Second Uncle with the Duck's Voice

Of the two younger brothers born to the same mother as Han Wanqing, Han Nanxing gave her the biggest headache.

Her older younger brother, Han Yucheng, was gifted, diligent, and ambitious. Though only seventeen this year, he had already earned the provincial graduate degree.

Han Yucheng studied at the Imperial Academy and would inherit the title of Earl of Ningyuan in the future. She had no need to worry about him.

Han Nanxing was different. The brat had been born mischievous and started nodding off the moment he opened a book.

As a child, whenever his tutor punished him by striking his palms, he would put crickets in the tutor's teapot, infuriating the man so much that even his beard went crooked!

In his youth, the Earl of Ningyuan had been falsely accused by a political rival. Disheartened, he had accepted a sinecure and spent his days tending flowers and plants, with no further interest in an official career. Still, he cared about his sons' studies.

When the tutor came to complain, the Earl of Ningyuan immediately dragged Han Nanxing out and beat the little brat until his bottom swelled.

The tutor had not wanted to let Han Nanxing study with him anymore, but after seeing that, he could hardly say anything further.

Later, Han Yucheng earned admission to the Imperial Academy through his own efforts, but Han Nanxing lacked that ability.

The Earl of Ningyuan had gone to enormous trouble to get him into the Ten Thousand Pines Academy. Who would have thought the headmaster would throw him out today?

The headmaster of the Ten Thousand Pines Academy was famous for his good temper.

What outrage against heaven and man could Han Nanxing possibly have committed to make the headmaster expel him without a shred of mercy?

At the thought, Han Wanqing's vision darkened. She wanted nothing more than to seize her troublesome younger brother and give him a sound beating.

When she heard footsteps, Chu Siqing, nestled in Princess Yu's arms, turned her head curiously, eager to see what this audacious second uncle of hers looked like.

To her surprise, the youth who lifted the curtain and entered was tall, with swordlike brows, star-bright eyes, and a radiant expression. He was actually a handsome young man brimming with vitality!

Chu Siqing was so startled that her mouth fell open.

I thought Second Uncle would be some idle, frivolous wastrel. I never expected him to be so handsome!

Han Nanxing plopped down in front of Princess Yu and said in a rough voice, "Eldest Sister, I came to see you and my niece."

He craned his neck to look at the baby in Princess Yu's arms and chuckled with a ducklike cackle. "What a well-behaved child. Pretty, too."

Han Nanxing's voice was low, hoarse, and terribly unpleasant, in stark contrast to his handsome appearance.

That voice instantly shattered Chu Siqing's infatuation. How could such a perfectly handsome fellow end up with a drake's voice?

Much as Han Wanqing had wanted to start by scolding her brother, she could not help laughing when she heard her daughter's thoughts. "Nanxing, what happened to your voice?"

Seeing the smile his sister could not suppress, Han Nanxing grew glum. "I don't know either. I've sounded like this lately whenever I speak, but I haven't caught a cold."

He paused, then added aggrievedly, "Why are you making fun of me too, Sister?"

Chu Siqing asked the system and only relaxed once she learned the reason. Thank goodness his voice is just breaking. It would sound awful if it stayed like this forever!

Han Wanqing hurried to comfort him. "Lots of boys your age go through changes in their voices. It'll get better eventually."

Only then did Han Nanxing feel a little better. He asked eagerly, "Then how long will it take?"

Chu Siqing snickered inwardly. At least six months to a year, probably.

Faced with her brother's hopeful gaze, Han Wanqing could not bear to crush his spirits and could only answer tactfully, "It varies. Some people get better in just a few months."

Han Nanxing looked disappointed. "That long? Won't they laugh me to death? Those fellows today..."

At that point, he suddenly realized something and hastily shut his mouth.

Chu Siqing enjoyed the gossip with the system. So Second Uncle is that formidable! His classmates made fun of his duck's voice, and he beat all five of them single-handedly!

Han Wanqing's gaze changed. "Your classmates made fun of you?"

Knowing he had let something slip, Han Nanxing quickly lowered his head to hide his expression. "It was just a few jokes."

Han Wanqing said sternly, "If they were just jokes, why are you here when the academy isn't on a break today? Nanxing, you must tell me the truth."

Han Nanxing bitterly regretted it! Why had he run his mouth?

But his sister would find out sooner or later, and hearing it from someone else might upset her even more. He could only confess.

Han Nanxing said, "Zhao Xiang and his friends have never gotten along with me. During class today, the tutor called on me to answer a question, and they kept whispering among themselves. Then everyone kept laughing at me..."

Han Wanqing's heart ached as she listened, but she knew that could not be the end of it. Patiently, she asked, "And then?"

Han Nanxing stole a look at Princess Yu's expression and said quietly, "Then I beat them up, and the headmaster threw me out."

Through her daughter's thoughts, Han Wanqing had already anticipated this.

But hearing her brother say it without blushing or batting an eye still angered her. "The headmaster told you to leave, and you just left? Couldn't you have said something to appease him?"

Han Nanxing felt guilty. "At first, the headmaster punished me with a month of copying books. I refused to accept it and argued my case, so he told me to get lost. I didn't want to stay there anyway. Studying was terribly boring, so I got lost."

Seeing that he showed not the slightest remorse, Han Wanqing was so furious that stars danced before her eyes. "Both sides were at fault in this. The headmaster wasn't wrong to punish you. How could you behave so recklessly?"

Exasperated by his failure to apply himself, she said, "Father went to so much trouble calling in favors to get you into the Ten Thousand Pines Academy. Now that the headmaster has expelled you, what academy will take you in?"

Han Nanxing said carelessly, "It doesn't matter. I don't want to study anymore anyway!"

Han Wanqing snapped, "If you won't study, what next? Are you going to fly into the heavens?!"

Seeing Princess Yu flare up, Han Nanxing hurriedly grew serious. "No, no! Don't be angry, Sister. I was thinking of studying martial arts instead."

Since her brother did not intend to become a wastrel and had at least some plans in mind, Han Wanqing finally felt less angry.

After considering it, she said, "His Majesty places great importance on the military now, so studying martial arts is another path forward. If you have ambitions, go ahead and pursue them. But don't spend three days fishing and two days drying your nets, doing nothing but talking a good game."

Delighted that his sister did not object, Han Nanxing hastily said, "I'm serious. Ever since I was little, I've liked martial arts more than studying. Unfortunately, Father insisted on forcing me to study."

Han Wanqing countered, "Who said learning martial arts means you don't have to study? Even the Military Examination for a provincial degree includes a written test. If you know nothing of letters or the past and present, how will you lead troops into battle?"

After a pause, she added, "Father wants what's best for you, too. I think you'd better first consider how you're going to explain being expelled from the academy."

Thinking of his father's thunderous face and the stick that had struck him throughout his childhood, Han Nanxing could not help shuddering.

He pleaded pitifully, "Eldest Sister, Father will definitely beat me to death when he finds out. Please let me stay at your residence for a few days!"

Han Wanqing laughed. "I wouldn't dare keep you here. Father will find out sooner or later. Who told you to act first and report afterward, behaving so impulsively?"

Han Nanxing's face immediately creased with misery. "Sister, Father is so rigid. How could he possibly listen to what I want?"

Seeing through her brother's little scheme, Han Wanqing said bluntly, "Just say it. How do you want me to help you?"