By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 356 Meeting the Master

The chatter ceased with the arrival of the Empress, and Princess Changning obediently returned to the Empress's side.

As the palace banquet began, the opera troupe also started performing.

Ling Jie'er sat in Pei Rujing's lap, her dark grape-like eyes blinking. She wasn't interested in the opera; she looked left and right, but was more interested in the group of people in the hall.

It was her first time attending a banquet with so many people, and everything felt new and exciting.

The people were novel, and the things were novel too.

Seeing Ling'er's actions, Madam Zhong laughed and said, "Ling'er isn't afraid of strangers at all, even after a year."

Pei Rujing held Ling'er's little hand: "She loves lively atmospheres. It's good enough if she doesn't cause trouble. She's not shy at all."

Lingjie realized Pei Rujing was talking about her, and looked up at her with a sweet smile: "Mother~"

Mrs. Zhong watched with longing; she also wanted a daughter, but unfortunately, she had not been able to have one yet.

……

After the palace banquet ended, everyone boarded their carriages and left.

Lingjie, held in Wen Zongji's arms, excitedly recounted her experiences: "Daddy~ People~ Play~"

She wanted to say that there were many people at the palace banquet, and it was a lot of fun.

Wen Zongji nodded: "Yes, Ling'er likes banquets? When you grow up, there will be many banquets you can attend."

Pei Rujing glared at him: "Don't cause me any trouble."

Lingjie couldn't possibly attend the banquet alone, so Pei Rujing had to take her with her. Pei Rujing, however, had no patience for those pretentious banquets.

Wen Zongji said, "Then let's wait until Ling'er grows up and attend the banquet herself."

"That won't do either. There are too many people at the banquet, and who knows if there are any ill-intentioned people? We can't let Ling'er attend alone."

Although Pei Rujing always said that she and Wen Zongji were destined to be together, it did not change the fact that they were initially manipulated by others.

Wen Zongji also realized this, and his heart tightened: "My wife is right."

Ling Jie'er was still excitedly expressing herself in Wen Zongji's arms, completely unaware that her next banquet was far off.

Rui-ge raised his hand: "Father, Mother, can I take Ling-jie with me?"

He felt that he had grown up and could help his parents with their burdens.

Wen Zongji laughed after hearing this: "You mean well, but you are a boy. Boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven. You can't take care of Ling'er."

Rui was dumbfounded: "There's such a rule?"

Rui Ge'er hasn't started his formal education yet, so naturally he doesn't know these etiquette rules.

"Didn't you notice that everyone at the palace banquet was a man?"

It was only then that Rui noticed the problem. He had wondered before why Pei Rujing wanted to separate from them, but he had never asked.

Now, by a twist of fate, I know the answer.

Rui-ge looked at Ling-jie, somewhat disappointed: "Then I can't stay with Ling-jie."

He wanted to make his sister happy.

Pei Rujing patted his head: "It's already very good that you have this intention."

This is why Pei Rujing initially wanted to have a son first, so that her daughter would have an older brother to protect her.

……

After the palace banquet, it's time for New Year's greetings, which is also a social activity among adults. After going through all the rounds, it's almost time to go back to work.

The day before his shift, Wen Zongji took Rui Ge'er to visit Yuan Tianxi.

元府

Yuan Tianxi looked at Rui Ge'er: "Is this your son?"

Wen Zongji nodded: "Rui-ge'er, pay your respects to the teacher."

Before he arrived, Wen Zongji told him that he was there to visit his teacher.

Rui Ge'er raised his hand and bowed: "Greetings, sir."

Yuan Tianxi helped him up: "Get up, there's no need for formalities."

Rui stood up straight, his little face serious, trying his best to give Yuan Tianxi the feeling that he was very serious.

Yuan Tianxi smiled and said, "I believe that like father, like son. I will teach you from now on, young master. We should get along well."

Rui Ge'er said, "Sir, you can call me Rui Ge'er. That's what my parents call me."

Yuan Tianxi turned to look at Wen Zongji.

Wen Zongji shrugged: "I didn't teach him."

Rui-ge explained, "On the way here, Father said that Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher are the most important beings after Father and Mother. Teacher is my elder, so naturally you can call me Rui-ge."

Although Rui Ge'er was young, he had grown up in the county princess's mansion since childhood, and through his surroundings, he knew that not just anyone could call him Rui Ge'er.

Even Granny Feng wouldn't call him Rui-ge'er.

Although Wen Zongji did not teach him, Rui Ge'er's intuition told him that Yuan Tianxi could call him Rui Ge'er.

Yuan Tianxi smiled: "Rui-ge'er is so well-mannered at such a young age, no wonder he is Lord Wen's son."

Wen Zongji's lips curled up in a smile.

He was still happy to hear his son being praised.

"Mr. Yuan, it's settled then. Once you've taken care of your business, you can go to the county princess's residence to begin Rui'er's education."

Yuan Tianxi nodded: "Okay."

This was already agreed upon. Today's visit to Yuan Tianxi was simply to let Rui-ge'er meet Yuan Tianxi.

Now that the matter was settled, Wen Zongji took Rui Ge'er and left the Yuan residence.

On the carriage

Wen Zongji said, "From now on, we must listen to Master Yuan. Master Yuan is a great Confucian scholar. There are few people in the entire Great Chu who are more learned than him. In other words, he is one of the most learned people in the Great Chu."

Rui Ge'er said, "The gentleman is very kind."

He didn't know how learned Yuan Tianxi was; he only knew that he got along well with him and didn't feel any resentment towards him.

Wen Zongji smiled and said, "That's good. I'm very relieved to have Mr. Yuan teaching you from now on."

Rui-ge looked at Wen Zongji and said, "Father, I will study hard... Father is very good at studying, and I am Father's son, so I should be good at it too."

Wen Zongji patted his little head: "Then Father will wait and see."

Although he didn't have a strong desire for his son to succeed, Rui Ge'er was motivated, so he wouldn't discourage him.

Rui clenched his little fist: "Definitely."

Back to the County Princess's Mansion

Upon learning that the matter had been settled, Pei Rujing asked, "Should we arrange accommodations for Mr. Yuan in the front yard?"

Generally, teachers who provided early education would live in the mansion.

Wen Zongji said, "Mr. Yuan may not necessarily stay, but arrangements can be made. Mr. Yuan can stay anytime he wants."

Yuan Tianxi loved wine, but if he lived in the county princess's mansion, it wouldn't be so convenient for him to drink.

For someone as fond of alcohol as him, it was unbearable; he preferred the inconvenience of making the round trip.

Pei Rujing nodded: "Okay, I'll have someone prepare a small courtyard."

Wen Zongji said, "Starting tomorrow, Rui-ge'er will move out of the main courtyard."

Now that Rui-ge'er is starting his early education, it's natural that he should have his own yard.

He still lives in a side room in the main courtyard.

Pei Rujing had already made arrangements for this: "I've already made arrangements, and we can move anytime."

Wen Zongren's son, Wen Ge'er, was already living in his own courtyard when he was four years old.

Rui Ge'er is already considered late.

It was also because Wen Zongji and Pei Rujing only had one child, so they weren't so strict about following the rules.