After Transmigrating As The Second Male Lead In Qn Old-School Angsty Romance - Chapter 13

The matter at the training ground quickly spread to the various courtyards, and everyone had different thoughts about what had happened there that morning.

When the old madam learned that Sun Zibai had made his three concubine-born younger brothers learn martial arts together, and had even personally selected martial arts masters for them, a strange light flashed through her doting, kind eyes. But while the old madam was pondering, Qian Momo, who had served her personally for her entire life, still saw some hesitation in her eyes.

“Miss,” Qian Momo said. Even after so many years, she would still occasionally use the form of address from decades ago, before the old madam had married. Back then, she had been the old madam’s personal maid. Now, in the blink of an eye, several decades had passed, and they were both old women in their sixties. “Ever since the heir married that concubine-born son of the Qin family into the residence, he has indeed changed a great deal.”

“It is just that this old servant is also puzzled. If that concubine-born son truly influenced the heir to such an extent, why has the heir been ignoring him during this period instead?”

Not only was she puzzled, the old madam was puzzled too. Many people could not understand what kind of play Sun Zibai was putting on.

The old madam suddenly changed the subject. “I heard Bai’er had someone send a letter to the southwest not long ago.”

“Yes.”

The old madam fell into thought. Then the corners of her lips lifted slightly, revealing some relief. “Cuihua, perhaps it is time to let go.”

Qian Momo understood what the old madam meant, and she supported every decision her young miss made. So she smiled as well.

On the other side, Wen Wan’er was also puzzled by this matter. Ever since the heir had suddenly come to her courtyard on the second day after his wedding, Jing Li had subconsciously started paying attention to the movements on the heir’s side. In addition, during this period, Sun Zibai would come over to wander around whenever he had time, sending over some fresh and clever snacks and fruits, or bringing things like hairpins and jewelry from outside the residence. Thus, no matter how cold and indifferent Wen Wan’er was, and no matter how little attention she paid, she knew everything about Sun Zibai’s affairs.

At this moment, she was playing with a pair of emerald-green gemstone earrings in her hand while listening to Jing Li describe the events at the training ground.

Even after Jing Li vividly finished speaking, Wen Wan’er showed no particular reaction. Instead, she stared at the small emerald-green earrings in her hand in a slight daze, as if she had fallen into memory, or as if she were simply spacing out.

Wen Wan’er greatly preferred quiet. Before marrying Sun Zhaoyin, she had already liked simple elegance, and after entering the marquis residence, this became even more so. In the ten years since Sun Zhaoyin’s death, Wen Wan’er had rarely walked out of this courtyard, which allowed her to save herself even the most basic dressing up.

“It is rare that the heir thought so carefully and knew Madam likes simple and understated things.”

Jing Li smiled. However, this emerald-green color seemed more suited to a delicate, youthful girl in her teens. Although Wen Wan’er had outstanding looks and bearing, she was, after all, already over thirty. Wearing such earrings would inevitably be somewhat unsuitable.

However, Jing Li did not say this aloud. As for Wen Wan’er, in the end, her expression unreadable, she had Jing Li carefully put the earrings away.

She knew they were unsuitable, but she still had Jing Li put them away properly in the jewelry box by her bedside that she often used.

Wen Wan’er’s feelings were somewhat complicated.

Sun Zibai did not know what each of them was thinking. After wandering through the marquis residence for two days, he was very depressed to discover that he could not find the secret chamber at all.

Seriously, why create something like this? But the old marquis was currently far away at the southwestern border. Without the emperor’s permission, he could not even return home to visit his family. Yet if Sun Zibai wrote a letter asking about something like this, that would be no different from washing his neck clean and offering it to someone else’s blade.

Who knew how many eyes under heaven were watching the marquis residence? That would not be sending a letter; that would be sending a life away.

So he had to think of a way to go personally, or have someone trustworthy by his side go.

Sun Zibai only felt that he was very short of people. Extremely short.

He also did not know how that child had discovered it, or when he had discovered it. But judging from Sun Ziyue’s current situation, even if Sun Zibai held a knife to his neck, he might not be able to get a single word out of him. Everything still had to be discussed and planned slowly.

