Due to the incompetence of the previous dynasty and endless warfare, the economy and livelihood of the Dayi Dynasty were left in a terrible state, and it was only through recuperation in recent years that the common people had begun to live a slightly better life.
Consequently, the imperial court relied heavily on civil officials for important responsibilities. Someone like his cheap dad, a founding grand general, might hold an illustrious position, but in recent years he had practically no opportunity to display his former glory.
The old Duke had also realized this, and had forced his son to pursue a path among the civil officials. Yet the original body was an absolute good-for-nothing who had ultimately failed even to pass the scholar examinations!
Although he had more than enough inherited wealth to squander for a lifetime, he was terrified of being cornered and driven to death by the male lead just like in the book's plot!
As long as he became someone who contributed to the world of the book, surely he wouldn't be easily erased, right?
Over the next few days, Jing Luoluo listened attentively in class, prompting the tutor to look upon him with newfound respect—this boy's head injury seemed to have finally cleared his mind!
Time flew by, and the day finally arrived for the Academy's break. Under his daily supervision, the fatty Zhao Huaiyuan looked like he had shed a few pounds from his belly.
"Let me tell you, you are not allowed to stuff your face with food when you go back, you hear me? If little old me finds out, humph! The two of us are adding extra training!"
Jing Luoluo raised a fist in threat. Aside from attending classes, these days he had been dragging Zhao Huaiyuan along to exercise in the dorms, and after a while, the boy himself looked much more spirited.
Zhao Huaiyuan hung his head in dejection and remained silent. After thinking for a moment, he said, "But my aunt always dotes on me. Even if I don't eat, she'll still lay out a whole table of good dishes. I'm afraid I won't be able to help myself."
With that, his small eyes, squeezed shut by fat, cast a stealthy glance at Jing Luo, shrinking his neck like a quail.
"Aunt? Then you can just stay at home and go nowhere! If she can't see you, do you really think your aunt is going to chase you all the way to Prince An's Estate to feed you?"
Zhao Huaiyuan looked at him in disbelief. "You don't know?"
Seeing his serious expression, Jing Luoluo rubbed his nose and asked, "What am I supposed to know?"
"My aunt is my father's secondary consort. Everyone in the capital should know that, right?"
"Huh? Your mother and her sister share a husband?" What kind of shocking gossip was this! But upon second thought, this didn't seem like such a big deal in ancient times!
"No, no, no! My aunt and my mother aren't biological sisters. My aunt is from my mother's maternal family. Anyway, she treats me extremely well—even better than her own son!"
The little fatty wore a smug expression, as if his aunt treated him even better than his own mother did.
Jing Luoluo couldn't help but feel his heart sink a little. "Your aunt's son... could it be Zhao Changfeng?"
"Eh? Didn't I tell you? Changfeng is only a few years younger than me, and my aunt keeps him locked up in the estate studying all day. Alas! It's simply not a life for a human being!"
"You fool, you're being sold and still helping them count the money!" Jing Luoluo was exasperated at his lack of ambition. This whole setup was clearly a form of "ruining someone through excessive indulgence"—spoiling Zhao Huaiyuan at every turn was just an attempt to turn him into a useless good-for-nothing!
But what was wrong with the little fatty's biological mother? How could she just stand by and not stop it?
Zhao Huaiyuan looked furious. "Little Jing, I won't allow you to talk about my aunt like that! You don't understand at all. Aunt is someone even gentler than my mother!"
With an angry expression, he shook off Jing Luo, hurried toward his family carriage, and ordered the servant to drive off quickly!
The servant looked curiously at his young master a few times. "Heir, you seem to have lost quite a bit of weight recently. Walking down from the Academy and you're not even out of breath!"
Only then did Zhao Huaiyuan realize that running all the way down hadn't left him flushed or winded. If it had been before, just walking a few steps would have left him panting heavily.
He knew this was all thanks to Little Jing, but the moment he thought of how Jing Luoluo had spoken of his aunt, a wave of annoyance rose within him.
His mother had never liked him. From as far back as he could remember, she was always forbidding him from doing this and that, and the slightest disobedience would bring a torrent of beatings and scoldings.
Unlike his aunt, who always wore a gentle smile whenever she looked at him, and who would always have his favorite pig trotters prepared, waiting for him at home!
Upon returning to the Duke's Estate, the moment Jing Luoluo stepped into the courtyard, he heard his cheap dad's booming voice.
"My boy, why didn't you even discuss it with your old man before heading back to the Academy? Come here and let your dad see if your forehead is all right."
With that, a rough, heavy hand grabbed him without any room for refusal, turning his precious son this way and that to inspect him. Only after making sure there was nothing seriously wrong did he finally let go.
"Dad, I'm all right. Besides, if I kept putting off returning to the Academy, I would fall far behind in my studies."
"Yo? Aren't you the one who hated the Academy the most? Have you turned over a new leaf?" Jing Renyi cast a suspicious look at his son. If anyone knew a son, it was his father, and he knew very well what kind of character his boy possessed.
In the past, asking him to go to the Academy was like pulling teeth, yet now he was actually going to classes of his own accord?
Jing Luoluo knew that the changes brought by having a new soul inside were unavoidable. With a heavy and earnest tone, he said, "Dad, after going through this ordeal, your son has come to understand a great many things.
For all these years, everyone has said your son is a good-for-nothing rake. I don't want to disgrace you, nor do I want to bring shame upon our Duke's Estate."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "A few days ago at the Academy, I even ran into Jing Shaoxuan. He's been dragging my name through the mud everywhere, and I want to let him know that I, Jing Luoluo, can make something of myself even without relying on my father!"
The words rang out with resolute force, bringing tears of old age to Jing Renyi's eyes. His son had finally grown up.
In the past, he had always pushed him to learn from that boy Shaoxuan, simply because he didn't want his son to follow in his own footsteps as a military general. On the battlefield, swords had no eyes, and the slightest slip... sigh!
He wiped the corner of his eye and stroked the top of his son's head. "Hahaha! My boy has finally grown up! In the future, your dad can rest easy handing over the Duke's Estate to you!"
Jing Luoluo embraced his cheap dad, a trace of moisture welling up in his eyes. In his past life at the orphanage, it wasn't as though adoptive parents hadn't taken him in, but whenever they had children of their own, they always sent him back.
A fortune-teller had once told him that he was destined to have brothers and sisters, which was why whichever household he went to would end up having a child of their own.
Later, when he grew up, he had secretly gone to check on those adoptive parents, but without exception, their own children had all died prematurely for various reasons.
He was terrified—terrified of this unfamiliar world in the book, and terrified that the only old man in the story who treated him kindly would leave him.
After resting at home for a day, he decided to go visit Zhao Huaiyuan. After all, this little fatty was his first friend, and no matter what, he couldn't just stand by and watch him lose his life!
He instructed the estate's steward to prepare some gifts and took his servant all the way to Prince An's Estate.
Upon reaching the magnificent gates of the Prince's Estate, he couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement. Even the front entrance was this grand—how many square feet of land did this place occupy?
Following the Prince's Estate servant who came to guide him, they reached Zhao Huaiyuan's courtyard, where he found the little fatty sitting before an eight-immortals table laden with delicious dishes.
Sitting beside him was a strikingly beautiful woman—judging by the looks of it, she must be the "aunt" he had spoken of. At that moment, the woman picked up a glistening, oily pig trotters and placed it into his bowl.