Chapter 39: Glory and Crisp Pastry
“Madam asked me to remind you, young master, to attend this event. It’s a rare opportunity.”
With a respectful and gentle tone, Xuejian continued, “If you don’t go, Madam said you’ll be grounded for three months, and all your painting paper, poetry books, and guqin will be confiscated. You’ll also be forbidden from entering the kitchen.”
As she said this, an odd feeling rose in her heart. For someone to have such a wide range of interests, this young master was indeed extraordinary.
Moreover, such a precious opportunity was something others would fight tooth and nail for, yet here she was, struggling to persuade him. It was truly baffling...
“This punishment seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?”
Li Hao was speechless. “Is this a reminder or a threat?”
Xuejian lifted her head, her delicate face full of innocence as she blinked her eyes.
“Fine, fine, I get it,” Li Hao sighed.
Xuejian pressed her lips into a smile. This young master was truly a unique character. She gave a graceful bow, bade farewell to Wu Ye, and respectfully took her leave from Li Hao.
“You should listen to Jianlan and go,” Li Qingzheng said calmly after Xuejian had left.
“Is this about that supreme technique from the Black and White Hall?” Li Hao asked.
The Black and White Hall, one of the three great sacred lands of Qingzhou City, was often mentioned alongside Tingyu Pavilion. Although Li Hao had heard from Second Master that the two weren’t on the same level, the Black and White Hall still had its merits, such as its famed supreme technique.
“Correct. That supreme technique is enough to be listed among the Seven Pavilions,” Li Qingzheng replied evenly. “Additionally, the teaching standards at Tangong Academy are excellent. You need to temper your personality.”
“So that’s the real motive...” Li Hao muttered, curling his lips.
Before long, the maid Qingzhi came bounding back, skipping energetically.
Li Hao saw her empty-handed and asked, “Where’s the crisp pastry?”
“I couldn’t get any.”
After giving a proper salute to Li Qingzheng, Qingzhi explained to Li Hao, “I asked Aunt Wang next door. Uncle Liu has gone to the market near Tangong Academy. It’s crowded there, with talents from the Nineteen Provinces gathering. Business is booming, and many other street vendors from nearby have gone there as well.”
“Hiss...” Li Hao took a deep breath and couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. It seemed he had no choice but to go.
Though his culinary skills had reached the sixth stage, Uncle Liu’s Cotton Gem Crispy Pastry had been perfected over decades. While he could replicate it, his version always lacked that final touch—it wasn’t flawless.
Opposite him, the old man stroked his beard with a chuckle as he observed Li Hao’s helpless expression.
“Young master, when I returned, I saw that outside the gate, the carriage pulled by flood dragon-lions was waiting. Young Master Yuan Zhao said he’s expecting you to get ready quickly and go to Tangong Academy together,” Qingzhi said.
“Fine,” Li Hao conceded.
Given the circumstances, Li Hao could only prepare to depart—for the sake of the crisp pastry.
He instructed Qingzhi to prepare his outer garments and left his courtyard after changing.
“Wu Ye, I’ll be off. I won’t be able to see you off,” Li Hao said to the old man.
“Go ahead. When you return, I’ll show you how I’ll defeat you,” Li Qingzheng replied with a laugh.
We’ll see who defeats whom... Li Hao smirked inwardly, departing with Fu Bo and Qingzhi in tow.
Qingzhi had entered the household three years ago. It was said that she was the daughter of a small family that had fallen on hard times. After being sold into servitude, she eventually ended up at the Divine General Mansion.
Li Hao had heard of her calligraphy skills and brought her to the Shanhe Courtyard.
After the assassination attempt from before, Qingzhi underwent thorough screening and medication checks by Li Fu to confirm she posed no threat before officially entering the Shanhe Courtyard.
Gradually, she earned Li Hao’s trust and was transferred to his side as a personal maidservant, becoming one of his more trusted individuals.
...