In less than two days, Sun Hong had already investigated Sun Ziyue’s situation thoroughly.

The year Sun Zhaoyin died, Sun Ziyue had just been born. Unfortunately, Sun Zhaoyin died first, and Sun Ziyue was born afterward.

At the time, the residence was in chaos, and the old madam was also overwhelmed with grief. Therefore, no one paid much attention to the birth of a concubine-born son. In addition, Sun Ziyue’s birth mother, Qiao-shi, came from a small family and was already weak and lacking in opinions. When Sun Zhaoyin was alive, she had had little presence. After his death, she was forgotten even more.

The mother and son were soon ignored. At some unknown point, a rumor began to spread that the fourth young master had brought misfortune upon his father, saying that he had caused Sun Zhaoyin’s death.

Life was already difficult for a concubine-born son in the residence, and this rumor only made things worse. Servants began making cold remarks. Having their clothes and food cut short became common. Later, some bold ones even directly withheld the mother and son’s monthly allowance.

Sun Ziyue had grown up under such circumstances. Qiao-shi was weak and often ill, and simply could not take good care of him. Even young servants could bully him at will. He could not eat his fill or keep warm. Now, he was already ten years old, yet no one in the residence had even remembered to arrange for him to attend school. No wonder a perfectly good child had grown into such a silent and withdrawn temperament.

After learning all of this from Sun Hong, Sun Zibai only felt that Sun Ziyue’s choice in the original novel was completely natural and very understandable.

But since he had come, he could not possibly watch the marquis residence be destroyed with his own eyes, nor could he let them walk toward that kind of ending.

The child was still young. There was still time for everything.

When Sun Ziyue was called before Sun Zibai for the second time, there was still not much change in his calm eyes. Only when he discovered that five or six servants were kneeling in the heir’s courtyard, and that all of these servants had come into contact with either him or his mother, did a trace of surprise finally flash through Sun Ziyue’s eyes. Immediately afterward came confusion.

Sun Zibai leaned lazily against the grand chair. He beckoned to the child. “Little Fourth, come here.”

Sun Ziyue walked to his side without hesitation and stood still. Only then did Sun Zibai signal Sun Hong to speak.

“Wang Xiaoliu: long-term abuse of his masters; deliberately using spoiled food and cold meals to mistreat the fourth young master and his mother; stealing the fourth young master and his mother’s monthly allowance; physically beating the fourth young master…”

“Forty strokes of the rod, a fine of fifty taels, and send him to the government office.”

Before his words even finished falling, a young servant kneeling in the courtyard had already gone deathly pale and collapsed to the ground. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.

“Heir, spare my life! Heir, spare my life!”

He was only a menial young servant. Would forty strokes not take his life? And he was also being fined fifty taels of silver. He could not earn fifty taels even in several years. Moreover, he would be sent to the government office. Did a servant sent to the government office by the marquis residence still have any path to survival? Even if his crimes did not warrant death, what could he do after getting out?

“Heir, spare my life! This lowly one will never dare again, never dare again!”

Wang Xiaoliu was dragged out by two guards while crying and shouting. Soon afterward, the sound of the board striking flesh rang out, along with Wang Xiaoliu’s shrill screams.

When the kneeling servants saw this scene, their faces had long since turned white with fear. They listened as the screams outside gradually grew weaker and weaker, until finally, there was no sound at all. Only then did the forty strokes finally end.

They panicked. One by one, they desperately crawled on their knees toward Sun Zibai, trying to beg for mercy. But Sun Hong blocked Sun Zibai, and two guards were watching them, so they could not get through at all. Thus, the group turned and knelt before Sun Ziyue, begging him instead.

The small child who had once been the object of their casual bullying and mockery had now become their only life-saving straw.

However, from beginning to end, Sun Ziyue’s expression did not change. He was not frightened by Wang Xiaoliu’s fate, nor did he soften because of their tearful pleas. He merely raised his small, thin face and looked toward Sun Zibai sitting in the grand chair, as if confused about why Sun Zibai was doing this.

Sun Zibai did not answer him. He merely told Sun Hong to continue.

