The Minister of Personnel was in his chamber receiving the new son-in-law of the Duke of Jin's Mansion, and the two were engaged in a pleasant conversation. When Madam Liu saw Xu Wan arriving, she exchanged a few polite words before stepping out to greet Zong Jincheng.
Compared to Xu Wan, he was the person most worthy of her personal attention in the entire Yangyuan Marquis Manor.
However, the little troublemaker, who was already in a foul mood, was in no state to be appeased. The term "grandmother" immediately struck a nerve.
Zong Jincheng ignored her with a scowl.
Madam Liu guessed that he had quarreled with Xu Wan again and quickly followed him, saying, "My daughter has a terrible temper. You’ll have to bear with her, Jincheng. Don’t take it to heart. If you really can’t stand her, I’ll ask your grandmother to arrange for your father to take a few concubines. That way, she’ll be too busy to bother you."
Concubines for his missing uncle?
Zong Wenxiu, who had been ignored until now, suddenly looked up and glanced at his brother, worried that he might be deceived by Madam Liu.
Xu Wan had been extremely kind to his brother, as well as to him and his mother. He couldn’t stand by and watch her being treated this way.
"Huh?" Zong Jincheng blinked and stopped in his tracks.
What was this old woman talking about? His father wasn’t even home—what was the point of taking concubines?
Moreover, even if they did take concubines, what good would it do? Auntie Hong, who wasn’t even a concubine from the main household, had already been won over by Xu Wan. If the main household had concubines, wouldn’t Xu Wan just gain more allies, forming a group of women to scheme against him?
Zong Jincheng’s mind raced, and he quickly figured it out.
This old woman was clearly up to no good. First, she married Xu Wan into their family, and now she wanted to bring in concubines. She was full of malicious ideas.
But as the little troublemaker studied Madam Liu’s face, he noticed that she was smiling warmly, appearing utterly sincere—a stark contrast to what he had learned about reading people’s intentions.
What was going on… Had he misjudged her?
Zong Jincheng looked at his brother in confusion, about to speak, but Zong Wenxiu shook his head, as if telling him not to ask or agree.
Madam Liu continued, "If your grandmother can’t find suitable candidates, I can ask the Madam of Vice Minister Zhao to help. She has a few daughters from her side family who are quite lovely and popular with children."
The little troublemaker thought to himself: Children like to play with other children, not with a bunch of flamboyant women.
Seeing that he remained silent and his anger seemed to have subsided a little, Madam Liu assumed he was considering her suggestion and smiled even more brightly. "I’ll visit the Marquis Manor soon and have a good talk with your grandmother."
Zong Jincheng smiled sweetly and said, "Didn’t you know? She’s already been sent to the countryside estate by Xu Wan."
"By… by Xu Wan?" Madam Liu was stunned. The rumors said that the grandmother had voluntarily gone to the estate.
Good heavens, was that the real reason?
Had Xu Wan’s methods become so sophisticated?
Zong Jincheng mimicked her sincere tone and added, "Yes, otherwise how could she have so easily taken control of the Marquis Manor’s affairs? It’s all because my grandmother couldn’t outmatch her. By the way, are those concubines you mentioned really capable? What if Xu Wan just sends them straight to the Duke Jin's Manor? Wouldn’t that be a waste of time?"
Madam Liu: "…" She suddenly felt uneasy.
If Xu Wan’s methods were indeed that subtle and effective, then sending concubines to the Marquis Manor might not be a wise move.
Moreover, since this boy dared to say such things, it must mean that Xu Wan had revealed similar tactics in front of him. Otherwise, how could an eight-year-old come up with such a sharp counterargument?
Madam Liu forced an awkward smile and quickly changed the subject. "We’ll… we’ll talk about it later. Your grandmother hasn’t returned to the manor yet. Come inside. I’ll have someone bring you some pastries. Once your mother finishes her conversation, I’ll call you for dinner."
"Sure," Zong Jincheng replied, not pressing the issue or losing his temper. Instead, he began to ponder, his eyes darting around thoughtfully.
Zong Wenxiu, who had been listening from behind, was stunned. He had been worried that his brother might be deceived by Madam Liu, but it seemed like she was the one who had been outsmarted by his brother.
Suddenly, he didn’t feel so bad. If his brother could trick Madam Liu, it was because he was too clever, not because he was foolish. After all, he was much younger than Madam Liu—it was only natural that he couldn’t see through her.
After sending the two boys to enjoy their pastries, Madam Liu’s smile vanished, and her expression darkened.
Zong Jincheng didn’t see her change in demeanor, still lost in his own confusion. Seeing that no one else was around, he quickly asked, "Brother, why does she seem different from others? She doesn’t look like a bad person."
Zong Wenxiu sighed and said, "Some people are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They may smile kindly, but their actions are far from good. Reading people isn’t just about observing their expressions—you have to look at what they’re planning to do. Like you, for example. You often say harsh things, but you’ve never actually done anything bad."
"What about the lychee incident? Doesn’t that count?" Zong Jincheng asked, feeling a bit guilty at being praised.
"…" Zong Wenxiu paused for a moment before replying, "I meant after that."
"Oh, right," Zong Jincheng immediately straightened up and said seriously, "Exactly. Even though Xu Wan, Qin Ye, Princess Eighteen, Zhai Yao, Luo Jingfeng, Qin Shi, Madam Liu, Xu Lian'er, Steward Liu… are all on my grudge list, I haven’t actually taken revenge on any of them. This proves that I’m a very kind person now, capable of repaying evil with good!"
Zong Wenxiu: "…" That might be true, but hearing it from his brother’s mouth felt a bit off.
And… what was this grudge list?
How many people had he secretly held grudges against?
"Wait, Steward Liu???" Zong Wenxiu suddenly realized he had no idea his brother had a grudge against Steward Liu.
Zong Jincheng clenched his fists, his face filled with indignation. "He was the one who confiscated all my belongings! Everything valuable in my room was taken away, including my pillow, shoes, and clothes! Don’t you think he went too far? It was outright robbery!"
Zong Wenxiu rubbed his forehead, vaguely recalling the incident.
But that had happened so long ago—how could his brother still remember?
Oh right, he had a photographic memory… Help.
Zong Wenxiu clutched his chest, feeling utterly drained. "Anyway, you understand now. Reading people isn’t just about their expressions—it’s also about their actions. But I’ve noticed that even if you don’t fully grasp these principles, your instincts guide you."
"Huh? What instincts?" Zong Jincheng scratched his head.
Zong Wenxiu explained, "Just now, for example. Madam Liu clearly had ill intentions and wanted to harm Xu Wan. I was so worried earlier. But thankfully, you reacted quickly and suggested sending the concubines to the Duke Jin's Manor. Her expression changed immediately. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t have thought of such a clever response."
He added, "Xu Wan was right—you’re perfect for a career in politics. Your talent is extraordinary."
Zong Jincheng wasn’t one to handle praise well.
Especially when his brother’s compliment was followed by Xu Wan’s praise. His little tail of pride immediately perked up.
Zong Jincheng seized the moment and asked, "Brother, so you’re not mad at me anymore, right?"
