The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 334

Mother and son chatted as they walked toward their family tent. The younger brothers in the household were still too young to participate much in the hunt, so they simply gathered together, laughing and joking.

Luo Ji found the tent stuffy and stepped outside for some fresh air, only to spot the two men right away.

Luo Jingfeng was listening to General Xiaofeng’s report: "We captured quite a few prey and drugged them, making their movements sluggish. But unfortunately, Young Master Cheng and his companions’ archery skills were so poor that most of the prey escaped."

Luo Jingfeng chuckled casually. "Haha, no matter. As long as he had fun."

General Xiaofeng continued, "Also… the prey were captured from two other forest paths. One of them was the route taken by the eldest young master."

Luo Jingfeng raised an eyebrow.

"……"

Luo Ji had heard everything.

Those young men had been right—the Luo family had indeed blocked off one path, and it was his father’s doing. No wonder he had encountered so few prey today, and only small ones at that. They had all been reserved for Zong Jincheng.

"Eldest Young Master…" General Xiaofeng called out in warning. Luo Jingfeng turned and realized he had been overheard.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the general.

Luo Ji looked at him but did not speak first.

"Blame me?" Luo Jingfeng strode over, looking down at him.

Luo Ji replied calmly, "Father is overthinking it. It was just a small hunt—I don’t mind."

Luo Jingfeng laughed and patted his shoulder. "Good. You truly are my son—unfazed by trivial matters."

Lowering his gaze, Luo Ji asked, "Why does Father favor that adopted son so much?"

He didn’t actually care about this, nor did he mind whether his father showered all his affection on that child. But he had to ask—otherwise, his mother would inevitably bring it up later. Given her impulsive nature, it was better he asked first.

Luo Jingfeng’s smile faded. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Some questions shouldn’t be asked."

Luo Ji understood.

That person’s affairs were not to be pried into.

He bowed and took his leave. When he returned, he would have to warn his mother: from now on, she must not oppose that child, lest she provoke their father’s anger.

At the General’s Manor…

The moment Zong Jincheng jumped down from the carriage, he quietly instructed Shunzi, "Go have the House Physician check those prey—see if they were poisoned or something. They all seemed sluggish, definitely not normal."

After thinking it over, he still felt something was off. Whether Luo Jingfeng was behind it or not, those larger prey had behaved strangely.

"Huh?" Shunzi was baffled. "Sluggish? But those prey were already shot dead?"

"I mean before they were killed." The little troublemaker suddenly remembered. "Oh, right—have them especially check that little wild boar Shen Yibai kept carrying around. That idiot plans to eat it for three days straight. If there’s any poison or something, it won’t kill him, but still…"

Shunzi sucked in a breath and hurriedly said, "Understood! I’ll fetch the House Physician right away."

Upon receiving the news, the House Physician exclaimed in shock three times: "What?! What?! WHAT?!"

Shunzi covered his ears and timidly explained, "This was Young Master Cheng’s idea… Could you please take a look?"

The House Physician ranted, "I’m a physician! I treat people! Living people! What’s the meaning of sending me a pile of dead prey?!"

Shunzi blinked, his face splattered with spit. "Well… I couldn’t exactly call a coroner to perform an autopsy, could I?"

The House Physician: "……"

A thousand curses ran through his mind.

Grumbling, the physician examined the prey, paying special attention to the little wild boar. Then he roared in frustration, "Get the cook over here! Have them cut open this boar’s belly for inspection!"

Shunzi coughed and rushed to comply.

As he ran, he thought to himself: Dissecting it? Isn’t that exactly a coroner’s job?

Once back, Zong Jincheng immediately pulled He Zheng aside for a private talk.

He Zheng eagerly asked, "Big Bro, are you finally going to share your secret study techniques with me?"

The little troublemaker rolled his eyes. "There’s no secret. I do well purely because of talent."

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍Zheng’s face fell. "Oh… Well, that’s disappointing. I was really hoping to catch up to Brother Wenxiu, but it’s impossible…"

Zong Jincheng gave him a complicated look. "You just started learning later. If you’d studied alongside me from the beginning, you might not have fallen behind. Besides, your personality suits the official circles better than his. You’ll go far in the future."

He Zheng’s eyes widened in shock, blinking rapidly like a dragonfly’s wings. "Big Bro… Did I hear that right? You’re praising me? Saying I could be better than Brother Wenxiu?"

Having grown accustomed to being the little brother in their elite group, He Zheng felt like he was dreaming. This was too unreal.

The little troublemaker nodded. "I’m not lying. I mean it."

He Zheng was so thrilled he nearly threw a few punches in excitement. "Thank you for your faith in me, Big Bro! Once we enter officialdom, I’ll be your most loyal follower. Whatever you say, I’ll do!"

"He Zheng."

"Big Bro, your orders?" He Zheng grinned and clasped his hands in salute.

Zong Jincheng asked, "What did you think when Minister He apologized to you today?"

He Zheng’s smile froze. Scratching his head, he lost his earlier enthusiasm and plopped down onto the steps. "Dunno… Felt even less real than you praising me. My dad’s not the type to back down. Felt like my mom possessed him or something."

Zong Jincheng sat beside him. The two brothers sprawled out, legs stretched carelessly, before finally lying flat on the steps, gazing at the last remnants of the sunset.

"If he really didn’t apologize willingly, would that upset you?" Zong Jincheng asked.

He Zheng answered without hesitation, "That’d be the most normal outcome. I’ve been his son for eleven years—of course I know him. That’s just how he is. What can I do? He’s the father, I’m the son."

Zong Jincheng laughed. "If only people could switch places. You be the dad, and let him be your son. Then you could beat him until he can’t get up every day."

"Hahaha! Big Bro, that’s brilliant! A son hitting his father is rebellion, but a father hitting his son is perfectly justified. Makes total sense." He Zheng giggled at the thought.

Zong Jincheng laughed along before saying, "Luo Jingfeng made him apologize."

"Oh…" He Zheng’s expression dimmed briefly before he smiled again, enlightened. "That explains it. Luo Jingfeng really is something—everyone in the capital fears him."

Zong Jincheng declared, "Not me. When he nearly strangled me to death, I still wasn’t afraid. That’s called ‘unyielding in the face of force.’"

He Zheng burst into laughter. "As expected of Big Bro! I bow to you!"

"Easy, easy. I’ve got your back from now on."

"Deal."

The two boys lay sprawled on the steps, hands behind their heads, right legs crossed lazily, basking in the fading sunlight.