Chapter 136: The Child Who Took the Fall for the Master

Xie Hui respected every Entruster who came to him, carefully inquiring about their every request, even if it was completely contrary to what he believed was right.

“Are there any other additional conditions?”

Considering that this old man came from a feudal society, Xie Hui thoughtfully reminded him, “For example, do you want a house full of descendants?”

Xie Hui never thought that having children was a bad thing. In fact, he quite liked kids and found great joy in raising other people’s children.

The old man pondered for a long time after hearing this, then shook his head with a frown.

“Forget it. I’m not someone who can’t adapt. A hundred years from now, I’ll just be a handful of yellow earth. Even if someone offers sacrifices during festivals, I might not even know. What good is a house full of descendants? Can they cry out and give me a couple more years when I die?”

“If it weren’t for the fact that it was the dying wish of the Master and Old Madam, I wouldn’t have bothered to play the villain and be disliked.”

After clarifying everything, Xie Hui entered the mission world. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a little boy, about four or five years old, clinging to his leg, looking up at him with tearful eyes.

“Papa, Hong’er will be good. Please don’t abandon Hong’er, okay?”

The boy’s skin wasn’t smooth, even a bit rough, and though he wore fine clothes, he didn’t look like a rich kid. Instead, there was a strong sense of incongruity.

The moment Xie Hui arrived in this world, he received all the Entruster’s memories. He knew that the Entruster had beaten his own son into unconsciousness to prevent the soldiers from discovering anything amiss.

At that moment, Xie Hui turned his head and saw the Young Master sitting there drinking tea—the very one who would ultimately starve the Entruster to death.

Sensing Xie Hui’s gaze, the Young Master lifted his head with an arrogant expression, certain that the steward who had watched him grow up would treat him well and take him away as instructed by his father.

Xie Hui decisively picked up his son, wiped his tears away, and, under the boy’s confused gaze, ran out with him.

Wang Song panicked when he saw the steward leaving with the child and quickly stood up to block the door.

“Steward Xie! Weren’t you supposed to take me with you?”

Wang Song had overheard the steward telling his nursemaid that he planned to substitute his playmate, Xie Hong, in his place, allowing him to live as Xie Hong.

Although he looked down on the status of Xie Hong, the steward’s son, he knew from his grandmother that with his current identity, he was destined to die.

“Steward Xie, have you forgotten the kindness my father showed you?”

The pampered Young Master still had a bit of baby fat on his face, making him look endearing despite his attitude.

Unfortunately, Xie Hui’s mind was filled with images of the grown-up Young Master locking the Entruster in a thatched hut, starving him to death while cursing him every day. No matter how cute the child was, Xie Hui felt no sympathy.

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget. In the next life, I’ll repay the Master’s kindness by working like an ox or a horse.”

With that, Xie Hui ignored the Young Master’s changing expression, carried his son, and continued to run.

The family had committed a grave mistake. The Master had followed a prince, hoping to gain merit by supporting the dragon, but after the rebellion failed and the truth was revealed, they were sentenced to execution.

Fortunately, the original Entruster wasn’t one of their slaves but a commoner in the household registry, merely working for the family. It was this status that allowed the Entruster to take the Young Master away so smoothly.

As soon as Xie Hui ran out of the Prefect’s Mansion, he was stopped by a soldier. The soldier looked at the child in his arms and sternly asked, “Who is this child you’re holding?”

Xie Hui had already thought of a plan before coming out, and he wore a flattering smile.

“Officer, this is my son.”

The soldier didn’t believe him and raised his hand, summoning several other soldiers who surrounded them, scrutinizing Xie Hui with suspicion.

“I heard the Wang Family has a five-year-old child.”

The child in Xie Hui’s arms looked to be about five years old, just as the soldier had heard.

“Officer, I just came in and greeted one of your colleagues not long ago. I’m the steward of the Wang Mansion, but I’m not a sold servant. This child I’m holding is indeed my son.”

