Being a reborn legitimate daughter is not easy

Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Feng Guolao

Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Feng Guolao

Ye Yanxun rode a reddish-brown horse slowly toward the Marquis's residence, followed by a vermilion sedan chair. Although there weren't many people carrying the sedan chair, Ye Yanxun's handsome face and upright posture attracted the attention of many as he rode past.

In addition, the Marquis of Anshi's mansion was hosting a banquet today, with carriages coming and going in an endless stream, making it a lively and bustling scene. Everyone could tell at a glance that this was the top scholar in this year's provincial examination.

The sedan chair did not stop upon arriving at the Marquis's residence. Instead, led by Ye Yanxun, it went directly through the main gate and was carried all the way to the outside of the main hall.

After the sedan chair stopped, a slightly aged hand lifted the curtain. Ye Yanxun, who had been waiting in front of the sedan chair, saw this and respectfully called out:

"Teacher, we're here."

Of all the disciples he had taught, Elder Feng favored Ye Yanxun the most. In addition, Ye Yanxun was dressed smartly and handsomely today, which suited his eyes very well. He hummed in satisfaction, then handed him his hand and, with Ye Yanxun's help, stepped into the main hall.

Inside the gate, Marquis Anshi, having received the news, came forward to greet him with a broad smile, saying, "Elder Feng has come from afar. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. I hope Elder Feng will forgive any shortcomings in my greeting."

"It's alright, I'm no important person, there's no need for you to go to such trouble, Marquis." Feng Guo said with a smile, and sat down in the seat indicated by Marquis Anshi.

"Someone, bring tea to Elder Feng!" Marquis Anshi called out to the side.

The servants were prepared and, upon receiving the order, immediately carried the tea tray to Ye Yanxun.

Ye Yanxun picked up his teacup, knelt before Elder Feng, and said, "I am fortunate to have achieved the top score in this provincial examination. This is all thanks to your meticulous guidance over the years. I will do my best in the upcoming metropolitan and palace examinations to bring glory to you and the academy! Please have some tea, teacher."

His words were forceful and passionate. Feng Guolao stroked his beard, took the tea from his hand, and said earnestly, "As for the top scholar in the provincial examination, I have many disciples. You are just one more. It is not surprising. Do not be proud or complacent because of this. Just do your best in next year's provincial examination. Whether you succeed or not depends on yourself."

Marquis Anshi's plan was very well executed. When Ye Yanxun returned to the Marquis's residence in a sedan chair, some guests who were drinking in the front yard gathered around to watch the excitement. At this moment, Ye Yanxun served tea and kowtowed to Elder Feng in front of all the guests at the Marquis's residence, displaying the humility and spirit of a young man, which won the favor of all the guests.

Standing in the crowd, Tong Hansheng turned around, glared at Tong Zhu with exasperation, and said in a low voice, "Look at them, and then look at you! What kind of person are you!"

Tong Zhu glanced at Ye Yanxun and Feng Guolao, then pursed his lips with little interest.

When he received the invitation from the Marquis's residence, he assumed his father would attend the banquet himself. Unexpectedly, at the last minute, he was dragged along, ostensibly to celebrate a classmate's passing, but in reality, he just wanted to use Ye Yanxun as a pretext.

"Ha, hypocrisy." Someone in the crowd muttered this under their breath.

Tong Zhu laughed. Wasn't this utter hypocrisy? Offering tea and expressing gratitude for kindness—couldn't one do that anywhere? Why bring Elder Feng all this way here to thank him in front of everyone?

Everyone said that his classmate was gentle and refined, inheriting the talent of Elder Feng, and was a future master. But only he knew that Ye Yanxun was very good at pretending, and he was not a kind person at all. Just like that day in the examination hall, Ye Yanxun was obviously very nervous about the "Zhao Xincheng" who was taken away by the soldiers, but he was also afraid of being discovered. In the end, he forced himself to endure and finished the provincial examination.

Boring, really boring.

Tong Zhu put his hands behind his head, a wild grass he had just picked in the yard dangling from his mouth, and slipped away while his father wasn't looking.

