Chapter 139: The Child Who Took the Fall for the Master

Xie Hui crouched down beside the child, patiently asking, “Daddy found a job that can earn more money. Why isn’t Hong’er happy?”

Hearing his father’s gentle tone, Xie Hong couldn’t help but reflect on whether he was being unreasonable. His father finding a new job was clearly something to be happy about.

“Daddy, being a steward must be hard work, right…”

He often saw adults scolding his father for not doing well, even joining the young master in calling him a lowly servant.

Xie Hui reached out and ruffled his son’s hair, looking into the child’s worried eyes. He suspected that his son wasn’t being entirely truthful. While the concern for his father’s hardship was genuine, there was also a fear of returning to how things had been before.

Children aren’t completely clueless, especially in less-than-ideal living conditions, which can push them to grow up faster.

“It won’t be too hard. This time, the master only hired me to manage the shops outside, not to serve others.”

There are many types of stewards, some manage the household for the lady of the house, others handle the shops and accounts. Entruster had done both at Lord Wang’s residence, but unfortunately, the monthly pay wasn’t any better.

“Hmm? Daddy can’t lie to Hong’er.”

Xie Hui extended his hand to his son, making a pinky promise with him. “Daddy promises not to lie to Hong’er.”

The next day, Xie Hui changed into a more presentable outfit. At his age, he wasn’t trying to look particularly dashing, but dressing neatly and honestly could put the master at ease.

When he arrived, he found the gate quite imposing. Xie Hui stepped forward and knocked.

“Hey, coming, coming.”

The servant who opened the door yawned and, remembering what Nanny Song had mentioned, asked, “Are you the steward Nanny Song spoke of?”

Xie Hui bowed slightly, smiling as he nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Then come in, the Nanny has been waiting.”

Hearing the title ‘Nanny,’ Xie Hui’s eyes flickered. In this world, ‘Nanny’ wasn’t a title just any old woman could have; it was usually reserved for someone who had served in the palace.

The servant led Xie Hui inside, where Nanny Song had already prepared some account books. She had asked around and confirmed that the Wang Family’s former steward was indeed reliable and competent. It seemed he had been implicated by the Wang Family’s troubles, making others hesitant to hire him, forcing him to work in a tavern as an accountant.

Seeing the pile of account books, Xie Hui understood Nanny Song’s intention. He sat at the desk, opened the books, and began organizing them with an abacus. Entruster had discovered a method of bookkeeping that was much simpler, and Xie Hui used it now. Before lunchtime, he had already sorted the accounts.

He placed the newly copied accounts in a neat stack on the desk’s upper right corner. After finishing, Xie Hui stood up and nodded slightly at Nanny Song.

Nanny Song walked over and opened one of the books. Her first impression was that the accounts were beautifully presented. After verifying their accuracy, she discussed the monthly salary with Xie Hui and decided to keep him on.

After working for this family for half a month, Xie Hui learned their true identity. There were no adults in this household; the master was just a one-year-old child.

The child’s mother was a princess, a consort of the late emperor. Because her mother was not favored, she too was disliked by the emperor. Her husband was a second-place scholar appointed by the emperor at random.

When the princess was pregnant, the consort brought a courtesan home, angering the princess into an early death during childbirth.

Though the current emperor had little contact with this sister, he felt the consort’s actions disgraced the royal family and, in a fit of rage, exiled the consort’s entire family.

No one considered how to properly care for such a young child. Now, the princess’s wet nurse, Nanny Song, was raising him.

Fortunately, though the princess was gone, she left behind some properties and shops.

Nanny Song wasn’t the true master of the house; the only one who could truly make decisions was the child who hadn’t even learned to walk. Xie Hui, working as a steward here, found the days quite leisurely.

Nanny Song was generous, never stingy with the salaries for the servants. Moreover, Xie Hui managed the shops well, replacing all the dishonest managers, making the monthly account checks much easier.

While things were comfortable on that front, Xie Hong was starting to give him a headache.

Previously, when Entruster treated him poorly, he was cautious, afraid of causing trouble. Coupled with being bullied by Wang Song, he was introverted and somewhat timid.

But after two years of school, he had become overly lively.

One day, when Xie Hui returned from the master’s house, he opened the door to see the child climbing a ladder against the wall.

