The Blessed (Book 1)

117. Making Plans for His Sons (1)

His confusion, shock and doubt did not escape from Yan Shengrui’s eyes. So the two of them were more confirmed that he knew Yan Shengrui. If he had never met him nefore, he would never have reacted like that just now.

“Yeah, our own children, they are lovely twin boys who will turn five this winter.”

Purposely stressing the words ‘our own’ gave one infinite room of guessing. Ling Jingxuan looked casual, actually he was making plans for his sons step by step. If he guessed right, Chu Ci and his son were also from the imperial city. Whether he was learned or not, he was the best tutor for his little buns. Of course, he also considered if the other side would do bad things to his little buns, after all, Yan Shengrui’s identity was too special. It was possible that people might use the little buns as a threat to him. But judging from how he tried to distance himself from Shengrui, and he never made friends with anyone, he and Yan Shengrui weren’t supposed to be enemies. If so, why would he harm his kids?

He wanted only his intellect and his knowing about the imperial family. If he could be the little bun’s tutor, after Yan Shengrui regained his memories and he still didn’t change, they’d definitely ask him to take them to the imperial city to visit the so-called imperial family, even the emperor who controlled the whole kingdom. So it was never a bad thing to let the kids know about things there and learn some skills about how to socialize with those people. Besides, he had explained that Yan Shengrui had lost his memories, and now emphasized that it was their own children, apparently he was offering an olive branch to him. If he was smart enough, he should know what choice to make.

Offering fuel in a snowy weather was far more precious than adding brilliance to one’s present splendor. Since Yan Shengrui was the prince, the emperor’s biological brother, the only prince ho owned a general’s title, it was already hard to enough to see him, let alone get a chance to suck up to him. So this was the best chance to get close to him. If he guessed right about their background, there should be some untold stories about the imperial family, since two of imperial family members ended up here concealing their identities. Maybe the imperial family was looking for them everywhere. Once they found him, the result was obvious. If he did a favor to Yan Shengrui who had a say in the court, they’d definitely benefit from it.

“Really? Five is the age of enlightenment, and it is our destiny to meet today. Well, bring your children to me tomorrow, and if they are to my taste, I will accept them.”

As Ling Jingxuan expected, Chu Ci agreed after a moment of thinking. Although the other side did not give a clear answer, he believed that he would accept the two little buns, who looked so much like Yan Shengrui.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chu. I have another presumptuous request. If you can accept my two sons, how about one more? He is my sons’ friend, also five years old.”

Ling Jingxuan also didn’t forget about Tiewa. He was indebted to the Zhao&Han couple, of course he should repay them.

“Sure.”

Two or three didn’t make much difference. What Chu Ci cared about was the kids’ identity. He had to see whether they were really Yang Shengrui’s bloodline with his own eyes.

“Thank you, Mr. Chu.”

Ling Jingxuan bowed to him, cupping his hands. Another big stone fell in his heart. As Ling Jingpeng who no one noticed when he already came back saw they were finished, he moved forward holding a pile of books, “Big brother, I have gotten all the books my second elder brother needs. I also got some books about farming.”

Having a younger brother like Ling Jingpeng who was hard-working, not talkative, and obedient, was happier than anything. The most important is, he had high self-consciousness. This kind of younger brothers, he wanted a dozen!

“Well, forget about that book about farming. We will plant something no one had ever planted before. So nothing could be used on this book. We should buy a set of a brush, paper and inkstone for each of Jinghan and the two little buns.”

Nodding, Ling Jingxuan picked up the book on the top and turned it over. It were all manuscripts, It seemed that this Qing Kingdom had not invented printing, This would be a way to make money, but at present he did not have extra energy on that.

“Hmm, Mr. Chu, sorry to trouble you about it then.”

Ling Jingpeng then put the book back. Meanwhile, Chu Ci took out a few good inkslabs on the shelf from behind the counter, and then picked some square-shape, about ten millimeter long inkstones, finally a pile of white touched with a bit yellow paper, “Better choose good inkslab and brushes. These are good. This kind of xuan paper is good, enough to practice calligraphy and the price is reasonable. As for the enlightenment books for the kids, I’ll decide after they come tomorrow.”

“Ok, I want four sets of ink stones, ink and rice paper. Please calculate how much it is.”

For his younger brother and the kids, Ling Jingxuan didn’t even blink his eyes even though he knew it would be pricey. Some money shouldn’t be saved.

“Brushes, ink, paper and inkstones are six taels of silver for each set, and books, one taels of silver each, you bought twenty-one, making a total of forty-five taels of silver.”

Soon, Chu Ci got everything as Ling Jingxuan required. Looking at those things piled on the counter, Ling Jingxuan and Yan Shengrui were both OK, but Ling Jingpeng complained in his heart. Only such few things cost 45 taels of silver??? That could sustain an ordinary family’s food for a few years! Learning is really money-burning thing! No wonder few people could get a title.