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

"My Lady, the Minister's Mansion is easy for me to find."

Chuntao stepped over the threshold panting, her hair on her forehead was soaked with sweat, and her cheeks were flushed. It was obvious that she had jogged all the way back to Corning Courtyard from the front yard.

She clutched the gilded note tightly in her hand, as if afraid to wrinkle it. It took her quite a while to deliver the note to Feng Jiaojiao, more than an hour, and she didn't even return until dinner was served in the flower hall.

When she came back and saw a room full of masters, she couldn't help but complain, her voice filled with a bit of grievance: "I was first in the inner city, and then I went to the east city several times before I found the Feng Mansion. My legs are so tired from running around."

"Hongfen, hurry up and serve Chuntao some tea. She looks so hot." Jing Chunxi called out hurriedly.

"Princess, you don't know," Chuntao said while wiping the sweat off her face with a handkerchief, "The Minister's Mansion awarded by the Emperor in the inner city is still under renovation. Craftsmen are coming in and out. I heard that we can't move in until the New Year.

So the Feng Mansion is still in the old house in the east of the city. The alley there is narrow and deep. If I hadn’t met a peddler to show me the way, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to find it even after dark.”

She carefully presented the post to Jing Chunxi, then took the tea from Hongfen and gulped it down in one gulp, not caring whether it was hot or not. She licked her lips with satisfaction, "This post was actually replied to personally by Lord Feng."

"Oh! Did you meet Lord Feng?"

Chuntao's words successfully attracted the attention of several elders, and the old general even chuckled.

The old lady put down the Buddhist beads in her hand and leaned forward slightly; the eldest lady put down the chopsticks that were used to serve food to the old lady, and both of them showed surprised expressions.

Jing Chunxi took it and flipped through it. Seeing that the handwriting on the post did not seem to be that of a woman, he handed it to the person next to him.

The ink on the post was vigorous and powerful, very different from the ordinary ladies' small calligraphy with flowers on their hairpins. It was obvious at first glance that it was not Feng Jiaojiao's.

The old lady said hurriedly, "Chun Tao, sit down and tell us why it became Master Feng's reply." She gestured for the maid to bring the embroidery cushion and asked Hongfen to pour Chun Tao another cup of tea. "Tell us slowly, don't be impatient."

"Replying to the old lady," Chuntao sat politely at the side below, her hands folded on her knees, "Miss Feng probably doesn't know about the princess's conferment, nor does she know that Princess Anping is our daughter."

She recalled the scene, her eyes slightly brightening. "The gatekeeper initially refused to let me in. But when he saw the words 'Princess Anping' on the post, his expression changed, and he hurriedly announced it in."

"Miss Feng probably realized it was our daughter when she saw the name on the signature, but she probably thought her status was a bit too high," Chun Tao continued, twisting the corner of her clothes unconsciously with her fingers. "Miss Feng personally came to see this servant at the second gate, asked a lot of questions, and then sent a servant to report to the front yard."

Chun Tao took a sip of tea and continued, "Not long after, Lord Feng sent his attendant to take the letter back, saying that replying in person would appear more serious."

The eldest lady took the note from Jing Chunxi, gently brushed the gilded edge with her fingertips, and without even looking, immediately passed it to the old lady. Her movements were quick and gentle, as if the note were some kind of treasure.

The old lady first looked at the large characters on the post. The words "Madam Jing, Princess Anping" were written so clearly that they could be seen through the back of the paper. It was considered proper etiquette that she did not write it to Princess Anping alone.

When she opened the post again, the content inside made her nod her head repeatedly: "Master Feng's calligraphy and writing style are no worse than your third uncle's. Look,"

She pointed to one of the lines of words and showed it to everyone, "Every stroke is vigorous and powerful, showing the character of the writer. The handwriting reflects the writer, no wonder it is appreciated by the emperor." Her fingers slid gently along the direction of the handwriting, her eyes full of admiration.

Mingyue and the others came over immediately. Except for Mingyue who nodded affirmatively - she had been studying with her brother since she was young and could understand some of the tricks - the other two little ones couldn't figure it out either.

Mingzhu stood on tiptoe with her eyes wide open; Jin Jieer tilted her head, looking as if she understood something but not quite.

The old general took the invitation and read it carefully from beginning to end, even touching the texture of the paper. "This letter is quite polite. Not only does he strongly invite the children," he pointed to a paragraph and read, "'My daughter has long admired the talent and virtue of Princess An Ning. I hope you will be willing to teach her.' He also said that he would visit her another day."

He looked up at the old lady. "Lord Feng is always measured and impartial in the court. From what he wrote, it seems he is a man of good manners."

"Then Lord Feng won't look down on our family as a military family, right?" Sister Jin leaned against the old lady's knees again, her small hands nervously tugging at the corner of her grandmother's clothes.

The old lady frowned and replied, "Of course."

"Grandma, Sister Yao is really annoying," she lowered her voice, a hint of grievance. "She always tells us that civil officials look down on military officials, saying that military officials are inherently vulgar and despised. She also says that Sister Mingyue and I, even if we were legitimate daughters, would never marry into a good family."

As she spoke, her eyes became red.

During the days of reunion at Qingshan Villa, Jing Qiurong also told them about the children's situation in the past few years, and naturally told them the truth about everyone's personality.

In the past few months, the children's recent situation has been communicated frequently, whether through letters or exchanges. They know everything Jing Mingyao does and says.

"Ah! A grain of rice can feed a hundred kinds of people." The old lady sighed and shook her head, hugging Jin Jie'er tighter, "Ayao is indeed a waste."

Her eyes dimmed, and she turned to the eldest lady with a hint of helplessness, "He wasn't raised by us since he was young, so it's inevitable that he wasn't brought up properly."

"When we return to the capital," the old lady patted the first lady's hand, her tone firm, "you will personally take her with you to educate her. If she still doesn't work out, wait until next year's spring exam and choose a family from outside the city for her to marry, so that she won't stay around and cause trouble to her sisters and the Jing family."

Her brow furrowed as she spoke, clearly feeling helpless about this decision. When she looked at the old man, he seemed to be deep in thought, clearly agreeing with her decision.

The eldest lady nodded apologetically and acquiesced, "This is the only way." But she thought to herself, after all, the child is already over thirteen, and his temperament has been set. It is not so easy to change him.

Thinking back to when she was a child, A Yao always looked at her as a flattering mother, and never listened to Ming Yue's preaching, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Even the best families have one or two rebellious sons! Moreover, they had been exiled for five years.