Chapter 178: Never Been This Complicated

Chapter 178: Never Been This Complicated

Tang Shuyi still didn’t know that Xiao Yiyuan had already learned of his true identity. She was waiting for Xiao Yuming to return, wondering how he had fared today at the Great General’s residence. Just as she was pondering, Xiao Yuming returned with a decent expression, showing no signs of unhappiness.

"How did it go?" she asked.

Xiao Yuming walked over to a chair and sat down, saying, "General Xiang has offered me the position of his chief attendant."

Tang Suyi was momentarily taken aback, then with a look of realization, she asked, "What did you say?"

"Why not?" Xiao Yuming replied, appearing indifferent.

Tang Shuyi looked at him, then smiled and said, "I knew my son could adapt and persevere. Look, you can be both a noble young master and serve as the general's chief attendant."

Xiao Yuming: "………"

"So, what did you do today beside General Xiang?" Tang Shuyi inquired.

Xiao Yuming replied, "Whatever the general did, he had me follow him. This morning, after he returned from the training ground, he stayed in his study, reading books and maps. In the afternoon, he met with a couple of friends."

Tang Shuyi nodded, "General Xiang is being very thorough. My son, he's teaching you through both his words and actions. As his chief attendant, you can clearly observe how the general trains, what he reads, how he disciplines his subordinates, and how he interacts with his peers. As long as you're attentive, you're bound to learn a great deal."

"Mother, I understand," Xiao Yuming said.

"My son is growing up," Tang Shuyi said with a smile. "After dinner, write down what the general did today, think about what you need to learn and how. If there's something you don't understand, ask the general tomorrow."

Xiao Yuming nodded earnestly, while Tang Shuyi thought to herself that she must send a generous gift to Mrs. Xiang. After all, General Xiang dotes on his wife; as long as Mrs. Xiang is happy, the general will be too.

After dinner, Xiao Yuming didn't return to his quarters; instead, he sought out Niu Hongliang to learn how to read maps. He hadn't quite understood the map that General Xiang had looked at today.

Niu Hongliang was pleased to know that Xiao Yuming was learning from General Xiang and said, "Second Young Master, this is a rare opportunity, you must seize it!"

"I understand, Master Niu," Xiao Yuming replied respectfully. "I've come to learn from you how to read maps."

"No problem, come with me," Niu Hongliang said happily, taking it as a good sign that the young master of the manor was beginning to take initiative in his learning.

Once inside, Niu Hongliang took out a map and started explaining it to him, bit by bit...

Tang Shuyi soon learned of this, and she asked Cui Zhu and Cui Yun, "Doesn't Master Niu have a son?"

"Yes, around twelve or thirteen years old, I hear he's quite fond of reading," Cui Yun replied.

Tang Shuyi pondered for a moment, "Call Master Niu over tomorrow, ask if his son would like to study at Shanglin Academy. If he does, have Steward Zhao send him over."

She would never let down those who were loyal to the manor and caring towards her son.

Thinking of this, she turned to Cui Zhu and Cui Yun, "If you two fancy someone, just tell me, and I'll bring them back for you."

Upon hearing this, Cuiyun's face flushed red, but Cuitzu spoke up, "My lady, I do not wish to marry. I want to learn skills by your side."

Tang Shuyi laughed heartily, "Good, then learn well."

As she spoke, she turned around and noticed Cuiyun's crimson face. She teased, "Oh? Have you taken a fancy to someone? Tell me, who is it?"

Embarrassed, Cuiyun's face turned even redder. She bowed to Tang Shuyi and said, "I'll go check if the stew is ready."

With that, she hurried off, leaving Tang Shuyi to turn curiously to Cuitzu, "Who is it? Do you know?"

Cuitzu smiled, "It's Steward Zhao's second son, Zhao Li."

Tang Shuyi pondered for a moment about Steward Zhao's second son, a tall and sturdy young man in his late teens.

"Does Zhao Li know?" inquired Tang Shuyi.

"He does. It was Zhao Li who fancied Cuiyun first," Cuitzu replied.

Tang Shuyi hummed in acknowledgment, "Tell Cuiyun, when she wishes to marry, to inform me. I'll prepare a dowry. However, even after marriage, she must continue working for me."

Zhao Li also worked in the manor, currently holding a minor supervisory role. If Cuiyun were to marry Zhao Li, it would be akin to not leaving the manor, and continuing to work here would be ideal.

Economic foundation determines the superstructure, true both in ancient and modern times. After marriage, a woman must rely not only on her dowry but also on her family background or status. Cuiyun, bought from outside and not a born servant of the manor, was at a disadvantage compared to Steward Zhao's son.

However, if she continued to work by her side after marriage, no one would dare to belittle her. It's said, "where there are people, there are social dynamics." Regardless of everyone being servants, no one should look down upon another.

Of course, Steward Zhao's family was also respectable and intelligent. Cuiyun marrying into his family would indeed be a good match.

After chatting with Cuiyun and Cuitzu for a while longer, Tang Shuyi went to wash up and rest.

However, Xiao Yiyuan, lying in his dormitory at Shanglin Academy, found sleep elusive. The room wasn't very dark, and he lay on his bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling beams. Scenes from his life flashed through his mind.

He was born in a dilapidated temple when his family was still itinerant. So impoverished were they that even tree bark by the roadside became a meal. His mother, having just given birth, had no milk to feed him, so he was raised on a gruel of vegetables.

Later, his family traveled southward until they finally settled in the southern borderlands. Though their life stabilized, it remained harsh.

His grandmother often lamented, wishing his grandfather had never joined the army. She praised his intelligence and strength, recounting how a single hunting trip could feed the family for a month. She reminisced about times when they never lacked meat, thanks to his grandfather's prowess as a hunter.

At that time, they were all salivating as they listened, for they might not even get a taste of meat once in a year. They all wished that their grandfather was still alive, but he had passed away.

But now, someone had told him that his grandfather had not died back then; instead, he had fought alongside the former emperor to establish a dynasty, earning great merit and the title of a marquis. However, he had married a lady of high nobility.

A sense of suffocation overwhelmed his heart.

Yet, he was aware that the matter he was now facing was far from simple; he even doubted the truth of the contents in the letter. But how could he discern the truth? As a poor scholar in the vast capital, with hardly any acquaintances, how could he possibly gather information about the Marquis of Yongning’s household?

Moreover, there were those with ill intentions, looking to use him for their own ends.

He thought of consulting the learned Fang Darrui, but with the truth of the matter still unclear, how could he inquire? While Fang Darrui had been kind to him, their relationship had not reached a level of complete trust.

He couldn't sleep that night, tossing and turning restlessly, fearing the presence of someone with malevolent intentions in his room.

His life had been hard before, but never this complicated.