The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 970 - 218: Living at Another’s Bidding_4

Chapter 970: Chapter 218: Living at Another’s Bidding_4

Seeing that Xiao Yong was really angry, the three of them had been together for years, and he was always the most even-tempered. This was the first time they had seen him so angry, and Pei Wendong hurriedly apologized to him.

"I’ll forgive you this time, but if it’s for their sake, there won’t be a next time!" Xiao Yong set the matter aside directly.

Pei Wendong quickly nodded with a smile, "Alright! There definitely won’t be a next time! It was my mistake!"

"I’ll go see Sister Qin. Jiujiu and Xixi have been sent to Master Ouyang for enlightenment, she must be bored these days." Xiao Yong looked at him meaningfully, then turned and went to the inner courtyard to see Pei Qin.

"It was Brother-in-law who sent Jiujiu to Master Ouyang for enlightenment..." Pei Wendong was puzzled.

At mealtime, when he asked about it, Mo Heng straightforwardly said Jiujiu was sent to play.

Jiujiu was very smart, and she could learn anything she wanted to learn on the first try. Pei Qin had only been concerned with letting her have a happy childhood, letting her grow freely. Over the past half year, Shen Songming had been teaching her various things and she had learned them all. Following Master Ouyang, it wasn’t just playtime; most of what she learned was through play.

When Xie Yi found out, she returned the meal sent to her room by Yuanyang, untouched.

Pei Wendong went to see her, and with eyes brimming with tears, she smiled and told Pei Wendong it was nothing.

Comforting her, "Elderly, particularly love small children. Jiujiu and Xixi going there is also to find a place to play. Master Ouyang hasn’t taken any disciples in years, if you’re considering the imperial examinations, it is better to find another teacher to learn the eight-legged essays."

"Mm. I’m not very familiar with these matters, I’ll listen to you!" Xie Yi said, nodding with teary eyes and a smile.

After Pei Wendong left, the smile on her face immediately disappeared, leaving a desolate expression. Ultimately, they had no parents, no home, no one to rely on.

Pei Wendong inquired about another teacher, prepared gifts, and along with Xie Ze, paid a visit to the teacher, finally sending Xie Ze to study properly. He, too, breathed a sigh of relief.

By this time, The Imperial Court had already posted the exam announcements. Last year’s examinations had been delayed, so this year there would be an extra round.

Pei Wendong was determined to excel in this year’s autumn examinations and the spring examinations after the New Year, so after settling Xie Ze’s affairs, he put even more energy into preparing for the imperial examinations.

The Imperial Court now needed a large number of talents, needing to quickly select usable candidates from the imperial examination. Emperor Chu Wen had already instructed the Crown Prince to prepare to rectify the government, starting with investigations from the Ministry of Revenue. He was not an incapable ruler given to luxury and dissipation, and even though the harvests had been poor over several years, the national treasury was not empty.

With internal troubles and foreign threats, Emperor Chu Wen was all the more eager to have a few more people like Pei Qin around him. Taking the opportunity amidst his busy schedule, he donned plain clothes and left the palace with Shi Rui and two guards, making his way straight to Daxing County to visit Pei Qin.

Meanwhile, Second Madam Zheng also came over to bring gifts for Xie Yi and Xie Ze, to see how Xie Yi was doing and how her relationship with Mo Heng was, or more precisely, to see how much longer Pei Qin would live, hoping she would hurry up and die to make space.

Seeing Emperor Chu Wen just arrive like that, Lu Hai hurried to the inner courtyard and whispered a few words to Pei Qin.

Mo Heng had already come out, and he wrapped Pei Qin in a thick cloak before she came out to meet Emperor Chu Wen.

Seeing Second Madam Zheng and Xie Yi there, Emperor Chu Wen did not reveal his identity, simply stating he came to visit Pei Qin, bringing some tonics and charcoal. Seeing Pei Qin had been entertaining guests prior, he assumed Second Madam Zheng was a relative of Pei Qin and inquired further.

"Our family rescued the daughter and son of the Xiaochang County Magistrate on the road, and with Magistrate Xie having died in the chaos of war, they are currently staying with us. This lady is Ms. Xie’s aunt who came over to visit," Pei Qin briefly explained.

Before Emperor Chu Wen became the emperor, he had been the Crown Prince for over twenty years. He had always favored civil governance over martial arts, the mind of an emperor. Seeing Pei Qin’s pale face, seemingly at death’s door, he knew that Xie Yi, who was rescued halfway and stayed at the General Mansion instead of returning to her maternal home, was like a delicate flower with an obvious intent, just waiting to replace Pei Qin after her death.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of anger for Pei Qin; such a strong and resilient woman, to have been poisoned and suffering from such schemes!