Chapter 11 Rumors

Zhao Chunxi was very ill. She even took a few doses of strong medicine to lower the high fever. She needed to lie in bed and rest for ten days to half a month to regain her vitality. When Guan Suyi learned about the situation from the imperial physician Cheng, she secretly said 'serve you right' in her heart, but on the surface she looked very distressed and brought soup to visit every day. Now she has developed a new hobby, that is, silently admiring Zhao Chunxi's apparent resistance to hatred, but having to pretend to be grateful.

On this day, she put the stewed turtle soup in the food box, and led Minglan to walk towards Penglai Garden. As for Mingfang, as early as the day after the wedding, she offered herself to take care of the seriously ill eldest miss. At the moment, she might be dreaming of becoming a concubine.

The two talked while walking, walking slowly, not afraid that the soup would be cold, Zhao Chunxi never drink it anyway, only find an excuse to put it aside, then pour it into the bucket when they leave.

Minglan rubbed her nose and couldn't bear the smell of the turtle soup. "Miss, why do you stew turtle soup every time? This smell is so strong that most people don't like to drink it."

Guan Suyi chuckled, "Turtle's grandson should drink turtle soup. The ordinary people say to supplement shape with shape. As long as master comes to have a meal in the future, you have to serve this dish, remember it?" It's fun to supplement ten thousand years old turtle! (t/n: let's simplify, turtle = bastard)

Minglan didn't know why her mistress hated the master so much. Although she smiled and spoke with a gentle tone, but there was a big problem with her words. What kind of beasts, turtle, and turtle grandson, one was more slanderous than the other. As if like the master dug her ancestral grave in the previous life.

Even though there were thousands of doubts in her mind, Minglan didn't dare to ask anymore, but guarded the food box more carefully.

"Miss, you are here." As soon as the two of them stepped into Penglai Garden, Mingfang hurriedly greeted her, raised the curtain while smiling, "Please come in, just now the young miss still talking about you, asking this servant when will you come. The marquis has just arrived, with a lot of snow grain on his body, and he is changing his clothes inside."

The door curtain made of shells and jade beads clashed for a while, and then a crimson beautiful shadow moved lightly and stepped in, illuminating the dim inner room. Zhao Chunxi quickly sat up and called affectionately, "Mother, daughter has been ill for a long time, it's really drags you down. Piaoxu, move the embroidered stool to the bedside so that my mother can sit closer to me, then we mother and daughter can hold hands and talk."

Guan Suyi unobtrusively stroked the back of her hand, feeling that it was covered with goose bumps. Zhao Chunxi probably already knew that her dowry was sent to the main house by the old lady, so her attitude changed drastically. She remember that in the previous life, before taking back the dowry, she was also fawning like this, acted like a baby, and coaxed herself round and round. Thinking about it now, the age difference between the two was not that big, one was thirteen and the other was eighteen, it was only five years. Why her thinking was so deep, that she almost couldn't see the bottom of it?

This point probably followed after Ye Zhen, and Ye Fan was also not bad, indeed originally from family learning.

As soon as Guan Suyi sat down on the embroidered stool, Zhao Luli came in. Seeing Minglan carrying a bowl of turtle soup to feed his daughter, he hurriedly said, "I'm hungry too. Give me a bowl first." After taking a sip, he put it down, said "It tastes good, but it's a bit hot, so let it cool before eating it."

Would you drink it after it was cold? Guan Suyi smiled and agreed, but her heart was clear. The father and daughter could not decide how to guard against her in their hearts. In the previous life it was probably the same, but at the time she was full of gratitude to the Marquis Mansion, and didn't think much about it. The bastard drinks the bastard soup, which matches very well.

Zhao Luli felt that his new wife's smile was a little weird, but he couldn't say how, so he quickly put it aside. Before he was sure that the other party was harmless, he would not let his children get too close to her. The three of them gave the false front, and when the snow stopped outside, they each breathed a sigh of relief.

Stepping out of Penglai Garden, making sure that there was no one around, Minglan complained, "Look at lord marquis being so polite, really don't treat you as his own person. And Miss Zhao, on the surface, looks very proper and affectionate, the words are also beautiful, not one drop of water can leak out. But this servant thinking in private, always felt something was wrong."

Guan Suyi brushed off the goose bumps on the back of her hand, and smiled without saying a word. When the two walked to a warm pavilion area, they saw a handsome boy in a mink fur coat running up and down, seeing the master and servant, his eyes widened immediately, "Are you Guan shi? That day I hid under the window of the joy room and secretly saw you."

Guan Suyi was about to answer, he spontaneously rushed over, took her one arm and shook it, "My sister is sick, and my dad wants to accompany her. No one is playing with me. Walk around and go skating with me."

"Are you Zhao Wangshu? If I remember correctly, you should be in the clan school at this hour?" Guan Suyi bent down to look at him with a joking expression.

Now that Confucianism was prevalent, the emperor released a message a few days ago that he wanted to use the imperial examination to select officials. This was the first step to break the dominance of noble families and the first step to abolish the Nine-grade Zhongzheng system. Although the big noble clans had many ways to obstruct, but they had lost too much of their heritage in the flames of war, and they were unable to resist the new emperor, and there were so many poor scholars in the world that it would be best to support them. Therefore, within three years, the imperial examinations system would become the most important way to become officials. Although Zhao Luli was a living turtle, but at any rate he has some insights, so he established clan school on the day the decree came out, and hired a great scholar as a master for his son, hoping that one day he would be able to rely on his learning to pursue official careers.

But Zhao Wangshu didn't appreciate it, and tried his best to play truant and be lazy. He was ten years old this year, at the age when he loves to play around and be lawless. He drag his stepmother into the frozen lotus pond, "I went to school in the morning. Hurry up, there is a sled board made by Zhao Erbao for me buried in the snow over there, it's fun!"

Guan Suyi was stumbling, with great difficulty stood up and said, "You will go to the clan school with me first, if you really went to school, I'll take you to play again. But if you lie to me, I'll tell your father."

"I said I went to school means I went to school. Why are you so stubborn?" Zhao Wangshu was a little angry and stomped his feet, "Your dad and grandfather's official posts were obtained by my father begging to the emperor. You married to the Zhao's family is climbing higher branch. You should be obedient and humble everywhere. How can you you screw it up with this young master? Will you play with this young master or not? Give me your word!"

"Not playing. Go, I'll take you back to school." Guan Suyi stepped forward to pull Zhao Wangshu, but he broke away after a few tugs, in an instant ran ten meters away, yelling angrily, "Okay, you Guan shi, actually dare to defy this young master! I don't want you to be my mother, so daddy will divorce you! And your grandfather and your father don't even think about becoming an official, this is the fate of offending this young master!" He stomped his feet and ran away quickly, seemed to be afraid of being dragged back to the clan school.

Guan Suyi stared at his distant back with an unpredictable expression. In the last life, she had a headache for this stubborn stepson and spent countless energy to teach and persuade him. Because her grandfather devoted his whole life to teaching and educating people, she was exposed to some methods, slowly brought her stepson into proper order, and brought him up very well. Unexpectedly, he not only didn't know how to be grateful, but also falsely accused his stepmother of having an affair with an outside man, and forcibly erased the last trace of warmth she had towards the Marquis Mansion.