“Liu Ma: repeatedly used inferior coarse cloth to swap out the cotton and silk cloth meant for the fourth young master and his mother; deliberately cut corners and skimped on materials, causing the fourth young master and his mother to suffer from cold and freezing; stole the cloth meant for the masters’ clothes and used it on her own grandson and son. Fine of fifty taels, send her to the government office.”

Liu Ma’s face had already gone white after being called out, but Sun Hong continued, “Considering your old age and the fact that you have worked in the marquis residence for twenty years, twenty strokes of the rod. Drag her out.”

“Heir… Heir, you cannot treat this old servant this way! This old servant has been wronged…”

“Hurry and drag her out!”

Sun Hong directly barked the order, then read out the third person.

“Chuntao: repeatedly refused to save Concubine Qiao and the fourth young master when they were in danger; repeatedly used the excuse of finding a doctor for them to swindle Concubine Qiao out of jewelry and monthly silver, but afterward only mocked them relentlessly, nearly causing the two masters to lose their lives.”

“Twenty strokes of the rod, send her to the government office.”

“This servant… this servant knows her mistake. Please, heir…”

The people above ignored her completely. Sun Hong read one after another. Some were young servants who had bullied their masters. Some were gossiping old women who had spread rumors and slandered their masters. There were also evil servants who had deliberately made things difficult for Sun Ziyue…

In short, not a single person who had been found out was spared. Sun Hong read out the names one by one, and punished them one by one. Soon, miserable wails rang out one after another outside the heir’s courtyard. The people inside did not feel much, but the other courtyards were badly frightened. Sun Ziheng was the one frightened the worst. Especially after hearing that Little Fourth had been called over, he jolted and rushed to the training ground under the blazing sun that could almost scorch a person.

He would not take a noon nap. He would never dare take a noon nap again.

Only after every servant in the courtyard had been dragged out, and those who deserved beating were beaten while those who deserved to be sent to the officials were sent away, did Sun Zibai look at the child beside him.

At this moment, the child’s originally calm, rippleless eyes were slightly red. His thin body was also trembling faintly. His hands were clenched into fists as he stared fixedly at Sun Zibai, yet he still stubbornly refused to speak.

Sun Zibai did not reveal any pity, nor did he say any sentimental words. He only asked him seriously, “Are there more?”

Sun Ziyue did not speak. He only gritted his teeth.

Sun Zibai frowned. “I’m asking you, are there any more?”

He knew this child was not mute. He simply did not want to speak, or perhaps because he had gone so long without speaking, he could no longer easily open his mouth. But he had to take this step. Perhaps once he took this step, everything would become easier to change.

After being shouted at like this, rare grievance appeared in the child’s eyes. Sun Zibai’s heart softened, and his expression eased a great deal.

“You are the fourth young master of my Pingnan Marquis Residence. You are Sun Zibai’s younger brother. There is no reason for you to swallow your grievances after being wronged.”

Sun Ziyue trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened even more.

Younger brother?

Was he?

Then why had no one remembered him for the past ten years? He did not understand.

Sun Zibai saw the child’s lips trembling slightly, as if he wanted to say something. But because he had gone so long without speaking, he could not produce even a single sound.

In the end, Sun Zibai’s heart softened. He reached out, picked up the child, and directly placed him on his lap. Only then did he slow his voice.

“Eldest Brother is giving you this chance. Say it yourself.”

“No matter who it is, as long as you open your mouth, Eldest Brother will definitely seek justice for you.”

The original Sun Zibai had been terrifying. People outside feared him, and the people in the marquis residence feared him even more. But the Sun Zibai before him, though he was clearly also speaking sternly with a dark expression, did not make Sun Ziyue feel afraid. Instead, he felt an indescribable warmth.

His eyes grew hot, and two streams of watery tears still rolled down.

Sun Zibai raised his hand and silently wiped away his tears. He did not urge him, waiting for him to slowly calm down. Sun Ziyue opened his mouth, only to find it difficult. His pronunciation was unclear as well.

“Hiss… ah…”

“Don’t rush. Speak slowly.”

The child tried for a long while before finally saying one word with difficulty.

“Song…”

“Song Ming?”

The child nodded.