As he spoke, Xie Hui put the child down, opened his rough hands, and showed them to the soldier.

“Officer, look, the Wang Family’s only grandson, Wang Song, has been pampered beyond measure. How could he have such rough hands?”

Xie Hong was a good-looking child, but he couldn’t carry off the fine clothes. Even dressed in luxurious garments, he still looked like a poor kid.

The soldier inspected carefully and, seeing that it was indeed as Xie Hui said, sheathed his sword with a frown.

“Go, go, quickly leave. Don’t get in the way of our work.”

“Thank you, officer.”

Xie Hui took the child to a small house in the Capital City that the Entruster had prepared. After locking the door from the inside, he turned to the tear-streaked child, took his hand, and led him inside.

The small house looked a bit shabby and old, but for the Entruster, it was the best he could afford.

“Papa, you’re not going to let Hong’er die in place of the Young Master, are you?”

Even after reaching this place, Xie Hong’s heart was still unsettled. He clung tightly to his father’s clothes, tears welling up again as he spoke.

Most children are afraid of death, even if they haven’t fully grasped the concept.

After turning three, this child was sent to the mansion by the Entruster to become Wang Song’s playmate. Wang Song, spoiled as he was, loved bullying Xie Hong, making him crawl on the ground like a horse, riding on him, and humiliating him with countless cruel acts.

Xie Hong had long understood that no matter what, he could never compare to the Young Master in his father’s heart. But he didn’t want to die; he was afraid of pain.

“The Young Master isn’t my biological son. Why would I let Hong’er die for him?”

Xie Hui’s words didn’t successfully comfort Xie Hong. Xie Hong tugged at the ill-fitting fine clothes he wore, and tears began to fall again.

“Then why did Papa make Hong’er wear the Young Master’s clothes?”

“Well, the master family is gone now, and those clothes would have been burned anyway. Papa doesn’t have the means to buy Hong’er new clothes, so why not secretly take his clothes? After all, he always bullied Papa’s Hong’er.”

Xie Hong stared blankly at his father, then stepped forward to hug his father’s leg, cautiously asking, “Papa, really?”

“Of course it’s true. Come, let’s see how our new home looks. Do you like it? Papa even prepared some things for you.”

Xie Hui, without a hint of guilt, claimed that everything the Entruster had prepared for Wang Song was actually for the little boy he was holding. After all, it was the Entruster’s money that paid for it.

“Wow, Papa, can we really live here? It’s so big!”

The Entruster had prepared the largest room for Wang Song, with excellent lighting, arranged several days in advance. Despite the effort, Wang Song had still found it too shabby.

Xie Hong let go of his father’s hand and ran around the room several times, then leaned on the windowsill, staring at a small pond outside, jumping with excitement.

“Papa, look, there are carp in the water, big red carp!”

Hearing his voice, Xie Hui walked over. The pond’s green water was bordered by a tree, its branches naturally drooping, swaying gently in the breeze.

After watching the carp for a while, Xie Hong turned back to the room. When he saw the desk, he paused, then turned to hug his father’s leg.

“Papa, Hong’er can’t read…”

The Entruster hadn’t valued this child and never arranged for him to learn, but Wang Song, as the pampered Young Master of the Wang Family, had a tutor from an early age.

Xie Hui looked at the little boy’s dejected expression, reached out to ruffle his hair, and led him to sit on the chair behind the desk.

“So what if you can’t read? Hong’er, after some time, when Daddy saves up a bit more money, I’ll send you to school.”

Sitting on the chair, Xie Hong’s feet dangled in the air due to his small size. The unfamiliar sensation made him nervously bite his lip as he turned his head to look at his father standing beside him. After a moment, he spoke:

“Daddy, going to school costs a lot of silver. It would be hard on you. Hong’er doesn’t need to go to school. When I grow up, I can help you with the burdens.”

