Shi Wuxiang and the others were, after all, newly graduated jinshi, so they understood the current situation more clearly.
Those officials capable of presiding over the provincial and metropolitan examinations—even if their intentions differed—were not people with empty scholarship. They could tell good writing from bad at a glance, and it was impossible for them to genuinely like this sort of flowery, false garbage.
As for those teachers, because they were jealous of the outstanding results Shi Wuxiang and the others achieved in the palace examinations, they were obviously setting traps for ignorant students. This sort of writing was effortless; once written too often, it would naturally become a habit. Even if corrected later, it would still cause trouble for Shi Wuxiang and the others.
Very bad. Shi Wuxiang was already being troubled by it now.
After being scolded thoroughly, Shi Qingyue showed no unwillingness at all and simply sat back down at the desk to continue writing essays.
Shi Wuxiang rarely lost his temper and had never spoken harshly to family members before. No one expected him to be this fierce while teaching, and his words were downright unpleasant, yet Shi Qingyue looked completely accustomed to it.
For a moment, the room became utterly silent.
Shi Wuxiang’s gaze swept across everyone in the room. Madam Shi sewed the shoe soles with even greater force. The three practicing calligraphy didn’t dare raise their heads at all, every stroke written with exceptional seriousness and diligence.
He silently curled his lips.
Just look at the effect of “killing the chicken to warn the monkeys”—immediate results.
Shi Qingran wrote several characters, had just put down her brush, and was trying to rest her wrist when she heard Shi Wuxiang cough lightly. She immediately panicked and picked the brush back up, not even daring to breathe loudly.
“A’Xiang, I want to talk with you.” Yuan Zhao took in everyone’s reactions and gently tugged Shi Wuxiang’s sleeve. “A’Xiang~”
“Alright, let’s talk. Your handwriting is getting better and better. All the strokes are correct.” Shi Wuxiang praised softly.
Naturally, that was the only compliment he could manage to give.
After all, although Yuan Zhao had practiced writing these past two years, brush calligraphy was difficult. He could only write stroke by stroke. Even the letter he left behind during his last runaway had been very sloppy, probably because he was anxious.
Still, even so, Yuan Zhao was already very satisfied.
Much better than having nothing to praise at all!
As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the room instantly shifted and relaxed considerably. Ranran also finally dared put down her brush to rest.
“My wrist can’t turn like yours, so I always write poorly. I can only write one stroke at a time.” Yuan Zhao spoke while extending his hand for him to massage.
“It’s alright. Take it slowly. Practice makes perfect.” Shi Wuxiang kneaded his hand as he spoke. “Writing one stroke at a time is also very cute.”
“You never used to praise me like this before.”
“Nonsense. I praise you every day.”
“Really?”
“Yes…”
Although only the two of them were speaking in the room, the atmosphere carried warmth and comfort. The room smelled of sweet pastries and tea leaves, warm and cozy enough to make people drowsy.
Because Shi Wuxiang’s appetite had been poor, he hadn’t eaten much dinner earlier. Now he felt somewhat hungry again and ended up sweeping away all the sweet-and-sour pastries.
“A’Xiang, don’t you dislike sweets?” Yuan Zhao frowned slightly as he looked at him. His appetite had changed so quickly—could he be sick?
“Sometimes I crave them too. Just now happened to be one of those times.” Shi Wuxiang smiled and didn’t tell him about his recent poor appetite, much like Yuan Zhao’s pregnancy reactions.
As long as he wasn’t sick, it was fine.
Yuan Zhao trimmed the candlewick, and the flame immediately leapt higher, making the room appear brighter.
Madam Shi put away the shoe soles and began urging everyone else to sleep. “It’s getting late. Go back to your own rooms. If you want to sleep, then sleep. If not, read your books. Don’t stay here causing disturbance.”
“Gege…” Yuan-ge’er turned to look at him, grievance written across his palm-sized face.