Outside the mansion, a team of Li Family guards was already in position. Five massive flood dragon-lions, each the size of an elephant, were lined up in pairs, hitched to an ornate carriage. The display was nothing short of majestic.
Since most of the third-generation Li family members, aside from a few who had inherited titles, were not yet officially recognized, the carriage lacked a canopy. However, the intricately carved dragon and phoenix designs on its body exuded a sense of nobility. Coupled with the imposing figures of the five flood dragon-lions, the sight was truly awe-inspiring.
Li Hao stepped into the carriage to find three other passengers already waiting inside: two young men and one young woman, all around his age. They were Li Yuanzhao, along with the sibling pair, Li Yun and Li Zhining.
Among the direct third-generation members who had once trained together at the martial arena, only these three and the children of Eighth Lady formed a group of five.
However, the children of Eighth Lady had always been coddled and remained distant from the others, a trend that was evident from an early age and had only grown more pronounced over time.
Still...
As the years passed, many things began to change.
“Hao ge!”
Upon seeing Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao immediately greeted him with a cheerful grin, patting the seat next to him as an invitation.
At thirteen, his round frame was even more comical, and his small, squinty eyes resembled slits drawn on a plump bun.
Li Yuanzhao, an orphan among the third generation, had been raised in Fourth Lady’s household and was said to be greatly cherished by her, hence his well-fed, rotund appearance.
Hearing his enthusiastic greeting, the sibling pair glanced over, their brows furrowing slightly, but they didn’t greet Li Hao.
As they grew older and received more training at the martial arena, or perhaps due to other influences, the siblings gradually stopped visiting Shanhe Courtyard. Since Li Hao turned eleven, they had not returned even once.
Occasionally, Li Hao would encounter them while out fishing with the old man, but they no longer showed the warmth they once did. Instead, they avoided him.
Li Hao had taken the initiative to greet them a few times, but after being ignored repeatedly, he came to understand their stance. Without expressing any resentment or complaint, he simply let the relationship drift apart.
After all, as the years passed, not only did those around him change, but so did he.
For the past five years, many things had shifted.
Wu Ye, who had secluded himself in the ancestral hall for decades, began frequently visiting Shanhe Courtyard to play chess and keep Li Hao company.
Meanwhile, the other children who once eagerly gathered to hear his stories gradually disappeared. Only Li Yuanzhao remained, consistently visiting Shanhe Courtyard as he always had.
Sometimes, when there were no stories to tell, Li Yuanzhao would bring a small stool, sit next to Li Hao, and quietly watch him paint or play chess with Wu Ye.
Beyond that, no new letters had come from the Sword Abode, thousands of miles to the south.
The last correspondence Li Hao received was a year ago, in which a certain little girl promised to descend the mountain once she had completed her training—this time, she said, would be next year.
Thinking about meeting that persistent "little tail" again, a gentle smile appeared in Li Hao’s eyes. He adjusted his seat to occupy the space Li Yuanzhao had saved for him.
“Zhining, why didn’t you greet Hao ge?”
After Li Hao had settled in, Li Yuanzhao turned to his younger cousin, Li Zhining, who sat nearby without reacting.
Once a clean and obedient little girl, Li Zhining now showed hints of blossoming into a graceful young lady. However, her once-bright and carefree eyes now held a layer of calm and resolve.
She glanced at Li Hao briefly. His face still bore the familiar warm, carefree smile, but her brow furrowed again, and she remained silent.
Beside her, Li Yun’s face darkened. “Let’s go, Uncle Ming,” he instructed the driver curtly.
“Yes, young master,” Uncle Ming replied as the carriage slowly started moving. Other than the initial jostling, the ride soon became remarkably smooth, free of any jolts or sways.
“Li Yuanzhao, while we do have invitations to Tangong Academy, my mother said we should rely on our own abilities to gain entry, not depend entirely on the family. Otherwise, we’ll become the laughingstock of outsiders,” Li Yun said coldly, his face stern.