Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Luo Ning Takes the Upper Hand
Zhou Huai had watched the whole thing and was shocked for a long time.
When he saw the marquis manor close its gate and no one seemed to remember him, he finally told his coachman to turn the carriage around and go home.
Luo Ning and her brother returned to Wenqi Courtyard.
Nanny Kong had not yet come back. The rough-servant maid Auntie Li brought a few snacks for Luo You to eat, then went to tell the main kitchen to cook a bowl of noodles for him first.
“The academy has a court rest day every nine days. Last court rest day, the scholar-teacher called for me and Zhou Huai, so we did not make it back home in time,” Luo You said as he stuffed snacks into his mouth.
Luo Ning said: “On court rest days, you should come home. Only with both work and rest can you study well.”
She asked again: “You have been there for more than half a month. How does it feel?”
“It is not that holy. Many of them are just muddling along, even worse than me and Zhou Huai,” Luo You said. “The scholar-teacher even praised me.”
“How did he praise you?”
“He told us to copy a piece of writing. I wrote it all out in one go, without a single wrong character, and every stroke was good. The scholar-teacher praised me and even rewarded me with a bowl of roast meat,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning said: “At your age, most people’s wrist strength is light. It is rare to write without a single mistake.” Then she asked him: “How did you train?”
“I never practiced on purpose. Did I not learn the spear when I was little? A long spear is much heavier than a brush, yet I can hold it steady. Before I put the brush down, I just run it through in my head first, then write slowly without rushing,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning could not help laughing.
“Zhou Huai cannot do it. His wrist is too weak. The scholar-teacher told him to tie a sandbag to his wrist to practice writing. He only tied it for two days and his wrist swelled up high. It hurt so much he could not sleep at night,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning said: “That is really hard. Does he still want to keep studying?”
“Yes, he does. He got into Spring Mountain Academy. His parents were so happy, and his grandfather even gave him money as a reward. If he stopped and went back, his parents would lose face, and his grandfather would get angry. It would not be good for him,” Luo You said. He sighed: “He can only endure. Everyone’s days are endured like this.”
Luo Ning was silent. For a thirteen-year-old boy to have such understanding was very good.
Luo Ning always felt that he would not become a spoiled wastrel in the future.
He was even a bit smart.
If Heaven favored him, he might very well make something of himself. Although Luo Ning did not expect him to achieve anything great, she only hoped he could live on in good health.
The members of the Luo family who had not done evil all had the right to live.
A moment later, Nanny Kong came back.
She had delayed the Marquis of Zhen Nan for half an hour.
“…The second young master has gotten darker and thinner,” Nanny Kong said. “If your wet nurse saw him, her heart would ache.”
Luo You smiled, and a bit of childishness appeared on his face: “She will definitely nag. She treats me like a three-year-old child.”
Everyone laughed.
The kitchen sent over a bowl of noodle soup. Luo You finished it in a few quick bites and even asked: “Is there any more dessert?”
Luo Ning said: “Eat slowly.”
“I am hungry.”
Luo Ning had no choice but to say to Nanny Kong: “Tell the small kitchen to start cooking right away and bring out whatever food they have as soon as possible.”
Then she told Qiu Hua: “Bring some pine nuts for the second young master to eat.”
Everyone accepted her orders.
Luo Ning and Luo You sat on the big heated brick bed by the window, with a basin of ice placed beside them. They munched on pine nuts and chatted.
“…Chun Tao has been released. The household did not punish her, thinking she was helpless too. But she did make a mistake, so she cannot be kept anymore,” Luo Ning told this to her brother.
Luo You frowned: “She was so disloyal and unjust. Why was she simply let go?”
“As long as they do not touch my bottom line, I can be lenient,” Luo Ning said. Then she added: “Now Aunt is the house steward, and she is also willing to let Chun Tao go. This is for the people below to see. She can gain a reputation for being kind, and only then will the others submit to her.”
“I will not care about matters in the inner residence. But if a servant boy outside betrayed his master like that, I would punish him. I do not care what hardship he had. Wrong is still wrong,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning nodded and smiled: “That is very good. You distinguish clearly between reward and punishment.”