“Mother, let him stay here and play a little longer.” Yuan Zhao immediately spoke up for him.
Madam Shi sighed helplessly and led the Shi siblings away.
Yuan Yuan immediately ran over to Yuan Zhao, climbed onto the couch, and squeezed himself into his arms just like when he was little.
“Do you want to sleep here?” Yuan Zhao touched his forehead and found no fever.
“I can’t sleep with gege anymore. I’ve already grown up. I just still wanted to stay here and play a little longer.” Yuan Yuan even sighed maturely as he spoke. “You have no idea how worried I’ve been about you.”
Yuan Zhao tilted his head suspiciously. What was he talking about?
Yuan Yuan continued, “I secretly went to the medical clinic to ask around. The doctor said that when there’s just been a baby, you can’t sleep together with A’Xiang-gege. But auntie said you two absolutely must sleep together, so I’ve been really worried!”
“You were actually worrying about that hahaha…” Yuan Zhao couldn’t help laughing out loud.
“Ah! I was worried! The doctor said sleeping together would be bad for the baby. I don’t understand it, but I know you two shouldn’t sleep together.” Yuan Yuan spoke as though he had exhausted all his efforts over the matter, though in truth he had worried about entirely the wrong thing.
Shi Wuxiang explained, “We both sleep very properly. It won’t hurt the baby, so don’t worry. You should go to sleep early at night, otherwise you won’t grow taller.”
“Then I’m relieved. Gege, I’m going to sleep now.” Yuan Yuan merely pondered for half a breath before decisively abandoning Yuan Zhao and leaving. Since A’Xiang-gege said it was fine, naturally growing taller was the bigger concern.
“Xia Lian, escort Young Master A’Yuan back to his room.”
“Yes.”
Once only the two of them remained in the room, Yuan Zhao couldn’t help laughing again. “You heard that, right? Sleep more properly. You wouldn’t want Yuan-ge’er getting angry with you, would you?”
Shi Wuxiang only smiled without speaking.
Yuan-ge’er had indeed grown bolder now. Unlike before, when he would pitifully beg him to apologize to Yuan Zhao and say it was fine to scold him… now he had even learned to snort coldly and sneer.
“I want to lie down too. Sitting like this all the time makes my waist and legs ache.” Yuan Zhao sighed softly.
Before knowing he was pregnant, he could do everything, even personally washing clothes, cooking, carrying basins, and wiping faces. But ever since finding out about the pregnancy, his body had suddenly begun feeling uncomfortable here and aching there.
It was terribly annoying.
Shi Wuxiang helped him to his feet and let him move his legs around. “Go lie down first. I’ll massage you in a bit.”
“Alright.”
Shi Wuxiang instructed the maids to bring foot-washing water. After washing and wiping Yuan Zhao’s feet, he began tending to him, kneading his legs and shoulders while carefully avoiding the lower back.
Yuan Zhao lay flat, his weary legs quickly soothed until he became drowsy.
“No more massaging… sleepy…”
“Alright, then let’s sleep.” Shi Wuxiang lowered the bed curtains and blew out the nearest candle. Receiving the signal, the maids immediately came in to extinguish the outer room’s candles before quietly leaving.
Yuan Zhao curled sideways into Shi Wuxiang’s embrace. To be even closer, he tangled both legs together with his. One hand slipped through the loose opening of Shi Wuxiang’s inner robe, touching firm muscles and warm flesh before he finally fell asleep peacefully.
.
Afterward, Shi Wuxiang took advantage of his holiday break to invite Xu Ling and several others to the house as guests. He even personally cooked several dishes to express welcome. Although he himself did not sit at the banquet, his attitude had already been made perfectly clear.
Ever since the Shi family moved into the county city, aside from a few close friends, no one else had ever visited their home. Yet the Xu family and the others received such hospitality from Shi Wuxiang—it was obvious their relationship was different. No one needed to think hard to know it was thanks to that principal husband.