To start all over again, where did Guan Suyi have the leisure to teach this little devil, just to watch him grew up and became crooked, and finally ruined by Ye Fan's hands. The snowflakes that had just disappeared began to fall again and again. She took one, covered it in her palm, and whispered , "Let's go back."

Minglan tremblingly followed, and asked in a low voice, "Miss, what if you chase the young master back, then play sledding with him? Even if you don't like lord marquis, you still have to think about Master and the Old Master. Their official positions depend on lord marquis…"

Before the little girl finished speaking, Guan Suyi sneered, "Who tell you that the Guan family need to lean on the Marquis Mansion?"

"But everyone say that." Minglan whispered.

"It seems that this rumor has spread throughout the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion?" Guan Suyi smiled, with a cold expression, "If it change to a short-sighted and ignorance woman, chances are she will be fooled by this rumor, then she will be grateful and fearful toward the Marquis Mansion. I don't know what the people behind this rumors think of Guan Suyi, a fool? With Zhao Luli's good-for-nothing behavior, he can find super-first-grade official post. He thinks he can fly?"

"Miss, isn't the master and old master's official post asked by lord marquis?" Minglan couldn't believe that the Guan family, who came from a poor and humble family, would be valued by the high above emperor, after all, there were so many noble families in Yanjing.

Guan Suyi denied it unhesitatingly but didn't explain it anymore, because Minglan wouldn't understand it at all. But this was not to blamed on her, the Nine-grade Zhongzheng system had been popular for hundreds of years, and only the disciples of the noble family could hold high positions, and even if poor scholars with ambition were talented, they couldn't make advancement. There was no such thing as an example of sudden wealth like the Guan family. It was like a mythical story in the ears of ordinary people. If this story was related to Marquis Zhenbei, it would become credible. Without the help of Marquis Zhenbei, how could there be Guan family like today? This was roughly the consensus of ordinary people.

However, behind the outward appearance, who would have thought that this was a magnificent emperor paving the way for his own eternal world? Not to mention the common people trapped in the world below, even many scholars, afraid that they would not have thought of such far-reaching idea. Thinking of certain someone sitting on the dragon chair, Guan Suyi couldn't tell whether she should admired or resented him more. After all, the tragedies of her two lifetimes were inseparable from him.

But he was too far away from her, as far as the sky, so she could only look up, resentment was out of the question.

—–

Guan Suyi did not trace the source, did not kill the chickens and curse the monkeys to suppress the rumors, only on the next day, when Zhao Luli and she returned to her family's house and attended a family banquet, she suddenly raised a wine cup to toast, "The people in the mansion said, grandfather's and father's official position was requested by the marquis, This Concubine is grateful for this. Both of them enter the officialdom for the first time, and they don't understand everything, will troubled the marquis to take care of it. This one cup This Concubine drink first, my lord as you wish."

Zhao Luli, who was still smiling, became stiff in an instant, and didn't know how to respond to these words.

Old Master Guan and Father Guan both looked at him, their eyes full of scrutiny. They were so good at teaching Guan Suyi, they were naturally not short-sighted, they had long understood the emperor's intention to put the Guan family in high position, and they knew how to deal with themselves in the future. This official position was not requested by anyone, it was based solely on their true talents. But Zhao Mansion had spread such rumors, wasn't it mean the face of his granddaughter (daughter), and even the face of Guan's family, had been trampled to the ground?

The Guan family's father and son, who had a good impression of Zhao Luli, who was well-mannered and dignified, now showed a little contempt.

Zhao Luli looked at his new wife, and then at the others, slowly tightening his knuckles, almost crushing the wine cup. Where did he have the ability to seek the position of Emperor's teacher and one of The Nine Ministers for Guan's family? If this word reaches Huo Shengzhe, how could he not laugh at his boasting and ridiculousness? Especially the father and son of the Guan family were now close ministers of the emperor, it was very possible to say a few words before him. That scene was equivalent to abruptly pulling his face off and stepping on it, which was painful.

Guan Suyi's toast, Zhao Luli would not dare to respond, he wished to escape into the ground and flee back to Marquis Mansion, strangling all the people who spread the rumor to death. He was embarrassed enough, and Huo Shengzhe must not be allowed to see him even more embarrassed.

"Turtle's grandson: take your pick of the most creative curse word.

supplement shape with shape: diet therapy of Chinese folk medicine, it is believed that eating plant or animal organs similar in shape to humans organs can nourish that corresponding organs, for example, eating walnuts to nourish brain or eating pig lungs can clear and invigorate the lung meridian.

Nine-grade Zhongzheng system: it was a system to categorize and evaluate officials created in the state of cao wei during three kingdom. At this period of time officials were chosen mostly based on recommendation by noble families.

Chapter 12 Know Your Shame

There was a long silence during the banquet, when the Guan family put down their wine cups together, it made two soft pops that break the silence. Zhao Luli hadn't thought of how to answer his new wife's words, but a lot of sweat broke out of his forehead, and his heart was even more embarrassed.

Guan Qiguang turned his head to look at his granddaughter, with occasional light flashing in his eyes. Although he was not good at words, he knew everything in his heart. This kind of rumors, if replaced with any other poor girl, might be easy to believe, but could they fool Guan Suyi? However, not only did she appear to be convinced, but she also expressed her gratitude at the her maiden family banquet, which was clearly intended to embarrass Marquis Zhenbei. In just three days, what had happened to her? How could her calm, gentle and elegant temperament become the kind of needle hidden in the cotton, with a hint of hostility?

Needless to say, the Marquis Mansion must have treated her harshly. Thinking of this, Guan Qiguang's impression of the so-called Jade Son had fallen drastically, but instead of reprimanding him, he waved his hand at Father Guan.

Father loves her daughter like fate, couldn't bear seeing her wronged at all. The older man signaled that he would personally pour two cups of wine and invited Zhao Luli to drink together. The courtesy was thoughtful, but the tone was full of sarcasm, "It turns out that the Guan family have today because the support of lord marquis. This official often serves by His Majesty's side, and has never heard of it before. Now it is time to lord marquis."

Zhao Luli waved his hand to speak, but was interrupted by him, "Although Chief Ministry of Ceremonies is the head of Nine Ministers, but do not have real power, if this official wants to go further, I implore lord marquis to help. What do you think of the prime minister position?" He said while pointing to the prime minister's mansion across the streets.

It was the mid-winter season, but Zhao Luli was sweating like a waterfall. Don't look at the ambition in his father-in-law's mouth, but the expression on his face was 120,000 points of carelessness. Where did he want to be the prime minister, he was clearly try to bury him with sarcasm. How did this official position come about, who knows better than the Guan family's father and son, and the one in the throne hall?

