The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

After struggling to hold back his words for so long, Zong Jincheng was stunned when she didn't even respond, his face instantly changing through various colors.

Just as he was about to shout out loud,

he heard her say: "If you want to come, then follow. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks - the Minister's Mansion won't miss feeding you one more mouth."

"As for wanting anything else, impossible—"

Xu Wan dragged out her words lazily, as if deliberately teasing him.

The little demon king was burning with rage, the threads of rationality in his mind snapping one by one.

How infuriating!

This woman who showed him no face at all!

One day he would definitely trample her under his feet!

Make her shout "I was wrong!" to the heavens a hundred times!!!

However, thoughts aside.

At present, Zong Jincheng took several deep breaths and still swallowed his pride to follow her.

Since he had nowhere else to play, he might as well go to the Minister's Mansion and see what trouble he could cause for Xu Wan.

If he couldn't be comfortable, he wouldn't let her be at ease either.

Better yet if he could find her weakness and defeat her in one stroke, making it impossible for her to return to the Marquis Manor!

"They're coming out, they're coming out! Make way, make way, don't push me!"

"My goodness, worthy of being the eldest daughter of the Minister's Mansion - her beauty is no less than the Capital City's number one talented lady."

"The Marquis Manor's eldest grandson came out too, actually following along with the Marquis's wife. Could it be he's accompanying the new bride on her home visit?"

"A stepson accompanying on a home visit, though unusual, seems somewhat reasonable. It seems the Marquis's wife isn't just beautiful but also capable, having trained this stepson to be so obedient."

Zong Jincheng was just about to get into the sedan chair when he heard these words. His barely contained dignity instantly crumbled under the weight of his anger.

He stepped back outside and, hands on his hips, shouted at the commoners: "What nonsense are you spouting? If anyone's doing the training, it's this young master training her!"

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Steward Liu, who knew everything: "???"

The young master training the madam?

Was he just putting on a brave face?!

After throwing out such harsh words, the little demon king put away his puffed-up cheeks and dove straight into the carriage, showing no intention of arguing with them further.

He was, after all, the legitimate young master of the Marquis Manor - he wouldn't stoop to arguing with commoners!

The stunned commoners: "???"

"What just flashed past us?"

"It... it seems to be the Marquis Manor's eldest grandson."

"Wow! Big drama!"

"The Marquis's wife doesn't get along with her stepson, forcing him to accompany her home visit - a great battle in the Marquis household is about to break out—"

"The Marquis's grandson causes chaos at the Minister's Mansion's homecoming feast, the Minister of Justice's backyard catches fire, household in complete disarray!"

"The storytellers this month will certainly have something to work with..."

"..."

The sedan chairs lifted off, and the procession headed toward the Minister's Mansion.

Sitting in her sedan chair, Xu Wan listened to the commoners' discussions outside and a smile curved her lips.

Cui Zhi whispered from outside: "Madam, should this servant go explain things? At the rate they're spreading news, it might reach the Minister's Mansion before we arrive. It might not be good for your homecoming."

It would be embarrassing for any family if their newly married daughter gained a reputation for mistreating her stepson, especially when they still had an unmarried daughter at home.

Particularly since Xu Wan had a younger legitimate sister who was Madam Liu's only daughter - they would naturally be extra concerned.

Xu Wan said: "It doesn't matter, let them spread it."

She reasoned that if she appeared to be doing well, she would only invite her stepmother's jealousy. If she appeared to be doing poorly and made those people happy, perhaps her stepmother would cause her fewer problems.

As for affecting her legitimate sister's marriage prospects, that wouldn't be an issue. After all, she had become the Marquis Manor's madam and now held authority over household affairs. When her stepmother arranged marriages for her sister, she would only highlight the positive aspects.

Cui Zhi was still worried: "When we arrive at the Minister's Mansion, the young master will surely try to cause trouble for you. Should we give him some silver to go play elsewhere today?"

It was obvious to everyone that Zong Jincheng was there just to create problems for Xu Wan.

Xu Wan smiled: "No need, let him come."