For a time, quite a few people hurried to befriend the Xu family and the others, all in hopes of climbing connections to the Shi family.
Shi Wuxiang knew somewhat about it, but he didn’t pay much attention to the gossip. After all, he was still in Mingqu County and under Magistrate Zheng’s authority, so naturally he had to show proper respect.
Time passed in a flash until the end of the year. The county academy also dismissed classes early for the holiday, allowing Shi Wuxiang to finally stop exhausting himself traveling back and forth before dawn and after dark.
Just as they were preparing to leave, a teacher barged into their dormitory with several students.
“Teacher Shi, even if you’re currently in the height of favor, you can’t just allow your students to bully mine, can you?”
That single sentence successfully darkened the expressions of all four of them.
Previously, Shi Qingyue had been used as the sacrificial pawn. Naturally, Shi Wuxiang would not lightly spare those who secretly instigated him into writing those flowery dogshit essays. They had merely used a small tactic, yet the mastermind behind the scenes had already come looking for them.
Shi Wuxiang deliberately looked at him in surprise. “What does Teacher Zhao mean by this? I understand my students well. They absolutely would not do anything disgraceful. Could there be some misunderstanding?”
“A misunderstanding?” Teacher Zhao sneered, glaring fixedly at him. “Why would your students insult my students and criticize their essays as utterly worthless? Isn’t that simply indirect humiliation?”
“Even if your learning is profound, that doesn’t mean your students are qualified to act like teachers too!”
Shi Wuxiang calmly asked, “Teacher Zhao came storming over here, but I also happen to have something I’d like to ask. I heard your students have been going around instructing other students on essay writing, insisting that all essays must be flowery and filled with ornate language, otherwise they won’t catch the examiners’ eyes. Is this true or false?”
Cheng Du also leisurely watched Zhao Lu, occasionally exchanging glances with the other two.
Teacher Zhao felt guilty for an instant, then restrained his emotions and scoffed. “Utter nonsense! Among students there are clever ones and stupid ones. If someone believes stupid words, then they themselves are stupid too!”
Shi Wuxiang lifted his eyelids to look at him, his voice frighteningly cold. “I don’t care about stupidity or cleverness. If your students dare speak nonsense to my students again, I will tear their mouths apart. And if Teacher Zhao is incapable of teaching students how to write proper essays, perhaps I should send a letter to Shengjing. That would still be better than you misleading students every single day!”
“Shi Wuxiang, don’t go too far! You actually dare threaten a colleague? Have you gone mad?!” Zhao Lu was somewhat frightened, yet still firmly believed Shi Wuxiang would not dare go that far.
Shi Wuxiang stepped forward and casually adjusted Zhao Lu’s collar for him. Lowering his voice, he said, “If your students dare speak recklessly to my younger brother again, then not only will their future paths toward official success become difficult—even your own road to glory will collapse. Zhao Lu, just try opposing me.”
Although he was merely a remnant soul who had transmigrated into another body, that did not change the fact that the Shi family were his blood relatives. He was a hundred times stricter with Shi Qingyue than with ordinary students because he hoped Shi Qingyue’s future would shine brilliantly.
It was not that he feared Shi Qingyue would go astray, but with blind fools constantly causing trouble like this, naturally it disrupted his studies.
Shi Wuxiang rarely used power and status to oppress others, but these words now were naked threats.
He would not permit anyone to casually disrupt his plans.
In that instant, Zhao Lu’s breathing became hurried, his whole body trembling. Of course he did not suspect Shi Wuxiang’s words were false. His students had merely tricked Shi Wuxiang’s younger brother with a few lies, yet it had already enraged him to this degree.
Grinding his teeth, he ultimately did not dare say another word and left in disgrace with his students.
“Look at him acting like that. Does he really think we’re easy to bully?” Cheng Du could not help mocking him. “He came charging over all furiously. I thought he was some remarkable figure.”
