TRBDM -Chapter 27 Backing Him Up

“Old Madam Xie, what brings you here? I failed to welcome you properly—my apologies, my apologies.”

Shen Yingke reeked of pedantry. Such a major incident had occurred at the private school, yet he was still bowing and speaking in flowery phrases.

“Teacher Shen, I sent my Lan’er to your school to learn, not to be bullied.”

The reproach in Wei Zhaorong’s tone was unmistakable. Cold sweat broke out across Shen Yingke’s forehead.

“Well… this… that… as the ancients say…”

He stammered for a long while without managing to produce a coherent sentence.

He could not afford to offend the Mingde Marquis Manor, nor could he afford to offend the Zhang family.

Zhang Lin had always been arrogant and domineering, bullying the weak—this Shen Yingke knew very well.

Though Xie Lan was a promising student, he was merely a concubine-born son. How could he possibly compare to the Zhang family’s legitimate Second Young Master?

Moreover, Shen Yingke had previously learned that Xie Lan did not even have his own courtyard in the marquis manor and lived in the back with the servants.

As a teacher, he had inevitably chosen to indulge wrongdoing and abet the tyrant.

“Teacher Shen, avoidance is useless. Regarding Zhang Lin’s bullying of my Lan’er at your school, as his teacher, how do you intend to handle this?”

Seeing his teacher arrive, Zhang Lin grew bolder. “Xie Lan hit me too. We’re even.”

Uttering the words “we’re even” was already the limit of Zhang Lin’s courage.

After all, Wei Zhaorong had caught him red-handed. No matter how he tried to argue, it would be hollow.

“No.” Just two words from Wei Zhaorong shattered Zhang Lin’s illusion.

“Teacher Shen, you don’t look like someone capable of resolving this matter. So I’ll give you two choices. First: Zhang Lin apologizes to my Lan’er and withdraws from the school. Second: bullying has occurred at your school, and as the teacher, you turned a blind eye. In that case, there is no need for your school to continue operating. Close it down.”

“Close it? How could that be possible?” The moment the word “close” was mentioned, Shen Yingke could no longer feign deafness.

The school was his lifeline. It fed his entire family.

“Old Madam Xie, please calm your anger. I was also at fault in this matter. From now on, I absolutely will not allow such things to happen again at the school. I will have Zhang Lin apologize to Xie Lan. Would that satisfy you?”

“Why should I apologize?” Zhang Lin protested.

“Zhang Lin, be quiet for now. Let your teacher finish speaking with Old Madam Xie.” Shen Yingke adopted a teacher’s authority and silenced him.

“Old Madam Xie.” A fawning smile appeared on Shen Yingke’s face. “Are you satisfied with this arrangement?”

“No. Since Teacher Shen is unwilling to cooperate, then we shall settle this in the magistrate’s court.”

With that, Wei Zhaorong rose to her feet.

This time, Shen Yingke truly panicked. “Old Madam, Old Madam, please don’t leave! We can discuss this further. There’s no need to trouble the authorities.”

“If I had not arrived in time today, my son’s life might have been lost here. Nothing under heaven is more important than my son’s life. Ten schools would not equal his life. Forget troubling the authorities—even if I must enter the palace to seek an audience with His Majesty, this old woman does not fear it.”

Wei Zhaorong’s words left Xie Lan frozen in place.

What did Mother just say?

In front of so many people, she called him her son. And she said… she said even ten schools were not worth his life.

Did Mother truly value him so much?

Xie Lan could scarcely believe it—yet he had to.

His eyes burned hot, tears threatening to spill over.

But crying in front of everyone would be humiliating. He forced himself to take deep breaths, suppressing the surging warmth in his chest.

The words “seek an audience with His Majesty” frightened Shen Yingke out of his wits.

“Indeed, indeed. Third Young Master Xie’s life is precious—worth more than a hundred schools.” Shen Yingke wiped the sweat from his head, bowing and scraping.

