In the end, Chen Yi agreed to Xiao Wan'er's "request" and promised to look after Xiao Wuge for a while.
He considered it compensation for the good food and drink the Xiao Family had provided him.
However, he made it clear beforehand that he would only be responsible for keeping Xiao Wuge within the Spring Lotus Garden and stopping him from running around. He would not be responsible for teaching him any miscellaneous things.
Xiao Wan'er nodded in agreement. After giving Xiao Wuge a few instructions, she left with Shen Huatang.
"Eldest Miss, why do you place so much importance on the second son-in-law?"
After holding it in for a long time, not until they had passed through the central courtyard gate, Shen Huatang couldn't help but ask, "In my opinion, even if he has some scholarly talent, he's far inferior to the tutors in the manor, not to mention his character is so..."
Despicable.
Although Shen Huatang didn't say the word, Xiao Wan'er naturally understood what she meant.
As she walked gracefully toward a residence to the right of the central courtyard, she replied in a soft, gentle tone:
"I don't need him to teach Wuge academics. I just want Wuge to stay by his side and learn his way of handling things through observation."
"This..."
"Huatang, you've been with the Xiao Family for some time now. You should know that Wuge is set to depart for Jinling next spring to be a hostage."
"You mean to say," Shen Huatang's heart stirred as she understood, "you want Young Master Wuge to behave like the second son-in-law while in Jinling?"
"That's right," Xiao Wan'er nodded slightly, her bright eyes downcast, her tone growing a little heavy.
"He is the only remaining direct bloodline of the Xiao Family. I don't ask him to be ambitious; I only hope he can spend ten years in Jinling safely."
"It's true that my brother-in-law has some learning, but what I value more is his go-with-the-flow nature. If Wuge can learn even a tenth of that, he will have far fewer troubles in Jinling."
"Forgive me, My Lady. I have spoken out of turn."
"It's nothing."
Xiao Wan'er chuckled softly, then pushed open the residence's gate and slowly walked inside.
Shen Huatang watched her enter, then stood guard silently outside the gate, her arms crossed over her chest, holding her long sword as she looked up at the sky.
'Master was right. Being born into a wealthy family may seem bright and beautiful, but on the inside, it's still a tangled mess.'
「Inside the residence.」
"Wan'er, have you made arrangements for Wuge?"
The Old Marquis, Xiao Yuan, dressed in a simple long robe, was reclining on a lounge chair. Despite his broad frame, the sickness on his face was still apparent.
After bowing to the three elderly men on the other side, Xiao Wan'er replied, "The arrangements are all in order. He'll be following my second brother-in-law for the next few days."
Xiao Yuan paused. "You have the final say in all matters of the manor. Your arrangements are fine."
As he spoke, he turned to his old friends and praised with a smile, "This granddaughter of mine is the most meticulous. With her around, the manor is much more peaceful."
"You old fellow, you sure are lucky. This old man is green with envy," said an old man in green brocade robes, stroking his beard.
"It's strange, Heng'er also has Xiao Family blood, but this old man really can't say he's well-behaved in any way."
"Elder Zhang, blood ties are one thing, but you also need to find a good teacher."
"Are you old coot saying the tutors in my Duke's Mansion don't know how to teach?"
"The facts speak for themselves..."
Seeing the several distinguished elders bickering amongst themselves, Xiao Wan'er did not linger. She urged Xiao Yuan to rest well and then took her leave.
「After she left.」
Xiao Yuan let out a soft sigh, causing the other old men to stop talking.
"Old Xiao, don't think about all that nonsense. The most important thing for you right now is to take care of your health," Elder Zhang said, pinching his beard.
"That may be so, but..."
Xiao Yuan didn't continue, instead turning to say, "Brother Xuan, you said before that the Holy Emperor has shown great favor to the Chen Family, and that my Xiao Family would suffer because of it. Why is that?"
"You've been in Shu State for so long, you wouldn't know," Elder Zhang said with a grave expression. "In the recent imperial examinations, the Holy Emperor personally appointed the Chen Family's eldest son as the top scholar. The other scholars raised quite a fuss for a long time."
"Oh?"
"For no other reason than his virtue and talent do not match his position..."
...
「As evening approached.」
The dim, yellow sun hung in the western sky like a giant wheel of light, shining down on the Spring Lotus Garden.
But unlike the fading light, the three people in the pavilion were in high spirits.
"Brother-in-law, look! I caught another fish."
"Sister Xiaodie, quick, bring the fish basket..."
It was as if Xiao Wuge had cheat codes enabled; he'd caught five carp in a single afternoon.
The key was that his gear was even simpler than Chen Yi's. He had just found a small bamboo pole, tied a line to it, and, imitating the "Jiang Taigong" Chen Yi had mentioned, tied a piece of meat to the end and tossed it into the pond.
'This is outrageous! How can he catch fish even with that?'
Chen Yi watched with an envious expression at the basket by the boy's side and silently reeled in his fishing rod.
"Brother-in-law, are you done fishing?" Seeing his movement, Xiao Wuge also got up, looking like he would follow wherever Chen Yi went.
Chen Yi tried his best to calm his mind and said in a placid tone, "Fishing is but a minor path. I must go seek the Great Dao."
"Brother-in-law, what is the Great Dao? Can you teach me?"
"It's time for dinner. Xiaodie, go see what we're having tonight..."
Chen Yi couldn't explain any Great Dao. He was purely worried that if he kept fishing, he'd get so jealous he'd snatch Xiao Wuge's fish basket.
