The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 315

"The autumn imperial exams are approaching for the children, but time is tight, and there are still many gaps to fill. Recently, I’ve been working with the tutors to gather past exam papers, but due to their age, collecting them has been difficult. I heard you were the top scholar eleven years ago, with the best talent and memory—could you possibly recite the exam questions from that year?"

Xu Wan finished writing this and waited for the ink to dry naturally. She placed the exam papers from the last two years she had gathered nearby, just in case Zong Zhao couldn’t recall the questions—perhaps seeing these would jog his memory.

After finishing, she thought for a moment and added at the beginning and end of the letter: "To my husband" and "From your wife, Xu Wan."

After all, she was asking for a favor, and transcribing the entire exam was no small task. Xu Wan addressed him respectfully and signed her name, completing the formal structure of a letter.

She was quite pleased with herself.

Gazing at the words "my husband," she murmured, "This kind of address really suits being written down—saying it out loud would be unbearably awkward."

The next morning.

Xu Wan woke up, stretched, and let out a long yawn. Rubbing her eyes, she instinctively glanced at the couch.

As expected, it was empty again.

She fumbled for her shoes, thinking Zong Zhao must have replied, either agreeing to transcribe the exam or admitting he couldn’t remember. But when she looked toward the desk—

Instead of being empty, the large desk was occupied by a tall figure. The man sat perfectly upright, dressed in simple casual robes, exuding vitality as he focused on writing, his brush moving steadily.

"Ah—"

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Caught off guard, Xu Wan hadn’t expected to see him and was startled.

Though they lived under the same roof, she hadn’t seen his face in three days, and the surprise made her gasp aloud.

Zong Zhao didn’t even look up, continuing to write as he said, "Go wash up and eat. I’m almost done."

"Oh, right." Xu Wan obeyed and hurried off to freshen up.

Good heavens, she had grown so accustomed to Zong Zhao not being in the room that she had gotten out of bed still in her nightgown and slippers. Thankfully, he hadn’t looked up.

Regaining her composure, she quickly went to wash and change.

By the time she was ready, Cui Zhi had the servants bring breakfast to the small round table in the outer chamber, with maids bustling in and out.

Zong Zhao was still inside, diligently writing for the children. Xu Wan felt it would be impolite to sit and eat alone, so she walked over to check his progress—he had already reached the poetry section.

The poetry exam covered many areas: memorization, translation, and composition. For the composition, only the main themes needed to be recalled, but the memorization portion was extensive and intricate—only someone with an exceptional memory could reproduce it.

Moreover, the autumn exams took place a year before the palace exams, and Zong Zhao had taken his twelve years ago.

For some reason, an image flashed in Xu Wan’s mind: a fourteen-year-old Zong Zhao, sitting at an exam desk in the imperial examination hall, meticulously answering the questions.

Now, watching him transcribe those same questions, the two images overlapped, and Xu Wan couldn’t help but marvel: "That memory of his—no wonder he was the youngest genius to ever break the imperial exam records."

After watching for a while, she finally spoke up: "Zong Zhao, let’s eat first. There’s no rush."

Zong Zhao paused his brush, his expression unreadable.

He gave a quiet "Mm" and said, "I’ll be right there."

Finishing the last line of the poem, he set down the brush and used a paperweight to secure the pages.

At the small round table.

Xu Wan and Zong Zhao were having breakfast together for the first time. Zong Zhao adhered strictly to the rule of silence during meals, speaking so little it was almost eerie. For Xu Wan, who was used to hearing the little rascal chatter nonstop, the quiet was unbearable.

She broke the silence: "After you finish the exam papers, will you be going out again?"

"Mm," Zong Zhao replied.

"..."

The air grew heavy with silence again.

Xu Wan thought to herself: "Ah, the classic ‘Mm’—the ultimate conversation killer. Just one word and the mood’s ruined."

She decided not to dwell on it and focused on eating. After all, Zong Zhao was rarely home—if not for helping her transcribe the exam, he would’ve been gone by now.

What could a general possibly be so busy with? Luo Jingfeng even had time to tease the little rascal… Zong Zhao hadn’t even visited the advanced class to check on the children.

Her mind buzzed with thoughts, but she kept them to herself. No point asking questions if all she’d get in return was another "Mm." Better save her energy for bantering with the little rascal.

Unexpectedly, Zong Zhao spoke again: "I’ve been investigating Chancellor Yan’s case recently. I might need to borrow Wenxiu for a while."

"Eh?" Xu Wan, who had been focused on her meal, looked up in surprise. "Chancellor Yan’s case? The corruption scandal from twelve years ago?"

That infamous case had begun with Chancellor Yan embezzling a thousand taels of silver. He was stripped of his position, died of rage, and his family, fleeing their enemies, ended up in the slums—some dead, others injured.

And Wenxiu had been conceived during that time.

Zong Zhao lowered his gaze and said quietly, "They were Zong Yan’s in-laws. If I don’t step in, no one else will."

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍Wan nodded. "Of course. Do what you must. If you need Wenxiu, just call for him—I’ll let him know. Oh, and Wei Hong might know more than he does. If it’s awkward for you to ask her, I can help."

"Wenxiu knows more," Zong Zhao said.

"Eh?" Xu Wan was baffled again.

Zong Zhao explained: "Some of Chancellor Yan’s female relatives have been living in the slums all this time. To avoid burdening Wenxiu and his mother, they forbade them from revealing their existence. But two years ago, Wenxiu secretly moved them to a house in the suburbs."

Xu Wan was stunned. "There’s such a thing? After Tongya was rescued, Wenxiu said his aunt’s family lived in the outskirts and that he sent Tongya back to them once the dance hall case was settled. I thought Tongya’s mother had been protected by her husband’s family after marriage—I had no idea the entire family had ended up in the slums… That boy didn’t breathe a word of truth to me! He handled it all in secret."

Zong Zhao added: "Jin Cheng knows too."

Xu Wan’s expression twisted.

Gripping her chopsticks tightly, she smiled like a wicked witch. "Those two little brats… they sure know how to keep secrets."

Two years ago…

That was right after she had entered the household. The two boys had gone from strangers to inseparable brothers—studying together, saving money together…

A sudden realization struck her.

She remembered that after the Old Marchioness confirmed Wenxiu’s identity, Jin Cheng had suddenly come to her demanding a thousand taels as a reward. She had teased him, asking why he suddenly needed so much money when he’d been fine being broke.

When she refused, the little rascal then insisted she increase Wenxiu’s monthly allowance by ten taels, determined to save up with his brother.

Two young masters who lacked for nothing, suddenly hoarding money—the reason was now obvious.

They had been secretly saving to support Wenxiu’s family.

"Well, well… Jin Cheng really knows how to hide things—keeping even me in the dark." Xu Wan pushed her bowl aside and stormed out in a fury.