An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Qingshan Manor was bustling with activity in May. Besides his daily training, Jing Chunxi spent most of his time preparing for his upcoming trip to Lingnan. Aunt Mi had already asked the Master to pick a date—May 11th was the most favorable day for the trip, as time was running out.

"Miss, please take me with you this time!" Xiao Man followed Jing Chunxi after the training, as usual, and kept trying to persuade him. Sweat trickled down his cheeks, but he didn't bother to wipe it off. He just stared at Jing Chunxi eagerly, "I want to visit the old general, too."

Jing Chunxi continued walking forward without looking back: "You talk as if you have seen your grandfather before, what are you looking at!" There was obvious impatience in her tone. This was the fifth person who came to ask her to take him with her today.

Xiao Man, unwilling to give up, quickened her pace to catch up: "I've never met the old general, but I've only heard stories of his bravery and fighting prowess. That's what makes me want to go." He gestured excitedly, "Miss, just let me go."

Jing Chunxi finally stopped, turned around and glared at him, then covered her ears exaggeratedly: "I'll follow your instructions!" She turned and ran, leaving Xiaoman standing there in frustration.

Such scenes happened every day - Tang Shuang would take the opportunity of delivering snacks to hint at something; Chun Tao would mention intentionally or unintentionally that she missed the old lady and Nanny Wang while helping her comb her hair; Hong Fen would always silently plead with her big watery eyes, saying that she had never been there; even the usually steady Jing Yi would "in passing" ask about the itinerary when reporting on his work, boasting that he would definitely learn how to cook a few more Lingnan dishes if he went there.

The day before departure, Qingshan Manor was busier than usual. Jing Qiurong had arranged for the prefectural school to be closed for another day, and the entire manor was immersed in a festive atmosphere. Several barbecue grills were set up under two large banyan trees, and the aroma of meat filled the air.

The old women and servants were running back and forth, slaughtering chickens and sheep, preparing for the evening dinner; the younger children were chasing and playing in the open space, laughing constantly.

"Didn't I tell you to move the things onto our carts? Why are there so many?" Xu Zize's voice suddenly rang out from behind him. Jing Chunxi turned around and saw him standing at the door of his room, frowning slightly as he pointed at the four carriages parked beside the mansion.

Jing Chunxi blinked her eyes and suddenly found this scene inexplicably funny: "I will have to come back after I go there. I can't just go once and take away a car from Brother Xiaokang." As she said this, she didn't know what she thought of, and suddenly she burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!" The laughter became louder and louder. Jing Chunxi held his stomach and laughed so hard that he fell back and forth. Two deep dimples appeared on his cheeks, making him look particularly cute in the sunlight.

Xu Zize was confused by her sudden laughter, and hurriedly took two steps forward to support her shaking shoulders: "What's wrong? What's so funny?" His voice was full of confusion, but looking at the girl in front of him who was laughing so happily, the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose.

Jing Chunxi finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Brother Xiaokang, do you still remember the first time you came to our house?" She paused deliberately, her eyes sparkling, and prompted, "Yamen Village."

Xu Zize's expression became even more confused: "I remember! I took Heizi and his "mother" with me." He tried hard to recall what happened that day, but he couldn't think of anything worth laughing at.

Seeing this, Jing Chunxi laughed even harder, tears streaming down her face: "You that day... your car... hahaha!" She laughed so hard that she could hardly utter complete sentences and could only point at Xu Zize.

Xu Zize finally understood, a trace of embarrassment crossing his face, but it was quickly replaced by a doting smile. He reached out and gently wiped away the tears from Jing Chunxi's face, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure. "I had just returned and didn't have my own carriage. My father's usual carriage was out, so I used the carriage used by the women in the palace."

He paused, then suddenly reached out and tugged at Jing Chunxi's bun, pretending to be angry and saying, "Didn't it get altered when we sent Xi'er back to Beijing?"

