Chapter Sixteen Spoiled Rotten

  Collect very few, sincerely ask passing friends to collect, after twenty thousand words if you don't like it then take it off the shelves, thank you.

  Wei Zhao suddenly came to his senses as Li Xilian's expression changed slightly, and hastily waved his hand, saying: "Sister, please go inside, it's windy outside."

  Li Xiluan slightly hesitated, then looked at him and nodded lightly. With a slight movement of her slender figure, she stepped across the threshold. After entering, she suddenly turned her head: "The three of you wait outside." Her voice was cold and clear, not allowing any refusal.

  Wan'er Xiangliang also brought her own fish, and hurriedly responded with a "yes". After Wei Xiao entered, Wan'er gently closed the door.

  Wan'er and the other two quietly walked a few steps away from the door, and Xiangqiang couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Sister Wan'er, do you think Madame will say something to Young Master?" Her little face showed both worry and excitement.

  Wan'er's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with concern as she gazed towards the door. The usually strong-willed young mistress was uncharacteristically gentle with the young master, and her lips pursed involuntarily.

  Wei Zhao let Li Xilian take the main seat and sat down beside her, pouring wine for her while smiling calmly: "Sister is so busy but still has time to come see me, is there something on your mind?" Wei Zhao thought that it was better to take the initiative first, lest he be asked by Li Xilian and end up being passive.

  Li Xilian didn't even glance at the full table of dishes, her clear and cold gaze fixed on Wei Zhao, naturally softening a little, but with a hint of distance in her tone, she said softly: "Young uncle, did you go to Yunfo Temple to burn incense today?"

  Wei Zhao also poured himself a cup and raised his glass towards Li Xiujuan: "Sister-in-law, I toast to you."

  Li Xiluan's expression remained unchanged, her beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and her soft, jade-like right hand picked up the wine cup. Her cherry lips parted lightly, and she took a small sip.

  Wei Zhao picked up his chopsticks and handed a piece of cured meat to Li Xiujuan, saying calmly: "Sister-in-law, in the upcoming imperial examination, I can make it into the top three ranks." His tone was natural, without emphasis or pounding on his chest to guarantee it, but there was an undeniable power in his words that made one believe him.

  Li Xiluan's expression was stunned, her beautiful eyes staring at Wei Zao, she could hear the faint but unshakeable confidence in his tone. She had thought that Wei Zao being able to enter the top ten was already her greatest expectation, now getting a huge surprise, Li Xiluan didn't know if it was because of the wine or excitement, her cheeks flushed with two red clouds, and her high chest also trembled slightly.

  Li Xilian didn't ask anything else, and instead raised her wine cup to heavily clink it against Wei Zhao's. Then, with a toss of her pale, powdered neck, she downed the remaining wine in one gulp. Her absolutely beautiful face was flushed red, and her eyes sparkled with an even more radiant glow, exuding a captivating charm.

  Li Xilian didn't ask about the matter of Master Yin Kong, nor did she ask about poetry. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she sipped her wine and chatted idly. Perhaps due to the accumulated pressure over the years, or perhaps due to the effects of alcohol, Li Xilian spoke intermittently about the major events that had occurred in the Wei family over the past two years, causing Wei Zhao, who was completely unaware of the situation, to furrow his brow. According to Li Xilian's account, the Wei family had already lost its strength to compete with the Chen and Chu families, and was now merely putting on a show of prosperity while being internally weak and barely holding on.

  If we lose again, it will be a long and hopeless road. The lights flickered, the shadows danced, and only two cups of leftover wine were left on the table.

  Li Xilian was supported away by Yu Er, and Wei Zao lay in bed with a frown. Tonight's conversation allowed Wei Zao to see the hardships and difficulties of Li Xilian. A small woman with no strength to bind a chicken, after losing her husband, the pillar of the family suddenly passed away, her younger brother was young, and she had to hold up the shaky Wei family under the gaze of a group of wolves and tigers, and could only use a cold face to cover up her inner weakness.

  The situation of the Wei family is much more severe than he expected, not to mention that they are at the end of their resources, but also eating into their old capital, and surrounded by wolves, with a moment's carelessness, it would be irretrievable.

