If it wasnât because he was still young, Xiaobao really wanted to go up and scrub his mouth clean.
Fucheng was about to speak up when a thunderous voice suddenly sounded, âYou son of a b*tch with a mouth of filthy language. You useless thing actually vented your anger out on a child⊠Itâs your father who didnât teach you well. Now that your father is no longer here, I will teach you on behalf of him!â
It was Duke Ningguo.
He glared at Shen Tai angrily, as if wanting to bite him, but his eyes were filled with sadness and a feeling of hating the iron for not turning to steel.
âAdd one more shichenÂč from now on! You are not allowed to go back until youâre done!â Duke Ningguo shouted.
âGrandfather!â
Unfortunately, Duke Ningguo ignored him. He walked over and picked up Xiaobao and left.
Duke Ningguo took Xiaobao back to the main room and sat down on the Kang near the window.
His face was dazed, and his old face was full of exhaustion.
Xiaobao sat to the side, trying to think of something to say to comfort him, but he didnât know what he could say.
After a while, Duke Ningguo came back to his senses. He looked at Xiaobao, sighed and smiled. âXiaobao is worried about great grandfather? Your great-grandfather is fine. Your cousin Shen Tai isnât bad by nature but was spoiled by others. â
He let out a long sigh. Then he said to Xiaobao as if he were an adult, âHeâs unresigned in his heart and great-grandfather knows. But thunder, rain, and dew are all according to His Majestyâs grace. As officials, we have no choice. Even if we didnât want to, we still must receive it⊠His Majesty made a good move this time. This single position of being the heir caused such tumult in my Shen Family, leaving the uncle and the nephew at odds. They are the only ones left of the two branches yet they are like enemiesâŠâ
As he spoke, he started to laugh, but Xiaobao thought they were more like sobs.
Xiaobao stretched out his hand and patted the back of Duke Ningguoâs hand. Seeing his serious little look, Duke Ningguo was greatly amused. He stretched out his hand and rubbed Xiaobaoâs little head. âGreat grandfather said you are smart and you are indeed a clever little thing â
Xiaobao rubbed his nose and covered his face with his chubby little hands, embarrassed. This action of his made Duke Ningguo laugh so much that all his worries disappeared.
âCome on. Great grandfather will take you to see the military books I have hidden!â
The next day, Shen Tai came to beg to see Duke Ningguo.
He entered the room and knelt before Duke Ningguo with a thump, then started to cry so hard that he could barely breathe while admitting his wrongs.
Duke Ningguoâs expression was complicated. It took a long time for him to say, âSince you know your mistakes, grandfather will forgive you. But you need to know that as a member of the Shen Family, you must bear more hardships than others. You are the eldest grandson of the Shen Family with a few younger brothers below. You should set a good example for your brothers so they can be proud of you.â
Shen Tai fell to the ground and cried, âGrandfather, grandson knows that he was wrong. Grandson doesnât dare to commit this same mistake again in the future. Grandson will make sure to practice martial arts well and not let grandfather down.â
âGet up.â
Shen Tai didnât dare to get up. After Duke Ningguo gave a signal, an old servant next to him helped him up.
Afterwards, Duke Ningguo instructed him about the principles of dealing with others before allowing Shen Tai to leave. After he left, Duke Ningguo ordered people to shorten his daily martial arts training time.
Actually, Duke Ningguo had already expected that Shen Tai wouldnât be able to train into anything amazing. It was already too late for him to practice martial arts, but martial arts training could grind his temperament. He hoped for his grandsonâs temperament to be calmer.
No matter what, he was still his eldest grandson.
And after this grandfather and grandsonâs heart-to-heart, Shen Tai seemed to have really changed.
In the past, he had to have people urging him before he could successfully finish, and there were still many complaints coming from his mouth. But now, his complaints had disappeared and he was also more diligent in his training. It was clear that he was so exhausted from practicing that he had to be carried back by his servants, but disgust and hatred were no longer seen on his face. He also got a lot closer to Duke Ningguo. Every now and then, he would come to ask Duke Ningguo for advice on martial arts issues. Whenever he had something he couldnât understand about military tactics he would also come ask for help.
Duke Ningguoâs face was covered more and more often in smiles. and Xiaobao couldnât help but wonder whether the death of his great grandfather in his previous life actually had something to do with Shen Tai. Was he mistaken somewhere?
On this day, Shen Tai asked Duke Ningguo for advice again as usual. The grandfather and grandson duo were in the study, having a very happy conversation.
Although Shen Tai was akin to a rotten piece of wood that couldnât be carved, Duke Ningguo was still happy to teach him.
Xiaobao was also there. He was sitting on the couch by the window, and a tabby cat was lying on the window sill next to him. This tabby cat was the most beloved pet of Duchess Ningguo. It liked to run around and wander throughout the entire Duke Ningguo Manor. From time to time, it would come to Huju Hall, where Xiaobao would always see it.
Shen Tai glanced at the infant and the cat bathing in the sun, and couldnât help but say to Duke Ningguo, âGrandfather, Xiaobao doesnât understand any of this. What if he gets bored to death? Why donât you let the servants bring him out to play? â
Duke Ningguo glanced at Xiaobao, âA naughty baby can distract you? Xiaobao is very well behaved and isnât noisy at all. You come here and tell grandfather what this meansâŠâ
Shen Tai looked as if his true thoughts were exposed and scratched his head, embarrassed. He bowed his head to read the military book, then stumbled as he tried to explain the meaning of the passage Duke Ningguo had referred to.
After speaking, he looked at Duke Ningguo with some anxiety.
Duke Ningguo looked at his grandsonâs face and sighed in his heart. âYouâre already much better than before. Continue to read this, grandfather will go to the washroom.â He patted Shen Tai on the shoulder then got up and walked out.
The study was quiet. There were only two people and one cat.
One of them was a baby while the cat also understood nothing
Shen Tai, who had been reading the book with his head down, suddenly made a move. Xiaobao looked over from the corner of his eyes and saw that he took out a paper bag from one of his pockets.
The tabby cat also looked over and meowed.
This meow frightened Shen Tai. He poured the contents of the paper bag into the teacup next to him in a hurry, then he stared at Xiaobao and the tabby cat. In a lowered voice, he said, âWhat are you looking at? If you continue to look, Iâll gouge out your eyes!â