Chapter 1 A Rare Holiday

It was a rare holiday for personal matters.

Speaking of Si Niang, not Marquis Zheng.

Strictly speaking, Marquis Zheng was always on vacation.

The Princess and Liu Ruqing went to gather the servants of the mansion to prepare for the wedding; just a lively affair among family members, not planning any grand display.

After drinking tea,

Zheng Fan came to the back house with Si Niang.

Whether it was the former Earl's Mansion in Xue Hai Pass or the current Marquis Mansion in Fengxin City, the back house was very deserted. Of course, "back house" here refers to the innermost part of the "back house," the place where they lived every day.

Tian Tian was sitting on a small stool, with a small long table in front of him, on which was placed his meal for the day.

He held a spoon by himself,

With a napkin tied around his neck;

One bite of vegetables, one bite of rice, he ate very sweetly.

Most of the time, he ate alone, not because his godfather Zheng Fan neglected him, but because Tian Tian preferred it that way.

For example, right now, he had Mo Wan accompanying him.

When Mo Wan wasn't out fighting, he would basically stay with Tian Tian at home, away from Marquis Zheng.

It was no exaggeration to say that Mo Wan had raised Tian Tian since he was a child.

"Jiejie… eat…"

Outside, Si Niang looked at Zheng Fan and asked,

"My lord, I've always been curious."

"Speak."

"Is Mo Wan male or female?"

"Hmm…"

Tian Tian always called Mo Wan "Jiejie" (older sister), perhaps because Mo Wan liked to laugh "Jie Jie…"

The lord liked to call Mo Wan his godson, but that might also be because he couldn't bathe together if he called him his daughter.

"Too young, what's the difference between male and female?" Zheng Fan replied.

Si Niang nodded, agreeing, "Indeed."

So,

This question,

Even Zheng Fan himself couldn't answer it.

Or perhaps,

When Mo Wan was created, gender characteristics were deliberately ignored to better exert his abilities.

So, it's no wonder Mo Wan had such an attitude toward his "father"; anyone placed in that kind of situation and experience would become the number one unfilial son.

When Tian Tian saw his godfather, he was very happy. He stood up, untied his napkin, and wiped his mouth with the handkerchief next to him. Then, he ran to the small washbasin, washed his hands, and ran happily to his godfather:

Wanting a hug.

Zheng Fan picked up Tian Tian and kissed him on the cheek.

The little guy smelled of milk.

In the afternoon,

Zheng Fan spent his time playing with Tian Tian in the back house.

There were some slides and seesaws in the back house, which was quite fun.

Zheng Fan sat down, and Mo Wan continued to watch the child to prevent accidents.

Si Niang handed over a glass of iced drink.

Zheng Fan took it, took a sip, and sighed:

"It would be nice if our children in the future could be so well-behaved."

"Does my lord want a boy or a girl?"

"I like both."

"I wonder when I'll be able to get pregnant."

"Just try a few more times. At worst, I'll just get tired a few more times."

Si Niang glared at Zheng Fan, full of charm.

Marquis Zheng, who was taking advantage and acting good, felt extremely good about himself.

He reached out,

And beckoned,

The black cat and fox, which had been lying in the corner of the courtyard, immediately ran over.

"These two demon beasts can endure loneliness."

They had once bewitched the Naiman King; they weren't some inexperienced little demons.

But in the past year, they had basically stayed by Tian Tian's side, which was more than just "forced by circumstances."

"Li Qing once told me that Tian Tian's spiritual energy has never dissipated. He can be called a spirit child. Therefore, he is naturally close to these spiritual creatures. They like to stay by his side, which is actually convenient for their cultivation.

Li Qing's green python also likes to crawl into this courtyard when it's free."

"Can they absorb it?" Zheng Fan asked worriedly.

"It's not yang energy; it's just dissipating. Instead of letting it dissipate into the world like this, it's better to let them absorb it."

"By the way, Li Qing should have the secret techniques to control beasts, right?"

"Yes, similar to a recognition ceremony, but it won't have too much restraint."

"Hmm." Zheng Fan looked at the black cat and fox kneeling obediently in front of him. "How about this, you two, stay with him as he grows up, protect him, and after a few more years, when he's a little older, I'll let you recognize him as your master."

Demon beasts cultivate, firstly they need spiritual energy, and secondly, they value noble energy.

The former is used to strengthen themselves, and the latter is used to improve their fate.

In folk tales of the strange, there are often plots of fox demons seducing down-and-out scholars, but that's just fiction.

In fact,

If you're not doing well and your background isn't good, even demons won't bother with you.

The black cat and fox immediately began to kowtow in thanks.

Zheng Fan waved his hand and said, "Alright, go to the side."

At this time, a servant came to report that Third Master had returned with everyone after their outing.

"Have Third Master bring them here."

"Yes, Marquis."

Soon,

Xue San, Eighth Sister, Fan Li, A Da, and the old woman walked into the back house.

When the old woman saw Tian Tian, her eyes visibly darted around.

