CHAPTER 552: CHAPTER 552 DILIGENCE

The next day was another sunny day.

After exchanging morning greetings, Su Jin rode a carriage back to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

The hot weather gave Xie Jingchen an excuse to ride in the carriage with her.

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

After Xie Jingchen got off the carriage, he helped Su Jin down.

Just as the two stepped onto the stairs, they heard a series of dog barks:

"Woof!"

"Woof woof!"

"Woof woof woof!"

Su Jin furrowed her brows slightly.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Miss, why does Little Black’s barking sound so strange?"

"Is it sick?"

Su Jin also felt something was off with the sound.

After stepping into the mansion, Su Jin realized where the barking came from.

"It’s a parrot," Xingxing said happily.

A parrot was hanging by the door.

Su Jin was also curious.

Xie Jingchen’s face was covered in black lines.

He had only heard of dogs meddling in cat affairs.

But the dogs at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion don’t guard the door; the parrot does.

And not only that, the parrot even imitates a dog’s bark.

Su Jin asked the parrot, "Don’t just imitate a dog, say something else."

"I can’t, I can’t," the parrot squawked.

"Or I’ll be roasted and eaten!"

Su Jin, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Hmm.

Not only is it a guard parrot,

It’s also a parrot that’s been threatened by the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

It’s unclear what kind of threats this parrot has faced, to the point it learned to bark like a dog.

After playing with the parrot for a while, Su Jin stepped down to see Mrs. Tang.

After walking a hundred steps or so, they finally saw a servant.

Xingxing impatiently asked, "The parrot guards the gate, where’s Little Black?"

"There," the servant pointed.

Su Jin looked in the direction the servant pointed and saw something that made her face go pale.

On the ground not far away—

A turtle was slowly crawling.

It wouldn’t be surprising if just a turtle was crawling.

The surprise was that Little Black was following behind.

And it was sprawled on the ground in a relaxed manner, crawling at the turtle’s pace.

It gave the impression that it no longer wanted to be a dog; it wanted to be a turtle.

Su Jin, "..."

Xingxing, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

He couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

He couldn’t look directly at the dogs of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion anymore.

The parrot imitates a dog’s bark.

The dog imitates a turtle’s crawl.

Xie Jingchen glanced at Su Jin.

The learning ability of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is certainly extraordinary.

Xingxing found it amusing and a bit bewildering.

"Little Black is crawling like a turtle, how come the young masters aren’t watching?" Xingxing asked.

The servant, with a face full of black lines, said, "The young masters are in the study memorizing books."

"Punished?" Su Jin asked.

"No."

"..."

Not being punished, yet studying at this hour was indeed unusual.

Studying is good, so Su Jin wouldn’t disturb them as she went to see Mrs. Tang.

Just as she reached the courtyard entrance, she saw Mrs. Tang hastily come out.

Su Jin asked, "Mother, what’s going on?"

Mrs. Tang anxiously said, "You came at the right time, go check on Yangyang, he’s been acting strange these past two days, help me see if he’s sick."

"What’s been strange about Yangyang?" Su Jin asked.

"Since yesterday afternoon, he’s been reading continuously, even when told to come out and play, he refuses," Mrs. Tang said.

When things deviate from the norm, there’s usually something odd.

Young Master Su isn’t known for being studious.

Even though the homework assigned by the Marquis Dongxiang and herself would always get done,

it was just for the sake of playing freely.

While he always thought about unfinished books and unset memorized passages, it was never at the forefront of his mind.

But sitting down to read for an entire afternoon was a first.

Mrs. Tang couldn’t help but be worried; if she hadn’t known Su Jin would be back today, she would have called for a doctor yesterday.

Seeing Mrs. Tang’s anxiety, Su Jin felt concerned herself and said, "Mother, don’t worry, I’ll go take a look."

She walked toward the courtyard where Young Master Su resided.

Just upon entering the courtyard gate, she heard the sound of recitation.

Three voices were full and vigorous.

