CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15: NINE-YEAR COMPULSORY EDUCATION DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS

Faced with such a soul-stirring question, Tang Xiaobai answered with exceptional sincerity: "How could that be possible! Everything I’ve done has been for our Duke Yan Mansion!"

"Oh?"

"Really! Aren’t I surnamed Tang?" Tang Xiaobai earnestly retorted.

Wasn’t she protecting Little Qin also for the Duke Yan Mansion.

Tang Jiaojiao suspiciously scrutinized her several times but found no flaw, only then did she reluctantly nod her head, "Let’s go, I’ll escort you back to your room!"

Tang Xiaobai tactfully declined: "I can manage this short walk myself, Sister, you should focus on your own tasks, no need to bother about me!"

"I don’t have anything busy at the moment, and I promised Mother to see you back, it’s just a few steps more." Tang Jiaojiao said.

But I do mind, though!

Tang Xiaobai steeled herself and said: "Sister, I need to head to the West Wing—"

"And you claim it’s not for Ding Shiqi!" Tang Jiaojiao’s eyes immediately widened.

"These are two different matters!" Tang Xiaobai explained, "I haven’t seen him for quite some time now—"

"How long is quite some time? A month? Two months?" Tang Jiaojiao sneered, "Why do you need to see him? Can’t live without seeing him?"

Tang Xiaobai held her forehead.

It’s you who seems to be unable to do without!

"Why do you keep preventing me from seeing him—" suddenly halting mid-sentence, Tang Xiaobai glanced at the eldest daughter with suspicion, "You haven’t done something to him, have you?"

Could it be that while she wasn’t paying attention, Little Qin was handed over just like that!

"What could I possibly have done to him?" Tang Jiaojiao was furious as she was met with that gaze, "Who’s like you, always keeping an eye on a little slave! Go if you want to, I’m too lazy to bother with you!" After saying this, she turned on her heel and left.

Having angered off her sister, Tang Xiaobai felt guilty for a second, then cheerfully headed to the West Wing.

She really needed to check on her Little Qin, considering all the effort spent to protect him, not taking a good look would be unacceptable, right?

However, upon reaching there, just like yesterday, the door was shut tight, and there was a tranquil air as if no one was inside.

Tang Xiaobai frowned slightly, glanced sideways, and saw her newly chosen little attendant.

"Why are you here again?" Tang Xiaobai found it somewhat peculiar.

This young boy, of the same age as Qin Xiao, was skinnier, and though not as striking as Qin Xiao, he was clean and attractive, his eyes slightly curved, mouth slightly upturned, with a natural three-part smile that made him seem endearing and obedient.

"After being selected as the Second Miss’s attendant, Steward Wang arranged for me to live next to Ding Shiqi." The boy named Bing Shish replied, with a clear and eloquent voice.

Tang Xiaobai nodded and glanced at Qin Xiao’s door: "Has he taken his medicine and gone back to sleep again?"

Bing Shish hesitated briefly and replied, "Yes..."

"Did you see him with your own eyes take the medicine and fall asleep?" Tang Xiaobai pressed, staring at Bing Shish.

Bing Shish looked puzzled, shook his head and said, "I haven’t seen it myself, but after meals, someone sends medicine in, and after taking it, the door remains closed and there’s no sign of him going in or out, so I guessed he went to sleep."

"Then typically what time does he wake up? Has he ever left the room upon waking?"

Bing Shish was a bit flustered by the questioning: "I haven’t been keeping an eye on him all the time, never seen Ding Shiqi leave the room myself..."

Tang Xiaobai’s heart sank, and she lifted her chin slightly: "Go knock on the door! Get him up!"

Bing Shish responded with an "Alright," stepped forward to knock on the door a few times, and called his name twice.

Inside, there was no response.

"Break the door open." Tang Xiaobai said expressionlessly.

Lest in the end, she spent time fighting on the front lines, only to have someone take advantage from behind!