Rumor had it,

That the son of the Prince of Jingnan was being raised in the Marquis of Pingxi's mansion.

What she saw before her eyes,

Proved that this must be true.

Xue San sat down on a chair next to him, took the iced drink handed over by Si Niang, took two big gulps, and then handed it to Eighth Sister.

Si Niang said to Xue San, "How do you feel?"

Xue San shook his head and said, "Tired."

Third Master still had to be busy training scouts and spies, but today, he spent the entire afternoon accompanying an old woman shopping.

"Even marrying the princess wasn't as tiring as this. Their family didn't come over asking to go through the motions."

"The lord wanted the Regent and Empress Dowager of Chu to come and visit our house, but are they willing or dare to come?

Besides, who told you to get on the bus first? When you're buying a ticket later, it's inevitable that you'll be less tempered."

"Who knew? I thought she said her grandmother had been gone long ago."

Si Niang comforted him, "It's just today anyway. Tomorrow, she'll be a member of the family."

Xue San nodded upon hearing this.

Being polite would be limited to today.

"When are you planning to have children?" Si Niang asked.

Xue San smiled and said,

"I haven't been using contraception since Liang."

Si Niang was silent.

Xue San added, "The blind man's wife has been trying for years, and there's no news either, so…"

Speaking of which,

Xue San glanced at the lord's back in the distance, who was talking to the old woman,

And lowered his voice,

Continuing:

"In the past, I liked to find some powerful demon beasts or divine beasts and crossbreed them to see if I could cultivate any new breeds.

So, I'm mentally prepared. The stronger the roots and the stronger the bloodline, the more difficult it is to give birth to offspring and reproduce.

This is destiny; this is fate."

If the reproduction of Pixiu and Fire Phoenix were as easy as pigs, the world would have long been in chaos.

The higher the level of life, the more freedom you have. Correspondingly, the suppression in other areas will be more severe.

This has already broken through the difficulties caused by reproductive isolation.

Si Niang pursed her lips.

"However, Si Niang, you can rest assured. In fact, you were right to choose the lord. After all, the lord came with us. Perhaps in this world, only the lord can possibly have children with you."

"Are you comforting me?"

"Isn't that so?" Xue San patted his small chest. "I'm using myself as a raft to comfort you."

"Heh."

"To be honest, it doesn't really matter whether we leave offspring or not. We've actually seen through it, but I still hope you can have a child, just like our own child."

Si Niang heard this and said,

"Dare you say these words to the lord?"

"Uh… what I meant was, if it's your Si Niang's child with the lord, we'll definitely spoil him to the heavens."

………

"Good, this old woman will naturally listen to the Marquis's instructions."

Grandma didn't say anything else,

Seeming not to mind that she had wet her pants earlier,

And squatted down directly in front of Tian Tian.

This was actually a display of attitude.

At the dinner table, Xiong Liqing, on behalf of the Marquis Mansion, extended an olive branch. Would you accept it or not?

Since you were prepared to accept it, you had to be clear about it.

Entering the Marquis Mansion meant that the Marquis was your master. Unless he asked you to die, if he asked you to do anything else, would you still have room to bargain?

Grandma looked at Tian Tian, who was like a lucky baby,

And asked with a smile:

"Little master, what do you like to eat the most? Grandma will go buy it for you."

This was a common way to tease children, with the aim of reducing pressure on them.

Tian Tian replied:

"Dragon chair."

"………" The old woman.

"Hehe." The Marquis of Pingxi on the side actually laughed.

The old woman's heart was in turmoil,

He didn't blame him, and he was still laughing!

The old woman had to forcibly steady her mind.

A Da, as instructed, brought a basin of water. After the old woman washed her hands and dried them, she slowly placed them on Tian Tian's face.

"Be good, don't move," Zheng Fan said.

"Yes, Tian Tian is being good."

The old woman breathed a sigh of relief,

Anyway,

She had two pairs of flowered pants in her bag for backup!

"Marquis, so-called face reading is, to put it bluntly, looking at qi flow, looking at opportunities, and from these, looking at the future. It's not very accurate; it's just feeling around."

"Just look."

"Yes, Marquis."

The next moment,

The old woman began to "read" his face.

………

At this time,

Mo Wan, who was lying on the side, gently turned over;

In the courtyard next to the Marquis Mansion, a man was feeding chickens. The Dragon Abyss sword, which was discarded behind the stove and used as tongs along with a pile of charcoal, suddenly trembled slightly.

In the Yan capital city,

Inside the palace where the former Palace Grand Tutor lived,

A red-clothed eunuch suddenly opened his eyes.

In the rear mountain gardens south of the Qian capital city,

A figure in white suddenly stood up,

And let out a soft murmur of doubt.

In Li Tian City,

The former Jingnan Marquis Mansion,

On the threshold,

A white-haired man slowly raised his head,

In the courtyard,

The pool full of withered leaves rippled slightly.

And,

The old woman squatting on the ground reading Tian Tian's face in the back house of the Marquis of Pingxi's mansion in Fengxin City,

Was already bleeding from all seven orifices…