Chapter 40

After a rain in late autumn, the weather suddenly turned cold.

The nights began to grow longer, and the sunlight was no longer as bright as before.

Winter is the most leisurely time for gardeners, and during the days when all things wither, Tang Jie's free time also increased.

Today, Manager Qin suddenly came over, and the two of them started drinking by the table, chatting casually. As they drank, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Tang Jie opened the window, and a gust of wind blew the snow into the room. Snowflakes landed on Tang Jie's shoulders and in his palms, gradually melting away.

"Another year has passed," Tang Jie said softly.

A sense of melancholy arose without reason.

"Yes, another day of heavy snow, which reminds me of the heavy snow twenty years ago," Manager Qin also looked out the window and said leisurely, "If it weren't for the two elders of the Wu family, there wouldn't be my Qin Yuan today... and now, there's you too."

Tang Jie just smiled.

"By the way, have you visited them these past few days?" Manager Qin asked.

"Sure, I went yesterday. The two elders are in good health, but they miss their son, and their spirits aren't great. No matter how I try to persuade them, it doesn't work."

Manager Qin frowned, "Wu Xing is really too much. He's been at the academy for so long and only sends a letter once a year, even the eldest son writes more frequently."

"That's true, he writes for money," Tang Jie laughed.

Manager Qin, disliking his straightforwardness, glared at him, but thinking about it, he couldn't deny what Tang Jie said and laughed too.

A sip of old wine warmed his body, dispelling the cold. Manager Qin suddenly said, "The young master is about to open his jade gate."

"Huh?" Tang Jie was taken aback, "When?"

"Within these few days," Manager Qin replied, "He will enter the academy next year on the day of Lixia. Now is the time to open the jade gate and cleanse the meridians; it can't be delayed any longer."

Since the process of opening the jade gate is quite painful, the major families generally do not require their children to open it too early, preferring to wait until their mental fortitude is more mature. Those who open it early, like Xu Yang, are either exceptionally talented or have been beaten so much that they have developed a high pain tolerance.

After the New Year, the young master will enter the academy, and now is the best time to open his jade gate. If the young master opens his jade gate, the servants will naturally follow soon after.

Sure enough, Manager Qin continued, "Your matters are also about to be decided. Recently, all sorts of people have been surrounding Lady Wu, trying to curry favor, hoping to secure an opportunity."

"Oh," was all Tang Jie said.

"Aren't you worried?" Manager Qin was greatly surprised.

"If being worried were useful, I would be extremely worried, urgently worried, and even more worried for Uncle Qin to see," Tang Jie laughed.

"…Brat, you're always cracking jokes. Are you really that confident you'll succeed?" Qin Yuan also laughed.

"Not exactly confident, but I feel that all the competition has already been done. At this point, it's no longer about competing but about waiting quietly," Tang Jie replied.

For Tang Jie, the result of the servant selection is like a student's graduation exam. The foundation is laid during the learning period, not by cramming before the exam.

And for the masters and mistresses of the Wei family, they should have already made their decision by now. Therefore, the true result was already determined long before the final moment.

"Even so, it takes a steady mind to achieve this. I never thought an old man like me would lack the resolve you have," Manager Qin shook his head.

"That's because Uncle Qin cares about me, unlike me who is so carefree," Tang Jie laughed.

"You're just sweet-talking!" Manager Qin huffed, stood up, and said, "Alright, I've notified everyone. I need to do my part… You're not worried, but I'm always concerned about something, so I'll have to run around and ask some more."

"Thank you, Uncle Qin," Tang Jie bowed to Manager Qin.

After seeing Manager Qin out, Tang Jie returned to the room and glanced at the table. The small white flower in the pot had transformed into Yi Yi.

"Dad! I want to play hide and seek!" Yi Yi called out, jumping onto Tang Jie's shoulder and tugging at his ear, laughing.

"I've told you so many times, call me brother!" Tang Jie twisted Yi Yi's little face, "And I'm too big, I can't fit in your hole..."

Hmm, why does that sound so wrong?

"Use the illusion array, use the illusion array!" The little one clapped her hands, and with a wave, an illusion array appeared in the room.

Unlike Tang Jie, this little one could create an illusion array without any preparation, just by raising her hand. In other words, the illusion array was no longer an array to her but a spell.

This was also the game she played most often with Tang Jie after she learned to speak.

"Next time, these next few days, I'll be quite busy. You be good and don't run around," Tang Jie said.

Yi Yi's face immediately fell, and she shouted at Tang Jie, "Annoying!"

She turned around, transformed back into a flower, and returned to the pot, ignoring Tang Jie.

Tang Jie smiled and shook his head, sitting back down at the table.

He opened the drawer and took out a letter.

Looking at the neat handwriting on the letter, a smile appeared on Tang Jie's face.

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The day of the exam finally arrived.