Zhao Luli's eloquence was not bad, but at this moment he couldn't speak because of his shame. Guan Yunqi drank a full cup and continued, "Super-grade emperor's teacher, genuine third grade Minister of Ceremonies, as long as the marquis speak, His Majesty will easily agree, indeed the friendship between the two of you is really deep. This official does not understand His Majesty's preferences, always trembling and fearful in front of him. In the future, I will talk to him more about lord marquis, then maybe the monarch and minister will be even closer. Lord marquis, if you have time, go to Weiyang Palace to walk around. Don't let this friendship fade."

If the words before were just probing, the next few sentences were stabbing Zhao Luli's lethal point. Suddenly his face was deathly pale, his thin lips were tightly pursed, and the shame and embarrassment between his eyebrows could not be concealed. Guan Yunqi was satisfied now, and asked the servant to replenish her cup and took a sip. As one of the founders of the country, and the former right-hand man of Emperor Sheng Yuan, why was it that other people were in power, rich and noble, but he alone stayed behind closed door and kept away from the court? One tiny clue revealed general trends, if it said that there was no gap between the two ruler and minister, Guan Yunqi would never believe it.

After entering Minister of Ceremonies office, he gradually stood on his heels, and also inquired thoroughly about the mystery behind the marriage decree. It turned out that the emperor intended to admit his daughter into the palace, but Zhao Luli took advantage of his former friendship to intercept his daughter halfway. Guan Yunqi did not feel dissatisfied with him when he learned about this incident, and was even a little grateful. The palace hides dirt and grime, it was an extremely dangerous place. How could he let his daughter jump into the fire pit? No amount of honor could compare to the happiness of his daughter's life. Since Zhao Luli was so sincere, he would definitely treat her kindly in the future.

However, it was a conjecture after all. When he saw his daughter whose temperament had become sharp and cold, he realized that perhaps the Marquis Mansion was also a fire pit, but at this time there was no way out, and the marriage given by the emperor could not be easily reconciled.

At this moment, Zhao Luli wished that he could turn into a green smoke and disappear directly in front of the Guan's family, so he didn't have to suffer such humiliation. The person he hated the most was Huo Shengzhe, and the person he feared most was also Huo Shengzhe. It was only after the marriage that he vaguely heard that Guan Suyi was originally a Zhaoyi appointed by Huo Shengzhe, position comparable to vice empress. Snatching Guan Suyi from his palm, Zhao Luli inevitably felt a little secret indulgence, but those indulgence were washed away by these terrible rumors.

If Huo Shengzhe learned that he was pulling the emperor benevolence's mighty tiger skin to suppress Guan's family, he would definitely show his most disgusting smile. He could already imagine how he despised himself in his heart, and then ran to Ganquan Palace to force Ye Zhen to see the nature of his cowardice and incompetence.

So this matter must be clarified, and it must be eliminated from the source! After thinking about it, Zhao Luli was about to beg forgiveness, but was interrupted by Old Master Guan who waved his hand, "No need to explain. They all say that when the family is unified, the country is governed, and the world is peaceful. You don't even have unified house, so why take on the heavy responsibility of the court? After you return, clean up your house, don't make a joke outside." He then looked at his granddaughter again, and said warmly, "Take down the picture hanging in my study and take it back. Take it as a warning in the future."

Guan Suyi obediently agreed, got up to get the calligraphy, and showed it to Zhao Luli when she came back, only to see five characters written in wild cursive on it – Know Your Shame Then Be Brave.

The Old Master Guan was indeed not good with words, so he didn't speak to his grandson-in-law, but this picture and the implicit meaning behind them were a fatal blow to Zhao Luli. He thought, in the next three years, no, maybe five years, he would have no face to go to the gate of the Guan family again.

After a round of beating, Zhao Luli was finally able to take his new wife home. In front of Guan's family, he helped his wife into the carriage very considerately, but when he entered the carriage he hid his hands in his sleeves and rubbed it secretly. Guan Suyi sat down opposite him, took out a veil, and wiped the touched wrist over and over again, and finally put on the pungent safflower oil.

Seeing Zhao Luli's surprised expression, she smiled slightly, "Sorry, I have a sanitary disease, and it is very serious."

"It's nothing." Facing Guan shi, Zhao Luli felt very weak.

Guan Suyi didn't mind making him even weaker, and said frankly, "I was deliberately make it clear at the family banquet before. Although my Guan family is a poor family, but we are family of farming and reading heirloms, we have no less knowledge than your wealthy family. Since young I have followed my grandfather throughout the twelve states of the country, preached Confucianism everywhere, and when a little older I was sent to my maternal grandparent, studied history with my grandmother, and also learned agriculture from my grandfather. If you really take me seriously, you should know, "Zuo Shi Biography" was written by my grandmother, and now the widely circulated book "The Farmer" is the painstaking work of my grandfather. I'm never ashamed of my birth, on the contrary, I am very proud. Because the knowledge they taught me and the principles of how to conduct in society allows me to face anyone without fear." Even in her previous life, she never felt that she was humble. The reason she endured all kinds of misunderstandings and censure was just because she was grateful for the Zhao family's assistance to the Guan family.

The kindness of the previous life had been paid off, and there was no need to bear it in this life.

Zhao Luli had never realize his wife's family background, and was surprised when he heard those words. The three surnames of Zuo, Zhong, and Guan may be very common, but if history, agriculture, and Confucianism were involved, everyone would instantly realize that three masters were referred by these three surnames. Zuo Dingxiang, Zhong Chuanbo, and Guan Qiguang, these three were the top three of the top ten literary giants, they were indeed like thunder piercing the ear. No wonder Huo Shengzhe wanted to accept her as Zhaoyi, the root cause were actually here.

Zhao Luli suddenly understood, finally came back to his sense. How could Guan Suyi, who was brought up by three literary magnates, be deceived by such bad rumors? She just embarrassed him on purpose!

"Yes, I deliberately embarrassed you." Guan Suyi admitted openly, took off the silver hairpin on her head, poked a roll of charcoal in the small incense burner, and said casually, "It's better for me to embarrass you than if His Majesty embarrass you. You fought everywhere with him, you should know what is the most frightening army of the Jiuli tribe."

"Scout army." Zhao Luli uttered two words with difficulty.

"So you still remember." Guan Suyi wiped the gray stains on the silver hairpin with a veil, there were waves in her eyes, but her tone was light. "The scouts are everywhere, and the entire Wei is in His Majesty's eyes and ears, not to mention a small Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. I don't know the dispute between you two monarch and minister, but I know that a military commander who has lost the trust of the emperor must have no shortage of scouts in his mansion. With one sentence you let my father get the position of the head of the Nine Ministers and let my grandfather become the emperor's teacher, who do you think you are? Who do you think His Majesty is? Is he a puppet that you can control at will? Maybe His Majesty will not care about you, but is it a glorious thing to end up with the impression of deceiving the world and ridiculous self-importance? Even the late emperor and empress dowager cannot control His Majesty's will. Which great gods of Marquis Zhenbei's memorial tablet have you rely on?"

Relied on the cap on his head, but the emperor wouldn't blindly indulge Marquis Zhenbei, because after all, he was the overlord of the Central Plains. Guan Suyi shook her head secretly, saying that apart from her father, grandfather, and maternal grandfather, men in the world really don't have a single good thing.

