#16 - Who wants you to like it?

"Wen Shan, you've been at the border for nearly ten years. You've worked hard all these years."

After seeing Wang Xuan off, the old lady held a reception banquet, but only the masters and mistresses of the two houses were allowed to sit at the table.

"Serving the country at the border, Wen Shan dares not say it's hard," Zhao Wenshan said with a fist salute.

"Hahaha, I heard that Wen Shan followed General Chen and broke through the Northern Wilderness's army with a thousand riders. In the court, who doesn't praise you?" Xu Zheng said with a smile.

Zhao Wenshan shook his head: "All this is thanks to General Chen. At that time, I was just acting on orders."

"Wen Shan is too modest." Qin Ruhai toasted Zhao Wenshan with a glass of wine, "Today, Wen Shan returns to the capital, and it just so happens that the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is vacant."

Zhao Wenshan interrupted: "Brother-in-law, how can we speculate on the emperor's appointment? Wen Shan will listen to the emperor's dispatch."

"Hahaha, yes, yes, come, let's drink, let's drink." Qin Ruhai knew he had misspoke and raised his glass again.

"Today is really a day of great joy." The old lady said with a smile, "Not only has Wen Shan returned, but Qingwan is also a Innate Saint Body, and our Xuenuo is also a Innate Sword Bone. It's really a blessing from heaven for our Xu and Qin families."

Zhao Wenshan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then stood up and bowed to the old lady: "Old lady, there is something Wen Shan doesn't know whether to say or not?"

Looking at Zhao Wenshan's serious appearance, Xu Zheng and the others exchanged glances. The old lady nodded: "Wen Shan, just say it. We are all family, what can't be said?"

"Then Wen Shan will be frank."

Zhao Wenshan stood up.

"Back then, Duke Xu and Duke Qin followed the late emperor, fighting in all directions and establishing the Wu Kingdom. Our Wu Kingdom was founded on martial arts. Which man in every household can't wield a knife or sword?

But for more than two hundred years, the descendants of the two families have been wealthy for too long and have lost the bloodiness of the past.

Wen Shan is at the border and can hear what the descendants of the Xu and Qin families are doing in the capital.

Now the old empress dowager remembers the old relationship and takes care of our two families.

But if the old empress dowager ascends to immortality one day, where will the Xu and Qin families go?

The old lady frowned: "Wen Shan, what do you mean?"

Zhao Wenshan took a deep breath: "Now the Wu Kingdom is surrounded by enemies and has internal and external troubles. His Majesty is determined to reform, and this is the time to employ people. The descendants of our Xu and Qin families should study literature and martial arts to share the worries of the country, instead of going in and out of pleasure places every day and being recklessly prodigal."

After Zhao Wenshan finished speaking, the atmosphere on the dining table seemed a bit heavy, and the old lady's face was not very good either.

Zhao Wenshan almost put the words "improper family style" on the faces of the Xu and Qin families.

"Hahaha, Wen Shan, you're taking it too seriously."

Xu Zheng pulled Zhao Wenshan to sit down.

"Our mansion has a school to teach the children of the two clans, but passing the imperial examination is not something you can pass just because you want to.

As for practicing martial arts, Wen Shan, you also know that not everyone can bear it.

Besides, wasn't the wealth that Duke Xu and Duke Qin fought for all their lives for the sake of their descendants?

Shouldn't we enjoy it well?

"Brother Xu—"

"Wen Shan, Qingwan is already a personal disciple of the national teacher, and our Xu and Qin families have gained a firm foothold. You are really worrying too much. Drink, drink." Zhao Wenshan had just opened his mouth when Xu Zheng pulled him to sit down next to him, then smiled and shouted at the dancers in the courtyard, "Don't stop, keep playing, keep dancing."

Zhao Wenshan glanced at the laughing people on the table, then looked at the scantily clad dancers, and sighed heavily in his heart, taking a big drink.

In the afternoon, while his mother was taking a nap in the room, Xu Ming continued to fight with the Tianxuan Goose in the yard.

