Xie Shi’an could hardly believe anyone could write such ugly characters.

The characters he had written when he began his studies at age three were far, far better than what eight-year-old Xie Shiwei wrote now.

“You’re eight years old and still learning ‘At the beginning, man’s nature is good,’ yet you can’t even write a few characters properly. Don’t you feel ashamed?” Xie Shi’an spoke rashly in his anger. “No wonder Father beat you. If it were me, I’d want to strangle you directly!”

The person Xie Shiwei feared most was his father Xie Jingyu, and the second was his elder brother Xie Shi’an. His elder brother was too excellent, making him look like a complete waste.

He grabbed Xie Shi’an’s sleeve and said: “Elder Brother, I truly want to study, but it’s too difficult, really too difficult. I can’t learn it no matter what. There’s nothing I can do… Mother said if I’m not even as good as Yun’ge, she’ll send me to become a soldier. Elder Brother, please help me. I don’t want to go to the front lines to die…”

Xie Shi’an shook him off and said angrily: “You can’t study well, and you won’t join the military. Do you want to be worthless your entire life?”

“I, I could learn to do business?” Xie Shiwei racked his brains. “I learn a bit slowly, but I’m still young. If I learn gradually, I’ll eventually learn it…”

Xie Shi’an pressed his lips together.

The Xie family would definitely grow larger and larger in the future. While someone needed to uphold the family’s reputation, they would indeed need someone in the rear handling business and providing sufficient silver.

They couldn’t trust others, so they could only rely on Wei’ge, his full younger brother.

After thinking for a moment, he said: “Mother told you to compare yourself with Yun’ge. You only need to deal with Yun’ge. If you don’t even know how to handle this matter, then you deserve to go to the battlefield and let the enemy chop off that empty head of yours.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Xie Shiwei hurried to the table and picked up the burned picture book, but it had already been completely burned. He immediately beat his chest and stamped his feet in anger.

Looking up, he saw a figure walk in. He grabbed the candle holder and hurled it over: “You little wretch, this is all your fault!”

The person who entered was precisely Jiu’er.

She dodged to the side, and the candle holder hit the ground with a bang.

“You actually dared to dodge!” Xie Shiwei flew into a rage. “Wretch, who gave you that courage!”

Jiu’er kept her head lowered and said: “In response to Second Young Master, Madam has arranged for a physician to check this servant’s pulse every other day. If this servant has new injuries on her body, Madam will certainly hold Second Young Master accountable. This servant is also afraid that Second Young Master’s old injuries haven’t healed and will add new ones.”

Hearing this, Xie Shiwei became even more furious.

But he truly didn’t dare lay hands on Jiu’er again.

Jiu’er lowered her head, picked up the candle holder from the ground, and began working conscientiously.

While Xie Shiwei’s days were torment, the Xie residence was filled with joy.

Old Madam Xie had already ordered Yun Chu to begin preparing for the upcoming provincial examination top candidate banquet.

Other families definitely wouldn’t dare make these preparations before the results were announced, but the Xie family had such confidence.

Yun Chu was accustomed to organizing such banquets. Most matters didn’t require much thought—she could just give instructions to Tingshuang. 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 Directorate of Education Chancellor to attend the banquet. This was a third-rank official of the court. How could he possibly come drink wine at a fifth-rank official’s household?

Yun Chu smiled and said: “Old Madam, you may not know this. The School of Political Studies where An’ge studies was established under the direction of the Directorate of Education. Every year, the School of Political Studies selects two outstanding students to enter the Directorate of Education. If An’ge becomes the provincial examination top candidate, then he’ll be the most excellent student at the School of Political Studies. This autumn, he’ll definitely enter the Directorate of Education to study. The Directorate Chancellor cherishes talent, so naturally he’ll give face and come drink a cup of wine.”

The Old Madam knew about the School of Political Studies and the Directorate of Education, but she didn’t know that students from the School of Political Studies could actually enter the Directorate of Education.

The elderly woman’s eyes widened: “If I remember correctly, the students in the Directorate of Education are all imperial relatives and dukes of merit. Can An’ge really get in?”

“As long as An’ge is this year’s top candidate, then it’s a certainty.” Yun Chu smiled slightly. “His Majesty wants to find some excellent students to be study companions for the various princes, making those princes more diligent and studious.”

“Amitabha, Heaven bless us!” The Old Madam put her hands together and bowed to the heavens, then looked at Yun Chu. “You’re still the most thoughtful one. Now that we’ve invited the Directorate Chancellor to come drink wine, in the future he can give our An’ge more care and guidance.”

Yun Chu continued: “All the teachers from the School of Political Studies must also be invited, as well as An’ge’s classmates. Do you think we should invite them?”

The Old Madam nodded repeatedly: “Most of the students at the capital’s School of Political Studies are sons of officials. These people are all An’ge’s future official connections. We must invite them.”

“There’s one person,” Yun Chu said. “The Young Marquis of the Xuanwu Marquis Estate. Last time at the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, he came on his own initiative to offer birthday wishes. For An’ge’s joyous occasion this time, should we invite the Marquis?”

“Last time we didn’t send an invitation to the Xuanwu Marquis Estate—that was our oversight. This time we mustn’t make that mistake again.” The Old Madam instructed, “This time we’re inviting so many high-ranking officials and nobility. The banquet cannot be stingy. Prepare more novel dishes, and you must personally supervise the kitchen. We cannot have that kind of incident happen again.”

Yun Chu nodded in agreement.

Returning to her courtyard, she tossed the guest list aside, sat at the table, and began to paint.

That haunted estate was as good as in her possession now. She should properly plan how to repair and renovate the estate once it was in her hands.

Everything would center around the hot spring as the core, building a manor for noble families to enjoy.

Yun Chu was drawing when suddenly Tingfeng came in to report: “Madam, Concubine Yu and Third Young Master are here. It seems they have something important.”

She put down her brush and folded up the drawing paper: “Let them in.”

Tingyu led Xie Shiyun into the flower hall. Mother and son both bowed in respect.

“Madam, this concubine has something to report.” Tingyu kept her head lowered. “At noon today, this concubine went to the school to deliver clothes to Yun’ge and personally saw Second Young Master bullying Yun’ge. Second Young Master is tall and strong. He pushed four-year-old Yun’ge toward the lake—he nearly fell into the water. Madam must uphold justice for Yun’ge.”

Yun Chu frowned: “Yun’ge, is this true?”

Xie Shiyun kept his head lowered and said nothing.

“Tingshuang, have Second Young Master come here.”

School had already let out by now. Tingshuang went directly to Xie Shiwei’s courtyard and summoned him.

After these several incidents, the person Xie Shiwei feared most had increased by one—namely Yun Chu.

After he walked into Sheng Residence, his entire bearing became meek and submissive, completely lacking his usual arrogance and domineering manner.

“Greetings to Mother.” Xie Shiwei cupped his hands in respect. “I wonder what matter Mother has summoned me for?”

Yun Chu spoke: “Concubine Yu says she personally saw you trying to push Yun’ge into the lake. Did this happen?”

Xie Shiwei said in shock: “Yun’ge is my younger brother. How could I possibly try to harm Yun’ge? Concubine Yu must have seen wrong.”

Tingyu raised her head: “Second Young Master, how can you deny what you did yourself? Not only did I see it, but the maid beside me also saw it with her own eyes!”

“Then the maid beside me also saw that I didn’t push Yun’ge.” Xie Shiwei looked completely innocent. “Mother, although my nature is mischievous, I would never lay hands on my own younger brother. Besides, I’ve already reformed. Please give me justice, Mother!”