TRWSB – Chapter 41 Where Did the Evil Doctor Go?

Zhuang Hao initially thought the Evil Doctor was hiding to avoid trouble with the Yi family, but as time passed without any word from him, Zhuang Hao started to feel uneasy.

After returning to the secluded courtyard assigned to him by the Qi family, Qi Shaorong enjoyed a few peaceful days before receiving a handful of unexpected visitors.

Looking at Zhuang Hao, Qi Shaorong smirked, “Oh, Young Master Zhuang! You seem to have a lot of free time lately if you’ve come looking for me. Quite unusual!”

“I deeply apologize for the matter of our broken engagement.”

Qi Shaorong waved dismissively, “It’s nothing. I run Blossom House, so I’m used to scoundrels of all kinds—backstabbers, heartless types, those who run up debts at brothels, or steal money from girls. Compared to that, you’re mild—you didn’t even bother to end the engagement in person.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Shen Yuan: “…”

Qi Shaorong’s gaze turned to Shen Yuan. “Young Master Shen, you’re certainly everywhere, aren’t you?”

Shen Yuan: “…”

Qi Shaofu asked, “Fourth Brother, how have you been recently?”

Qi Shaorong flashed him a smile. “Pretty well. Third Brother, don’t you think I’ve gotten even more handsome?”

Pulling out a small mirror and an eyebrow pencil, Qi Shaorong started touching up his face.

“Third Brother, I’m sure you’re not here just to check on my accommodations. If there’s something you need, just say it.” Qi Shaorong casually continued his grooming.

“Shaorong, since you’re close to the Evil Doctor, did he happen to contact you before he disappeared?” Qi Shaofu asked.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes.”

“What did he say?” Zhuang Hao asked urgently.

Propping his chin, Qi Shaorong replied, “He mentioned that there’s nothing interesting in the capital, so he’s planning to leave for a while.”

Zhuang Hao stood up abruptly. “He left?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes.”

Frowning, Zhuang Hao muttered, “He didn’t even say goodbye.”

Qi Shaorong shrugged. “I wouldn’t know about that.”

“Excuse me.” Zhuang Hao said, then promptly left.

“Farewell, Young Master Zhuang,” Qi Shaorong called after him.

After Zhuang Hao left, Shen Yuan also excused himself, leaving only Qi Shaofu behind.

“Third Brother, did the Evil Doctor really leave?”

“Would he stay here waiting for trouble with the Yi family?” Qi Shaorong responded casually.

Qi Shaofu sighed. “The Yi family is a mess right now. Did you know Yi Xun expelled Yi Fan from the family and removed him from the family registry?”

Qi Shaorong raised an eyebrow. “Yi Fan was expelled? Why?”

“Yi Fan went around saying Yi Huo was suffering, that he deserved it as retribution, and Yi Xun, in a rage, kicked him out of the family,” Qi Shaofu explained.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “I see. Yi Xun has quite a temper. But Yi Fan wasn’t wrong, was he?”

Qi Shaofu paled and said hurriedly, “Shaorong, you shouldn’t say things like that. Even if Yi Fan was right, this was not the time for him to gloat when Yi Huo is struggling.”

Holding his teacup, Qi Shaorong laughed. “The Yi family wasn’t a great place anyway. Leaving was probably the best thing for him.”

Qi Shaofu thought of Qi Shaorong’s situation and gave a nervous chuckle before leaving.

…

Once everyone left, a figure dressed in black stepped out from the shadows.

“They left quickly. Good thing, too; I wouldn’t want to cook for them.” Qi Shaorong sneered.

“None of them are worthy of you cooking for them,” Yi Fan replied.

“Congratulations on finally being free from the Yi family,” Qi Shaorong said, casting him a glance.

Yi Fan nonchalantly sat down. “It was easier than I expected. I’m sure that woman was whispering in my father’s ear.”

Qi Shaorong smiled. “In any case, you’re out of the Yi family now.”

“Yeah. But what about you? Why are you giving up the Evil Doctor’s identity so suddenly?”

Qi Shaorong looked down, feeling somewhat uneasy. “Things seem to be slipping out of my control.”

“Is it because Zhuang Hao is interested in the Evil Doctor?”

Qi Shaorong shot him a look. “Don’t joke. I told Zhuang Hao the Evil Doctor is seventy years old.”

