Chapter 601

Chapter 608: Perplexity (Part 2)

Some of the servants flinched, while others merely stopped smiling.

Jin Geer jumped forward, his chest puffed out. "It was my idea!"

As he spoke, Xu Sijie's eyes swept over the group of servants and realized he didn’t recognize a single one. His expression darkened as he asked Jin Geer, "Where did these people come from?"

Jin Geer replied casually, "They’re the ones who helped me pick up firecrackers."

"Pick up firecrackers?" Xu Sijie stared at Jin Geer in shock. "What firecrackers? Where did you find them?"

"The stewards wouldn’t give me any. I saw some servants in the outer courtyard picking up firecrackers from the ground and setting them off," Jin Geer explained smugly. "So I stood on the steps and shouted that whoever brought me firecrackers would get a tael of silver." He pointed at the group of servants. "They all came to deliver firecrackers to me."

Copying the servants, picking up firecrackers and even offering a tael of silver as a reward—Xu Sijie didn’t know what to say. "Where did you get the silver?" he asked. Then he added, "Where are Hong Wen and the others?" He also noticed that Shen Geer’s wet nurse and maids were missing. "And where are Nurse Wu and the rest?"

He was usually gentle and rarely wore such a stern expression. Shen Geer grew frightened and quickly dropped the incense stick, hiding behind Jin Geer.

Jin Geer, however, merely dodged the question with a shrug, turning to Shen Geer instead. "Give your incense stick to Fifth Brother," he instructed. Then he handed Xu Sijie a clumsy handful of scattered firecrackers. "Fifth Brother, come set off firecrackers with us! It’s so much fun!"

Shen Geer hurriedly picked up the incense stick he had dropped. But Xu Sijie, seeing Jin Geer’s dirty hands, thought of how their mother treasured him like a precious jewel—if she saw him like this, she would be heartbroken. Even if it were Xu Sijie himself covered in dirt, she would still brush off the dust for him. Without another word, Xu Sijie snatched the firecrackers from Jin Geer’s hands and threw them to the ground. "Come with me to wash your hands," he said sternly, ignoring Shen Geer.

Jin Geer yelled in protest at the sight of his scattered firecrackers and struggled to break free from Xu Sijie’s grip. "I want to set off firecrackers!"

Before he could finish speaking, two servants quickly stepped forward, picked up the firecrackers Xu Sijie had thrown down, and eagerly handed them back to Jin Geer. "Here you go, Sixth Young Master!" they said, ignoring Xu Sijie’s glare.

Too angry to reprimand them properly, Xu Sijie hesitated before finally scolding, "Is this your job? Sixth Young Master has his own attendants—why are you meddling? Get back to your duties before the stewards catch you and give you a beating!" His voice lacked force, and though two servants slipped away nervously, most remained hesitant, watching from a distance.

The servant who had handed the firecrackers to Jin Geer was unbothered. Smirking, he said, "Fifth Young Master, picking up and setting off firecrackers was all Sixth Young Master’s idea. We just wanted to make him happy. Isn’t that what we servants are supposed to do? Don’t be angry. Since Sixth Young Master invited you to join, why not have some fun with him?" Noticing that Shen Geer was holding an extinguished incense stick, he turned to another servant. "Hurry up and light the incense stick—Fifth Young Master wants to set off firecrackers too!"

The servant darted off, grinning, to relight the incense.

Xu Sijie, hearing the servant claim that "it was all Sixth Young Master’s idea" while Jin Geer nodded in agreement, was convinced that Jin Geer had been egged on. Trembling with anger, he snapped, "Enough nonsense! If you keep this up, I’ll report you to Steward Bai and have you beaten!" Then he raised his voice at the remaining servants lingering nearby. "Get lost, all of you!" He turned back to Jin Geer. "Let’s go wash up. Eldest Sister-in-law’s dowry will be arriving soon. I’ll take you to see the excitement."

But Jin Geer was having too much fun to leave.

"A Jin said Eldest Sister-in-law’s dowry won’t arrive until after sunset," he protested, wriggling free from Xu Sijie’s grasp. "We can go when the servants start lighting the lanterns."

The servant cut in, "That’s right, Fifth Young Master. Sixth Young Master is enjoying himself—don’t spoil his fun."

Xu Sijie glared at him. "You dare stir up trouble?"

The servant who had gone to light the incense shrank back, but the one speaking to Xu Sijie stood his ground. "Fifth Young Master, that’s unfair. When we entered the household, the stewards told us our first duty was to obey. We were just following Sixth Young Master’s orders—how can you accuse us of inciting him?"

Before he could finish, a woman’s cold voice interrupted. "So you think you’re in the right?"

Everyone turned to look.

Xu Sijie saw Hong Wen, Jin Geer’s senior maid, standing there sweating heavily, her expression stern.

"Get out, all of you!" she snapped, her sharp gaze fixed on the servant. "This is the main house—not some random stray can waltz in and think they’ve struck gold just because they’ve spoken to Sixth Young Master. Know your place." Raising her voice, she shouted, "Who’s on duty in this courtyard? Show yourselves! The Fourth Madam is generous, letting you share in Second Young Master’s celebration and leaving only two to watch the courtyard. And yet you still dare slack off behind her back? Once I get the duty roster from Sister Zhuxiang, I’ll have whoever was on duty skinned today!"

