Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 57

Chapter 57 - How Dare You Dodge 

Xie Shi'an simply could not fathom how anyone could write such atrocious handwriting.

The characters he had written when he first started his education at the age of three were vastly superior to those of Xie Shiwei, who was already eight years old.

"You are eight years old, and you are still struggling with The Three Character Classic—unable to even write a few basic characters properly. Do you not feel any shame?" Xie Shi'an said in a fit of rage, losing all composure. "No wonder Father wanted to beat you. If I were in his place, I would be tempted to strangle you outright!"

Xie Shiwei harbored two primary fears: his father, Xie Jingyu, and his oldest brother, Xie Shi-an. His eldest brother was far too brilliant, making him look like a total good-for-nothing by comparison.

Clutching Xie Shi'an's sleeve, he pleaded, "Big Brother, I truly want to study hard, but it's just too difficult—truly too difficult! No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot learn it, and there is nothing I can do... Mother said that if I lag behind even Yugeer, she will have me sent off to join the military. Big Brother, please help me out; I don't want to go to the front lines and throw my life away..."

Shaking him off with a violent jerk, Xie Shi-an raged, "You fail at your studies, and you refuse to join the military—do you intend to accomplish nothing for the rest of your life?"

"I—I could learn to do business?" Xie Shi-an racked his brains in desperation. "I may learn a bit slower, but I am still young. If I take my time and learn gradually, I'll surely master it eventually..."

Xie Shi-an pressed his lips into a thin line.

The Xie family would undoubtedly continue to expand and rise in prominence down the road. While someone needed to stand at the forefront and carry the family's prestige, someone else certainly had to manage the commercial enterprises behind the scenes to supply an abundant flow of silver.

Since outsiders could not be trusted, they ultimately had no choice but to rely on his blood-related younger brother, Wei'er.

Pondering this for a moment, he stated, "Mother told you to compete with Yugeer, so you only need to manage to outperform Yugeer. If you don't even know how to handle something like that, you deserve to be thrown onto the battlefield and have your empty skull lopped off by the enemy."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.

Hurrying over to the desk, Xie Shi-an desperately searched for the pulp fiction booklet that had been incinerated, but nothing remained of it except ashes. He stamped his feet and beat his chest in exasperation.

Lifting his gaze, he spotted a figure stepping into the room and hurled the candleholder directly at them. "You little wretched minx, this is all your fault!"

The person who had entered was none other than Jiuer.

Sidestepping with a swift movement, she evaded the projectile as the candleholder crashed against the floor with a loud bang.

"How dare you dodge!" Xie Shiwei roared in fury. "Vixen, who gave you the audacity!"

Lowering her head, Jiuer replied in a flat tone, "Replying to the Second Young Master, Madam has arranged for a doctor to pulse my meridians every other day. If any new injuries appear upon this servant's body, Madam will undoubtedly hold the Second Young Master accountable. This servant was merely afraid that the Second Young Master's old wounds have yet to heal, and he might incur new ones."

Hearing this, Xie Shiwei grew even more enraged.

Yet, he truly did not dare to lay a hand on Jiuer ever again.

Lowering her head, Jiuer picked up the fallen candleholder from the floor and diligently set about cleaning up.

While Xie Shiwei's days were an unceasing torment, the Xie residence was enveloped in an atmosphere of festive celebration.

Already, the Old Madam had commanded Yunchu to begin preparations for the upcoming provincial courtyard examination banquet celebrating the top scholar.

Other households would never dare make such preparations prior to the official announcement of the rankings, but the Xie family possessed precisely that level of unshakable confidence.

Having managed banquets of this caliber countless times, Yunchu required very little effort for the majority of the tasks, leaving them entirely in Tingshuang's capable hands. The only matter that demanded careful deliberation was the guest list.

After drafting a preliminary roster, she had it dispatched to the Longevity Hall.

Upon casting a glance over it, the Old Madam was deeply shaken. Her granddaughter-in-law was truly formidable—she actually intended to extend an invitation to the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy to attend the banquet! That was an official of the true third rank in the imperial court; how could such a high-ranking dignitary possibly condescend to drink wine at a mere fifth-rank official's residence?

With a gentle smile, Yunchu explained, "Old Madam, you may not be aware of this, but the Scholastic Administration Bureau where An'er studies was established under the joint leadership of the Imperial Academy. Every year, the Bureau selects its top two elite students to enter the Imperial Academy. Since An'er has secured the position of top scholar in the courtyard examination, he is naturally the Scholastic Administration Bureau's most brilliant student. This coming autumn, he will undoubtedly enter the Imperial Academy to pursue his studies, and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, who deeply appreciates exceptional talent, will naturally grace us with his presence to share a cup of wine."