  Wan'er and Xiangqiang closed the door, Wan'er sat at the edge of the table, eating small mouthfuls. Xiangqiang held chopsticks in one hand and a small bowl in the other, circling around the entire table, her mouth stuffed full, still waving her chopsticks nonstop. Although they were close to Wei Zhao, they had never eaten so many good things before.

  Wei Zhao thought for a long time and couldn't help but let out a sigh.

  There were only three people in the room, and a sigh was immediately heard by Yu Ru.

  "Master, what's wrong?" Wanyu put down her bowl and chopsticks and came to Weizhao's side, her pretty face filled with concern.

  Wei Zhao raised his head and glanced at her, then looked at Xiang Qiang who was eating with relish, completely unaware of anything. He shook his head and said lazily, "Girls, our good days are coming to an end."

  That side eating happily fragrant scallions, one listen, immediately put down the bowl chopsticks and ran over, small mouth stuffed full, big eyes shining towards Wei Zhao, chirping and chattering about something.

  Wei Zhao glared at her with a bad temper, rubbed his growling stomach and said: "I'm hungry."

  Xianglian immediately perked up her small mouth and revealed a big smile. Then she turned around and ran to the dinner table, carrying two plates and putting them beside Wei Zhao, saying in a muffled voice: "Young master, eat."

  Wei Zhuo's strength was all gone, she let out a sigh and sat up. It was Wan Er who was thoughtful, quickly bringing over a stool and handing the chopsticks to Wei Zhuo first.

  Wei Zhuo took a sip of the soup, just about to pick up a chicken leg with his chopsticks, when he saw Xiang Qiang grab the kettle with her right hand and pour a small amount into her mouth, then use her left hand, which was greasy, to grab the last chicken leg and start pecking at it near her small mouth.

  Wei Zhao looked at the empty plate and slapped Xiang Qiang's head with a chopstick, saying: "Are you the young master or am I?"

  Xianglian was inexplicably hit by Weizao, her small mouth still muttering, her big eyes shining brightly, full of suspicion as she looked at Weizao, with a hint of innocence.

  Wan'er suppressed her smile, pursed her small mouth, lowered her little head, and quietly drank the soup, pretending she hadn't seen anything.

  Wei Zhao turned her head to look at her two maids, feeling annoyed in her heart. It was all because she had spoiled them too much. Silently sighing, she picked up a steamed bun and took a big bite of it.

  A quiet night, on a low stool beside the bed, three people, master and servant, were eating and laughing together.

  The next morning, Wei Xiao was humming and hawing in the courtyard, swinging his staff.

  Wholeheartedly wanting to create a unique skill. Just as he was deeply pondering, he didn't know about the shocking waves rising outside.

  After a night of dissemination and fermentation, Wei Zhao's stunning performance at the Yunfo Temple became the inevitable topic of conversation among the talented men and women of Jinling after dinner. There were those who were amazed, those who despised him, those who did not believe it, and those who admired him. From the expressions of these people, one could see all the complexities of human life and the diverse colors of human nature.

  The Grand Assembly of the Buddha is a grand gathering held once a year in the Great Qi, where royalty and nobility often attend, some behind the scenes and others in person. There are those who come to choose materials, those who come to choose sons-in-law, those who come to choose appearances, and even those who choose all three. The participation of these people makes the Grand Assembly of the Buddha even more lively. Talented scholars from all over Jinling gather here, hoping to show off their skills, meet a patron, and rise to prominence in the imperial court overnight.

  Innumerable people were waiting for this moment, yet several places were secretly murmuring about Wei Zhao's name.

  Sneer, bless you.

  Man, woman.

  At this time, Wei Zhao was still a bit hesitant in his heart. On the one hand, he was thinking about whether to make a stunning move on the Buddha's theory, giving Chen Chu and the two families of the Wei family a surprise, and gaining some buffer time for the Wei family. On the other hand, he was also worried that if he became famous, he would not only fail to help the Wei family deter the wolves, but also attract attention to himself, losing the effect of being an unexpected hero.