Chapter Twenty-Five: Entering the Jia Mansion (Part 3.4)

“Brat, tell me honestly, did you make your father angry again?”

Shi Yi shrugged helplessly. “Mother, I was just about to ask why you suddenly came looking for me!”

He and Daiyu had finally made some progress, and now that he had to go back, it would inevitably delay things for a few days. That thick-skinned treasure would surely stir up trouble… It wasn’t so much that he was worried about rekindling old feelings with Daiyu. His main concern was that, if that person threw a tantrum and made Lin Meimei suffer again, it would grieve her—something Shi Yi least wanted to see.

Madam Yang sighed. “When we get home, behave yourself. Your father came back from the palace yesterday and locked himself in the study all day.”

Shi Yi, upon hearing this, suddenly connected the dots and felt a chill in his heart. He asked timidly, “Mother, do you think the old man is thinking up ways to beat me?”

Madam Yang’s willow brows furrowed, and she looked at him suspiciously. “Did you cause trouble yesterday when you went to the palace with your father?”

Shi Yi propped his chin in his hand, thinking, and casually replied, “Other than talking back to the Emperor, nothing much.”

At this, Madam Yang’s brows shot up. In a fit of anger, she reached out to pinch his ear, grumbling, “Rascal, I knew you’d gotten into trouble again. Out with it—now.”

“Ow, ow! Mother, gentle, please!” Shi Yi cried out, tilting his head and diving into his mother’s arms following her grip.

Madam Yang, looking unfazed, used her other hand to twist his ear as well, attacking from both sides.

Shi Yi, both in pain and anxious, squirmed. Each time he moved, the weighted armor hidden under his robe rattled slightly.

“Mother, this isn’t proper. Let go, or I’ll really get angry,” he protested.

Madam Yang paused, touching his left cheek, now hot and red, and gave it another twist before finally letting go.

Shi Yi hurriedly sat upright, his gaze evasive and his cheeks flushed, not daring to look her in the eye.

Madam Yang chuckled. “Oh my, my Yi’er really has grown up—he even gets shy with his mother now.”

After a long hesitation, Shi Yi sighed. “Mother, you’re a lady of good upbringing. Could you be more mindful of your image…”

Madam Yang immediately bristled. “Bah, what image? You came from my womb. I know you inside out! You’re not even married yet, and already you want to distance yourself from me? I can’t touch or hit you anymore? I raised you with my own two hands, and now you’re starting to despise me. None of the Shi men are any good!”

With that, she pretended to wipe away tears, putting on the air of a deeply wronged woman.

“All right, all right, my fault. Please stop with the nagging,” Shi Yi surrendered helplessly.

He truly had no way to handle his boisterous mother.

Madam Yang, secretly pleased, immediately changed her tone and said sharply, “Now tell me—did you get into trouble again? You even dared to talk back to His Majesty! Your father’s been in a foul mood all day—if you don’t explain yourself, and he beats you, I won’t help.”

“Really, it’s nothing!” Shi Yi, brow furrowed, recounted the entire incident in the palace, including every word spoken.

“Well, since His Majesty didn’t blame you, if your father dares to hit you, I won’t allow it,” Madam Yang relented with a smile.

A look of relief crossed Shi Yi’s face. “Mother, you said it! If the old man tries to hit me, just bring out that sword from your room—he’ll behave for sure.”

Madam Yang shot him a glare. “First you want me to be a dignified lady, now you want me to threaten your father with a sword? You really are asking for a beating.”

With that, she reached for his ear again, but Shi Yi was ready and deftly dodged.

Grinning, he said, “Mother, times change! Besides, you’re not exactly the picture of restraint, so let’s not pretend.”

“Oh, so you’re not just asking for a beating, you’re an anvil rusted stiff!” Madam Yang’s smile vanished as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to teach him a lesson.

Shi Yi, startled, quickly backed into a corner of the carriage.

“Mother, please, maintain your dignity!”

“Dignity my foot!” Madam Yang spat.

Shi Yi immediately felt a wave of darkness before his eyes—whether from her fists or her imposing presence, it was hard to say, but it was certainly unpleasant.