"If Brother Xiaokang doesn't modify it, I won't dare to accept it." Jing Chunxi finally stopped laughing, but the smile in his eyes did not diminish at all. "I'm afraid of being robbed by thieves if I sit on it. Others will think it's a gift for his wife. Hahaha!" He couldn't help laughing again.

Xu Zize looked at her bright smile, and his heartbeat accelerated unconsciously. He gently hugged Jing Chunxi's shoulders, quickly released them, and then said in a serious tone, "Okay, stop laughing. It's tiring to laugh like this." But his eyes were filled with tenderness, as if they could melt the ice and snow of the entire winter.

Chuntao and Hongfen were by his side; Xiaoman was clever, and the boy, despite his unconventional nature, could easily disguise himself in a crowd. Furthermore, Qiyue and Jiuyue were both familiar to Jing Chunxi, and considering Jingyi's excellent cooking skills, he had to be brought along as well. There were also eight guards arranged by the master, all skilled members of the Jing family army.

Jing Chunxi counted on his fingers, feeling that this was quite impressive. However, when Tang Shuang, the only one who couldn't leave the house, heard the decision, she looked resentful. Finally, she dismissed him with a simple, "I'll make you something delicious when I get back."

Jing Qiurong paced back and forth in the hall, clutching a handkerchief, the tassels on her pearl hairpin dazzling. "Lingnan is full of miasma and bandits. How can these few people protect you?"

Jing Qiurong suddenly turned and looked at Jing Yi. Although Jing Yi sat upright, his knuckles tapped a rapid rhythm on the armrests of the rosewood chair. The Longjing tea in the cup had long since cooled. Even the usually easygoing Xu Zize frowned. "We'll go together, so it's no problem for us to look after each other. But if Brother Xiaokang gets caught up in some matters and can't accompany you to Cangwu and Leizhou..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "Every month, caravans are attacked in Nanmaoling."

Xu Zize wasn't trying to scare Jing Chunxi. Even without his protection, he believed the old general and the general would send someone to pick them up when they reached Lingnan. But what about the return trip? He counted and still felt there were too few people.

Jing Chunxi was speechless: "Mother, do you think you've settled down now, but Xi'er has become more fragile? Mother, do you remember how many people came back with Xi'er last time?"

Jing Qiurong smiled awkwardly, but still insisted: "This is a different time. The more stable things are, the more cautious we should be."

Jing Chunxi was speechless. He watched the copper bells on the eaves spinning in the wind and ignored them.

Xu Zize's eyes suddenly lit up: "How about Brother Xiaokang give you two more secret guards?" Before he finished speaking, Jing Chunxi jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on, "No way!"

Her ears flushed red, and the thought of two male guards on the beams while she showered made her feel incredibly embarrassed. She was just used to July and September, otherwise she wouldn't let them see her choking and burping while secretly eating candied fruit.

"Master—" she dragged out the words and suddenly leaned in front of Jing Yi, "Or... give me the heads of those two kids again?" She gestured at a height, "The most powerful man and woman from the competition on the mountain."

Jing Chunxi saw them when he went up the mountain two days ago. The boy picked up seven copper coins with a bamboo spear, and the girl danced with the wooden spear like a butterfly flying through flowers. In the end, the two of them stood back to back and knocked down all the seven or eight children who were besieging them.

Jing Yi stroked the raised lotus pattern on the teacup, and the image of the two children doing horse stance in the rainstorm appeared before his eyes. They were indeed outstanding, but after all, they were only twelve or thirteen years old, and their bones had not yet grown. "They..." He chose his words carefully, "If they can practice for another three years..."

Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Jing Qiurong. This usually gentle lady was so anxious that she almost slammed the table: "How can that be? Xi'er, be obedient and let Uncle Jing arrange a few more guards for you!" "What a joke! How can you protect your daughter if you only pick on the children?

A sudden rustle of birch trees on the mountain startled a few sparrows. It turned out the two young men, the subject of much discussion, were dueling. The boy's wooden spear knocked the girl's red hairstring loose, and as her black hair flew free, the girl dove over, her two swords crossed at the boy's neck. Sunlight filtered through the plum branches, casting dappled shadows on their still tender faces.