Father's Shock

"Why think about him?"

At the mention of his son, Father's face grew even more unable to contain his smile.

He had never imagined that his precious eldest son would comprehend Literary Qi in a single moment.

Now, across the three prefectures of Fengqi Road, what official had not heard the news and then found every possible excuse to send congratulatory gifts to the residence?

"Your father will be back in a few days."

Zeng Shilin doted on Huzi as well, and followed along with Huzi's form of address:

"Though with his talent, it should not take long. Within a year should be no problem."

Before Zeng Anmin entered the Academy, he had set the condition that he could return home once he reached the Purple Mansion Realm.

With Zeng Anmin's talent of comprehending Literary Qi in a single moment, opening his Purple Mansion within a year would not be difficult.

"How long is a year?"

Huzi blinked his confused eyes, then turned his gaze toward Aunt Lin:

"Mother, Grandpa said Father can come back in a year."

Aunt Lin's expression became somewhat unnatural.

A trace of bashfulness flickered in her charming eyes.

Though she was somewhat older, she was only just past thirty, not much older than Zeng Anmin.

Whenever Huzi used one of those heaven-defying titles as he understood them, a faint awkwardness inevitably rose in Aunt Lin's heart.

"Mhm, a year is not long."

Aunt Lin's voice was full of affection.

She had been married into the Governor's Mansion for nearly four years. Though there had been certain hidden circumstances, she and Father had become husband and wife in truth.

It was only that Father had never wished to add another child, and there was nothing she could do about it.

So she truly treated Huzi as her own legitimate son.

"Mhm."

Huzi nodded in satisfaction. "When Father comes back, I..."

Before he could finish.

An exceptionally bold voice rang out.

"Huzi! Father's back! Where are you? Come, let Father hold you!"

The voice was extremely familiar.

Everyone in the familiar room froze.

Father was the first to react, his expression darkening somewhat:

"That unfilial brat—what was he coming back for now?"

Hearing the clear emotion in Father's words.

Seeing Father's mood, Aunt Lin hurriedly said:

"Master, Quanfu has never left your side since childhood. Perhaps he was unaccustomed to it and missed you. It is filial of him to come back and see you."

Father's expression eased slightly, but he still said nothing as he carried Huzi out of the study.

The moment they stepped out of the Academy.

They saw Zeng Anmin in the courtyard, his face full of smiles, with Dachun's exceptionally sturdy figure following behind him as he walked over.

Zeng Anmin paid no attention at all to the darkness on Father's face.

His gaze was entirely fixed on Huzi.

"Father!"

The instant Huzi saw Zeng Anmin, joy filled his adorable little face. He immediately struggled free from Father's arms, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he trotted toward Zeng Anmin.

"Oh my, did Huzi miss Father after just a few days?!"

How could this damned human cub be so adorable?

Zeng Anmin gathered Huzi into his arms and teased him.

"I did." Huzi was especially obedient around Zeng Anmin, nodding in his babyish voice.

"Father doesn't believe you." Zeng Anmin deliberately put on a stern face, determined to tease Huzi.

"Ask Mother. Every day, I asked Mother when Father would come back."

Huzi pointed indignantly at Aunt Lin, who stood in the courtyard.

Hearing that, Aunt Lin pursed her lips. Her beautiful face looked exceedingly unnatural.

She lowered her head, not daring to meet Zeng Anmin's eyes.

"Er..."

Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched.

Not Aunt Lin, the two of us have clear consciences!

That guilty look on your face makes it seem like something really happened...

He could only lower his head to look at Huzi in his arms and patiently say:

"Be good, Huzi. You can't call her Mother. You have to call her Grandma."

"Mhm." Huzi nodded with a serious face, then secretly leaned against Zeng Anmin's shoulder to complain:

"Grandpa is bad. Grandpa lied to me and said Father wouldn't come back for a year."

Children's words were innocent.

No one took them to heart.

Yet as soon as those words fell, Zeng Anmin heard Father's dark voice.

"What did you come back for?!"

"Did you spend all the silver?"

"Dachun! Didn't I say you were to manage the silver?"

Father fired off three soul-searching questions on the spot.

Although Emperor Jianhong had only just left, so many upheavals had immediately followed in Two Rivers Prefecture.

He still did not want Zeng Anmin getting involved.

"We didn't spend it all. There's enough silver."

Dachun did not know why, but every time he saw Master, he felt immense pressure.

A sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead as he honestly said:

"Young Master said he won't be going to the Academy anymore."

The moment those words came out, the entire courtyard fell silent.

Aunt Lin, Uncle Qi, and even the servants all stared at Zeng Anmin in disbelief.

Seeing their looks, Zeng Anmin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He understood as well.

In their hearts, Father was the Wenqu Star descended to earth.

The son he had borne would surely devote himself to the Confucian Path.

There was no way words like not wanting to study could possibly come from his mouth...

It was like one of those straight-A super geniuses from his previous life, the kind who scored full marks in every subject.

Then one day, he suddenly stood before everyone and declared: "I'm not going to school anymore! I'm going to work at an electronics factory!"

"Idiot!!"

A furious roar suddenly rang through the courtyard.

Uncle Qi glared at Qi Dachun, full of vigor and righteous anger. Even the hand he pointed with was trembling:

"Young Master is someone I watched grow up. He has the heart of a newborn child and treats Master with utmost respect. How could he utter such outrageously rebellious words?!"

"I think the problem must be you!"

Uncle Qi's expression was exceedingly hostile, his tone filled with frustration at iron for failing to become steel.

Dachun desperately argued, "It really was Young Master..."

"You still dare say that!"

As he spoke, Uncle Qi flashed to Dachun's side, raising his palm high:

Slap!

"I'll teach you to slander Young Master!"

Slap!

"You damned idiot!"

Slap!

"..."

"Father, stop hitting me!! I really wasn't lying!"

Dachun ran all over the courtyard, yet he could not escape those slaps that fell like a sudden rainstorm.

"Enough!"

Father suddenly spoke, his face expressionless.

Everyone stopped.

They looked tensely toward Father.

Father slowly descended the steps and looked calmly at Zeng Anmin, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:

"Why?"

Just two simple words, yet they pressed down on everyone's hearts like a great mountain.

Huzi was so frightened that he buried his head in Zeng Anmin's shoulder. "Father, I'm scared."

"Why be so serious?"

Zeng Anmin quickly reached out and gently patted Huzi's back, looking reproachfully at Father.

"You scared the child."

Father's eyelid twitched slightly.

He forcefully suppressed the irritation in his heart and said coldly:

"Speak."

Zeng Anmin raised his head with a cheerful grin, wearing an innocent expression:

"Didn't you tell me to come back?"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

???

Three enormous question marks appeared on their faces.

Father's brow furrowed at once, and a faint disappointment surfaced on his face.

"The sage said: 'Without trustworthiness, I do not know how a man can stand.'"

Clearly, he was disappointed by his son's exceptionally clumsy lie.

Zeng Anmin grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

He lightly raised one finger toward Father.

"Didn't you say that once I opened my Purple Mansion, I could return home?"

As he spoke, an exceptionally dense milky-white radiance faintly emerged above his fingertip.

The instant the light appeared, everyone in the courtyard felt its ancient, weighty aura.

As the milky-white radiance emerged, Father's face froze completely.

Vast... Vast Righteous Qi?!!