The Lady’s Sickly Husband

Translator: Antonia

While Tong Zijing lived in Ning’s house in the Wang village, old Mr. Tong didn’t stay idle either. He had visited all the private or public schools in Tianxiang city but didn’t find a proper tutor who met the standards that Mo Qianxue had stated.

Upset, Mr. Tong went back to Tong mansion, followed by the butler, who was also frustrated when manager Yu of Tingfengquan winery dropped by with new wine that was said to have a lingering taste and top quality.

Tingfengquan was the biggest winery in Tianxiang city, a supplier of Tong mansion’s wines, so of course it tried best to satisfy its old customer.

When there was good wine, it dropped by to recommend. Too upset, Mr. Tong didn’t want to receive guests, but it was reported that the manager arrived in person, so Mr. Tong unwillingly showed up to meet with him.

The manager took out the good wine, and the two began to chat, somehow about finding a tutor. Manager Yu patted on his thigh and said that he happened to know such a man.

Hence…

It was a humble scholar-to-be.

Ji Xuyao, a member of a declined noble family, at the age of thirty, exactly met all the requirements that had been proposed Mo Qianxue.

At the first sight, butler Tong was very satisfied with this young man and immediately took him to meet Mr. Tong.

During their conversations, it was obvious that Mr. Ji was eloquent, humorous and knowledgeable. When he was a youth, he had also practiced martial arts, which bestowed him a good health. Altogether, he seemed like a tutor specially made for Tong Zijing.

Old Mr. Tong was very satisfied too, so quickly he decided to hire Ji Xuyao as Tong Zijing’s tutor.

When butler Tong brought Ji Xuyao to Ning’s house, Tong Zijing was carving a small wooden piece in the workshop. He looked concentrated and leisurely, with a small smile on his face. His appearance and behavior was nothing different from a normal person.

Bulter Tong took a more careful look and found that within around a week, his young lord was plumper than he used to be and his face was no longer pale. Though he was still slim, his figure suggested delicate instead of illness like before.

Tong Zijing’s condition was reported to Tong mansion everyday, but the content only included what he did, what he ate, or he was quiet and other dull staff of this sort.

Absolutely the dry description couldn’t be as visible and vivid as one witnessed with his own eyes.

The huge change and healthier condition made butler Tong couldn’t help rubbing his eyes to see clearly. Then, instantly, tears flowed out of the wrinkled furrow eyes.

Although the tutor was here, the butler felt a little embarrassed to tell Mo Qianxue, because together with the tutor, two pretty girl servants were also sent here.

This was the order of old Mr. Tong. The butler had wanted to talk him out of it, yet on a second thought, they weren’t forcing lord but only sending him more servants.

If lord might like them and took them, it wound be their luck and also a happy thing for Tong family. If he didn’t like them, just send them back. Therefore, the butler no longer found it improper. He chatted with Mo Qianxue for a moment and then hurried back to Tong mansion to report the good news to his master.

Looking at the two girls behind Mr. Ji, Mo Qianxue was speechless, but she still let Awu take over Tong Zijing, “Zijing, this is the tutor we find for you.”

“Do you know how to carve?”

“Sorry, I don’t know how to carve, I know a little painting techniques, fish swimming in the water, birds flying in the sky, flowers smiling in wind. If you don’t mind, my lord, I can paint for you.” Mr. Ji answered, all smiles, in an unhurried and amiable tone.

“Hurry. Draw me a picture.” Tong Zijing wasn’t interested in many things, except painting and carving.

He didn’t show rejection to Mr. Ji’s smiling face and funny words, so when he heard that he could paint, he couldn’t help asking him to draw a picture.

The two girls felt somewhat offended that young lord didn’t even take a glance at them. After all, they had been specially trained for many years to become young lord’s concubines.

The two looked at each other and then stepped forward to greet him.

Only then did Tong Zijing spot that there were two girls behind Mr. Ji.

When the two girls came up, Tong Zijing immediately took a step back and shouted, “Tong Ping, Tong An…”

*

At the Tong mansion.

When butler Tong arrived at the study room, Mr. Tong was copying calligraphy paintings by famous scholars.

