Chapter 45 Intentional

  "Is Huai Lai ill?" General Zhou was startled. "Should we invite Dr. Qu to take a look?"

  Zhou Si-zong hastily said, "I invited him yesterday, but Qi Tai-yi said he needed to rest. Li-er heard this morning that the barbarians were coming to attack and was anxious to death, insisting on following his uncle to the battlefield to kill the enemy. His mother had a hard time calming him down. Alas, big brother, I'm really sorry."

  "It's all right, it's all right." General Zhou hastily said, "A child's body is important. This child also doesn't remember what I've said before. Fighting requires full concentration of energy, going into battle while sick is absolutely not commendable behavior. In the army under my command, this is absolutely not allowed."

  Zhou Si-zong hastily accompanied with a smile: "Big brother is right. But Li-er was also worried that big brother you didn't have anyone at home to help, and would be at a disadvantage on the battlefield..."

  General Zhou heard this and frowned, saying: "What kind of talk is this? On the battlefield, every single one of my soldiers is my helper. What's the difference between family members and outsiders? The bond between comrades-in-arms is no less than that of flesh and blood!" As he spoke, he already had a hint of displeasure towards Zhou Huairu.

  Zhou Si-zong saw the look on his big brother's face, and his heart tightened. He hastily said: "Yes yes yes, he is also deeply concerned about Uncle. You know that since childhood, he spent more time by your side than mine. As a father, I am not even as highly regarded in his heart as you are, haha!"

  General Zhou's expression slightly cleared, and he nodded: "Hua Li is indeed not bad, a material that can be cultivated. You two cannot spoil him, if you are not strict, he will not become a useful person, but also do not be too harsh. - You go back and tell him, just say that his uncle is fine. The soldiers of the Great Xia army on the battlefield are all people of his uncle's, they will help their uncle. Let him recover from his illness well, and he will have the opportunity to serve the country again in the future."

  Zhou Sizong nodded repeatedly, then tentatively reminded him: "Big brother, Huai Xuan is now looking promising. Why not take him to the battlefield for a trial this time?"

  General Zhou stroked his mustache thoughtfully and after a while let out a sigh, saying: "I'm still worried about Xuan'er's body..."

  That day, Zhou Huai-xuan drank a large dose of medicine containing the highly toxic gua sha wind in the palace, which was so potent that it could even kill rabbits. General Zhou was worried and anxious, fearing that something might happen to him.

  After a month or two, Zhou Huai Xuan seemed normal except for being a bit listless during the day. He was just too indifferent, only going to pay respects to Old Master Zhou, Old Madam Zhou and his mother Madame Feng in the morning and evening, and not caring about anything else.

  "Isn't Huai Xuan's body already healed?" Zhou Si Zong smiled and said, his eyes shining brightly, very sharp and capable. The people of the Zhou family were originally all from the military, but Zhou Si Zong was the youngest son, so he was spoiled by Old Lady Zhou since childhood and wasn't allowed to join the army. He was only allowed to manage the family business, and his relationship with the wealthy Wu family was the best.

  "It's alright, however..." General Zhou was about to say, but when he turned his head and saw the smile on Zhou Sizong's face that hadn't been withdrawn in time, he felt a bit displeased. He changed his tone and said indifferently, "Mm, I'll consider it." Then he served tea and sent off his guest.

  Zhou Sizong had no choice but to leave with a sullen face.

  ……

  At noon, Zhou Huai Xuan walked out of the quiet courtyard where Old Master Zhou was recuperating. He wore a sky-blue long gown with a four-finger-wide white jade belt around his waist, which accentuated his slender waist and lithe back. With his stunning looks that rivaled those of a celestial being, even if he were as cold as ice, it couldn't stop the admiring glances from numerous women.

  Zhou Huaixuan seemed as if he hadn't seen anything, his face expressionless as he walked through the small path in the garden.

  For the various rings, earrings, hairpins and handkerchiefs that fell on the small road, he was completely indifferent. Not only was he indifferent, but he also deliberately trampled these things that had fallen on the ground. The rings, earrings, and golden hairpins were trampled into fragments, and even the handkerchief was trampled into a mess, just like the broken hearts of the girls hiding behind the trees in the forest.

  Chen Xiang followed behind Zhou Huai Xuan, seeing the young master act in such a way, she felt extremely pleased. She couldn't help but lift her head higher and straighten her back even more.

  This position was once the most unwanted place in the backyard of Zhou's family divine general mansion.

  The third generation of the Zhou family has a lot of boys, and although Zhou Huaixuan is the eldest son of the first wife, he has been weak since childhood.

  All the maids knew that following a sickly young master was destined to be a dead-end path.

  Therefore, the maids with the ambition of "a maid who doesn't want to be a concubine is not a good maid" are unwilling to serve Zhou Huai Xuan.

  Only Xingxiang listened to her parents' words and agreed to be separated to serve Zhou Huaixuan.

  She and her mother were both born into the Zhou family. Her father was one of the top managers in the outer courtyard, and her mother was a capable and trusted housekeeper under Old Lady Zhou.

  They persuaded her to move to the side of the eldest young master as a senior maid, actually because the eldest young master's place has many people and few things, it is a quiet and peaceful place. The allocated things are of high quality, and there are no those deep and cunning opponents.

  She only needs to stay here until she is twenty-two years old, and then she can ask the master to cancel her registration, let her go out on her own, and marry someone outside as a legitimate wife.

  Who would have thought that after five years, Young Master has returned completely transformed!

  He not only eliminated his weakness, but also added a fatal attraction like poppy in the midst of unparalleled beauty. Perhaps someone is more beautiful, taller and colder than him, but as long as he appears in front of everyone, everyone can only see him. People with him will become miserable accompaniments.

