CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: FETAL DREAM (4)

The Lady purposely scolded, "Such nonsense, if you didn’t catch any fish, just let it go, why jump into the river to catch them yourself? If your father finds out, who knows how he will punish you!"

Tong Quanzhi was fearless, indifferently said, "How would Father know? Even if he found out, at most I’d get a few beatings; a man shouldn’t be afraid of a beating!" He waved his hand, "Don’t worry, Aunt, I know what I’m doing!"

Even Tong Shenzhi was amused by him.

The Lady couldn’t say anything more and just pointed at him and sighed. Xu Tianqing smiled, resolving the situation for Tong Quanzhi, "Third brother is excellent in water, and there were people attending to him on the side. I saw that it was safe, so I let him go." Fearing the Lady might continue discussing it, which could lead to Second Master knowing, even though Tong Quanzhi didn’t care, he would still sulk for several days whenever he was beaten, he added, "Mother wrote that she would visit around Dragon Boat Festival."

After all, he was just a nephew, and the Lady couldn’t say too much. She followed Xu Tianqing’s lead and changed the topic, saying, "It’s going to be plum rain season soon, I wonder if she’ll catch it, will the journey be delayed?" Xu Tianqing replied, "It’s only a seven or eight day journey, I suppose she can avoid the rainy season."

The Lady nodded without saying anything. Here, Tong Minzhi sat obediently next to Tong Quanzhi, the two whispering softly about something. The Lady was in a good mood today, finding Tong Minzhi more endearing, asked, "Is everything well at school? The weather is getting hotter, if it’s unbearable at school, you may study at home!"

Tong Minzhi looked up at the Lady in surprise, hardly believing his ears. In his moment of hesitation, the Lady’s pleased expression cooled, but Xiqiu turned her gaze and smiled, "Don’t worry mother, I heard there are many trees planted around the school, so I suppose it won’t be too hot during summer."

Tong Minzhi also reacted, smiling at the Lady with dimples faintly present, appearing adorable and well-behaved, "Mother needn’t worry! The teacher assigns daily homework, and there’s an inspection in the morning. If I were at home, I’m afraid I couldn’t control my laziness, better to be at school."

The Lady laughed and spoke to Xiqiu, "The Seventh has indeed made progress." Xiqiu also smiled slightly.

The Lady then inquired with Tong Shenzhi about the latest rumors at court, "Is it true that the Marquis’s battle report has arrived?" Tong Shenzhi nodded, "Yes! It arrived last night, and the Emperor summoned several ministers for a detailed discussion in the palace overnight." However, in the middle of the night, the Emperor’s old illness flared up, causing matters to be delayed. Now, all civil and military officials are anxiously waiting for the Emperor to awaken.

The Lady breathed a sigh of relief, feeling increasingly happy, "That’s good, the Grand Dowager can be more at ease." If Xiqiu’s dream could come true, and the Marquis won a victory at the same time, then this child is undoubtedly a lucky star for the Marquis Mansion, with the Marquis and Marchioness having no children, who else could be the Heir but this child!

"Has the battle report mentioned anything about how the war in Fujian is going, or whether the attackers of the Marquis are pirates or bandits?" Xu Tianqing asked with concern, there had been rumors recently that the so-called pirates wreaking havoc in Fujian weren’t real pirates, but a group of bandits disguised as such, even rumors that remnants of the Eighth Prince were hiding in Fujian, supported by a mysterious figure to engage in maritime trade, posing as pirates... leading to the current pirate chaos.

The Marquis being attacked, was the doing of these hidden bandit forces among the people!

Tong Shenzhi frowned, seemingly uncomfortable discussing court affairs with a woman, paused briefly, "No way to find out! Even the Marquis’s report states that it was dusk then, the attackers dressed as pirates, and spoke like pirates. It’s just unclear how this small group of pirates could bypass numerous checkpoints, land on shore, and know his route."

Xiqiu also frowned, so apparently the Marquis was attacked but didn’t see where the attackers came from, only had suspicions based on details, without evidence! She understood that if it was just a pirate sneak attack, it would merely be a combat tactic, but if it were bandits, so many moving silently within Fujian, the implication was clear.

In Great Zhou, there was already a household registration system; not to mention a group of bandits, even legendary elusive Martial Arts masters could be immediately tracked, dispatched troops would besiege and turn them into a pincushion. Hence, a city might hide a few people for a short time, but it would be impossible for so many unknown individuals to appear suddenly, unnoticed.

Once these suspicions are confirmed, it indicates that someone at court secretly thwarts the Marquis’s campaign and that there are insiders within the Marquis’s army.

Indeed, Xu Tianqing became slightly excited, stood up, looking unhappy, "It’s just like Young Master Jiang said, it seems this war was a premeditated conspiracy!" Tong Quanzhi angrily stood up, slammed his fist on the table, "If something happens to the Marquis, I will not let them off."

"Silence!" The Lady rebuked unhappily, "At such a young age, who can you not let off! These matters should be listened to, need not be spoken of, if overheard by an outsider, they might think it was your elder brothers or the two Masters speaking."

Xu Tianqing also felt he had lost decorum, awkwardly nodded, "Aunt speaks rightly." Returned to his seat, but Tong Quanzhi, still indignant and chivalrous, was asked by the Lady, "Not to speak of court matters, how is your mother these days?"

Tong Quanzhi sat down dispiritedly, casually replied, "Mother is well, she’s been going out frequently these days, I barely got to see her."

The Lady slightly raised her eyebrow, a hint of curiosity about the Second Lady’s whereabouts!

Xiqiu saw the Lady was still interested, and since Tong Quanzhi clearly lacked the enthusiasm for conversation, she deliberately said, "I heard Second Uncle hired a martial arts teacher for Third Brother? How has he been doing? I see he’s darker and thinner, but seems even sturdier than before."

Once the topic turned to something he was interested in, Tong Quanzhi’s spirits lifted again, replied excitedly, "Sixth Sister, you don’t know how amazing Mr. Dong is. He used to work as an escort in an agency, once single-handedly took on eleven bandits by himself, only suffered a minor injury... At first, I didn’t believe it, but when he performed a set of sword techniques before me, I was utterly convinced! I’m going to practice martial arts diligently and become a Martial Champion in the future, like the Marquis, to go to war!"

Xiqiu smiled at the Lady, "That’s wonderful, our Tong Mansion has produced three scholars, but no champion yet, so we’ll wait for our Third Brother to bring home the laurel and glorify our family!"

Tong Quanzhi patted his chest confidently, "Count on me!"

The Lady was both amused and exasperated, shaking her head helplessly, "Your father would be the first to object." The Tong Mansion was known for its scholarly tradition and had a certain reputation in the Capital; if the next generation abandons literature for the military, who knows how much ridicule it would invite.

Tong Quanzhi frowned without speaking, but his gaze was exceptionally determined. He pulled Tong Minzhi and said, "By then, I’ll take the martial examination with Seventh Brother, he will be the literary champion, and I’ll be the martial champion, we’ll make sure everyone in Great Zhou knows our Tong Family!"