Hearing such mature words from such a young child, Xie Hui felt his heart inexplicably soften.

“Right now, Daddy doesn’t need Hong’er to share the burdens. Going to school is the path to success. How can one be wise without reading?”

As long as there was a chance, Xie Hui wanted to send his child to study. Even if there wasn’t a chance, he would create one.

“But Hong’er heard the young master say… that children of stewards like me will grow up to serve others.”

“Does Hong’er want to serve others when he grows up?”

Xie Hong thought carefully, recalling the times he was bullied by the young master and his father was scolded by adults. He glanced at his father’s face, then shook his head.

Even if it meant being scolded by his father, he didn’t want to grow up to be someone who served others and endured grievances.

“If you don’t want that, then you must study hard.”

“Does studying mean I won’t have to serve others when I grow up, Daddy?”

“Yes, studying will ensure that.”

Xie Hui let him play by himself for a while and went outside to use the remaining silver from the Entruster to buy a few meat buns.

Over the years, most of the silver the Entruster saved was spent on buying that small house. Later, after taking Wang Song to the execution ground to see his father off, they were recognized and had to sell the house cheaply, moving to a remote mountain village.

As soon as Xie Hui opened the door, Xie Hong ran over eagerly, hugging his leg.

“Daddy, where did you go? I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

When he left, Xie Hui saw the little one engrossed in playing with the brush and ink, so he didn’t disturb him.

“Daddy went to buy some buns. How about having buns for dinner tonight, Hong’er?”

Xie Hong nodded, his gaze already fixed on the oil paper, the aroma of the buns making his stomach rumble.

“Hungry? Go wash your hands.”

By now, the sky had turned completely dark. Xie Hui took out a fire starter to light a candle, and by its dim light, he handed the buns to the child.

Xie Hong took a bite of the bun, and the taste of pork filling made him pause. He then offered the bitten bun to Xie Hui.

“Daddy, this is a meat bun. You have it.”

“Daddy bought all meat buns.”

After hearing his father’s words, Xie Hong was half-convinced. He watched carefully as his father took a bite, confirming that his father’s bun was also filled with meat, before he felt assured enough to take another bite.

The Entruster had only prepared one set of bedding in the house, so Xie Hui had to squeeze in with the child. Fortunately, the child was still young.

There weren’t many candles in the house, so after a simple wash, they went to bed. Just as Xie Hui closed his eyes to sleep, a small head popped out from under the covers.

Xie Hong thought about it carefully, and the more he thought, the sadder he felt. Once his head was out, he clumsily patted his father’s shoulder with his small hand.

“Daddy, don’t be sad. Hong’er is here with you.”

Xie Hui, tickled by the gesture, held the small hand in his palm. Though the child was young, his hands were already a bit rough.

“Why would Daddy be sad?”

Moonlight streamed through the still-open window, and by its light, Xie Hong propped his chin on his hands, staring at his father.

“Well, because grown-ups have things that make them unhappy.”

Xie Hui pulled the restless little one into his arms, gently patting his back, and casually replied:

“Right now, Daddy would only be sad if Hong’er doesn’t sleep properly.”

Young Xie Hong couldn’t tell it was a playful tease from his father and took it seriously, immediately closing his eyes.

“Daddy, Hong’er is closing his eyes and going to sleep now.”

“That’s right.”

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed, and the house showed more signs of life. Under the big tree, Xie Hong held a twig, earnestly practicing writing, though his strokes were wobbly.

When he heard the door open, he instantly tossed the twig aside and ran over quickly.

“Daddy.”

“Today, I saw some fresh fish. How about I cook fish for lunch?”

“Yes, yes!”

Xie Hong, like a little shadow, followed his father closely, his loose hair bouncing with every step.

During the meal, Xie Hui thought about what would happen the next day. He placed some fish into the little one’s bowl and said:

“Tomorrow, Daddy has some things to do. Would Hong’er stay home and be good?”