“Big Brother, I’m just not cut out for studying! Can you put in a good word for me? Ask Mother to hire me a martial arts instructor instead?”
Sheng Mingbo pleaded eagerly, his face full of hope.
“Your affairs are your own. Speak to her yourself.”
Sheng Mingjian set down the book in his hands and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Mingbo stomped his foot in frustration. “But I already tried once, and Mother refused…”
“Then there’s nothing I can do.”
“I don’t believe that—you always have a way! Just help me out this once…”
“Not now. Maybe later.”
When Sheng Mingzhu arrived at Sheng Mingjian’s quarters, she found Mingbo already there.
The moment the two saw her expression, they rushed to her side.
“Waaah… Big Brother, Fifth Brother… Matron Tong is so scary…”
“Little Sister, what happened? Did Matron Tong bully you?”
Though Mingbo had a fiery temper, even he knew better than to act recklessly toward someone like Matron Tong. He didn’t immediately start shouting threats like he would with servants.
Mingjian, on the other hand, had heard rumors about Matron Tong’s strict teaching methods. He didn’t see anything wrong with it—after all, strict teachers produce outstanding students. If Mingzhu could endure a year or two of rigorous training, the benefits would last a lifetime.
He frowned slightly. “Little Sister, what exactly—”
Mingzhu was used to her eldest brother always taking her side, fussing over her and worrying about her. Seeing him now, looking almost disapproving, made her cry even harder, her breath hitching between sobs.
“Big Brother… you don’t care about me anymore…”
“Little Sister, of course I care…”
His heart aching, Mingjian pulled her into a gentle embrace, patting her back soothingly.
Qingxin, the maid waiting nearby, watched the scene with an odd feeling she couldn’t quite place.
There was something… off about it. She just couldn’t put her finger on what.
Ever since she was young, Qingxin had dreamed of climbing the social ladder, so she paid close attention to the men of the household.
Many servants praised the eldest young master for his intelligence, talent, and kindness.
She used to think so too—but after serving him these past few months, she’d begun to notice that his kindness might just be a facade.
Beneath that gentle demeanor, his eyes were always calculating, constantly weighing how much value others could bring him.
Even toward his own brothers and parents, his actions were laced with schemes.
The only exception was the sixth young miss. With her, he seemed genuine.
If possible, Qingxin would have preferred a kind-hearted, easily manipulated man.
But the Sheng family only had so many eligible men—the older ones were cunning foxes, the younger ones too immature, and one was chronically ill.
After much deliberation, she’d concluded that the eldest young master was her best chance at securing a comfortable future.
And since she’d already been assigned to serve him, she had no other choice.
Fortunately, the madam still favored her. As long as she remained useful in the madam’s eyes, she’d have a place by the eldest young master’s side—living a life of luxury and status.
And if she could bear him a child? Her future would be set.
Meanwhile, Qingtian, who had accompanied Mingzhu, was inwardly rolling her eyes while scrambling to think of a defense.
With the sixth young miss’s temper, she was definitely going to complain. The young masters wouldn’t dare confront Matron Tong, so she would be the one to suffer their wrath!
In her opinion, Matron Tong was nothing but professional. Strict? Yes. But what else could you expect?
The problem was the sixth young miss herself—she had no patience for hardship and even less talent.
She burned her hand making tea.
She still couldn’t master basic walking or greeting etiquette after three days of practice.
Even the lowest maids in the courtyard had picked it up just by watching!
Matron Tong had probably never encountered a student as hopeless as the sixth young miss. No wonder she’d finally lost her temper today and used the ruler.
But it wasn’t like she’d beaten her harshly—just a few light taps to correct her posture.
How had Mingzhu twisted it into some grand persecution?
Ugh, why am I stuck with such a mistress?
Thankfully, her mother and sister-in-law had already shortlisted two decent candidates for her—one the son of a steward serving the master, the other from a shopkeeper managing the madam’s dowry properties.
She planned to sneak out soon to observe them both and make her choice.
Once she settled on a man, she’d marry out of this mess and leave Haitang Courtyard behind.
Let someone else deal with the sixth young miss’s dramatics.
Honestly, Qingtian almost envied Yunjin—getting banished to the estate might’ve been a blessing in disguise.
With her honest nature and the sixth young miss’s troublemaking, who knew how long before Yunjin ended up dead because of her?
Of course, none of the maids’ inner monologues reached Mingzhu or her brothers. After a long while, Mingzhu finally calmed down enough to recount the past few days’ events.
“Matron Tong’s face when she scolds me is terrifying…”
“And she hit me with the ruler—so many times… Waaah, it hurts…”
Mingjian’s gaze sharpened like a blade as it landed on Qingtian. A chill ran down her spine.
Damn it all.
She dropped to her knees with a thud.
“Young Master, please don’t be angry! The madam has repeatedly ordered everyone in Haitang Courtyard to respect Matron Tong’s authority. If Matron Tong decides to discipline the young miss, we are not to interfere…”
“We may pity the young miss, but we dare not disobey the madam’s orders!”
Mingzhu looked up at her brothers with teary, pleading eyes.
“Big Brother, Fifth Brother… can’t you ask someone to tell Matron Tong to go easier on me…?”
“I’ll go beg Mother right now—”
Before Mingbo could dash off, Mingjian yanked him back, his voice stern.
“Xiao Wu, have you forgotten what happened last time?”
Last time, Mingbo had tried convincing their mother to host a birthday banquet for Mingzhu—only for it to backfire spectacularly, ruining Mingzhu’s reputation instead.
Mingbo froze, his face flushing with shame.
“I’m sorry, Little Sister… Fifth Brother is useless…”
“Fifth Brother, I’d never blame you…”
Mingzhu forced a weak, comforting smile.
Mingjian sighed. He’d heard that their mother had given Matron Tong full authority over Mingzhu’s education—even stating that disobedience could be punished at Matron Tong’s discretion.
But he’d assumed that was just lip service. He never imagined Matron Tong would actually use the ruler.
Yet he couldn’t just storm off to confront their mother about it. Matron Tong had only been teaching for three days. Even if their mother agreed to intervene, wouldn’t that undermine Matron Tong’s authority?
How could she teach Mingzhu effectively after that?
His headache worsened.
“Little Sister, I’ll send for a physician to examine you. If it’s not serious… let’s just leave it be for now.”
“But Big Brother, Matron Tong—”
Mingzhu bit her lip, clearly dissatisfied with this outcome.