Bing Shish received the order, stepped back two steps, ready to build momentum to force the door open—

The door opened.

Tang Xiaobai reflexively stepped forward two steps, just in time to see the door open halfway, and the boy she hadn’t seen for two days appeared in her view.

His clothes were disheveled, hair messy, eyes sleepy and confused, cheeks slightly flushed, looking as if he had just woken up.

"Second Miss?" The boy looked at her puzzled.

Tang Xiaobai felt a bit awkward: "Um... I... right! I have something to ask you!"

Suddenly remembering the matter she had been contemplating to tell him for the last couple of days—

...

After hearing what she had to say, the boy’s face was full of astonishment.

Tang Xiaobai pursed her lips and gave a reserved smile, feeling a bit smug on the inside.

Even she thought it was an exceptionally brilliant idea!

Others thought Qin Xiao didn’t seem like an ordinary servant mainly because he came from a household steeped in wealth and culture; although he experienced great change in his childhood, it couldn’t erase the scholastic influence he once received.

The simplest way to disguise his qualities was—

Let him study!

"Do you like it?" Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help asking upon seeing his prolonged silence.

In his eyes as dark as lacquer, a light passed through, he softly said, "Why is Second Miss so kind to me?"

This question...

Tang Xiaobai hesitated for a moment, then answered rightfully, "Because you saved me!"

"The investigation in Wannian County is still ongoing." The boy gazed steadfastly at her.

"They won’t investigate it further." Tang Xiaobai said.

She had already cleared a hurdle with the Emperor, so neither Wannian County nor the Emperor himself would focus on Duke Yan Mansion anymore.

Even Princess Ji expressed that the Emperor must provide an explanation for the wrongs done to her.

As for the matter with the assassins, whether it was Yongfu Village or Zhenzhou getting torn apart next, it had nothing to do with her and Qin Xiao anymore.

"Second Miss trusts me that much?" The boy asked rather persistently.

Tang Xiaobai just assumed this child lacked love, so without hesitation gave her affirmation, "Of course!"

"Why?" The boy continued to inquire.

Tang Xiaobai pondered, finding the question difficult to answer, simply returned with a question: "Why not trust you? You’re just a kid, why should I assume the worst about you?"

Unsure which words tickled the boy’s funny bone, he suddenly chuckled.

When not smiling, a layer of overly calm obedience floated on his face.

This smile made that phony layer disappear, his clear and handsome features suddenly turned gentle, eyes with bright clarity, he looked both docile and gentle.

Seeing this, Tang Xiaobai felt her heart melt, even her voice subconsciously softened: "Rest assured, from now on, you’ll stay by my side and study, no one will dare to suspect or bully you again."

The Qin Family thrived on poetry and rituals, yet now, while the mistress was raised within the sophisticated culture of the Ye Family in Jiangnan, obtaining fine education, it was truly pitiable seeing Qin Xiao reduced to a servant.

An uncut diamond veiled by dust, such heartache!

Even if not for concealing his identity, Tang Xiaobai believed he should still be allowed to study.

How could there be any oversight in the nine-year compulsory education?

In her world, a twelve-year-old child ought to be sat in a bright, spacious classroom, experiencing the typical life with teachers and classmates!

The boy observing her determined look couldn’t help but ask: "Second Miss, who will be my teacher?"

The young girl patted her chest: "I will teach you!"

The boy looked at the young girl in front of him, who was more than a head shorter, so choked he couldn’t utter a single word.

Tang Xiaobai noticed his doubt, patted his shoulder and laughed: "Don’t worry! Your Second Miss’s skills are more than enough to teach you!"

She, having just gone through the college entrance examination, was at the peak of her life knowledge, surely she could educate a young lad who lost out on schooling young?

...

Turns out... not quite able to teach...

Tang Xiaobai glanced at the book in her hand, feeling an overwhelming sense of desolation.