#55 - Miss, there is a letter for you (4000 words, two chapters in one)

The popularity of the three events—Demon Suppression City, Xu Xuenuo's breakthrough, and the reform of the imperial examination—gradually subsided.

The people of Wu Kingdom, after the excitement, continued to live their lives as usual.

For most people, their lives remained unchanged.

The Qi Kingdom's envoy group had returned to Qi Kingdom several days prior.

As a person who shone brightly at the banquet, Xu Ming certainly went to see off the Qi Kingdom's envoy group this time, not as an attendant, but as an envoy of Wu Kingdom.

However, at the time of parting, it was all the adults exchanging pleasantries, saying things like "Safe journey," "Come visit Qi Kingdom when you have time," and so on, with basically nothing for the younger generation to do.

This made Zhu Cici, standing beside her mother, extremely anxious.

She really wanted to talk to her little sweetheart.

Finally, she found an opportunity. Zhu Cici stepped forward to bid farewell to Xu Ming, then secretly stuffed a light pink jade pendant into Xu Ming's hand. Before Xu Ming could refuse, Zhu Cici quickly ran away.

Holding the jade pendant, Xu Ming was speechless at the time.

Was this a token of love?

After returning home, Xu Ming wondered how best to deal with this pink jade pendant.

Although it was very likely that she would forget about this matter when she grew up, and this matter might even become her embarrassing black history, the kind she wouldn't want to look back on.

But after all, it was a kindness from her, and she said that this jade pendant had the effect of nourishing the literary style, so Xu Ming wore it as a reward for saving her.

After that, Xu Ming also persisted in exercising every day.

When Xu Ming's Quicksilver Realm foundation was completely solid, Xu Ming came to Madame Wang's courtyard.

Madame Wang used the Wang family's recipe to prepare a body tempering medicine, poured the medicine into the water, and then let Xu Ming soak in it.

This was the most painful bath Xu Ming had ever taken.

Xu Ming felt as if he was in molten lava, and every piece of flesh on his body was about to peel off and melt.

Several times, Xu Ming couldn't help but scream in pain in the bathtub.

Moreover, no matter how painful it was, this prescription seemed to have a sobering effect, preventing you from fainting and forcing you to endure in the most conscious state!

Seeing that Xu Ming was about to lose control, Madame Wang shouted loudly: "Endure it! Quicksilver Realm body tempering cannot be abandoned halfway! Otherwise, your martial arts future will be ruined!"

Xu Ming could only grit his teeth, clench his fists tightly, and his fingernails dug into his flesh!

After a day and a night, the pain completely disappeared, and Xu Ming could no longer shout.

The originally red liquid in the bathtub had turned into a muddy mess, looking like a swamp, a bit disgusting, and very smelly.

Xu Ming felt that this should be the "pooping through pores" often described in novels.

Seeing that Xu Ming had survived, Wang Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Pangda quickly went to the courtyard to ask the maids to heat water for Xu Ming to take a good bath.

After Xu Ming washed himself clean, standing in front of the mirror, Xu Ming found that he had become a lot fairer, and he looked even better.

Xu Ming tried to throw a punch, and the speed and strength of the punch were much greater than before.

Moreover, Xu Ming felt that under his pretty boy appearance, whether it was skin, flesh, or bones, they were all more resilient.

Xu Ming had previously thought about whether he should specialize in swordsmanship and put martial arts aside, so that he might improve faster.

But now, Xu Ming abandoned this idea.

Specializing in swordsmanship or specializing in martial arts would definitely allow him to improve faster.

However, swordsmanship and martial arts both have their own advantages.

For example, the simplest thing is that sword cultivators have extremely strong offensive power, but their defensive power is not high.

But the physical strength of martial arts is well-known!

It is normal for ordinary people to only specialize in one, after all, a person's energy is limited.

But he was different.

He had a cheat, compared to ordinary people, he could walk well on both paths, although he would walk slower, but he would walk more steadily.

It's just that Xu Ming felt that he couldn't just wander around in the courtyard aimlessly like this.

Xu Ming wanted to join the army!

Although Wu Kingdom's culture has no recognition in the "international" community.

However, Wu Kingdom was established by martial arts, and every son of the family practiced martial arts. The reason why Wu Kingdom can become one of the top ten human dynasties is that the army's training is far ahead.

Every son of Wu Kingdom will receive systematic training as long as he joins the army.

Not to mention that for a martial artist, he needs to temper himself with blood energy.

