Xu Moxiu had returned together with Lu Feng. Upon hearing that his younger sister had already gone home in the afternoon, he quickly hurried back as well.

When Lu Feng came to attend to Lu Lao Furen during dinner, Lu Lao Furen directly asked him, “What do you think of the youngest daughter of the Xu Family?”

“Does Zumu mean you don’t want her as a granddaughter anymore? The Xu Family’s youngest daughter is too young. If I were to marry, I’d want someone who could take over the household affairs right away so that you could enjoy your later years in peace,” Lu Feng said bluntly, not beating around the bush with his grandmother.

Lu Lao Furen, displeased, replied, “I just like Junjun. If she marries into our family, I’m willing to endure a couple more years of hard work, teaching her hand in hand. Don’t concern yourself with these matters, just tell me, do you like her or not?”

Lu Feng forced a bitter smile. “I’ve only met her two or three times. If I said I liked her, would you believe me?”

Seeing his response, Lu Lao Furen pushed the bowl of porridge he handed her aside and sighed deeply. “Will I live long enough to see you get married?”

Lu Feng: “……”

“Whether I like her or not isn’t important. What matters is whether she’s willing. After all, I’m so many years older than her and have even been through a broken engagement. You keep asking me, but what if she’s not willing?” Lu Feng tried to shift Lu Lao Furen’s focus.

Sure enough, Lu Lao Furen was drawn into his reasoning. She frowned slightly and said, “You’ve got a point. In that case, have Wenlin help you find out.”

Lu Feng: “…Zumu, let’s finish the porridge first. If it is not eaten soon, it’ll get cold.”

The Imperial Academy was about to start its term. One of the qualities Xu Nian’an most admired about Zhao Huanxi was that, despite having experienced better things, he never aimed unrealistically high. After spending half a month with the teachers and students of Canglan Academy, he still happily packed his book chest, ready to attend the Imperial Academy.

“It’s been half a month now. The matter I asked Qian Xiong and the others to inquire about should have some progress by now. I’ll go ask them tomorrow,” Zhao Huanxi said confidently as the young couple lay in bed that night.

“En, over the past few days, San Jiejie has already had Jinyin and the others gradually bring back some valuables and smaller belongings. Once things are settled on your side, just have San Jiejie bring back the maids and servants who went with her as part of the dowry,” Xu Nian’an said.

Just then, a faint buzzing sound brushed past Zhao Huanxi’s ear. He turned his head from side to side and looked around.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Nian’an turned her face to look at him.

“Seems like there’s a mosquito,” Zhao Huanxi said as he sat up.

“How could there be mosquitoes at this time of year?”

“I’ve no idea.” Holding his pillow, Zhao Huanxi swung it around, then listened carefully for a while. Not hearing the buzzing again, he quickly leaned forward, stretching his arm to reach the bed canopy hanging from the golden hook. However, as he pulled it down, the canopy slipped, and he nearly lost his balance, almost falling onto Xu Nian’an. Thankfully, he managed to catch himself in time by propping himself up.

The soft amber glow of the lamp filtered through the thin gauze canopy, casting a warm light on Xu Nian’an’s face. Her delicate brows were gracefully relaxed, her eyes shimmering like jewels under the light. Beneath her elegant nose, her full, rosy lips appeared as alluring as flower petals.

Suspended directly above her, Zhao Huanxi glanced at her twice and found himself unable to endure it. His heart pounded wildly, his throat dry and parched, and an inexplicable heat spread through his entire body.

Feeling a bit aggrieved, he leaned down and wrapped her in his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Xu Nian’an froze for a moment, then raised her hand to gently stroke his head. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Dong Jiejie, I didn’t do anything, but I still feel uncomfortable,” he murmured into her neck, his warm breath brushing against her soft and sensitive skin. “And now, it’s even worse.”

Held tightly in his embrace, Xu Nian’an felt her heart flutter with a mix of unease and a strange sense of longing.

She liked him, but at the same time, she felt that he was still too young. At sixteen, she couldn’t see him as a man, let alone give herself to him completely.

“Why don’t you go lie back down and think about asking Qian Ming and the others tomorrow?” Xu Nian’an suggested cautiously.

“No.”

“Then… how about this? If you give me a kiss, will you go back and lie down?” Seeing that he refused to budge and remained sprawled over her, Xu Nian’an could only coax him in this way.

Zhao Huanxi lifted his head, their breaths mingling. “Didn’t you say no writing punishments in bed?”

Xu Nian’an, already flustered, grew even more embarrassed at his words. She pushed him and said, “I forgot. Now, get up!”

“I won’t. You just said I could kiss you.” Afraid of losing his chance, Zhao Huanxi leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her soft, rosy lips.