She wanted to see what other tricks this little demon king had up his sleeve.

"Lower the sedan."

"Madam, we've arrived."

Cui Zhi and Cui Liu approached from both sides of the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and Xu Wan stepped out, elegantly placing her hand on Cui Zhi's offered support.

"Wan'er, you've finally returned. Mother has prepared a feast for you and has been waiting," said a woman in green clothing, appearing as kind as a Buddha.

It was her hypocritical stepmother, Madam Liu.

"Greetings, Mother," Xu Wan responded.

With so many commoners gathered outside the Minister's Mansion waiting to see drama unfold, Xu Wan naturally wouldn't create conflict with Madam Liu right after her marriage - that would do her no good.

Madam Liu, having perfected the art of keeping up appearances over many years, smoothly pushed Cui Zhi aside and took Xu Wan's arm, speaking with affected warmth: "Your father is still occupied at the Ministry of Justice and hasn't returned yet. Your sister has been waiting for you for ages, saying she would go to the Marquis Manor to fetch you if you didn't come soon."

"I was delayed by some household matters, I hope Mother doesn't mind."

"How could I? You're now the household manager of the Marquis Manor - I couldn't be happier for you, how could I blame you?"

...

"Ahem—"

"Ahem ahem—"

While the two were chatting away, Zong Jincheng was left ignored on the side.

The little demon king coughed forcefully several times, startling even the nearby horses into raising their hooves, before the two women finally looked his way.

Madam Liu asked in surprise: "And who might this be?"

"Zong Jincheng, my son," Xu Wan said naturally, as if he were truly her own flesh and blood.

Zong Jincheng had been holding his head high proudly, but upon hearing the words "my son," he was momentarily stunned, feeling a warm current flow through his heart, both comforting and pleasant.

But then he quickly remembered who was speaking - it was Xu Wan - and the warmth that had just risen was instantly extinguished.

His face turned red, then purple, and after a long while, he finally managed to stammer out: "Who's your son?"

He had a mother!

Although he didn't know who she was, it certainly wasn't Xu Wan.

At her age, how could she possibly have a son as old as him!

Madam Liu suddenly understood: "Oh, so it's Jincheng! Come in quickly, I'll have them prepare more pastries - children your age love such treats."

She reached out to pat the little demon king's head, but Zong Jincheng quickly dodged, automatically maintaining a meter's distance.

He had the complete appearance of "don't touch me" and being difficult to approach.

Xu Wan pretended not to notice, but was secretly laughing inside.

Letting the little demon king's face-giving-adverse nature interact with Madam Liu was indirectly avenging the mistreatment she had suffered before her marriage.

Having been rebuffed, Madam Liu was naturally unhappy, but for the sake of appearances, she still endured it and led them into the mansion.

At the feast.

"Sister, try this dish, I had the kitchen prepare it especially for you," her legitimate sister Xu Lian'er served her food.

Xu Wan smiled in thanks.

Looking at the small mountain of food piled in her bowl, and thinking of the sour fruits she used to eat, she thought to herself that these mother and daughter were really trying to outdo each other in their act. Did they think she had forgotten everything?

"Mm, I'll try it."

The three women's performance was in full swing.

Warmth masking hypocrisy, hypocrisy tinged with comedy.

Cui Zhi and Cui Liu stood to the side, keeping their eyes down, each trying harder than the other not to laugh, afraid that if they couldn't hold it in, they wouldn't be able to leave this place.

Although Madam had told them about her maiden family's situation before coming, they hadn't expected it to be so... so low-level.

Madam Liu and Xu Lian'er's intentions were written all over their faces, each trying to stuff their madam to death.

And their own madam was even more outrageous, saying "good, good" while not moving her chopsticks at all, as if watching to see who could put on the better act.

Finally, Zong Jincheng couldn't stand it anymore. His hand playing with the chopsticks slipped, and one chopstick shot up and landed right in the center of Xu Wan's bowl...

Standing straight up like an offering to the heavens.

Xu Wan: "..."

Was he trying to send her straight to heaven?