Dispute 12

  Wen Yu saw that Nai Nai was not watching her, so she quietly took out two old books from her space and put them together with a pile of small books she had picked out.

  When Murong Jin and Li came out, Wan Yu had already picked the books. Murong Jin took a glance and said with a mixture of laughter and tears: "Do you know how to read? You've bought so many weird ones."

  Qige chose two books that were really children's books, while Wenyu picked out over ten, all kinds of children's books, anyway take them back to show her brother, won't go to waste.

  Wan Yu hugged the book and refused to let go, saying in a soft voice: "Want it, want it."

  "Alright, alright, bought, bought, all taken. Oh my, really a living ancestor. Go home and let your mother tell you stories, okay?" Murong Jin knew that Li Shi told the children bedtime stories every night, so there was no shortage of stories now.

  Wan Yu nodded happily, "Mother, tell a story." Te Te handed the book to Li Shi.

  "Alright, let's listen to the story tonight." Li handed the book and her own things over to her personal maid, so they wouldn't get scattered around and lost.

  Wanyu saw Li's very serious collection of her siblings' books, and only then nodded in satisfaction. The little master's appearance instantly made everyone in the room laugh, and Murong Jin also cherishedly picked up Wanyu and kissed her.

  After strolling around for the whole morning, everyone was a bit hungry. Murong Jin carried Wan Yu in his arms and led Qi Ge and Li Shi to the restaurant to eat. He had booked a private room in advance.

  As soon as he entered the wine house, the little waiter ran over and bowed his head, "Sir, you've arrived, your private room is ready, what kind of tea would you like to drink, which wine do you want?"

  Murong Jin was a figure in the Imperial Capital who could make the city tremble with just a stomp of his foot. Those who didn't know him were mostly newcomers, while those who had been around for years basically hadn't seen that face of his which exuded an aura of murder.

  He casually swept a circle, and immediately he had a general understanding of the situation of everyone in the room, what they were doing, etc. This is an occupational disease of martial generals, wherever they go, they must first take a look at the situation, personnel categories, etc., which can be inferred from their clothing, dress, eyes, hands and feet.

  "For the Bi Luo Chun, want some Hong Zao (red dates), order a few special dishes, not too spicy, my daughter and son can't eat it if it's too spicy, make it light." Murong Jin casually mentioned a few words that covered everyone's basic requirements.

  Li smiled slightly, saying nothing, and followed closely behind Murong Jin, just one step away. The last sentence was for her, and there was a hint of sweetness in her eyes.

  The shopkeeper smiled and nodded, "Alright! We've recently stocked up on rose liqueur in our store. Would you like me to bring a small bottle for the young master and miss to sweeten their mouths?"

  Murong Jin nodded in satisfaction, "Mm, go."

  After finishing speaking, he tossed a few copper coins to the young servant beside him and led his men into the private room.

  Just as they sat down in the private room, Mu Rong Jin hugged Wan Yu and teased her excitedly, "Good girl, Daddy will let you try this family's mutton baozi, it's not bad. Later, I'll have them bring up two steamers for you, and also some crystal shrimp dumplings."

  Mrs. Li smiled and nodded, "But today the two kids are really crazy, look at them sweating." She slowly took out a cotton handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from Yuwen and Qige.

  Murong Jin looked at the three women with a gentle face. Since having Yuwen and Qi, Li had made many changes for the children herself. She no longer grew her nails long and rarely wore jewelry at home, fearing it would scratch the kids. The house was always stocked with hot water thermoses, so whenever the children came back, they could drink warm water. Even the handkerchiefs were changed from beautiful silk to cotton ones, all for the convenience of taking care of the children.

  These little changes over the past two years have made Mu Rong Jin realize that Li Shi is a great woman, whether it's managing the household or educating their children, she's always been exceptional and worthy of his love and respect.

  A family sat together eating and laughing, Murong Jin patiently holding Wan Yu to feed her baozi, occasionally taking a sip of wine. At this moment, a noisy sound came from outside, Murong Jin's face turned dark, how could the servants be so incompetent? It was hard to take his wife and child out for a quiet meal, yet someone dared to cause trouble.

  Murong Jin stood up and frowned as he opened the door of the room and asked: "What's going on?"

  With a stern and severe gaze, he swept his eyes over several young men, who were arguing with the house servants. The young men in embroidered robes looked extraordinary, not like ordinary people's children.

  One of the young men in white robes stepped forward, first to bow his hands and pay respects as a junior, then loudly replied: "In response to Lord Hou's words, my surname is Wang, and I came out with several friends to gather, we had already booked a private room early on, but the shopkeeper said it was gone, we had previously booked this private room, and in a moment of anger, we argued with the shopkeeper, startling Lord Hou, please forgive us." After finishing speaking, he raised his head and looked straight at Murong Jin, his eyes filled with a hint of stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat.