  No young girl can resist this fatal attraction.

  Chen Xiang was no exception. She suddenly didn't yearn for the days after leaving her hometown to work as a proper wife and husband. —— Following such a master, even if she were to be a maid for a lifetime, she would be willing.

  As he walked to the corner of the garden, Zhou Huaili from the third house came over from the other side of the path. His face was pale and he coughed occasionally, looking like he was ill.

  "Big brother, I didn't expect to run into you here." Zhou Huai Li was delighted to see Zhou Huai Xuan walking over.

  Zhou Huai Xuan said lightly: "Everyone knows that at this time, I will come out from grandfather's place."

  Zhou Huairui was exposed, but he didn't show any sign of regret. He continued to smile and said: "Big brother, I've been ill recently and haven't had a chance to chat with you for a long time."

  "No need. I don't talk to people." Zhou Huai Xuan continued walking forward.

  Zhou Huairui was choked for a moment, and with a bitter smile, he followed up again, "Big brother, the barbarians have invaded, you know that?"

  "I know." Zhou Huai Xuan's footsteps didn't stop, continuing to move forward.

  "Great Uncle wants to lead the troops on an expedition, big brother. This time I fell ill and cannot follow Great Uncle on the expedition..." Zhou Huairu continued. "Big brother, you are Great Uncle's own son. When you recover and return, Great Uncle will be overjoyed..."

  Zhou Huai Xuan grew impatient. He stopped in his tracks, interrupting Zhou Hua Li's words, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't be like a gossipy old woman."

  Zhou Huairui's face turned purple with rage, and he was speechless for a moment before reluctantly saying: "I just wanted to ask Big Brother if you want to go on the expedition with Uncle?"

  "What's the big deal? Why must you nag on and on?" Zhou Huai Xuan looked at Zhou Huai Li with disdain, flicked his sleeve and continued walking forward.

  "Big brother! It's not easy for Big Uncle, if you're filial, you should think of Big Uncle..." Zhou Huairui was scolded by Zhou Huaixuan and shouted loudly from behind.

  "Don't bother." Zhou Huai Xuan threw out a sentence and had already walked far away.

  Chen Xiang followed behind him, whispering to him: "Young Master, when you're not in the mansion, it's usually Fourth Young Master Huai Li who follows Generalissimo on expeditions. This time he said he was ill and couldn't go..."

  Zhou Huai Xuan nodded, "Got it." He then strode towards General Zhou's outer study.

  "Dad, I want to go on a campaign with you." Zhou Huai Xuan stood in front of General Zhou's desk and said solemnly.

  He was eager to go on an expedition. He knew that his illness could probably only be truly "cured" on the battlefield...

  General Zhou frowned. "You're still not fully recovered..."

  "I'm fine." Zhou Huai Xuan interrupted General Zhou's words, "I know my own body best." As he spoke, he slapped his palm on the desk in front of General Zhou.

  Bang!

  A palm-sized piece of wood fell with a thud.

  He actually struck through this hard-as-iron Hainan sour branch pear wood desk with one palm!

  General Zhou stared blankly at the desk that had been pierced by Zhou Huai's arrow, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

  The child has recovered and is doing well. Of course he should be smiling.

  But this desk...this desk...

  General Zhou patted the palm-shaped hole with one hand, and waved his hand, saying: "Go, go, tell your mother to pack up, we'll set out in two days."

  Zhou Huai Xuan nodded and walked away with a swagger.

  Behind him came General Zhou's urgent summons: "Come! Send in the best craftsmen!"

  ……

  In the evening, Zhou Huai-xuan went to pay his respects to his mother, Feng Da-niang, and also told her that he would be going on a campaign with his father in two days.

  "Feng's grandmother said with concern: 'On the battlefield, knives and arrows are blind, can your body withstand it?'"

  "It's nothing." Zhou Huai Xuan said simply. He spoke very little, and Feng Da Nian had also gotten used to it. Seeing that there was no one around, she pulled on his hand and whispered: "You naughty child! The desk made of sour branch pear wood in your father's study is his treasured possession for many years. How could you just give it a slap and break it? Your mother heard that even the best craftsmen can't repair it."

  Zhou Huai Xuan said disapprovingly: "If it's broken, just change another one. Sour branch pears are everywhere."

  "You think it's easy! Sour plum branches are all over the ground, but you don't know how that desk was obtained? Your father has many treasures, that desk is one of them!" Feng Dà Nǎi Nai's voice carried a hint of sourness.

  Everyone in their family knew that the desk in General Zhou's study was "given" to General Zhou by Zheng Dainai, also known as Zheng Suhuan, from the Wu family.

  Zhou Huai Xuan said lightly: "I know. I did it on purpose."

  Old Lady Feng was taken aback for a moment, then scolded with delight, and patted his arm, "You naughty child!"

  ……

  At this time, in the newly renovated Sheng Guo Gong Fu, the settled Seventh Master Sheng was delighted to say to Sheng Siyan: "Siyan, your younger brother and sisters will arrive in the capital city soon, shall we go to the city gate together to welcome them?"

  The third update is delivered. All three updates for today have been completed. Is someone staring at everyone's guaranteed pink tickets with cold eyes (⊙o⊙)? Everyone, please give me some motivation, I'll strive to continue with three updates tomorrow!!

  ……

  ps：

  The third update is delivered. All three updates for today have been completed. Is someone staring at everyone's guaranteed pink tickets with cold eyes (⊙o⊙)? Everyone, please give me some motivation, I'll strive to continue with three updates tomorrow!!