Every punch and kick of Xu Ming's stirred up a sky full of wind and snow.

But after half an incense stick, Xu Ming was still suppressed on the ground by the Tianxuan Goose.

[You fought with the Tianxuan Goose, Agility +20, Strength +20, Combat Experience with Poultry +20]

"Get up, get up, I'm going for a run."

Xu Ming drove away the Tianxuan Goose on his body, stood up, and patted the wind and snow.

The Tianxuan Goose put its wings on its hips and raised its head: "Goose, goose, goose (How is it? Are you convinced?)"

"I'm convinced now, but I won't be convinced later." Xu Ming didn't know how he could understand its goose calls, but it felt quite wonderful. "I'm going for a run. If my mother wakes up, come and remind me quickly."

"Goose ~ (Okay.)" The Tianxuan Goose called out, then ran to its nest and lay down.

Xu Ming ran towards the outside of the yard.

Usually, while his mother was sleeping, Xu Ming would run about five hundred meters from the entrance of Xiaochun Courtyard and then run back, running back and forth non-stop.

When his mother woke up, the Tianxuan Goose would come to find him, and he would return in time, so he wouldn't be scolded by his mother.

Running and running, Xu Ming suddenly found Xu Xuenuo sitting by the lake.

Xu Xuenuo sat by the lake, occasionally pinching a snowball and smashing it on the lake.

Xu Xuenuo's nose was red, and tears fell in large drops.

Xu Ming planned to sneak back, but Xu Xuenuo looked back.

Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo stared at each other awkwardly.

Xu Xuenuo was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes indiscriminately, pouting her small mouth, and stubbornly said: "I, I didn't cry."

Xu Ming said speechlessly: "I didn't say you were crying either."

Xu Xuenuo: "."

Xu Ming walked over: "Aren't you attending the family banquet with your mother?"

Xu Xuenuo turned her head: "The family banquet is over, I'm just taking a walk."

"Then you've walked far enough," Xu Ming complained in his heart.

"Do you want to sit in Xiaochun Courtyard?" Xu Ming invited.

"No." Xu Xuenuo hummed.

"Oh." Xu Ming ignored her and planned to continue running back.

"Xu Ming." Just as Xu Ming was about to leave, Xu Xuenuo stopped Xu Ming.

Xu Ming: "What's wrong?"

"Aren't you sad?" Xu Xuenuo asked.

Xu Ming: "Sad about what?"

Xu Xuenuo pouted: "Of course it's about your root bone, you can't cultivate."

"What's there to be sad about? Life is not just about cultivation. On the contrary, that big sister said you are a very powerful Innate Sword Bone, what are you crying about?" Xu Ming asked curiously.

Xu Xuenuo twisted her small fingers: "What's the use of having an Innate Sword Bone? I can't help my brother get the title of Duke Xu, and I'm going to be kicked out of the house."

"It's not being kicked out of the house, it's being removed from the Xu family, so that you won't be affected by the national fortune of the Wu Kingdom." As he spoke, Xu Ming stroked his chin, "It seems like it's almost the same."

"You—" Xu Xuenuo's eyes were filled with tears, and she wanted to cry again.

"Alright, alright, you're going to be a great sword immortal in the future, and what does it have to do with you if your brother doesn't get the title? It's your brother who is not up to par," Xu Ming comforted.

"Of course it has something to do with me." Xu Xuenuo wiped her eyes, "If I were very powerful, my brother would be able to get the title, and my mother would like me. Now my brother doesn't like me, and my mother doesn't like me, no one likes me—"

"Who said no one likes you?" Xu Ming counted on his fingers, "Look, Madam Qin likes you, Qingwan likes you, my mother likes you, even the big white goose likes you."

Xu Xuenuo blinked her eyes and looked at Xu Ming.

"What's wrong?" Xu Ming asked.

Xu Xuenuo didn't speak, still staring straight at Xu Ming.

"." Xu Ming's eyebrows twitched, "Alright, I like you too."

"Hmph." Xu Xuenuo turned her head, wiped away her tears, "Who wants you to like me?"