The carriage rattled and swayed all the way to the gates of the Marquis of Loyal and Tranquil’s residence before finally settling down.

Though the status of the marquisate was a tier below that of a duke, the house itself was just as imposing, with a three-bay main gate.

Shi Yi’s face was a patchwork of bruises, clutching one side of it as he grumbled, “Mother, you’re too heavy-handed.”

Madam Yang tapped his forehead. “If I don’t hit you, your father will.”

“No need to be so ruthless!” Shi Yi muttered under his breath.

Lifting her skirts, Madam Yang urged, “Enough nonsense, go see your father. I’ll change first.”

A servant hurried over with a grin. “Young master, the master’s in the study. He said, as soon as you return, you’re to see him right away.”

Shi Yi frowned. “Is he in a mood?”

Given his recent trauma, he was deeply wary of his stern father’s temper.

The servant leaned in. “Young master, the master’s been in a bad mood since yesterday’s return. Please tread carefully.”

Shi Yi nodded, and with a heavy heart, entered through the side door, pausing every few steps to strategize.

He had expected Shi Ding to be furious, cane in hand, ready to thrash him for his insolence to the Emperor—a grave offense.

Taking a deep breath, he hesitated at the study door before finally pushing it open. To his surprise, the scene was not as he had feared.

Shi Ding stood with his back to him, hands behind his back, stroking his beard in thought.

Shi Yi walked forward nervously, torn, before finally greeting, “Father!”

Shi Ding placed the imperial edict on the desk, his face dark as he sat and fixed Shi Yi with a steely gaze.

After a long pause, he finally asked, “What happened to your face?”

Unsure of his father’s intentions, Shi Yi covered his face and complained, “Mother did it. She said I deserved it for being insolent to His Majesty.”

At this, Shi Ding breathed a sigh of relief. “Your mother still has sense. But it’s not enough. Talking back to the Emperor is a crime that could doom our family. Do you understand?”

Shi Yi nodded. “You’re right, but I can’t be wrongly accused. It’s unfair to just pin any crime on me.”

“Are you talking about the prince? Or His Majesty?” Shi Ding’s face grew darker.

Shi Yi wisely said nothing, only grinning. “Father, you and the Emperor get along well enough, otherwise—”

“Impudence!” Shi Ding cut him off, slamming his hand on the table. “Are you not satisfied with how much attention the Shi family already gets?”

Shi Yi mustered his courage. “But His Majesty wasn’t angry…”

Shi Ding’s fury erupted. “Last month you offended the Commandant, yesterday you dared defy the Emperor. If not for the Shi family’s standing, you would have brought us all to ruin! Once we leave the capital, will you not cause even greater chaos?”

This time, his anger was real. He grabbed his whip.

Shi Yi, knowing his father’s temper, quickly retreated towards the door. “Father, you never told me about your relationship with His Majesty! You can’t blame this all on me!”

Shi Ding would not listen, rolling up his sleeves and brandishing the whip. “And you still argue? This city is full of watchful eyes. I can scarce keep our family safe. You brazenly cause disaster in broad daylight. I’d hoped your mother’s scolding today would change you, but you remain stubborn. Defying the Emperor—you have no sense of self-preservation! I might as well beat you to death myself, better than seeing the whole family executed for your crimes one day!”

With that, the whip cracked down—Shi Yi dodged in terror, cold sweat breaking out.

The whip missed, striking the floor in a loud clatter, breaking furniture and porcelain wherever it landed.

This father was truly prepared to make an example of him!

Shi Ding barked, “If you dodge again, I’ll have you tied up and beaten. You may not want your life, but I still want my honor!”

“Father, do you really mean to kill me?” Shi Yi wiped his brow, backing against the door.

Shi Ding, without hesitation, raised the whip again.

Shi Yi flung open the partition and shouted, “Mother, if you don’t come in, you won’t see your son tomorrow!”

Madam Yang, sword already in hand, had been waiting outside. Hearing Shi Yi’s cries, she burst through the main hall door, sword drawn, and shouted, “Shi Ding, hit him once more and see what happens! Last month you nearly killed him—if you want his life today, you’ll have to take mine first!”

Her brows arched, voice resolute. Husband and wife faced off, neither willing to yield.