"Stop talking! Don't say these things in the future! I beg you!" Zhao Luli showed shame. He knew Huo Shengzhe's suspicious and cold temperament better than anyone. But compared with his suspicion and suppression, he couldn't bear to be despised by him. He had already lost, but he didn't want to lose too unsightly.

"If I don't talk, can this be regarded as not happening?" Guan Suyi finally looked him in the eye, "Of course I can suppress the rumors. But I came from a poor family, how can the servants of the Marquis Mansion really respect me? Complying on the surface, but it's unknown what will be passed on behind the back. Now the world has just been settled, the government is not stable, so many eyes are staring at the Marquis Mansion. The one who start the rumor want to see the jokes of my Guan's family, but they don't know that they have turned the Marquis Mansion into a big joke instead. You have to figure out how to solve this problem yourself. I know that you pretended to be drunk on the night of the wedding, and that you deliberately avoided me. You have unresolved heart, and I can wait. Since l have already married into the Marquis Mansion, I will live with you, but only if you respect me and trust me. I, Guan Suyi, also have lofty and unyielding character, can't tolerate slander and trampling."

Even after the speech over, Zhao Luli had no temper, instead he was attracted by his wife's firm and deep eyes. In his impression, his wife was gentle, elegant, and quiet. It could be said that she was a person with no sense of existence. However, now she had become so vivid and fierce, showing her extraordinary person. It made Zhao Luli, who was used to seeing humble and weak women, was greatly shocked. She is willing to wait for him, and willing to face the problems of Marquis Mansion with him, and even more willing to talk frankly and openly. This is good, really good.

farming and reading heirlooms: refers to a family precept, where people proficient in farming and thousand years many scholars in ancient china have admired the life of farming and studying.

like thunder piercing the ear: have a well known reputation.

Chapter 13 Investigate

After a cordial conversation with his wife, Zhao Luli's impression of her changed drastically. Although he was still a little wary, he also appreciated her a lot and his guilt was increasing inside. He sent the people back to the main house, immediately sent the housekeeper to investigate the source of the rumors secretly, and then hid in the study for introspection.

Guan Suyi took off her gorgeous dress and wore only a plain cotton blouse, sitting lazily on a recliner drinking tea. It was unknown where Mingfang going, she was either in Zhao Chunxi's courtyard or wandering near the study. Minglan was the most honest, she was putting the cloth, jewelry, medicinal materials and other things that Zhong shi had sent into the trunk, and muttered, "Golden nests and silver nests are not as good as our own doghouse. Only after entering the Marquis Mansion that I found out that it's still best at home. Miss, I really don't want to come back just now."

"You think I want to go back to this ghost place?" Guan Suyi put down the tea cup and took out an unfinished embroidered purse from the sewing box to sew slowly.

Minglan hesitated for a while and then said, "Miss, just a few rumors, why would the old master and master be so angry? Know Your Shame Then Be Brave, I know this sentence, it's imply that lord marquis doesn't know how to be ashamed. I never expected the old master to curse people so badly, he doesn't even need to speak!"

Guan Suyi twisted the silver needle and slowly stretched the thread. "Those rumors are just trivial things. My grandfather and father were angry at marquis mansion for trampling on me. Of course, they have to beat him vigorously, to avoid me unable to straighten my waist. What you don't know is that there are some crucial point in this, but I can't explain it to you. You only need to know that Marquis Zhenbei has no friendship with the emperor, moreover there is still a conflict. He pulled the emperor's banner to press down on Guan family, saying that father and grandfather's official positions were obtained by him, he won't care if it spread to the other people's ears, but if it's reach the emperor's ears, it's equivalent to scalping his face off and stepping on it."

She smoothed the silk cloth with her white fingertips, and smiled, "You said, if I take your face off, will it hurt? Will it be painful? Wouldn't you want to die?"

"It hurts! It's painful! I think I want to die!" Minglan covered her face and nodded in fear.

"So I frightened him casually, and he was scared. You wait, whoever dares to chew their tongue behind my back in the future, no need for me to do anything, they will be fiercely crushed. I don't come to Zhao's house to fight this or that, I'm here to live a good life. Someone rushed over to become my gunman, why wouldn't I use it?" Of course, her simple life only included Minglan and her relatives, but not the Zhao family.

"Will the rumors really reach the emperor's ears?" Minglan asked cautiously, then walked to the window and looked around, like a thief.

"Silly girl, who do you think Zhao Luli is? Is he worth the emperor's concern? There must be one or two scouts. Not only the Marquis Mansion, but also in other noble families, and even the royal family members. But the emperor has ten thousand things to do everyday, how can he have the time to pay attention to this. As long as the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion does not commit rebellion or intends to rebel, he will not be interested with other things. Zhao Luli, this living turtle, takes himself too seriously. I don't know what he was thinking to make him scared like that." If the emperor took the wife of fierce general, capable official, or a powerful prince, he might bother to kill that person so as not to leave troubles, but Zhao Luli this dull and silent wimp, he couldn't bother to look him!

Guan Suyi concealed these last sentence in her heart and did not dare to say it, fearing this little girl Minglan, could not hold back, and cause trouble. The source of the rumors, without checking she already knew who was the ghost, except for Zhao Chunxi, no one could come up with such a childish and clumsy trick.

It seemed that she had two purposes. One was to deceive herself, let her feel gratitude and awe towards the Marquis Mansion, in the future would be easily controlled; second, when she was in fear and embarrassment, Zhao Chunxi would stand up and stop this unhealthy trend, and sold personal affection to her. The red face and white face, she sang all herself. To be so sly at a young age, she really had her mother's demeanor.

When she was thinking about it, Mingfang's affectionate voice came from outside, "Oh, eldest miss is here, please come in! This servant has just boiled a warming soup, I will bring it for you."

Minglan rolled her eyes and muttered softly. Said, "Miss, you have been back for a long time, but she didn't say that she is boiling a warming soup in the kitchen."

Guan Suyi raised her index finger against her lips, and her slightly raised eyebrows were full of playful smiles.

Zhao Chunxi walked in slowly with the support of two girls, her face still ill, looking very weak. Minglan hurriedly let her sit on the warm Kang bed. Guan Suyi pulled the quilt to cover her cold legs, and scolded, "It's cold day, why don't you lie down and instead run around all over the place? If there is something, just let the maid make the journey to me."

Zhao Chunxi put on a shameful face, wanted to say something but hesitate, and after a while said softly and quietly, "I, I'm here to make amends to mother, so how can I let people below do it for me? Mother has already heard the news, right? The servant who passed it on is not good, and I'm really ashamed when I heard it…" After roughly telling the rumors, she went down from the kang bed and knelt down. Fortunately, she was pulled up by Minglan, who had quick-eyes and fast hand, and pressed her on the kang bed. She had no choice but to apologized, "Mother doesn't need to be anxious, I have suppressed the rumors. Whoever dare to make irresponsible remarks in the future, I will never tolerate them in Marquis Zhenbei Mansion."