She affirmed him first.
Then she said: “But people’s hearts are made of flesh. Even in the imperial court, not everything is separated so stiffly into black and white without leaving any room for feelings. Affection and kindness are shown in small everyday matters that seem unimportant. You are still young and see everything in black and white. You will slowly understand in the future.”
Luo You could accept his sister’s words.
“Sister, you are right too,” he said, no longer arguing with her.
While the two of them were talking, Luo Chong Ye arrived.
He had just found out what had happened at the front gate.
His anger rose at once.
“…Do you want to turn the sky upside down? A guest comes to your door and you beat him?” Luo Chong Ye glared angrily at Luo You.
He did not dare scold Luo Ning, so he could only take out his anger on Luo You.
Luo You got up from the heated bed and stood to the side with his head lowered, saying nothing.
He was not very convinced in his heart.
Luo Ning’s face darkened.
She looked calmly at Luo Chong Ye and said: “Father, if the gatekeepers did not explain clearly what happened, then drive them all out. What did they tell you?”
Luo Chong Ye said: “…Even if they did something wrong, you still should not have used your hands.”
“He raised his hand first. He hit Uncle and then wanted to hit us,” Luo Ning said. “Should we let him shout and rage at our own gate? If people hear about this, will it make you look good, Father, or will it make Prince Yong look good?”
The words “Prince Yong” immediately stopped Luo Chong Ye.
His shoulders slumped a little.
“The Marquis of Jian Ning’s mansion is very powerful. Right now they are simply choosing not to fuss with us. If we really angered them, it is possible they could wipe out our estate. Why do you have to stir up trouble?” Luo Chong Ye said.
Luo Ning said: “Father, what are you afraid of? We are also a marquis manor.”
Luo Chong Ye was speechless.
They might both be marquis manors, but the difference between them was more than a little. As the Wang family’s Fourth Young Master had shouted, just the plaque on their gate was worth enough to buy the entire Luo family.
If the Wang family were an elephant, then the Luo family was a small ant.
“What is there to fear in offending them? We are not worth much anyway. Even if we lose everything, the Marquis of Jian Ning’s mansion cannot take away our noble title. Father, if I were you, I would send a memorial straight to the Emperor and say that the people of the Marquis of Jian Ning’s mansion came to our door to provoke us with unknown intentions, and ask the Emperor to decide for you. The officials in the Censorate have nothing better to do. With their spit alone they can spray the Wang family until they are covered in shame. From then on they will know that the Luo family is not easy to bully,” Luo Ning said.
Standing beside them with his head down, Luo You finally raised his face: “Father, I can write the memorial to the throne for you. I have read quite a few sample texts of memorials.”
For a moment, Luo Chong Ye was speechless, not knowing what to say.
They were like newborn calves unafraid of tigers. Luo Ning and Luo You had no fear in their hearts.
Then he thought again.
Prince Yong was his son-in-law. What was he afraid of, really?
Would Prince Yong protect him, or protect the Marquis of Jian Ning’s mansion?
Clearly, the Wang family had been in the wrong first.
“Write a memorial to the throne and let me see your learning,” he said to Luo You.
Luo You answered that he would.
After Luo Chong Ye left, Luo You had a good meal in Wenqi Courtyard.
He said to Luo Ning: “Father is very afraid of you.”
“How can you tell?”
“He was that angry, yet instead of calling you to his outer study, he came himself under the burning sun to look for you,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning was once more amazed by his sharpness.
She felt more and more that this younger brother of hers might really amount to something.
The way he saw problems was truly clear.
He was nothing like a small child.
Indeed, those in high positions did not move lightly. Luo Chong Ye personally coming to Wenqi Courtyard looked like he was coming to question them, but in truth he had already fallen into the weaker position.
Luo Chong Ye knew very clearly that he could not summon Luo Ning at will, and Luo You had seen this too.
[When my own matters are settled, I must invite a famous teacher for A’You.] Luo Ning said to herself in her heart.
She did not say it out loud, afraid that if she could not find one, it would leave her brother hoping for nothing.