The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 402

Shen Yibai was grinning foolishly, about to ride a large horse to the examination hall.

But then Luo Jingfeng's sudden, thunderous command scared him into a trembling mess. He clung to his mother's hand, terrified that letting go would mean losing her forever.

Zong Jincheng frowned at Luo Jingfeng and said, "You're too harsh. You scared my friend."

Luo Jingfeng looked puzzled. "How is this harsh? I didn't hit him or curse at him."

Zong Jincheng: "..."

Your standards for 'harsh' are shockingly low.

With time running short and Shen Yibai still backing away, Luo Jingfeng strode over, grabbed the shrieking boy, and tossed him onto the horse.

Shen Yibai wailed even louder, "Help! Mom... save me, help, someone help!"

Truthfully, even Madam Shen was intimidated by Luo Jingfeng. But as he had said, he wasn’t truly harsh or malicious, so she didn’t intervene.

With no one blocking the way, Luo Jingfeng hoisted both boys onto the horse, mounted it himself, and tightened his grip on the reins. "Let’s go—to the examination hall!"

Zong ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍Zhao and Buyan each rode separate horses, carrying the other three young boys along.

Shen Yibai sat at the very front, separated from Luo Jingfeng by Zong Jincheng, but he was still whimpering in fear. "Jincheng, this horse is so tall, and it’s running so fast! Aren’t you scared of heights?"

The little troublemaker laughed. "What’s there to be scared of? It’s not even as high as the second floor of our study. Look, the scenery’s actually pretty nice!"

"Ah... is that how you compare things?" Shen Yibai peeked through his fingers and saw the scenery whizzing past—much more exciting than the slow rides he was used to. "Huh? It is kind of nice."

Luo Jingfeng listened to their chatter and smirked. "If you like it, I’ll give you a horse when you’re older."

Shen Yibai immediately knew the offer wasn’t for him. Zong Jincheng quickly asked, "Why not now?"

Luo Jingfeng refused. "You’re too young to ride one."

The little troublemaker argued, "But Buyan could take me out on it!"

Luo Jingfeng thought for a moment and shook his head. "Still no."

"Why not?!" Zong Jincheng was starting to think he was unreasonable—promising something only to take it back.

Luo Jingfeng grinned. "If you want to ride, come find me. I’ll take you."

"Hmph," Zong Jincheng stuck out his tongue. "Stingy. I’ll save up and buy my own!"

Luo Jingfeng scoffed. "If you can even find one for sale, be my guest."

Zong Jincheng: "..."

Judging by his tone, these were probably rare southern breeds gifted by the Prince of Southern Pacification—something even the imperial family couldn’t easily obtain.

Whatever. He didn’t really want one anyway. Falling off a big horse would hurt even more!

The examination hall was located in the outskirts of the capital, far from any villages or bustling streets, making it perfect for their fast-paced ride.

Zong Jincheng and Shen Yibai laughed and cheered the whole way, their spirits high—until, nearing their destination, the little troublemaker’s smile froze.

In a shaky voice, he asked, "Uncle... I mean, foster father... did we bring our exam supplies?"

"What supplies?" Luo Jingfeng asked.

Zong Jincheng and Shen Yibai looked as if struck by lightning.

Shen Yibai was the first to panic. "No, no, no! We forgot the bags! The exam lasts nine days—without supplies, we won’t last three!"

Their belongings had been packed days ago, but they were still back at the general’s residence. No one had brought them to the city gates, and no one had mentioned them—as if they’d been completely forgotten.

Zong Jincheng muttered hopefully, "Maybe... maybe they’ve already been sent to the examination hall? When we arrive, we’ll just grab them and head straight in..."

Shen Yibai groaned. "But Father and Grandfather are at court, and Mom and the others are at the city gates. Who’d be waiting for us at the examination hall?"

Zong Jincheng’s confidence wavered.

Luo Jingfeng finally understood their dilemma and shrugged. "So you forgot your exam bags? No problem—I’ll just buy five new ones."

The little troublemaker blinked. "Huh? You can buy those?"

Shen Yibai was equally confused. "When I took the child scholar exam, I didn’t see anyone selling supplies outside the hall."

Luo Jingfeng smirked arrogantly. "If every examinee needs supplies, then we’ll just buy them from other candidates."

Zong Jincheng’s brief excitement vanished. He protested, "Each candidate only brings one set. If they sell theirs to us, they’ll have to wait another three years to retake the exam."

Luo Jingfeng waved it off. "So they wait three years. What’s the big deal?"

The little troublemaker snapped, "Why should they sacrifice three years just for us? That’s not fair!"

Shen Yibai wanted to nod in agreement but stopped himself when he remembered who he was sitting behind.

Luo Jingfeng laughed mockingly. "Kid, what’s fair or unfair about it? I’m not stealing—I’m buying. Understand? I’ll offer a thousand taels, and plenty would gladly trade three years for that kind of money. They’d be selling willingly—how is that my fault?"

"You—"

Luo Jingfeng continued, "You think everyone takes the exams just to become officials? You think everyone even passes? I’m giving them a fortune to delay their dreams by three years. They’d live comfortably for life—who’d dare call me unfair?"

The proud Duke of National Protection sneered, utterly dismissive of his nephew’s accusations.

Both Zong Jincheng and Shen Yibai were reasonable boys, and Luo Jingfeng’s logic did make sense. If they met someone desperate for money, they might even thank him.

But Zong Jincheng still grumbled, "Your attitude is terrible, though. Acting all high and mighty, like you’re handing out charity. You don’t respect them at all."

Luo Jingfeng scoffed. "Attitude? What’s the point? If I win battles while being arrogant, am I suddenly not a hero? If a traitor grovels, does that make him a good man? Attitude is worthless. I do what I want."

Zong Jincheng plugged his ears. "Alright, stop talking. You’re ruining my moral compass."

Shen Yibai whispered weakly, "If we wrote exam essays with this logic, we’d definitely fail..."

Luo Jingfeng paused, then burst into laughter.

The little troublemaker pressed his hands harder against his ears.

At the examination hall gates, Luo Jingfeng’s horse arrived first. He lifted the boys down and was about to go "buy" supplies when a voice called out:

"Jincheng! Yibai! You’re finally here—your grandmother was worried sick!"

Zong Jincheng turned and saw the Old Marquis and Old Marchioness, surrounded by servants—and carrying five neatly packed exam bags.

The little troublemaker sprinted toward them, overjoyed. "Grandmother! Grandfather! You came to wait for us here?!"

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