Chapter 39: Achievement and Flaky Pastry
Chapter 39: Achievement and Flaky Pastry
"Madam also asked me to remind Young Master that you must attend, as this is a rare opportunity."
Xue Jian spoke with a gentle and respectful tone, "If Young Master doesn't go, Madam said she will put you under house arrest for three months, take away all your painting paper, poetry books, guqin, and not allow you to enter the kitchen."
As she said this, a sense of oddity crept into her heart. For a Young Master to have such a broad range of interests, he truly was a remarkable person.
Moreover, such a valuable opportunity was something people would fight over, yet here she was, struggling to persuade this Young Master. It was truly bizarre.
"Isn't this punishment a bit too severe?"
Li Hao was speechless, "Is this a request or a threat?"
Xue Jian looked up, her beautiful face showing innocence as she blinked her eyes.
"Alright, alright, I understand." Li Hao sighed.
Xue Jian smiled, this Young Master was indeed a delightful person. She bowed gracefully, bid farewell to Fifth Master, and respectfully took her leave from Li Hao.
"You should listen to Jian Lan's words and make the trip."
After Xue Jian left, Li Qingzheng said calmly.
"Is it for the secret technique of the Black and White Hall?" Li Hao asked.
One of the Three Holy Sites of Qingzhou City, the Black and White Hall, though not on the same level as the Rain Listening Pavilion according to Second Master, still had its merits, such as the palace's treasured secret technique.
"Exactly, that secret technique is enough to be listed on the Seventh Floor."
Li Qingzheng said calmly, "Moreover, Tan Palace Academy's teaching standards are also quite good. It's time for you to settle down and focus."
"That's the real purpose, isn't it..." Li Hao pouted.
Soon, the maid Qingzhi returned, jogging back with a bounce in her step.
Li Hao saw her empty hands and asked, "Where's the flaky pastry?"
"Couldn't buy it."
Qingzhi bowed respectfully to Li Qingzheng and then said to Li Hao, "I asked Wang Po next door, and Uncle Liu went to the Tan Palace Academy market. It's very crowded there, with geniuses from the Nineteen Provinces all gathered. Business is booming, and many other vendors from nearby streets have also set up stalls there."
"Wow..." Li Hao drew in a breath and couldn't help but smile bitterly. It seemed he had no choice but to make the trip.
Although his cooking skills were now at the sixth rank, Uncle Liu's cotton jade flaky pastry, which he had been making for decades, was something Li Hao could replicate but never quite capture the perfect flavor.
Across from him, the old man saw Li Hao's helpless expression and chuckled, stroking his beard.
"Young Master, when I came back, Young Master Yuanzhao was waiting for you by the Jiaolion Carriage at the gate. He said to get ready quickly and go to the Tan Palace Academy together", Qingzhi said.
"Alright."
Given the circumstances, Li Hao had no choice but to set out, for the sake of the flaky pastry.
He had Qingzhi prepare his outer garments and left the courtyard in loose clothing.
"Grandfather, I'll be going. I won't see you off", Li Hao said to the old man.
"Go ahead. I'll wait to see how you fare when you return", Li Qingzheng smiled.
You better think hard about it... Li Hao chuckled to himself, then left with Uncle Fu and Qingzhi.
Qingzhi had entered the manor three years ago. She was reportedly a young lady from a minor clan, but her family fell on hard times and she was sold into slavery, eventually ending up at the Divine General Manor.
Li Hao had heard she knew a bit of calligraphy and had her come to the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Given her past assassination experience, Qingzhi's entry into the manor was thoroughly vetted through multiple layers of screening and Li Fu's drug inspections to ensure there were no abnormalities before she was officially transferred to the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Later, Li Hao took a liking to her and gradually moved her to his side, where she became his personal maid and a trusted presence.
Outside the mansion.
A squad of Li Family guards was already in position, with five Yanbei Jiaolions, each as large as an elephant, standing in a row, tied to a massive carriage, exuding an impressive aura.
Since the third generation of the Li Family, including Li Hao, had not yet been granted titles or honors, the carriage was not adorned with a canopy. However, the dragon-carved and phoenix-painted body still radiated nobility, and the five Jiaolions, with their rugged and wild bodies, added to the imposing presence.
Stepping into the carriage, Li Hao saw two men and a woman already waiting inside, all around his age. They were Li Yuanzhao and his siblings, Li Yun and Li Zhining.
Among the third generation of the Main Lineage who had trained together in the Training Grounds, only these five, including the children of the Eighth Lady, remained.
However, the Eighth Lady’s children, having been pampered from a young age, were quite distant from the others, a fact that had been evident even back then and was even more pronounced now.
But...
As time passed, many things changed.
"Brother Hao!"
Seeing Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao immediately called out with a smile, patting the seat beside him, inviting Li Hao to sit down.
Now thirteen, Li Yuanzhao’s body had grown even more plump, giving him a comical appearance with his squinting eyes, which looked like two slits on a round bun.
Li Yuanzhao had lost both his parents and was an orphan among the third generation, raised in the Fourth Lady’s courtyard. It was said that he was quite favored by the Fourth Lady, which is why he had grown up so chubby and well-fed.
Hearing his enthusiastic voice, the siblings beside him looked over, but their brows furrowed, and they did not greet Li Hao.
As they grew older and received more knowledge in the Training Grounds, or perhaps due to other influences, the siblings gradually visited the Mountain and River Courtyard less frequently. Since Li Hao turned eleven, they had not come at all.
When Li Hao occasionally ran into them while accompanying the old man on fishing trips, they seemed to have lost their former warmth and even avoided him.
Li Hao had tried to greet them a few times, but after a while, he understood and said nothing, neither complaining nor blaming. From then on, they were like strangers.
After all, as time passed, not only did the people around him change, but he himself had grown as well.
In five years, so much could change.
The Fifth Uncle, for his sake, had left the Ancestral Hall where he had been sitting alone for decades and often came to the courtyard to play chess and keep him company.
But the children who used to run around happily to listen to stories gradually drifted away, leaving only Li Yuanzhao, who still enjoyed visiting the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Sometimes, even without a story to hear, he would bring a small stool, sit beside Li Hao, and watch him paint or play chess with the Fifth Uncle.
Additionally, the Sword Hut, located thousands of miles to the south, had not sent a letter in a long time.
The last one he received was a year ago.
However, that letter promised that the little girl would complete her training and come down the mountain next year.
Thinking about seeing that little tail again in a year, a gentle smile appeared on Li Hao’s face as he sat down on the half of the seat Li Yuanzhao had vacated for him.
"Zhining, why don’t you call Brother Hao?"
After Li Hao sat down, Li Yuanzhao noticed the siblings sitting beside him with no reaction and called out to the sister.
Li Zhining, who used to be a neat and obedient child, had grown into a young lady with a certain grace. However, her eyes, once bright and innocent, now held a calm and resolute look.
She glanced at Li Hao, seeing his casual and warm smile, and frowned but said nothing.
Beside her, Li Yun’s face darkened, and he called out to the driver, "Uncle Ming, let’s go!"
"Yes, Young Master."
The carriage slowly began to move, and after the initial jolt, it became smooth and steady, with no further shaking.
"Li Yuanzhao, although we have an invitation from Tan Palace Academy, Mother said we should try to enter the palace on our own merits and not rely on the family, so as not to be ridiculed by others!"
Li Yun said coldly, his face stern.
(End of Chapter)
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