Hu Lu was equally furious. “He’s clearly in the wrong. Otherwise he would’ve already caused a scene with the headmaster. I already warned the students not to associate with his students, yet they specifically pick on the soft-faced younger ones.”
They had already been at the academy for two years now, yet those old bastards still only knew how to bully them. Did they really think they were easy targets?
“Today’s warning should make them settle down somewhat. Before this, we kept silent for the sake of preserving everyone’s dignity, but that only made them grow smug.” Fu Ying also wore a mocking expression.
They had simply been too proper and restrained, which allowed those people to continue causing trouble.
Shi Wuxiang, however, quickly adjusted his mood. “Enough about this. What about you all? You really won’t stay at my house for the night? You can have the servants come fetch you tomorrow morning. It’s freezing cold—why bother returning tonight?”
Shi Wuxiang asked the three of them.
Classes had only ended at dusk. Traveling back to town through the cold wind by carriage meant they probably would not arrive until nightfall. It would be better to rest at his home for the night and return after daybreak tomorrow.
Fu Ying looked somewhat tempted.
Hu Lu said, “I can’t stay. I need to get back as early as possible, otherwise my mother will keep waiting for me. But you two can stay the night.”
“That works.” Cheng Du agreed. It made no difference whether he returned early or late anyway.
“Alright then, I’ll head back first. See you after the new year.” Hu Lu smiled as he boarded the carriage and left.
His family circumstances were somewhat special. He and his mother depended on each other for survival. Though he had hired maids after becoming a jinshi, he still constantly worried after being away from home so long.
Shi Wuxiang looked toward Cheng Du and Fu Ying. “Let’s go home.”
Another heavy snowfall fell during the journey. Most of the snow in the courtyard had already been cleared away, leaving only the snowman they had built before, though it no longer looked as nice as when it had first been made.
“The young masters have returned.” Gou Yi tactfully called out.
“Tell the kitchen to prepare more dishes,” Shi Wuxiang said.
Gou Yi smiled. “The principal husband guessed you’d bring several young masters home and instructed us ahead of time.”
“My little sister-in-law was even thinking of us.” Cheng Du pretended to be exaggeratedly moved.
Yuan Zhao’s pregnancy had already reached the three-month mark. After things stabilized, Shi Wuxiang stopped deliberately hiding it. Everyone close to them already knew, and naturally Cheng Du and the others were no exception.
“We heard you talking about me before even entering the room. Hot tea is already prepared inside. Hurry and come drink some.” Yuan Zhao lifted the heavy curtain and called out with laughter in his voice.
“Coming!”
Yuan Zhao turned around and instructed the maids to arrange the tea and pastries. Immediately afterward, Shi Wuxiang led them inside.
Because the household catered to Yuan Zhao’s tastes, there was never a shortage of pastries and preserved fruits. Since they kept well during winter, anyone returning from outside would always bring some back, to the point they could not finish eating them all. Cheng Du and Fu Ying also benefited from this abundance.
“Sit quickly. The meal will be ready soon. I figured A’Xiang would invite you, so I specifically had them prepare things in advance.” Yuan Zhao spoke while glancing around. “Where’s Big Brother Hu?”
“He went home first,” Shi Wuxiang replied.
Yuan Zhao asked no more. After all, every family had different circumstances.
Since they had already come, Cheng Du and Fu Ying naturally showed Yuan Zhao plenty of concern, though they kept proper boundaries and did not make him uncomfortable.
By the time they finished chatting over tea, the food was already prepared.
The servants carried the dishes onto the table. Ten dishes and two soups completely filled it. With such lavishness, one could say they were eating New Year’s Eve dinner and nobody would question it.
“This is so extravagant I’m starting to feel embarrassed,” Cheng Du said, though his face showed nothing but delight and not the slightest embarrassment.
