When Shi Huai was six years old, Shi Yuanping hired a tutor to teach him to read and write.
The tutor’s surname was Chen. He was a scholar in his fifties with an average level of learning, but he made up for it with his patience and meticulous teaching.
In his previous life, Shi Huai had been an academic prodigy. In this life, learning came even more naturally to him.
While others needed to read an essay ten times to memorize it, he could remember it after only two readings. After teaching him for three months, Master Chen had little left to teach him.
“My lord, this young master is a prodigy,” Master Chen said, stroking his beard with an expression of astonishment. “This old man can no longer teach him. You’ll have to find him a better tutor.”
Shi Yuanzhi rarely showed any emotion, but upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Very well. I’ll find one for him.”
When Madam Liu heard this, her expression turned as sour as if she had bitten into a mouthful of bitter melon. However, she did not lose her temper on the spot. She merely remarked sarcastically, “A prodigy? Surely that isn’t just something you made up.”
Shi Yuanping did indeed find Shi Huai a better tutor. His surname was Meng, and he was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. His scholarship was solid, and he taught at a deeper level.
After six months of instruction, Master Meng was also amazed by Shi Huai’s intelligence. “If this child is properly nurtured, he will surely become a great man one day.”
When Shi Yuanping heard this, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. There was an indescribable satisfaction in his smile.
By the time Shi Huai was seven, he could already write beautiful formal script, recite the entirety of the Analects and the Mencius, and compose simple eight-legged essays.
Master Meng said that in another two years, he would be ready to sit for the county examinations.
The news spread throughout the entire marquis’s residence. Some were amazed, some were jealous, and some were afraid.
The person who was most afraid, naturally, was Madam Liu.
She had originally thought that Shi Huai was merely an ugly bastard who would die within a few days.
But now, not only was this bastard growing more handsome by the day, he had also become a prodigy. It seemed he would soon be pursuing an official title through the examinations.
What if he really passed?
What if he truly inherited the marquisate?
What would become of her two daughters then?
Madam Liu had two daughters. Her elder daughter, Shi Lingyi, was thirteen that year, while her younger daughter, Shi Youlan, was ten.
Both girls had inherited Madam Liu’s attractive features, but they had also inherited her temperament. Each was more spoiled and overbearing than the last.
Shi Huai had lived in Shou’an Hall for over two years, yet he had barely interacted with either of his two older sisters.
Shi Lingyi and Shi Youlan lived in a courtyard on the eastern side of the marquis’s residence, with an entire garden separating them from Shou’an Hall.
Madam Liu forbade them from associating with Shi Huai, saying that he was a bastard and unworthy of being siblings with the young ladies of the marquis’s residence.
Shi Lingyi did not particularly care. She neither liked nor disliked Shi Huai. As far as she was concerned, he had nothing to do with her.
Shi Youlan, however, was different. She was openly hostile toward Shi Huai. Whenever they encountered each other in the garden, she would roll her eyes at him.
“You’re that bastard?” Shi Youlan asked the first time she saw Shi Huai. She planted her hands on her hips and raised her chin, looking utterly superior.
Shi Huai had been reading in the garden. Hearing her, he looked up at her. “And who are you?”
“I’m the second young lady of the marquis’s residence!” Shi Youlan’s voice was shrill enough to hurt the ears. “My mother says you’re a bastard and that you’re not worthy of living here!”
Shi Huai closed his book and stood up. He was a full head shorter than Shi Youlan, but his presence was not the least bit weaker.
“Do you believe everything your mother says?”
Shi Youlan froze for a moment before her face flushed red. “Of course I do! Everything my mother says is right!”
“Then if your mother told you that you were her ugliest daughter, would you believe that too?” Shi Huai tilted his head, looking completely innocent.
Shi Youlan was rendered speechless. She might have been spoiled, but she was not stupid. She could hear the mockery in Shi Huai’s words.
“You… You dare insult me?” she stammered, trembling with rage. She reached out to strike Shi Huai.
