My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 36 The Banquet (4)

Back at the Lin residence, Lin Ziping was about to wake Lin Zhong when he turned around and saw that Lin Zhong had already woken up and was looking at him.

Looking into Lin Zhong's eyes, Lin Ziping felt inexplicably uncomfortable and quickly said, "Uncle has arrived."

Lin Zhong had already looked away and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.

Butler Tao's voice came from outside the carriage: "Master, we've arrived."

The quiet atmosphere inside the carriage was broken, and Lin Ziping relaxed his back, which had been tense for some time.

"Hmm," Lin Zhong responded softly.

After the carriage stopped, Steward Tao opened the door, and Lin Zhong got up and slowly stepped down from the saddle.

"Ziping, come here." Lin Zhong got out of the car and looked at Lin Ziping with a gentle expression.

Looking at his gentle face, Lin Ziping felt as if the way he had looked at him just now was an illusion.

Lin Ziping calmed himself down, probably because he was too tired and misread the words. He got out of the car with a smile and walked to Lin Zhong's side: "Uncle."

"Ziping must be tired from playing today, you should get some rest," Lin Zhong said.

"Uncle, okay, you should get some rest too." Lin Ziping nodded in response, then turned to Butler Tao and said, "Butler Tao, my uncle is a little drunk, could you please prepare a bowl of hangover soup for him?"

"Yes, young master, this servant has already made arrangements for the kitchen," Butler Tao said, bowing in acknowledgment.

Lin Ziping and Lin Zhong entered the mansion together. At the fork in the road between the two courtyards, Lin Ziping watched as Steward Tao helped Lin Zhong leave and walked away into the distance. He then headed towards his own courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, after taking stock of the things that Granny Liao had prepared that morning, I thought about how banquets in novels were always important occasions where accidents frequently occurred and posed significant safety risks. I was glad that today's banquet was really ordinary and uneventful. However, the knife that Granny Liao gave me was quite good; the way it was tied and the tightness were just right. I'll keep it for myself from now on.

On the outskirts of the village, as darkness fell, Ji Wu, the steward of the Ji family, was reporting to Magistrate Ji on the gifts brought by the guests that day.

"Sir, should we take these things back to the county government office?" Ji Wu asked.

Magistrate Ji had also drunk some wine. Although he had a bowl of hangover soup, he was still feeling unwell. He rubbed his temples and said, "Give the booklet to Madam. She will make the arrangements."

Ji Wu put away the booklet containing the gifts and said, "As for the jade crow given by my nephew Lin Zhong, this servant thinks it is of good quality."

Magistrate Ji scoffed, "Send it to the young master; after all, it was a gift from his classmate."

Ji Wu nodded and said, "Master, shall I help you down to rest for a while?"

Magistrate Ji did not answer immediately, and Ji Wu waited quietly to the side.

"Help me to Madam's place," Magistrate Ji said.

Magistrate Ji, his steps unsteady, leaned on Ji Wu as they walked toward Madam Ji's courtyard.

Ji Xun was still in Madam Ji's courtyard at this time. He handed Madam Ji a cup of flower tea and said, "Mother, you've worked hard today."

Madam Ji took the flower tea, sipped it, and said, "Speak, what is it?"

"Mother~" Ji Xun held Madam Ji's hand, "I want to visit Lin Ziping's house next time I have a day off."

"Lin Ziping?" Madam Ji looked at Ji Xun in confusion, and the nanny next to her stepped forward and explained in her ear.

"Lin Zhong's nephew, Lin Zhong is a disabled person. When did you get involved with his nephew?" Madam Ji frowned and asked, "Does your father know?"

"Mother, that's his uncle, not Lin Ziping. Besides, he helped me." Ji Xun shook Madam Ji's arm. "Doesn't Father listen to Mother?"

Madam Ji blushed and tapped Ji Xun's forehead: "You little rascal."

"Mother, you agree?!" Ji Xun said.

Before Madam Ji could say anything, a commotion arose in the courtyard. The old nanny went to the door, looked around, and said, "Master is here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Magistrate Ji's voice came from the courtyard.

"Ah Xiu, Ah Xiu..."

Ji Wu helped Magistrate Ji into the house. Upon seeing this, Madam Ji frowned and asked, "What happened?"

“Reporting to Madam, Master is drunk and is demanding to see you. This servant has no choice but to…” Ji Wu said.

"Have you had the hangover soup?"

"The master has already been served the drink."

Madam Ji said, "Thank you for your hard work, Fifth Uncle. Please help the Master into the house."

Ji Xun watched what was happening in the room. After the old woman helped Ji the magistrate away, he cupped his hands and said to Madam Ji, "Mother, go and see Father. I'm going back now. Remember to tell him when he's sober."

"Go ahead, go ahead, you're such a worry." Although Madam Ji said this, her eyebrows and eyes were relaxed, and it was clear that she was in a good mood.

After washing up, Madam Ji returned to her room and saw Magistrate Ji already leaning against the headboard, reading by candlelight.

"If you weren't drunk, how did you wake up so quickly?"

"Ah Xun, have you gone back?" Magistrate Ji did not answer, but asked Ji Xun.

"He's gone back," Madam Ji said, sitting down opposite Magistrate Ji. "He said he'd visit Lin Ziping during his next day off."

Magistrate Ji smiled and said, "It's good for Magistrate Axun to have another friend."

"But given Lin Zhong's identity, is it inappropriate for Ah Xun to befriend his nephew?" Madam Ji asked hesitantly.

“Lin Ziping helped Ah Xun in the cave, so we should thank him. Lin Zhong came out of the palace, so it’s possible that Lin Ziping was the one who brought him out,” Magistrate Ji said, putting down his book.

"The Empress already has the Sixth Prince by her side; no one else should exist," said Madam Ji, picking up the book that Magistrate Ji had put down.

"There is a sixth prince, but we don't even know where the rumors are coming from. The people behind them are hiding too well," said Magistrate Ji.

"Should I send a message to my brother and tell him about this?" Madam Ji asked.

“Countless people have left the palace in recent years. It just so happens that we met Lin Zhong in Qingyang. In this situation, we can keep an eye on things. The Duke is busy with affairs, so let’s not bother him with this kind of thing.” Ji Xun comforted Madam Ji, saying, “Ah Xun knows his limits. Alas, Ah Xun has suffered this time.”

Madam Ji said with heartache, "Under the clear sky, who would have thought such a thing would happen? How is that villain now? How are the other children who were with Ah Xun?"

Magistrate Ji said, "We have arrested some people, but the key figures have not yet been found, as the case involves a wide range of people. So far, we have only found about ten children who were with Ah Xun, but there are still several families who came to the county office to report the case and have not found their children."

Madam Ji said with compassion, "These children are so pitiful."

"Don't worry, the county government will continue to pay attention to this matter," said Magistrate Ji, sighing, "It's hard to say whether it's a blessing or a curse that some children have been found, especially the girls."

Madam Ji was not pleased to hear this. She glared at Magistrate Ji and said, "What parent doesn't love their child? It must be lucky that they were found."

"Yes, yes, Madam is right. Now the country is peaceful and prosperous. Under the rule of His Majesty and the Empress, the people live and work in peace and contentment. Moreover, His Majesty the Great Ancestor and Empress the Holy Ancestor have issued many policies to treat women well. How can this be compared to the previous dynasty?" Magistrate Ji stood up and put his arm around Madam Ji's shoulder.

Madam Ji snorted, "My aunt, my sister, and my great-aunt are all women who care about the world."

Their voices gradually faded until they could no longer be heard. As night deepened, people began to drift off to sleep. Today was over, and they hoped for good weather tomorrow.