“It’s rare for everyone to return home, so naturally you should eat and drink well.” Madam Shi smiled. “You’re family here. Don’t be polite.”
After eating and drinking their fill, the three men went to the guest reception room. While they were not exactly treated as outsiders, it was already nighttime, and the inner rooms were occupied by ge’er and young women, so some propriety had to be observed.
Naturally, they did not forget to drag Shi Qingyue along with them.
“Your essays finally look somewhat proper now.” Cheng Du nodded repeatedly, then suddenly thought of something and warned him again, “Your elder brother practically tore his face apart with Zhao Lu because of you. You’d better be smarter.”
Shi Qingyue widened his eyes slightly. “I understand…”
Fu Ying lowered his gaze and took a sip of tea. “Why is only Qingyue studying so hard? Weren’t Ran-jie’er and Yuan-ge’er also attending school? Don’t they need to practice calligraphy too?”
“They haven’t gone to school since the snow started falling. Recently they’ve only been practicing at home, so they’ve probably already practiced during the daytime,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“I see.” Fu Ying asked no further.
Three fellow jinshi stared at one little xiucai and only finally released him after watching him write two full essays.
Shi Wuxiang’s comments were especially sharp, bluntly stating that Shi Qingyue now at least resembled a human being. Shi Qingyue grinned from ear to ear upon hearing it, treating it entirely as praise.
By the time the two essays were finished, it was already quite late. Shi Wuxiang escorted them back to their rooms to rest, then instructed the maids to send them some pastries in case they became hungry during the night before returning to accompany Yuan Zhao.
Yuan Zhao was already lying beneath the blankets. The moment he saw him return, he patted the spot beside himself. “Come quickly. I already warmed it up for you. Hurry and sleep.”
“The heated kang is already warm on its own.” The moment Shi Wuxiang finished speaking, he saw the faint signs of annoyance appearing on Yuan Zhao’s face and immediately added, “But I’m very happy that you thought of me.”
Yuan Zhao instantly became happy again.
Shi Wuxiang removed his outer robe and lay down, turning to pull him into his embrace. One hand gently rested against his slightly rounded abdomen. Later he would have to buy some almond oil for rubbing his belly.
“Pat me. I’m about to fall asleep.” Yuan Zhao spoke softly, forehead pressed against his chest, able to feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It made him feel secure.
Shi Wuxiang then raised his hand and gently patted his back while continuously making soft soothing sounds as though coaxing a child. His voice was very light, and Yuan Zhao quickly fell asleep.
A peaceful night passed.
When Yuan Zhao awoke, Cheng Du and the others were already preparing to leave. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he hurriedly dressed neatly and went outside to see them off. The cold wind whipped through their clothing as though it wanted to freeze even their bones.
“Be careful on the road.” Shi Wuxiang patiently reminded them.
“Go back inside. We’re leaving now.” Cheng Du and Fu Ying waved to them through the small carriage window as the carriage rolled away.
The weather outside was bitterly cold. Yuan Zhao had only stood in the wind for a short while before beginning to shiver. Tightening the cloak around himself, he hurried back indoors to rest.
Cold weather made people lazy, and with Yuan Zhao pregnant and in need of rest, the New Year preparations were no longer left for him to worry about. Everything was handled by Madam Shi together with Shi Qingran.
The young girl was already fifteen years old. Though that sounded young, she was no longer truly a child. She was already of an age where she could marry into another family and manage a household, which was why Madam Shi wanted to teach her these household matters.
“After the new year, your second brother’s marriage arrangements should finally have a date set. Once his matters are settled, it’ll be time for mother to arrange yours too.” Madam Shi spoke while sewing shoe soles. “Before this, your eldest brother gave me one hundred taels. Half for you and half for your second brother. Mother has kept it for both of you.”
Shi Qingran had never known such a thing existed.
She had always been sensible. At this moment, she was not happy at suddenly receiving fifty taels. Instead, she worriedly said, “That’s Eldest Brother’s silver. Now that sister-in-law is pregnant, how could Second Brother and I possibly take his money?”
