Chapter 4 Past Events and Family Matters

  He got five war horses and more than twenty taels of silver, Su Tiancheng's mood was exceptionally good, the previous scene, he had long forced himself to forget.

  Su Er Tong slowly came back to his senses, still not speaking. The young master's change was too great, why was this? Who didn't know that their own young master was timid and cowardly, day and night only knowing how to read books, after passing the imperial examination, always thinking about next year's provincial exam, worrying too much, even becoming a bit deranged.

  It's actually all related to our own master and mistress.

  The young master was only seventeen years old. At this age, he had already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, which was a remarkable achievement. However, Master and Mistress did not think so, their attitude towards the young master remained unchanged.

  The young master of the house had a hard life, born out of wedlock, and after his birth, his mother passed away. The first wife pitied her own son and looked down on the young master, often speaking ill of him. When the old master was not at home, she would take advantage of it to bully the young master. The servants in the house also understood this and followed suit, bullying the young master. Living in such a situation, the young master was timid and fearful all the time, and over time, he naturally developed a weak character.

  The old master of the house is busy with business all year round, and doesn't care about his son at all. Everything is listened to by the eldest wife, because the eldest wife often says that the young master is not good, and the old master also follows her teachings, so the young master dares not speak out.

  It's probably heaven's blessing that our young master is quite good at studying, compared to Haogongzi and Rangongzi, he is much stronger.

  Hao Gongzi and Ran Gongzi, both born to the eldest lady, naturally held a special position in the mansion. Long-term pampering had made them develop arrogant personalities. In Su Er Tong's eyes, they were the epitome of spoiled brats.

  Hao Gongzi was nineteen years old, and at the beginning of last year, he barely passed the examination for Tongsheng. The old lady was overjoyed and celebrated it as a big event, letting the old master use his connections and spend money to send him to the Imperial Academy in Beijing to study. However, Gongzi was also seventeen years old and had no intention of studying at all. Every day, he would just flirt with the maids in the mansion, and none of the slightly pretty ones could escape his attention.

  What happened at the beginning of this year made Su Er feel a chill in his heart.

  The old master's business has grown, and he has made connections, the focus of his business has shifted to Taiyuan Prefecture. He bought a house in Taiyuan Prefecture, and the first wife followed him there. The eldest son was studying at the Imperial Academy in Beijing, but he also went with them, including the second wife. Almost no one is left in the old mansion in Pingyang Prefecture City, except for their own son who stayed behind.

  It was all the mistress's idea, saying that the old house needed someone to watch it, this is where the family's prosperity lies, and it must not be leaked out. The young master staying behind is the most suitable, being the male heir of the family.

  He was originally from a wealthy family, and followed to Taiyuan Prefecture, where he also suffered. It would have been better for him to stay in Pingyang Prefectural City. However, the elder lady calculated very precisely, giving her own son thirty taels of silver as living expenses every month. Thirty taels seemed like a lot, but compared to the several hundred taels that Haogongzi and Rangongzi spent each month, it was equivalent to his annual expenditure. The entire Pingyang Prefectural City knew that the Su family was rich beyond measure.

  The more than thirty people left in the mansion were all personally appointed by the first wife, among whom the butler and several key figures were the first wife's confidants. The butler was Su Jun, who was mentioned by the young master. The young master's monthly expenses of thirty taels of silver were also managed by Su Jun, and as the young master of the Su family, he had no right to use money.

  What's even more outrageous is that the young master of our own family is already seventeen years old and hasn't been engaged yet. Think about it, Hao Gongzi has already started a family and has concubines too. As for Gongzi, there's no need to mention him, he has a bunch of women around him, and after the new year, they will be holding a wedding ceremony.

  I don't know what the old master of our family is thinking. Is it that the old master of our family doesn't know that young master is good at reading books? If young master passes the imperial examination and gets a high rank in the future, how will the old master face him?

  It's really infuriating that the young master of our house still has a weak temperament, just like a lump of dough, whatever shape you mold it into, that's what it becomes. Although Master and the two madams have gone to Taiyuan Prefecture, in the Pingyang Prefectural City's Su Manor, the young master is still the same as before, even when he needs money, he has to get approval from the steward.

  The only ones worthy of trust around the young master are Su Er Tong and his family.