In the future? In other words, forget it this time? Suppress the rumors you made, and the servants involved won't be given fart, perhaps even won a lot of rewards, then you sell this bitter master's front to me, it's rare to be so shameless at such a young age. Guan Suyi replied while slandering in her heart, "Originally it's like this. Your father has also heard about it, and now he is investigating it. Punish that should be punished, beat that should be beaten, sale that should be sold, whoever commits the crime will be held responsible. I don't need you to make amends. Moreover, your father has personally confessed to my grandfather and father before. Family members speak frankly with each other, you don't have to always take troubles to heart."

Guan Suyi touched Zhao Chunxi's head, softly comforting, "Don't take care of these things, just take care of your health."

Guan family already knows? Zhao Chunxi's heart skip a beat, and her face instantly turned pale. The Guan family's father and son were the benchmarks set up by the emperor to promote Confucianism, and their official positions had nothing to do with the Zhao family. Originally, this rumor was meant to passed to Guan Suyi alone, and it was enough to frighten her, but didn't expect it to be passed on to the Guan family. How ashamed was her dad?

After thinking about the fact that her dad had sent someone to investigate this matter, Zhao Chunxi wanted to reverse the matter immediately, but she was afraid of showing her tracks, for a while she was like sitting on pins and needles. Fortunately, her two senior maids were very clever and hurried away looking for an excuse.

"It's good if mother doesn't blame." Zhao Chunxi endured and forbeared as if she was really grateful. "When I saw you that day, I immediately felt very close, as if I had known you in my previous life. Then I asked my daddy and said that I want you to do be my mother. Daddy also likes you very much. In order to give you a beautiful wedding, he specially asked the emperor for a marriage imperial decree…"

These remarks were undoubtedly for gaining favor, and intended to tell Guan Suyi: 'You can get married by the emperor's decree and become the mistress of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, it's all the thanks to me, Zhao Chunxi'. It was baffling where the other person's self-confidence came from. It was true that a lot of women in Wei wanted to marry Zhao Luli. He was indeed handsome and talented, and in the eyes of others, he was like a beautiful jade, but in Guan Suyi's eyes, he was a turtle with green head.

In the previous life, if she hadn't been confused by Zhao Luli's pretentious appearance, how could she fall for a lifetime? People and turtle were not the same race at all, and they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Interrupting Zhao Chunxi's enthusiasm, Guan Suyi curled her eyebrows and said, "I said how can I marry into Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. It turns out the two of you father and daughter insisted on it. My grandfather is the emperor's teacher, and my father is Chief Minister of Ceremonies, in terms of family background, I am no worse than di young lady of the prime minister's mansion. Why she can enter the palace to be an imperial concubine, but I can only be a small Madam Marquis?"

Zhao Chunxi was dumbfounded. She didn't expect the other party to react like this. When she was about to explain, she heard her say, "No matter, marrying a chicken follow the chicken, marrying a dog follow the dog. Since I already missed it for the second half of my life, I can only admit my fate. You go back first, I want to stay alone." The tone was full of disgust and helplessness.

Zhao Chunxi was extremely angry, if she was not good at maintaining outer appearance, her facial features would probably already deformed. She originally thought that this person would be infatuated with her dad like other girls, but not only she was not infatuated, but also disliked it. Chicken, dog, she really a beast to compare her dad with animals! But she was right, compared with the position of imperial concubine, Madam Marquis was really nothing.

Farming and reading heirlooms, noble conduct, not coveting fame and fortune, bah! All were lies! Zhao Chunxi bid farewell politely, went out of the main house, cursed the other person in her heart, and then thought of her mother in the palace, which made her even more frustrated. The Marquis Zhenbei Mansion had fallen, and this realization came to mind so clearly that her straight back was slowly bend down. In a short time, she dared not come to the main house again, so as not to be slapped in the face by that poor woman.

When people walked far away, Minglan said in a low voice, "Miss, you really want to be a concubine in the palace?"

"I deliberately used that words to stop her, so that she won't always thinking that Marquis Zhenbei Mansion is so honorable, noble, and superior." Guan Suyi pointed to the embroidered stool where Zhao Chunxi had been sitting, and said, "Clean it with boiling water. It's very dirty."

Minglan hurriedly brought the boiling water, and said while pouring, "Miss, you are not afraid that Zhao Chunxi will run to tell lord marquis? You now are Madam Zhao after all. It's unpleasant to say that you want to enter the palace, right?"

"So what? Silly girl, I said I want to wait for Zhao Luli to live with him, do you believe it? I never thought of entering the palace as a concubine, but I hate them for coming to disturb the new life I finally got. In the future, whenever they make me feel a little bit more uncomfortable, and I will make them ten thousand times worse, it's quite interesting for us to play around like this." Guan Suyi smiled as if thinking of something.

Minglan was full of doubts, and she didn't understand where the deep hatred between miss and the Marquis Mansion came from. But she had always been honest, and only wiped the embroidered stool clean and bright, so she sat obediently on the footsteps to help her mistress fill the soles of her shoes, didn't dare to ask more.

The ground dragon was burning in the room, and the heat quickly evaporated the water gathered in the cracks of the bricks. The two masters and servant, one was reading a book and the other doing needlework, and without knowing it more than an hour has passed. Suddenly, messy footsteps came from outside the courtyard, and immediately Zhao Chunxi's maid, Hexiang, could be heard shouting, "Madam is not good, lord marquis wants to use family law to the young master, please go and persuade! This is also because of you and still need you to go help resolve it!"

Was this the result of investigating Zhao Wangshu's head? Guan Suyi closed the book, stretched it flat, and pressed it under the pillow, by no means in a hurry to change her clothes and put on her shoes. Hexiang was anxious, but she didn't dare to urge too much. She finally understood, how could this new madam looked like a poor girl, her arrogance were bigger than anyone else!

Red face: in Chinese opera red face usually represent loyalty, bravery and chivalrous characters.

White face: in Chinese opera white face generally represent treacherous and sinister characters.

Kang bed: a heatable brick bed.

Chapter 14 Beating

Before Guan Suyi entered the main courtyard, she heard the sound of ghost crying and wolf howling, especially Zhao Wangshu was the most noisy, yelling dad and mom non-stop, the sounds seemed very angry.

"Mother, you are here, please help intercede for my brother! Daddy is going to kill him!" Zhao Chunxi stood in the corridor waiting anxiously, and seeing the late master and servant group, she hurriedly greeted and pulled her over. Although she blocked the mouths of her servants and told them not to betray her, but her exasperated brother was so brainless that he went straight to the study to file a complaint with their father, saying that he want him to divorce Guan shi, and asked him to hold off the Guan family's father and son's official position. What do you mean by this? No wonder Daddy is furious.

"Don't be in a hurry, let's talk about what's going on first. There must be a reason to move the family law, right?" Guan Suyi walked into the main hall and saw Zhao Wangshu kneeling on the ground under the pressure of two guards, while Zhao Luli held a rattan cane and drew it on his back, his expression very annoyed. The old madam couldn't persuade him, she could only sit aside and wipe her tears.

Where did Zhao Chunxi dare to tell the truth, she was stammering, and Guan Suyi smiled lightly, "Without you telling I also know, it's nothing more than telling your father to divorce me, and to take down my grandfather and father's official positions."

