Chapter 110: Punishment

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Xingqi and Xingyou’s drawings were gradually taking shape. Though neither of them had said a word, they seemed to have reached an understanding: both were drawing Shen Zijiao standing in punishment.

“What are you drawing?” As their pictures became more complete, Shen Zijiao’s expression grew increasingly ugly.

Xingqi did not move an inch, yet his hand continued to fly across the paper. Only Xingyou gave a mischievous chuckle. “We’re drawing you.”

“Can’t you tell?”

“It can’t be helped. Those of us who study painting simply enjoy observing the things around us and setting down what we see.”

Shen Zijiao was about to charge over, but the guards restrained him.

In less than the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, Xingqi and Xingyou had finished their paintings.

Tan Qingjiu walked over and glanced at them, the corners of her lips curling slightly. “You two seem to have been neglecting your practice lately. You’ve regressed.”

Xingqi nodded. “We’ll practice more from now on.”

Xingyou blinked. “Even though we’ve been neglecting our practice, they should still be passable, shouldn’t they?”

“Mm.” Tan Qingjiu raised her eyes toward the steward. “I’d trouble you to show the paintings to Young Master Zijiao.”

“Yes.”

The steward brought a servant along and carried the paintings by Xingqi and Xingyou over to Shen Zijiao. “Young Master Zijiao, please have a look.”

Xingyou lifted his chin slightly. “The two of us are about your age, and in fact, even a little younger. We also have to follow our mistress in learning to identify medicinal herbs and such, so we don’t spend all that much time studying these things.”

“But this level should be something any ordinary six-year-old could manage, right?”

“Oh… except Young Master Zijiao, of course.”

Shen Zijiao’s face flushed crimson. “Nonsense! I know plenty of young masters from prominent families who are about my age, and none of them can do this!”

“Is that so?” Xingqi lowered his eyes, looking completely unconcerned. “Then perhaps it’s because all you do every day is eat, drink, and amuse yourselves.”

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Xingyou nodded. “Exactly. You’re a perfect example of how one is influenced by the company one keeps. I suspect they may not really be incapable of these things at all. They’re merely pretending, so they can lead you astray and make you believe everyone is at their level.”

“Now that I think about it, perhaps those friends of yours don’t sincerely want to be your friends either. I think you ought to be more wary of them in the future. They may be trying to turn you into a good-for-nothing young wastrel who can’t do anything.”

Shen Zijiao ground his teeth. “Don’t you dare speak ill of my friends! I don’t believe you. You probably only know how to paint, and you’re deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us.”

Xingyou rolled his eyes. “The four refined arts? They’re simple enough.”

“Look at our paintings. They both have signatures, and those are our own handwriting.”

“Steward Uncle, please prepare a zither for us, as well as horses, bows, arrows, and the like.” Xingyou raised his chin slightly. “We’ll broaden this young master’s horizons.”

“Let him see what a six-year-old child ought to be like.”

The steward glanced at Tan Qingjiu. Seeing her give a slight nod, he truly went to have the requested things brought over.

First came the zither. Xingqi and Xingyou sat before it, and a fluid stream of music poured forth.

When they finished playing, the two of them picked up their bows and arrows and mounted their horses. Tan Qingjiu had two fist-sized stones placed about thirty feet away from them. The pair nocked their arrows and drew their bows, releasing the strings almost simultaneously. The arrows flew from their bows, and moments later everyone saw them strike the stones. One after another, the two stones fell to the ground.

Xingyou gave a mischievous laugh. “Not bad.”

He then looked up at Shen Zijiao. “What else do you want to see? I can do anything. The four refined arts and the six accomplishments of a gentleman—I’m proficient in all of them.”

Shen Zijiao’s expression was hideous. “You’re not ordinary children at all! You came here just to anger me! I’ve seen plenty of six-year-olds, and none of them are like you.”

“But all the ones we’ve seen are like this. If you’re unconvinced, I can find more children our age and show them to you.”

“Of course, we could bring them here. We’re only worried that your face might hurt afterward.”

“Or you could compete with those young wastrels, or with the children of impoverished families who have barely enough to eat and nothing decent to wear. You simply want an excuse because you can’t learn anything.” Xingyou glanced at Shen Zijiao, the contempt in his eyes nearly overflowing.

“It’s all right. There’s nothing shameful about being unable to learn. We won’t laugh at you.” Xingyou’s eyes suddenly lit up, as though he had uncovered a secret. “Could it be that everyone in your household discovered you were exceptionally stupid, and deliberately had all the other children your age act along with them, so you would believe everyone in the world was at their level?”

“If that’s the case, then it can’t really be blamed on you.”

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How could Shen Zijiao endure being spoken of like that? His face turned bright red as he shouted furiously, “What are you talking about? Who are you calling stupid?”

“You, of course…” Xingyou chuckled. “Otherwise, how could you fail to know even these things? Did you spend all your time eating?”

Shen Zijiao clenched his teeth. “You’re the stupid ones! Get lost! I simply didn’t study properly before. These things are easy. Anyone with a brain can learn them, can’t they?”

“Is that so?” Tan Xingyou and Tan Xingqi exchanged a glance. Their objective had already been achieved, so Tan Xingyou did not continue arguing. He merely chuckled. “Anyone with a brain can learn them? Then my mother has just arranged for teachers to instruct you. Let’s look forward to it and see whether you have a brain after all.”

Tan Xingyou tilted his head. “But you’ve never studied seriously before, so let’s set a modest goal to start with. You won’t be able to learn too much in the first month. After all, one must know one’s limits. Still, you should at least be able to master the simplest material. As for the Four Books and Five Classics, you ought to be able to learn at least one book, right?”

Shen Zijiao ground his teeth. “Just one? With my intelligence, learning two books would hardly be difficult.”

“Is that so? Are you really capable of it?”

“Two books, then!”

“All right, two books it is. As for martial arts, perhaps all you’ll manage is standing in a basic horse stance. As for riding, perhaps you’ll learn no more than how to mount a horse.”

“Get lost! I can at least learn a basic boxing routine and ride at a gallop!”

Xingyou nodded. “All right, that’s what you said. What will you do if you haven’t learned them after a month?”

Shen Zijiao gritted his teeth. “If I haven’t learned them after a month, you may deal with me however you please.”

Xingyou gave a mischievous smile. “You are, after all, the young master of the heir’s residence. We can’t make things too difficult for you. How about this? If you haven’t learned them, you must walk once around the capital, shouting, ‘I’m an idiot! I’m the biggest idiot of all!’”

“Fine! It’s a deal!”