Chapter 17: Establish a Career First – “Aren’t You a Person?”
Liu Hexiao’s expression grew increasingly unsettled as he trembled, saying, “But you watched him go to his death without lifting a finger.”
Liu Yin’s face turned deathly pale. His lips tightened, and he remained silent.
Liu Hexiao curled his lips—70% desolate, 30% mocking. “Come on, do it again. Kill me yourself and end it all!” He raised his head, staring at the ancestral tablets in the family shrine. “So that our ancestors can see how the Liu family is doomed to extinction!”
“You!” Liu Yin’s entire body shook with rage. He raised the rattan cane high again, but Cheng Lingwei clung to his leg and pleaded, “Your Highness, you really can’t hit him anymore!” Turning to Liu Hexiao, he added, “Young Master! Please, just say a little less!”
Liu Yin’s face darkened further. The cane hovered in mid-air but failed to descend.
As the stalemate continued, a maidservant, Bai Li, hurriedly ran into the family shrine.
Bai Li curtsied and announced, “Your Highness! The old madam says she’s feeling unwell…”
Liu Yin was momentarily stunned. “What’s going on?”
Bai Li glanced at Liu Hexiao, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, “The old madam says she’s feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath. She’s very uncomfortable and wants to see Shizi.”
Liu Yin immediately understood—this was the old madam stepping in to save her grandson.
Liu Yin replied coldly, “If she’s truly unwell, call a doctor. What good would that unfilial son do besides irritating her further?”
“Who said that!?” A loving but commanding voice echoed. Bai Li turned to see that the old madam herself had arrived.
Seeing his mother, Liu Yin quickly bowed. “Mother, why have you come in person?”
The old madam was adorned in a jade-green forehead band and dressed in a stately, royal blue brocade robe. Her demeanor was poised and commanding.
Noticing that Liu Hexiao’s back was already bloodied, her brows furrowed deeply. “What kind of mistake did Ah-xiao make to deserve such a severe punishment!?”
Liu Yin, ever the filial son, didn’t dare oppose his mother. He explained, “I was disciplining this unfilial son… He caused trouble outside. Grand Secretary Zhang came to our Mansion, saying his son Zhang Luan was so distressed by the fight that he refuses to eat or drink…”
The old madam waved her hand dismissively. “That’s just because his son is useless.”
Everyone was stunned.
The old madam continued, “I overheard bits and pieces outside just now. It seems Zhang Luan first insulted Ah-Hao, and Ah-xiao acted out only to defend his brother’s honor. His intentions were good, but his actions were a bit excessive.”
She turned to Liu Hexiao, her tone filled with loving reproach. “Ah-xiao, next time you encounter such situations, be smarter. Acting openly will only put you at a disadvantage. You might as well learn from Zhang Luan—cry your way home and complain to your family instead. That’s a decent tactic.”
Liu Yin: “…”
Liu Hexiao smirked. “Thank you for your wise teachings, Grandmother. I’ll remember them.”
The old madam instructed, “Bai Li, Lingwei, help Shizi to sit down and apply medicine to his wounds.”
“Yes!” The two quickly supported Liu Hexiao and began escorting him out.
Liu Yin hurriedly objected, “This is unacceptable! Mother, how can you indulge him like this!?”
The old madam’s tone turned firm. “You all go first!”
With no choice but to comply, they nervously led Liu Hexiao away.
Once alone with her son, the old madam said pointedly, “He’s your son. Don’t you feel sorry for him?”
Liu Yin froze. “How could I not…”
Now that Liu Hexiao was gone, Liu Yin’s anger subsided slightly. “I was just worried that if he continues acting so recklessly, it could lead to disaster!”
The old madam looked at him and said, “I know what kind of child Ah-xiao is. At his core, he’s kind-hearted and wouldn’t do anything outrageous without reason.”
Pausing, she added, “But you—why don’t you ever understand the situation before reprimanding him? You’ve beaten him to this state without even getting the full story…”
Liu Yin, at a loss for words, defended himself weakly. “Mother, I did ask him, but he refused to say anything…”
The old madam interrupted, “When have you ever truly listened to him? Every time, it’s either beating or scolding. If I were him, I wouldn’t bother talking to you either.”
