TRBDM -Chapter 15 Choosing a Study Attendant

It was the first time Xie Lan had ever been shown concern by anyone other than his eldest sister, Xie Wanrou. For a moment, he couldn’t tell what the other person’s intentions were.

He lowered his head slightly and gave the excuse he always used. “I accidentally took a fall. Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law.”

Dou Shuyao merely nodded and said nothing more.

“Since everyone is here, let’s eat.”

With Wei Zhaorong’s word, everyone automatically fell silent.

No talking while eating, no speaking before bed—those were the rules of the marquis’ residence.

Xie Lan drank the porridge in his bowl, barely touching his chopsticks. Wei Zhaorong noticed, but unlike last time, she did not serve him food.

There were too many eyes watching.

Just like in her previous life, she still couldn’t treat everyone equally.

She was willing to serve Xie Lan food—but she had no intention of serving Xie Chuan and Xie Sheng, those two ungrateful wretches. So she served no one at all, sparing herself their jealousy.

Looking at her three sons, Wei Zhaorong suppressed the complicated thoughts in her heart.

After breakfast, she announced something at the table.

“Starting tomorrow, Xie Lan will attend the private academy. He’ll need a study attendant. Tell me—who in our household would be suitable?”

With that single sentence, it was as if a massive stone had been hurled into an already unsettled lake.

“Mother, you’re sending Xie Lan to the academy?”

Xie Chuan, who had been keeping his head lowered, finally snapped out of the blow to his pride and stared up in shock.

“Yes.” Wei Zhaorong’s expression was calm.

With Xie Chuan taking the lead, Xie Sheng immediately chimed in. “Mother, why the sudden idea to send Third Brother to the academy? He’s already fifteen. At that age, I’m afraid no teacher would be willing to accept him.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xie Chuan spoke again.

“No, Mother—what’s gotten into you? First you move him to a new courtyard, then you invite him to dine with us, and now you’re sending him to the academy. Are you… are you ill?”

Xie Sheng had wanted to say: Have you lost your mind?

Otherwise, how could she suddenly start treating Xie Lan—the most disliked person in the entire marquis household—so well?

Xie Lan was merely the son of a concubine. He had no backing, wasn’t particularly bright, and barely knew how to read. He was no different from the servants of the household. And now, all of a sudden, he was being treated as their equal. Xie Chuan was furious.

On what grounds?

Who did Xie Lan think he was—to live in the Lan Courtyard, to enter a private academy with a study attendant like the young gentlemen of the capital? In his dreams!

“Impudent! Cursing me first thing in the morning!” Wei Zhaorong slammed her palm against the table. All five people at the table flinched in unison.

“Mother, calm your anger. That’s not what I meant,” Xie Chuan hurried to explain, but Wei Zhaorong’s expression did not soften in the slightest.

Xie Sheng’s eyes shifted. He nudged Xie Lan. “Third Brother, Mother is angry because of you. Don’t just hide back there in silence. Say something.”

Xie Lan’s lips turned pale. He abruptly stood, lifted his robe, and dropped to his knees.

“Mother, please don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. Elder Brother didn’t mean it. I’m sorry… I—I won’t go to the academy. Please, none of you be angry.”

He knocked his head repeatedly against the floor.

Wei Zhaorong panicked and quickly ordered Nanny Qi to help him up.

“You, honestly…” she shook her head. “What fault do you have? The one at fault is clearly him.”

Xie Chuan pouted stubbornly. “Mother, what did I do wrong? I’m doing this for your sake—for the peace of our marquis household.”

At the side, Dou Shuyao was so anxious she wished she could sew her husband’s mouth shut.

Since marrying into the marquis household, she had come to realize that Xie Chuan was not only lustful but also utterly lacking in brains—easily swayed by others.

Liu Yi’er whispered in his ear daily, provoking him to ignore the household’s mourning period and make a grand show of bringing her into the family. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Xie Sheng incited him to bully Xie Lan.

Xie Sheng played the good man in public, while Xie Chuan became the villain on display.