Before she could finish, two matrons rushed out in a panic from behind a nearby partition.

"Madam, madam!" they pleaded. "We weren’t neglecting our duties—it’s just that Sixth Young Master wanted to set off firecrackers..."

Hong Wen didn’t wait for them to speak and hissed at them, “I don’t deserve to be called ‘auntie’ by you! If the sixth young master wants firecrackers, you should go ask the fourth madam for them. How could you let these good-for-nothings from who-knows-where serve the sixth young master? If he gets so much as a scratch, your worthless lives couldn’t make up for one of his fingernails! Hurry and report to Steward Bai—have these disrespectful wretches bound and sent to the marquis. If Steward Bai asks, tell him it was Hong Wen from the sixth young master’s household who ordered it!”

The two matrons turned and scurried out of the courtyard at once.

The few remaining servants who had been watching had already fled when Hong Wen began scolding. The two who had been fawning over Jin Geer now looked pale, casting pleading glances at him.

But Jin Geer didn’t even spare them a glance, staring at Hong Wen in awe instead. “Sister Hong Wen, you’re so fierce when you scold people!”

Hong Wen’s heart was pounding.

No matter how much she said, it wouldn’t carry as much weight as a single word from the sixth young master. But he was still young and didn’t know how to judge people. Those servants were clearly the type who flattered and schemed their way into their master’s favor. If Jin Geer insisted on keeping them now, she’d lose all face. To her surprise, he had actually said something like this.

Hong Wen was torn between amusement and exasperation.

After a moment’s thought, she decided to keep her stern expression and asked, “What exactly happened here?”

The servant who’d given Xu Sijie the joss sticks hurriedly recounted the events to her.

As she listened, Hong Wen pondered.

Though she had just arrived, she could tell from the situation that Jin Geer must have been worked up, which was why he had butted heads with the fifth young master. If even Xu Sijie couldn’t persuade him, how could she, a mere maid, outright forbid him from playing with firecrackers?

Thinking this, she softened her voice and reasoned with Jin Geer, “You’re a young master of this household. If the stewards refuse to give you firecrackers, there’s no need to lower yourself. You should go straight to Steward Bai, who oversees them, and have him discipline them properly. How can you pick up firecrackers from the ground like some common servant? If the wedding guests see you like this, won’t they laugh at you?”

Jin Geer’s face turned beet red, and he threw the firecrackers in his hand to the ground.

Hong Wen quickly took his hand. “Come, let’s go find that steward. Let’s see who dares to refuse you firecrackers!”

Jin Geer shook off her hand. “I’ll go myself. I don’t need you to take me.” With that, he stormed off.

Shen Geer immediately followed.

Hong Wen called after him loudly, “Sixth Young Master! No master runs to confront a steward! Look at the fourth madam—when has she ever run to see the housekeepers? You must walk slowly and properly!”

Jin Geer stopped at once and turned to look at her. “You’re right! Mother never runs.” After a pause, he added, “Father never runs either.”

Shen Geer also halted.

Only then did Hong Wen finally exhale in relief.

She put on a sweet smile and announced, “Sixth Young Master, let me escort you to find that steward.” Then, in a lower voice, she said to Xu Sijie, “Fifth Young Master, we’ve had the whole household in an uproar searching for you and the sixth young master. Could you send someone to inform the seventh young master’s wet nurse, so as not to alarm the madams?” She gave Xu Sijie a pleading look.

The sixth young master’s mischievousness was the talk of the household. Even on ordinary days, he could stir up trouble—much less today, when the house was so lively.

He nodded. “I’ll send someone to inform the seventh young master’s wet nurse at once.”

“Thank you, Fifth Young Master!” Hong Wen hastily bowed to Xu Sijie before leading Jin Geer and Shen Geer out of the courtyard.

The courtyard immediately fell silent, and the distant din of celebration grew clearer.

When Xu Sijie looked around again, the two servants who had been hovering around Jin Geer had already disappeared.

His face fell.

He couldn’t even compare to Hong Wen—he couldn’t even control a few lowly outer courtyard servants…

Though he thought this, something still nagged at him. But he couldn’t quite identify what it was. An uneasy feeling tightened his chest, making each breath a struggle.

He took a deep breath.

The October noon sun was bright, yet the autumn's dry heat had faded from the air.

By the corner wall, a begonia plant flourished with lush leaves and had bloomed two small pink flowers.

Xu Sijie smiled as he stepped forward, bending down to pick the flowers.

A woman's sorrowful, melodious voice came faintly drifting through the air: *"...He ignores me, treats me cruelly... I suffer wrongs I don't understand... Who can I tell my endless grievances to?... The watchtower strikes three... The night deepens, all falls silent..."*

He froze in place.

When he straightened up again, his gaze unconsciously turned toward the direction of Spring Hall, his eyes grown distant, his lips trembling slightly without thought.