Volume One, Chapter 18: The Fourth Young Master Strikes Someone

“What reason could there be? Didn’t you see Brother Tong get beaten?” Cheng Wenyuan pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Grandmother, it’s best to clarify the situation first. What Chu Yao said is true; after all, they’re all members of the Cheng family. Handling this carelessly might cause some in the clan to be dissatisfied.”

After saying this, she glanced at Chu Yao.

Reluctantly, Lady Li lifted her gaze toward the two young attendants.

“Tell me, what exactly happened?”

The two boys exchanged glances and soon lowered their heads, remaining silent.

A taller boy standing behind them bowed respectfully and said, “Grandmother, Fifth Young Master spoke harshly and angered Cheng Wenbing, which is why he was beaten.”

The speaker was Cheng Wencai, the Cheng family’s illegitimate son, older than Cheng Wentong and the fourth in line.

Chu Yao regarded him gently.

“What exactly did Fifth Young Master say? Tell me everything.”

“Yes. Fifth Young Master said that Cheng Wenbing is a wild child born of a mother but not raised by her. He also said that his father is merely a servant in the residence and that he doesn’t deserve to study at the clan academy, ordering him to leave. When Cheng Wenbing refused, Fifth Young Master struck him with a wooden stick. Cheng Wenbing’s head was struck until it bled, and only then did he fight back.”

So it was indeed as such.

When Chu Yao married into the Marquis’s household, her mother-in-law had already passed away. The matriarch entrusted her with the care of the younger uncle and aunt.

“The children lost their mother early. As their elder sister-in-law, you must treat them as your own.”

In her previous life, Chu Yao had personally raised Cheng Wentong. She knew better than anyone what kind of child he was: uneducated, lazy, arrogant, prone to causing trouble, and cruel at heart—a true little menace.

At that time, determined not to fail her duty, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to guiding him, correcting his bad habits little by little. He resisted studying, and no tutor could teach him. She ended up teaching him herself, accompanying him from dawn till dusk with reading and writing. Only with great effort did he barely pass the scholar’s examination.

In the end, however, she had raised herself an enemy. He said she was the most terrifying shadow of his childhood and youth, the source of endless suffering. He hated her deeply—wished she were dead.

When she died, she saw him hiding by the door, not saving her, and even smiling wickedly.

It is said that rotten wood cannot be carved, yet she held that rotten wood and tirelessly carved it day by day. Though imperfect, she at least prevented him from growing into a ruffian.

But who appreciated her efforts? The matriarch still blamed her for not making him pass the higher examinations and for wasting such a promising seed placed in her hands.

She truly suffered in silence—laboring for no reward, caught between two fires.

This life, since such a problem had arisen, she would let them see clearly early on what kind of character their cherished seed truly was.

“That’s impossible! Brother Tong is well-mannered and knowledgeable. How could he say such things? Wencai, you’re slandering Brother Tong! How has Brother Tong offended you that you would so viciously defame him?”

Since Cheng Wencai was born to a concubine of low status, Lady Li despised him and, by extension, disliked him.

She glared fiercely at Cheng Wencai, demanding he admit his fault.

“Grandmother, I am not lying!”

“You lowborn brat! Just like your mother! How dare you deny it? Who gave you the courage to slander Brother Tong with such blatant lies?”

Lady Li reached out to pinch Cheng Wencai’s cheek, her sharp nails digging deep into the child’s flesh.

“I am not lying! If you don’t believe me, ask them! Many people at the clan academy heard and saw everything. You can bring them here to testify.”

Chu Yao felt a pang of pity as Lady Li was harsh with Cheng Wencai. She quickly sternly questioned the two attendants:

“You two, tell me what really happened. If you don’t speak, I will sell you out today.”

“Young Madam, I’ll speak. Fourth Young Master spoke the truth in every word.”

“Yes, yes. Fourth Young Master did not lie. Fifth Young Master cursed first and struck first. Cheng Wenbing only defended himself. Fifth Young Master then beat him half to death, so badly he couldn’t even crawl. It was the tutor who had to send Cheng Wenbing back. If you don’t believe us, you can ask the tutor.”

Lady Li loosened her grip.

She could hardly believe that her beloved grandson not only verbally abused others but also beat someone nearly to death, and even the aggressor was accusing the victim!

She had always thought her children and grandchildren were pure and virtuous. How could this be? What was the difference between this and a common street rogue?

A throbbing headache overtook her.

“Matriarch, should we question others at the clan academy?”

Lady Li waved her hand.

“My head aches. I will rest first. Young Madam, you handle this matter.”

“Yes.”

Chu Yao agreed.

They summoned a doctor to dress Cheng Wentong’s wounds.

Nurse Song, standing nearby, asked hurriedly, “Young Madam, should the father and son Cheng Wencai be punished?”

“No need. Please have the doctor examine that child as well. Let Cheng Quan take care of the children these days; household affairs can wait until they have recovered. Also, take twenty taels of silver from the account and send it to the father and son as compensation.”

After saying this, she left the Pine Crane Hall without looking back.

Unbeknownst to her, Cheng Wenyuan had listened to every word without missing a single one. Watching her graceful figure walk away, an unexpected glint of admiration appeared in his eyes.

Back in the Yao Guang Pavilion, Chu Yao sat in the flower hall, lost in thought.

After a long while, she ordered, “Go fetch Fourth Young Master.”

Seeing Cheng Wencai’s clear, calm eyes today, she suddenly recalled her previous life, when, to plead with Cheng Wenyuan to spare the Chu family, she knelt outside his study for three days and nights. He was indifferent and ordered her dragged away and confined.

During those days trapped in Yao Guang Pavilion, she and Qiuyue barely had enough to eat.

Only Fourth Young Master had secretly brought them food and firewood several times.

When she asked why, though already grown, his eyes remained as clear as a still pond.

“Second Sister-in-Law, when my aunt was ill, Grandmother refused to seek treatment. You had the doctor save her life. Once, when I made a small mistake and Grandmother would not let it go, you pleaded for me. A kindness given must be repaid. Wencai is incapable of saving Second Sister-in-Law from danger, so he can only secretly send some things. Please do not blame him.”

To have such a gentle nature born in the wolf’s den of the Marquis’s household was truly rare.

The boy had great talent for study, passing the scholar’s exam at twelve. In the previous life, the matriarch despised him for his illegitimate birth and his mother’s low status, ignoring him, leaving him stuck in the clan academy, which was only meant for young children to learn basics like the Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames.

Day after day, surrounded by six- or seven-year-olds, he barely learned a few large characters. Even with talent, it was wasted among the crowd.

In her previous life, when Chu Yao died, Cheng Wencai was already an adult but had only reached the scholar rank, never becoming a successful candidate.

Appreciating his kind nature and grateful heart, she sent for him.

“Second Sister-in-Law.”

“Wencai, sit down.”

“Thank you, Second Sister-in-Law.”

Cheng Wencai sat properly on a wooden chair, the marks from Lady Li’s pinching still on his face.

“How old are you now?”

“Thirteen.”

“Do you want to go to the academy for further study?”