Shi Ding, furious, barked, “Move aside, let me deal with this wretch.”

Madam Yang shielded Shi Yi, undaunted. “If you kill him, you’ll have to kill us both.”

Shi Ding glared, hesitated, then finally threw down the whip with a sigh. “Wife, do you know what your precious son did in the palace yesterday? He brazenly talked back to His Majesty—are we not dying quickly enough?”

Madam Yang snorted. “It was just an unintentional offense, and His Majesty didn’t punish him. We’re all fine, so why worry so much?”

Shi Ding was stunned. “You often say to keep a low profile, to avoid the sharp edge. Why are you being so foolish today? If he’s not taught a lesson, he’ll cause even more trouble when we leave the capital.”

“What do you mean, leave the capital?” This time Madam Yang was the one surprised. “I’m not going anywhere—I’ll stay home to watch over Yi’er. You do as you please.”

Shi Ding’s demeanor softened. He put his arm around her tenderly, coaxing, “Wife, every time I’ve left the capital, you’ve been there to advise me, so I can feel at ease. This time, you must come too.”

Madam Yang shrugged him off. “I said I’m not leaving, and that’s final!”

Shi Ding coughed and explained, “Yesterday His Majesty appointed me as Inspector of the Frontier. I must leave the capital tomorrow. To be entrusted by the Emperor is an honor, but you know how many wolves lie in wait behind such a task. I wanted to discuss it with you.”

Madam Yang’s mood cooled. She glanced at him. “Why didn’t you mention this yesterday?”

Shi Ding, embarrassed, rubbed his nose. “I hadn’t yet grasped the dangers involved. I came to ask your advice.”

Madam Yang frowned. “The court isn’t as stable as it was under the late Emperor.”

Shi Yi, listening to the side, was surprised—so his parents’ relationship was not as simple as it seemed.

Shi Ding nodded, then turned to him. “Why are you still here?”

Knowing they wanted to talk privately, Shi Yi hesitated. “Father, why not include me? Mother and I can help you assess the situation—three heads are better than two!”

Shi Ding glared. “Nonsense! What do you know? Going to help me snatch someone’s bride again?”

That old scandal—would it never be forgotten?

Shi Yi’s face fell, rendered speechless.

Madam Yang reached for his ear again. “Brat, you’d better explain that girl outside.”

“What girl?” Shi Yi was baffled.

Madam Yang tapped his forehead. “Go see for yourself. Don’t dawdle—your father and I have important matters to discuss.”

Shi Ding sneered, “If you don’t have a good explanation, I’ll skin you alive.”

Madam Yang yanked his beard. “Bah, can’t you say a word less? Must you force a rift between father and son?”

Shi Yi fled the study.

Shi Ding gently took his wife’s arm, smiling sheepishly. “Wife, please take the seat of honor.”

Madam Yang gave him a coquettish look, sat by the window on the warm couch, and sipped her tea.

She sighed. “Since His Majesty ascended the throne, you’ve been sent away on assignments or imperial inspections. Why must you suddenly go to the frontier, with no time to prepare?”

Shi Ding stroked his beard and sighed. “His Majesty’s intentions are unfathomable. I fear great upheaval is coming to the court. Without you by my side, I have no peace of mind.”

Madam Yang frowned. “I don’t care—either take Yi’er with us, or I won’t be at ease. Last time you left him alone in the capital, he got into trouble. Who knows how long you’ll be gone this time—without someone to watch him, he might just bring the roof down.”

Shi Ding smiled. “I knew you were wise, not blindly indulgent. But…the Emperor has already ordered Yi’er confined to the capital for six months.”

Madam Yang’s brows knit in thought, and the room fell silent.

Shi Ding glanced at her, wanting to speak but stopping himself, sighing quietly as he sipped his tea.

After a long while, Madam Yang finally said, “I went to the Western Residence today to visit the old lady. Lian’s wife said that if Yi’er hadn’t been summoned to the palace yesterday, Cousin Zheng would have kept him in the study to read and practice calligraphy. She said Yi’er is notorious for mischief, but for some reason, he’s afraid of Cousin Zheng and always avoids him at the mansion.”