Elder Feng was indeed highly respected in the capital. After Ye Yanxun finished serving tea, the guests who had been watching couldn't contain themselves and rushed forward to exchange pleasantries with Elder Feng. Tong Zhu's father happened to squeeze to the front and met Elder Feng's gaze. He sighed deeply, cupped his hands, and said to Elder Feng:

"Elder Feng, the Tong family has truly let you down."

When Feng Guolao saw him, his beard twisted to one side with anger: "Where is that good-for-nothing Tong Zhu? Ever since he finished the provincial examination, he has been hiding and refusing to show his face. What, he dares to hand in a blank paper but doesn't dare to face this old man?"

"Elder Feng, don't be angry. I've already taught that brat a lesson, and he must know he was wrong. I know that brat is afraid to see you, Elder Feng, so I brought him here today. I'll have him apologize to you right now." With that, he immediately turned to look for Tong Zhu, but where could he find him? Tong Zhu had vanished without a trace!

"That bastard!" Tong Hansheng was so angry he almost ascended to immortality.

Ye Yanxun knew Tong Zhu's personality well, and said to Tong Hansheng with a smile, "Uncle Tong, Brother Tong is easygoing. Perhaps he doesn't like this kind of occasion, so he found a quiet place to stay."

"Carefree? Carefree my foot! He's clearly just being unruly!" Tong Hansheng was furious but could not speak out. He could only swallow his anger and return to the banquet in the front yard with the other guests.

After thanking Elder Feng, Ye Yanxun's next task was to offer wine to the guests. Marquis Anshi often took Ye Yanxun with him when handling state affairs. Although the people sitting in the front courtyard were all officials of the fifth rank or above, Ye Yanxun had met most of them before, so he showed no stage fright and displayed the demeanor of a bureaucrat in his every move.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to congratulate me. I am ashamed to say that I have only achieved the title of Jieyuan (top scholar in the provincial examination), and there is really nothing to boast about. There are many talented people in this world, and I may be surpassed by others one day. The road ahead is still long, and in order not to fall behind, I can only strive forward. However, I hope that you all can give me some guidance along the way, so that I will not take a detour in the future and disgrace your and my teacher's expectations."

Ye Yanxun spoke fluently, and it was unknown how many times he had rehearsed it in his mind.

"I would like to offer three toasts to all of you esteemed seniors! I hope you will enjoy yourselves to the fullest at the Marquis's residence today!"

After saying that, Ye Yanxun tilted his head back and drank the wine in his hand in one gulp, one cup after another, downing a total of three cups of wine.

"Good! Young man, you have a good capacity for alcohol! Your future is undoubtedly limitless!" someone at the table exclaimed.

Only then did the banquet at the Marquis's residence officially begin.

As the air began to reek of alcohol and everyone around him drank heartily, Jingxuan, standing next to Chunyu Yang, pouted boredly. He tugged at Chunyu Yang's sleeve and called out:

"Father..."

Chunyu Yang looked down at him: "What is it?"

“Xuan’er doesn’t want to stay here. The smell of alcohol is too strong. Xuan’er doesn’t like it.” Jingxuan pouted. “Xuan’er, could you… could you…” He glanced at Chunyu Yang, his words unfinished, but his meaning was clear.

Chunyu Yang looked at Jingxuan speechlessly.

Isn't it just that you want to see Ye Pianran? You just parted ways this morning, and now you can't resist anymore?

*Ahem...* Although he also found this occasion rather boring, and he did want to see her, with Chunyu Jing and Chunyu Shan both beside him, he couldn't very well leave alone. So he could only say:

"Don't run around, and remember to listen to me."

Whose advice should we follow? Of course, we should follow our elder sister's advice!

Knowing that his father had allowed him to see Ye Pianran, Jingxuan smiled so hard his eyes curved into two adorable crescent moons. He looked around, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he turned around and left the banquet, running towards the familiar Lanxin Courtyard.

However, although Jingxuan was very careful, he still couldn't hide it from the sensitive and suspicious Chunyu Jing. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingertips tracing the wine glass in his hand with interest.

Third Brother couldn't possibly have been unaware of Jingxuan's departure, yet he showed no reaction whatsoever, which implied his tacit approval of Jingxuan's actions. And the direction Jingxuan left in seemed to be towards the inner quarters of the Marquis's residence…

Tsk, interesting.