Chapter 552: Chapter 544: Don’t You Have a Conscience?
Feng Mi chased Xiong Er and the others away; it was because Qin Liuxi and his disciple had another wave of guests to meet, with the arrival being none other than Teng Zhao’s biological father.
“You just wait, the time you spend in the capital will surely be busier than in Li City,” Feng Mi said gleefully, giving Qin Liuxi a sideways glance.
Listen to this—is this something one should say?
There’s a saying: ‘If not beaten for three days, one will climb to the roof to remove the tiles.’ It is time to stretch one’s muscles and bones.
Qin Liuxi offered Feng Mi a sardonic smile.
Seeing the bad omen, Feng Mi immediately slipped away: “I’m going to check the items delivered for the auction.”
Qin Liuxi snorted and brought Teng Zhao into the elegant guest room, only to see Teng Tianhan standing up. Trailing half a step behind him was a young woman in her early twenties.
Qin Liuxi first observed the new Mrs. Teng: her face was round like the full moon, with a broad forehead and round nose, a full and graceful neck, clear and bright eyes—a typical look of wealth and prosperity, and she seemed like a gentle and honest person.
Both her couple palace and children palace appeared full and plump, clearly indicating a harmonious marital relationship, and there was a reddish-purple hue in her children palace—a sign of pregnancy.
Teng Tianhan himself was a handsome uncle nearing middle age. Taking a concubine, he indeed married someone very suitable, as their couple palaces were harmonious and beautiful.
“Zhao’er.” Teng Tianhan’s eyes brimmed with tears of excitement upon seeing his son.
He had decisively sent his son to be Qin Liuxi’s disciple, but afterwards he had regretted it countless times, wishing he could turn back and take his son home—it was Mr. Du who convinced him with Qin Liuxi’s words.
The bond of kinship grows thin.
Every time Teng Tianhan thought of this phrase, he felt as if he had swallowed bitter herbs, the bitterness intolerable.
After over half a year, he finally saw his son again. In this reunion, there was excitement as well as reassurance, but even more so, bitterness.
“You’ve grown taller, put on some weight, and you’ve become sturdier. Your spirit also seems very good,” Teng Tianhan carefully scrutinized his son who had grown a good deal taller, wearing a green robe embroidered with runes, his hair meticulously tied up, wrapped in a lotus leaf turban, with delicate features and a rosily healthy complexion.
Moving closer, he could still faintly smell a refreshing fragrance emanating from the boy.
Although Teng Tianhan felt a hint of melancholy, he had to admit that his son seemed to be doing really well with Qin Liuxi, which also caused him a sense of defeat.
He couldn’t even come up with the excuse to take his son back because he wasn’t doing well, since the son was being raised better by Qin Liuxi.
“Father,” Teng Zhao did not share Teng Tianhan’s excitement and simply performed a Taoist ceremony politely, then turned to look at the new Mrs. Teng, Mrs. Wen.
Realizing his gaze, Teng Tianhan felt somewhat awkward, but he straightened up and introduced, “Your father got remarried during the New Year, this is your stepmother, Mrs. Wen. Please, pay your respects.”
Mrs. Wen stepped forward with a smile, and Teng Zhao also performed a Taoist ceremony, bowing low: “Greetings, madam.”
Teng Tianhan grew even more embarrassed.
Mrs. Wen was startled for a moment, yet she smiled and stepped forward, intending to help him up: “Good child, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Teng Zhao took a step back, avoiding her assistance.
Mrs. Wen’s smile stiffened at the corners of her mouth. She had long inquired about the temperament of Teng Zhao, her stepson. In the manor, he ignored everyone, even his father was met with indifference, leading to rumors that there was something wrong with his mind.
But upon closer inspection, his face greatly resembled that of his father, and his spirit was also vibrant; he didn’t seem foolish but rather cold in nature.
Yet Teng Zhao avoided her, was this his dissatisfaction towards her, blaming her for taking his mother’s place?
While Mrs. Wen was speculating, Teng Zhao had already straightened up and said to Mrs. Wen, “I usually offer incense during my morning practice, and over time, my body inevitably carries its fragrance. Since madam is pregnant, I did not wish to overwhelm your senses and cause discomfort.”
So that was it.
