Xie Family Ancestral Hall.
“Kneel down!”
The dim lights illuminated the names on the wooden signs. The layers of tablets from top to bottom seemed to be looking down at everything below. Although Xie Yang had knelt here countless times since he was a child, he still didn't like the environment here. It was almost summer, but it was still cold and gloomy here, which made people feel uncomfortable.
However, after following his grandfather to burn incense in front of the ancestral tablet, when Xie Yang heard those two words, he still knelt very neatly.
Fortunately, his mother heard that his grandfather had brought him back from the Imperial College and quickly sent a maid to bring him a pair of trousers. Although the trousers were thicker and warmer, they were not uncomfortable for him to kneel down.
He knew his grandfather would be angry when he saw the irrelevant things he wrote, but he didn't expect him to be so angry. He actually brought him back from the Imperial College and took him straight to the ancestral hall to make him kneel down as punishment.
I don’t know how long he will be forced to kneel this time.
Three days, five days?
Seeing how angry his grandfather was today, Xie Yang estimated that it would take a little longer.
He was even beginning to feel pain in his knees.
It happened that Xie's father was on leave today. When he heard that his son was taken back from the school by the old master, he was driven by his wife to plead for mercy before he could find out the reason. Xie's father said, "I don't know what trouble this kid has caused in the school again," "He should be properly disciplined," but he was honestly rushing to the ancestral hall without even having time to change his clothes.
When they arrived at the ancestral hall and saw his own father's face, Father Xie fell silent, which was unusual for him.
Xie's mother, who came with them, saw her son kneeling in the ancestral hall as soon as she came in. She was so distressed that her eyes immediately turned red. She quickly winked at her husband, but Xie's father seemed not to see anything and did not react at all.
Xie's mother became a little anxious. She glared at her husband and wanted to go forward herself, but was stopped by Xie's father.
The middle-aged man, who still had the handsome appearance of his youth, no longer had his usual gentle smile. He shook his head at his wife with a serious face.
Xie's mother's heart skipped a beat.
She was the mistress of the Xie family who was carefully selected. She was not an unreasonable person. Although she doted on her only son who had been waiting for more than ten years, she knew that there were some things she could not interfere with. Mother Xie did not want her only son to become a dragon or a phoenix, but she also did not want him to get into trouble because of his arrogant and lawless nature. Therefore, although she loved her son, she knew that sometimes she needed to remain silent.
Xie's mother clenched her fist in her sleeve, and her carefully cared nails dug into the flesh.
I just don’t know what mistake Ayang made this time to make his father-in-law so angry.
Of course Xie Yang heard the sound of his parents coming in, but since they didn't say anything after they came in, he knew that he had gotten into big trouble this time.
But this shouldn’t be the case…
In fact, Xie Yang had long realized that neither his parents nor his grandfather had any expectations of him making a name for himself. Keeping a low profile and lying dormant at the right time was the principle of these aristocratic families for thousands of years. Just as his father still held an unimportant honorary position, Xie Yang guessed that his future would be the same.
Even his grandfather, who was the strictest towards him, only required him to have good character and was not too demanding in terms of his academics.
So Xie Yang was at most a little guilty about being caught on the spot, but he never thought that he would make his grandfather really angry, to the point where even his parents didn't dare to plead for mercy. He still remembered that the last time this happened, he was young and didn't know how to control the severity of his actions, and almost hurt the life of a child from the Xie family's side branch.
…
Master Xie turned around and glanced at his son and daughter-in-law who had rushed over. His face was tense and his eyes were heavy, and no one knew what he was thinking.
After a long while, he hit the ground twice with the nanmu cane in his hand and said in a deep voice: "Please use the family rules."
Hearing these three words, Xie's mother almost fell down, and even Xie's father shouted, "Dad?!"
Old Master Xie remained unmoved.
Xie Yang, who was kneeling, was also a little anxious. He knew that what he did was wrong, but it was not the case that he would be punished by the family. It was not the first time that his grandfather saw him not doing his job properly, and he had never been so angry.
He thought about it and guessed that the fight with his classmates might be the problem.
But when it comes to this, Xie Yang is really wronged.
Although he still maintained his kneeling position, he could not help but straighten his back and stiffen his neck to defend himself to his grandfather: "Yao Guining was the first to attack!! I was just responding to him!!!"
Hearing this, Old Master Xie looked at Xie Yang with his eyelids drooped.
There was no emotion in it, and there was even a hint of disappointment.
Xie Yang couldn't help but open his eyes wide——
Grandfather...are you not believing him?
A feeling of grievance suddenly surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but repeat it loudly again: "Yao Guining was the first to attack! Not me!! I am not wrong!!"
