Chapter 153: Why Not?

Chapter 153: Why Not?

Seeing that Xiao Yuming had not fully grasped his mistake, Tang Shuyi asked, "Why did you go to such a place?"

As soon as she asked this, she realized how awkward the question was. What else would one go to that place for? Hence, following her question, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

After a while, as Tang Shuyi was about to change the subject, Xiao Yuming spoke, "I... we were just curious."

"Curious?"

Tang Shuyi was at a loss for words. Sure, it's normal for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old to be curious about sexuality, but that doesn't mean one should visit such places! And she certainly wasn't prepared to give him a lesson on this topic.

After a moment of silence, she continued, "Do you know that curiosity can kill? Take today's incident, for example. Going to such places, it's easy to contract unclean diseases. You're aware of that, right? Tell me, what would you do if you caught such a disease?"

Xiao Yuming's face, pale from the pain, flushed with embarrassment. He stammered, "We... we looked for... for virgins."

Tang Shuyi snorted coldly, "Those brothels have plenty of tricks to make someone seem like a virgin. You... you have no experience, how could you tell?"

Xiao Yuming, red-faced, hung his head and said nothing. This was something the three of them had indeed not considered. However, when he saw that woman, he lost all interest.

The woman was not lacking in looks, and her demeanor was faultless, but from her eyes, he sensed that he was her prey. In that moment, all his interest vanished, as did his curiosity.

"Craving comfort and pleasure is human nature," Tang Shuyi continued. "There's nothing wrong with that. But if one indulges in it mindlessly, you don't need me to tell you the outcome."

Kneeling there, Xiao Yuming nodded, "I understand."

Tang Shuyi hummed in acknowledgment, then added, "As humans, why do some achieve greatness while others lead mediocre lives?"

Xiao Yuming knelt silently as Tang Shuyi went on, "Those who achieve greatness know what they want and restrain their desires for it. They discipline themselves and keep breaking their limits until they reach the peak. Those who lead mediocre lives either lack direction, working hard without knowing why, or they are lazy and indulgent, unable to escape their desires."

At this point, Tang Shuyi stood up, walked over to Xiao Yuming, and helped him to his feet. She then supported him to a chair, asking, "Do you want to lead a mediocre life?"

Xiao Yuming shook his head decisively.

A smile appeared on Tang Shuyi's face, "If you don't want a mediocre life, then think carefully about what you want and how you can achieve it."

Hearing her words, Xiao Yuming clenched his fists tightly, tilted his head upwards to look at Tang Shuyi, and asked, "Mother, can I... still become a great general?"

Ever since he was young, his dream had been to become a great general like his father, galloping across the battlefields. His father had also promised to take him to war, to shape him into a general. But before he could set foot on the battlefield, his father passed away.

After his father's death, although the Emperor superficially bestowed many rewards on their Marquis of Yongning's household as consolation, he deliberately did not allow his elder brother to inherit the title. Even at his young age, he understood that the Emperor did not wish for another general to emerge from their family.

And Tang Shuyi, upon hearing his question, naturally replied, "Why not? I have you practice martial arts and find ways to pave your path in the Northwestern Army exactly for that purpose - to make you a great general, aren't I?"

"But the Emperor..."

Tang Shuyi snorted coldly, "The Li family may sit upon the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty, but not everything is decided by their whim. My son, as long as you desire it and strive for it, I will support you."

Her tone was firm and serious, stirring a surge of emotion within Xiao Yuming, even bringing a sourness to his nose. Despite dropping out of school and claiming he would practice martial arts, it was merely perfunctory; he felt that no matter how skilled he became, as long as the Emperor harbored fears of their family's influence in the Northwestern Army, he could never fulfill his dream of becoming a great general.

But now, Tang Shuyi's words kindled a new hope in him. He believed in his mother's promise, knowing her capabilities from all she had done for his elder brother.

"Mother..." Xiao Yuming suddenly felt tears well up in his eyes. He didn't want them to fall, but they flowed freely against his will.

"Why the tears now?" Tang Shuyi asked as she took out a handkerchief to wipe away his tears, "Does it hurt?"

Xiao Yuming shook his head while the tears continued to stream down, a release for the years of repression and a cry for the hope of the future.

Seeing him like this, Tang Shuyi felt as if a lump had stuck in her throat, her own discomfort profound. Sniffling, she said, "Let me apply some medicine for you."

Xiao Yuming nodded through his tears, and Tang Shuyi supported him to walk over to the brocaded couch, instructing him to lie down. She then called out, and the curtains were promptly drawn aside as Xiao Yuzhu entered, followed closely by Cui Zhu, Cui Yun, and the pair Yan Tai and Shi Mo.

Xiao Yuzhu approached Xiao Yuming, tears brimming in her own eyes, and said, "Let's see if you dare to misbehave in the future."

Xiao Yuzhu had been watching from the study when Xiao Yuming was being punished; even though it pained her, she held back from intervening, knowing that Tang Shuyi's discipline was just.

Xiao Yuming, with tears still running down his cheeks, cracked a smile and said, "I wouldn't dare; mother is even stricter than father."

Overhearing their conversation, Tang Shuyi dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief and chuckled, then turned to Cui Zhu and Cui Yun, instructing, "Prepare some hot water and medicinal ointments, and call the doctor over."

Cui Zhu and Cui Yun acknowledged and left, and she then said to Yan Tai and Shi Mo, "Bring a change of clothes."

Yan Tai and Shi Mo nodded quickly and hurried out. Before long, everything was brought in, and the doctor arrived. The doctor was taken aback upon seeing the extent of Xiao Yuming's injuries but, being a household physician, knew better than to ask questions and simply rolled up his sleeves to begin treatment.

But at this moment, the lady of the house could be seen soaking the scissors in alcohol before carefully cutting through the young lord's clothing, with great caution. He didn't take over for her, but instead stood by to assist.

"Bear with the pain," Lady Tang whispered softly.

Xiao Yuming nodded, and Xiao Yuzhu stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth.

Piece by piece, Lady Tang cut away the blood-soaked cloth sticking to the flesh. The doctor immediately handed her a clean gauze, saying, "Clean the wound."

Taking the gauze, Lady Tang gently began to cleanse the wound. Xiao Yuming broke into a sweat from the pain, and Xiao Yuzhu dabbed at his forehead with the handkerchief. Once the wound was clean, the doctor handed her a medicinal ointment which she gently applied, and then worked with the doctor to bandage the wound with the gauze.

After everything was done, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

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