FID – Chapter 209

Liu Zhixia’s return has made the Liu family lively again.

The children were studying in the capital of the prefecture, so they could only come back a few times a year. except for the New Year holidays, almost all of them could only come back once every two or three months, and the family missed them.

After sweeping his eyes around the dinner table occupied by several new faces, Liu Zhixia showed no surprise at all.

His grandparents were hospitable, and every time he returned, he could almost always see a fresh face at the dinner table.

Most of them were even Nannan’s patients. And, when meal times arrived, they would welcome and serve them together.

After a brief introduction between each other, the next was the picture of grabbing food.

The battle shook Liu Zhixia to the outside and the inside. If it weren’t for Nannan’s nimble hands, which served him a few dishes several times, he wouldn’t have eaten enough for this meal.

“Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, uncle and aunt, I will participate in the exam in August this year.” Liu Zhixia dared to speak only after he was full. Otherwise, he would have nothing to eat after he finished speaking.

“Are you sure? Are you quite sure?” Liu Dalin asked.

Liu Zhixia nodded. “My teacher said I am expected to try the exam. After studying for so many years, I don’t want to waste the opportunity in vain.”

Autumn exams were held once every three years. He didn’t want to miss out and then wait another three years.

When the Liu family heard this, they were happy and worried.

They were happy that their child has achieved success in learning.

Their worry was that he wanted to go down this career path – the official water was deep.

If possible, they wished the whole family to be mediocre and simple, and live happily for a lifetime.

But children have their own reasons and ambitions that they should support.

Not to mention Axiu, who worked for the court. Their family has long been devoid of peace as before.

If Zhixia could really make achievements in his official career, he could be a helping hand to Axiu.

Grandpa Liu patted the table. “Go ahead and take the exam well. Since you decided to take this path, give it your best. No matter if it works out or not, home is always here.”

“I will, Grandpa.” Liu Zhixia smiled, and the weight pressing his heart silently vanished.

He knew that no matter whether his path was boundless or treacherous, his family would stand behind him.

For Liu Zhixia’s participation in the imperial examinations, Qian Wanjin had not that many concerns of the Liu family. He only felt happy, patting Liu Zhixia’s shoulders. “Zhixia, take the exam. If you go to the capital in the future, I will cover you.”

“Fine, if I can really go to the capital, I will find you as a backer.”

“No problem!”

Feng Mohan secretly pursed his lips on the side.

If he really wanted to find a backer, he should also look for him.

What could Qian Wanjin cover? Cover Liu Zhixia to eat and drink?

Would people engaged in officialdom still be afraid of lacking food and drink?

He was downright simple-minded.

But the simple-mindedness in the eyes of others was a rare and precious sincerity to Shi Xianrou’s.

This sincerity alone made her want to spoil a certain fool.

After the meal, the family sat and chattered for a while, then each washed up and went to bed.

Feng Qingbai sat in the room, lighting up some dim oil lamps and waiting quietly.

Not long after, the door of the secret passage was pushed open with a creak.

Feng Qingbai looked towards the person who came. “Here you are.”

“Hmm.”

Liu Zhixia walked over and sat opposite Feng Qingbai.

Without much conversation, Feng Qingbai knew he would come, and Lu Zhixia knew he would wait for his arrival.

There were many things they could and must discuss between them.

Last time at the entrance of the academy, it was too inconvenient to delve into detailed questions. But within this time in the academy, he hasn’t been able to calm.

After thinking about many things, he came back this time and made up his mind to ask Feng Qingbai about the matter.

No matter which aspect, he did not want any concealment, especially the part about Nannan.

“What exactly is your relationship with Nannan now?” Liu Zhixia broached directly.

He fixed his eyes on the other party, not allowing a single hint to slip through.

Feng Qingbai stared back frankly. “It’s what you think.”

“You bastard, you’ve been hitting on our Nannan for a long time!” Liu Zhixia’s complexion instantly sank. His anger surged, and he raised his fist and swung it towards that handsome face. However the man raised his hand to block it.

“If you want to hit me, don’t hit my face. Feel free to hit other places. If I suffer injuries on the face, Shengsheng will be worried and embarrassed to see it.”

Liu Zhixia paused. He hated to draw his hand back, and it took a long deep breath for him to calm down.

“Nannan is not suitable for that kind of life. Your environment is too complicated. If you truly love and cherish her, you shouldn’t pull her into the depths of fire!”

“I won’t force Shengsheng to adapt to that kind of environment. I will transform it to suit her survival. But you can’t use that as a reason for me to give her up, no way.”

“Transform the environment? That’s easy to say but never easy to do. Don’t shoot off your tongue if you can’t do it,” Liu Zhixia snickered, not believing it at all.

“You can wait and see. Zhixia, I love Shengsheng. I can do anything for her, including giving her my life! Since I have bared my feelings for Shengsheng, I will never allow anyone to separate me from her, including you.”

Feng Qingbai did not retreat half a step, and his eyes glowed with strength and resolution.

He would never give Shengsheng up. She could only be his.

“I’ll take your words to heart. But if I find out that she won’t be happy with you, I will never give her into your hands. If you can’t stand by your vow, then it’s bullshit.”

Before leaving and walking to the door, Liu Zhixia turned around and asked the man again, “Can you tell me exactly what your identity is?”

Feng Qingbai raised his eyes. “The King of Nanling.”

After the man left, Feng Qingbai tapped the desk and whispered, “Come out.”

A black shadow appeared in front of the table like a ghost and knelt down to the ground. “Wei Lan of the Hidden Guard Battalion, pays courtesy to Master.”

“I told you to meet with Wei Hong. I didn’t tell you to come here and report in person.”

Wei Lan buried his head and dared not speak.

He had indeed come over privately.

He was afraid that if he never showed up in front of his master, his master would not even remember him.

A forgotten hidden guard, would he still be a hidden guard?

“Speak.”

Fortunately, his master didn’t pursue it. Wei Lan secretly heaved a sigh of relief and reported all the things he had found in the past few days.

“There are indeed some people behind  Wang Chengbin. After Master arrived in Xinghua Village, Pu Ting, a disciple of Elder Xiang, arrived in Xiangshan County almost at the same time. He stayed in Wang Chengbin’s house for a few days and later moved to an inn in town. He is still currently staying there. Within this period, he had constantly sent manpower to try to spy on Xinghua Village’s intel. When he failed to infiltrate, he started working on Wang Chengbin. I’m afraid that…the Lius have caught their attention.”

After a pause, Wei Lan asked, “Master, can we eliminate Pu Ting?”

As long as his master commanded, he would immediately go and capture Pu Ting.

Then, return to the base camp with merit!

Feng Qingbai curled up his index finger and tapped the table. The tapping sound haunted the whole room, not too tense and without any rush.

“No, for the time being, we can’t touch him.” As expected, Wei Lan was able to check so quickly. His enemy has done it deliberately, just waiting for his side to make a move.

Once they made a move, it would just show his concern for the Liu family, right into the other enemy’s scheme.