He hissed in pain and quickly said, "If I hadn't pretended to be drunk, how could I have come back to hold you? This has nothing to do with my neck being stiff. Do you really think the Emperor doesn't know my little schemes?"
It's just that he didn't say it. Who hasn't been young before? With youthful vigor and having abstained for so long, the Emperor naturally understands what a dry-tinder-meets-fire situation means, he just chose not to expose it.
Just one instance of "fire" resulted in her sleeping until noon the next day, waking up after lunch. Rubbing her aching waist, her legs trembled with each step she took. She cursed him up and down in her heart.
A noise came from inside the room. Qiufen, who was guarding outside, immediately ran in. Seeing that Madam had woken up, her face lit up so much her eyes almost disappeared. Madam and Master had a good relationship; this was a joyous occasion for the mansion.
"Madam, it's time to wash up. The water temperature is just right!"
Zhao Jiaqi blushed. After washing up, she asked about a certain person, "Where is he?"
Qiufen was startled, then understood. She was asking about Master. She said, "Master heard from someone that Young Master Fan Er had angered Madam, and he's currently in the front courtyard disciplining Young Master Fan Er!"
"Fan Er?"
Indeed, Fan Er!
Zhao Jiaqi put a jade hairpin in her hair, donned her cloak, and left the room. Qiufen followed closely behind and said, "Madam is so kind-hearted. As soon as she heard Young Master Fan Er was being disciplined, she rushed to save him!"
"Save him?"
She chuckled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "No, I'm going to watch the show."
He had pricked her to the quick; she wouldn't let him off so easily. If she didn't peel off a layer of his skin, she wouldn't feel appeased!
Qiufen wanted to say more but suddenly heard Madam say this, and her mouth hung open, unsure how to respond. She then closed it quickly after accidentally swallowing a gust of wind.
In the front courtyard, on the training ground.
Fan Xudong was beaten so badly he could barely stand. His white inner garment was streaked with blood, and some parts were even torn by the whip, revealing the flesh beneath, a gruesome sight.
Everyone else was watching, and no one stepped forward to intervene. Among the crowd, only his mother and children were absent.
She had initially come to watch the spectacle but was instead met with a shocking scene. Seeing Fan Xudong look at her pitifully, she pouted and averted her gaze, refusing to look at him.
She walked up to Fan Zehao, grabbed his whip, which was stained with blood, and got blood on her hand. "What's the use of beating him to death? It's better to ignore him. That's more torturous than hitting him!"
The man stared at her averted eyes and moved his lips. "Sharp tongue, soft heart. You're clearly telling me not to hit him, yet you say it so indirectly!"
Zhao Jiaqi rolled her eyes at him. "If you see through it, don't say it. Do you understand? You're exposing my secrets!"
She snatched the whip from him, threw it on the ground, and pulled him away. "You don't even bother to see your daughter after returning, yet you're here acting wild. Let's go."
Seeing the Prince and Princess leave, the steward immediately called for servants to carry Fan Xudong back to his courtyard and sent for the mansion doctor. Although Fan Biao felt sorry for his second son, his temper was too impulsive. Perhaps a good thrashing would improve him.
The entire afternoon, Fan Xudong's courtyard was filled with a constant stream of people coming and going. In contrast, Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were leisurely playing with the children.
At first, Yumeng looked at her father with apprehension, but after playing for a while, she became familiar with him. Father and daughter were having a great time.
Ren Yingjun, on the other hand, looked a bit lonely, watching them with envious eyes.
Zhao Jiaqi pushed her forward. "Go, join them. Let your father see how many characters you've taught Mengmeng and how many poems you know!"
Little Jun Jun looked at him with hopeful eyes, asking, "Can I?" Zhao Jiaqi smiled and kept signaling her with her eyes to go over.
Perhaps it was because she lacked a father's sense of security, or perhaps she craved her father's love too much, but she desperately wanted to play with Fan Zehao, yet she was afraid he would dislike her. In this regard, Little Jun Jun was a contradiction.
While they were playing in the courtyard, the steward gathered all the young servants, maids, wet nurses, and older women in the front courtyard. Every servant, without exception, was summoned to listen to his lecture.
After the steward spoke for a while, the result was that the骠骑大将军府 (General of Cavalry Mansion) became the镇国将军府 (General of Zhenguo Mansion), and then the镇国王爷府 (Prince of Zhenguo Mansion).
The servants were instructed that from now on, Master and Madam were to be referred to as Prince and Princess, while the Elder Master and Elder Madam's titles remained unchanged. All other titles would remain the same.
The steward had been found with significant help from the Imperial Consort.
However, on the matter of Pingting, Zhao Jiaqi and Imperial Consort Yao Jingyun had differing opinions, otherwise, they could have become very good friends.
Fan Zehao's safe return made Fang Jingchen the happiest.
They had agreed in the military camp that upon returning to the capital, they would prepare a reunion banquet where the whole family would gather. In the future, Fang Jingchen would also have descendants and would no longer be alone until old age.
Fang General's Mansion.
Fang Jingchen had been preparing the reunion banquet for a long time and had finally welcomed this exciting moment.
The Fang family, from top to bottom, all relatives of the Fang family, from those in their eighties to those still wearing split pants, were all present.
The entire mansion was filled with joy. Red silk draped around the carved beams and painted pillars spread to every corner of the mansion. Red lanterns hung high, and every servant's face wore a happy smile.
Especially the elders in the mansion, their smiling faces were even accompanied by a few tears.
This was the first time the mansion had been so lively since the Madam passed away. It was usually desolate, and even during the New Year, there was no festive atmosphere.
Outside the gate, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the Fang General's gate. Fan Zehao was the first to jump off the carriage, followed closely by Zhao Jiaqi, whom he helped alight.
Fang Jingchen smiled heartily at his promising godson, his smile widening. He immediately knelt on one knee but was helped up by Fan Zehao before he could speak.
"How can a father kneel before his son? You're making it difficult for me, your son!"
"Today is different. You are now a Prince. If I don't kneel, wouldn't that be insulting royal dignity? That's a crime of disregarding the imperial family, and I wouldn't dare!"
Although Fang Jingchen said this, he pulled Fan Zehao into the courtyard, showing no sign of the respect he claimed to have. Instead, it was more like a father and child bickering.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a group of people laughing and chatting. Upon seeing their arrival, everyone became a bit reserved.
An old man, who resembled his foster father by about sixty to seventy percent, walked forward. He was younger and wore splendid brocade robes, giving him an air of wealth.
Fang Jingwan walked over with a smile and said to Fang Jingchen, "Big brother, this must be the son you've adopted. And this must be his wife!"
Fang Jingchen nodded and solemnly said, "Indeed. However, he is now the Prince of Zhenguo, and beside him is the Princess of Zhenguo. Why are you not kneeling to welcome them!"
Fang Jingwan was slightly stunned, then quickly lifted the hem of his robe and knelt to welcome them. All the family members behind him also knelt.
He respectfully said, "Your humble servant Fang Jingwan greets the Prince of Zhenguo and the Princess of Zhenguo. May the Prince and Princess be well!"
Fan Zehao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the kneeling crowd below. He nodded slightly and said softly, "You may rise!"