Qinghe hurried over and stepped in front of Shi Huai. “Second Young Lady, please calm down. The young master didn’t mean it that way.”
“Get out of my way!” Shi Youlan shoved Qinghe aside and raised her hand to slap Shi Huai.
Shi Huai did not dodge. He simply looked straight at her, without blinking.
Shi Youlan’s hand stopped in midair.
She stared into Shi Huai’s eyes. They were dark and bright like two stars, calmly watching her. There was no fear in them, no attempt to retreat, and no provocation.
“You… Why aren’t you dodging?”
Shi Youlan lowered her hand. The anger in her voice had faded somewhat, replaced by a strange, indescribable sense of guilt.
“You’re not going to hit me. Why should I dodge?” Shi Huai blinked. The corners of his mouth curved upward, revealing two small canine teeth.
Shi Youlan was momentarily dazzled by that smile. Her face inexplicably turned red, and she spun around and ran off without looking back.
Watching Shi Youlan’s retreating figure, Qinghe let out a sigh of relief. She crouched down and pinched Shi Huai’s cheek.
“Young master, you scared me half to death! What if she had really hit you?”
“She wouldn’t dare.” Shi Huai picked up his book and brushed the dust from it. “If she dared hit me, I’d go tell the Marquis.”
Qinghe stared at him for a moment before laughing. “You little rascal.”
What Shi Huai did not say was that he had not dodged because he had seen something else in Shi Youlan’s eyes.
It was not pure hatred, but the willfulness characteristic of a child who had been spoiled rotten.
Shi Youlan did not hate him because she truly despised him. She hated him because Madam Liu had told her that she ought to.
After that incident, Shi Youlan’s attitude toward Shi Huai changed in a subtle way.
She no longer rolled her eyes at him, nor did she call him a bastard. However, she did not take the initiative to speak with him either. She merely watched him from a distance, her eyes filled with the curiosity characteristic of a child.
Shi Lingyi, on the other hand, would occasionally visit Shou’an Hall and exchange a few words with Shi Huai.
Her attitude toward him was much better than Shi Youlan’s. Though she could not be called affectionate, she was at least polite.
“You’re Shi Huai?”
The first time Shi Lingyi came to Shou’an Hall, she was wearing a pale yellow jacket. A gold hairpin adorned with pearls dangled from her hair, chiming softly with every step she took.
Shi Huai was practicing his calligraphy. He looked up at her and nodded.
“I am. Are you my eldest sister?”
Shi Lingyi smiled. Her smile was faint and carried the reserved elegance distinctive of a well-bred young lady. “Yes. I’m Shi Lingyi, your eldest sister.”
“Greetings, Eldest Sister.” Shi Huai set down his brush and gave her a proper bow.
His solemnly serious manner amused Shi Lingyi. She reached out and patted his head.
“You’re much more sensible than your second sister.”
Shi Huai smiled without saying anything. Inwardly, however, he thought, This eldest sister is no simple person.
She had certainly not come to Shou’an Hall merely to see him.
Sure enough, after sitting down, Shi Lingyi chatted casually for a while before steering the conversation toward Shi Yuanping.
“Does Second Uncle come by often?”
She lifted her teacup and took a sip, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
“Not often. Once or twice a month.” Shi Huai picked up his brush again and continued practicing his calligraphy without looking up.
“When he comes, what does he talk to you about?”
Shi Lingyi set down her teacup and leaned forward slightly.
Shi Huai raised his head and glanced at her. His dark, bright eyes were filled with innocence.
“He just tells me to study hard, eat well, and sleep well.”
Shi Lingyi paused for a moment, then smiled. “That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Shi Huai said, tilting his head with the innocent curiosity of a child.
“Big Sister, why do you ask?”
“Nothing. I was just curious.” Shi Lingyi rose to her feet and straightened her sleeves. “All right, I won’t disturb you while you practice your calligraphy. I’ll be going now.”
“Goodbye, Big Sister.”
