159: pageboy

Lin Zixu was somewhat dazed and confused as he was dragged out of the small courtyard by Chu Shengyuan.

The two followed the stone paths within the estate, passing other courtyards, and headed toward the back courtyard with a clear destination in mind.

Along the way, the Maidservants and servants they encountered would bow and greet Chu Shengyuan, and Chu Shengyuan responded to each one, though in reality, he felt a bit uneasy. After all, his mother had arranged for him to go to the Library Courtyard upon his return, and he did not want these little Maidservants to report to his mother that he was not in the Library Courtyard at this moment.

However, his luck was always good; the Maidservants and servants he met on the way were not those who served his mother or father, so even if they saw him, they would not report him without reason.

Soon, Chu Shengyuan brought Lin Zixu to the entrance of the back courtyard.

This place was guarded year-round by a servant who was a Mortal Rank Middle Tier Contract Master. Seeing Chu Shengyuan leading a young boy over, one of them stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Young Master Yuan, are you intending to go to the back courtyard?"

Chu Shengyuan nodded as if it were a matter of course.

The servant smiled, "Young Master Yuan, you are naturally free to come and go, but who is this?"

The servant's inquisitive gaze fell upon the reserved Lin Zixu.

"This is my friend. He is just coming in with me to have a look, and we will leave immediately."

A look of difficulty appeared on the servant's face, "Young Master Yuan, you also know the Master has issued an order that, aside from the internal staff and members of the Main Family, everyone else must have his permission before they can enter this back courtyard."

Behind Chu Shengyuan, Lin Zixu nervously tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Young Master Yuan, let's go back."

Chu Shengyuan looked back at him and noticed his face looked even paler than when they had first arrived. He patted his shoulders soothingly with both hands, "It's fine, just follow me."

He turned back to look at the two servants again, "Can we really not just go in like this?"

The servant's face was full of apology, "Young Master, we really cannot, otherwise we will lose this job."

Chu Shengyuan had no intention of making things difficult for them, so he had no choice but to take Lin Zixu by the hand and walk in another direction, "Let's go, I'll take you to find my grandfather."

The arm held by Chu Shengyuan exerted force and moved backward slightly. Lin Zixu's small face tightened, "Young Master Yuan, there is no need to trouble the Master with such trivial matters."

"What kind of trouble is this?" Chu Shengyuan did not quite understand what Lin Zixu meant, "Every time I go, my grandfather is delighted. Don't overthink it, let's go, let's go."

Lin Zixu could not resist Chu Shengyuan, so he followed behind him, bypassed the front hall, and arrived at the Taici Courtyard next to the ancestral hall, where Chu Jingyu resided.

At this moment, the courtyard gate was open, and the courtyard was empty without a single servant attending to it. Chu Shengyuan and Lin Zixu entered the spotless courtyard together.

"Why are you coming here at this time?" With a gentle smile on his face, Chu Jingyu stepped out from the house, clearly having long since sensed the movements of these two little fellows.

Chu Shengyuan ran in front of Chu Jingyu, grabbed his arm, and said in a somewhat coaxing tone, "Grandfather, Lin Zixu is sick, and I want to take him to the back courtyard to find those rabbits to cure his illness."

Chu Jingyu glanced at Lin Zixu, who was standing properly in the courtyard with a pale complexion and weak aura; he was indeed sick.

"Since he is sick, why are you dragging him around everywhere? The back courtyard is full of Source Beasts that have not been contracted; you cannot order them to heal him. Why not go directly to your father?"

Chu Shengyuan lowered his head in embarrassment, "I snuck out; neither Father nor Mother knows."

Chu Jingyu tapped Chu Shengyuan's forehead with his finger, "Oh, you."

He turned his eyes to look at Lin Zixu, having other thoughts in his mind, and beckoned in Lin Zixu's direction, signaling for him to come over.

When Lin Zixu walked to his side, Chu Jingyu asked softly, "Lin Zixu, right? Are you willing to be a Study Boy for Xiao Yuan?"

Lin Zixu's eyes widened, and on his pale face, his black-and-white eyes appeared even more innocent. Before he could answer, Chu Shengyuan beside him nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, that's fine, that works."

Seeing his grandson's undignified appearance, Chu Jingyu gently rubbed his forehead, feeling his temples throbbing.

However, he could also understand Chu Shengyuan; at such an age, it was the time to be mischievous, but he had no playmates at home and was now kept in the Library Courtyard by his mother all day long.

Therefore, upon encountering such a playmate who was not so reserved with him and was of similar age, he naturally cherished and valued him exceptionally.

Looking at Chu Shengyuan's joyful appearance, Lin Zixu could not bear to say anything to refuse and whispered, "I have to ask my father."

Chu Jingyu smiled, "No need to consider your father. I will speak to him, and he will certainly agree. You only need to consider your own inner thoughts now."

Under Chu Shengyuan's expectant gaze, Lin Zixu nodded slightly.

"Yay!" Chu Shengyuan was almost jumping to show how happy he was at this moment.

Chu Jingyu patted Lin Zixu's head, "Good child, aren't you going to see a doctor? Take this jade pendant and you can go to the back courtyard. However, those rabbits are not very stable. If you don't want to go to your father's place, going to Chu Suyuan's place first is the same."

Chu Suyuan—Chu Shengyuan was actually not very familiar with this adopted sister. After all, since returning from the town, she had often stayed in her own small courtyard, and he rarely saw her.

Opportunities to meet were few, let alone cultivating a relationship.

"Okay." Chu Shengyuan took the jade pendant, said goodbye to Chu Jingyu, and excitedly pulled Lin Zixu toward the back courtyard they had not entered earlier.

Running to the entrance of the back courtyard, an abnormal flush appeared on Lin Zixu's face, and he became breathless. Seeing this, Chu Shengyuan scratched his head with some guilt; running like this while pulling a sick person really seemed a bit excessive.

He showed the jade pendant to the two servants, "My grandfather has agreed, can we go in now?"

Seeing the jade pendant engraved with the character 'Chu', as well as the Spirit Rank aura unique to Chu Jingyu released from it, the two servants looked at each other, stepped aside from the entrance, and made a gesture of invitation.

Chu Shengyuan glanced at them, took small, steady steps, and said softly to Lin Zixu behind him, "Let's go. Don't be afraid if you see Source Beasts running around; those that are allowed to roam free are all very gentle."

Lin Zixu nodded, his eyes containing a hint of anticipation. This was the first time since arriving at the Chu family that he had walked through so many places in the Chu estate.

After the two youths entered the courtyard gate, the two servants were full of envy for the youth who had been brought into the gate by Chu Shengyuan.

Although the youth's Realm was not high right now, he was able to be so highly valued by the Young Master and could personally go to the Family Head to request the jade pendant to enter the back courtyard.

It was foreseeable that this youth would certainly be cultivated as a trusted aide of the Main Family, and in the future, he might even be their superior.

Meanwhile, the two youths had arrived in the back courtyard, witnessing the world of this strictly guarded back courtyard.