  Su Er Tong's father, Su Ping Yang, and mother, Yang Shi, were both brought into the Su Manor with the birth mother of the young master. After the young master's mother passed away, they fell to the lowest level in the Su Manor. If not for their careful care of the young master as he grew up, it's possible that they would have already been expelled from the Su Manor. Over the years, who knows how many cold eyes and humiliations they suffered?

  Gongzi's actions today have already made Su Er Tong's brain a bit overwhelmed.

  Since becoming a student, the young master's personality has slowly changed, and he has become more diligent in his studies. Originally, he could have gone to the Imperial Academy to study, but the situation at home made that impossible. Later, the young master proposed going to Taiyuan Prefecture to study, but was flatly rejected by the elder lady.

  Helpless, the young master could only read books in the mansion.

  Just this June, Su Pingyang discovered that Gongzi had undergone some changes, often talking to himself and wearing a foolish smile on his face. This was not a good sign. Gongzi was going to participate in the imperial examination next year, and he absolutely could not have any problems arise. On one hand, she carefully took care of him, while on the other hand, she required Su Er Tong to follow Gongzi everywhere at all times.

  Su Er Tong also discovered that Gongzi was gradually going mad.

  By early September, the young master's madness had become more serious. He would often pace back and forth in his room, baring his teeth and brandishing his claws. When he was in a frenzy, no one could recognize him, and he would constantly mutter to himself about going to the Imperial Academy to study. Seeing this situation, Su Pingyang and Yang were shocked and at a loss, thinking that the young master had been possessed by an evil spirit.

  Of course, it's not always like this. About two or three days a month, the young master will be in such a state.

  By October, they saw that the young master was about to go crazy again. Su Pingyang and Yang felt something was wrong and prepared to report to the housekeeper, asking him to persuade the housekeeper to tell the first wife, and find a doctor to take a look.

  Unexpectedly, the young master left Su's residence directly. Su Er Tong had always been following the young master and saw this situation, but didn't have time to say anything, so he also followed the young master out. Seeing that the young master was leaving Pingyang City, Su Er Tong felt helpless. He couldn't let the young master get lost, luckily before they left the city, they met an acquaintance who lent them a few silver coins to bring along. Otherwise, the two of them would have had no money at all and would have starved to death.

  The young master has been walking in a daze for three days, and Su Er'tong, who is following him to beg for lodging, is already worried that it's October, the season of deep autumn and early winter. If they sleep outdoors, they will freeze to death. Seeing the copper coins on his body dwindling, Su Er'tong was anxious, hoping that the young master would wake up soon and return home quickly.

  The young master's performance just now left Su Er Tong stunned for a moment. Where is the timid and fearful young master? He was decisive in his actions, without any hesitation or dragging his feet, and full of clever strategies. What happened to him? Could it be that what others said is true - that scholars are all heavenly warriors descended from the stars, and the young master has been secretly accumulating his strength?

  The most crucial thing is that the young master actually dared to kill someone, and his tone was unquestionable.

  If it weren't for following the young master every day, and being familiar with his appearance and figure, Su Er Tong would have thought that the person in front of him was not their own young master.

  I don't know whether it's excitement or agitation, but Su Er Tong's hole-digging incident seems a bit over-the-top.

  "Second Brother, after burying these military uniforms, you and I will each keep a steel knife, the rest of the knives will also be buried here, make a good mark. Unfortunately, we don't have time now, otherwise, we would have buried these heads too, to rest in peace."

  "Sir, I'm strong enough, burying these heads won't be a problem."

  "You're stupid, I know you have time, we killed five soldiers, who knows if there are other soldiers nearby, if they meet us, aren't we dead for sure? This is my plan, tonight don't rest, rush through the night and go straight to Xiangling County City, sell all the war horses, these war horses must not be brought back, if possible, dispose of the steel knives together, sell the war horses and steel knives, you and I will directly return to Fucheng."

  "Young master, these war horses can be sold in the city. I saw a horse market outside the city gate."

  Su Tiancheng glanced at Su Er'tong, a bitter smile on his face. This Su Er'tong had always followed the previous Su Tiancheng, with a kind heart and not a single evil intention.

  "Second child, the war horse absolutely cannot be dealt with in the prefectural city. It must go to Xiangling County City. If we deal with it in the prefectural city and are discovered, what kind of situation do you think will happen?"

  "Xiao understood, young master is indeed clever and resourceful."

  "Alright, today's matter will be left unsaid, even to Uncle and Auntie, understood?"

  Thank you for your support, I will definitely work hard and look forward to getting more support.