Chapter 22: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town

Chapter 22: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town

"Zhao Qian Sun Li, Zhou Wu Zheng Wang..."

Under the dim oil lamp, a boy with a topknot recited "The Hundred Surnames" with a serious demeanor. His young but solemn voice echoed through the room, each word pronounced clearly and distinctly.

The boy had fair skin and delicate features, exuding an upright and noble aura that indicated he was from a wealthy family.

In front of him sat a handsome young man with long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, his gaze determined and demeanor elegant. He held a ruler in his hand; if not for his age, he would resemble a talented private tutor.

The resemblance between the two suggested they were brothers, and indeed, they were Xu Zeping and Xu Zeli.

Time flew by, and it had been four years.

Xu Zeping was now four years old. In these four years, he had witnessed tremendous changes within the Xu family. One of the most noteworthy events was the promotion of their eldest uncle from a seventh-rank magistrate in Dongping County to a sixth-rank judge in Yongan Prefecture.

Yongan Prefecture governed Heluo County, Dongping County, and Taiyong County.

Although Yongan was a small prefecture, the promotion of their eldest uncle significantly elevated the status of the Xu family. At least in Heluo County, even the county magistrate would address Xu Tangshi as "Lady Dowager."

The Xu family's teahouse became the busiest and most prosperous place in Qingshui Town. Local merchants all sought connections with the Xu family, hoping to seek favors in the future. However, the Xu family continued to conduct business honestly, never taking anything that did not belong to them.

Xu Zeping was not a true child. Although he did not know the specifics, he could tell from the fact that the eldest uncle's correspondence partner changed to Xu Zeli that the promotion must have been due to Xu Zeli's efforts.

Xu Zeping's guess was correct.

Their eldest uncle had diligently served for over twenty years. It was only after Xu Zeli passed the imperial exams and became the son-in-law of the Minister of Justice that the eldest uncle was promoted to judge in Yongan Prefecture.

After ten years as a judge, just as he was about to return home in glory, news broke of the youngest uncle's collusion with bandits, leading to the execution of the entire clan.

Thinking of this, Xu Zeli's expression darkened. Although the youngest uncle's actions led to his downfall, it was more a matter of political intrigue. That year, when Grand Secretary Wu resigned, the Emperor intended to promote his father-in-law to the cabinet...

His father-in-law was a staunch supporter of the royal party, and his promotion would disrupt the balance between the Crown Prince and the First Prince parties.

Grand Secretary Wu was the father of Consort Wu and the grandfather of the First Prince.

If there were no factional disputes, Xu Zeli could have suppressed the incident. However, the power struggle brought it directly to the Emperor's attention, leaving him no time to think before being condemned and sent to the execution grounds.

The promotion of their eldest uncle not only elevated the status of the Xu family in Qingshui Town but also improved the position of Xu Songrui and her husband in Dongping County, making Zhong Ye the undisputed heir of the Zhong family.

Xu Zeli knew that even without the promotion, Zhong Ye would have secured his position in the Zhong family, but at the cost of his cousin's health.

In the previous life, before his cousin was born, his uncle still cared about family ties. But after the premature birth, his uncle truly saw everything clearly and became ruthless within the Zhong family, seizing power in just three years and becoming the new head!

Fortunately, this time, his aunt safely gave birth to his cousin at the Xu residence and returned to the Zhong family after the full moon celebration, which was grandly celebrated for three days in Dongping County.

Xu Zeping did not know what the deep well of ice in front of him was thinking, but after finishing "The Hundred Surnames," he dared not ask, only staring blankly, lost in his own thoughts.

He knew the situation was beyond his control. This deep well of ice had taken charge of his education, even preventing the kind matriarch from intervening.

"Tomorrow I will depart for the county examination and return in ten days. During this time, you will study under Mr. Liu. I have written down your tasks and given them to him," Xu Zeli said, calculating the time. The county examination consisted of five sessions, one per day, with results posted three days later. Including travel, it would be exactly ten days.

Departing tomorrow, the examination would start the day after.

The county examination was relatively simple. Passing it would allow him to take the prefectural examination in April of the same year, earning the title of "tóngshēng."

Becoming a "tóngshēng" was the first step on the path of officialdom. Only then could one participate in the provincial examination in August.

The provincial examination was held every three years, coinciding with the years of Tiger, Snake, Monkey, and Pig.

This year was the Year of the Tiger, and if all went well, Xu Zeli could become a scholar.

Xu Zeli, born in the Year of the Tiger, was twelve years old this winter.

"If you do not complete your tasks in ten days, you know the punishment," Xu Zeli said with a faint smile.

Xu Zeping shuddered and immediately replied, "Not completing the tasks means being a bad child, and bad children get their little birds cut off and sent to the palace as eunuchs."

Xu Zeping endured the shame, trying to remain calm as he spoke, silently cursing Xu Zeli's deep well of ice. Despite preaching about propriety and virtue, he constantly threatened to castrate him.

As for why Xu Zeli used this threat, it stemmed from the youngest uncle's obsession with beauty in the previous life. Since the youngest uncle loved beauty so much, he believed he would find being a eunuch unbearable.

"Very good."

Xu Zeli nodded in satisfaction. "It's late, so go to bed early. Wake up at the third watch of the morning and report to Mr. Liu promptly at the second watch of the morning!"

After giving instructions, he called Dahu to escort the youngest back to Xiheyuan to rest.

Xu Zeping was still young and was arranged by Xu Songshan and his wife to stay in the main room of the western wing of Xiheyuan for closer care. They planned to send him to Donggen courtyard to live with the eldest once he turned six.

Dahu was Xu Zeli's book boy, selected by their eldest uncle and trained in martial arts to protect Xu Zeli closely.

"Young Master Ping, let me escort you back," Dahu said, extending his large hands. "It's getting dark, let me lead you."

Dahu had been with the Xu family for two years, and despite his intimidating appearance, he adored children.

Hearing Young Master Ping's sweet voice, his heart softened. He wondered why Young Master Li treated Ping so coldly... when Ping was so soft and adorable.