While Aunt was frantically dissing her nephew, she heard the steward’s call and responded loudly, “So he’s back, do I need to go and welcome him?”
The steward stomped his feet anxiously, “Madam, there’s blood on Miss Ling Yin’s clothes, Miss Ling Yue seems to have been crying, the master and Second Young Master look grim, and the eldest young master hasn’t returned. Something must have happened.”
There was a clattering sound from inside the room as if something had been knocked over, followed by the concerned voices of maids and servants, “Madam…”
“Get out of my way!” Aunt lifted her skirts and rushed out, her face anxious as she ran towards the front hall.
Aunt hurried back to the front hall with tears in her eyes. Seeing her husband holding their young daughter with a grave expression, the latter unconscious, she almost burst into tears.
“It’s alright, she’s just asleep,” Xu Ping Zhi said preemptively to stabilize her emotions while handing the young daughter to his wife. “Take her back to her room to sleep.”
Aunt held her daughter tightly, then examined her elder daughter closely. Confirming she was fine, she sighed in relief but didn’t leave. With a tearful voice, she asked, “What happened? How did things turn out like this after just one outing?”
Ling Yue Xu immediately started crying again.
Xu Ping Zhi let out a breath and recounted everything that had happened that morning to his wife.
When Aunt heard that Ling Yue Xu had been harassed by a ruffian, her eyebrows rose in anger, barely able to contain her fury. When she heard that Ling Yin Xu had almost been trampled by horse hooves, her face turned pale, and she held her younger daughter tightly, afraid of losing her.
When she learned that it was Qi An Xu who had saved both daughters and was injured in the process, she was stunned.
Upon hearing that her nephew had been taken to the Ministry of Justice, she gripped her husband’s hand tightly, her face drained of color, “Ning Yan… he, he…”
“It’s alright, he’s already been released. This matter has been temporarily resolved,” Xu Ping Zhi patted his wife’s hand, comforting her.
“You see, if it wasn’t for Ning Yan this time, Ling Yue and Ling Yin would have been in danger. His temperament might be a bit stubborn, but he’s never mistreated family. How many people would risk their lives for our daughters like that?
“You’ve always looked at him with disdain, thinking he spends too much money on martial arts, feeling that since we raised him, it’s fine to criticize him a bit, thinking his words are unpleasant and always opposing you.
“But have you ever thought about his perspective? Living under someone else’s roof for twenty years, do you think it’s been easy for him? Don’t you think he’s sensitive about it?
“Women are so short-sighted, liking to hear pleasant words but not seeing how people act. When Ling Yue was bullied, he rushed to fight for her. Thankfully, this time it was a close call. If Ning Yan really couldn’t come back, wouldn’t you feel heartbroken?”
As Ling Yue Xu listened, tears streamed down her face again, and she sobbed uncontrollably. She felt that she would have to repay her elder brother for the rest of her life.
“I…” Aunt sniffled, lowering her head to hide her tears.
Xin Nian Xu, watching his usually strong-willed mother now filled with fear and regret, felt a stirring in his heart.
Although she always called that guy a “money-eater” and “unlucky fellow”, his mother still cared about his elder brother deep down.
After all, she had raised him for nearly twenty years and had developed feelings for him.
Xu Ping Zhi glanced at his son and snorted, “If it had been your son accompanying them, he might have been kidnapped and bullied along with them this time.”
Second Young Master Xu: “???”
…
After handing the young daughter to the maid specifically assigned to care for her and comforting the elder daughter, Aunt returned to her room, lost in thought.
She glanced at the maids and servants who were busy making winter clothes and suddenly said, “Lu E, reduce one set of winter clothes each for the master and Second Young Master. When the eldest young master returns, take his measurements.”
Lu E looked up in surprise, hardly believing her ears, “Madam has changed her mind?”
Aunt snorted, “Do I look like that kind of stingy aunt in your eyes?”
You are… All the maids and servants in the room thought simultaneously.
…
Qi An Xu left the Star-Gazing Tower and rented a carriage on the street, taking about an hour to return to the Xu residence.
While heating water for a bath, he discovered that the wound on his waist was almost healed.
He applied some wound medicine himself, returned to his room, ground some ink, wrote a few hundred characters of chemistry knowledge, and then, as usual, began to write his diary.
“November 16th, this is a day worth remembering, because I’ve finally decided to give up the simple yet boring life of a rich person. I need power, I need martial strength. For this, I have two ideas:
“First, change my cultivation path and follow the Confucian way. As long as I please the two great scholars, I believe they will fully support me. This would be much better than stumbling along the path of a martial artist on my own.
“Ah, when others transmigrate, they show off with poetry, while I use poetry for transactions. Perhaps this is what makes a lucky bastard different.
“Second, make an effort to seduce Miss Cai Wei from the Celestial Observation Bureau into bed. With the support of the Astronomy Chief, I could live a comfortable life even without trying hard.
“Third, sell one of the magical artifacts obtained from the Celestial Observation Bureau to get a chance to open the Heavenly Gate.
“The drawback of the first idea is that I’ll have to recall the fear of being dominated by high school life, and I might not be cut out for studying. I’m almost twenty now, it’s a bit late to change my cultivation path.
“The drawback of the second idea is that I might have to say goodbye to the life of having multiple wives and concubines, goodbye to the leisurely life of enjoying music in brothels. The sacrifice is quite big.