"How do you know? "" Zhao Chunxi was still young, so she was easily swindled out of the truth.

"He dared to say this in front of me yesterday, how can I not guess?" Guan Suyi walked to the old madam and stood still.

When Sun shi saw her daughter-in-law coming, she couldn't help but overjoyed, and said hurriedly, "Go and stop lord marquis, hurry! Any more hits will hurt Wangshu's body!"

"Mother don't be anxious, I still haven't figured out what happened yet." Guan Suyi pressed the old madam's thin shoulders.

Sun shi was also stubborn, not daring to tell the truth, and only scolded, "I told you to stop him, why do you asked so much? You are now the mistress of marquis mansion, and it's your duty to take care of your stepson. Seeing lord marquis beating your child, you don't try to persuade him, instead you stand aside and watch the show. Do you want lord marquis to beat your stepson to death so can make way for your own child? Is this the upbringing of your Guan family? Don't you afraid to end up with the reputation of being selfish and vicious, ruining the reputation your grandfather worked so hard to build."

As long as it involved Zhao Wangshu, the old madam would become harsh and sharp. Guan Suyi had heard similar accusations countless times in her previous life. Carrying the infamy of treating her stepson harshly, she tried her best to train Zhao Wangshu to become a talent. In exchange, there was no gratitude, only misunderstandings. However, she never explained, because she thought one day, when Zhao Wangshu won top marks in the imperial examinations, everyone would understand her painstaking efforts. However, that day was never realized after all, because even Zhao Wangshu could not understand her, even secretly hated her in his heart.

Well, she didn't care about anything in this life. Thinking of this, Guan Suyi sat down directly next to the old madam, and slowly said, "I heard some news before I came. This one beating is something he deserve , and I won't persuade it."

The old madam was furious. Pointing to her daughter-in-law, and to her more ruthless son, she shouted, "Come here, quickly pull lord marquis away, quickly pull away!" But the servants in the front yard who executed the family law only listened to Zhao Luli. How could they dare to act rashly if one order the other.

Zhao Wangshu cried out of breath, and sobbed, "Mom, this son will go down to accompany you, and ask you to take a good look at how cruel Zhao Luli is! They said that if you have a stepmother, you will have a stepdad, it's true. He shed tears at your portrait yesterday, and today he is able to beat his son to death for the new wife. Mom, if you know it under the spring, please reincarnate as soon as possible. Don't wait for this wolf-hearted person!"

They deserves to be a pair of sons and daughters raised under by Zhao Luli's extreme pamper, really understood where his weakness lies. These words pierced into his heart like a needle. He raised his hand high, but finally failed to hit it. After a few breaths, he suddenly threw the cane away and said dumbly, "Bring the young master back and take my card to ask for imperial physician."

A group of servants hurriedly carried Zhao Wangshu down. Zhao Chunxi breathed a sigh of relief, rolling her eyes, and suddenly said with a sobbing voice, "Mother, you don't say anything when my brother is beaten, you really want to see dad beat him to dead? I, I really misunderstood you at the beginning, you are so cruel!" After she finished she also glared at Zhao Luli, then lift her skirt and chased out.

Zhao Luli was already broken by his son's wailing accusation, and now his daughter's eyes that was full of resentment has cut him deeply, causing pain for a while. He staggeredly sat in the chair, and saw Guan Suyi who was sitting on the sideline with indifferent expression, he felt a sense of disgust for no reason. If he had known that this person was so cold-hearted and cold-lung, he wouldn't have agreed with the crying of his children at the beginning. In this world how could there be a stepmother who would truly consider her stepchildren? He hated himself for being muddle-headed and vented the humiliation he experienced in the Guan family on his son. It shouldn't be! Really shouldn't be! If Zhen'er know, she will definitely blame him even more, right?

The more Zhao Luli thought about it, the harder it was to calmed his mind. Originally, developed a little bit of dislike towards Guan Suyi, but later actually saw her as an enemy. He looked straight at her, his face twisted with anger, looking extremely terrible.

Although the old madam was anxious to see her grandson, she didn't want to let go of Guan shi so easily, and hissed, "Return the account books, keys, and the matching cards that I gave to you a few days ago. I dare not let you take care of this house. It's unknown whether Wangshu will be killed by you one day."

This was really damning. Minglan and Mingfang's expressions changed drastically, but Guan Suyi was still sitting still like a mountain, then spoke word by word. "Do you two think that this beating is wrong? Not afraid to let people laugh, my grandfather stuttered when he was young. To correct it, he chanted the scriptures while sucking stones every day, so his lips and tongue ulcerated to the point that even eating and drinking was difficult, but he refused to give up and became a literary giant like today. My father traveled with him to preach Confucianism since he was a child. He encountered numerous difficulties and went through life and death dangers, and eventually became a Confucian scholar. Not only them, but I didn't suffer less when I was young. Take a look at my hand, how thick the calluses from the grinding when practicing calligraphy. Because I am a woman, I may not have enough strength when writing with the brush, so my father tied a sandbag to my wrist to practice. From half a catty at the age of five, slowly increased to four catties now. The knot worn through my skin layer by layer, and there are still scars that are difficult to eliminate, which finally made me practice a good calligraphy that is three points into the woods and iron painting, silver hooks. In those year, our family traveled to Mohe to spread Confucianism. To prevent me from dying prematurely because of the severe cold, my mother would take off my robe every day and let me run in the heavy snow with only a single coat, and forced me to into the icy river and dive, the feeling of freezing into the bone marrow, can any of you imagine? It's true that she is my biological mother connected by blood, but why did she treat me like this, you say? Was she trying to kill me?"

There was silence in the hall, and even the old madam was dumbfounded. Never expected the Guan family's learning was so strict.

Guan Suyi put down her sleeves, concealed the scars and thick calluses on her wrists and knuckles, and said slowly, "Because they good to me, they could especially very strict. I can recite the 'Warring States Policy' when I was three years old, write essay sat the age of six, and at the age of ten, assisted my grandfather in teaching disciples older than myself. We in Guan family know what benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom, faithfulness, filial piety and fraternal duties, even more knowledgeable of how to restrain ourselves and return to the rites, also distinguish right from wrong. On the other hand, Wangshu, at the age of ten, how many characters does he know? How many essay can he write? How proficient he is at Six Arts of Nobleman? Does he understand the political situation?"

In the early years, Zhao Luli was fighting outside and had no time to educate his children. The old madam always blindly indulged and pampered. He was now around ten years old, don't say writing essay, even the simplest characters couldn't recognized all. If Guan Suyi didn't ask, they wouldn't even notice that something was wrong. With this questions, they really wished to drill themselves to the ground.

Wangshu was not even a good tool! The two overbearing people were now ashamed and depressed, and there was a faint feeling of anxiety in their hearts.