Liu Yin: “…”
Although the old madam was usually firm, seeing Liu Yin’s frustrated expression, her tone softened slightly. “Ah-Hao is gone, and Ah-Ning has been sent to the palace. If something happens to Ah-xiao as well, I won’t have any reason to keep living.”
Hearing this, Liu Yin’s heart trembled. “Mother, I know my limits.”
The old madam replied, “Don’t put too much pressure on Ah-xiao. Back then, Ah-Hao excelled in everything, but the tall tree catches the wind… If not for that, perhaps he could have lived a peaceful life.”
As she spoke, sorrow overtook her.
Liu Yin quickly comforted her, “Mother, please don’t be upset. I believe today’s incident will teach Ah-xiao a lesson. I won’t scold him further. I don’t even expect much from him anymore. As long as he lives quietly and becomes a carefree prince, that’s enough.”
The old madam gave him a meaningful look. “You really don’t understand your own son.”
Liu Yin was taken aback.
The old madam sighed deeply and said, “Enough. I’m going to check on Ah-xiao.”
—
The old madam walked into Liu Hexiao’s room to find him lying face-down on the bed. His handsome face was slightly tense as he endured the pain with great effort.
“Your Highness, please bear with it for a little longer; it’ll be over soon.” Bai Li sat beside the bed, carefully applying medicine. The ointment was particularly strong, causing a burning pain the moment it touched his wounds.
Cheng Lingwei and Cheng Lingyun stood by, feeling deeply uncomfortable at the sight.
Cheng Lingwei muttered, “Thank goodness the old madam and Miss Bai Li arrived in time. Otherwise, Shizi would probably still be kneeling in the ancestral hall.”
Bai Li replied in a low voice, “It was Lingyun who came to find me; that’s how I learned about the situation.”
As the old madam’s personal maid, Bai Li acted immediately upon hearing that Liu Hexiao was being punished. She sought the old madam’s intervention right away.
Her delicate face, framed by willow-shaped brows, bore an expression of concern as she whispered, “Your Highness, if it hurts, why not cry out?”
Liu Hexiao snorted lightly. “There’s nothing worth crying over. Just hurry up.”
Bai Li pursed her lips but then asked softly, “Your Highness… was it truly because of the eldest young master that you got into a fight with Zhang Luan?”
Liu Hexiao froze briefly before responding, “Yes.”
Bai Li looked at his injured back, torn and bloodied, and felt a pang of sadness. Summoning her courage, she said, “Your Highness, allow Bai Li to look after you for the next few days, would that be alright?”
Cheng Lingwei and Cheng Lingyun exchanged glances, feeling as though their presence was entirely redundant.
Everyone in the Mansion knew that Bai Li was deeply infatuated with Shizi. Now, with one injured and the other nursing him under the dim glow of the lamps, the atmosphere seemed steeped in tenderness.
But the moment was fleeting, shattered by Liu Hexiao himself: “No need. A manservant would be more convenient.”
Bai Li froze, her gentle face briefly clouded with sorrow. “Does Your Highness think I’m not skilled enough to take care of you?”
Liu Hexiao muttered, “That’s not it… I don’t think poorly of you.”
Bai Li’s face brightened slightly, but Liu Hexiao continued, “I just think women are all troublesome.”
Bai Li blinked in surprise, and her eyes reddened as if she might cry again.
Cheng Lingwei couldn’t stand it anymore. “Miss Bai Li… Perhaps I should take over?”
Recognizing the awkwardness, Bai Li withdrew her hands and retreated to the side, looking rather dejected.
Cheng Lingyun glanced at her but didn’t know what to say.
Everyone knew that Shizi’s first conflict with Zhang Luan had been on Bai Li’s behalf.
Flashback:
One day, Bai Li had gone to the market to buy medicine on behalf of the old madam, where she encountered Zhang Luan.
Struck by Bai Li’s beauty, Zhang Luan harbored indecent intentions. He grabbed her and dragged her to an inn.
As fate would have it, Liu Hexiao happened upon the scene. Furious at seeing his grandmother’s servant being mistreated, he beat Zhang Luan to a pulp and humiliated him by stripping him of his pants and parading him in the streets.
Although Bai Li was rescued, this incident permanently enflamed the animosity between Liu Hexiao and Zhang Luan.
To protect Bai Li’s reputation, Liu Hexiao had taken all the blame upon himself, never mentioning Bai Li’s involvement.
