When Liu Ju Zheng wanted to pass the cups of tea over to Lin Xuan Qi and Lee He Song, Lee He Song stopped him and said, "It’s not the time for tea." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Not the time for tea?" Liu Ju Zheng wasn’t sure what was happening and he glanced over at Lin Xuan Qi.

Lin Xuan Qi gave him a smile and said, "We are here with good news for you."

"And that’s why we should be having this instead..." Lee He Song lifted his wine gourd and opened it.

The aroma from the wine inside filled the air but Liu Ju Zheng’s eyes darted between Lin Xuan Qi and Lee He Song.

He wasn’t sure what was going on.

Lin Xuan Qi handed him the documents from the Governor and Liu Ju Zheng read them immediately.

His eyebrows locked together initially when he read the words written on the documents.

Slowly, they relaxed and were raised when Liu Ju Zheng gave out a huge sigh of relief when he was done reading the documents.

Liu Ju Zheng cupped his hands in the air and said, "Thanks to the heavens for the justice."

He held onto Lin Xuan Qi’s arms excitedly and exclaimed, "Thanks to you too.

"It must have been a lot of trouble to get the Governor to help..."

Lin Xuan Qi shook his head and said, "The Governor is a changed man now and as your son-in-law, it was my duty to do so..."

Liu Ju Zheng sighed at his predicament.

He didn’t have anything left as a gift to Lin Xuan Qi for what Lin Xuan Qi had done for him.

And he threw away the tea inside the cups he had, filling them up with the wine from Lee He Song’s wine gourd next.

"Here’s a toast for my old friend and son-in-law." Liu Ju Zheng proposed a toast to them and they returned the toast.

Wine had never tasted so good and Liu Ju Zheng gave out a satisfying ah.

"Let’s get back to the mansion, I’ve asked them to prepare a guest room for you temporarily." Lin Xuan Qi said and Liu Ju Zheng was grateful for it.

He would have bowed at Lin Xuan Qi if not for his seniority.

Lee He Song chuckled and said, "Yeah. I can’t stand my own place for too long."

He gestured at the sparse interior of his place to the laughter of Liu Ju Zheng and Lin Xuan Qi.

Liu Ju Zheng didn’t have much but a few sets of clothes and he was done packing within a few moments.

Lin Xuan Qi and Lee He Song stepped out of the house with him following closely behind.

And this time, he was able to step through it standing upright as a free man.

...

"Father!" Yue Xin ran towards Liu Ju Zheng when she saw him enter through the wooden gates of the mansion with Lin Xuan Qi and Lee He Song.

Yue Jie shook her head at her but she also followed behind Yue Xin.

"Yue Xin... It’s been a while." Liu Ju Zheng said and glanced at her from top to toe.

She had grown up so much ever since he was put into prison.

"Father." Yue Jie greeted him and he glanced over at her.

She too had changed for the better.

He could see that she was more mature looking and had the demeanour of someone being in charge, even if it was only the budget for the clan.

Xue Cong stepped forward and said, "Lunch is ready in the dining hall."

Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head at her and said, "Great, we can chat over lunch, it’s chilly outside here."

What he said reminded Yue Jie that her father only had some clothes for spring and summer on him.

She quickly took off the coat she had on and gave it over to him.

"It’s fine, I’m used to it." Liu Ju Zheng tried to refuse but Yue Jie insisted.

She wasn’t feeling cold after practicing the Daoist Five-Element Cultivation Techniques from Lin Xuan Qi.

The Five-Element Qi in her had kept her warm.

He relented and put the coat on.

Yue Jie nodded her head at him and said, "I will ask the servants to make you some clothes for the autumn and winter."

Liu Ju Zheng hesitated and glanced over at Lin Xuan Qi.

But Lin Xuan Qi didn’t mind and he said, "Please accept it. Xue Cong’s father and mother are well taken care of too."

Xue Cong nodded her head by his side and Liu Ju Zheng knew he had to accept it.

If Lin Xuan Qi took care of Xue Cong’s parents and he refused his goodwill, he would be making it difficult for Lin Xuan Qi and Yue Jie.

"I shall have to thank you first." Liu Ju Zheng said and they moved into the dining hall.

He began to ponder on the ways he could contribute to the mansion.

Taking and not returning the favour was against his upbringing and he wouldn’t do it.

Old Shao and Mei Jiao were full of smiles when they saw Liu Ju Zheng enter the dining hall.

"Finally, we can sit together for a meal." Old Shao said and offered Liu Ju Zheng a drink.

Liu Ju Zheng downed the drink in a mouthful and said, "Thanks for the welcome."

Old Shao and Mei Jiao being welcoming of him meant a lot to him.

It would mean that Yue Jie and Yue Xin were living cordially with Xue Cong.

And Xue Cong’s parents were magnanimous enough to treat him as an equal.

He had seen how it was in other big clans and families with the wives and concubines in a deadly struggle for power and influence within the clans and families.

Lin Xuan Qi was either skillful enough to navigate through such situations or he was so lucky for the wife and concubines to be cordial towards each other. Liu Ju Zheng thought to himself.

When Liu Ju Zheng saw Ah Di, he knew what he could help with in the mansion.

"This is..." He glanced at Ah Di and asked.

Xue Cong said with a smile, "This is my brother, he is getting ready to go for the imperial examinations soon."