Volume One, Chapter 19: Striking Again
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Cheng Wencai was startled when Chu Yao asked him this, lifting his head with his eyes shining brightly.
“I want to.”
He hesitated for a moment before saying, “But grandmother disagrees. My aunt has asked many times.”
“How about I send you to Hewang Academy to study?”
The boy trembled all over at the mention of Hewang Academy, a well-known and prestigious academy in the capital.
It was a place he had never dared to hope for.
He looked at Chu Yao in disbelief.
“Sister-in-law, is this true?”
“It’s true.”
“Sister-in-law, I want to go! But grandmother—”
“Don’t worry about her. I will provide the tuition fees. You just focus on studying well.”
“But…”
He bit his lip. “Sister-in-law, why are you taking such care of me?”
Chu Yao smiled gently.
“Just to form a good bond. Besides, I can tell you have the makings of a good scholar. Study hard, become the top scholar in the imperial exams, and I’ll have some pride too. Imagine, being known as the sister of the top scholar.”
“Wencai thanks you, sister-in-law. I will study diligently and not betray your trust.”
Chu Yao glanced at Qiuyue.
Qiuyue quickly placed two bolts of cloth and a bag of silver coins on Cheng Wencai’s desk.
“I will have the tuition fees sent directly to the academy, so no need to worry. Here are fifty taels of silver for your daily expenses at the academy. These two bolts of cloth, have your aunt make you several sets of new clothes.”
“Sister-in-law, I cannot accept gifts without merit! You sending me to the academy is already more than I could ever thank you for.”
“No need to refuse. These are mine, and the old madam won’t interfere. When you’re away from home, money is indispensable. Most students at Hewang Academy come from noble families in the capital, so you can’t appear too shabby. Besides, once you enter the academy, you not only study your lessons but also need to make friends with like-minded teachers and companions. Without money in hand, you’ll be hindered everywhere.”
Seeing her sincerity, Cheng Wencai bit his lip and stopped refusing.
“Thank you very much, sister-in-law.”
“No need for formalities. Qiuyue, take the Fourth Young Master to the Xuanwu General’s residence tomorrow. Tell my grandfather that I want to send the Fourth Young Master to Hewang Academy and ask him to write a letter of recommendation.”
“Yes, madam.”
Cheng Wencai bowed deeply to Chu Yao before leaving with a face full of joy.
...
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The next afternoon.
Qiuyue came over and said, “Young Madam, the old madam wants to see you.”
Chu Yao frowned slightly.
“The old madam wants to see me?”
“Yao’er, you must take better care of Tong-ge. The elder sister is like a mother. Tong-ge is pitiful, having lost his birth mother early…”
“Yes.”
“I heard you sent Caige to Hewang Academy?”
“Yes.”
“Why Caige? Why not Tong-ge? Tong-ge is the legitimate son after all.”
Chu Yao found it somewhat amusing.
Whether legitimate or not, they were all her grandsons. She found it petty to bicker over such things.
“Old madam, Caige is thirteen now. Keeping him at the clan school would only delay him. Besides, it wouldn’t look good if people said the Marquis’s household mistreated the illegitimate son. Tong-ge is only seven; he can learn from a tutor at the clan school without issue.”
Old Madam Li frowned in displeasure. “Tong-ge is your own younger uncle; you should care more about him.”
“Yes.”
“Then, you should teach him more and supervise his studies. After school, let him come to your house, and you watch over him as he studies and learns to read.”
“Old madam, that might not be appropriate.”
Chu Yao was no longer willing to do thankless tasks.
Old Madam Li tilted her head and looked at Chu Yao with dissatisfaction.
“Then tell me, what’s inappropriate about it?”
“Old madam, you said I come from a martial family with little learning. My own knowledge is questionable; how can I tutor Tong-ge? I fear I might hinder him.”
“I’m not asking you to teach, just to watch him read and write.”
“Old madam, the Marquis’s family is known for its scholarly tradition. The young masters here are all well-versed and talented. It’s not my place to show off my humble skills among them.”
“That’s true, but the young masters are all busy with their own affairs. Your eldest brother studies at home, Yuan-ge is occupied with official duties, and Guang-ge is far away at the Luocheng Academy.”
“Old madam, since Eldest Brother studies at home, it would be fitting for him to help Tong-ge. They can benefit from each other and progress together.”
Since marrying into the Marquis’s household, Chu Yao had met her eldest brother Cheng Wenbo only twice.
He usually stayed in his study, preparing for the imperial exams to enter officialdom.
Chu Yao recalled that in her previous life, Cheng Wenbo was not an outstanding talent either; he entered officialdom largely through connections.
The Marquis’s family had produced a top scholar ancestor and prided themselves on their scholarly lineage.
In later generations, they produced several candidates and civil officials.
Cheng Wenbo spent half his life preparing for the exams and only barely passed the provincial exams by the time Chu Yao died.
Seeing Chu Yao insist on declining, the old madam thought for a while and finally said, “Fine, I’ll ask your eldest brother.”
The next day, after school, Cheng Wentong went straight to Cheng Wenbo’s Qinghui Courtyard.
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Within days, word spread that Tong-ge had made Cheng Wenbo so angry that he was stomping mad.
Chu Yao soon heard that Tong-ge had beaten another clan boy at the academy, knocking out two front teeth and splitting his lip, leaving him disfigured.
The tutor angrily went to the old madam to resign.
When Chu Yao arrived at Songhe Hall, she saw the tutor with a dark face, full of resentment.
“I’ve taught for half my life, but this is the first time I’ve met such an incorrigible child. In just half a month at the clan school, he has twice beaten his classmates nearly to death. When I reprimanded him, he talked back. When I took out the ruler, before I could even strike, he snatched it from me. I can no longer teach such a child.”
“Tutor, Tong-ge is young and a bit unruly. Please be patient. I will definitely discipline him more in the future.”
Old Madam Li stood carefully beside them, trying to appease the situation.
“Old madam, with this child here, I dare not continue teaching at the Cheng family clan school. You should find someone more capable.”
After saying this, the tutor stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Old Madam Li was about to explode when the housemaid reported that the clan chief, along with the family of the boy who was beaten, had arrived.
Today’s victim was the child of a distant branch, whose parents ran a shop in the capital for a living.
The family came, dragging the crying child, wailing loudly.
Chu Yao looked at the child, whose lip was split open and already treated.
The torn flesh was swollen and turned outward, looking quite frightening.
The boy grimaced.
His two front teeth were gone, leaving only bloody holes.
He was over ten years old, well past the age for losing baby teeth.
Without front teeth, he would speak with a lisp, and his appearance was ruined—he would no longer be able to participate in the imperial exams, effectively ending his future prospects.
The clan chief sat there with a cold expression, waiting for Old Madam Li to explain.
Old Madam Li looked at the weeping woman and child and felt a wave of panic, nearly collapsing.
“Old madam.”
Seeing this, Chu Yao quickly stepped forward to help, seating Old Madam Li and ordering someone to bring a cup of ginseng tea.
“Old madam, Yun-ge is ambitious and has always done well in his studies. He had great hope for the imperial exams and official career. Now, this good child’s future is ruined. Since things have come to this, you must give Yun-ge some explanation.”
The clan chief spoke sternly.
Old Madam Li glanced at Chu Yao.
Chu Yao remained silent. Although the old madam had entrusted her with the household management, she was still a junior.
In front of the Cheng clan chief and the old madam, it was not yet her place to speak up.