"My son is good. He knows that I'm angry now and he brings me a cup of tea."
Nalan Zhangqian was indeed angry and he needed a cup of tea.
Nalan Jing was quick to hide the teapot behind his back when he realized that Nalan Zhangqian was extending his arm to take the tea. He frowned and asked his father, "Dad, what are you doing?"
Nalan Zhangqian froze and looked at his son. His extended arm stopped midair. He did not know whether to remain like that or to pull his arm back. He felt awkward.
Nalan Zhangqian cleared his throat before he replied, "Jing'er, your grandfather can only take tribute tea. But, there is no more tribute tea in our manor. He couldn't care less about this kind of tea. Just give me that to me."
This kid embarrassed him in front of everyone. Jing'er surely knew that his grandfather took only tribute tea. For whom was the tea for if it was not for him? Was if for Feng Ruqing or Dai'er?
Nalan Jing looked at his father warily. "This is not tea."
"Not tea? Then what is this?" Nalan Zhangqian was stunned. What could a teapot hold besides tea?
"100-year-old ginseng water."
100-year-old ginseng water?
100-year-old ginseng water!
Nalan Zhangqian's face darkened. He fixed his eyes on the teapot in Nalan Jing's hand.
At that very moment, the atmosphere in the backyard was so quiet.
Everyone could hear Nalan Zhangqian's heavy breathing.
"Is it the 100-year-old ginseng which I have obtained by relentlessly deceiving the second prince of Ye Luo Kingdom?"
A 100-year-old ginseng was a very rare and special medicine in this country where spirit herbs were rare.
Although a 100-year-old ginseng was a regular herb and would never be a spirit herb, it was not easy for the ginseng to grow either since it would take a hundred years.
Nalan Jing nodded and replied, "Yes. It is that ginseng you talked about."
Wham!
Nalan Zhangqian was outrageous as he grabbed Nalan Jing's collar and punched him hard.
Feng Ruqing was stunned. She was still hesitating on whether to save or let him be.
A walking stick was seen hitting Nalan Zhangqian hard on his head when Feng Ruqing was still trying to work out a solution.
Nalan Zhangqian's fist stopped midair. Nalan Jing took a step back to avoid Nalan Zhangqian's punch.
"Nalan Zhangqian, I will disown you as my son if you dare to lay a finger on Nalan Jing today."
The anger in Master's Nalan voice made Nalan Zhangqian freeze there and then. Nalan Zhangqian stroked the back of his head and turned to plead with Master Nalan with his teary eyes. "This son of mine took my ginseng and soaked it in water. Am I not right to punish him for wasting that precious ginseng?"
Master Nalan was furious now. He retorted, "It's my idea. It has nothing to do with Jing'er."
Nalan Zhangqian did not dare to say anything anymore.
Nalan Zhangqian missed the time when Old Master Nalan was still around. Old Master Nalan would always defend Nalan Zhangqian whenever Master Nalan wanted to hit him.
"This…" Feng Ruqing stepped forward weakly. "Uncle, don't be angry with Jing'er. It was I who asked him to do so."
Although it was Feng Ruqing who told Master Nalan about the method in the first place just to help Master Nalan, Feng Ruqing did not want Nalan Jing to endure all the accusations. If not, she would feel guilty.
"Princess!" Nalan Zhangqian was shocked and furious. He gritted his teeth. "What have I done wrong to deserve this? Why do you always have to hurt me?"
He just knew. Nothing good ever came out of Feng Ruqing's appearance in the general's manor.