“Father, Mother.”
Tong Anying poked her head into the doorway. Wearing a bright, tentative smile, she asked, “May I come in?”
Tong Baibo and Su Zhouyue exchanged a look. When their daughter smiled that sweetly, she was undoubtedly up to something.
“Come on in,” Tong Baibo said.
Entering the room, Tong Anying saw Su Zhouyue reaching for the sash of Tong Baibo’s court attire. She swiftly swooped in, took it in both hands, and held it up politely before her mother.
Su Zhouyue took the sash, fastening it around her husband’s waist while teasing, “Look at that, Marquis Tong. Our little fourth has suddenly turned so thoughtful.”
Tong Anying tilted her chin up proudly. “I’ve always been thoughtful!”
Chuckling along with his wife, Tong Baibo cupped his hands playfully toward Su Zhouyue and asked, “Out with it, then. What are you looking to buy this time?”
“Father!” Tong Anying stomped her foot. “How could you think so poorly of me?”
“With you, an unprompted display of affection always hides an ulterior motive.”
Tong Anying puffed her cheeks in indignation.
How did human nature become so cynical nowadays?
Su Zhouyue had to turn her face away to hide her laughter. Tong Baibo crossed his arms, feigning reluctance. “Well? Do you still want it or not?”
“Yes, yes, of course—”
Wait, hold on! I didn’t come here to ask for things!
Tong Anying mentally clapped a hand to her forehead. Though I can hardly help it if my father insists on showering me with gifts!
Tong Baibo arched an eyebrow. Is she really getting smug about it now?
He reached an arm around Su Zhouyue’s shoulders, but she playfully refused to face him. Helpless, Tong Baibo asked, “What is it you want, then?”
Tong Anying rattled off a long string of names in a single breath. At the end, she even added solicitously, “Father, can you remember all of that? How about I write it down for you?”
Behind Tong Baibo’s back, Su Zhouyue gave her a stealthy thumbs-up. What a good little daughter to her father.
Tong Baibo chuckled. “All right.”
“Father, you’re the best! Your daughter wishes you a smooth and pleasant morning court session!”
Tong Anying threw her arms around him for a quick hug, turned to scurry off like the wind, then abruptly pivoted back. With exaggerated solemnity, she cautioned, “Father, you must be extra careful at morning court these days.”
So, this was her real purpose all along?
Warmed to the core by his little cotton jacket of a daughter, Tong Baibo softened. “I understand.”
“Oh, good!”
Seeing her still lingering at the threshold, Tong Baibo asked teasingly, “Anying, why are you still standing there?”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Exam results come out at the Imperial Academy today, don’t they? When classes dismiss, how about I go pick you up myself and see how you did?”
Tong Anying’s face went pale with terror. “No need! Absolutely no need!”
Before the words had even faded, she hoisted her skirts and vanished down the corridor like a startled rabbit.
Su Zhouyue nudged Tong Baibo’s arm. “Look at you, getting so bold that you even scare your own daughter.”
Tong Baibo retorted defensively, “She just named prices straight to the heavens! Why didn’t you stop her?”
“It’s not my money she’s spending,” Su Zhouyue murmured. Looking up at him with smiling eyes that reminded him vividly of Tong Anying just a moment ago, she asked, “Are you truly going to buy all that for her?”
Tong Baibo winked. “Agreeing is one thing; fulfilling it is quite another.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Su Zhouyue patted his back. “And here I thought you were an honest, artless soul. You sly fox, you’re truly wicked.”
“My dear,” Tong Baibo caught her hands, his voice dropping gently, “once court is dismissed, will you accompany me for lunch?”
“I’d rather let you starve.”
Su Zhouyue glided away briskly, leaving Tong Baibo chuckling behind her.
Out in the courtyard, Tong Fengye rubbed his bleary eyes in disbelief. “Fourth Sister, why are you up so early?”
“Early?” Tong Anying chided with a deadpan face. “The morning hours are the prime of the day! Don’t you know anything?”
Tong Fengye stood there dazed by her sudden lecture.
Seeing her march toward the gate, he hastily shoved a steamed bun into his mouth and bolted after her.
He had a backside to protect!
