Chapter 171 -

Chapter 171: Chapter

Everyone turned to look at Yimei, completely taken aback. Zhengyu paused, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air, though he didn’t look overly shocked just mildly amused that his wife was stepping into another family storm.

Master Bai stared at Yimei, stunned that she had proposed such a thing. "Yimei... are you making fun of this? Do you really want to tutor him?"

Before Yimei could speak, Madame Chen madly objected, slamming her hand on the table. "No! Absolutely not! Master Bai, I will never let this girl teach my son! Everyone knows Yimei is spiteful, strange, and untamed! She’s probably trying to trap my son and make him fail on purpose! No, she won’t teach him!"

An Yulan quickly supported her mother-in-law, looking at Yimei with disdain. "Mother is right. Yimei doesn’t know anything about scholarly studies or imperial exams. How on earth would she be able to teach Brother Wenliang? Even if she is business smart, she isn’t scholar smart! If she can tutor anyone, why not tutor Zhengyu instead? Why waste her time on my husband? Father, I will help Wenliang and find him a proper tutor who can actually help him pass!"

Yimei sat smoothly, completely unbothered by their sharp words. She picked up her cup, took a calm sip of hot tea, and set it down.

"Your choice," Yimei said casually, picking up her chopsticks to continue eating as if nothing had happened.

Wenliang just sat there in silence, his eyes darting back and forth between all of them, holding his tongue.

Zhengyu set his chopsticks down softly, breaking the brief quiet. "Since we are talking about the imperial exams... then Bai Kang should also get registered."

Hearing that, everyone turned their heads toward Zhengyu. Bai Kang froze mid-bite, nearly choking on his food before coughing out in complete shock, "Me?!"

Madame Bai immediately supported her eldest son, nodding with sudden excitement. "Yes, you! Zhengyu is right. We have been focusing way too much on Wenliang all these years... now Bai Kang is finally of age to take the exams. He should definitely register!"

Madame Chen’s face instantly went sour. She glared across the table at Madame Bai, complaining bitterly, "How on earth are we going to pay for two registrations at the same time?! We barely have enough silver as it is!"

Before Madame Chen could start a whole argument, Madame Zhao spoke up softly from her seat. "If Bai Kang is going to register, then I think Zhengyu and Yimei should teach him. Together, the two of them will really sharpen him up."

Hearing Madame Zhao’s suggestion, Bai Kang caught Zhengyu’s sharp, dark gaze across the table and nearly choked on his rice a second time.

It wasn’t that he hated Zhengyu and Yimei. Zhengyu was his elder brother, even if they had never been particularly close, and Yimei had never done anything bad to him directly. But the two of them were undeniably scary! Zhengyu was strict and cold, while Yimei was practically unpredictable. Bai Kang couldn’t help but wonder what kind of terrifying torture he would have to endure if Yimei became his tutor!

Yimei looked at Bai Kang’s terrified face, a tiny, wicked smirk touching the corner of her lips.

[HOST! LOOK AT BAI KANG’S FACE!] Nine squealed inside her head, rolling with laughter. [He looks like he’s about to be sent to the executioner’s block! He thinks you’re going to skin him alive!]

If he wants to pass, he’ll do as he’s told, Yimei replied mentally, taking a slow sip of her soup.

Master Bai tapped his fingers against the wooden table, considering the idea seriously. "Bai Kang registering is a good idea. He has never taken the exam before, and having Zhengyu and Yimei guide him won’t cost us a single copper coin for extra tutors."

Madame Chen looked like she wanted to spit blood, but with Master Bai Jun favoring the idea and Madame Bai backing it, she had no room to complain further.

Dinner finally wrapped up shortly after, the underlying tension lingering in the air as the table was cleared. Everyone returned to their respective courtyards.

Yimei walked back to her bedchamber, Qinqin following close behind with a basin of steaming hot water. Once inside, Yimei set the basin down and latched the heavy wooden door against the icy night wind.

Zhengyu was already unfastening his heavy outer robes when Yimei stepped over to assist him. As she helped slip the thick fabric from his shoulders, Zhengyu looked up at her and asked, "You didn’t tell me how the cleaning went today. Is the shop coming along well?"

Yimei nodded smoothly. "Yes, it’s coming along quite nicely. Tomorrow, I’ll go continue with the renovations. As for the shop Madame Lui gave me, I’ll probably start cleaning that one after the New Year."

After removing his outer robe, she turned his wheelchair to face her directly. "Your herbal decoction is finished. From now on, you won’t be taking any more decoctions, only the healing balm. I also can’t perform acupuncture on you while you’re using this balm. Do you want to apply it now, or should I wait until you’re ready?"

"Now is fine," Zhengyu replied calmly.

Yimei helped him transfer onto the bed, carefully tucking him in before stepping behind the wooden screen to change into her comfortable night outfit. While waiting for her on the bed, Zhengyu held an open book in his hands, pretending to read, but his eyes kept stealing glances toward the screen where her silhouette moved.

A short while later, Yimei stepped out in her light indoor robes. She walked over to the window, watching the snow fall steadily outside in the freezing dark. To keep the bitter chill away, she took a few extra logs of firewood and added them to the burning fireplace, letting the flames crackle warmly through the room. She then blew out all but one lantern, casting the bedchamber in a soft, cozy glow.

Picking up the small wooden jar of green nerve-awakening balm, Yimei walked over to the side of the bed and looked down at Zhengyu.

"Are you ready?" she asked softly.