Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 2515: Chapter 2516: Return to Tianyun (82)

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In order for her granddaughter to prepare well for the exam, even if Tao Chengyin hadn’t come with generous gifts to ask for her help, Madam Huo would have found a way to let her granddaughter return to her maternal home to prepare for next year’s provincial exam.

As soon as Tao Chengyin returned from the Huo family, he instructed Su Xing to pack their bags, and they could go to the Huo family the next day.

The next day, on the ninth day of the eighth month, Su Xing and Taoming Ye took the maidservant Hong Ye and the young servant Ru Song to stay at the Huo family.

Tao Chengyin, with a face full of smiles, personally escorted them to the gate of the Tao Mansion.

When Wan Banyan saw this, she was so angry her eyes turned red. Upon returning to her room, she said to Taoming Hai, ”It’s uncertain if the Emperor will make an exception for her next year. Look at your father, acting as if she’s already become the Martial Champion. It’s infuriating!”

”Because the Emperor mentioned her in the court hall, many officials are optimistic about this matter, and they’ve been frequently associating with Father, flattering him. Father has never been in such high spirits before, so naturally, he’s like this.” Taoming Hai didn’t want to mind it, but his tone was as sour as it could be.

Wan Banyan remained dissatisfied, ”You also have to take the provincial exam next year. Right now, he’s only concerned about Huo Xiner, not considering you at all. I feel it’s unfair to you! Besides, if Huo Xiner can go to her maternal home to prepare for the exam, you can also come with me to my maternal home to prepare for the exam! My Marquis’ Mansion may not have such a large training ground, but there’s a small one, much better than your family’s!”

Taoming Hai had some dissatisfaction in his heart with Wan Banyan seemingly not considering the Marquis’ Mansion as home, but he didn’t say anything, instead responding, ”I’m the legitimate son of the family. Accompanying you to your maternal home for a few days is fine, but if you ask me to stay there for a year and a half, Father definitely won’t agree.”

”Then why does he agree with Huo Xiner? I don’t care; anyway, I want to return to my maternal home too!” Wan Banyan said in a huff.

Taoming Hai didn’t want to quarrel with Wan Banyan, so he said, ”Then I’ll ask Father. If he agrees, I’ll accompany you to stay at your maternal home.”

”I’ll go with you too!” Wan Banyan immediately said happily. ”I’m afraid you’ll just listen to whatever your father says, without fighting for it.”

Taoming Hai thought to himself: Even if I fight for it, it won’t work. Father surely won’t agree.

But he didn’t say this out loud.

Instead, he went out again with Wan Banyan to find Tao Chengyin. As for when Tao Chengyin wouldn’t agree, Wan Banyan couldn’t say anything to him about it. It wasn’t that he didn’t agree; it was his father who didn’t agree.

Actually, he didn’t want to go to the Marquis’ Mansion either. He was the legitimate son of the Tao Mansion, not a visiting son-in-law. With a home clearly in the Imperial City, how could he go live at the Marquis’ Mansion?

Moreover, he wasn’t like Huo Xiner, who was skilled. His results were just average to below average in the martial talent category. He really didn’t have the face to make such a big deal of going to his in-law’s house to prepare for the exam.

If he managed to pass as a Martial Candidate next year, that would be fine, but if he didn’t... it’d be even more embarrassing!

Upon arriving at the study, when he saw Tao Chengyin, Taoming Hai hesitated for a while, yet under Wan Banyan’s urging, finally spoke fully, ”Father, Banyan’s maternal home also has a training ground. I’m thinking, since I also need to take the provincial exam next year, I want to go with Banyan to her maternal home to prepare for the exam.”

Tao Chengyin immediately got angry, his beard bristling, and pointed at Wan Banyan to scold her: ”It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one who instigated this, aren’t you?”

Wan Banyan felt very wronged but didn’t dare to say a word.

Taoming Hai hurriedly said, ”Father, it’s not Banyan; it’s really my idea.”

”Don’t protect her!” Tao Chengyin roared in anger. ”You’re the legitimate son, my only legitimate son, and the family is here. Your parents are both alive. Even if you want to use the training ground at the Marquis’ Mansion, it doesn’t mean you have to live there!”