“The drawback of the third idea is that even in the Qi Condensation realm, I still can’t beat the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Moreover, without a backer, it’s difficult to continue advancing bravely on the path of martial arts. Second Uncle being stuck at the peak of Qi Condensation for nearly ten years is the best example.
“For now, I’ll first hold tight to the thighs of the Celestial Observation Bureau and the Yunlu Academy, then plan for the future. I have a feeling that the turmoil of the tax silver case won’t end here.”
…
Xu Residence, Front Hall.
At dusk, Qi An Xu jumped over the wall to have dinner at his Second Uncle’s house next door. In the courtyard of the front hall, he saw Ling Yin Xu practicing a wobbly horse stance, her little fists punching left and right, making “Hei hei” and “hou hou” sounds to accompany herself.
She was wearing a lotus-colored small garment, wrapped up like a zongzi, with her hair tied in the distinctive bun of young children.
“What’s gotten into you?” Qi An Xu lightly kicked her little bottom.
The little one fell with a “plop”.
“I’m practicing martial arts!” Ling Yin Xu got up, put her hands on her hips, and puffed out her round little belly, very dissatisfied with her elder brother’s sneak attack. Her little brows furrowed, “Elder Brother, are you challenging me?”
Perhaps due to the morning’s events leaving a shadow in her young mind, this five-year-old child felt she should learn martial arts.
“Yes, I am,” said Qi An Xu.
“Father says, a person fights for their dignity, and so do martial artists. It’s called… res… res…”
“Respect?”
“Mm!” Ling Yin Xu nodded vigorously, then glared at her elder brother, “I want to fight you!”
She came running on her short little legs, swinging her fists while yelling “Aow aow aow”.
Qi An Xu pressed one hand on her forehead. The little bean panicked, yelling “aow aow” while throwing wild punches.
But she couldn’t hit her elder brother no matter what.
Her little face scrunched up in frustration.
Qi An Xu found her annoying and negotiated, “I’ll give you a chicken leg if you admit defeat.”
“Okay!” Ling Yin Xu indeed stopped her wild punching, her face beaming with joy.
“What about your dignity?”
“Elder Brother, what is dignity?”
“…You have a bright future.”
He led the little bean into the hall. Soon the banquet began, and the dinner was very sumptuous, like a festival.
The maids and servants intentionally or unintentionally placed the best dishes in front of Qi An Xu. He couldn’t help but glance at his aunt. Aunt was wearing a dress embroidered with dark, subdued patterns, her face delicate, a pair of watery beautiful eyes matched with thick eyelashes, containing the unique charm of a married woman, like a lush begonia flower.
She maintained her usual aloof attitude as if what Qi An Xu had done today was just a trivial matter.
But if it wasn’t for her instructions, the servants wouldn’t dare to treat Young Master Xu so preferentially.
Ling Yue Xu ate her meal with small bites from her chopsticks. Finally gathering her courage, she said, “Brother, Mother is making winter clothes for the family again. Later, I’d like to take your measurements. I, I want to make them for you myself.”
Brother… Oh my… Qi An Xu felt half his bones go soft. His sister had changed into quite a gorgeous outfit, her dress embroidered with vibrant lotus flowers, and a goose-yellow gauze scarf with intricate cloud patterns. She was only sixteen or seventeen, but such a brilliant attire, paired with her delicate and pretty face, instead revealed a sort of innocence that didn’t understand the ways of the world.
“Good, is it good…” Ling Yue Xu was shy, and seeing him not respond, she lowered her head with a red face.
If it were that scumbag, Bao Yu, how would he respond at this moment… Qi An Xu regretted not reading more of “Dream of the Red Chamber” in his previous life. He nodded, “Thank you.”
Ling Yue Xu smiled charmingly, rivaling the aunt beside her.
Qi An Xu withdrew his gaze and said, “Second Uncle, Second Young Master, after dinner, let’s go to the study. I have something to discuss with you.”
…
In the study!
After Lu E served three cups of hot tea and retreated, Qi An Xu picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, once again lamenting the lack of MSG in the food, always feeling like something was missing.
“What do you think about what happened this afternoon?” Qi An Xu got straight to the point, seeking the opinions of his Second Uncle and cousin.
Hasn’t the matter already passed… Second Uncle Xu’s face showed some confusion.
Xin Nian Xu frowned, “Are you suggesting that Young Master Zhou might seek revenge?”
For the son of the esteemed Vice Minister of Revenue to suffer a setback at the hands of a mere clerk, he definitely wouldn’t let it go easily.
Second Uncle Xu waved his hand, “No, no. If it were ordinary circumstances, maybe, but today with the great scholar from the Yunlu Academy and the White Robes from the Celestial Observation Bureau intervening, I reckon that Zhou fellow wouldn’t dare to stir up more trouble.”
This line of thinking wasn’t wrong, it was reasonable.
It wasn’t uncommon for officials’ sons to bully common people, but when it came to matters involving official circles or powerful factions, they became quite cautious.
Half of it was due to being influenced from a young age; even the most unruly official’s son knew the depths of the capital’s waters. The other half came from warnings from their elders.
Xin Nian Xu shook his head, “Father if Elder Brother is saying this, he must have a reason.”
He looked at Qi An Xu.
Qi An Xu said in a deep voice, “I just received news from the Celestial Observation Bureau today. The mastermind behind the tax silver case is Vice Minister Zhou.”