When Lin Long was eight and a half months old, she could hold onto the bench and stagger, trying to walk. Whereas Lin Xiao, at the same age, would rather sit comfortably on his safe-chair for children that Tian Da Fu had given them while nibbling on a fragrant almond.
When they are small, baby boys arenât as active as baby girls. It was true with this pair of twins.
âIâve made up my mind. Itâs Lin Long.â Si Tuo would take his vacation in Fan Hua Town after three or five months. He meant he had determined the next Master of Feng Yao Court.
âSi Ling wonât agree.â Si Luo leaned against the wooden bench and said casually. He threw a grape into his mouth and caught a glimpse of Lin Xiao, still nibbling on his almond, looking at him with bright and twinkling eyes. So, he chose a large, ripe-looking grape, peeled off the skin, and put it into Lin Xiaoâs drooling mouth.
âWell, itâs hard to tell.â Si Tuo rose to the corner of his mouth, acting mysterious. Previously, Si Ling told him that heâll let the kids decide, but he didnât say how.
âIsnât the Feng Yao Court doing well, isnât it? Why do you have to hurry to choose the successor?â Since Si Luo recognized that Lin Xiao was more interested in grapes than the almond in his little hands, he focused on peeling grapes for the boy.
âShould I wait until something happens to choose one? Moreover, youâre relaxing in this scenic mansion while I have to risk my life outside⌠Donât you feel sorry for me?â Si Tuo asked indifferently.
âI donât have the competence to work out there anymore.â Si Luo smiled, talking directly. Even if his body recovered, he would only be able to exert â of his previous skills. Other than staying here as a farmer and enjoying the pleasure and happiness here, what else could he do? Be an assassin again? Heâll be killed before he could make his first move.
âWell, not all of Feng Yao Courtâs members are assassins.â Si Tuo threw him a glance through the corner of his eye. If an unknowing man heard such a dispirited statement from him, they would feel sorry for him. But he knew that Si Luo had actually lost his interest in Jianghu and the world of martial artists.
âOh! You mean you want to offer me an accounting job in Feng Yao Court? Or some sort of manager?â When Lin Xiao had eaten five grapes in a row, Si Luo didnât peel more for the boy. He lifted Lin Xiao out of the chair and asked him to follow Lin Long who was staggering and tumbling along the bench while trying to walk. âXiao, youâre a boy. How can you be weaker than your sister? Come, letâs practice walking and show your parentsâŚâ
Seeing Si Luo so enthusiastic with Lin Xiao, who only wanted to go back to his chair, Si Tuo shook his head helplessly. âDoes Si Ling pay you a lot? How come youâre so enthusiastic in teaching the kids?â
âNo, I took this mission on myself. Donât you think that being able to successfully teach a child to walk would give a big sense of achievement?â Eventually, Si Luo made it work. Sweating, Lin Xiao had finally stood up. However, with both hands supported on the bench, the boy didnât want to move half a step.
âA feeling of achievement? Eh, I thought that all kids would walk when they come to the right age.â Si Tuo begged to disagree.
âPsst, a guy with no sense of responsibility like you should go away. Stay in that corner, donât disturb our practice! Come, Xiao, good boy, try to walk! You see how well your sister is doing. Doesnât it feel good with both feet on the groundâŚâ
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âThereâs some news from the imperial city. Early this month, the Emperor ordained Liang Xuan Jing to be Duke An. The Liangs would be honored and graceful to inherit this title. Did he do that because of you?â Si Chong handed the messages he got from the imperial city and teased the other.
Lin Si Yao skimmed through the paper with a few words on it and squinted his eyes. He answered in a calm and cold voice, âScoring twice is something good to celebrate. Of course, heâs happy.â Although he didnât mention it clearly, the other understood that he was talking about Li Wen Xiu, the Emperor of Da Hui.
Perhaps the Da Huiâs officials hadnât known that Lin Si Yao is the Crown Prince of Blood Union, Li Wen Xiu surely knew this fact. So, to maintain peace over Da Hui and the regime of the Li family to thrive, he, of course, would do something that made Xue Li â Blood Unionâs Emperor â happy. Currently, the one that Xue Li had worried about the most was none other than Lin Si Yao, who lived in this remote village of Fan Hua Town. And, Lin Si Yao would only smile at Su Shuilian. So, Li Wen Xiu thought that giving long-term grace to Su Shuilianâs family was the best way to stop Xue Li from drooling over Da Hui.
âDidnât he know that? Once you move out of Da Hui, that grace will only boost and strengthen the Liangâs, in turn may overthrow the power and standing of the Liâs?â Si Chong shook his head and bursted out laughing at Li Wen Xiuâs stupid move.
âHeâs not stupid. He knows I wonât leave this land.â Lin Si Yao crushed the piece of paper in his hand into powder, allowing it to dissipate outside the study roomâs window.
âThen, isnât he afraid of the Liang family using their military power to rebel?â Si Chong rubbed his chin, gazing at the blooming laurel tree by the window. He guessed in a low voice.
âIf the Liangs had wanted to do so, this nation wouldnât have belonged to the Liâs.â Lin Si Yao sounded as if he understood this thoroughly. He cast a glance at Si Chong. âDonât forget that Liang En Zaiâs subordinates arenât weak. As he can manage an organization that keeps orders and justice in Jianghu that makes everybody admire and respect him, if Liang En Zai wants to replace Li Wen Xiu, he does have that ability. But from what heâs performed, I can tell he doesnât want to rob this nation of control from the Lis. He has even helped Li Wen Xiu in supervising the ministers and officials in his imperial court.â