While waiting to fill his stomach, Chen Yi leaned back lazily on the lounge chair, watching the beautiful scene of the setting sun on the pond. He asked in a casual tone:
"Where is Sister Wan'er going on this trip?"
"She said she was going to buy some gifts for Grandfather, so she went east to Jing State." Xiao Wuge sat up straight, his little face tense.
Despite his young age, he was very mature in his thoughts.
Even at such a young age, he had proper posture whether sitting or standing. Furthermore, he spoke and acted without any timidity, showing that he had received special training from a young age.
In contrast, Chen Yi was the lazy, laid-back type, always with a gentle smile on his face, looking completely harmless.
"Oh, why does your sister always wear that cloak?"
Summer was clearly approaching, yet Xiao Wan'er still wore that oversized cloak. Just looking at it made one feel hot.
Xiao Wuge didn't hide anything and said directly, "Big Sister has had a weak and sickly constitution since she was a child. Every year, she goes to the Wu Mountain Dojo to recuperate."
Chen Yi understood. 'No wonder her complexion is a bit pale, and her voice lacks strength.'
After a bit more small talk, he asked the question on his mind, "Speaking of which, why would your sister have you stay here in the Spring Lotus Garden?"
There were so many residences in the manor, and the Old Marquis was still around. Logically, this Young Master shouldn't have been sent to follow him.
Xiao Wuge hesitated for a moment. "My sister told me not to tell you. She wants me to learn from you how to handle people and situations."
"..." Chen Yi was struck speechless, then laughed. "You don't have to be so honest next time."
'Learn my way of handling things? Does Xiao Wan'er have a grudge against Xiao Wuge or something?'
'What was she thinking?'
"Brother-in-law," Xiao Wuge, unaware of his thoughts, looked up at him with his small face. "That night, when Brother Heir called you a 'runaway groom,' why didn't you get angry when you heard it?"
"How do you know I wasn't angry?"
"I could tell. If you were angry, you would have rushed up immediately and beaten him up with me."
"Well, I really wasn't that angry," Chen Yi said after a moment's thought. "I just feel that for things you've already done, regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad, you should accept them calmly."
'Besides, it's just a nickname. It doesn't affect my ability to eat, drink, and be merry.'
"And then correct your mistakes after you make them?" Xiao Wuge's little face took on a thoughtful expression. "To err is human, who can be without fault, right?"
"Right, but there's a follow-up to that: 'There is no greater good than to know your faults and be able to correct them.'" Seeing Xiaodie approaching with their dinner, Chen Yi stood up and patted the boy's shoulder. "Let's eat first. It's already late. Tomorrow, I'll take you out to have some fun."
"Okay."
Xiao Wuge silently committed the phrase to memory. 'Brother-in-law is just as Big Sister said, his words are always astonishing. Even the tutors rarely speak such simple, direct, and profound truths.'
「After dinner.」
Xiaodie prepared the bedding for Xiao Wuge in the room next to Chen Yi's. After helping him settle in for the night, she went to the study.
"Young Master, are you going to rest?"
"I'll go to sleep after I finish my writing."
Chen Yi stood before the desk, having switched to a small Wolf Hair Brush to practice his Cursive Script.
Compared to the rough and proper style of Wei Qingzi, Cursive Script was clearly more spontaneous. Each stroke was natural and expressive, the brush tip moving lightly or heavily, slowly or quickly, according to his mood.
Seeing that he didn't look up, Xiaodie quietly moved to his side. While grinding the ink, she looked at the characters he was writing and asked in confusion:
"Young Master, has your calligraphy style changed?"
"It's definitely worse."
"No, no... I mean, it's good, it's better looking."
Chen Yi glanced at her but didn't bother to explain the difference. He knew, however, that his Cursive Script was far inferior to Wei Qing's.
When Chen Yi said no more, Xiaodie looked around as if searching for something. Seeing that the page with "Wan God's Ode" was nowhere to be found, she breathed a small sigh of relief.
'It seems the Young Master also knows that poem isn't suitable to be shown to others.'
'That sets my mind at ease.'
After watching for a while, Xiaodie heard the first watch drum and said, "Young Master, I'll go draw your water now."
"Alright."
After finishing, Chen Yi looked over his work and frowned, but his brow smoothed out in just a moment.
'Going from Initial Insight to Skilled Level in two days... that speed is practically divine.'
Afterward, Chen Yi bathed and changed into a set of casual clothes before returning to his room.
He blew out the candle in his room, glanced at the bright moon outside the window, and thought of his discovery of the "Hidden Guard" earlier that day. Then, he began to stretch his limbs.
He then assumed the stance of the Big Spear Pile Skill, his body motionless. With long, steady breaths, the Qi Mechanism within his body stirred, pulling at his strong muscles, bones, and skin.
'If I don't want others to shatter this peaceful life, I must become stronger myself.'
「An hour later.」
Drenched in sweat, Chen Yi finished his Pile Skill practice. He patted his hot, hard chest and pulled out a few pieces of meat he had prepared in advance, then began to eat.
After a brief rest, he got up and began to practice the Fist Technique from memory within the confines of his narrow room.
In just a few moments, a shimmering display of light and shadow appeared before his eyes:
[Successfully practiced Fist Technique: Mountain Shattering (Profound Tier). Level: Initial Insight]
[Martial Arts·Punch: Not yet entry-level 0/1 (Upgradeable)]