On this day, the servants of the Tranquil Heart Garden gathered before Lady Wu, waiting for their fate to be decided.

Before this, the young master's jade gate opening was the first event.

Perhaps to avoid losing face in front of others, the young master's jade gate opening was not displayed publicly but took place in a small room behind the hall.

Despite this, the distant, pig-like screams of agony were clearly heard by everyone, mixed with Lady Wu's concerned shouts: "Don't scream, hold your breath, use your strength! My son, you must endure, it's open... it's already open, you can do it..."

It sounded just like childbirth.

A smile involuntarily appeared on Tang Jie's face.

Seeing this smile, the other servants mistakenly thought he was confident. Shi Mo glared at him and mouthed, "Don't think you've won yet."

He chuckled but did not respond.

The screams gradually subsided, and Tang Jie knew the gate was about to be fully opened.

A moment later, Master Lu accompanied the master and mistress out, saying, "Congratulations, Master, congratulations, Lady, the gate has opened to the fourth level. The young master's talent is quite good."

The talent is good, but the willpower is too low.

Tang Jie thought to himself. Just by the young master's earth-shattering screams, it was clear he didn't fully utilize his talent. If he had, the gate would have opened to the fifth level, and with more resilience, even the sixth level was possible.

"Still, it's a medium-level talent, much better than Tianzhi... Unfortunately, the sons of the Wei family are not as capable as the daughters," Lady Zheng Shufeng ignored the "lower" part of the medium-lower level and lamented the lack of capable sons in the Wei family.

Her daughter, Wei Qing'er, opened her jade gate to the sixth level and had the Seven Emotions Meridian, making her extremely suitable for the Thousand Emotions Pavilion's cultivation methods, with a bright future. Wei Qingsong's daughter, Wei Die, opened her jade gate to the fifth level, also with a bright future. In contrast, the eldest son, Wei Tianzhi, only opened to the second level. Although he entered the Xiyue Academy, his progress was limited, and he was still striving to reach the Spirit Sea stage. If his luck was poor, the Spirit Sea stage might be his peak.

Wei Qingsong's son, Wei Ming, opened his jade gate to the third level, surpassing Wei Tianzhi, which always annoyed Lady Zheng Shufeng.

Now, the youngest son's jade gate opened to the fourth level, placing him in the medium category. With sufficient resources, theoretically reaching the peak of the Spirit Master stage was not a problem. With good opportunities, even reaching the Heavenly Heart stage was possible.

The family ultimately relies on men, and with this fourth-level jade gate, Lady Zheng Shufeng felt relieved.

At this moment, she announced to the servants, "The young master's jade gate has been successfully opened to the fourth level!"

All the servants responded loudly, "Congratulations, young master, congratulations, master and mistress, may the young master soon achieve immortality and bring glory to the family!"

Lady Zheng Shufeng nodded in satisfaction, "With the young master's matter settled, it's your turn. I know some of you have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Hearing this, everyone became tense.

Tang Jie secretly admired Lady Zheng Shufeng's skill.

The young master, Wei Tianchong, had just opened his jade gate and was in a state of great exhaustion, likely unconscious.

At this time, deciding the servant selection, he could not interfere.

Although Lady Zheng Shufeng is his mother, even if he wanted to interfere, it would be useless. However, one less opposing voice and one less person to lose face is always better—especially if his choice is opposed by both his husband and son, it would be difficult for her.

Now, with one less potential opposing voice and her husband unlikely to oppose her, Lady Zheng Shufeng had effectively taken control of all the power.

From this perspective, her attitude towards Shi Mo was even clearer—she would never entrust her son to Shi Mo.

At this moment, Wei Danbo and Lady Zheng Shufeng were seated. Lady Zheng Shufeng said calmly, "Since that's the case, I won't say more. Everyone knows how hard it is to get a spot at the Xiyue Academy. Although the Wei family is large and wealthy, we cannot waste it on those who are not worthy. Ultimately, it depends on your performance. Now, I'll give you one last chance. If you have anything to say, speak up. Shi Meng, you go first."

Although Lady Zheng Shufeng's words were subtle, her meaning was clear—she wanted everyone to make a heart-demon vow. Of course, saying it directly would be too undignified, so it had to appear as if the servants were eager and willing, and the masters were reluctantly accepting it.

Shi Meng stepped forward and said loudly, "Shi Meng has been in the Wei family since childhood, receiving care from the master and mistress..."

After a series of grateful words, Shi Meng finally said, "...If I can receive the master and mistress's favor and enter the academy, I, Shi Meng, swear by the heart-demon that I will forever remember this favor, serve the Wei family loyally, and bring glory to the Wei family."

Shi Meng's heart-demon vow was standard, promising loyalty, service, and dedication, essentially making him a part of the Wei family. However, after becoming a Spirit Master, he would still receive the appropriate