Sun Zibai looked at him encouragingly. As long as he had opened his mouth, it was good. As for Song Ming, he had naturally already investigated him thoroughly. He simply hoped the little fellow could personally say it aloud. After all, this was hatred suppressed for many years. If this foul anger was not vented, that absolutely would not do.

With a single glance from Sun Zibai, Sun Hong immediately understood.

Very quickly, two guards dragged in a middle-aged man tied up tightly. Beside them followed Qian Momo, whose expression was ashen.

The moment Sun Ziyue saw the bound man, intense hatred burst from his eyes. He subconsciously gripped Sun Zibai’s arm tightly. Sun Zibai soothingly patted his hand.

“Heir, this old servant has brought this evil slave who offended his superiors. The old madam said that the heir may deal with him however you wish. Beating him to death on the spot is also fine.”

The person on the ground was deathly pale with fear. However, his mouth was blocked with a foul cloth strip, so he could only make muffled noises.

After Qian Momo finished speaking, she respectfully stood beside Sun Zibai. Only when she saw that Sun Ziyue was actually being held on Sun Zibai’s lap did a trace of surprise flash through her eyes.

Song Ming was the son of an old steward in the old madam’s courtyard.

Because his father had seniority and was heavily used by the old madam, this man had also become a minor steward at a young age. In recent years, he had even won the old madam’s favor. Many large and small affairs in the old madam’s courtyard were managed by him. In addition, his father was now old and had intended to train him into becoming the chief steward. In recent years, more and more major and minor matters had gradually been handed over to him. For example, the monthly food, clothing, and supplies for every courtyard in the marquis residence all had to pass through him.

Thus, this allowed him to tyrannize people in the marquis residence. Aside from the people by Sun Zibai’s side, whose faces he did not need to watch and whom he did not dare fool, almost every steward, large or small, in the marquis residence had to yield to him somewhat. Some even had to bribe him in order to smoothly receive the monthly share for their own courtyard. However, Qiao-shi’s side was already struggling. How could they afford to bribe him?

And so their difficult days became even more difficult. As long as he gave one look or casually hinted with a single sentence, the people beneath him could read his expression and freely bully Sun Ziyue and his mother.

The reason Sun Ziyue hated him so much was because of one winter when he was seven years old, an especially cold winter. They had not been given enough charcoal. Their clothes were thin. Mother and son huddled together and struggled through the days. Seeing her son’s lips turn purple from the cold, Qiao-shi could not bear it. Dragging her sick body, she went to find the old madam. Unexpectedly, before she could see the old madam, she was stopped by Song Ming.

Song Ming humiliated Qiao-shi to the extreme, looking down from above as if he were the master. In the end, he even developed filthy thoughts toward Qiao-shi, claiming that as long as she satisfied him, he would make her son’s life easier.

Song Ming’s boldness was outrageous, offending his superiors as a servant. It was not that Qiao-shi was so beautiful that he would risk everything. Rather, the vanity of placing himself above a master and sleeping with his master’s woman had given rise to such a vicious thought.

Qiao-shi was already timid. She had only rushed to the old madam’s courtyard at all costs for the sake of her son. Who could have expected that she would fail to see the old madam and instead encounter such an evil person? She was so frightened on the spot that she nearly fainted. In the end, she still did not manage to see the old madam. Fortunately, a maid saw how pitiful she was and secretly stuffed a few worn winter clothes into her hands. Only then did the mother and son barely survive.

But after that night, Qiao-shi also fell seriously ill and nearly failed to endure it.

She thought Sun Ziyue did not know about this. In truth, the seven-year-old Sun Ziyue had been worried about his mother, secretly followed her out, and personally witnessed the entire process.

Sun Zibai did not dare imagine how much suffering the mother and son had endured, and did not dare imagine what kind of trauma such a scene would leave in the heart of a small seven-year-old child.

It was the sin created by the original owner, the inevitability of the era, the old madam’s negligence, and also some bullshit distinction between legitimate and concubine-born. Too many reasons had created such a tragedy. None of this had anything to do with Sun Zibai, and yet he still could not stop himself from feeling guilty and heartbroken.

“Beat him to death.”

Sun Zibai said coldly.