Grand Tutor Xie remained completely indifferent. He tapped the ground a few more times with his golden nanmu cane, silently urging the servant standing beside him.
Xie Yang bit his lower lip tightly.
Deep down, he was filled with shock, anger, and resentment, and even thought that after returning to the Imperial College, he would find an opportunity to beat Yao Guining up, so that he would not suffer such an injustice in vain.
Wooden sticks as thick as bowls were held in the hands of several tall and strong servants, but the men holding the sticks looked at each other, and no one dared to go and pull the treasure of the Xie family.
It was unknown what this scene reminded Master Xie of. The veins on the hand that was clenching the end of the crutch bulged and it was even trembling slightly.
He closed his eyes tightly and said to his grandson, "Go by yourself."
Xie Yang let out a heavy breath after hearing this. He stood up with great force, lowered his head without looking at his grandfather, walked to the bench with heavy steps, and climbed up with great force, causing the entire bench to clang loudly.
Father Xie repeatedly winked at the servants holding sticks. Mother Xie's nails, which were hidden in her sleeves, had been broken by herself long ago. Along with the blood on her fingers, tear marks flowed down her face.
Her body was swaying and she almost fell down several times.
Xie's father supported his wife, turned around and whispered, "Send the lady back." But Xie's mother waved away the servants who came, and she stood up straight.
With the dull sound of the stick hitting the flesh, Xie's mother's tears fell one by one like a broken string. Xie's father could not help but turn his head away, unable to bear to watch.
But Old Master Xie just stared at her intently, his eyes never blinking.
Xie Yang was not convinced and stood in confrontation with his grandfather with his neck stiff, but his heart skipped a beat when he saw a tear in the corner of the old man's eye.
Grandfather, is he crying?!
Did he really make his grandfather so angry this time?!
For a moment, all his grievance and anger turned into panic and helplessness, and he hurriedly looked away.
——He was wrong, he was wrong, okay?!
At worst, if he meets Yao Guining in the future, he will just avoid her! !
Xie Yang opened his mouth, but what came out was an uncontrollable, suppressed cry of pain, and the sound of his mother's convulsed inhalation behind him.
Xie Yang had no choice but to shut up.
He knew his grandfather's character. He would hit him as hard as he said. He would never hit him less because of his begging. At this moment, he might as well shut up and get through it. Anyway... it didn't hurt... well, it hurt a little bit.
The wooden stick drew a sharp arc in the air, but when it landed on Xie Yang, there wasn't much force left.
Everyone knew that this was the treasure of the Xie family, and with Xie's father and mother watching him closely, who would dare to use force? If this young master was beaten to death, their entire family would be buried with him.
That's why Xie Yang had time to think about this and that. If he had really been hit with a real stick, the delicate young master would have been unconscious long ago.
Although Xie Yang avoided the sight, he still felt the heavy gaze falling on him.
It was like looking at him, but also like looking at someone else through him.
Xie Yang couldn't help but look up again. The meaning in the old man's eyes was too complicated for him to see clearly.
With this look, Xie Yang almost thought that his grandfather was going to call a halt or step forward to stop him, but he didn't.
Until the beating stopped, his mother rushed to his side with tears in her eyes, but his grandfather was still watching him motionlessly, just watching.
——Who is grandpa looking at?
This sudden doubt was interrupted by his mother's sobbing, and Xie Yang had to speak slowly to comfort his mother.
He thought that today's matter was over. Even Xie's mother had called for someone to take her son back to the room, but unexpectedly -
"Kneel down."
This time, Xie's mother finally couldn't bear it anymore. She ignored her husband's previous attempts to stop her and cried, "Dad! Ayang just got beaten. He can't kneel anymore!"
Mr. Xie hesitated for a moment. Although he realized that his father was determined, he couldn't help but dissuade his son when he saw his son's miserable condition.
Grand Tutor Xie remained unmoved.
No one could shake the old man's authority in the Xie family. Even if Xie's father and mother were extremely unwilling, they could only watch their son kneel before the ancestor tablets again with injuries all over his body and breathing hoarsely.
Xie's mother could hardly hold back her tears and fell into her husband's arms, covering her face with her hands.
When Mr. Xie looked at his own father, he couldn't help but feel some resentment in his eyes.
Then, I saw the old man, leaning on a crutch, moving slowly towards his son.
The old man lifted his clothes and slowly bent his knees...
"father--?!"
"grandfather!!!"
The trouble caused by the noble families in the capital has little to do with Chu Lu for the time being. His plans are going smoothly. It should be said that with the Northern Army around, the small fish and shrimp sent by King Jingning pose no threat at all.