Mrs. Wen was not only shocked but also somewhat touched, with a hint of inexplicable sourness.
She was indeed pregnant, but it was not yet obvious—how did he know? Did his father tell him?
What touched him was that Teng Zhao, at such a tender age, was already so thoughtful. Yet at this age, he had already lost his mother, and his father wasn’t by his side either; it made one feel as though the child had been abandoned by his family.
Mrs. Wen smiled and touched her belly, saying, “Zhao’er is truly considerate. My pregnancy has been good, and I haven’t suffered much from morning sickness, so you don’t need to be overly cautious.”
Teng Zhao did not speak.
Mrs. Wen then took a box from her handmaid and handed it over: “This is a gift for our meeting; do you like it?”
Teng Zhao hesitated for a moment before opening it to find a fine set of Four Treasures of the Study and felt somewhat disappointed.
To him now, the Four Treasures were less desirable than superior vermillion and talisman paper, or even just Silver would have been better.
Seeing his expression, Mrs. Wen felt a pang in her heart, realizing she hadn’t chosen the right gift.
She took a wallet from another maid and gave it to him: “Although the new year has passed, you haven’t returned home, this is the New Year’s money I’ve saved up for you, all in silver notes.”
Teng Zhao’s eyes lit up; his master was right, she would give him spending money.
He accepted it and thanked Mrs. Wen with a bow: “Thank you, madam.” Following that, he took out a peace charm folded into a triangle from his chest and presented it with both hands: “This is a peace charm I drew, a gift for madam, to bless you with a safe delivery.”
Mrs. Wen was a bit stunned, taking the charm. Compared to those scholarly things people liked, he seemed to prefer Silver, no wonder her husband had told her to prepare some silver notes as a gift.
Qin Liuxi then said, “Zhaozhao’s drawn peace charm also has Spiritual Energy. Wearing it can ensure safety.”
Mrs. Wen smiled and said, “Zhao’er is very thoughtful.”
Teng Zhao had already returned to stand by Qin Liuxi’s side.
Having seen the courtesies exchanged, Teng Tianhan said, “How come you’ve come to the capital but haven’t returned home, instead choosing to stay here? Our mansion also has quarters; wouldn’t it be better to stay there? Your grandmother is also missing you.”
Teng Zhao shook his head: “I wish to attend to my master’s side, so I will not be returning.”
His so-called grandmother missing him was just a formality.
Teng Tianhan felt somewhat disheartened.
“Mr. Teng, since Zhaozhao has joined my Dao, there’s no need to involve too many family matters, lest it affects his Dao Heart cultivation,” Qin Liuxi said with a smile.
Teng Tianhan thought, your conscience really doesn’t hurt when you say this, does it?
He looked at his son, who was clutching the wallet, nodding in agreement, and his heart ached.
In just half a year, he had been so thoroughly brainwashed; if this went on longer, would he even stop seeing his own father?
Mr. Teng felt as if the sky was falling.
“Forget it; if you don’t want to go, then don’t.” Teng Tianhan sighed, and then said to Mrs. Wen, “Did you not want to visit the garment shop? Go on, I’ll have a chat with the Junior Temple Master and pick you up later.”
Seeing the situation, Mrs. Wen said, “My lord, there’s no need to pick me up. Since Zhao’er is back in the capital, you should have dinner with him before you return. I will go back to the mansion by myself.”
Teng Tianhan thought it over; this sounded good and agreed.
Only after Mrs. Wen had exchanged a few words with Teng Zhao and left, escorted by her handmaidens and servants, did Qin Liuxi teasingly say to Teng Tianhan, “I told you, Mr. Teng, that you would remarry soon and have another child. My Taisu Pulse Method did not predict wrongly, did it?”
Teng Tianhan felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “As soon as you arrived in the capital, you drew Lin Xiang and such a big matter on us. You gave me quite a scare. As it happens, I have a colleague who encountered a strange occurrence. Do you have any interest in looking into it?”
Qin Liuxi thought: Feng Xiu, that harbinger of misfortune, come out and face your punishment!
“If it can be solved, the reward will certainly be generous,” Teng Tianhan added.
Qin Liuxi’s eyes brightened: “Expelling evil and guarding the Dao is the duty of us in the Mystic Sect. What kind of strange occurrence is it? Shall we go now?”