"Why even think about him?"
Despite his words, Zeng Shilin could not hold back the growing smile on his face at the mention of his son. He never expected that his eldest son would actually manage to comprehend Literary Qi within fifteen minutes. By now, wasn't every official in the three commanderies of Fengqi Road finding every conceivable excuse to shower the Governor's Mansion with congratulatory gifts after hearing the news?
"Your dad will be back in a few days." Zeng Shilin doted on Hu Zi as well. Playing along with the child's form of address, he continued, "But with his talent, it shouldn't take too long. Coming back within a year shouldn't be much of a problem."
Before Zeng Anmin enrolled in the academy, he had laid down a rule: his son could only return home once he reached the Purple Mansion Realm. Given Zeng Anmin's extraordinary aptitude in comprehending Literary Qi in just fifteen minutes, opening his Purple Mansion within a year would be a breeze.
"How long is a year?" Hu Zi blinked in confusion. He then turned his gaze toward Ms. Lin. "Mother, Grandpa says Dad will be back in a year."
Ms. Lin's expression grew a bit unnatural, a flash of shyness appearing in her alluring eyes. Although she was getting on in years, she was still only in her early thirties, not much older than Zeng Anmin. Every time Hu Zi used these outrageously jumbled family titles from his own childish understanding, Ms. Lin could not help but feel a mild sense of embarrassment.
"Yes, a year isn't long at all," Ms. Lin said, her voice filled with doting affection.
She had been married into the Governor's Mansion for nearly four years. Although there were some hidden circumstances behind it, she and Zeng Shilin had indeed consummated their marriage. However, Zeng Shilin had never been willing to have another child, leaving her with no other choice but to earnestly treat Hu Zi as her own biological son.
"Mhm." Hu Zi nodded in satisfaction. "When Dad comes back, I'll..."
He had not even finished his sentence when an extremely hearty voice rang out from outside.
"Hu Zi! Dad is back! Where are you? Hurry up and let Daddy give you a hug!"
The voice was so intensely familiar that everyone in the room froze in stunned silence. Zeng Shilin was the first to snap back to reality, his expression turning somewhat gloomy as he muttered, "What is this unfilial son doing back here now?"
Hearing the obvious irritation in his tone and seeing his sour mood, Ms. Lin felt a bit anxious. "Old Master, Quan Fu has never left your side since he was a child. Perhaps he just isn't used to it yet and misses you. It's good that he has the filial piety to come back and visit."
Zeng Shilin's expression softened slightly, though he still did not say a word. Carrying Hu Zi in his arms, he walked out of the study.
Just as they stepped into the courtyard, they saw Zeng Anmin with a bright smile on his face. Behind him followed the incredibly robust figure of Dachun. The two were walking straight toward them.
Zeng Anmin paid absolutely no mind to the gloomy look on his father's face. His eyes were entirely focused on Hu Zi.
"Daddy!" Seeing Zeng Anmin, pure joy blossomed on Hu Zi's adorable little face. He immediately struggled out of Zeng Shilin's embrace and, the moment his feet touched the ground, broke into a light jog toward his father.
"Aiyo, it's been a few days! Did Hu Zi miss Dad?" Zeng Anmin teased as he scooped the boy up into his arms. He thought, "How can this damn human cub be so cute?"
"I missed you," Hu Zi nodded, his voice sweet and milky. Whenever he was around Zeng Anmin, he behaved exceptionally well.
"Dad doesn't believe you." Zeng Anmin deliberately kept a straight face, purely wanting to tease the child.
"You can ask Mother! I ask Mother every day when Daddy is coming back," Hu Zi pouted, pointing at Ms. Lin, who was standing in the courtyard.
Hearing this, Ms. Lin pursed her lips, a highly unnatural look spreading across her gorgeous features. She lowered her head, not daring to meet Zeng Anmin's eyes.
"Uh..." Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched. He thought, "Come on, Ms. Lin, we both have a clear conscience! Your guilty look makes it seem like there's actually something illicit going on between us..."
Left with no other option, he looked down at Hu Zi in his arms and patiently explained, "Be a good boy, Hu Zi. You can't call her Mother. You have to call her Grandma."