The light, fleeting touch—like a dragonfly skimming water—didn’t ease his discomfort. Instead, it ignited an uncontrollable fire within him.

“Dong Jiejie.” He gently cupped her face with his left hand, his emotions overwhelming him, and kissed her deeply.

Perhaps it was an innate instinct in men, or perhaps he had secretly peeked at the gift Qian Ming had given him before. Driven by curiosity, Zhao Huanxi sought further exploration, and with Xu Nian’an’s softened heart allowing him, his kiss left her breathless.

Her tongue tingled, her mind spun into a daze, and as she listened to his passionate, rapid breathing in her ear, she found herself losing control as well. It wasn’t until she felt him tugging at her blanket to pull it down that she abruptly came to her senses. Raising her hand, she pushed against his chest with force, managing to shove him away.

“Dong Jiejie,” Zhao Huanxi called out, his cheeks flushed, his eyes hazy with desire. His rosy lips glistened with a sheen of moisture, and he leaned in eagerly, looking completely dazed by the kiss, desperate to continue.

Xu Nian’an firmly held him back, her face flushed and her breathing uneven. “No, you’re still too young. W-When you turn eighteen, I’ll give in to you, okay?”

Zhao Huanxi was overwhelmed with desire at that moment, but since Xu Nian’an wasn’t willing, he didn’t dare force it.

Suppressing himself with great effort, he let out a quiet “Oh,” helped her straighten the blanket he had messed up, and then climbed off her, lying down on the inner side of the bed.

Xu Nian’an knew he was struggling, but she didn’t dare provoke him further. She turned her back to him, silently calming the fluttering in her own heart.

Zhao Huanxi tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he finally drifted into a drowsy sleep. He dreamt of being with Dong Jiejie, and in the dream, she didn’t ask him to wait until he turned eighteen…

He let out a soft gasp, suddenly jolting awake, lying still in bed, too afraid to move.

After a long while, he turned his head to look at Xu Nian’an. Her breathing was steady, and she was soundly asleep.

He thought it had just been a dream and sighed in relief. He turned over, planning to go back to sleep, but then froze in place, his body stiffened.

The next morning, at the Imperial Academy.

After the first lesson ended, Qian Ming noticed Zhao Huanxi slumped his head on his desk, looking completely exhausted. He walked over and nudged him, saying, “Laodi, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve overindulged in carnal pleasures that your bones are brittle and your muscles are soft.”

纵欲过度 (zòng yù guò dù): A phrase meaning "excessive indulgence in lust" or "overindulgence in sexual desire."
骨酥筋软 (gǔ sū jīn ruǎn): Literally "limbs turning crisp and muscles turning soft." It describes a state of complete physical exhaustion or weakness, often used euphemistically to describe the aftermath of intense sexual activity.

One sentence brought back the embarrassing memory of Zhao Huanxi sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to change his pants, and the lie he had to come up with the next day, claiming he had accidentally knocked over a water basin and soaked his underpants. He turned his head quickly, facing the other direction. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Ai, why are you lying there? Come on, let’s go out and get some fresh air.” Qian Ming grabbed two oranges, pulling Zhao Huanxi out of the classroom and handing him one.

Zhao Huanxi suspected that something might be wrong with him. Even though he had spent so much time with Qian Ming and the others, and had come to understand the meaning of the poem that Huo Qingzhe had recited back then, he didn’t make a wife out of his hand ah, so how can…

“Hey, hey! What are you doing? Are you peeling the orange and throwing away the pulp, but keeping the peel?” Qian Ming’s voice came from beside him. Zhao Huanxi looked down and, sure enough, saw that he had thrown away the orange pulp and was left holding only the peel. In frustration, he simply tossed the peel away as well.

“What’s going on? What happened to make you so absent-minded?” Qian Ming split the orange with him and asked.

Zhao Huanxi hesitated for a while, but eventually decided to confide in Qian Ming. After all, if there really was something wrong with him, it wouldn’t help to hide it, right?

So, he stammered, “Qian Xiong, I… I…”

“You have another friend (that has a problem)?” Qian Ming raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Huanxi’s face turned red. He decided to just go for it and leaned in to whisper a few words to him.

Qian Ming immediately spat out the orange he had in his mouth.

He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice to ask Zhao Huanxi, “You and Dimei haven’t consummated the marriage yet?”

Zhao Huanxi: “……”

He tried to cover it up, but Qian Ming continued, “Don’t lie. If you two had consummated the marriage, how could you be like this?”

“Then… is this… a sickness?” Zhao Huanxi asked.

