The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Chapter 131



Zong Yan.

He was the second son of the Yangyuan Marquis Manor, the twin brother of Zong Zhao. It was said that the old madam had married into the manor for many years before finally conceiving, and she had nearly lost her life giving birth to these two children.

Xu Wan watched as the old madam trembled to her feet, reaching out to touch the young boy. Zong Wenxiu didn’t understand why his grandmother had suddenly burst into tears, but when he heard his father’s name, he obediently stood before her and softly called out, “Grandmother…”

Tears streamed down the old madam’s face as she caressed little Wenxiu’s cheeks. “You are Yan’er’s child. You are Yan’er’s child. My lord, he truly is Yan’er’s flesh and blood.”

Behind her, the old marquis also rose to his feet and approached. The usually unshakable old general could no longer contain himself as he supported the old madam, his voice heavy with emotion. “Yes, he is Yan’er’s child.”

Zong Wenxiu’s appearance resembled Auntie Hong, and his personality did too. Perhaps it was because he had grown up in the slums, but when he was first brought back, he was timid, insecure, and fearful—a stark contrast to Zong Yan’s bold confidence.

If it weren’t for pitying Auntie Hong as Zong Yan’s only widow, they would never have registered Wenxiu under Zong Yan’s name. Yet, to their surprise, Wenxiu truly was their grandson.

“Heavens… that is my grandson. What have I done? What have I done…” The old madam couldn’t bear the shock, staggering backward as if she might collapse.

“Grandmother!” “Grandmother!”

“Madam!”

Seeing the old madam faint, the old marquis quickly scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom, shouting toward the door, “Call the house physician at once!”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Xu Wan and the two children followed. The house physician had already entered to take her pulse, but Xu Wan worried that too many people in the room would disturb him, so she led the children to wait anxiously by the door.

Zong Jincheng, confused, asked, “What’s wrong with Grandmother? Why did she cry and faint as soon as she saw my brother?”

The little troublemaker scrutinized Zong Wenxiu for a moment before declaring earnestly, “Brother, you haven’t changed at all. You’ve just grown a bit taller in the past five months. Your nose is still a nose, and your eyes are still eyes.”

Xu Wan: “…”

What else could they be? Did he expect him to sprout wings?

Zong Wenxiu shook his head. “I don’t know, but I heard Grandmother call out Father’s name. Maybe seeing me reminded her of him.”

Zong Wenxiu was a sensitive soul. He had heard the old madam’s final words clearly—words that confirmed he was indeed his father’s child. But before that, whose child had they thought he was?

His face grew paler by the second. He didn’t dare dwell on the question, repeating to himself the words his mother had told him: no matter the circumstances, as long as he was his father’s child, he could still have this wonderful family.

Xu Wan patted his shoulder. “Don’t overthink it. When your grandmother wakes up, she might call you over to talk. You can ask her anything then.”

Zong Wenxiu nodded. “Thank you, Aunt Xu. I won’t overthink it.”

“Overthink what? I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” the little troublemaker interjected, his big head leaning in.

Xu Wan replied indifferently, “Nothing important.”

A vague, unconfirmed suspicion wasn’t worth sharing with a little troublemaker who could stir up trouble at any moment.

Zong Jincheng: “!”

This feeling again. So annoying.

They were speaking in riddles right in front of him.

Hmph, they were just bullying him for being young and inexperienced.

When he grew up, he’d understand everything!

After a while, there was movement in the room. The house physician had administered a few acupuncture needles, and the old madam had regained consciousness.

The two children were eager to go in, but Xu Wan held them back.

She figured the old madam would have much to discuss with the old marquis, or at least she’d want to see Wenxiu or Auntie Hong alone to clear up her doubts.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the old marquis came out and instructed, “Send for Auntie Hong.”

Zong Wenxiu stiffened, wanting to ask what was going on.

But the old marquis forced a smile and said to them, “Xu Wan, take the children to get something to eat. Your mother-in-law is fine. She just needs some rest.”

Xu Wan thought to herself, *No juicy gossip for me.*

“Alright, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‍we won’t disturb her rest,” she replied obediently, about to lead the children away.

Then Zong Wenxiu hesitated and asked, “Can’t I stay?”

He had a feeling that Grandmother calling for his mother had something to do with his father.

He wanted to hear it too.

The old marquis looked at him, seeing the same stubbornness in his expression that Zong Yan had once shown. It was uncanny. How had they been so blinded by appearances before?

He gave Wenxiu a meaningful glance and said, “Go ahead. When your grandmother has sorted things out, she’ll tell you.”

“Alright,” Zong Wenxiu agreed, finally following Xu Wan obediently.

Though they were told to go eat pastries, both Zong Wenxiu and Xu Wan found them tasteless. Only Zong Jincheng, carefree as ever, devoured them with gusto, occasionally offering some to his brother.

Zong Wenxiu held a pile of pastries in his hands but didn’t take a single bite, his anxiety growing with each passing moment.

Seeing the little troublemaker still searching for more pastries to stuff into his brother’s hands, Xu Wan tapped his hand and reminded him, “Stop. Can’t you see he’s not eating?”

Zong Jincheng glared at her but then noticed his brother’s dazed expression, clearly lost in thought.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Xu Wan shot back, “Why are you so full of energy? Maybe you should go do a couple of practice exams to calm down.”

Zong Jincheng immediately flared up. “I told you, it’s a three-day break! The tutors have gone home, and you still want me to do exams? Do you have no heart? Are you always this unreasonable?”

Xu Wan retorted, “Nope. What’s a heart? Can I eat it?”

Zong Jincheng: “...You’re shameless.”

“Takes one to know one.”

The mother and son bickered back and forth, making the time pass quickly. Soon, Cui Zhi came to inform them that Auntie Hong had left the old madam’s room, and the entire visit hadn’t even lasted fifteen minutes.

Upon hearing this, Zong Wenxiu immediately stood up and rushed toward Auntie Hong’s courtyard. Zong Jincheng wanted to follow, but Xu Wan grabbed him.

Zong Jincheng glared at her furiously. “Are you looking for a fight?”

Xu Wan raised an eyebrow. “Can you even beat me?”

Zong Jincheng gritted his teeth. “Just you wait. When I’m taller than you, beating you will be a piece of cake!”

Xu Wan glanced at his current height and sighed disappointedly. “Oh, that’s going to take a few more years.”

“!” Zong Jincheng was fuming.

His chest heaved as he realized he was no match for Xu Wan in a war of words. He turned to leave. “I’m not arguing with you. I’m going to find my brother.”

From the old marquis’s perspective, they had once believed Wenxiu wasn’t Zong Yan’s child, which was why the two boys had been treated so differently. Even so, they hadn’t mistreated Wenxiu—they just hadn’t doted on him as they had with Jincheng. For over a hundred chapters, I’ve avoided mentioning the age gap between Zong Yan and Wenxiu, not wanting readers to assume, like the old marquis, that Wenxiu wasn’t his son. Poor little angel has suffered enough; I didn’t want to make it worse. So, as the responsible author, I’ve been carrying this illogical burden for over a hundred chapters. Well, I’ve got a few other burdens to carry too, but that’s fine—I’ll shoulder them all!


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