jinglie said, "Grandmother, you know I’ve been working for the Holy Emperor all these years. But ’they’—I don’t know if they’re playing dumb or what—keep telling me to take Bai Jingyang with me, saying he’s going to ’help’ me.
It’s not something I can decide on my own. The moment I refused, the Marquis Wu’an pointed a finger in my face and cursed me for being an unfilial son."
Bai Jinglie threw himself into the Old Madam’s arms, his voice choked with tears. "I never even wanted to be the Princely Heir of this mansion! He was the one who submitted the petition for my title. Why is he still so dissatisfied with me in every way?"
There was nothing wrong with what he said. Although the Emperor had instigated it, it was indeed the Marquis Wu’an who had submitted the petition for the title in front of all the civil and military officials.
Old Madam Bai sighed. Unfortunately, there was only one title. It was like choosing between the palm and the back of her hand—both were her own flesh and blood.
She could understand some of Ms. Kuang’s thoughts, but the title was destined to be inherited by the eldest legitimate grandson. That was why she had handed over control of the inner household so early on.
"Your father is just being short-sighted for a moment, bewitched by that vixen. But you can’t hold a grudge against him. After all, he hasn’t treated you poorly all these years." For Old Madam Bai, as important as her eldest grandson was, her own son was still more important.
Bai Jinglie knew his grandmother very well. The effect he wanted for today had been achieved, and he was satisfied.
He didn’t go anywhere, staying to chat and laugh with the Old Madam until it was finally time for dinner. Only then did he help her to the dining hall.
Seeing Kuang Tianman also present at the table, Old Madam Bai’s face immediately darkened. "Didn’t I say this was a family dinner? Irrelevant people should be excused."
Kuang Yunqiao’s expression stiffened for a moment before she quickly put on a smile. In a soft, gentle voice, she said, "Mother, my niece rarely gets to visit. I thought, since we are all family, I would invite her to join us."
"Hmph," Old Madam Bai said, staring at her. "It is indeed a rare visit from your niece. But hasn’t she been staying for quite some time? Besides, there are adult men in this mansion. As her aunt, you should be more mindful of propriety. What would people say if word got out?"
Kuang Tianman stared foolishly at Bai Jinglie. Bai Jinglie, still supporting the Old Madam, simply turned his body to face another direction.
Old Madam Bai immediately caught the signal. Her eyes shot a stern glare in Kuang Tianman’s direction. "This young lady’s eyes don’t seem to work very well. Not only does she not know to greet people, but her stare is also rather vacant."
Having her niece labeled first as having "bad eyes" and then as "dim-witted" was too much for Kuang Yunqiao. If word of this got out, her brother and sister-in-law would surely drive her niece from the house.
She quickly pulled her niece behind her. "Mother, let’s take our seats first! The Marquis should be back soon."
"No wonder I felt like someone was missing. Didn’t we say this was a family reunion dinner? Was he not even notified? And what about Jingyang? Why don’t I see him either?"