A complete fool.

Under the table, Dou Shuyao viciously stomped on Xie Chuan’s foot.

“Ah!” he yelped in pain, glaring at her furiously.

You jealous shrew—how dare you step on me.

I stepped on you. What can you do about it?

The husband and wife of the eldest branch locked eyes, reading the unspoken accusations in each other’s gaze.

“Men, take the Eldest Young Master back to the Eastern Courtyard. Confinement for a hundred days. If he so much as steps one foot out of the Eastern Courtyard, you all know the consequences. The slave traders would surely pay a good price.”

The effect of “killing the chicken to warn the monkeys” was immediate. Four servants rushed forward and, half-pushing and half-dragging, hauled Xie Chuan away.

“Let go! Let go of me! I can walk on my own. How dare you—who is your master? You don’t even listen to my words—”

His voice grew fainter and fainter until it vanished completely.

The room fell into utter silence.

Wei Zhaorong swept her gaze across the crowd. “The eldest is gone. Second son, tell me—who in our marquis household would be suitable to serve as the third’s book boy?”

Xie Sheng could easily name three or four candidates on the spot, but he was unwilling to give even one of them to Xie Lan.

“Mother, choosing a book boy requires careful thought. I can’t think of a suitable candidate at the moment. Ah, it’s getting late—I must hurry to the palace, or I’ll be late. Third Brother, once I return from duty, I’ll help you look for one. Mother, your son takes his leave.”

With that, Xie Sheng slipped away as fast as he could.

Wei Zhaorong snorted.

She had never expected the two of them to provide a name. Their reactions were entirely within her expectations.

“Lan’er, since your two elder brothers can’t help, you may choose for yourself. If there’s anyone in the household you fancy, tell me directly.”

Xie Lan had just kowtowed several times, and his forehead was still burning painfully. Wei Zhaorong’s words were like a cool spring, easing his discomfort at once.

He hesitated before speaking. “There’s a servant in Lan Courtyard who’s in charge of sweeping. His name is Shi Yi. I think he’s quite good.”

Shi Yi… The name sounded familiar to Wei Zhaorong, yet she couldn’t quite recall who he was.

“How old is he?”

“Thirteen.”

Two years younger than Xie Lan—just the right age to serve as a book boy.

“Can he read?”

“He knows a little.” Xie Lan had seen Shi Yi reading before and knew he was literate.

“Madam Dou, Madam Shen, have either of you heard of this Shi Yi?”

Shen Zhizhi shook her head. How could a lowly servant from the rear courtyard ever come into her notice? The people she dealt with were the senior maids and stewards of the household. As for such errand boys, she found them dirty even to glance at.

“Replying to Mother,” Dou Shuyao said, “I’ve seen him a few times. The boy is clever. Following Third Brother shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Very well. Since that’s the case, Lan’er, from now on your book boy will be Shi Yi. Starting tomorrow, he will attend the private school with you.”

Joy lit up Xie Lan’s face. “Many thanks, Mother.”

“That’s enough. You may all leave.”

Everyone withdrew one by one.

After returning to Lan Courtyard, Xie Lan immediately found Shi Yi, who was carrying buckets of water.

Thin and undersized, at thirteen he looked no older than ten.

“Shi Yi, stop carrying water. Mother has agreed for you to be my book boy.”

Shi Yi smiled and shook his head. “Third Young Master, please don’t joke with me. A menial like me—how could I possibly be worthy of serving as a book boy to a master of the marquis household?”

Seeing that he didn’t believe him, Xie Lan removed the shoulder pole from him. “It’s true. I’m not lying. Come—follow me to the study now and grind the ink for me.”

“Ah? Really?”

Shi Yi’s pair of peach-blossom eyes were strikingly beautiful—so incongruous with his coarse, tattered clothes—brimming with astonishment and delight.

Had Wei Zhaorong been present, she would have noticed that Shi Yi’s eyes were identical to those of the Emperor’s most beloved eldest princess.