Chapter 44

Chapter 44

After parting ways with Han Zhang, Shen Huaizhi returned to the mansion.

Upon returning to the mansion, Shen Huaizhi did not rush to see Shen Qinglan. Instead, he first went to his mother's courtyard to report to Lady Shen on Han Zhang's performance that day.

And to boast about how he himself was a buried genius—a great piece of good news.

"...Mother, I feel that we may have truly misunderstood Brother Han before. Qinglan was right. Brother Han's character is indeed rare—not only is he exceptionally talented, but he is also sincere and genuine in his dealings with others."

"He must truly care for Qinglan. At today's literary gathering at the teahouse, with so many opportunities to shine in front of the young ladies and gentlemen from various families, he didn't steal the spotlight at all. This shows he is not the kind of person who clings to the powerful and influential, as we originally thought."

Lady Shen was quite surprised: "So he really didn't have any designs on those noble ladies and gentlemen? Did you really observe carefully?"

"Absolutely true. Mother, don't you trust me? It's fine if Father doesn't think much of me, but surely you believe in my abilities?"

Shen Huaizhi felt embarrassed at being dismissed.

Lady Shen retorted impatiently: "If you were really that good and could do me proud, would your brother and I have been treated so badly in this household?"

"In this world, women and young masters have a tough time making it. As a young master, your brother's marriage—how could I be too cautious about it? Do you want to see him suffer in the future?"

"Of course I don't want to see my little brother suffer!" Shen Huaizhi hastily defended himself; he naturally couldn't bear to see his most beloved younger brother suffer.

"Well, there you have it..."

Lady Shen sighed softly. "Actually, what I worry about is that people change. Men can't be trusted any more than pigs can fly. Even if young Mr. Han is sincere now, who knows what'll happen later?"

"Besides, even if he is sincere, so what? With Young Mr. Han's background, even with our family's support, he can't get ahead anytime soon. If your brother marries him, as the husband of a low-ranking scholar from a poor family, anyone could look down on him when he goes out in society!"

"It's just that your brother is as stubborn as I was when I was young..."

Shen Huaizhi used to think that way too, but now he'd changed his mind.

He tried to persuade her: "But in the end, it's your brother's life. As long as he's happy, that's what counts. In any case, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, Han Zhang's future might not be as bad as you think, Mother."

"Do you know who we ran into at the teahouse today..."

Then Shen Huaizhi told her all about their chance meeting with Emperor Taixuan and how His Majesty had examined Han Zhang's knowledge, telling the whole story to Lady Shen in detail.

After hearing this, Lady Shen was so excited that she could barely keep her voice steady: "Really? That boy has that kind of luck?"

If Han Zhang could truly win the Emperor's favor, then her Lan Geer wouldn't have to suffer for years like she herself had, just to get a little respect at parties.

Shen Huaizhi went on smugly: "And Brother Han recognized my talent, calling me no wastrel but a diamond in the rough. A total genius! The only reason I didn't do well in school is that Dad hired a terrible tutor—Dad ruined me!"

"You? A genius?"

Lady Shen stared at him, her eyes screaming, "My son's lost his mind."

As his mother, didn't she know exactly what he was capable of?

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. I didn't believe it at first myself, but after Han Zhang explained it to me, I felt he made a lot of sense. Dad really did hold me back!"

The more he spoke, the more exasperated Shen Huaizhi became. "Mother, don't you think I was smart as a kid? Not a bit inferior to Elder Brother?"

"I don't know if you were smart when you were young... but you were certainly clever at getting out of trouble. Whenever you messed up, you'd disappear so well that even when I mobilized all the servants in the mansion, we couldn't find you."

Recalling her son's childhood antics, Lady Shen couldn't help but tease him.

Shen Huaizhi slapped his thigh in confidence: "That's exactly it! Although I didn't channel that cleverness in the right direction, the fact that I fooled the whole house at that age—that shows I've got guts and brains!"

"Uh..." Lady Shen was confused. "Is that so?"

"Of course! Mother, think about it: if I were truly stupid, how could I have managed the shops you gave me so successfully? Doesn't business require brains? Everyone says merchants are shrewd, so how could I be dumb?"

Lady Shen was confused: "Hmm, that kinda makes sense."

"It makes total sense! And I'm especially good at making friends outside. Mother, you've only ever heard people say I'm not good at studying, but have you ever heard anyone badmouth my character?"

"Brother Han said that with my eloquence and social skills, if I could pass the imperial exams and become an official, the Court of State Ceremonial and the Ministry of Revenue would be fighting over me as a prized talent."

Shen Huaizhi raised his chin with a look of "I am a great talent," parroting the flattering words Han Zhang had used on him.

And Lady Shen was bewildered.

Although she felt something was off, every sentence her son said did seem to make some sense.

