“Find a teacher? Don’t tell me you mean me?” Shen Shixu pointed at his own nose in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock, looking to Xiao Jinyi like a startled rabbit.
No Shen Shixu was far too clever for that. More like a startled fox.
Duke An nodded matter-of-factly at his words. “Of course it’s you. Who else here has such fine learning?”
Shen Shixu waved his hands so fast they blurred, flustered to the point that his face flushed red. “No, no, I couldn’t possibly be anyone’s teacher. How many years have I even studied? I’m hardly qualified to teach anyone. Duke, you’d better find someone else!”
Seeing that Shen Shixu wasn’t unwilling to take a student but simply worried he wouldn’t teach well, Duke An considered this a non-issue.
“Lord Shen, no need to sell yourself short. You became the top scholar at such a young age, your learning is more than sufficient.
As for ability, you’re outstanding. This old man has already heard how you solved a case in just three days.
And as for character, since Prince Jing is willing to be your friend, there’s no need to say more. Entrusting my little grandson to you, this old man is at ease.”
Shen Shixu met Duke An’s trusting gaze and felt at a loss, not knowing where to put his hands.
Seeing his discomfort, Duke An pressed further, playing the emotional card. “The House of Duke An now has only this one lone sprig. This old man doesn’t ask that he achieve great things or glorify our house, I only ask that he live a safe, smooth, and happy life.
I hired tutors for him before, but they were all too rigid, and he wasn’t happy learning from them, so I stopped his lessons.
That’s partly why I’ve come to beg Lord Shen. Being young yourself, you won’t provoke any resistance in the child and besides, he admires you greatly.
Ever since he learned you were the one who saved him, he’s wanted to come see you every day. It’s only his mother and aunt who won’t let him out, or he’d have come along with me today.
And Lord Shen needn’t worry, if you fear teaching him poorly and my blaming you, don’t. I only wish for him to be safe and happy. I don’t need him to accomplish anything great.”
Shen Shixu knew of the House of Duke An, a family of unwavering loyalty. Three years ago, Duke An’s last child had died on the battlefield.
From then on, the entire household consisted only of the aged Duke An, two widowed daughters-in-law, and a grandson not yet ten years old.
At this thought, Shen Shixu’s resolve wavered. But just as he was about to agree, 011 spoke up before he could.
[Bro! I’ve got the truth about how your future student was kidnapped. Your little student didn’t wander out to play and get snatched by traffickers by accident, he was deliberately sold.]
Only three people in the courtyard could hear Shen Shixu’s inner voice: Xiao Jinyi, Duke An, and Shen Zexi.
Xiao Jinyi had heard it before, so nothing surprised him. Duke An had also heard about it from his friend; he froze for a moment upon hearing it, then quickly composed himself.
Only Shen Zexi was hearing it for the first time. Shocked, he opened his mouth to say something, only to find that no words would come out.
Just as he was wondering who the “older brother” this unfamiliar voice was referring to, he heard a familiar voice. 【Hmm? What’s going on? Judging by today’s events, the Duke of An clearly cares deeply about his grandson. How could anyone have sold the child right under his nose?】
011 said with some sighing: 【The Duke of An does treasure that grandson, but while external thieves are easy to guard against, thieves within the family are not! The one who sold your future disciple was none other than the nephew the Duke of An trusted most.
That nephew was the son of the Duke of An’s elder sister. The sister died young, leaving behind only this one child, and since the Duke of An had been very close to her, he took the boy in out of pity and raised him at his side.
He cared for him for over twenty years, and at first things were quite harmonious. The nephew got along well with the Duke of An’s two sons. Though he was suited neither for martial training nor for scholarship, he followed his father’s side of the family into commerce and actually made quite a name for himself.
The problem arose after the Duke of An’s two sons died in battle. The vast ducal estate was left with only the aged Duke, two widowed women, and one child.
Gradually, greed took root in the nephew’s heart. He reasoned that he too carried the blood of the ducal house, and so ought to have a claim to the title.
Rather than let the title pass to a child who might not even survive to grow up, why not hand it over to him instead? At first it was just a thought, but as time passed, that thought grew larger and larger, until finally it drove him to act.
He had contacted human traffickers, intending to have your future disciple sold as far away as possible. Who knew there would be a slip-up along the way?
The man he arranged for grabbed the wrong child, which was how you happened to rescue him. Otherwise, according to the young heir’s original fate line, he would already have been drowned by now.
In that case, big brother, you two are quite fated to meet!】
The Duke of An committed every word 011 said to memory. With his hands clasped behind his back, his clenched fists bulged with veins, and his heart was filled with murderous intent.
He was a man retired from the battlefield, and as the killing intent churned within him, some of that aura inevitably leaked out. Before Shen Shixu could notice, Xiao Jinyi coughed lightly into his fist, reminding the Duke of An to restrain himself.
Only then did the Duke of An snap out of it and rein in his aura, though the murderous intent in his heart remained undiminished. He was simply waiting to go back and cut that ungrateful, treacherous wretch down with a single blade.
Having heard 011’s account, Shen Shixu felt deep pity for the child he had personally saved. He had already intended to take the boy as his disciple, and after all this, he wanted even more to keep the child under his wing.
“Since the Duke of An has put it that way, I’ll take him. Rest assured, I will teach him well.”
The Duke of An finally felt at ease. To find such a fine teacher for his grandson, truly it was a blessing earned over three lifetimes for the House of the Duke of An.
“Then thank you truly, Lord Shen. Please accept these modest gifts, they are both a token of gratitude for saving his life and a gift for taking him as your disciple. On your next day of rest, I will bring my little grandson here to perform the formal discipleship ceremony.
If there’s nothing else, this old man will take his leave.”
The Duke of An was anxious to return and deal with Luo Kun. Having settled with Shen Shixu to bring An Chengyu for the discipleship ceremony in two days, he took his leave and departed.
“I should be heading off too. My brother sent for me, there’s something he needs. Let’s get together again next time.” Xiao Jinyi recalled that Xiao Yuanqi had sent a messenger that morning, asking him to come to the palace in the afternoon. Judging by the hour, it was about time. He planned to go to the palace to see what was going on, and take the opportunity to have the imperial physician check his pulse.
Shen Shixu nodded in agreement. “All right, next time then. We’ll drink until we’re thoroughly drunk.”