Xiao Zhu was in the middle of unwrapping a bundle.
Xiao Zheng paced impatiently around the room with his hands behind his back, occasionally pausing to shoot a sidelong glance at Xiao Zhu’s actions, grumbling, “What kind of worthless junk is that? I told you already, just throw it away!”
Xiao Zhu patiently worked at the stubborn knot, not even looking up. “That person said… this is Oracle Bone Script.”
“Oracle Bone Script?” Xiao Zheng’s eyes widened. After a few seconds, he burst out laughing, “You actually believe that kind of nonsense? Xiao Zhu, Xiao Zhu, how come the older you get, the dumber you become!”
Xiao Zhu’s face flushed red instantly, like a boiled shrimp.
Stubbornly pursing his lips, he mumbled quietly but obstinately, “But what if… the Young Master… hasn’t he always been searching for Oracle Bone Script?”
As soon as he brought up the Young Master, Xiao Zheng indeed said nothing more, though his expression still showed disbelief.
The knot was tied far too tightly. Xiao Zhu struggled with it for a long time and still couldn’t get it undone.
Watching this, Xiao Zheng grew increasingly irritated, and without warning, he snatched the bundle away, cursing, “So slow and clumsy!” He deftly pulled a sharp little folding knife from his pocket, snapped it open with a “click,” and was about to slice the bundle open.
Seeing how impatient he was, Xiao Zhu felt a strong sense of foreboding and cried out, “Don’t! Be careful inside…”
But it was already too late.
Before Xiao Zhu could finish, Xiao Zheng had already slashed the bundle open with the sharp tip of his knife.
Xiao Zhu heard a crisp cracking sound.
Something fragile inside, along with the bundle’s outer cloth, was split in two.
Xiao Zhu’s expression changed dramatically; pain and regret immediately appeared on his face.
Xiao Zheng glanced at him sideways as if looking at a fool, mocking, “Just a pile of junk— why are you so heartbroken over it?”
He grabbed the torn bundle, gave it a hard shake, and with a “clatter,” the contents scattered all over the floor like a burst of flowers.
Seeing Xiao Zhu’s helpless look, Xiao Zheng instead laughed heartily.
He picked up a fragment from the table, glanced at it carelessly, and burst out laughing, “I thought it was some kind of treasure, but it’s just broken Dragon Bone! The kind they sell by the pound at the pharmacy.”
He tossed it to Xiao Zhu, saying sarcastically, “You dumb pig, pick it up— this is the Oracle Bone Script our Young Master wanted.”
With red-rimmed eyes, Xiao Zhu stared blankly at the grayish-yellow fragments scattered across the table.
His silence only made Xiao Zheng angrier.
He jabbed Xiao Zhu’s forehead hard and cursed, “How many times have I told you, that person is a swindler! You just ignore me and treat this junk like treasure! If word got out, you’d embarrass the whole Xiao Family!”
Neither of them noticed that, among the fragments Xiao Zheng had shaken out, one piece bounced several times across the floor, hopped over the threshold, and landed squarely against a pair of polished black leather shoes, where it was gently deflected and finally came to a stop.
Xiao Wangshu had just been about to step forward when the tiny noise caught his attention. He looked down.
It was only a curious glance at first, but when he saw what had bumped into his shoe, it took him several seconds to regain his breath.
Xiao Wangshu reached out his long fingers, delicately picked up the tiny fragment, and held it steadily in his palm, bringing it up to his eyes to examine it closely.
The fragment was weathered and ancient, its texture and the carved characters on it worn and unclear, but at a glance, he could tell: these were characters of the Yin-Shang period— this was Oracle Bone Script!
And in the center of the old, primitive bone piece, a fresh crack was clearly visible, right across a line of text.
…It had been deliberately cut open with a sharp blade.
A trace of regret appeared between Xiao Wangshu’s brows.
He took out a handkerchief, carefully wrapped the little piece of Oracle Bone Script, and placed it in his inner pocket.
Xiao Zheng’s voice drifted out from inside the room.