The army is the place where blood energy is the most vigorous!

Moreover, Wu Kingdom's geographical environment is complex, bordering various dynasties, and there are also various monsters and beasts within its borders. As long as you join the army, you will definitely get various opportunities for actual combat.

This is not available in the comfortable life of the capital.

Only through every battle of blood and flesh can he improve faster.

As for the family.

His mother is very familiar with Consort Qin and Madame Wang, so it is impossible for her to be bullied. Moreover, his mother is known for being peaceful and detached from the world in the Xu residence.

Xu Ming told Madame Wang about his idea, but did not tell his mother directly.

Mainly because Xu Ming was afraid that his mother would not agree.

Xu Ming also wondered if he could get Madame Wang to persuade his mother.

Madame Wang understood Xu Ming's thoughts, knowing that Xu Ming wanted to temper himself with the energy of the army and wanted to have more experience.

After all, in a peaceful environment, powerful martial artists cannot emerge.

Since ancient times, which powerful martial artist has not been killed from blood?

"Xu Ming, in fact, you don't have to take this path at all." Wang Feng shook her head, "Now that the imperial examination system has changed, with your talent and current fame, it will be absolutely beneficial for you to become an official in the future. Why hang your head on your waist every day?"

"That's right, but aunt, my ambition is not in the court. I'm really not used to the various intrigues in the court. It's better to be a straightforward martial artist and be more free." Xu Ming explained.

Of course, Xu Ming didn't say everything.

Xu Ming really didn't want to be an official. The dirty things in the court were very annoying.

However, Xu Ming didn't just want to be a martial artist.

Martial arts is just a means to enhance himself.

Madame Wang looked directly at Xu Ming, tapping the table with her fingers, thinking seriously:

"I can help you persuade your mother, but you also have to promise me one thing."

"Aunt, please speak." Xu Ming nodded.

"You must participate in next year's children's examination and the provincial examination the year after, and only if you pass the provincial examination can I let you enter the army." Wang Feng said seriously to Xu Ming.

Hearing Wang Feng's words, Xu Ming was stunned for a moment.

But soon, Xu Ming understood his proud aunt's good intentions.

Aunt wanted to make him a provincial graduate, have a way out, and then go the way ahead.

If the path of martial arts can't go on in the future, he has the status of a provincial graduate, plus his current reputation, the Xu residence can help, even if the Xu residence doesn't help, the Wang family can exert some force, and he can get a leisurely job.

Moreover, if he has the status of a provincial graduate, and then goes to the military camp to hone himself, if he really wants to mix in the court in the future, whether it is a civil official or a military officer, he will have a lot of affinity.

I have to say, aunt thinks really far ahead.

"I promise you, aunt." Xu Ming nodded.

"That's it, don't mention this matter to your mother first, I will naturally say it later, anyway, you probably won't pass the provincial examination." Wang Feng waved her hand.

Xu Ming smiled, knowing that his aunt was acting proud again. She was afraid that he would tell his mother in advance, and his mother would be sad to learn that he was leaving. Rather than that, it was better to say it later.

Another four seasons.

On this day, Xu Ming was nine years old.

On his ninth birthday, Xu Ming received a package.

The person who sent the package said that he came from the Yunyi Marquis Mansion in Qi Kingdom.

"Marquis Yunyi?"

Xu Ming thought carefully before remembering that this was Zhu Cici's father's title.

Xu Ming opened the package and saw a bracelet inside. The bracelet had two dice hanging on it, each with a red bean pressed on it.

"Dice inlaid with red beans, do you know how deep my love is?"

In Xu Ming's mind, a poem suddenly appeared.

And this poem exists in this world, written by a woman from Qi Kingdom named Qi Yun.

"Really, she's only ten years old, how can ancient girls be so precocious?"

Looking at this bracelet, Xu Ming could already imagine a ten-year-old girl carefully pressing red beans into the dice under the lamplight and stringing them together with red silk.

Xu Ming put away the bracelet and wore it on his hand.

Xu Ming didn't feel strange at all that Zhu Cici knew his birthday.

Because the pretend marriage contract that Zhu Cici wrote at the time had his birthdate on it.

It's just that Xu Ming didn't take it seriously at all, but he didn't expect Zhu Cici to always remember it.

Xu Ming felt very sorry, and quickly took out that marriage contract. Seeing that there were still more than two months before Zhu Cici's birthday, Xu Ming felt a little relieved.

