The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 297: 164 Father and Son (First Update)

Marquis Xuanping held the fox-fur hand warmer in his hands, nonchalantly getting into the carriage.

Observers would find it hard to associate this serene and graceful man with a first-rank warlord who orchestrates strategies from behind the scenes, winning battles from thousands of miles away.

“To the residence,” he ordered.

The carriage started moving.

The horses of Marquis Xuanping’s residence were reputed to cover a thousand li in a day, their mere presence often intimidating other horses on the road into retreating.

The cold wind bit harshly, ruffling the elaborately embroidered curtains of the carriage.

Marquis Xuanping sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, seemingly in deep thought.

However, sensing something, he opened his eyes and said, “Stop the carriage.”

The carriage halted.

Xuanping lifted the curtain to look back. Besides an ordinary-looking carriage, there was nothing else to see.

“My Lord, is something amiss?” one of his personal guards asked.

His expression dubious, he let the curtain fall, “Nothing, let’s proceed to the residence.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

The carriage gradually moved away and, this time, it did not stop again.

After what felt like an eternity, Xiao Liulang finally released his tight grip on Xiao Jingkong’s hand that he had been holding from the carriage which Marquis Xuanping had looked back at.

Jingkong immediately jumped to three feet away, glaring resentfully at his vexatious brother-in-law, “Why were you holding me so tight? Why didn’t you let me get onto the carriage, and why did you cover my mouth? Were you planning something unspeakable?”

Xiao Liulang, withdrawing his gaze in the distance, looked at Jingkong, “Where did you learn those words? Don’t misuse them.”

Stamped his foot and hands on his hips, Jingkong protested, “You are clearly in the wrong here, and yet you’re questioning where I learned my words?”

Humph!

I’m going to complain to Jiaojiao!

Xiao Liulang once again stared off in the direction of the retreating carriage before leading Jingkong onto the carriage they had rented from the marketplace.

Xiao Liulang was quite silent on their way back.

Even though Xiao Liulang was naturally reticent, Xiao Jingkong could vaguely sense that his brother-in-law wasn’t feeling quite right.

He performed similarly when he first met Granduncle.

But this time seemed even more severe than the last.@@novelbin@@

Was he hiding from someone he knew again?

Crossing his arms in front of him, Jingkong fell into deep thought.

About two quarters of an hour later, the carriage arrived at Bishui Alley. Jingkong quickly jumped off, “Jiaojiao! I’m back!”

Well, he was still a child; a thought could easily slip away from his mind.

Fen Lin and Lin Chengye came over today, mainly because Lin Chengye was visiting.

“Spring Examinations are coming, quickly, let me bribe . . . bribe . . . mistress,” Lin Chengye, holding several boxes of local specialties, said it to Gu Jiao slowly.

Because Xiao Liulang was his master, Gu Jiao could be considered as his mistress.

His mistress who was younger than him.

In order to prevent himself from stuttering too much, Lin Chengye spoke very slowly.

He wasn’t like most people. Yet Gu Jiao showed no surprise and calmly accepted his gift, “Thank you, come in and sit.”

Lin Chengye thought that the little mistress was nice.

Very nice.

Gu Jiao handed over the snacks she had prepared. Lin Chengye took a bite and his eyes widened in delight, “Goo-good, delicious!”

He got too excited and stuttered.

His face instantly turned red and he felt too embarrassed to find a hole to crawl into.

Gu Jiao’s expression remained unchanged; she pushed the dish forward a bit, “There’s more at home, I’ll pack a couple of boxes for you later.”

Lin Chengye breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, he couldn’t hide that he stuttered anymore. Not everyone would mean to harm him, many of them would sympathize with him.

But he didn’t need sympathy.

He hoped to be treated like an ordinary person.

Gu Jiao’s attitude provided Lin Chengye with a comfort he had never experienced before.

In fact, Xiao Liulang also treated him the same way, but his stern teacher persona was rather intimidating to Lin Chengye and so he felt more comfortable around Gu Jiao.

“You are not going home this New Year, right?” Gu Jiao asked him.

Lin Chengye nodded, “Immi-immidiately, spring . . . exams, my father, ask-asked me . . . to study . . . in Capital City.”

The affluent Lin Family had bought a house near Guozijian, a school district house for him to spend New Year, not too far from Bishui Alley.

Fen Lin would be staying in Guozijian as well.

Lin Chengye and Fen Lin stayed in the same lodge on weekdays. Seeing the holidays were near, Lin Chengye did not want to leave Fen Lin alone in the cold Guozijian, so he invited Fen Lin to stay at his place.

“I don’t . . . think I should . . . I have to tell Liulang first.” Fen Lin mainly thought Xiao Liulang would want him to stay here, rather than bother Lin Chengye.

Honestly, he preferred to stay here, because Jiaojiao’s cooking was better!

Lin Chengye said, “I asked . . . Liulang, he . . . agreed . . . for you to come.”