The two become disciples

After saying so much in one go, Xu Shumin felt a little thirsty. She took another sip of tea before continuing, "As soon as he confessed everything, I sent people to find you. They searched for ages before discovering that you were actually staking out this place.

"But it looks like you noticed something was wrong too. Not bad—you weren't completely hopeless."

Dong Daqiang gave his wife a thumbs-up as she drank her tea. "My dear, you're practically Zhuge Liang himself! If my brother-in-law hadn't gone to Junior Official Shen today to ask him to name the newborn baby,

"we would never have learned from Junior Official Shen's inner thoughts that the child wasn't his. That was what made us suspicious, but you were suspicious right from the start. We can't compare to you."

Pleased by Dong Daqiang's praise, Xu Shumin said smugly, "Of course. Just who do you think I am? I've managed a household for half my life. When it comes to affairs in the inner quarters, one glance is enough for me to guess how things will unfold!"

Seeing how proud his wife looked, Dong Daqiang showered her with a few more compliments, coaxing her into such a good mood that she decided to increase his monthly allowance starting next month.

While the couple basked in marital bliss, Ma Zhennan glared furiously at the man kneeling on the ground. He said nothing, merely ordering his attendants to escort the man back to his residence.

His second wife knew he had returned, but she had never expected him to bring her real husband back with him. The instant she recognized the innkeeper, she collapsed to the floor.

She crawled over on her knees, grabbed the hem of Ma Zhennan's clothes, and tearfully begged for mercy, hoping he would spare her life for the child's sake.

Mentioning the child only made matters worse. Ma Zhennan grew even angrier. Not only did he give her a divorce letter, but he also sent her and the innkeeper to prison, where decades behind bars awaited them.

As for the newborn child, Ma Zhennan found him a good family and sent him away.

Once Ma Zhennan's affairs had been settled, the day arrived for Shen Shixu to formally accept his disciples.

An Chengyu and Jiang Bin rose early, washed, changed their clothes, and took the apprenticeship gifts they had prepared. Accompanied by their servants, they hurried to the small courtyard where Shen Shixu lived.

Duke An and the Eldest Princess went along too. After all, their children were taking a master, so as their elders, they ought to be there.

That day, Shen Shixu wore a sky-blue brocade robe patterned with floral medallions, with an emerald-green jade pendant at his waist. His dark hair was tied high with a sky-blue ribbon embroidered with gold thread, giving him a neat, sharp appearance.

He sat upright in his chair, with An Chengyu and Jiang Bin kneeling before him. Duke An and the Eldest Princess sat on either side, along with Xiao Jinyi, who had come to witness the ceremony.

Shen Zexi held a rosewood tea tray bearing two cups of fine Biluochun, brewed to just the right temperature for drinking.

An Chengyu and Jiang Bin each took a cup and raised it above their heads with both hands, their heads bowed as they looked at the floor. A young child's voice mingled with a teenager's clear tones. "Master, please have some tea!"

Shen Shixu first accepted An Chengyu's tea, took a sip, and set it on the table beside him. Then he accepted Jiang Bin's tea, drank a sip, and set it down as well. Next, he took out the gifts he had prepared for his disciples and handed one to each of them.

An Chengyu received a peace pendant made from warm jade, which could nourish his body when worn.

Jiang Bin received a seal personally carved by Lord Wen, Wen Yu, a renowned master from the previous dynasty. Four characters were carved into it—"Maintain discipline and integrity"—meaning to preserve one's moral purity.

Shen Shixu gave Jiang Bin this seal in the hope that he would stay true to his original intentions and never forget why he had come to seek a master.

Though Jiang Bin was ignorant and uneducated, he had learned this phrase before and understood why Shen Shixu had given him the seal.

"Master, don't worry. From now on, I'll live an honest, upright life, and I'll never forget my original intentions."

Shen Shixu was pleased with his words, but he did not show it, lest the boy get carried away. "Good, as long as you understand. When I go on duty, you'll accompany me as my attendant. I'll teach you how to investigate cases.

"Once you've learned enough, I'll give you an assignment. Only if you handle it well will you be allowed to take a post at the Court of Judicial Review."

Jiang Bin had no objections. Seeing that her son had not lost his temper, the Eldest Princess knew they had chosen the right master.

After the master had presented his gifts, it was the disciples' turn.

An Chengyu had prepared a suit of flexible gold-thread armor that could withstand blades and spears. He had chosen this gift on the advice of his eldest uncle's wife and his mother.

Shen Shixu was bound to offend people frequently while investigating cases. As a scholar too weak to truss a chicken, he could hardly train in martial arts and become formidable overnight. All they could do was give him something with the best possible protection to keep him alive.

This flexible gold-thread armor was a true treasure. It was inconspicuous beneath one's clothes, so no one could tell it was there, and it could save a life at a critical moment.

There were only two suits in all of Great Qian. One had belonged to the imperial family and had been bestowed on Xiao Jinyi. The other had been kept at Duke An's Residence and was now in Shen Shixu's hands.

(Apart from Xiao Jinyi, many people believed Shen Shixu knew no martial arts.)

Jiang Bin's gifts were more varied: a deed to a prime property, several shops, banknotes worth over a hundred thousand taels, and a famous painting.

Jiang Bin introduced them to Shen Shixu one by one. "Master, this deed is for a residence with three successive courtyards on Black Tortoise Avenue, near the imperial palace. You'll have to attend court every day from now on. If you leave from here, you'll have to get up half an hour earlier. Moving there will let you rest for an extra half hour.

"These shops are thriving businesses belonging to my mother. I know you're good at business too, Master, so I picked out a few promising ones to give you.

"As for the banknotes, they're simply a token of my respect. And for this last painting, I thought that, as a scholar, you would probably appreciate beautiful calligraphy and paintings, so I went searching through the storeroom especially for it. It's the Snow Palace Night Banquet Painting. Do you like it, Master?"

Shen Shixu liked the painting very much. It depicted a winter banquet held in the imperial palace during the previous dynasty, an immensely grand occasion that had brought together countless renowned generals and civil officials. Such a magnificent gathering would likely never be seen again.

"I like it very much. You've put a lot of thought into this." After praising Jiang Bin, Shen Shixu also praised An Chengyu, who had begun to droop dejectedly beside him. "Chengyu, I like your gift very much too. It's just so precious that I feel a little embarrassed accepting it."

At Shen Shixu's praise, An Chengyu's little face brightened. "Hehe, there's no need to feel embarrassed, Master. As your disciple, it's my duty to protect you. I can't protect you right now, so this armor can do it in my place.

"Once I've learned enough from Grandpa, I'll stay by your side every day and protect you."

Looking at the adorable An Chengyu, Shen Shixu could not resist reaching out to ruffle his hair. When he had first seen An Chengyu asleep, he had thought the child was cute. Who would have known he would be even cuter awake?

He was just like the filled gummy candies Shen Shixu had eaten in his previous life—soft and springy, with sweet fruit jam inside, sweet enough to melt a person's heart.