My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

The true Teng Mansion was not in Li City, but in Shengjing. This Teng Mansion was the one Teng Tianhan lived in while serving as Magistrate in Prefecture City—it can be said that Teng Zhao was born and has lived here ever since. He didn’t always stay there, however. Teng Tianhan, busy with official duties and fearing his son would lack care, sent him back to the Teng Mansion in Shengjing to be raised by his grandmother. Yet, upon returning to the capital, Teng Zhao cried day and night, sometimes weeping until he fainted from breath-holding spells. This further weakened his already frail body, making him appear as if he wished to join his deceased mother, greatly alarming the family.

This was Teng Tianhan’s only son. If something were to happen to him, it would be a double tragedy for losing both a wife and a son, which would not be good for his reputation.

Moreover, Teng Zhao’s temperament was not endearing. He was born bearing the stigma of a ’light birth chart’, and even his own grandmother couldn’t bring herself to love him. Feeling uneasy, she discussed with Teng Tianhan and decided to send Teng Zhao back to his father’s side in the mansion at Ningzhou Prefecture City.

Interestingly, once back in his birthplace, he no longer cried day and night and remained quiet, yet his temperament was still solitary.

Teng Zhao did not return to the capital; Teng Tianhan served as the Magistrate for two terms until he was finally transferred back to the Ministry of Justice as a Junior Minister last year. His son had to be looked after by old servants. Now, he was visiting while on an assignment outside.

Qin Liuxi listened and became curious, questioning, "You always mention his temperament, what exactly is it about the young master that troubles you so?"

Teng Tianhan, with a hint of weariness in his eyes, replied, "He doesn’t like interacting with people, as if he immerses solely in his own world. You will see when you meet him."

Qin Liuxi wondered if it was autism?

Following Teng Tianhan to Teng Zhao’s courtyard, Qin Liuxi hadn’t yet entered when she felt something was amiss. Looking at the trees showing over the wall of the courtyard, she pointed out, "A question I’ve long wanted to ask, how are your servants trained? Everything seems very neat and tidy. And these trees, do they all have twins? The trimming seems too rigid."