Afraid that calling out would startle him, Xie Hui quietly approached. Unexpectedly, the little rascal lost his footing, slipping off the ladder. Xie Hui rushed forward just in time to catch him.

“Three days without a beating, and you’re tearing the roof off?”

Xie Hong was initially frightened by the fall, but when he realized he wasn’t hurt and saw it was his father, his heart began to race again.

“Daddy, I just wanted to climb higher to see when you’d come home…”

As he spoke, Xie Hong’s voice grew softer, almost inaudible by the end. He hung his head, and when his father set him down, he stole a glance at him, only to meet his father’s stern gaze, causing him to shrink back.

“Look at the other students; none of them are climbing trees or walls like you.”

Hearing this, Xie Hong disagreed, retorting, “The teacher said that even scholars shouldn’t stay indoors reading all the time. Every year during the Imperial Examination, many scholars are carried out.”

After becoming a student, the teacher had taken Xie Hong as a disciple, and now he quoted his teacher at every turn.

“Did the teacher ever say you should climb trees, ladders, and walls every day, acting like a wild child?”

Xie Hong, who had been speaking confidently with one hand behind his back, wilted at his father’s words.

“The teacher never said that.”

Not only did he not say that, but he also said that scholars should behave like scholars, knowing and observing the rules. If the teacher saw him like this, he would certainly be scolded.

“Alright, just this once.”

Xie Hui couldn’t bring himself to scold him, leaving only a gentle reminder. After speaking, he went inside and poured himself a cup of tea.

Knowing he was at fault, Xie Hong went to the study, fetched a book, and began pacing the courtyard, reciting it.

The sun was still up, casting its glow on Xie Hong’s deep blue clothes. Watching him, Xie Hui took another sip of water to calm himself.

The child now showed no trace of his former self. Previously, Xie Hong, forced to follow Wang Song, was bullied to the point of being thin and malnourished.

Now, he was chubby and wore the deep blue uniform of all the students at the school. His demeanor wasn’t particularly outstanding, but he certainly looked like a scholar.

For an ordinary family’s child, this was already quite good. Xie Hui didn’t demand exceptional achievements from him.

Xie Hong continued reading in the courtyard until the sun set behind the hills. The old woman working for them came out to announce that dinner was ready, prompting Xie Hui to stand and join them.

Perhaps due to his recent misstep, Xie Hong was particularly eager to help, bringing a chair for his father.

“Dad, are you going to the Young Master’s house again tomorrow?”

Xie Hui rolled his eyes at his son’s question. “When do I not go?”

The child seemed to ask questions just to see if his father was still upset with him.

Reflecting on his question, Xie Hong realized it was indeed odd and quietly lowered his head to eat.

From his father’s response, he could tell he wasn’t angry.

If his father hadn’t been there, falling from that ladder would have left him bedridden for days. For an active child like Xie Hong, that would have been the harshest punishment.

After dinner, Xie Hong was still restless. He lit a candle, propped his elbows on the table, rested his chin in his palm, and started talking to his father about the amusing events at school.

“Oh, Father, the teacher said that once I pass the Xiucai exam, I can take his letter of recommendation and study at an academy outside the city. They say even the worst students from that academy end up becoming Juren.”

Xie Hui, who was sipping tea with his head down, looked up when he heard this. He unintentionally met his son’s eyes, filled with hope, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

“Then I’ll be waiting to be the father of a Juren official.”

Xie Hong was about to modestly say that he hadn’t even passed the Xiucai exam yet, but hearing his father’s words, he felt so affirmed that he chuckled twice and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, I’ll definitely work hard!”

Xie Hui didn’t dampen his son’s enthusiasm. Just as he put down his teacup and reached out his hand, Xie Hong instinctively leaned his head over and rubbed it against his father’s palm.

“Keep it up.”

The night was long, and Xie Hong was truly bored. He ignored his father’s repeated urging to go to bed and pulled something out from beside him.

“Father, will you play chess with me? No one at school wants to play with me.”

It was rare for this boy to act so coy with him, and Xie Hui, for once, didn’t go to bed at the usual time. Instead, he lit another candle.

Under the dim glow of the candlelight, Xie Hui held the black pieces. At first, he didn’t notice anything unusual, but later he saw his son sneakily moving a piece with his pinky, thinking he wouldn’t notice. This made the veins on Xie Hui’s forehead twitch with irritation.

“Xie Hong!”