Xiqiu chuckled, "Zhi’s drawing is really good." She then asked, "And what did the teacher talk about in class?"

Zhi shook his head and said, "The teacher said: ’When three people walk, there must be a teacher among them!’" But he said it incompletely.

Xiqiu looked over at Min, who nodded slightly. Xiqiu hugged Zhi and kissed him, saying, "Zhi is amazing." Zhi laughed happily, with a sly glint in his eyes.

Later in the afternoon, she confirmed with Min, who said, "My younger brother was very attentive and quiet; even the teacher praised him." His eyes flickered.

Xiqiu knew that Min was covering for Zhi by speaking good words for him.

She secretly called the most honest Erquan to ask, and Erquan replied, "Young Master Zhi took a nap, and after waking up, he went to the teacher’s bookshelf to find a book and ended up finding one with pictures of weapons, which he looked at for a long time!"

Xiqiu was taken aback and said nothing more. Zhi and Min truly were two different children; Min was quiet and loved reading from a young age, whereas Zhi was lively and agile but disliked books. He couldn’t get enough of anything related to weapons and martial arts...

Could it really be as Tong Quanzi said, that he’s a good candidate for practicing martial arts? She raised her eyebrows slightly!

That evening, Madam Lou returned to the mansion and told Old Madam Lou and Lord Lou in detail about the matter between Second Master Lou and Tong Xiyu. Lord Lou jumped up in anger, "This scoundrel dared to do such a shameless thing!" He then pointed at Madam Lou, "Is this what a good son raised by you looks like!" As he spoke, he headed towards the door, "Someone, bring that beast to me!"

Just saying "beast," the servant didn’t know which master Lord Lou referred to, standing there at a loss. Furious, Lord Lou kicked her, "Hurry up and go." Frightened, the servant got up holding her chest and rushed out of the courtyard...

Madam Lou stood aside crying continuously, not daring to say a word.

Old Madam Lou, with a stern face, glared at her son and commanded, "Isn’t he also your son? What good is saying this now; sit down and talk."

With his mother speaking, despite his anger, Lord Lou could only sit down, not forgetting to glare at Madam Lou, "Crying! That’s all you know to do when something happens!"

"Enough!" Old Madam Lou shouted, and Lord Lou finally kept silent. Old Madam Lou turned to Madam Lou and asked, "What did Miss Qiu say?" She was asking what Xiqiu thought first.

Madam Lou wiped her tears and replied choked with emotion, "Fourth Madam only asked me to discuss with First Young Madam Tong; she didn’t say much." Old Madam Lou nodded as she listened, then asked, "And was the Eighth Miss of the Tong Family sent to Puji Temple by First Master Tong?"

Madam Lou nodded, "I had someone inquire at the Tong Mansion when I returned; she was sent yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lou sipped her tea, remaining silent for a while before looking at Lord Lou and saying, "You are of an age now, yet still so hot-tempered. The situation has already occurred, and instead of thinking of solutions, you start simmering here. Let me ask you, in the court, they say the Eldest Prince is about to be tutored, and Lord Wu recommended Lord Tong—is there any truth to this?"

Lord Lou was startled by her words, immediately understanding his mother’s intentions, and nodded, "That is indeed the case!" Old Madam Lou squinted her eyes and nodded before turning to Madam Lou and saying, "Tomorrow, you should personally go to the Tong Mansion and discuss with First Young Madam Tong. If they do not mind, we are willing to propose marriage to their Eighth Miss. Whatever requirements they have, we will meet them to the best of our ability." Pausing, she also addressed Lord Lou, "In the court, try to interact more with Lord Tong. This person is upright and cautious, taking steady steps and greatly valuing family reputation and face. Forming this marriage would not be inappropriate and could benefit our second son in the future..."

Lord Lou was momentarily stunned, exchanged a glance with Madam Lou, and they both nodded in agreement.

Just then, someone outside reported, "The eldest and second masters have arrived."

The servant wasn’t sure whom Lord Lou wanted, so she simply invited both the eldest and second masters over.

Hearing this, Lord Lou’s hot temper flared up again. He immediately jumped up, grabbed a folding fan by his hand, and waited at the door. Seeing the door curtain move, he kicked it and began to beat with the fan in rage.

First Master Lou covered his head, "Father, Father!" as he ran around the room in chaos.

Even realizing he hit the wrong person, Lord Lou continued smacking twice more before turning to the door to see a stupefied and pale Second Master Lou. With fury erupting in his eyes, he rushed over, grabbed Second Master Lou by the collar, and started beating him. Madam Lou came over crying as the maid in the room saw the chaos unfold and tried to intervene, causing the room to descend into pandemonium.

First Master Lou, who suffered this unwarranted disaster, stealthily glanced at his father, immediately feeling aggrieved. It seemed he had taken the blows meant for his second brother, and discontentedly, he shouted, "Father, those hits should be given to my second brother instead."

Old Madam Lou gave a sharp glance, and First Master Lou instantly shrunk his neck, standing quietly at the side without daring to say another word.

Exhausted from the beating, Lord Lou panted as he leaned against the wall, pointing at Second Master Lou, "Kneel down for me!" Madam Lou held the dazed Second Master Lou, whose knees buckled, making him kneel.

"Tell me, do you have any mind at all, committing such acts? Tell me, how do you plan to handle this matter? Speak to me."

Madam Lou, on the verge of passing out, watched her son, beaten black and blue, and pleaded, "Lord, the second son is still young, please spare him." She looked over to Old Madam Lou, only to see her steadily sipping tea, pretending to have seen nothing.

Realizing there was no hope for rescue, Madam Lou could only protectively hold Second Master Lou in her arms as she looked towards Lord Lou.

Lord Lou, pointing angrily at them, shouted, "You keep spoiling him like this! He’s still young? How old is he this coming year, isn’t he twenty-one already? Do you think we can look after them all their lives? When we’re gone, won’t they ruin this family?"

Speechless, Madam Lou could only cry helplessly to the side.

Glaring at Second Master Lou, Lord Lou asked, "I’m asking you, how do you plan to deal with this matter?"

Second Master Lou trembled, anxiously raising his head to look at his father and then at Old Madam Lou, stammering several times before timidly saying, "I...I don’t know what I did wrong..."

"You useless thing!" Lord Lou roared, becoming even angrier at his attitude, "Do you have the courage to admit it? You little bastard!" He said, preparing to hit again.

Old Madam Lou placed her tea cup on the table with a thud, "Enough, everyone stop!"

The room fell silent at once.

Xiqiu directed the maids and servants, "Move the books to the study and arrange the clothes properly. Have the winter and summer clothes placed according to the seasons, separating undergarments from outer garments to avoid losing them when needed." She turned to Dongling, who was carrying a stack of calligraphy sheets, "Ask Min where to put these things."