Huabin

The Duchess said nothing more. She merely instructed them not to interfere with children's games.

But the people around her took the hint and began making life difficult for the Side Courtyard.

First, the servant who swept the grounds deliberately left the path outside the Side Courtyard muddy and waterlogged. Then even the woman who delivered water started making excuses.

Ye Tianming soon noticed.

He said nothing. He simply spent a few Gold Soul Coins to hire laborers from outside the mansion to clean the Side Courtyard and carry water every other day.

He knew these were small measures that treated the symptoms, not the cause.

But he was only six. This was all he could do for now. To change things for good, he had to establish himself firmly in the mansion.

That day came sooner than he expected.

That afternoon, as Ye Tianming left the side courtyard, Dai Yutong walked him to the gate and clung to the hem of his robe, refusing to let go.

"Brother Tianming, are you really not coming tomorrow?" Dai Yutong asked, looking up at him with reluctance filling her eyes.

Ye Tianming crouched and tucked a windblown lock of hair behind her ear. Then he ruffled her hair and spoke gently.

"The duke is testing me on my lessons tomorrow, so I can't get away. I promise I'll come back first thing the day after."

"And I'll bring you sugar-roasted chestnuts from that shop in the east of the city. How does that sound?"

Dai Yutong nodded hard.

"Okay!"

Ye Tianming smiled and stood. He was just about to leave when a mocking voice came from behind him.

"Well, if it isn't the new adopted son. Why are you hanging around with that bastard?"

Ye Tianming turned toward the voice.

Three boys stood at the gate. The one in front wore a brocade robe and looked about eight or nine. He had a sturdy, boyish face and an arrogant set to his brow.

Behind him stood two followers, both sons of household servants.

Ye Tianming knew him: Dai Huabin, the White Tiger Duke's legitimate son, the Duchess's precious boy, and one of Huo Yuhao's main enemies early in the original story.

Dai Huabin looked Ye Tianming up and down. His gaze lingered on the brocade robe Ye Tianming wore, then shifted to Dai Yutong behind him. A sneer curled his lips.

"And here I was wondering who it was. So you're the adopted son Father just took in."

"What? The Inner Court isn't good enough for you? You came out here to play with this bastard instead? Aren't you afraid her bad luck will rub off on you?"

Frightened, Dai Yutong shrank behind Ye Tianming, her little hand clutching his robe tightly.

Ye Tianming drew her farther behind him and looked coldly at Dai Huabin. His voice remained calm.

"She isn't a bastard."

Dai Huabin scoffed and took a step forward.

"If she's not a bastard, what is she?"

"A maid's daughter who can't even be entered in the family register—if she's not a bastard, tell me what she is."

"Let me tell you something. An adopted son my father took in doesn't get to meddle in this mansion's affairs."

"If you know what's good for you, stay away from her. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Ye Tianming cut in, unwilling to listen to another word.

Dai Huabin froze. He clearly had not expected a six-year-old adopted son to talk back to him.

Then his face darkened, and he raised a hand to slap Ye Tianming across the face.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you—"

Dai Huabin's hand stopped halfway through its swing.

Ye Tianming raised his hand and firmly grabbed Dai Huabin's wrist.

Dai Huabin was two years older than Ye Tianming and half a head taller, yet Ye Tianming held his wrist so tightly that he could not pull free.

Warm Soul Power surged from Ye Tianming's palm, leaving Dai Huabin's wrist numb. He could barely put any strength into his arm.

"Y-you let go of me!" Dai Huabin cried, startled and furious at the force gripping his wrist.

Ye Tianming ignored Dai Huabin's words and looked coldly into his eyes before speaking slowly.

"First, her name is Dai Yutong. She is not 'that bastard.'"

"Second, I'll take charge of the Side Courtyard!"

"Third, you and your people will stay away from her from now on."

Ye Tianming gave his grip a slight squeeze. Dai Huabin yelped in pain, his knees buckling; he nearly fell to the ground.

The two followers behind him went pale with fright and stood rooted to the spot.

Ye Tianming decided Dai Huabin had learned enough and let go. There was no need to make too much of a scene.

Dai Huabin stumbled back several steps, clutching his wrist as he glared at Ye Tianming in shock and anger.

"Y-you dared to hit me?"

"I'm telling my mother!"

Ye Tianming gave a soft laugh.

"Go ahead."

"But before you do, there's something you'd better think about."

"A legitimate son of eight or nine, subdued in one move by a six-year-old adopted son, then running home to complain to his parents. I wonder who'll lose face when word gets out?"

Dai Huabin's face went red, then pale. He opened his mouth as though to say something, but in the end, he only shot Ye Tianming a hateful glare and slunk away with his two followers.

The gate fell quiet again.

Dai Yutong peeked out from behind Ye Tianming. She watched the direction Dai Huabin had gone, then turned back to Ye Tianming, her eyes full of worry.

"Brother Tianming, he... he's the legitimate son of the Duke's Mansion. Will you get in trouble for hitting him?"

Ye Tianming's heart softened at the worry on Dai Yutong's face, and he reassured her.

"No. He won't dare make a fuss, and even if he does, I'm not afraid."

Dai Yutong bit her lip. Then she reached out and gently touched the hand that had gripped Dai Huabin's wrist.

"Brother Tianming, did your hand hurt when you grabbed him?"

Ye Tianming blinked, then laughed.

He had to admit that this adorable little Huo girl had made him laugh.

"It didn't hurt. Don't forget, I have Innate Full Soul Power, and my Soul Power is higher than his."

Still unconvinced, Dai Yutong gently rubbed the back of his hand with her little fingers, as if comforting a child who had been wronged.

She kept her head down as she rubbed, speaking in a tiny voice.

"Brother Tianming, I'm sorry. You only argued with him because of me."

Ye Tianming took Dai Yutong's hand and comforted her softly.

"It wasn't because of you. He needed to be taught a lesson, that's all. I would've done it even if you weren't here. None of this is your fault."

Dai Yutong looked up at Ye Tianming, her eyes rimmed red. She sniffed hard and nodded.

"Mm!"

Ye Tianming ruffled her hair. "All right, head back inside. I'll bring you sugar-roasted chestnuts the day after tomorrow."

"Okay!"

"Take care on your way back, Brother Tianming!"

Dai Yutong smiled brightly and waved goodbye to him.