Instead of worrying about those things, he might as well worry about himself, so as to avoid being discovered by Qin Bi and being held accountable for his father's debt.
Staying in Chenshan Academy is indeed a good choice. He doesn't have to hide in Kuangxi City.
Chu Lu counted with his fingers. It had been three days since the news of "the bandits were suppressed" reached the mountain. Even if the finishing touches were counted, the matter should be almost resolved. According to Qin Bi's personality, he would not stay here for long. He would probably leave in the next two days.
But to be on the safe side, Chu Lu decided to stay in the academy for another three days before leaving.
In fact, Chu Lu was not in a hurry along the way. After all, the temple was there and the monk would not run away. The system on his body kept muttering "vacation, vacation" in the host's ear, which made people not nervous at all.
In fact, if Chai Zhu had not been accidentally involved in King Jingning's affairs, they might have taken a detour to Juzhou to see the magnificent scenery of Jushan Mountain. However, it seems nice to just look at the beautiful mountains and rivers in the forest now.
With Su Qingzhi always in his ears, Chu Lu actually felt that this place was pretty good.
However, Su Qingzhi's flattery about the location of the academy unexpectedly won the system's favor, and the system reminded the host several times to be nice to this child.
There was no need for the system to remind him specifically, as Chu Lu had a good impression of the other party. He thought he was a good kid with an upright character.
It's just...it would be better if I could be less persistent in some areas.
Ever since he discovered Chu Lu's exceptional ability in copying, his extracurricular activity became taking Chu Lu around the academy, looking for the calligraphy works left by Prime Minister Huo, and then having Chu Lu copy a copy for his collection.
Chu Lu: "..."
To be honest, he himself didn't even remember that he had left so many words here.
Maybe there weren't that many at the beginning, but teachers and students added to the pile year after year...
Because of his wrong assessment of the situation and his promise too easily, Chu Lu had been dragged around the academy these days. But if you have to say, he didn't find it troublesome. After all, what he was copying was his own handwriting, so it was not difficult for him.
Su Qingzhi, on the other hand, couldn't help but sigh with happiness as he looked at his growing collection.
"As expected of you, Brother Yan. This handwriting is almost indistinguishable from the real thing."
Chu Lu: "..."
Actually, if you want, it’s okay to take it seriously.
At this moment, Chu Lu was waiting in Su Qingzhi's house. It was not the first time he saw this house full of words, but he still felt uncomfortable with it.
Although there is nothing to decorate here, the ink creates a sense of crowding.
Chu Lu couldn't help but wonder: Will I really not have nightmares if I sleep in a house like this?
However, Su Qingzhi obviously did not have this problem. He looked around the room and finally found a new space to hang the painting. He hung the scroll in his hand with the ink not yet dried. Then he turned around and urged Chu Lu to hurry to the lecture hall.
Chu Lu's current appearance and age are similar to those of the students. After changing into similar clothes, he has been mistaken for a student by the teachers in the academy several times. Su Qingzhi and the others thought it was funny and playful, so they directly dragged Chu Lu out to attend classes with them.
Chu Lu had no choice but to change into a long gown and blend into the crowd, making it impossible to distinguish him for a while.
The teacher called his name several times during class. His unfamiliar face caused his classmates to look at him in confusion, while those who knew the inside story laughed so hard that their shoulders and backs shook, and were hit on the head several times by the teacher with a scroll.
Chu Lu cooperated with them for a few times, but later felt that they were just making a fuss, so he refused to go to the same dormitory with them.
But at this moment he was somewhat grateful for Su Qingzhi's suggestion.
Just to the side of their direction, a mountain chief with a white beard was leading two people forward.
Su Qingzhi also saw those shadows. After looking around for a while, he recognized the people and couldn't help but gloat over their misfortune: "What kind of trouble has Liu Changting gotten himself into again? He even asked the headmaster to invite his father here."
After a pause, he continued, "...The guard next to Prefect Liu is really majestic. Liu Changting is probably no match for him carrying him with one hand."
Hearing Su Qingzhi's words, Chu Lu couldn't help but turn his head to look at him, his expression complicated for a moment.
——Guard?
Su Qingzhi had such a shortsightedness that it was not unfair for him to get beaten up in the alley behind the teahouse.
Chu Lu looked at the young man next to him, who was full of excitement and seemed eager to get closer to watch the fun. He couldn't help but gently pull him and whispered to remind him: "Let's go, it's almost late."
Su Qingzhi came back to his senses with an "Oh oh oh", his heart full of regret that he could not go over to join in the fun. For a moment he didn't even notice the slightly solemn expression of his companion next to him.
Chu Lu lowered his head slightly, but his brows were furrowed.
——Qin Bi?
How did he get here?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com