The butler reported, “Master, our guards at Ning family sent over news that lord ordered Tong Ping and Tong An to drag away the two girls before they could approach him and now they were thrown into snow. He also said…”

Master Tong wasn’t surprised at his son’s behavior and didn’t even looked up, asking, “Said what?”

“He said that if they appeared again, he would kill them, and then…” The butler could barely continue.

“Then what?” The master dropped down the pen in his hand, looking at the paintings before him with appreciation.

He hadn’t copied such a satisfactory painting for a long time.

He only had the good mood only because of the good news of Tong Zijing’s health passed by the butler.

The bulter was a little uneasy, “Then lord gave an order that no women should approach him in the future, or any woman stands within a meter around him without permission will be killed by Tong Ping and Tong An, who if failed to follow the order, will also be killed.”

“Hahaha…” Mr. Tong suddenly laughed to the sky on hearing the report, “Kill! My Jing has grown up indeed. Butler go and get my wine.”

Butler Tong received the order and walked away, leaving Mr. Tong alone murmuring, “Great, great! A real man of Tong family.” Before the butler got out of the room, he added, “send more guards to follow lord in secret. Whoever he wants to kill, just kill. My son must know killing.”

“Yes.”

The butler nodded again and was about to get out, when he heard again, “wait.”

He turned around, a little impatient, and Mr. Tong made another order, “Hurry and send people to follow the strange doctor. When he gets the guiding herd, let our guards take it over. Even if they failed, do let them destroy it.”

“Why…master?”

“Why? Of course for Jing. You know that he had lived in Ning family for so long and never spoke to any other woman except that Mo Qianxue. I heard that in that small courtyard there are other women including widows and young girls. Since he only had feelings toward Mrs. Ning, of course, as his father, I should give him a hand.”

“Master, shall we wait for a while? Maybe in a few days, lord will understand more about women.” The butler was anxious.

“Wait? I’m not young already. How many years can I live further? If Jing never understands it and never accepts women, then what should I do?”

“Um…I bet…he will.” The butler wasn’t sure either.

“Everything is possible, but I won’t waste my time on useless waiting.” Mr. Tong looked vicious, “If Ning Shaoqing disappeared and Mrs. Ning had no one to count on, then naturally she will like Jing and rely on him.”

“Master…”

“Say no more. I’m determined. Go and arrange that.”

*

When Mr. Tong secretly planned with his butler to ruin Ning Shaoqing’s life-saving detoxification drug in the study room, Ning Shaoqing entered the room of Mr. Ji.

Ji Xuyao was reading in his room and saw Ning Shaoqing coming in.

At a closer regard at his imposing elegance, instantly he felt as if Ning Shaoqing’s brilliance illuminated the humble room. In a hurry he stood up and greeted him, “Mr. Ning. I’ve long heard of you. Finally, I meet you in person; you really deserve your fame.”

“You’re flattering me.” Ning Shaoqing slightly raised his hand and let Ji Xuyao take a seat, “I should thank you for coming here.”

Although Ji family declined, as the old saying went, a starved camel is bigger than a fat horse.

The Ji family used to be a well-known noble family in Tianqi and a top one one century ago. It declined, but it still owned vast land and properties to support its members. Mr. Ji in fact wasn’t that poor that he must beg a position as a tutor in order to make ends meet.

“You’re flattering me. Please pass my gratitude to lord Lu for his recommendation, and thank you for giving me the opportunity.”

Ji Xuyao talked in a modest and eloquent manner, “Tong family is the top one in Tianqi. Although Mr. Tong now lives in seclusion, retired from the capital and less domineering like many years ago, Mr. Tong’s autocratic way of doing things and his sphere of influence didn’t reduce at all.

Ji family, however, has plummeted to the lowest. If I sit idle and watch this situation worsening like this, in a few years, no one will remember Ji family. Therefore, this position is indeed a rare opportunity for me, and it will also be a booster to the rise of Ji family.

I really cherish this opportunity. When my family rises again, I can’t thank you and lord Lu more for the recommendation and position.”

Ning Shaoqing didn’t a direct reply. He spent so much effort to invite Ji Xuyao here, certainly not to hear his gratitude, “Mr. Ji, don’t be too modest, I’ll thank you as long as you give right guidance for lord Tong.”

The faster Tong Zijing recovered, the better, and the safer for Mo Qianxue.