However, Guan Suyi's next words were like a wake up call, which made them awakened and empowered, "His Majesty wants to use the imperial examination to select officials. After a long time, it will replace the nine-rank Zhongzheng system. If there is no solid learning, it will be difficult for Wang Shu to be put in a high position in the future. And you don't have to hold on to your face, anyone can see that now Marquis Zhenbei has no friendship with His Majesty, on the contrary, there is quite a disagreement. Therefore, Wangshu's situation is even more embarrassing. Without knowledge, if he is honest, responsible, and respectable, perhaps still be able to stand up to the title of Marquis Zhenbei and grow old safely. But look at him now, arrogant, stubborn, blabbing his mouth, unfaithful, unfilial, rebellious, and even dare saying to take off the emperor's teacher and chief minister of ceremonies position so easily. Who gave him the confidence? Does he thought you, Zhao Luli, can replace the emperor? Perhaps most people will not care about a child, but are you sure that Marquis Zhenbei Mansion don't have any enemy outside? Don't have any scout placed by others? They will not using this as pretext to impeach the Zhao family? As the saying goes, the heavenly power is unpredictable, the emperor can tolerate you for a while, not necessarily for the rest of your life. With some discord, maybe someday it will become a thorn in his heart, impossible not to be pull out. Since you are in a grave situation, shouldn't you be low-key and humble? Now that Wangshu is still young, he can use the excuse of 'young and ignorant' to be careless. But wait for him to grow up, if he cause trouble again, I'm afraid it will become a disaster."

Zhao Luli and the old madam felt overwhelmed by these words, their hearts and souls were lost. Wangshu was the son of Ye Zhen and Zhao Luli. The emperor doted on her so much, but could he have a good opinion on Wangshu? When Ye Zhen gave birth to a prince, in order to maintain the royal lineage and face, it was not be impossible for him to find excuses to harm Wangshu. Now he blabbered his mouth everywhere and didn't understand everything. Wasn't it like he had braids all over his head and asked people to yank it?

Thinking of this, the two were already sweating profusely.

Guan Suyi smiled and continued, "You say I am cruel, but I don't know if I am really cruel. I should have stopped lord marquis early on, so Wangshu can't remember this lesson, and can't remember what it means to be cautious in words and deeds. I will spoil him blindly, indulge him, give him the most money, the most beautiful maid, the most slick servant, and the greatest freedom. He doesn't like to read, so I will help him skip school. If you want to teach him, I will stand up and defend him. If he spend his time drinking and seeking pleasure outside, not only I will not discourage him, but I will also help conceal it. Sooner or later I will train him into an ignorant and arrogant dude. Wait until he cause disaster, wouldn't it be great if I stab him to the end? Don't think I'm unpleasant, my family's education is like this. If have something to say then say it, if have something to do then work on it, always straightforward. I am sincere to Wangshu and the marquis mansion, and I consider all of you have trust in me, if you don't appreciate it, then forget it. But I still have one more thing to say, ten years old is not young, it is time to be properly educated." After the words fell she bowed and walked away.

Zhao Luli and the old madam thought for a long time, and they both sighed. They now were not thinking that Guan shi was selfish and vicious, on the contrary felt that the beating had a strong start but weak finish, and Wang Shu might not be able to bear the lesson, so they inevitably felt anxious.

Catty: one catty is 500g.

three points into the woods: describe the vigor and power of calligraphy brush, and iron painting, silver hooks: describes the brush strokes as iron-like strength and silver-like softness.

Chapter 15 Unfilial Son

Guan Suyi went back to the main house after watching the play. In the cold weather, she didn't want to go and invited the snub, so she only ordered Mingfang to bring a few sticks of sore medicine to Jingzhe Tower to visit the young master. Mingfang thought that Zhao Luli was also there, and left happily holding the brocade box.

"Look at her frivolous appearance, even I can see it, and I thought you didn't know anything, miss." Minglan spit at her swaying hips from the back.

"Don't worry about her. Mingfang is a clever person who knows how to make progress. I will find a good future for her in a few days." Guan Suyi held a small pair of scissors in her hand, slowly trimming a few red plums branches, and inserting them into the vase one by one in the correct position. Anyhow, the days in the Marquis Mansion were not at all sad. There were good shows to watch, and there were clean courtyards and groups of servants, which much more comfortable than being a nun.

"Miss, do you want to promote her as a concubine? Be careful of nurturing tigers, invites calamity!" Minglan frowned, tried to dissuade her.

"With today mess, I manage to fool the old madam and Zhao Luli over there, but don't forget that there is still Ye family. Just a few days after I walked in, I persuaded Lord marquis to beat his di son. How could the Ye family be willing to just let it go? Although their official position is not prominent, there is still Jieyu niangniang in the palace. They won't openly try to rip the Guan family's face, but it's easy to add some blockage for me. I assume in a few days, Madam Ye will come and persuade Zhao Luli to accept Ye family's shu daughter as a concubine. After all, she is a real aunt, which is much more reliable than an outsider like me." After arranging a vase of red plum, Guan Suyi slowly cleaned up the fine branches and leaves on the table, her eyes a little empty.

"Ah? Lord marquis has just been married to you and take a concubine so soon, won't it embarrass you in public?" Guan family's father and son never accept a concubine, so Minglan looked extremely surprised. Only then that she understood why her miss could not have a sense of belonging in the Marquis Mansion. Compared with the simple and beautiful Guan house, this place was just a fire pit!

"Were men who take concubine after marrying a wife for several days can be count as few? Look at the merchant named Li in the east of the city. On the day he married his wife, he brought in three small pink sedan chairs. Others just sighed and called him romantic. This world respects men, who will sympathize with women and protect women? We are powerless to resist, we can only find joy in sorrows, that's all. If Zhao Luli agrees to the request of the Ye family, I will just help him find a few more and carry it together, let them enter the door together to make it lively." The tabletop was cleaned, the vase was placed by the window, Guan Suyi untied her belt and was ready to go to bed, with no sorrow on her face.

Minglan very carefully served her to lie down, in her heart pray that Miss didn't like lord marquis, so she wouldn't be bruised all over her body if she couldn't move his heart. It turns out that it was such a difficult thing to marry into a high gate. It's better to find an honest farmer.

The lights in the main house had been turned off, Zhao Luli and the old madam still reflected on themselves for a while before rushing to Jingzhe Tower. There were bright candles inside and outside the building, and there were more servants coming and going, in and out the building, holding basins, rags and other things in their hands, and a few people pour out the broken porcelain with a dustpan. It could be seen that the debacle was not light.

Before the two approached, they heard Zhao Wangshu exasperated cursing, "Guan shi that bitch, this old man will kill her, take out my machete", and there was a loud noise of throwing things in between. The maidservants avoided the door one after another, but Zhao Chunxi stood by the bed and kept trying to persuade him not to get angry, and to be careful of the wound.

Zhao Luli and the old madam, who had been frightened by Guan Suyi's words, couldn't avoid it anymore at this time. Ten-year-old children were no longer considered young, and those who were intelligent and outstanding had now beginning to show their signs, and on the battlefield the children of Jiuli tribe of this age could be found everywhere. On the other hand, Wangshu was no different from the bullies who wandered the street all day.

