Chapter 57: How Dare You Dodge
Xie Shi'an could hardly believe anyone could write characters this poorly.
Even the characters he wrote at age three when first learning calligraphy were far superior to those of the eight-year-old Xie Shiwei.
"You're eight years old, still studying 'People at birth are inherently good', and you can't even write a few characters properly." Aren't you ashamed?" Xie Shi'an was so angry he spoke without thinking. "No wonder Father beat you. If it were me, I'd want to strangle you outright!"
Xie Shiwei feared his father Xie Jingyu the most, followed closely by his elder brother Xie Shi'an. His brother was so outstanding that it made him seem like a complete fool.
He grabbed Xie Shi'an's sleeve and said, "Elder Brother, I truly want to study, but it's too difficult, really too difficult. No matter how hard I try, I just can't learn. What can I do... Mother said if I can't even surpass Yun Ge'er, she'll send me to join the military. Elder Brother, please help me. I don't want to go to the front lines and die..."
Xie Shi'an shook him off and said angrily, "If you can't study well and don't want to join the army, do you want to be worthless your entire life?"
"I... I could learn to do business?" Xie Shiwei racked his brains. "I may learn slowly, but I'm still young. If I take my time, I'll eventually learn..."
Xie Shi'an pressed his lips together.
The Xie family would certainly grow more prominent in the future. While someone needed to uphold the family's honor, it was also necessary to have someone handling business matters in the background to ensure sufficient funds.
He couldn't trust outsiders, so he could only rely on his own blood brother, Wei Ge'er.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mother wants you to compete with Yun Ge'er. You just need to deal with Yun Ge'er. If you don't even know how to handle such a simple matter, then you deserve to go to the battlefield and let the enemy chop off your empty head."
Having said that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
Xie Shiwei rushed to the table and picked up the burned picture book, but it had already been completely destroyed. He immediately became so angry he beat his chest and stamped his feet.
Looking up, he saw a figure entering the room. He grabbed a candlestick and threw it at her: "You little wench, this is all your fault!"
The person who entered was Jiu'er.
She sidestepped to avoid it, and the candlestick hit the ground with a loud thud.
"How dare you dodge!" Xie Shiwei roared in fury. "Wench, who gave you the nerve!"
Jiu'er lowered her head and said, "Replying to Second Young Master, the Lady has arranged for a physician to examine me every other day. If I show new injuries, the Lady will surely hold Second Young Master accountable. I'm only afraid that Second Young Master's old wounds haven't healed yet, and new ones would be added."
Hearing this, Xie Shiwei grew even angrier.
But he truly didn't dare lay hands on Jiu'er again.
Jiu'er bent down to pick up the candlestick from the floor and began working diligently.
While Xie Shiwei's days were filled with torment, the Xie residence was bustling with celebration.
Xie Laotaitai had already instructed Yun Chu to begin preparations for the upcoming banquet celebrating the top candidate in the academy examinations.
Other families wouldn't dare make such preparations before the results were announced, but the Xie family had the confidence to do so.
Yun Chu was accustomed to organizing such banquets. Most matters didn't require much thought—she could simply delegate them to Ting Shuang. The only thing that needed careful consideration was the guest list.
She drafted a list and sent it to Anshou Hall.
The Old Madam glanced at it. This granddaughter-in-law was truly remarkable—she actually wanted to invite the Chancellor of the Imperial College to attend the banquet. This was a third-rank official in the court. How could he possibly come to drink at the home of a fifth-rank official?Yun Chu said with a smile, "Old Madam, you may not be aware that the Xue Zheng Jian where An Ge'er studies was established under the guidance of the Imperial College. Each year, the Xue Zheng Jian selects two outstanding students to enter the Imperial College. Since An Ge'er has achieved first place in the academy examination, he is now the top student in the Xue Zheng Jian. This autumn, he will surely enter the Imperial College to study. The Chancellor of the Imperial College values talent and will naturally attend to share a celebratory drink."
The Old Madam was familiar with the Xue Zheng Jian and the Imperial College, but she hadn't known that students from the Xue Zheng Jian could enter the Imperial College.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "If I recall correctly, the students in the Imperial College are all members of the imperial family, nobles, and distinguished officials. Can An Ge'er really enter?"
"As long as An Ge'er is this year's top scholar, it's a certainty," Yun Chu replied with a gentle smile. "The Emperor intends to select outstanding students to serve as study companions for the princes, encouraging them to be more diligent and studious."
"Amitabha, may heaven bless us!" The Old Madam clasped her hands together and bowed toward the sky, then turned to Yun Chu. "You've thought this through carefully. Now that we've invited the Chancellor of the Imperial College to the banquet, he can look after our An Ge'er in the future."
Yun Chu continued, "We should also invite all the teachers from the Xue Zheng Jian, as well as An Ge'er's classmates. What do you think?"
The Old Madam nodded eagerly. "Most of the students in the capital's Xue Zheng Jian are children of officials. These people will be An Ge'er's future connections in official circles. They must be invited."
"There's one more person," Yun Chu said. "The young Marquis of the Marquis Xuanwu residence attended your birthday celebration last time without an invitation. Should we invite the Marquis for An Ge'er's joyous occasion this time?"
"Last time, we failed to send an invitation to the Marquis Xuanwu residence—that was our oversight. We must not repeat that mistake," the Old Madam instructed. "With so many distinguished guests attending this time, the banquet must be lavish. Prepare some new dishes, and personally oversee the kitchen to ensure nothing like last time happens again."
Yun Chu nodded in agreement.
Returning to her courtyard, she set aside the guest list and sat at her desk, beginning to sketch.
The haunted estate was now as good as hers, and it was time to plan how to renovate and improve it once it was officially in her possession.
Everything would revolve around the hot spring, transforming it into a manor for noble families to enjoy and relax.
As Yun Chu was drawing, Ting Feng entered to report, "Madam, Concubine Yu and the third young master are here. They seem to have something important to discuss."
She set down her brush and closed the sketch. "Let them in."
Ting Yu entered the hall with Xie Shiyun, and both mother and son bowed in greeting.
"Madam, this humble one has something to report," Ting Yu said, her head lowered. "At noon today, I went to the academy to deliver clothes for Yun Ge'er and witnessed the second young master bullying him. The second young master, being much taller, pushed four-year-old Yun Ge'er toward the lake, nearly causing him to fall in. Madam, you must stand up for Yun Ge'er."
Yun Chu frowned. "Yun Ge'er, is this true?"
Xie Shiyun hung his head without speaking.
"Ting Shuang, bring the second young master here."
Since classes had already ended for the day, Ting Shuang went directly to Xie Shiwei's courtyard to summon him.
After several previous incidents, Xie Shiwei had added one more person to the list of those he feared: Yun Chu.
Upon entering Sheng Residence, he became meek and subdued, completely devoid of his usual arrogance and audacity."I pay my respects to Mother." Xie Shiwei bowed with hands clasped. "May I ask why you have summoned me?"
Yun Chu spoke: "Concubine Yu claims to have witnessed you attempting to push Yun Ge'er into the lake. Is this true?"
Xie Shiwei responded in surprise: "Yun Ge'er is my younger brother. How could I possibly wish him harm? Concubine Yu must have been mistaken."
Ting Yu lifted her head: "How can you deny what you've done, Second Young Master? Not only did I see it, but my maid witnessed it with her own eyes as well!"
"Then my maid can testify that I did not push Yun Ge'er," Xie Shiwei said with an innocent expression. "Mother, although my temperament may be mischievous, I would never lay hands on my own blood brother. Moreover, I have already reformed my ways. I beg you to grant me justice!"
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