Xie Jingyu’s proposal to send him to the military was also just a choice made in desperation.

After calming down and thinking it over, there were indeed many concerns.

He stared coldly at Xie Shiwei being held by He Shi, “Have you truly decided to study properly?”

He Shi hurriedly pulled the cloth from Xie Shiwei’s mouth.

“Father, I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I’ll never dare again.” Xie Shiwei cried bitterly with tears streaming down. “I will definitely study properly, work hard and diligently like elder brother. Father, don’t send me to the military camp!”

Qiutong from Mother’s courtyard had made him deeply experience the suffering of learning martial arts. He didn’t want to go be bullied by people.

As long as he could stay in the residence, he was willing to study properly.

Disregarding the whip wounds on his body, he crawled to Xie Jingyu’s front and begged, “Father, please give me one more chance.”

“Husband, please give Wei geer one more chance. Even if he’s to join the military, his age is too young now. If he can’t study well, it won’t be too late to send him then.” Yun Chu bent down and helped Xie Shiwei up. “Wei geer, your father whipped you for your own good. You must not harbor resentment toward your father in your heart. Since you’ve promised to study properly, from now on you cannot be playful anymore. Every day at the beginning of the chen hour, go to the school hall. Only at the end of the shen hour may you return to your own courtyard. Can you do this?”

Having reached this point, what could Xie Shiwei not agree to? He nodded repeatedly.

Yun Chu continued, “You and Yun geer are starting to study at the same time, but you’re so much older than Yun geer. If you can’t even compare to Yun geer, that means you haven’t studied properly. If next time your father wants to send you to the military camp, I won’t obstruct him again.”

“Mother, I will definitely study properly!”

Xie Shiwei was in so much pain he was about to faint. Whatever the requirements, he only knew to nod.

He Shi felt sorry for her son and hurriedly said, “Master, Madam, the second young master’s back has bled a lot. Let this concubine take the second young master to apply medicine.”

The old matriarch spoke, “Nanny Zhou, quickly go fetch a physician!”

Xie Shiwei was led into the bedroom. The old matriarch and the madam both followed in to check the situation.

Xie Jingyu turned his eyes to look at Yun Chu, “There are still some matters to clean up, which will trouble madam. If there’s anything that requires me to step forward, madam, please speak freely.”

Yun Chu lowered her head, “I can handle the remaining matters. Husband, go busy yourself.”

Xie Jingyu pinched his fingers. After those several lashes just now, his palms had also developed blisters. At this instant, he somewhat regretted being too heavy-handed.

He only hoped Wei geer could truly study properly—not seeking to bring glory to the family, only asking that he become an upright man.

Yun Chu looked at the maids serving in Xie Shiwei’s courtyard and had them all stand up, “The ten taels of silver the old matriarch promised you—I’ll have someone deliver it to your hands later. Whatever courtyard you want to work in, just come and say so. If you don’t want to stay in the Xie family anymore, I can also take it upon myself to return your contracts of servitude.”

As soon as the several maids thought of the second young master, they were frightened.

They were even more afraid that after the second young master’s injuries healed, he would take revenge and vent on them. Madam couldn’t protect them for a lifetime.

Except for Jiu’er, the other three maids unanimously decided to take their contracts and leave the residence.

These maids were all bought by Yun Chu from a labor broker after the Xie family added people. The contracts of servitude were held in her hands.

She immediately had someone retrieve the contracts and handed them to each maid one by one. In addition to the ten taels of silver promised by the old madam, she privately added five more taels to each person. After inviting a physician to examine the maids and prescribe medicine, only then did she arrange for them to leave the residence.

Yun Chu stood before Jiu’er’s bed holding the last contract of servitude, “You truly want to continue staying in the Xie family?”

Xie Shiwei was a person with an extremely vengeful nature. These maids who complained would all suffer retaliation, especially Jiu’er who had made the matter blow up.

She didn’t understand why Jiu’er insisted on staying.

Just now, the physician had removed dozens of silver needles from Jiu’er. Her body was severely weakened. She lowered her eyes, concealing the emotions at the bottom of them, “This servant has no father or mother. Other than the Xie family, this servant has nowhere to go. Moreover, this servant believes that after this ordeal, the second young master will definitely reform. Madam, this servant is willing to stay and continue serving the second young master.”

Yun Chu smiled.

Jiu’er was too much like her.

When she first reincarnated, she had the same mentality—get up from where you fell, rather than fleeing far away.

She said gently, “There are still many silver needles in your body. You still need the physician to treat you three more times before they can be completely removed. When that time comes, we’ll discuss your staying or leaving. During this period, just recuperate well. I’ll arrange for a servant woman to take care of your daily needs.”

Jiu’er’s eyes carried guilt.

She chose to stay with ulterior motives, yet Madam still treated her so well.

If only she had been in Madam’s courtyard from the beginning… Even if this body of hers was cured, it was ruined. Her entire life was destroyed…

Yun Chu went to look at Xie Shiwei.

Although Xie Jingyu had been heavy-handed, in the end he was just a scholar. These injuries looked frightening, but actually just broke some skin. The physician prescribed topical medicine and instructed that it couldn’t touch water. In about three or four days when scabs formed, it would be mostly healed.

Yun Chu laughed coldly.

Jiu’er had nearly lost her life, yet Xie Shiwei only received such a tiny bit of punishment.

Since the Xie family wouldn’t properly teach Xie Shiwei to be a good person, then they could only let outsiders teach him. When that time came, it wouldn’t be as simple as a few lashes…

After three days of recuperation, Xie Shiwei could quickly get out of bed.

He didn’t dare hide in his room being lazy anymore. On the third day, he hurriedly went to attend class at the residence’s small school hall despite his injuries.

Jiu’er received three or four needle extraction treatments, but still couldn’t get all the silver needles out of her body.

Yun Chu sighed silently.

Xie Shiwei was truly too ruthless, simply a demon.

“Madam, this servant feels my body isn’t as uncomfortable anymore.” Jiu’er knelt on the ground. “Madam’s great kindness and virtue—this servant has no way to repay, and can only kowtow to Madam.”

She kowtowed three times and continued, “This servant will go serve the second young master now.”

Yun Chu had her stand up, “When you return to Wei geer’s side, he’ll inevitably make things difficult for you. With your frail body, how much more torment can you endure? I know what you want to do.”

Jiu’er raised her head in disbelief.

Yun Chu met her gaze, “Continuing to lie low will only get you hurt. When it’s time to strike, strike quickly. I’ve said all I can. You may go.”

Coming out from Sheng Residence, Jiu’er still couldn’t believe it.

Madam clearly knew she wanted to take revenge on the second young master. Why didn’t she drive her out of the residence, but instead told her to strike quickly…

Why? Why exactly…

Yun Chu arranged for a servant woman to secretly follow Jiu’er, lest this maid get injured again. Since she had saved Jiu’er, she naturally had to see it through to the end.

By this time, it was nearly evening. Yun Chu put down the matters in her hands and walked to the front courtyard. Xie Jingyu had already been waiting and was obviously somewhat anxious.

The three-day-and-night district examination had ended. Xie Shi’an would be coming out of the examination hall soon. As a father, being nervous was normal.

The two boarded the carriage together. Yun Chu looked outside the carriage. Xie Jingyu several times wanted to open his lips to say a few words but didn’t know what to say. They remained silent like this until the carriage arrived at the examination hall entrance.

“There are too many people over there. I won’t go over.” Yun Chu said casually. “I’ll wait for An geer here.”

Xie Jingyu didn’t think too much about it and nodded, heading to the main gate where most people were.