Little did he know, Tong Anying was terrified that Tong Aobai Baibo actually show up at dusk to pick her up.
Under normal circumstances, she had her dead-last third brother to take the brunt of the heat, which let her gloss over her own poor marks. But if Tong Baibo saw the results with his own eyes, she would be completely finished!
Tong Anying urged, “Uncle Zhao, hurry, hurry! Faster!”
“Right away, Miss!”
Tong Fengye watched Tong Anying with eyes sparkling in awe. His sister truly had turned over a new leaf!
At the Imperial Court.
The Emperor looked down at the unusually well-behaved Tong Baibo, feeling rather perplexed.
What’s gotten into Marquis Tong today?
Usually, he would argue himself red in the face over every little policy, yet today he stood there quiet as a mouse.
“Marquis Tong.”
Hearing his name called, Tong Baibo stepped forward from the ranks, bowing respectfully. “Your subject is here.”
The Emperor gave a pointed hint. “Do you have nothing you wish to say today?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty: your humble subject has nothing to submit.”
“Very well. We heard that your fourth daughter suffered an accidental fall into water a few days ago. Is she recovering well?”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious concern. My daughter has fully recovered and returned to the Imperial Academy for her studies.”
“That is good to hear.”
The Emperor paused, then raised a hand. “Court is adjourned.”
As Tong Baibo and Tong Yibin walked out through the palace gates together, footsteps hurried behind them. Tong Baibo glanced over, it was Lin Yu, the Minister of Justice.
Tong Baibo had little personal dealing with him; their only connection was that Tong Yibin served under him in the Ministry of Justice.
“Minister Lin, is something the matter?” Tong Baibo asked politely.
Lin Yu had run so fast that sweat beaded across his forehead. He lifted his sleeve to wipe it away, and caught by Tong Baibo’s sharp, questioning gaze, he waved his hands hurriedly. “Nothing, nothing at all!”
“Then may I take my leave?”
“Please, Marquis Tong, after you.”
Once they had walked several paces away, Tong Baibo lowered his voice to ask Tong Yibin, “Did you have a falling out with Lin Yu?”
Tong Yibin pursed his lips and stared at his father. He couldn’t shake the feeling that ever since the family had gained the ability to hear his fourth sister’s inner voice, everyone had started acting rather bizarre.
“No,” Tong Yibin replied.
“Then what was that about?”
“Father, let us just focus on doing our jobs properly.”
Tong Aobai: “?”
Don’t you go copying your little sister’s nonsense!
“Achoo!”
Tong Anying rubbed her nose.
Strange, why did I sneeze out of nowhere?
Tong Fengye grew tense. “Fourth Sister, you haven’t caught a cold, have you?”
Reaching out, he tested her forehead for a fever.
“I don’t think so,” Tong Anying murmured, tugging at her layers. “I’m bundled up nice and thick. Don’t worry, Third Brother.”
“Good.” Her forehead wasn’t warm; he was probably overthinking it.
Tong Anying glanced around. “Where’s Feng Chu? How come he hasn’t come over to pick a fight with you?”
Feng Chu was Tong Fengye’s sworn nemesis. The moment class let out, no matter where Tong Fengye went, Feng Chu would inevitably appear at his side to stir up trouble.
“I haven’t the foggiest,” Tong Fengye replied.
Tong Anying leaned in, her curiosity piqued, and whispered, “Third Brother, how on earth did you and Feng Chu become bitter enemies in the first place?”
“I can’t say.”
“Huh?” Tong Anying pointed to her own nose. “Not even to your own dear sister?”
“Of course not! I am a man of my word who honors his promises.”
What could possibly turn Feng Chu against a promise-keeping saint? System, it’s your time to shine!
Turns out Feng Chu wet the bed when he was little and only confided in my third brother. Yet by the very next day, the entire capital knew! Tsk, tsk, tsk.
“Uh.” Tong Fengye opened his mouth to stop her, but it was already too late. Well, she couldn’t blame him for breaking his oath now!
Feng Chu actually severed ties with my third brother by cutting his robes on the spot?
Tong Anying pictured two little toddlers: one chubby-handed toddler aggressively miming cutting his garments, while the other stood there utterly bewildered.