“Oracle Bone Script, my foot! It’s just a pile of garbage. Whoever takes it seriously is a fool!”
Xiao Wangshu listened for a moment, expressionless, then smiled.
He stepped calmly, unhurriedly over the threshold and into the entry hall. His voice was as gentle and elegant as ever, “Housekeeper Xiao.”
Xiao Zheng was startled by the Young Master’s sudden appearance.
He jumped up from his seat as if pricked by a needle, hurriedly turning to look toward the door.
The dazzling golden sunlight poured in from behind Xiao Wangshu, making Xiao Zheng squint and unable to see the Young Master’s expression.
Instinctively, he bent at the waist, his voice trembling slightly, “Y-Young Master.”
Before Xiao Wangshu could speak, Xiao Zheng rushed to explain, with a mix of flattery and fear, “If you have any instructions, just send someone to inform this old servant! Why trouble yourself to come in person? This… this…”
Bathed in sunlight, Xiao Wangshu’s smile remained as warm as ever, even gentler than before. “That was my mistake.”
Standing to the side, Xiao Zhu’s heart skipped a beat, and a chill crept up his spine. He cautiously stole a glance at the Young Master’s expression from the corner of his eye.
All the servants knew that the Young Master was the easiest master to serve in the Xiao Family.
He was always courteous and polite, even when giving orders to servants, he never forgot to say “please” and “thank you.” The Master and Madam both thought he was too “English” in his manners and often complained, but he always explained gently that this was a gentleman’s demeanor.
At this moment, Xiao Wangshu still wore his signature, gentle-as-spring smile, his gaze warm and clear as moonlight, calm and unruffled, appearing no different from usual.
Xiao Zhu’s tense nerves relaxed a little, thinking to himself: Maybe I was imagining things? How could the Young Master, who is gentle as jade, possibly… be sarcastic?
If even Xiao Zhu thought so, Xiao Zheng was all the more oblivious.
He hurriedly barked at Xiao Zhu, “Why aren’t you making tea for the Young Master yet!” (Xiao Zhu, as if granted amnesty, bowed his head and slipped away quickly), then shouted out the door, “Be careful! Quick!” and even shot a fierce glare at the little servant at the door who had failed to announce the Young Master’s arrival.
The whole scene was thrown into chaos under his command.
Xiao Wangshu simply stood there quietly, lips curved in that gentle smile, watching with interest as Xiao Zheng bossed people around in a flurry.
After a while, he finally spoke softly, “Housekeeper Xiao, you certainly put on quite a show.”
Xiao Zheng, in the middle of scolding someone, froze for a moment, then plastered a wrinkled smile on his face and bowed. “Forgive me for making you laugh, Young Master! Out here in the countryside, the servants are ignorant of proper manners, and this old servant only worries for his master!”
Rubbing his hands, he finally remembered the main matter and cautiously asked, “Young Master, do you… have some important task for this old servant?”
“It’s nothing major,” Xiao Wangshu replied as gently as ever. “I wouldn’t dare trouble you, Housekeeper Xiao.”
Then, under Xiao Zheng’s astonished gaze, Xiao Wangshu lifted the hem of his robe, half-crouched down, and began meticulously picking up and sorting the scattered Oracle Bone fragments from the mess on the floor.
His movements were gentle and reverent, as if he were handling rare treasures.
Xiao Zheng’s face changed drastically; he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
Only now did he realize— he had misjudged! He had made a terrible mistake! These fragments really were the Young Master’s treasured Oracle Bone Script!
“Young Master! This old servant is guilty! I deserve to die!”
Xiao Zheng, panic-stricken, let out a wail, his legs buckling as he fell to his knees with a heavy thud!
He scrambled forward in terror, his voice shaking uncontrollably, “Please get up! The floor is dirty… Let this old servant do it! Let me pick them up!”
He reached out with trembling hands, trying to take the fragments from Xiao Wangshu.
At that moment, a soft, almost weightless sigh sounded above Xiao Zheng’s head.
Xiao Zheng looked up in confusion and met a pair of eyes that held a gentle but chilly smile.