“That didn’t seem to matter to him. Honestly, the fifty-year age gap doesn’t mean much. I think Zhuang Hao is serious. Yi Chuxue even found out he likes the Evil Doctor, which is why she’s been causing you so much trouble.”

Qi Shaorong laughed mockingly. “You’re reading too much into it. Zhuang Hao is just infatuated; it’s no more than that.”

“Impressive! You didn’t even show your face, yet you’re already a ‘seductive vixen,’” Yi Fan teased.

“Enough about me! I heard Mu Xuelan is staying at your place?”

Yi Fan nodded. “Yeah. She’s a strange one. For someone without any backbone, she got angry when the Second Prince chose someone else and came to me. Yet for someone supposedly independent, she’s just staying at my place because she has nowhere else to go.”

“I suppose life can wear down even those who seem strong,” Qi Shaorong said with a sigh.

“By the way, you’ll be starting classes soon,” Yi Fan reminded him.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes. I suppose you’d know about it as my senior. Do you have any advice?”

“To be honest, I didn’t do that well myself, so I’m not sure I can give you any great advice. But one thing’s clear: the dean at Tianlan Academy favors the commoner students. If nobles clash with commoners, the dean usually sides with the commoners. So you might want to avoid conflicts with them, given you’re a Qi family member.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Noted. The dean certainly sounds biased! Do you know what classes the Special Class offers?”

“The Special Class is made up of noble kids with… let’s say, limited talent. The academy offers various elective courses.”

“For example, there are courses on emergency medical skills, herbalism for identifying medicinal plants, artifact identification, and commerce for those managing family businesses. Actually, a number of business talents have come from the Special Class.”

Qi Shaorong laughed. “The academy seems to cater to students’ needs quite well.”

“They have to. Getting funding from these wealthy families isn’t easy, and while everyone knows the Special Class is a place for noble kids to earn some credentials, if they don’t provide something useful, even the wealthiest won’t keep paying,” Yi Fan explained.

Qi Shaorong looked at Yi Fan. “If I wanted to skip classes, could I?”

“Of course! Tianlan Academy is quite lenient. You can skip classes as long as you select eight elective courses and pass the assessments at the end of the term. If you don’t pass, you can pay 5,000 gold coins per subject to… get by.”

Qi Shaorong looked curious. “Five thousand per subject? So it’s all aboveboard?”

Yi Fan nodded. “Yes, all aboveboard.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Yi Fan chuckled. “Special Class was set up as a cash cow for the academy. Many students come from wealthy families, but 5,000 gold coins per subject is still a luxury for most. Even the wealthiest families only give their younger members a modest allowance.”

“True. Not everyone has the fortune to amass a business empire at a young age.”

Qi Shaorong dismissed this with a wave. “I’m not even close. There will be plenty of chances to make a fortune.”

Yi Fan laughed. “I look forward to getting rich alongside you.”

…

Arriving at the academy, Qi Shaorong carried his belongings to his dorm.

Beside him, Qi Shaoru talked incessantly. “Fourth Brother, Father spent a fortune to get you into Tianlan Academy. You’d better behave yourself! If you manage to graduate, Father might even find you a good match. It may not be as good as Zhuang Hao, but at least someone decent.”

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes. Did she really think he was a woman who could only marry up? While it was common for men to marry into higher-status families, he could still have a wife if he wanted.

Qi Shaorong stopped, looking at her. “Fifth Sister, I can handle myself. There’s no need for you to tag along.”

She glared at him. “As if I wanted to! If not for Father’s orders, I’d have nothing to do with you. Honestly, the Special Class is full of failures, but even among them, being a martial-arts dropout like you is rare. Fourth Brother, remember, if you cause trouble, no one in the family will step in.”

Qi Shaorong took a deep breath and replied, “Yes, yes, you’ve said that a hundred times already. Aren’t you tired of it?”

Qi Shaoru: “…”

“I heard the Evil Doctor is missing,” Qi Shaoru said nonchalantly.

Qi Shaorong paused. Finally, after all her nagging, she got to her real purpose. “He went traveling.”

“Where did he go?”

Qi Shaorong shrugged. “The Evil Doctor enjoys freedom. Where would he stay put?”

Qi Shaoru: “…”