From that day on, Bai Li had been utterly devoted to Liu Hexiao.
But seeing Liu Hexiao’s indifference now, she couldn’t help feeling heartbroken.
—
Liu Hexiao lay on the bed, restless and irritated, every movement intensifying his pain. His mood worsened.
At that moment, the old madam arrived.
“Ah-xiao, does it still hurt?” Her gentle, caring voice echoed in the room.
Liu Hexiao turned his head slightly and called out, “Grandmother…”
“Enough, don’t get up! Stay where you are!” The old madam chuckled, pressing him back down and seating herself on the edge of the bed naturally.
As Liu Yin often went on the battlefield, Liu Hexiao rarely saw his father. His mother had passed away early, so the old madam had taken him under her care. She was the person he felt closest to.
Seeing that Liu Hexiao wasn’t speaking, the old madam said, “Don’t blame your father. Grand Secretary Zhang was relentless. If he hadn’t been harsh with you, Grand Secretary Zhang might have come after you directly. Why didn’t you explain the situation to him? You could’ve avoided the misunderstanding.”
Liu Hexiao replied gloomily, “When has he ever believed me? In his eyes, I’m just a useless playboy who annoys him by merely existing… I couldn’t be bothered to explain.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” The old madam lightly rebuked him. “What parent doesn’t love their child? Have you forgotten how you clung to your father when you were little?”
Liu Hexiao hesitated and responded softly, “I’ve forgotten.”
The old madam studied him, helpless, before gently advising, “You’re grown now. Stop causing trouble everywhere and start settling down. It’s time you marry.”
Startled, Liu Hexiao quickly protested, “No! That’s not necessary!”
The old madam frowned. “Why not?”
Not wanting another person to control him, Liu Hexiao reasoned, “A man should establish a career before starting a family.”
The old madam raised an eyebrow. “Then tell me, how do you plan to establish a career?”
Liu Hexiao: “…”
Knowing him too well, the old madam smirked. “If you don’t have a plan, then listen to me. I’ve already chosen a few fine girls for you…”
“Grandmother, my back hurts,” Liu Hexiao interrupted weakly.
The old madam paused before sighing. “Fine, we’ll talk about this later.”
—
At the end of Changming Street, construction noises echoed from a shop being renovated.
Lin Yiran’s large, curious eyes fixated on Master Zhang, who was working hard.
Master Zhang wiped the sweat off his brow as he continued hammering away at the shop’s signboard, too preoccupied to respond to the boy.
“Miss!” Ah-miao returned, dragging an empty crate behind her.
Seeing her excitement, Yihuan asked, “Did you sell all the donuts?”
Ah-miao nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Donuts are selling better than ever!”
Yihuan replied, “Did you hand out the discount vouchers?”
Ah-miao confirmed, “Yes, I did! The customers were thrilled to hear that there’ll be a buy-one-get-one-free offer at our grand opening. They all said they’d come check out our shop!”
Yihuan smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
Having built a steady customer base through her breakfast stall and connections with Jinxiu Restaurant, she was prepared to redirect those customers to her new shop once it opened.
As they chatted, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage approached and stopped in front of the shop.
The coachman was a young, sharp-looking man dressed in fitted riding gear, exuding an air of competence.
Yihuan met his gaze as he dismounted.
She stepped forward and greeted him with a smile. “Master Cheng.”
Her radiant smile accentuated her bright eyes and fine features, leaving Cheng Lingwei momentarily dazed.
Hurriedly, he replied, “Miss Yihuan, you can simply call me by name.”
After some thought, Yihuan offered, “Then I’ll call you Brother Cheng.”
Cheng Lingwei’s cheeks reddened faintly. “Alright.”
Pausing, he explained, “Miss, are you ready? If we leave now, you’ll arrive at the prince’s residence just in time to prepare lunch and serve it when the old madam wakes from her midday nap.”
Yihuan inquired, “So, my main task at the prince’s residence is to cook for the old madam?”
Cheng Lingwei nodded. “Yes. The old madam hasn’t had much of an appetite lately. Shizi thought highly of your cooking skills and invited you to try and help.”
Yihuan nodded. “I’ve prepared a jar of sour plum soup. It’s sweet and tangy, with hawthorn to stimulate the appetite. Perhaps it’ll help.”
