After Xie Shi’an finished paying his respects, he still had to go to school.

Every day, he would arrive over half an hour earlier than the required time to read and practice calligraphy there. He was very diligent.

He was preparing to leave.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly arose from the courtyard.

Yun Chu’s brows furrowed.

Tingfeng hurriedly walked in from outside. “Madam, the second young master has taken a fancy to the cricket in Uncle Chen’s hands. What should we do about this?”

At the mention of the cricket, Yun Chu’s mind conjured up yesterday’s adorably chubby little dumpling.

Although that child had no manners or etiquette and had jumped onto her body acting wildly, for some reason, she couldn’t feel any aversion.

She stood up and walked toward the courtyard.

Daylight was bright. The concubines were bringing their sons and daughters to pay their respects, making the courtyard quite lively.

Just then, Chen Defu arrived carrying the cricket cage. The two groups ran into each other, allowing Xie Shiwei to catch sight of the cricket.

Eight-year-old Xie Shiwei lifted his chin and commanded, “Give me the cricket!”

Chen Defu’s face was full of difficulty. “In reply to Second Young Master, this cricket was specially ordered by Madam for this old servant to find for…”

“When I tell you to bring it, bring it! Where do you get off with so much nonsense!” Xie Shiwei snorted through his nose. “Mother has always been most generous. How could she be unwilling to part with one cricket!”

“Wow, this cricket looks really formidable!” Four-year-old Xie Shiyun opened his eyes wide. “Second Brother, can I play with the cricket together with you?”

Xie Shiwei was somewhat displeased.

Mother had always doted on Third Brother the most. Third Brother got whatever he wanted, yet he still came to compete with him over a small cricket…

“You little brat, what do you know about playing? Get lost!”

He glared at Xie Shiyun and walked toward Chen Defu.

Chen Defu was, after all, just a servant, and moreover, he knew that Madam had always indulged these young masters.

He also wasn’t certain whether Madam would give this cricket to Second Young Master and then have him search for another one…

While he was hesitating, the cage in his hands was snatched away by Xie Shiwei.

Xie Shiwei yanked the cage open, and the cricket jumped out from the cage, running toward the grass thicket at the side.

“How dare you run!”

Xie Shiwei threw down the cage and chased after it.

An eight-year-old boy was at his most agile. With one lunge, the cricket was pressed beneath his palm.

He got up from the ground, and looking up, he saw Yun Chu standing on the steps not far away.

He hurriedly bowed. “Mother.”

Only then did the others in the courtyard notice that Yun Chu had come out, and they all lowered their heads in greeting.

Yun Chu’s gaze fell on Xie Shiwei.

The Xie family’s second young master had not inherited Xie Jingyu’s intelligence and diligence. By nature unruly, he disliked studying. At eight years old, he still refused to attend school.

He slept until the sun was high in the sky every day. If he came to pay respects three or four days out of half a month, that was already considered good.

Although Xie Shiwei wasn’t the child she loved most, she had never shown favoritism. She did her utmost to raise and educate every child…

Xie Shiwei had no prospects in studying, so she had her elder brother use the Yun family’s influence to send this son into the military camp… It was precisely because of this mistaken decision that Xie Shiwei gained the power to freely enter and exit the Yun family’s military camp. The evidence that confirmed the Yun family’s rebellion was personally hidden by Xie Shiwei among her father’s correspondence…

As her thoughts churned, the aura around Yun Chu became somewhat terrifying.

Standing behind her, Xie Shi’an keenly perceived the change in her emotions.

“Shiwei.” Xie Shi’an stepped forward, speaking with an elder brother’s bearing. “Taking the cricket without permission is not the behavior of a gentleman. Our Xie household is founded on scholarly tradition. Your behavior brings shame to the Xie family. If Grandfather and Father knew, they would certainly punish you by making you face the wall in reflection. Quickly put the cricket back in the cage and apologize to Mother!”

Xie Shiwei first glanced at Yun Chu.

Usually at this time, Mother would say it was just a cricket, nothing serious, and let him take it to play.

But now, Mother had a somber expression, and her eyes were somewhat frightening.

He had no choice but to open his palm.

“Huh, why isn’t the cricket moving?” Xie Shiyun exclaimed from the side. “Oh no, the cricket seems to have been smothered to death by Second Brother!”

Xie Shiwei poked at it. The cricket didn’t move at all.

He frowned. “How did it die so easily…”

“Kneel!”

Yun Chu coldly spat out two words.

Xie Shiwei could hardly believe it. “Why?”

“All these years, I’ve been too indulgent with you, which is why you’ve developed such a lawless temperament!” Yun Chu’s voice was severe. “Taking without asking is stealing. Our dynasty’s laws state it clearly—thieves will have their foreheads tattooed. This is a lifelong disgrace. How will your father establish himself in official circles? How will your elder brother study and pursue an official career…”

“I didn’t steal anything!”

Xie Shiwei was a bit panicked. No matter how unruly he was, he knew he couldn’t have the crime of theft pinned on him.

“Mother, I was just playing around. I was wrong. It will never happen again…”

Clearly, he had taken Mother’s things this way before, and Mother had just smiled and let him take them.

Why such a huge commotion this time…

But he didn’t dare ask more questions. He could only obediently admit his mistake, hoping Mother wouldn’t pursue the matter further.

Yun Chu turned her head slightly to look at Xie Shi’an beside her. “An brother, what do you say—how should this matter be handled?”

Xie Shi’an lowered his head. “Acknowledging one’s errors and correcting them—there is no greater good. Since Shiwei knows he was wrong, have him compensate with another cricket at the original price.”

Xie Shiwei wore a bitter expression.

Elder Brother shared the same mother as him. How could he not even plead on his behalf, but instead propose making him compensate with another one?

He had spent all his money on food, drink, and entertainment. Where would he get money to compensate Mother? Wasn’t this deliberately making things difficult for him?

Yun Chu smiled. “An brother, do you know who I was planning to give this cricket to?”

Xie Shi’an shook his head.

“To give to the young lord of Prince Pingxi’s mansion.” Yun Chu’s smile suddenly vanished as she said coldly, “My things—if Shiwei took them, so be it. We’re all one family, and I naturally wouldn’t quibble! But what status does Prince Pingxi hold? You should have heard about that. Can our Xie family afford to offend the young lord of Prince Pingxi’s mansion? Today, Shiwei can smother the young lord’s cricket to death. Tomorrow, he could ruin some princess’s clothing. The day after, who knows, he might pluck flowers that some prince’s consort carefully cultivated… If we don’t properly punish him, do you think Shiwei will learn his lesson?”

Xie Shi’an was utterly astonished.

Mother had actually established connections with a household as exalted as Prince Pingxi’s mansion. She must have spent considerable effort.

The cricket she had worked so hard to find to please the young lord had died in Shiwei’s hands. No wonder Mother was so furious.

Xie Shi’an spoke slowly. “Then handle it with family discipline.”

Yun Chu curved her lips. “Indeed, An brother understands propriety and sees the bigger picture. Someone, bring out the family discipline.”

“No!” Xie Shiwei’s eyes widened in terror. “I don’t want to be beaten with the rod! I don’t want to! Can’t I just compensate for the cricket…”

When the Xie family established their household, they set the rule that committing a grave error required family discipline—starting at twenty heavy strokes of the rod.

Previously, a matron had colluded with a servant outside to embezzle the Xie family’s silver. Old Madam had her beaten until she was crippled, never to leave her bed again.

This incident had left a huge psychological shadow in Xie Shiwei’s heart.

He was afraid of being beaten until his skin split and flesh tore, afraid of never being able to get out of bed again…