At present, what in Ning Shaoqing’s mind wasn’t mere jealousy but also their future. He wasn’t that narrow-minded to fix his eyes on the present and disregard future risks.

His hidden guards constantly reported what happened in his mansion. Obviously, the mother and son hadn’t give up searching for him but was only confused by the smoke bombs his hidden guards had buried in advance.

He had kept venting wind and fake news in other places in order to distract the mother and son, so that he could know whether those heartless people had given up or not.

He wanted to give up his share of family property, but only on the premise that he and Mo Qianxue stayed safe. If one day, they really pissed him off, he would definitely take back everything that belonged to him. What he worried was Mo Qianxue.

What if one day that bitch and her bastard son showed up here? His martial art was enough for self-protection, but he couldn’t be one hundred percent sure that Mo Qianxue could stay far away from being hurt.

He didn’t at all trust Mr. Tong, because that man was notorious for his cruelty and ruthlessness. Hence, Ning Shaoqing must help Tong Zijing rise, in real terms.

Tong Zijing was the only heir of Tong family, the future master of it. Only when he managed to help Tong Zijing become the master of Tong family could Mo Qianxue obtain real safety.

While Ning Shaoqing concerned about Mo Qianxue’s safety, what Ji Xuyao considered was the long-term plan of Ji family.

As long as there was Tong Zijing and as long as he managed to become the master of Tong family, Ji Xuyao, as his tutor, wouldn’t have to worry when Ji family could rise again.

Ji Xuyao was a clever man. Once he had made up his mind and thought through the loss and gains, he would go all out to get what he wanted.

Ning Shaoqing told him everything that he knew from Mo Qianxue, including the details and key to autism treatment as well as everything about Tong Zijing, including his likes and dislikes. Ji Xuyao listened carefully and memorized all these in mind.

Knowing all parties well could win any battle.

Ji Xuyao pulled an all-nighter and, by candlelight, fabricated a plain for Tong Zijing’s daily activities. Early in the morning, he showed it to Mo Qianxue.

It included many classes in a day, but Mo Qianxue found it satisfying.

She hadn’t expected that with only some tips, Ji Xuyao could make such a detailed and perfect plan so soon.

Of course, she didn’t know that her vinegar dear husband also secretly contributed a lot to it.

She had to admit that Ji Xuyao was very considerate. He knew that Tong Zijing lacked patience for long-duration activities, so he cut one class into many parts. In addition, many of the classes were more games than lectures.

As to the morning, he divided into six sections. After getting up, there was a class for boxing, which was actually morning exercise and playing with the boy.

After it, there would be history class, which, to put it plain, was to tell historian stories to Tong Zijing.

Then, it turned to what Mo Qianxue had suggested—interation. Then at lunch, he would taught Tong Zijing table manners…

Every aspect had been taken into consideration and arranged in a detailed way.

In view that Tong Zijing enjoyed carving, there was also a class to discuss carving techniques with Wang Tiansong.

Ji Xuyao even arranged a class during which Tong Zijing would become a teacher a teach him how to carve.

Such a person, if a kind and ambitious man, would be a high-achiever in the future; if evil, would cause misery to many people. This was the first sentence occurred to Mo Qianxue after she read the plan.

Now she regarded Tong Zijing as her real brother. Certainly she cared what kind of education Tong Zijing received.

Since there weren’t many things to do and out of curiosity, Mo Qianxue listened outside the room when he gave classes to Tong Zijing.

Through the window, she saw Ji Xuyao was teaching the origins of characters. Only for the character qi, he taught four different writing forms and the sources of each respectively, in a way like telling stories.

Tong Zijing was fully attracted to the lecture, and Mo Qianxue quite enjoyed it too.

She didn’t know that there were so many cultural connotations behind each Chinese character and felt herself so ignorant.

Ji Xuyao was indeed a man of learning and a speaker. She wondered where Mr. Tong had found such an excellent scholar and why he didn’t send him over earlier.

Besides, would such a great scholar be willing to be an ordinary tutor?

She couldn’t figure out and left, shaking her head. She didn’t have the interest to know what was in his mind. As long as Tong Zijing liked him and he was a great tutor who taught Tong Zijing well, she felt gratified.