The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 433

Suddenly, there was no response. Zong Zhao realized she had fallen asleep.

Having stayed up this late, faint shadows had begun to form under her eyes. Their clothes were disheveled, hers especially so—her sleeping robe had been pulled down to her chest, revealing a snow-white shoulder adorned with the marks of his kisses.

Zong Zhao withdrew his arm from beneath her, carefully adjusted her robe, and pulled the quilt over her. Gently, he brushed away the stray strands of hair from her face.

Gazing at Xu Wan’s peaceful sleeping face, he suppressed the urge to kiss her again and got out of bed to extinguish all the lamps in the room. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

In the silence of the night,

he could hear his own rapid heartbeat and slightly labored breathing, unable to calm down for a long time.

Earlier, she had said she liked him…

She had said she liked him so much…

The corners of Zong Zhao’s lips curled slightly. Forcing down his impulses, he smiled at the girl sleeping on the inner side of the bed, his heart sweet and full.

...

By the hour of the Ox, he still hadn’t fallen asleep.

He wondered: When did she start liking me? Was it recently, or had she liked me for months? What does she like about me—my looks, my martial skills, or my personality? How much does she like me? Is it different from how she feels about Jin Cheng and the others? Will she keep liking me?

...

By the hour of the Tiger, he grew even more restless.

He thought: When we kissed earlier, she was also tugging at my clothes. Did she want to consummate our marriage? Was it because she liked him that she wanted to? When should we do it? Tomorrow? No, the first few days of the new year are too busy, and she’s exhausted. After the first month? No, by then Jin Cheng and the others will be preparing for the imperial exams, and she’ll be even more preoccupied.

...

By the hour of the Rabbit, he was still wide awake.

He imagined: In the future, they would have their own child. That child might look like her, or like him—or perhaps a mix of both. If it was a boy, he must learn martial arts first. Otherwise, if he only knew how to hide behind her when trouble came, he wouldn’t be able to protect her.

...

By the hour of the Dragon, he finally felt drowsy.

He mused: When their child grew up, he would take her traveling, far from the rigid confines of the capital where even a decent mountain or clear stream was hard to find. Lu City was nice—if Su Xi had lived there for decades, the environment must be pleasant and soothing. He could build a cottage there, though a thatched roof might leak. A bamboo house would be too cold in winter…

...

Xu Wan slept until nearly noon, the sunlight already streaming into the room. She blinked drowsily for a few seconds before suddenly remembering it was the first day of the new year. Startled, she bolted upright in bed.

“Cu—” She was about to ask Cui Zhi what time it was when she noticed Zong Zhao still lying beside her, just waking up—likely because she had disturbed him.

Xu Wan was stunned. Having a fellow late riser suddenly eased her panic, and she even found the mood to tease him. “What’s going on, General Zong? You’re up even later than me. Look outside—it’s almost noon! Jin Cheng and the others must have come to pay their New Year respects early, only to be turned away at the door… Oh no, the whole household must know by now.”

Zong Zhao rubbed his forehead and chuckled. “So what if they know?” He sat up and began dressing, then handed her clothes to her.

Xu Wan sighed in defeat. “You’re right. No one would dare gossip about us anyway, thanks to the great general’s high status and power.” But then it hit her. “But we still have to pay New Year respects to your parents!”

Suddenly frantic, she rushed through washing up and fixing her hair, dragging Zong Zhao straight to the Old Marchioness’s courtyard.

Zong Zhao laughed softly. “No need to hurry. We can go after eating.”

Xu Wan shot him a glare. “After eating? By then it’ll be afternoon! Who pays New Year respects in the afternoon on the first day?”

“What if they’re having lunch right now?”

Xu Wan: “…”

Please don’t let him be right.

When the couple arrived, the Old Marchioness’s courtyard had just finished setting the table. She greeted them warmly. “Awake at last! You must be hungry after rushing here. Come, join us.”

Xu Wan pressed a hand to her forehead and whispered to Zong Zhao, “Good thing I dragged you here. Any slower and they’d have started without us.”

Zong Zhao stifled a laugh and whispered back, “Father can hear you.”

Xu Wan looked up to see the Old Marquis smiling at her.

Xu Wan: “…”

I hate you people with your sharp martial arts hearing!

“Father, Mother, Happy New Year! Wishing you good health and all the best in the coming year.”

“Wonderful, wonderful,” the Old Marchioness replied with a smile. “And I wish you both marital harmony and happiness.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Xu Wan pulled Zong Zhao to sit down.

The small round table held only a few dishes, so the Old Marchioness had two more plates of dumplings brought out. Noticing a dish Xu Wan liked was too far, Zong Zhao served her several portions.

The Old Marchioness and Old Marquis exchanged amused glances, only bursting into laughter after the couple left. “Husband, don’t they seem even closer now?”

The Old Marquis stroked his beard. “Indeed. Zhao’er has changed a lot since his return. We’ve never seen him so attentive before—he’s never even served me food.”

The Old Marchioness sniffed. “Back when that scoundrel from Duke Jin’s Manor was pestering Wan’er, I said he wasn’t fit to hold a candle to our Zhao’er. Now look—Wan’er is so happy. They’re truly a match made in heaven.”

The Old Marquis rolled his eyes. “Why bring up that disgrace on New Year’s? Just hearing about him makes me want to beat him up again.”

“Hahaha…”

After leaving the courtyard, Xu Wan and Zong Zhao headed to the main study, where they found all ten students and their tutor already seated.

Xu Wan greeted them with a smile. “Happy New Year, everyone!”

“Happy New Year!” came the thunderous reply, full of energy.

Zong Jincheng immediately put down his book and ran over, proudly declaring, “Mother, I’m another year older! I’m eleven now—amazing, right?”

Xu Wan couldn’t help laughing. “So impressive! Still the youngest of the five—the others are twelve, and your brother is thirteen.”

Zong Jincheng huffed. “I’m not competing with them. I’m competing with myself. In four more years, I’ll reach Great Chu’s minimum marriage age and become a real man!”

Xu Wan: “…”

She couldn’t even imagine this kid getting married in four years.

Time flew so fast.

Three ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍years ago, Jin Cheng was only eight, barely reaching her chest when he jumped, a tiny ball of energy always exploding like a firecracker—though she could still easily pin him down.

But now, he was already up to her chin. At this rate, he’d surpass her height in a couple of years—no, with adolescent growth spurts, he might shoot up even faster.

Xu Wan thought grimly: If this kid tried to fight her now, she might not stand a chance.

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