Could her son really be a genius?

Lady Shen felt like her mind was a tangled mess: "But you haven't even passed the Tongsheng (entry-level exam candidate). How can you become an official?"

"I have Brother Han! He also said he's willing to help me with my studies. Mother, just wait until next year when I pass the exams and bring glory to you and Little Brother, letting you hold your heads high!"

Shen Huaizhi was full of high spirits—anyone listening might have thought he was already a high-ranking minister.

Lady Shen found it both amusing and helpless, but in the end, she didn't want to dampen her son's confidence.

"Alright, I'll just wait and see how that young Han teaches you. If he can really turn you into a scholar (xiucai), I'll enshrine him like a Buddha, okay?"

Whether Han Zhang was a good husband remained to be seen, but his ability to win people over was indeed impressive.

Look how quickly he had managed to make her usually unruly son call him "Brother Han" so affectionately.

Shen Huaizhi grinned, then leaned in to plead: "Oh, by the way, Mother, Brother Han received a jade bi disc as a gift from His Majesty. He asked me to pass it on to Little Brother. What do you think..."

Although he already highly approved of Brother Han, without his mother's permission, he would never dare to mediate such matters on his own—his mother's temper was fierce.

"You've brought the thing back, and you're still asking me?" Lady Shen waved him away impatiently. "Go, go, go. I must have owed you two brothers in a past life..."

"Thank you, Mother. I'll go see Little Brother now."

Shen Huaizhi swiftly took his leave.

Lady Shen watched her son's unsteady retreating figure and sighed.

Truly, you worry about your kids from cradle to grave.

Similar scenes played out in the Zhao, Pan, and Wu households, though all three sets of parents also found it hard to believe their sons were born geniuses.

...

Lanwei Garden.

"Lan Geer! Lan Geer! Look what good thing your second brother has brought back for you!"

Before he even entered, his voice could be heard.

Before Shen Huaizhi had even stepped through the gate, Shen Qinglan could already hear his second brother's excited voice.

Although he was happy to see Second Brother, he was still listless, lifting his head gloomily.

What good thing is that? Second Brother, I don't want anything lately. Don't waste your money trying to cheer me up. Keep it for my little nephew. Second Sister-in-law says the little nephew has a huge appetite; one wet nurse is not enough.

Shen Huaizhi was now just over twenty, had a good relationship with his wife, and had recently become a father to a legitimate son.

Second Brother treated him best, so Shen Qinglan naturally thought of his little nephew.

Shen Huaizhi beamed with joy. "Your little nephew does have a good appetite, just like you when you were little. Don't worry, our family can afford to hire two more wet nurses. You know how good I am at making money. There's no need for you to worry about money."

"But Second Brother, now that you've started a family, there will be more children in the courtyard. How can you still spoil me like before..."

Shen Qinglan felt both touched and slightly embarrassed.

Second Brother was truly generous with him. Most of the valuable things in his room were given by Second Brother. It was just that Second Sister-in-law was easygoing and never minded.

"Lan Geer has really grown up. In the past, you were greedy and playful, but now you're quite savvy about people and things?"

Shen Huaizhi playfully tapped his brother's forehead. "But what's the relationship between you and me? Why are you being so polite with me? I know what I'm doing. If you act so distant, it will make me sad."

"Besides, this thing today wasn't bought by me. It was entrusted to me by your Brother Han you've been thinking about day and night..." Before he could finish the rest.

Hearing the name he had been yearning for, the young man's eyes lit up instantly, and he perked up completely.

"What? Second Brother, you saw Brother Han?"

Seeing his younger brother so clearly preoccupied with someone else, Shen Huaizhi couldn't help but say sourly:

"Indeed. Who told you to cry all day for that Brother Han of yours? How could Mother bear to see you cry like that anymore?"

"Today I took your Brother Han to the Moxiang Teahouse to broaden his horizons. I originally wanted him to see greener pastures elsewhere, so he would let go of you, you silly boy."

"Unexpectedly, your judgment was good. He does have some true feelings for you; he really didn't take a fancy to those young masters and ladies from noble families..."

"Later, when discussing strategies with a noble, he obtained a yellow jade bi. As soon as the literary gathering ended, he eagerly begged me to bring it back to give to you... Who would have thought that our Lan Geer has the potential to be such a heartbreaker?"

Sour as he was, Shen Huaizhi still wanted to make his brother happier, so he exaggerated as he described the scene Shen Qinglan wanted to hear.

Sure enough.

Hearing that his beloved was so concerned about him, the previously listless and spiritless young man instantly smiled, his eyes curving into crescents.

"I knew Brother Han was devoted to me!"

Shen Qinglan puffed out his chest smugly, his heart feeling like it was filled with honey, overjoyed.