“This was discussed between your eldest brother and his husband. Zhao-ge’er had no objections. As for the rewards he himself received, mother refused them all and had him save them for Yuan-ge’er instead. Each taking care of their own younger siblings—it’s very fair.” Madam Shi said softly.
Only then did Shi Qingran feel somewhat reassured. No matter what kind of family she married into, only by being capable herself could she avoid being bullied. The silver her mother gave her would become her support in the future.
“Your two brothers are dependable. Mother will definitely find you a good family. I absolutely won’t let you suffer or be wronged.” The person Madam Shi cherished most was this youngest daughter. Watching her slowly grow up was like seeing her younger self.
But she was not that kind of vicious parent. She wanted to do everything possible to give her children the best.
Shi Qingran was very sensible. With curved smiling eyes, she said, “I know. I’ll listen to Mother.”
Yuan Zhao overheard the conversation between mother and daughter. He no longer entered the room and instead ran back to his own room to cling to him while acting spoiled.
Yuan Zhao lightly patted his butt and laughed. “Weren’t you going to play with Ranran? Why did you run back again?”
“Gege, I don’t want to get married,” Yuan Yuan said.
That simple sentence immediately made even Shi Wuxiang’s expression darken. Why had the topic suddenly turned to marriage or not marrying? Could it be that some brat had said something in front of him again?
Yuan Zhao soothed Shi Wuxiang with his gaze and gently asked, “Did someone say something to you?”
Yuan Yuan shook his head and refused to say more.
“If you don’t want to marry, then don’t. Our family can afford to support you anyway. There’s no need to feel upset over such a small matter,” Shi Wuxiang said in a deep voice. “Why aren’t you lifting your head yet? What kind of appearance is that?”
“Then why don’t you say that to Sister Ranran?” Yuan Yuan sharply shot back.
“What?”
“If someone doesn’t want to marry, then they don’t have to. Why don’t you say that to Sister Ranran? Once you marry, you get driven away. I already know that. You all just want to drive her away…” Yuan Yuan still remembered the ugly faces of Yuan Daguang’s family. They had wanted to sell his gege. In his eyes, getting married was the same as being traded for silver.
Yuan Zhao quickly explained, “It’s not like that, Yuan-ge’er. Marriage is something everyone has to do, and people also need to continue the family line. It doesn’t mean being driven out. Your aunt loves Ranran so much. How could she possibly drive her away?”
“Marriage is when two people who like each other build a new family together and willingly have children,” Shi Wuxiang explained as simply as possible. “But it definitely does not mean driving you out and selling you. Didn’t I just say that if you don’t want to marry, that’s fine too? Or you can wait until someday when you do want to marry. None of that matters.”
Yuan Yuan pursed his lips. “Really not driving us away?”
Shi Wuxiang nodded. “Of course not. Even if you truly marry and leave, this place will always be your maiden home. Your gege is right here. Would he ever drive you away?”
“He wouldn’t. Gege loves me the most.” Whenever Yuan Yuan talked about this, he would proudly puff out his chest.
This was the thing he was most certain of in the world, something he could always show off about.
“Then isn’t that settled? Your gege loves you, so naturally he wouldn’t let us drive you away. Your aunt also loves Ranran, so naturally she wouldn’t drive her away either.” Shi Wuxiang pinched his plump round cheeks.
He really had grown up, to the point of already worrying about such things.
Only the worries themselves were somewhat off-track.
Hearing him say that, Yuan Yuan completely relaxed. Tugging Shi Wuxiang’s sleeve, he said, “A’Xiang-ge, then you definitely have to tell auntie that Sister Ranran should have a little family with someone she likes!”
“Alright, I will. And you will too.”
Yuan Yuan bashfully giggled twice. The silly look on his face was just as cute as Yuan Zhao’s.