The boastful king was as confident as ever. Xu Wan blinked, wanting to laugh but not daring to, so she simply nodded with a kind and encouraging expression, saying, "Go for it, genius!"
The Little Demon King immediately clenched his fist, his face serious.
"Pfft..." Xu Wan couldn't hold back her laughter.
This kid was just too amusing. Seeing him every day made all her bad moods disappear.
Zong Jincheng took his jade pendant to show off to Zong Wenxiu, and under He Zheng's eager gaze, he painted a grand picture for his little brother.
He Zheng clapped his hands excitedly, "Big brother, I bow to you!"
Xu Wan: "..."
Such an innocent child. No wonder your father worries about you becoming a civil official. You really do seem like the kind of person who would easily get hit on the head for being too conspicuous.
She rested her chin on her hand, pondering how to correct this trait of He Zheng's.
A plan began to form in Xu Wan's mind...
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After lunch, Xu Wan accompanied the Old Marchioness to discuss how to throw a grand banquet to celebrate the achievements of the two children.
Meanwhile, the Little Demon King took the other two boys out for a stroll.
Zong Jincheng, who had just passed the imperial examination, wished he could paste the title of "Child Scholar" on his face. In the carriage, he complained, "They just posted the results on a board. They should have given each of us a jade pendant or a gold medal to hang around our necks so everyone would know I passed without me having to introduce myself."
Zong Wenxiu imagined the scene and couldn't help but feel embarrassed for his brother. If it were him, he would never wear something like that in public.
The Little Demon King noticed his expression and teased him, "Brother, I'm serious. You should practice thickening your skin. When the time comes for the top scholar's parade, you'll have to face the whole city watching you."
Zong Wenxiu scratched his head, "That's still a long way off, and I probably won't become the top scholar anyway."
He was much more self-aware than his brother. Even if his brother surpassed him, there was still Qin Ye, the undefeated exam god, standing above them all.
The Little Demon King burst into laughter, "That's true. After all, the top scholar will be me! But all the scholars will have to join the parade, so you won't be able to escape it."
Zong Wenxiu chuckled, "It's fine. By then, everyone will be too busy looking at you to notice me."
The Little Demon King grinned foolishly, "Hehe, you're right. I, the great scholar, will shine like a thousand suns!"
The two cheerleaders quickly gave him a thumbs-up.
The carriage smoothly made its way to the market. The three boys had planned to stroll around, but the carriage suddenly came to a sharp halt, causing them to tumble into a heap inside.
"Ah, Jincheng, you kicked my head!"
"Brother, you hit my face!"
"He Zheng, get off me first..."
Buyan lifted the carriage curtain and quickly pulled the three young masters to their feet, reporting, "Young Master Zong, it's Jing Zhe who stopped our carriage."
"Huh?" The Zong brothers were confused. "Does Jing Zhe need something from us?"
He Zheng was even more confused; he didn't know who Jing Zhe was.
Buyan said, "I don't know, but he seems to be in a hurry, and his face is covered in bruises."
Zong Jincheng quickly got out of the carriage and saw Jing Zhe, his face battered and swollen. He exclaimed, "Jing Zhe, what happened to you?"
Jing Zhe was a friend Zong Jincheng had made in the slums. He had often given Jing Zhe and his sister money to ensure they could live safely until adulthood.
But now, Jing Zhe's face was a mess, clearly the result of being bullied.
As soon as Jing Zhe saw Zong Jincheng, tears streamed down his face, and he knelt on the ground, pleading, "Young Master Zong, please, please save my sister."
Jing Zhe had always addressed Zong Jincheng by his name, but now, in desperation, he used a respectful title.
Zong Jincheng frowned, "What's going on? Explain clearly."
Jing Zhe cried as he spoke, "My sister was taken away this morning. I don't know who they are. I tried to fight them, but I couldn't. I had no choice but to come to you. Please, please help me."
"Someone took your sister? Was it someone from the Zhai Family?" Zong Jincheng asked.
He remembered that last year, it was the Zhai Family's steward who had tried to take a three-year-old girl to be a foot-washing servant for Zhai Yao. The audacity of it all.
Jing Zhe shook his head, "I don't know. This time, they were dressed as ordinary people, without any markings from the Zhai Family. I followed them secretly to a nearby house, but there were too many guards. I couldn't fight them..."
"Nearby?"
Jing Zhe nodded heavily.
Zong Jincheng and Zong Wenxiu exchanged glances, both seeing the same surprise in each other's eyes. This was a bustling area. Why would they take a four-year-old girl here?
"Take us there," Zong Jincheng said. "Get in the carriage."
"Okay!" Jing Zhe felt as if he had been saved and quickly pointed the way.
As the carriage started moving, the Little Demon King suddenly lifted the curtain and called out to Shunzi, "Go inform my mother."
If βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββthey couldn't rescue Jing Zhe's sister, at least his mother could back them up. She was reliable and steady.
"Understood," Shunzi said before leaving, adding, "Young Master Zong, if there are too many people, don't act rashly. Wait for us."
"Got it. Hurry up."
"Will do."
At the Yanqing Dance Hall.
Jing Zhe's injuries were too obvious, so Zong Jincheng left him in the carriage to wait. The three young masters swaggered in.
The attendant at the door had never seen such a sight before. He chased after them, asking, "Young masters, are you looking for someone? This is a dance hall. There's nothing here for children."
Zong Jincheng shot him a look, "What's wrong with children? Can't children come to watch the dances? Or is this place pretending to be a dance hall while actually doing something inappropriate for children?"
The attendant: "..." What kind of child asks questions like this?
But he didn't dare to refuse or offend them outright. The three children were dressed in luxurious clothing, and the jade pendants they wore were worth thousands of taels. They were definitely not from ordinary families.
"I'll prepare a private room on the second floor for the young masters. The first floor is too crowded and noisy. It might disturb you."
"Get us the best view."
"Right away!"
In the private room on the second floor, they had a clear view of the stage and the audience below. However, a pot of tea here cost ten taels of silver.
He Zheng complained, "What a rip-off. Charging so much."
The Little Demon King didn't care, "You have to spend money to make money. Let's observe what's really going on here. Why would a dance hall kidnap a four-year-old girl? It's strange."
Zong Wenxiu picked up the teapot and poured tea for the other two, "Since we've already bought it, let's see how it tastes."
Downstairs, a young woman was performing a dance. After she finished, the announcer introduced a new ten-year-old girl who would be making her debut. The audience applauded enthusiastically.
In the private room, the three boys stared intently at the stage. A ten-year-old girl dancing didn't seem too unusual.
The performance began. Several adult women opened the act, and then the ten-year-old girl appeared in the center of the stage. Her gaze was cold, and with a single glance, she exuded an air of determination, like a little fairy descending to the mortal world.
Zong Wenxiu caught a clear look at her face, and the teacup in his hand fell onto the table, spilling hot water onto his arm. But he didn't seem to notice.