  Murong Jin slightly furrowed his brow, not missing the disdain deeply hidden in his eyes. The young man having some pride wasn't a problem, but being too superficial and unable to hide it made people feel that he wasn't frank enough.

  Murong Jin's expression was serious and his face was stern, he didn't look at the young man again, but instead asked his personal attendant, "Ningdong, what's going on?"

  The Honeysuckle Station came out and said with his head down: "It was a mistake made by the shop assistant, we had already booked yesterday evening, it was a small person who directly booked with the boss, the shop assistant didn't know and thought we were regulars so he arranged for us to come in without asking, it wasn't until these few young masters came that they realized the mistake, it has nothing to do with us."

  Murong Jin turned his head and glanced at them lightly, with an expression that seemed to ask: what does this have to do with you, why are you bothering us and making a scene here?

  The prince felt a bit embarrassed and looked at Murong Jin for a long time without speaking, but also refused to leave.

  At this time, a voice came from inside, "Sir, we've finished eating too. Let's give the private room to them. It's not worth arguing at the door for such a small matter. People coming and going will make us look bad. My daughter wants to go take a look at the small market."

  Li's voice was soft and sweet, without a hint of vulgarity, as if she hadn't been affected by the quarrel outside at all.

  Murong's eyebrows relaxed almost immediately, and his mood improved a lot. He nodded and smiled: "Alright, since my dear daughter has eaten her fill, we'll leave now. I'll take you to see your grandfather." After finishing speaking, he smiled and entered the private room.

  The young master's face stiffened instantly, his expression very awkward. Compared to the tolerant and magnanimous attitude of the Murong family, he seemed to be deliberately picking a fight, like an ignorant child causing trouble. The feeling was that adults wouldn't bother with him. His eyes scanned the crowd below, where people were sitting with great interest, craning their necks to watch the commotion.

  Can't help but say that Li is a very intelligent woman, she had heard the commotion outside from the beginning, but hid and didn't speak out, until Murong Jin was annoyed and went to respond, then hearing it was someone with the surname Wang, she seized the opportunity to yield, and said it in an extremely elegant way that left people speechless.

  At this time, the generous concession also made the onlookers speechless. Although it was a small matter, reputation was still very important for people like them. If they were not careful, they would be labeled as arrogant and bullying by the imperial historian.

  The Wang family is a prominent clan that made the Li family yield, their household has a Wang Cheng'en who is the emperor's imperial teacher, a veteran of two dynasties and currently serving as prime minister, also a distinguished figure in the pure stream faction with an extremely good reputation.

  The family has many descendants who have served as officials, and is a large clan with some prestige among the civil servants. This young master of the royal family may be from the direct line of the royal family; otherwise, he would not be so arrogant in the imperial capital, daring to show a hint of disdain towards Murong Jin. His status is at least not low.

  In fact, the Qing government officials and the aristocratic families have always been somewhat at odds with each other, with very few close relationships. It's not that they don't contact or intermarry with each other, but they generally feel that military generals are too crude and rise through the ranks too quickly, giving off a sense of being overly eager for success. Compared to ten years of hard study in a cold window, officials often look down on this.

  Some of the noble young masters are not as wealthy and honorable as their ancestors, who relied on blood to achieve their status, but rather rely on the protection and patronage of their ancestors to advance their careers, which naturally makes many civil officials who have risen through hard study and imperial examinations look down upon them.

  Murong Jin held Wan Yu in his arms with a cold face, while Li Shi led Qi Ge out of the private room. Wang Gongzi and his group silently made way for them.

  At this time, Wang Gongzi couldn't say anything more, and it was really a blow to Murong Jin that made him unable to lift his head.

  After they left, Wang Gongzi and his group also lost their appetite for dinner and walked away dejectedly, with occasional bursts of sarcastic laughter coming from behind.

  "A kid who hasn't even grown a single hair, with no achievements to his name, dares to look down on Master Hou. The other family's wealth and status were earned through real ability and hard work, what qualifications do you have to look down on them? It's truly laughable. Is the Wang family really without successors?" A bystander who knew the background of both families sneered.

  "Isn't that right? Even if it's not because of Master Hou's status, shouldn't you show some respect to someone who is a generation older than you? I don't know why he looks so arrogant." Another onlooker shook his head and sighed.

  What these onlookers said was actually of no importance to Murong Jin, who retreated because he had always been cautious in his ways and never showed off outside. He also restrained his clansmen from causing trouble outside, otherwise, once discovered, they would be expelled from the clan and dealt with according to the clan rules.

  As they walked out of the wine house, Li said to Murong Jin, "The Wang family has had many descendants serving in office over the years, and it's inevitable that some of them are not on the same page, all vying for their own interests, which is causing Old Man Wang some distress."

  Murong Jin smiled and said: "The Emperor still has feelings for him, as long as the Emperor is in his royal family, he won't fall, but it's hard to say what will happen in the future."

  Li naturally understood that when a new emperor ascends to the throne, his officials change as well; no one would say this is a good situation.