The visual was simply too hilarious.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Tong Fengye: “?”
What on earth is my sister laughing at?
Tong Anying patted his shoulder, holding back her chuckles to offer comfort. “Third Brother, you’ve truly suffered.”
Tong Fengye touched his cheek. “Not really.”
Third Brother, you have no idea! You were framed! The one who leaked the bedwetting secret was Feng Chu’s stepmother all along!
That stepmother is truly insidious, scheming against a child so young. What’s wrong with a kid wetting the bed anyway? My third brother even—
“Fourth Sister!” Tong Fengye frantically grabbed her hand to derail her train of thought.
Tong Anying blinked. “What is it?”
“Look over there.”
Following his pointing finger, she froze, wasn’t that Feng Chu walking straight toward them?
He’s coming! He’s actually coming over!
To avoid the blast radius, Tong Anying scrambled up instantly. “Take care of yourself, Third Brother! I’m out of here!”
Once she was a safe distance away, she exhaled in relief. Feng Chu really never wavers from his mission.
Feng Chu didn’t pursue her. Instead, he stopped right in front of Tong Fengye and stammered awkwardly, “I’m here to make peace with you.”
“Huh?” Tong Fengye poked himself in the chest. “With me?”
Feng Chu nodded earnestly. Looking into his eyes, Tong Fengye could actually see glimmers of their long-lost childhood brotherhood.
What in heaven’s name was this farce?
Tong Fengye turned on his heel to leave.
“Fengye.”
Tong Fengye shot back fiercely, “When I was down in the dusk, you weren’t there; now that I’m rising at dawn, who the hell are you?”
Feng Chu: “?”
Tong Anying: “?”
Is that phrase even native to this dynasty?
***
After class dismissed, Tong Fengye trudged toward the gates with leaden steps, clutching his test results.
Tong Anying kindly offered her consolation: “Third Brother, don’t take it to heart. It’s merely a minor setback.”
Once you climb over this mountain, you’ll realize there’s a whole range of taller ones waiting right behind it!
Tong Fengye: “?”
“Fengye, it’s fine! Marquis Tong won’t beat you!” Feng Chu chimed in helpfully.
Tong Fengye: “?”
It was bad enough being consoled by his sister, but where did Feng Chu who had scored second to last get the nerve to lecture him?
Shrugging Feng Chu’s hand off his shoulder, Tong Fengye snapped, “I haven’t made up with you yet!”
The moment the two siblings stepped outside the academy gates, both halted in their tracks.
Tong Fengye rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating. Why was his father standing beside their carriage?
Tong Anying instinctively looked for an escape route.
“Fengye, Anying, come here.”
There was no escaping now.
Forcing a sweet, docile smile, Tong Anying sidled up to Tong Baibo and Su Zhouyue. “Father, Mother, what brings you here?”
Su Zhouyue said, “Aren’t your grades being posted today? Your father suggested taking you both out for a meal at Zuixiang Pavilion.”
There’s actually such a treat?
Her gluttonous instincts taking over, Tong Anying tossed all thoughts of her test scores to the wind and scrambled eagerly into the carriage.
Tong Baibo looked at Tong Fengye. “Well? Aren’t you getting in?”
Tong Fengye steeled his resolve.
Even if a thrashing awaited him, he might as well fill his belly first!
Upon arriving at Zuixiang Pavilion and entering the private dining room on the second floor, Tong Anying and Tong Fengye were surprised to find their eldest brother, second sister, and fifth younger sibling already seated inside.
Whoa, a full-blown family gathering!
Tong Anying squeezed into the seat next to Tong Yi’an. Just then, a familiar voice drifted in from the corridor outside.
Ho! Isn’t that my blind-as-a-bat brother-in-law?
Tong Anying cast a glance at Tong Siyuan. Seeing her second sister sitting with an unruffled, poised expression, she felt greatly relieved.
Aha! So, this whole dinner is actually a Hongmen banquet set up for that scumbag!
A Hongmen banquet?
Tong Siyuan casually adjusted her flowing sleeves. Cui Heng had dared to fool around behind her back and act like a tyrant over her head.
Given the spread prepared for today, she doubted he would survive long enough to swallow a single bite.