Wei Zhaorong said nothing, merely casting him a sideways glance.

She had always carried herself with authority; the stern aura around her was not something a mere private school teacher could withstand.

“Cough… Zhang Lin was admitted to the private school by Editor Zhang. If he is to withdraw, Editor Zhang must be informed. Old Madam Xie, please grant me some time. Allow me to make a trip to the Zhang residence.”

Shen Yingke was caught in a dilemma. This was already the most balanced solution he could think of at the moment.

Wei Zhaorong looked toward Xie Lan. He was the one at the center of this matter—how to decide should be up to him.

“Lan’er, do you agree with what Master Shen said?”

Xie Lan treasured this opportunity to study and held Master Shen in great respect.

But today his mother had come to stand up for him. He could not let her lose face.

“Sir has taught me for several days. I do not wish to put you in a difficult position. I will wait three days for your reply. The outcome must satisfy Mother—otherwise, I fear I will not take our teacher–student relationship into account.”

It was the first time Xie Lan had spoken harshly to someone. He felt slightly uneasy inside.

He glanced at Wei Zhaorong, yet in her eyes he saw approval.

Xie Lan smiled shyly. Knowing his mother would not blame him, he felt even happier.

“Then we shall do as Lan’er says. Three days from now, we will await Master Shen’s answer. Otherwise, we will either see this settled in the yamen—or I shall seek an audience with His Majesty.”

“Lan’er, pack your things. You’re coming back to the residence with me.”

Shi Yi moved swiftly, gathering Xie Lan’s belongings, and followed the two of them out of the private school.

After all the commotion, Wei Zhaorong’s stomach was no longer distended, but her complexion looked poor.

At the carriage, Nanny Qi helped Wei Zhaorong inside, while Xie Lan and Shi Yi stood beside it.

Wei Zhaorong lifted the curtain. “What are you standing there for? Get in.”

Xie Lan paused noticeably, then smiled as he climbed aboard. “Thank you, Mother.”

The carriage swayed gently. Xie Lan sat properly, not letting his gaze wander, both hands resting obediently on his knees.

His restrained demeanor was unmistakable.

Wei Zhaorong knew their mother–son relationship could not become close overnight. She was willing to give him time to adjust gradually.

She was very satisfied with his performance today, but there were still things that needed to be said.

“Lan’er, you were bullied by Zhang Lin at the private school. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Xie Lan lowered his eyes. “First, I didn’t want to worry Mother. Second, Zhang Lin usually isn’t this excessive. I don’t know what madness took hold of him today—biting at anyone he could catch.”

Wei Zhaorong raised an eyebrow. It was rare to hear such slightly coarse words from Xie Lan.

Not bad. He was improving.

When outside, one must not be a soft persimmon anyone can squeeze at will.

How else could he shoulder the responsibility of bringing honor to the Mingde Marquis Residence in the future?

“Do not forget—you stand behind the Mingde Marquis Residence. Do not provoke others first, but if you are bullied, you must strike back on the spot. Don’t worry about causing trouble. No matter how big it is, I will bear it.”

Xie Lan’s eyes reddened again. He nodded.

As they neared the residence, Wei Zhaorong suddenly asked, “When did Shi Yi enter the residence?”

“Around five or six years old. His family sold him in.”

“Which family?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll ask him when we get back.”

“Mm.”

Wei Zhaorong only felt that Shi Yi looked somewhat familiar. But there were many people in the world who resembled one another. Perhaps she was mistaken, so she did not dwell on it.

That evening, in Lan Courtyard, Xie Lan was practicing his calligraphy when a servant reported that Second Master had arrived.

After finishing his shift that day, Xie Sheng had accepted an invitation from Editor Zhang and gone to the Zhang residence. Before he could even take a seat, Madam Zhang had driven him out.

He was utterly baffled. From Madam Zhang’s scattered remarks, he learned that Xie Lan had gotten into a conflict with Zhang Lin.