Chapter 67: Establishing the Emperor’s Goods
This day, Wen Mingqian had just finished handling miscellaneous matters when Liu Er came in and said, “Madam, someone from Duke Feng’s Family has arrived.”
“Did they say what it was about?” Wen Mingqian was about to drink tea, but put down the tea cup upon hearing this.
“It’s Granny Lan from their Madam’s chambers, saying she’s here to inquire about our young master’s studies,” Liu Er said.
“Please invite her in properly,” Wen Mingqian said.
Indeed, a short while later, Liu Er led Granny Lan from Duke Feng’s Mansion in.
“Greetings, Madam. Today, our Madam and the Little Madam specifically sent me,” Granny Lan said with a smile. “May I ask if Madam has heard of Siqi Academy?”
“I have heard of it. Is it the one jointly run by Tutor Chen and Tutor Jiang?” Wen Mingqian asked with a smile.
“Precisely,” Granny Lan nodded. “I was sent to ask Madam if she would be willing to send your Fourth Young Master there?”
“We have been discussing this for the past few days and were planning to send him there. However, we don’t know if it’s easy to get in, or if there are any rules,” Wen Mingqian passed the question back.
“There are many who wish to attend, and it’s actually not easy to get in. However, our Madam said that if Fourth Young Master is interested, she will ask our Duke to secure two spots. This way, he can have a companion for our Young Heir.”
Feng Tianzhu, due to his health, had not studied very diligently.
Now that he got along well with Gong Changan, and knowing that Gong Changan was determined to study, he decided to join him.
“That would be wonderful,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “With your mansion looking out for him, we can be extra at ease, can’t we?”
“If that’s the case, then it’s excellent. I will inform Madam and the Little Madam when I return, and they will surely be pleased,” Granny Lan said. “Our Madam also plans to visit Old Madam and First Madam tomorrow. I wonder if that would be convenient?”
“There shouldn’t be any issues. Please wait a moment, I’ll send Zhang Ma to ask,” Wen Mingqian instructed Zhang Ma to go to the Main House and inquire if tomorrow was free.
Zhang Ma returned shortly after leaving: “Old Madam was very happy to hear that the Duke’s Madam and the Little Madam are coming. She was just lamenting not having anyone to talk to!”
“That’s good, that’s good. I’ve been here for quite some time now, it’s time for me to go back,” Granny Lan said, preparing to take her leave.
“Granny Lan, please stay a moment. You’ve come all this way, and I don’t have anything good to give you. We’ve made some new dim sum, please take a box back to enjoy!” Zhang Ma said with a smile. “Please don’t find it lacking.”
“Oh my, you speak such kind words, it’s too much for me,” Granny Lan said quickly. “I can’t bear to refuse, so I will take it.”
Zhang Ma not only gave her a box of dim sum but also two strings of cash: “This is from our Madam, for you to buy a bowl of tea. Please don’t find it too little.”
Granny Lan couldn’t refuse and had to accept. Zhang Ma then escorted her to the carriage.
The next morning, Madam Feng and Wu Shi indeed arrived at the Gong Family’s Main House together.
Old Madam Gong was very pleased and had already ordered fruits and dim sum to be prepared.
“Old Madam, your complexion is truly wonderful. You look even more energetic than I do!” Madam Feng praised. “One can see you are someone who enjoys blessings. With these two daughters-in-law who are both filial and capable, you must be living a life of ease, mustn’t you?”
“Indeed! I truly have no worries these days. They can all manage their affairs, so I’m too lazy to ask too much. At this age, one must learn to play deaf and mute,” Old Madam Gong said with a smile. “I just hope that friends and relatives will visit me more often, chat with me, and liven things up. That would make me even happier.”
“In that case, we’ve come at the right time,” Wu Shi chimed in. “If Old Madam doesn’t find us bothersome, we will visit more often.”
“That would be wonderful. Look how much taller your Young Duke has grown, he’s truly lovable,” Old Madam Gong said. “I’ve asked them to prepare a meeting gift. Please don’t find it too simple; it’s just a token of my old self’s intention.”
Feng Tianzhu ran in, quickly bowed to everyone, and then pulled Gong Changan out to play. He hadn’t seen Gong Changan in a long time and had thrown several tantrums at home.
Finally, his elders brought him here today, and he didn’t want to stand on ceremony in front of the elders, feeling as constrained as if he were tied up.
“Old Madam, you are too kind,” Madam Feng said quickly. “Actually, we came today to discuss your Fourth Young Master studying together with our child.”
“Mingqian told me yesterday. This is a good thing, and a serious matter. Thank you for thinking of it,” Old Madam Gong was very happy and surprised that Gong Changan could become sworn brothers with Feng Tianzhu. Everyone knew that this child from the Feng family was quite troublesome, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a little devil.
“We’ll just look out for each other. We should be thanking your Fourth Young Master for being able to manage our son,” Madam Feng said sincerely. “With the two of them together, our son might cause less trouble, won’t he?”
If it weren’t for Gong Changan, they really wouldn’t dare to send Feng Tianzhu to school alone.
“Changan is still a child, and he can be mischievous at times. If he offends your Young Duke in any way, please forgive him,” Old Madam Gong said with a smile. “Speaking of which, these two children are truly kindred spirits. I heard they hit it off the first time they met.”
“This is all due to your Second Madam’s excellent upbringing. Changan is truly a rare child,” Madam Feng and Wu Shi praised Wen Mingqian and her son incessantly.
Old Madam Gong felt her face light up upon hearing this. How could she not be happy?
At this moment, Gong Changan and Feng Tianbao had been playing together for a while when Gong Changan said, “My fifth brother is also at home. Why don’t we go find him to play?”
Feng Tianbao shook his head upon hearing this. “I’m not going. My little mother said that Consort Song has bad intentions and told me to stay far away from her.”
Gong Changan was determined to get him to go there, so he tricked him by saying, “I’m telling you, Consort Song’s chambers have something extraordinary.”
“What is it? Is it something I haven’t seen before?” Feng Tianzhu’s interest was piqued.
“Last time, my brother and I were playing there and found a child about a foot tall. He flashed through the curtain and went inside. I chased after him and watched him crawl under the bed. But when I looked under the bed, there was nothing there,” Gong Changan began to fabricate.
Feng Tianzhu didn’t doubt him and quickly asked, “A child over a foot tall? How could he run? Whose child was it?”
“I’m telling you, don’t tell the adults,” Gong Changan whispered mysteriously. “I read in a book that it might not be a person.”
“Ah?! If it’s not a person, what is it?” Feng Tianzhu was both scared and curious.
“I read in a book that there’s a type of little person, less than a foot tall, called a Lidi Huo. They can foresee five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future. If you catch him, you’ll become rich,” Gong Changan blurted out. “It’s not for anything else, but if you catch him and ask him, wouldn’t it be good to know how to completely cure your illness?”
Feng Tianzhu was deeply moved upon hearing this. He hugged Gong Changan tightly and said, “Good brother! That’s why we get along so well! Let’s go find that Lidi Huo right now!”
____