"Mhm." Hu Zi nodded with a perfectly serious expression. He then leaned in close to Zeng Anmin's shoulder and whispered conspiratorially, "Grandpa is mean. Grandpa lied to me. He said Daddy would take a whole year to come back."
It was just the innocent babble of a child. No one took it to heart. However, the moment those words left the boy's mouth, Zeng Anmin heard his father's gloomy voice ring out.
"What are you doing back here?!
"Did you spend all your silver?
"Dachun! Didn't I tell you to manage the silver?"
Zeng Shilin fired off these three penetrating questions right on the spot. Although Emperor Jianhong had just left, Liangjiang Commandery had immediately undergone a series of drastic upheavals. He still did not want Zeng Anmin getting tangled up in this mess.
"He didn't spend it all. There's plenty of silver left." Dachun did not know why, but every time he saw the Old Master, he felt a tremendous amount of pressure. A trace of sweat beaded on his forehead as he told the absolute truth. "The Young Master said he isn't going back to the academy anymore."
The moment those words were spoken, a dead silence descended over the entire courtyard. Ms. Lin, Mr. Qi, and all the surrounding servants stared at Zeng Anmin in sheer disbelief.
Seeing their incredulous gazes, Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched. He understood where they were coming from. In their minds, his father was the reincarnation of the Star of Wisdom. Therefore, his son was destined to devote his heart to the Confucian Dao. Uttering words about dropping out of school should have been an absolute impossibility for him. It was exactly like a straight-A, perfect-score super-scholar from his past life suddenly standing up one day and announcing to the world: "I'm quitting school! I'm going to work in an electronics factory!"
"You idiot!!" an explosive roar suddenly shattered the silence in the courtyard.
Mr. Qi glared at Qi Dachun, his voice booming with vigor and his pointing finger trembling slightly. "I watched the Young Master grow up! He has a pure heart and shows the utmost respect to the Old Master! How could he possibly utter such treasonous words?!
"If you ask me, this must be your fault!"
Mr. Qi's expression was utterly fierce, his tone dripping with bitter frustration at his son's incompetence.
Dachun tried his hardest to defend himself. "It really was the Young Master..."
"You're still talking!" As he spoke, Mr. Qi had already darted to Dachun's side, his hand raised high.
SLAP!
"I'll teach you to slander the Young Master!"
SLAP!
"You damn idiot!"
SLAP!
"Dad, stop hitting me!! I swear I'm not lying!" Dachun ran all over the courtyard, but he still could not escape the torrential downpour of slaps raining down on him.
"That's enough!" Zeng Shilin suddenly spoke up, his face devoid of all emotion.
Everyone instantly froze in their tracks, looking at him nervously. Zeng Shilin slowly walked down the steps and looked at Zeng Anmin with a flat gaze. His voice betrayed neither joy nor anger.
"Why?"
That single, simple word pressed down on everyone's hearts like a massive mountain.
Terrified, Hu Zi buried his face in Zeng Anmin's shoulder. "Daddy, I'm scared."
"Why are you being so serious?" Zeng Anmin quickly reached out to gently pat Hu Zi's back, shooting his father a reproaching look. "You're scaring the child."
Zeng Shilin's eyelid twitched slightly. He forced down the irritation surging in his chest and ordered coldly, "Speak."
Zeng Anmin looked up with a cheerful chuckle, putting on an innocent face. "Weren't you the one who told me to come back?"
Everyone was utterly bewildered. Three massive question marks practically materialized on their faces.
Zeng Shilin furrowed his brows, a faint trace of disappointment surfacing on his face. "The Saint said: 'If a person lacks trustworthiness, I do not know what they can accomplish.'"
Clearly, he was deeply disappointed by his son's exceptionally clumsy lie.
Zeng Anmin grinned widely, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. He gently raised a single finger toward his father. "Didn't you say that once I open my Purple Mansion, I can come home?"
As he spoke, an extremely dense, milky-white glow faintly materialized on his fingertip. The very moment the light appeared, a heavy, ancient aura washed over the entire courtyard.
Seeing that milky-white radiance, Zeng Shilin's face completely froze.
"Vast... Vast Righteous Qi...?!"