“It’s not a sickness, just a normal phenomenon. Compared to most people, you’re actually a bit late. Once you and your wife become a real couple, this won’t happen anymore.” As he said this, Qian Ming grinned mischievously, slinging his arm around Zhao Huanxi’s shoulder and asking, “Why are you still a fake couple? Does she still not like you?”

Zhao Huanxi lowered his head: “It’s not that.”

“Then why?”

Zhao Huanxi awkwardly replied, “She says I’m too young.”

“But you’re sixteen, right? Still too young?” Qian Ming looked at him, smiling with a teasing glint.

Zhao Huanxi froze for a moment, then realised what Qian Ming meant. His face turned bright red, and he elbowed him away. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Qian Ming deliberately teased him, “Looking at it this way, you do seem young. So easily flustered.”

“Your mouth really is annoying,” Zhao Huanxi said, turning to head back to the classroom.

Qian Ming knew Zhao Huanxi was easily embarrassed, so he stopped teasing him and pulled him back. “The thing you asked me to look into, I have news.”

Zhao Huanxi’s eyes brightened. “So fast?”

Qian Ming replied, “Your San Jiefu is really something. He’s got a lot of dirt on hi. Just a little digging and there’s plenty to find. It’s no trouble at all.” He then shared the information he’d gathered with Zhao Huanxi.

When Zhao Huanxi heard that the man had contracted a venereal disease and was secretly seeking treatment, he immediately understood why his mother had been so distressed and why she refused to tell him exactly what had happened to his third sister.

That beast!

He clenched his fists tightly and asked Qian Ming, “Is it possible to get evidence for what you’re saying?”

Qian Ming looked troubled. “These things are not hard to find out, but as for getting evidence…”

“Do you want money or do you want person? Just say it,” Zhao Huanxi said resolutely, determined to ensure his third sister and Li Ziliang divorce this time.

“As long as I say it, you’ll agree?” Qian Ming asked, testing him.

Zhao Huanxi nodded. “As long as it doesn’t involve hurting anyone. Of course, if it’s about hurting Li Ziliang, that’s a different matter.”

Qian Ming laughed. “I’m not asking you to hurt anyone. Next time you come to my house, how about we sing a play?”

Zhao Huanxi: “……”

After three lessons, it was time for lunch. When class ended, Qian Ming called out to Zhao Huanxi, “Are you going to the restroom?”

Zhao Huanxi replied, “No.”

Qian Ming then called over to Huo Qingzhe and He Lun and the others.

Zhao Huanxi packed up his writing tools and, seeing the three of them laughing and chatting as they went out, his eyes flickered. He stood up and chased after them.

A moment later, the group came out of the restroom. Qian Ming quickly caught up with Zhao Huanxi, putting his arm around his neck, and teased, “I asked you to come, but you didn’t listen. Now you’re trailing after us like this, looking all smug as if you’ve gained confidence after using the restroom. What exactly are you doing here?”

He Lun and Huo Qingzhe, not knowing the full story, were confused by Qian Ming’s words and both asked what was going on.

Zhao Huanxi’s face turned bright red. He pushed Qian Ming’s arm away and said, “If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t come look for you anymore.”

Qian Ming immediately surrendered, saying, “Alright, alright, I won’t talk nonsense.”

He casually draped his arm over Zhao Huanxi’s shoulder and sighed, “I didn’t expect it, time flies so fast. Huanxi Laodi, has grown up so much!”

It wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t said anything, but as soon as he did, the two nearby, with less-than-pure thoughts, understood and immediately began teasing. Zhao Huanxi was so embarrassed that he almost wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

In the evening, after class at the Imperial Academy, Zhao Huanxi was riding his horse on his way back to Jing Guogong Residence when he was suddenly called out.

He turned his head to see a young gentleman stepping out of a carriage by the side of the street. The young man approached and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, “Zhao Gongzi, this little one is surnamed Ling, apologize for the sudden interruption, but this humble one has something to ask. One wonders if Zhao Gongzi could spare some time to speak?”

Zhao Huanxi glanced at the family crest on the carriage.

After a few months at the Imperial Academy, he was no longer the naive legitimate eldest grandson of Jing Guogong Residence, confined to the back courtyard and ignorant of the outside world. From everything he had seen and heard in these past months, it seemed that the only person in the capital with the surname Ling who had such a distinguished status was the Grand Academician of Wenyuan Library, Ling Yao.

The 大学士 (Grand Academician) referred to high-ranking scholars who served as senior secretaries or advisors to the emperor. The Wenyuan Library (文渊阁) is one of the imperial libraries. Being a "Grand Academician" of this library meant the individual was at the absolute peak of the civil service hierarchy.