Seeing Madam Zhao’s expression, Wen Ning immediately knew what she was thinking. Half amused, half exasperated, she said: “Mother, what are you imagining? I don’t want to be a concubine, nor do I intend to stay in the Protector’s household forever. To be plain with you—he doesn’t care at all about the concubines in the rear courtyard.”
Hearing this, Madam Zhao finally relaxed a little, though her face was still full of doubt. “But… if that’s the case, how can you avoid being a concubine?”
Wen Ning smiled faintly. “I’ll find a way to make him release me from the household.”
Madam Zhao looked shocked. With her greater experience, she quickly thought of something. “Yaoyao… have you perhaps… negotiated something with the Protector?”
Wen Ning glanced at her in surprise. Her mother’s mind was sharper than she had expected. That was good—it saved her much explanation. Her lips curved higher. “Something like that. I can’t share the details, but just know I’ll find a way to leave the household. As for you and Yu’er in the Wen residence, I may not always be able to look after you. If anything happens, send someone to the Protector’s household for me immediately.”
She would try her best not to drag Madam Zhao and Wen Yu into her plans. Her fear was that if the Wen family remembered her and tried to use her, they might threaten her with her mother and brother. She could only hope the Wen family continued to forget her, leaving her to fade away as a useless burden.
Madam Zhao never imagined her daughter would dare to be so bold!
She quickly said: “Yaoyao, are you truly alright? A man like the Protector is not someone just anyone can negotiate with…”
More than wanting her daughter free, she feared her daughter might come to harm.
“Don’t worry, Mother. I know my limits.”
Wen Ning smiled reassuringly. “By the way, where is Yu’er? Didn’t he return just now?”
At the mention of Wen Yu, Madam Zhao’s face clouded with worry. She sighed deeply. “That child came back and immediately hid in his room. No matter how I called, he refused to come out.”
By rights, at his age, Wen Yu should already have his own courtyard. But Madam Yu had never raised the matter, so he continued to share the cramped Hexiang Pavilion with Madam Zhao.
Wen Ning frowned. “Has something happened with Yu’er recently?”
At her words, Madam Zhao exchanged a subtle glance with Aunt Hongxiu.
Wen Ning noticed, lifted her teacup, and sipped calmly. “Mother, when Sister Lan You came to deliver things, she always said you were both well. That was a lie, wasn’t it?”
“No, how could I lie to you? Your brother and I truly haven’t faced anything major.”
Madam Zhao bit her lip, then admitted: “Yu’er has been strange lately. About a month ago, he suddenly began skipping school, refusing to go to the academy. Several times, he came home with injuries. When I asked, he brushed it off, saying it was nothing. I suspect he’s been fighting at the academy. But since he won’t tell me, I have no way of knowing. The other day, I went to see his teacher, Master Cao. He complained endlessly, saying Yu’er’s studies were poor, his exam scores always hovering at the lowest level, and now he’s even skipping classes. He said if this continues, Yu’er might as well stop coming altogether. I asked if Yu’er had quarreled with anyone at the academy, but Master Cao couldn’t say.”
Aunt Hongxiu, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back her anger. “He didn’t just say he didn’t know! Between the lines, he clearly meant that a student like Sixth Young Master isn’t worth his attention! Hah—calling himself a teacher? With his attitude, how could he possibly teach the young master well?”
The more Wen Ning listened, the tighter her brows furrowed. No doubt—the boy had provoked someone. All the Wen sons were currently studying at Changle Academy, the most prestigious private school in Fenglin.
From Wen Shuyan’s words earlier, it seemed the one beating Wen Yu wasn’t him.
Besides Wen Shuyan and Wen Yu, three other Wen sons attended Changle: one from the second branch, a concubine’s son, and two legitimate twins from the third branch.
Given Wen Yu’s temperament, the only reason he would stubbornly refuse to speak was if the ones beating him were people he couldn’t afford to offend. Could it be the twin sons of the third branch? But those twins had always disdained associating with them.
Madam Zhao had worried over this for more than a month. Aunt Hongxiu, speaking, cast her a sympathetic glance. “Because of this, Madam hasn’t been able to eat or sleep. She’s grown thin.”
No wonder Wen Ning had found her mother more haggard than in the original’s memories.
Seeing Madam Zhao sigh again, Wen Ning thought for a moment and said:
“Mother, don’t worry. In the next few days, I’ll find time to visit Changle Academy myself.”
Madam Zhao shook her head. “But I’ve already gone to the academy…”
“This matter must be traced back to Yu’er himself. Don’t worry, Mother—I know what I’m doing.” Wen Ning comforted her with a few words, then stayed to share lunch, remaining until the sun was nearly setting before leaving.
During that time, Wen Yu only came out for the meal, still silent as stone, refusing to say what had happened to him.
Wen Ning decided not to press further. As she was about to leave, Wen Yu finally emerged again. Without a word, he walked up to Wen Ning and shoved a bulging pouch into her hands.
Wen Ning blinked. Feeling the weight, she realized it was filled with copper coins. Her brows knitted. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“For the past two years, all my supplies for the academy—brushes, ink, paper, inkstones—were paid for by you.”
Wen Yu spoke quietly. “And last winter, when Mother was ill, you not only paid for the medicine but also bought coal. I don’t have much silver, but I can at least repay a little.”
Normally, all expenses for the young masters’ schooling were covered by the household. But in the past two years, as Wen Yu grew older and more handsome, while Wen Shuyan grew fat and coarse, Madam Yu grew resentful. She began openly cutting Wen Yu’s allowance and supplies for the academy.
As for daily provisions in Hexiang Pavilion, they were often short as well. That might be tolerable—but coal in winter was a matter of survival.
Last year, the steward sent not only insufficient coal but also cheap black coal that filled the rooms with choking smoke.
The original Wen Ning had given them silver several times to make up for it.
“Why are you calculating all this with me?”Wen Ning immediately shoved the pouch back into Wen Yu’s hands, feigning anger. “You’re still young. Studying well is what matters most…”