Chapter 67: The Fear of the Troublesome

Chapter 67: The Fear of the Troublesome

With the situation escalating to this point, Director Fang was naturally not in the best of spirits. After finishing the discussion about Xiao Yuchen, he promptly issued an eviction order.

The Earl of Nanling wanted to salvage the situation, hoping to keep his son Yuan Wu enrolled in the academy. He whispered to Tang Shuyi, "My lady, you can't just think of your eldest son. What about your second son? He can't just drop out like this!"

Finding himself at a loss, he sought to involve Tang Shuyi, hoping she could speak to Headmaster Fang Shan and persuade him to allow Xiao Yuming and his two companions to continue their studies at the academy. He had come to a clear realization that the Lady of Yongning Hou was no ordinary woman; she possessed the ability to command respect and also knew how to humble herself when necessary.

Just moments ago, with unabashed audacity, he had climbed the ladder of opportunity, securing Headmaster Fang Shan's guidance for Xiao Yuchen. Now, he believed it was possible to convince the Headmaster to allow the three children to continue their education at the academy.

Tang Shuyi, however, felt helpless. Why couldn't the Earl of Nanling see the obvious? Was his fifth son truly cut out for academics? If not, wouldn't it be better to seek alternative paths rather than stubbornly clinging to education?

She said, "Earl of Nanling, my Yuming is not suited for academic pursuits. Forcing him to study brings pain to both him and me. It would be better to let him return home and focus on martial training."

"Your Yuming wishes to train in martial arts?" asked the Earl of Nanling.

Tang Shuyi nodded. The Earl sighed, "Your Yuming has some foundation in martial arts, but my wretched son is not cut out for it either."

Tang Shuyi could only express her inability to help; each family must bear its own burdens. She already had her hands full with her own three children.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Tang Shuyi, the Earl turned to Qi Liangsheng, "Minister Qi, we must think of a solution! We can't let them simply return home and idle away their days, can we? Wouldn't they just end up causing trouble every day?"

"Brother Xingyan."

The Earl's given name was Xingyan.

Qi Liangsheng whispered to him, "If they are not meant for academics, why waste favors in this pursuit?"

The Earl pondered Qi's words and found them reasonable. But if he brought his son back home, what would he do all day? Idle away his time? With a deep sigh, he strode towards the courtyard gate, his demeanor stormy, as if he were about to discipline his son Yanwu once again.

Indeed, before Tang Shuyi even reached the courtyard gate, she heard Yanwu's cries and pleas.

In her past life, even without having raised children, Tang Shuyi knew that such violent methods of discipline were wrong. However, it was someone else's method of upbringing, and it wasn't her place to comment. By the time she reached the gate, the Earl and Yanwu had already chased each other off. Xiao Yuming and Qi Er stood with their heads bowed at the entrance.

Tang Shuyi glanced at Xiao Yuming and said indifferently, "Let's go."

Xiao Yuming murmured in agreement, following her with his head down, his heart pounding. The calmer Tang Shuyi was, the more anxious he felt. He even wished she would scold or beat him; after such a punishment, things would return to normal.

Tang Shuyi was contemplating her next steps. Scolding or beating didn't seem effective, as Yanwu's case demonstrated. Punishment was futile; they had been punished before. Lectures on morality had already been given, yet they seemed ineffective in this situation.

What she feared most was this kind of stubborn resistance.

They left the academy in silence. Standing by the carriage, Tang Shuyi looked up at the large characters "Shanglin Academy" etched above the entrance. If she remembered correctly from the book, the male protagonist also studied at Shanglin Academy and was a favored student of Headmaster Fang Shan.

Just now, in Director Fang's study, she hadn't quite grasped the intricacies of the situation. But now, some things were starting to become clearer. In the book, Xiao Yuchen, as the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis of Yongning, had been the heir apparent for many years, only for his title to be usurped by an outsider.

At the time of reading, she had found this somewhat illogical, but now, thinking it over, if Xiao Yuchen was denounced by a leading scholar and the headmaster of Shanglin Academy for lacking in virtue...

Moreover, with "Tang Shuyi" and the Duke of Tang already deceased, even if her uncles wished to advocate for him, they wouldn't risk their entire fortunes. Coupled with his own stubbornness and ineptitude in handling mundane affairs, the charge of harboring a traitor's daughter, and the emperor's apprehension over the military talisman and Xiao Huai's influence in the army...

All these reasons combined, it's no wonder his title was seized.

So, has the machination already begun?

Tang Shuyi narrowed her eyes as she observed Wu Guoliang approaching quickly. She turned and boarded the carriage, with Xiao Yuchen following close behind. The coachman whipped the horses into motion, and the carriage began to move.

Wu Guoliang hurried after them, intending to speak, but Tang Shuyi's voice emanated from within: "Lord Wu, I await your explanation at the marquis's residence."

Wu Guoliang, a picture of dejection, wanted to catch up to the carriage to offer a few words of explanation, but the marquis’s carriage had already traveled some distance. Pursuing it now seemed inappropriate, so he boarded his own family’s carriage. He was still confused; why had Director Fang suddenly taken an interest in his family affairs?

Meanwhile, Tang Shuyi leaned against the carriage wall, her eyes closed in rest, yet her mind was anything but idle.

Was Director Fang being manipulated by someone? But who? Wu Jingyun, or the male protagonist? Had Wu Jingyun already joined forces with the male lead?

Tang Shuyi had used that book as a sleep aid, often dozing off while listening, so some details were hazy, like when and how Wu Jingyun and the male protagonist met and allied.

However, even knowing the plot was of little use, as reality diverged greatly from fiction. They could only play it by ear.

“Mother.”

Xiao Yuchen's voice reached her ears. Opening her eyes, Tang Shuyi saw him biting his lip, a picture of repentance. There was still hope for him.

“Director Fang stated that you three need not attend the academy anymore. I didn't argue on your behalf,” Tang Shuyi said, looking at him.

“I... I never wanted to attend the academy anyway,” Xiao Yuchen mumbled, his gaze downcast, his toes idly kicking at a corner of the carriage rug.

“Then what do you plan to do?” Tang Shuyi inquired.

Xiao Yuchen remained silent, head bowed, until the carriage stopped in front of the marquis's residence.

Tang Shuyi alighted from the carriage and headed straight inside, with Xiao Yuchen trailing behind. As they walked, he realized they were headed towards the ancestral hall. His lips pressed tightly together; it seemed he couldn't escape his fate of kneeling in the hall after all.

Upon entering the ancestral hall, Xiao Yuchen knelt down instinctively, and Tang Shuyi raised an eyebrow. Indeed, this second son was the real troublemaker.

In the book, Xiao Yuchen was the primary reason for the marquis's fall from grace, but his main issues stemmed from his folly regarding Li Biqin and his obstinate refusal to adapt. These flaws were apparent at a glance. Moreover, Xiao Yuchen was relatively obedient, making him not too difficult to guide.

This second son seems to be more perceptive and shrewd than Xiao Yuchen. Often, Tang Shuyi can't fathom what's running through his mind.

P.S.: Xiao Yuming: I'm really curious about what a "troublemaker" looks like.