The Xiao Family Young Master, in his signature warm and jade-like voice, said slowly, “It must be because I lack talent and virtue, to have such a reckless, disrespectful housekeeper.”
Xiao Zheng’s body froze.
He stared in horror at the Young Master, a wave of icy dread flooding from his feet to the top of his head, making him tremble uncontrollably.
“This old servant, this old servant…” He tried to defend himself.
But…
“Please don’t speak yet. I still have something to ask of you.”
Though his tone was gentle and conciliatory, Xiao Zheng’s face turned ashen, all strength draining from him.
In a noble family like the Xiao Family, one must never show their emotions; the greater the anger, the more composed one must appear.
The Master, the Old Master, were all like this.
And the Young Master, clearly, had inherited this skill to perfection.
“Damaging cultural relics is punishable by law in England. Unfortunately, our country has no such law yet.”
Xiao Wangshu smiled as he spoke, still courteous as he “negotiated” with the offending servant, “Since the laws of man cannot judge you, could you please refrain from appearing before me again?”
The last trace of color drained from Xiao Zheng’s face, turning a corpse-like gray.
He felt as if he’d been plunged into a bottomless icy pit, every inch of his body frozen, even his soul numb with cold.
He moved like a puppet, listening to the Young Master’s gentle, reasonable tone that made his hair stand on end: “Naturally, you may go back to serve my mother. I won’t say a word more.”
Only now did Xiao Zheng truly know what it meant to laugh and cry at the same time.
What good was it for the Young Master not to say anything? If he was sent away, what would Madam not understand?
Madam looked kind and benevolent, but he knew firsthand how ruthless she could be—she could easily make his whole family wish they were dead.
He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed heavily, “This old servant, this old servant knows he is deeply guilty. I will go now to ask Madam to return my indenture.”
……
Inside the study, sandalwood incense curled in the air.
Xiao Wangshu sat with eyes downcast, holding a celadon teacup, slowly skimming the foam with the lid.
His brows were furrowed in thought, long fingers unconsciously rubbing the warm cup.
Xiao Zhu stood at the side, head bowed, not daring to breathe. His back was soaked with cold sweat.
He had just finished reporting everything that had happened, in full detail, and now felt like a death row prisoner awaiting final judgment, terrified and anxious.
After a while, Xiao Wangshu looked up and saw Xiao Zhu’s pitiful, trembling appearance, and couldn’t help but laugh.
He put down the teacup, his voice returning to its usual warmth: “You did very well in this matter.”
Seeing Xiao Zhu’s eyes shoot up, full of shock and disbelief, Xiao Wangshu’s smile deepened. “Go on, what reward do you want?”
Xiao Zhu perked up at once, his face suddenly brightening, though he still seemed unsure he’d heard correctly, hesitating for a moment.
Xiao Wangshu shook his head helplessly, teasing, “Don’t worry, your Young Master doesn’t eat people.”
Then, his smile faded slightly, a cold hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. “I dismissed Xiao Zheng because his ambitions… grew a bit too much.”
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, his voice calm and steady: “He was sold into our family in the years of famine, with nowhere else to go… but now he’s forgotten his roots and even bullies others, calling them paupers.”
Seeing Xiao Zhu still looked a bit confused, Xiao Wangshu said no more.
He set down his teacup and said seriously, “Now, please go and find Mr. Jiang Mingchuan. Ultimately, it was our Xiao Family who wronged him. I must apologize to him in person.”
But this left Xiao Zhu in a tough spot.
He had only met Master Jiang by chance and didn’t know where he lived!
But with the Young Master having just dismissed the housekeeper, Xiao Zhu dared not make excuses, so he could only brace himself and go out to try his luck on the streets.
Who could have thought, heaven really opened its eyes!
“Young Master! Bad news!” Xiao Zhu burst into Xiao Wangshu’s study, clutching a piece of paper, stumbling and gasping for breath, his voice shrill with shock and fear: “Master Jiang… Master Jiang is wanted!”
He handed the notice, printed with a portrait and text, to Xiao Wangshu, his hands trembling.