Cheng Lingwei smiled. “That would be wonderful.”
Yihuan boarded the horse-drawn carriage, carrying her jar of sour plum soup. Inside, the carriage was thoughtfully prepared, furnished with soft cushions and tea for the journey.
Seated comfortably, she lifted the curtain slightly and called out, “Brother Cheng, do you know what kinds of foods the old madam likes?”
Cheng Lingwei, steering the carriage, thought for a moment. “What she likes to eat… I’m not too sure, but I know her teeth aren’t very strong. She probably doesn’t favor hard foods.”
Yihuan nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. Does she have any dietary restrictions?”
Cheng Lingwei replied, “For that, you’d need to ask Miss Bai Li. She’s the old madam’s personal maid and knows her preferences best.”
Yihuan smiled gently. “In that case, please arrange for me to meet Miss Bai Li when we arrive.”
Cheng Lingwei promptly agreed. “Of course. But right now, Miss Bai Li might still be attending to Shizi’s injuries, so there may be a short wait.”
Hearing this, Yihuan asked with some concern, “What happened to Shizi?”
Cheng Lingwei stiffened, clearly uncomfortable, and replied, “It’s… nothing serious…”
He couldn’t possibly tell Yihuan that Shizi had been beaten, lest it damage Shizi’s pride.
Realizing he didn’t want to elaborate, Yihuan chose not to press further.
The wheels rolled steadily along the road, and soon they arrived at the Prince Qi’s Mansion.
Standing before the grand entrance, Yihuan glanced up at the stately plaque, its grandeur exuding an ancient and dignified air.
“Miss Yihuan, please, follow me.” As she was personally invited by Liu Hexiao, Cheng Lingwei treated her with the utmost respect.
He led her through the gates and toward Shuiyue courtyard, where Bai Li was said to be.
The entrance to Shuiyue courtyard appeared modest, but the interior revealed an expansive and tranquil space.
Flanking the pathway were tall, swaying bamboo stalks. Yihuan followed Cheng Lingwei, her footsteps lightly tapping against a cobblestone path. Shortly thereafter, they reached a winding corridor.
Beneath the corridor flowed a clear stream, which added to the serene and picturesque environment. As they crossed, the gentle fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted through the air, blending with the sound of the breeze to create a peaceful ambiance.
Yihuan observed the surroundings and thought to herself, This Liu Hexiao truly knows how to live well. This is such an idyllic place.
Cheng Lingwei brought her to the main hall of the courtyard and said, “Miss Yihuan, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go fetch Miss Bai Li.”
Yihuan nodded politely, standing still as instructed, though her eyes roamed curiously, taking in every detail of the lush and elegant residence.
As Cheng Lingwei turned to leave, the door to a nearby room suddenly opened, and a young woman stepped out hurriedly.
Her sleeves raised to cover her face, she looked as though she wished to avoid being seen. Without hesitation, she made straight for the courtyard’s exit.
Cheng Lingwei was caught off guard. “Miss Bai Li?”
The woman stopped in her tracks and turned around. Both Cheng Lingwei and Yihuan could see that her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying. Her delicate, rain-soaked appearance was enough to inspire pity in anyone.
Through her sobs, Bai Li said, “Lingwei, I’m returning to the old madam’s chambers first…”
With that, she turned and left, tears still streaming down her face.
Cheng Lingwei looked puzzled but hurried to follow after her, thinking he might still need to relay Yihuan’s request.
Yihuan, left standing in the hall, felt unsure whether to stay put or go with him.
Suddenly, a low, frustrated shout came from inside the room Liu Hexiao occupied: “Someone, get in here!”
Yihuan glanced around but saw no other attendants nearby. After a moment’s hesitation, she responded, “Your Highness… I’m Yihuan. Should I go call for someone to assist you?”
Liu Hexiao’s irritated voice came from within: “Aren’t you a person? Just come in.”
Translator’s Note:- Hey guys, as a Christmas Gift I have decided to do mass release (10 chapters) of the novel which gets most votes in the poll posted on my Ko-fi page.
If you want mass release for this novel then vote for this novel in the poll.
This is the link to the poll: https://ko-fi.com/polls/Which-Novel-Mass-Release-do-you-want-V7V217M3GX