Judging by the sound, it didn’t seem like anyone was sick.

Xingxing knocked on the door, just about to speak when Young Master Su said, "Don’t disturb me."

Xingxing, "..."

"Young Master, Miss has come to see you," Xingxing said.

Inside the room.

Young Master Su sat cross-legged on the table.

Upon hearing this, he quickly jumped down from the table.

He opened the door and said, "Sis, you’re back."

Behind him, Young Master Shen and the Ninth Prince approached.

Su Jin glanced at them and said, "So diligent indeed."

"I’ve grown up, of course I need to study diligently," Young Master Su said.

His words—

Xingxing’s eyes were filled with deep worry.

This wasn’t like the Young Master at all.

It seemed as if he had completely changed.

Su Jin stepped into the room and saw the floor littered with crumpled paper.

The table was covered with the calligraphy Young Master Su had been practicing; he indeed was very diligent.

After sitting down, Su Jin said, "Have a seat."

Young Master Su obediently sat down.

Su Jin took his pulse, and Young Master Su frowned, "Why are you taking my pulse?"

"Feeling itchy in my hands," Su Jin said.

"...."

After she withdrew her hand, Young Master Su got up and let the Ninth Prince take a seat.

Su Jin, "...."

After taking the Ninth Prince’s pulse, it was Young Master Shen’s turn.

Their pulses were steady with no issues.

Su Jin looked at Young Master Su, picked up the book on the table, and said, "Why the sudden change?"

"I’m not acting differently," Young Master Su said.

"I’ve always been this diligent in my studies; you all just haven’t noticed."

Xingxing covered her mouth and laughed, "Young Master, you’ve not only grown diligent but also thicker-skinned."

Young Master Su, "...."

The Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen’s shoulders shook.

The maids at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion were much more interesting than those at their own homes.

None would dare imply they were thick-skinned like this.

Young Master Su, though small, was quite tight-lipped.

If he didn’t want to say, it was unlikely anyone would pry it out of him.

Su Jin sent Young Master Su away, and looking at the Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen, said, "Why the sudden change?"

The two shook their heads in unison.

Su Jin said, "If you don’t speak, I’ll send you both back."

This threat was too much to bear.

The Ninth Prince couldn’t resist and sold Young Master Su out.

"Su Yang is making a great effort to dispel Uncle’s idea of having another son," the Ninth Prince said.

Su Jin, "...."

Outside the door, Mrs. Tang was also covered in black lines.

What was this even about?

Just one son was already so much to handle.

Having another would drive her nuts.

Once the Ninth Prince explained the situation, Mrs. Tang realized it was all a misunderstanding.

Here’s what happened:

Ever since they bought back the parrot and turtle, they’ve been playing with them.

Yesterday, they had Little Black imitating a turtle crawl.

The Marquis Dongxiang saw it and remarked, "With such a silly son, I really don’t want him anymore."

Young Master Su overheard.

Afraid that the Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang might truly consider abandoning him.

He went to eavesdrop, and happened to hear the Marquis Dongxiang telling Mrs. Tang, "When Jinjim comes back tomorrow, ask her if she has any secret recipe to have a son."

Young Master Su was heartbroken.

After consulting with the Ninth Prince and Young Master Shen, they felt Young Master Su was really being disliked.

Young Master Su thought, if he really had another younger brother, for sure when his father beat him, he wouldn’t hold back.

His older brother was a precedent; he couldn’t risk being careless.

With determination—

And then—

Young Master Su decided to turn things around and work hard to regain favor in his parents’ hearts.

Thus the newfound diligence in his studies.

Su Jin laughed until her stomach ached.

Indeed, no competition means no pressure.

No pressure means no effort.

Young Master Su looked at Su Jin, with a plea, "Sis, I’m your own brother, you can’t conspire with them against me."

Su Jin, "...."

"What if our parents are also our true parents?" Su Jin pretended to be troubled.

"Who says? Parents might have been adopted too."

"...."