"Sinister! I originally pitied him because his mother died when he was little and just indulge him, but could he be spoiled to this extent. Now Yanjing has been designated as the capital of the country, and the current situation is not as good as before. If he run to cause troubles outside and offend someone who shouldn't be offended, even one fallen ridge beast tile can kill several imperial clan nobles. Who can protect him? Do you expect it to be that bitch? Chen Guang, your wife is right, Wangshu should really be properly taught, otherwise he will inevitably go on a crooked road." The old madam's tone was depressed, her face was ashamed, as if she became ten years older overnight.

Zhao Luli didn't bother to get angry with his mother at this moment, and quickly stepped into the inner room, sternly yelling, "Unfilial son, you haven't eaten enough rattan whip, still want to add another fifty?"

Zhao Wangshu was very afraid of his father. Seeing him came in, he stopped immediately. Zhao Chunxi hurriedly blocked in front of the bed and shouted, "Daddy don't hit, brother is ignorant, if you have something to say him please tell him slowly."

"He will be eleven after the new year, why is it still ignorant ?" Zhao Luli didn't care about his son's injury. Called a few young manservant and asked them how he performed in the clan school. Where did the little servant dare to tell the truth, and utterly praised the young master for being extremely clever, diligent and hardworking, and his future was boundless.

Zhao Luli sneered when he heard it, and ordered the housekeeper to take his son's bookcase over and looked through it. There were knives, slingshots, woodcarvings, pastries, and other things, but the books were missing. He finally took out a crumpled ball of rice paper from the corner of the bottom, unfolded it, and almost vomited blood with anger. He saw on top written in crooked, unintelligible handwriting—Confucius said: Study and learn from time to time, don't you say? Is it not joy to have friends come from afar? People who don't know don't feel hurt, not also a nobleman? People don't know but not stunned, it's not a gentleman. (From The Analects, let's paraphrase it: Confucius said "I am very happy when I review and practice what I have learned on time. Isn't it also very happy to have friends from far away? Others don't understand me, but I don't get angry. A cultivated nobleman?")

There were total thirty characters, six were wrong, some strokes were too many, some too lazy to stroke so he directly use ink stick instead. How could this be a writing of a ten-years-old and half teenage boy? It was worse than a young child who was just getting started! Zhao Luli's anger rushed to the top of his head and make him dizzy; the old madam leaned over to take a look, and also gasping a few breaths anxiously before she manage to control it.

"Since you people are not good at serving the master, then you don't need to serve, all of you go home. People come, take the rattan cane, today I will hit this evil creature and let him admit his mistakes!" Zhao Luli rubbed the rice paper. Zhao Luli crumpled the rice paper and smashed it on the head of the little servant who knelt down and begged. A group of guards walked in, dragged the few people away, and on the way offered the hard rattan cane.

Zhao Chunxi thought that her daddy would hate Guan shi after hearing what she said, and then rushed to apologize to her younger brother. Then she would cry again, pretending to say a few words for Guan shi magnanimously, daddy would become guilty, and even more distressed for her grievances. But the reality was contrary to what she wants, and her dad's temper had no sign of declining, clearly became more and more angry.

What did that bitch Guan say to daddy? She cursed in her heart, but two lines of tears fell from the corner of her eyes, she hugged Zhao Luli's legs and knelt down, "Daddy, please don't hit, Wangshu knows that he is wrong !"

"Where did he know that he was wrong?" Zhao Luli was afraid of hurting his daughter, still holding the cane and dare not move.

Zhao Wangshu was a bully but afraid of hardship, so he hurriedly said, "Daddy, I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't insult Guan shi." He felt aggrieved and cried, "I just want a mother too much. Mother can play with me, take care of me, touch my forehead when I'm sick, and pat my back when I'm sleeping. I just want such a mother, but Guan shi refused to accompany me, she even disliked me and wanted to drive me away."

This was the truest desire in his heart, but even if Guan Suyi from the previous life fulfilled all of his hopes, he did not feel half grateful to her. That's why in this life she learned what a "stone heart" really mean.

But Zhao Luli and the old madam didn't have a stone heart. When they heard this, their anger disappeared into nothingness, also forgot to discipline him properly, their nose went sour, and both of them shed tears. Zhao Chunxi quickly grabbed the cane and threw it to the guard outside the house.

Zhao Luli was very weak, and he muttered after thinking about it for a while, "If you are obedient in the future, your mother will naturally love you. Today I will give you the bottom line, so that you won't end up in a big disaster in the future. Our Marquis Zhenbei Mansion is already dying, dad in this life unable to re-enter the court. What is the life of noble families who have the title but no power? You will understand by looking at the Prince Jin Mansion and Prince Cheng Mansion."

Prince Jin and Prince Cheng were imprisoned for conspiracy, and their lives were poor and destitute, treated as scumbags everywhere. Zhao Wangshu and a few playmates climbed across the wall of Prince Cheng Mansion, smashed Prince Shizi with stones, insulted him, spit on him, and humiliated him as much as possible, so he immediately felt as if it had happened to him. He said in disbelief, "Da, daddy, our Marquis Zhenbei Manison won't be that bad…"

"Sooner or later. You just need to remember that my relationship with the emperor is not as close as the rumor says, it's all in the past. On the contrary, he now sees me as a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh, and maybe one day he will try to get rid of me. And the Guan family is now in full glory, and in the imperial's heart. Don't even say me your daddy, even the emperor must be respectful and hold a disciple courtesy in front of Old Master Guan. Your future may have to rely on the support of Guan family, daddy is already powerless."

If it were not for Ye Zhen's mediation in the palace, Zhao Luli believed that he would have died hundreds of times. In order for the two children to get along well with Guan shi, and to make their lives safe and prosperous, Zhao Luli had to abandon his self-esteem and strip the most embarrassing truth before them.

Seeing that his son was still unable to accept, he had no choice but to ask, "You also the son of the Lord, is there anyone who wants to play with you on weekdays?"

"No, don't want." Zhao Wangshu's face was as gray as death, as if he realized why he was always rejected by other noble children. He stopped making noise, slowly buried his head in the soft pillow, and started crying. Inferiority and fear swept through his heart instantly.

Zhao Chunxi was wise very early, and naturally knew more than her younger brother. Even thought she was very unwilling, but she had to admit her daddy's incompetence and Guan family's power. That's why she recognized Ye Zhen as her family's backing, because she was her only help. She hated her father's cowardice, hated the old madam's partiality and heartlessness, and also hated Guan Suyi for looking down on people. But what can be done? With the Guan family climbing status, her identity suddenly became much more valuable, as evidenced by the successive invitations and greetings in recent days.

As the so-called word forbearance puts a knife on its head, she would be able to enjoy her life after a while, and there would be a chance to clean up Guan shi sooner or later in the future. Thinking about this, Zhao Chunxi also softened.

Seeing his children finally accepted the lesson, Zhao Luli hugged them and wept. Today, he skinned his face alive and threw his self-esteem on the ground, but if the children could grow up safely and healthily, everything was worth it.

word forbearance: the character for forbearance has a character for knife on top, it means when the word forbearance is written, a knife is inserted in the heart, so even if it bleeds, its need to be patient.