Chapter 47: “What’s Wrong With Me?”

Su Jinshi indignantly muttered, “Hmph! Wei Jianming had the same renowned teacher, so why didn’t he top the exams? Was it because he didn’t want to?”

However, at that moment, no one could hear Su Jinshi’s remarks.

Shen Shilang remained unswayed by Madam Wei’s attempts to manipulate him. With a calm demeanor, he cupped his hands and bowed slightly, saying, “It’s precisely out of respect for General Wei’s kindness that I haven’t reported this to the authorities yet. As of now, Second Young Master Wei still retains his title as a scholar. If I were to report it, he wouldn’t even be able to keep that status.”

“You—!” Wei Jianming glared at Shen Shilang, his eyes nearly bulging with rage.

“Of course, I’m not entirely heartless,” Shen Shilang smiled faintly. “If Second Young Master Wei can truly reform and walk the straight path, then he could still have the chance to take the metropolitan examinations.”

Madam Wei let out a laugh tinged with anger, “So you’re saying that Jianming’s future depends on your approval?”

“To be precise, it depends on whether he truly reforms,” Shen Shilang replied. “But yes, in a way, that’s correct. If I’m convinced that he’s genuinely changed, I won’t impede his participation in the examinations.”

“What’s wrong with me?” Wei Jianming blurted out.

This question left Madam Wei momentarily speechless.

What’s right with you?

Madam Wei pressed her fingers against her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Wei Jianming had been a constant source of worry, day after day.

“Farewell,” Shen Shilang said simply.

He didn’t need any assurances from Madam Wei or Wei Jianming. He had already made his stance clear. If Wei Jianming dared to participate in the examinations, Shen Shilang would ensure he never succeeded.

Neither Madam Wei nor Wei Jianming dared to risk it.

As Shen Shilang turned to leave, Wei Jianming’s frustrated voice rang out behind him, “Shen Shilang! Shen Shilang! Stop right there!”

“That’s enough,” Madam Wei said, her tone exasperated. “Do you really think he’s going to stop?”

“But what am I supposed to do? Am I really expected to give up on taking the examinations next year? Or for the rest of my life?” Wei Jianming was frantic.

Madam Wei cast a glance at the five men still slumped by the wall. “First, get rid of them. Make sure they keep their mouths shut. If they can’t, then…”

“Madam, please have mercy!”

“We swear we won’t say a word!”

“Please spare us, Madam!”

Madam Wei was increasingly irritated. Ever since Steward Zhou had been dismissed, she had no one capable of handling such matters for her.

She glanced at Wei Jianming and sighed. It was clear he couldn’t be relied upon either.

Both Manager Yue and Steward Ning were loyal to Wei Zhaoxian. She couldn’t involve them; they would certainly report everything to him.

After some thought, Madam Wei instructed Chang Jie, “Take them away. Inform their superiors that they failed the task and exposed their employer. They’ve broken the rules, and consequences must follow.”

Hearing this, the five men’s faces turned even paler. If it came to that, they were as good as dead.

“Madam, have mercy! Please, Madam!”

“Take them away!” Madam Wei was tired of their pleading. “Gag them, so they don’t alert the entire mansion.”

“Jinxiu, go and instruct the servants to keep quiet. No one is allowed to speak of this incident.”

“Yes, Madam.” Jinxiu hurried off to carry out the order.

Unfortunately, Madam Wei seemed to forget that it was Manager Yue who had brought these five men into the house in the first place. There was no way she could hide this from Wei Zhaoxian.

After the five were taken away, Wei Jianming began to pace anxiously. “Mother, what am I going to do?”

Madam Wei was equally frustrated. Wei Jianming’s future prospects had just been destroyed.

“Ke Hongbin and the others are all preparing for the metropolitan examinations, while I might never be able to participate! Once they enter the court as officials, and I remain a mere scholar, how am I supposed to face them?” Wei Jianming was on the verge of panic.

“What else can you do? At least for now, you still hold the title of scholar. If Shen Shilang really does report you, you won’t even have that,” Madam Wei stopped in her tracks and turned to him, asking, “Do you think, if it came to that, your father would help you?”

Wei Jianming instinctively stepped back, his lips quivering.

His father wouldn’t help him. In fact, he would probably punish him even more harshly.

“So, what should I do?” Wei Jianming was completely at a loss.

Madam Wei pondered for a moment, then looked at him. “For now, you must suppress your true nature.”

“Missing next year’s examination isn’t the end of the world. You’re still young. Even Ke Hongbin and the others, given their current standings, may not necessarily pass next year,” she said. “Didn’t Shen Shilang say it himself? If you truly reform, he won’t stop you from taking the examinations.”

Wei Jianming could hardly believe what he was hearing. “Mother, do you actually believe what Shen Shilang says?”

Madam Wei paused for a long moment, then, with difficulty, said, “I do.”

Wei Jianming was speechless.

“Even if you have to pretend, you will pretend for a year or two. Make Shen Shilang believe it. Once he’s convinced, he won’t stand in your way anymore,” Madam Wei said firmly.

“Damn it!” Wei Jianming cursed. “So whether I can take the examinations or not depends on Shen Shilang’s whim!”

Madam Wei snorted, “If you hadn’t provoked him and gotten caught, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Mother, do you think…” Wei Jianming’s expression suddenly turned vicious, his eyes filled with malice. “Should I just finish him off once and for all?”

He raised his hand, mimicking a cutting motion.

Madam Wei took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know anyone capable of taking him down?”

Wei Jianming hesitated.

“Can you guarantee that whoever you find will succeed?” she pressed.

Wei Jianming faltered.

“If they fail and give him more leverage, do you want to end up in prison?”

Wei Jianming had no answer.

“Do you even know how skilled he is? You don’t even understand his capabilities, so how can you find the right person?” Madam Wei questioned.

Wei Jianming fell silent.

“His martial skills were obviously taught by your father. From what I can tell, he’s at least on par with your older brother. Do you think anyone within a five-hundred-mile radius could be a match for him?” Madam Wei continued.

Wei Jianming, stunned, had no response to the barrage of questions, unable to offer a single answer.

“It’s clear you haven’t thought any of this through,” Madam Wei said, unsurprised by his failure. “When you’ve figured out these answers and can be certain, then you can think about acting against him.”

Meanwhile, as Shen Shilang left Wei Jianming’s courtyard, Su Jinshi did not follow.

She was worried that Madam Wei and Wei Jianming might secretly plot again to harm Wei Jianlang.

And just as she suspected, she overheard their conversation.

Su Jinshi anxiously waited for the communication box to activate the next day, eager to relay everything to Shen Shilang.

However, that very night, Wei Zhaoxian returned to the Wei mansion.