Sending something to Qi Kingdom these two days, although the journey is far away, two months should be enough to send it.

For such a literary girl, Xu Ming wrote a poem as a birthday gift.

After writing this poem, Xu Ming felt something was wrong again.

He sent her a poem about lovesickness, wouldn't that deepen their feelings?

If this continues, what was originally just childish banter might, as they grow older, actually come true.

After a moment's thought, Xu Ming decided to keep the poem and instead wrote a simple letter.

In the letter, Xu Ming stated that he would soon be joining the army and would no longer live in the Xu residence, so there was no need to send him birthday gifts anymore.

Finally, while Tianxuan Goose was still sleeping, Xu Ming picked out a dozen or so feathers from its body and plucked them to make a Jianzi (shuttlecock).

"Fifth Brother, Mr. Fang has come to see you. He's in the main hall, apparently about the upcoming Children's Examination," Xu Xiaopang said as he walked in.

"Alright, I understand. I'll go over there now," Xu Ming nodded. "Third Brother, please help me pack up this Jianzi and this letter and give them to our aunt. Ask her to send them to the Yunyi Marquis's residence in Qi Kingdom. It's a birthday gift for Miss Zhu Cici."

"Okay, okay, leave it to me. Fifth Brother, you go ahead," Xu Pangda nodded, carefully taking the letter and Jianzi.

After Xu Ming left, Xu Pangda was about to return to his own affairs and complete the task his fifth brother had entrusted to him as soon as possible.

However, Xu Pangda noticed a blank sheet of paper on the table, with what appeared to be writing on it.

Xu Pangda walked over, and on the unfolded paper was a poem:

"I never knew longing in my life, but now that I do, I'm consumed by it. My body is like drifting clouds, my heart like flying catkins, my breath like a fading thread, leaving only a wisp of lingering fragrance. I yearn for my beloved, but where is she? When will this feeling subside? When the lamp is half-dim, when the moon is half-bright."

After reading it, Xu Pangda trembled all over.

This poem is so cheesy.

But it's so well-written.

"Fifth Brother said it's a birthday gift for Miss Zhu. Fifth Brother and Miss Zhu are separated by distance, and this poem is full of longing. It must be what Fifth Brother wanted to send, but he must have forgotten to give it to me."

Xu Pangda carefully folded the poem and placed it in the envelope, intending to send it along with the Jianzi.

A month later, Xu Ming participated in the Children's Examination.

An ordinary Children's Examination usually wouldn't attract much attention.

However, this time's examination was the first after the reforms, and the number of participants was much higher than before. More importantly, Xu Ming was participating!

Everyone was eager to see how well Xu Ming, a son of a concubine without restrictions, would perform.

Many people even waited outside the examination grounds, wanting to see what the child prodigy who could write "The hardest thing in the world to hold onto is beauty; rosy cheeks bid farewell to the mirror, flowers bid farewell to the tree" looked like.

"He's here!"

"Xu Ming!"

"Little talent Xu Ming!"

"Little talent Xu Ming is so handsome."

"Look over here, sister."

"After the exam, how about coming to play at auntie's house?"

On the day of the exam, Xu Ming stepped down from the Xu residence's carriage, and many people shouted at him.

Although they had never seen Xu Ming, they recognized the Xu State Residence's carriage, not to mention that there was only one young boy in the carriage.

Xu Ming didn't expect to be so popular.

Faced with everyone's enthusiasm, Xu Ming bowed politely. At such a young age, he already possessed an elegant and refined demeanor, which immediately melted the hearts of many older sisters and aunties.

Another month passed after the Children's Examination.

A man came to the front of the Xu residence, beating a drum and gong: "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! The results of the Children's Examination are out. Young Master Xu..."

Every notice board in Wudu was already crowded with people, especially women.

Everyone looked up, and at the very top, there was a name—

"Top Scholar—Xu Ming of the Wu State Residence."

At the same time, in the backyard of the Yunyi Marquis's residence in Qi Kingdom.

A ten-year-old girl was meticulously embroidering, stitch by stitch.

The girl's fingers seemed a bit clumsy, but she was very earnest.

"Miss, Miss~~~"

A maid ran into the courtyard.

"Miss, there's a letter for you, sent from Wu Kingdom."

[The chapters these two days are mainly transitional, and will be more inclined to daily life, and the rhythm will be faster, which may be a bit boring, please forgive me.]