While the Old Madam was familiar with the Scholastic Administration Bureau and the Imperial Academy, she had never realized that students from the former could actually gain admission into the latter.

Her old eyes widened in astonishment. "If my memory serves me correctly, the students inside the Imperial Academy are exclusively imperial relatives and descendants of ducal nobles. Can An'er truly enter such an institution?"

"So long as An'er remains this year's top scholar, it is an absolute certainty carved in stone." Yunchu offered a subtle smile. "His Majesty specifically wishes to find outstanding students to serve as study companions for the various imperial princes, thereby inspiring those princes to be more diligent and eager to learn."

"Amitabha, heaven be praised!" The Old Madam pressed her palms together in a gesture of prayer, bowing toward the heavens before turning her attention back to Yunchu. "Your foresight is as thorough as ever. Now that we have invited the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy to partake in our wine, he will naturally be inclined to offer our An'er greater care and patronage in the future."

Yunchu continued, "All the instructors of the Scholastic Administration Bureau must also be invited, as well as An'er's peers and classmates. Would you like them to be included, Old Madam?"

The Old Madam nodded without hesitation. "The majority of students within the capital's Scholastic Administration Bureau are scions of official households. These individuals represent An'er's future network of connections within officialdom, so they must without fail be invited."

"There is one more person," Yunchu brought up. "The Young Marquis of the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate. During the Old Madam's birthday banquet last time, he took the initiative to come and offer his personal congratulations. For this joyous occasion of An'er's, should we invite the Marquis as well?"

"Failing to deliver an invitation letter to the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate last time was an oversight on our part; we must not repeat that mistake this time around," the Old Madam instructed earnestly. "Since we are hosting so many high-ranking officials and distinguished guests this time, the banquet tables cannot afford to be stingy. Prepare a greater variety of novel culinary creations, and see to it that you personally supervise the kitchens to prevent a repeat of whatever happened last time."

Yunchu nodded in assent.

Upon returning to her courtyard, she tossed the guest name list aside, seated herself at the desk, and began sketching.

The haunted manor was essentially already within her grasp, and it was high time to properly plan out how the property ought to be reconstructed and renovated once it officially fell into her hands.

With the hot springs serving as the core centerpiece, she intended to construct a magnificent resort manor designed for the recreation and leisure of aristocratic elites.

Just as Yunchu was deeply engrossed in her drafting, Tingtong walked into the room to make a report: "Madam, Consort Concubine Yu and the Third Young Master have arrived. It appears they have an important matter to bring before you."

She laid down her writing brush and folded up the drawing paper. "Let them enter."

Tingtong ushered Xie Shi-yun into the floral parlor, where the mother and son offered their greetings in unison.

"Madam, this concubine has a matter that she must report," Consort Concubine Yu said, keeping her gaze lowered. "Today at noon, when this concubine went to the schoolhouse to deliver a change of clothes for Yun'er, I witnessed with my own eyes the Second Young Master bullying Yun'er. The Second Young Master is tall and sturdy, yet he shoved four-year-old Yun'er right toward the edge of the lake—he nearly tumbled straight into the water! Madam must seek justice for Yun'er."

A furrow formed between Yunchu's brows. "Yun'er, is this true?"

Lowering his head, Xie Shi-yun remained silent.

"Tingshuang, have the Second Young Master come here at once."

By this hour, the schoolhouse lessons had already concluded, and Tingshuang went directly to Xie Shiwei's courtyard to summon him over.

Following the string of recent incidents, Xie Shiwei's list of primary terrors had gained a new addition: Yunchu.

Upon stepping inside the Sheng Residence, his entire demeanor turned meek and submissive, completely devoid of his usual arrogance and overbearing swagger.

"Greetings, Mother." Xie Shiwei bowed with cupped hands. "Might I ask what matter prompted Mother to summon me here?"

Yunchu spoke up, "Consort Concubine Yu states that she witnessed you attempting to shove Yun'er into the lake with her own eyes. Is this true?"

In utter astonishment, Xie Shiwei protested, "Yun'er is my younger brother; how could I ever wish to harm him? Consort Concubine Yu must have seen wrongly."

Consort Concubine Yu lifted her head. "Second Young Master, how can you deny something you did with your own eyes? Not only did I see it, but the maidservant by my side saw it just as clearly!"

"And the maidservant by my side saw that I did not push Yun'er," Xie Shiwei retorted with an air of absolute grievance. "Mother, although my temperament has been wayward in the past, I would never lay a hand on my own flesh and blood. Furthermore, I have already turned over a new leaf; I beg Mother to grant me justice!”