Chapter 247: Talking to smart people is simple

Gentle, soft words, each utterance full of pity.

Such tenderness was rare even after ten or a hundred years.

However, however.

The problem is, Chinu doesn't believe it.

Chinu is called Chinu precisely because he cannot see through, cannot understand, and dares not believe.

Du Shanü and he shared warm embraces, Du Shanü and he clung to each other affectionately......

Du Shanü told him, "Father's nobility makes the son noble," and that there's no need to obsess anxiously over a child.

However, he only said:

"...... Absolutely not, my status is too low. If we follow what the Wife Master says, a child following me would likely suffer."

What "Father's nobility makes the son noble"......

But what if the father isn't noble enough?

Then wouldn't that......

Wouldn't that drag the child down?

He rejects "Father's nobility makes the son noble"; he still only wants "Father depends on the son's nobility".

He can accept not being favored, he can sink into the mud, but his and her child had better......

"Thud...... hiss, huh? o(￣ヘ￣o＃)"

Behind a Five Finger Mountain, Chinu drew a small breath, the corners of his mouth turned down, and he looked resentfully at his own Wife Master.

Du Shanü was indeed made to laugh angrily by him:

"Rotten wood cannot be carved!"

"What? You can be unfavored, but the child had better be favored? The 'nobility' I spoke of isn't about status! Is this muddle-headed notion of yours your own, or did Afang put it in your head?"

"Forget it, no matter who said or thought it...... you and Afang have equally stupid brains."

She somewhat understood——

Although she usually appeared resentful and unwilling.

But deep down she felt they were born inferior, at most only able to be 'subjects', needing a 'ruler' to protect them.

But why couldn't that person be her, Du Shanü?

Could it be......

Could it just be because there's still a Yu Baobao in Cang Cheng?

Du Shanü's mind stalled, the anger filling her heart was doused, and she couldn't speak anymore.

Chinu also didn't say anything more, and, rare for him, he spoke magnanimously:

"Wife Master, go find Ouyang An quickly."

"Didn't you previously say he's more capable than Ouyang Yan? Today is the first day; you happen to give him some suppressive money, offer a few words of encouragement, and see if that little brat can later do something for us."

Du Shanü couldn't hold back and laughed:

"But no matter how capable, he's just a ten-year-old child; what could he possibly know?"

Ouyang Yan still has maternal clan influence, and despite his young age, although he was unfavored in the An Nan royal household before, having seen and experienced things, it's not surprising he knows a bit.

But Ouyang An is only ten years old altogether—let alone nobody taking him seriously; even if there were something, others likely wouldn't bother to tell him.

Someone like that......

"Mistress, Ouyang An requests an audience."

A voice sounded from outside the door; the returning Chen Weifang pushed the door open, followed by a small, exhausted, tense little figure.

Du Shanü momentarily didn't know whether to lament speaking of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appearing, or to sigh that Chen Weifang still hadn't let go of her anger.

But, whether sigh or lament, neither landed.

Du Shanü merely patted the Chinu clinging to her, lowered her voice to give an instruction, and only then did Chinu reluctantly get up to cut paper and prepare red envelopes.

Du Shanü sized up Ouyang An before her with a glance, feigning ignorance as she asked:

"How have these few days been?"

That answer was certainly negative.

Ouyang An had previously been displaced, his build naturally somewhat frailer than ordinary children.

Perhaps due to just having changed locales and suffering from water-soil incompatibility, his complexion was sallow and wan, with faint dark circles, clearly he hadn't rested properly for days.

Du Shanü also clearly saw that, from the moment Ouyang An stepped into the study, his hands clung tightly to a small coarse-cloth bundle in his arms, his joints whitening from the strain, his whole body betraying unease.

When facing those not fully trusted, Du Shanü invariably exuded an indescribable aura of authority.

Moreover, Ouyang An had previously seen Du Shanü fly into a rage; even ordinary adults would find that intimidating, let alone a young child.

Thus, whenever she uttered a word, Ouyang An would tremble; each word made him shudder.

Although his trembling was already extreme, Ouyang An never retreated half a step; instead, he walked straight to the desk and stood firm.

Afterward, only a soft 'plop' was heard.

The frail child suddenly dropped to his knees, back straight as a rod, both hands raised high, and reverently presented the small cloth bundle he had been clutching.

The next moment, Ouyang An's long-suppressed emotions suddenly burst forth; a child's choked, hoarse crying rang out, each word earnest, each sound bleeding with sorrow.

"My lord, I know my brother is foolish, his sin unpardonable; I have no excuse whatsoever, nor dare I hope for selfish indulgence."

Ouyang An's forehead pressed against the cold ground, tears dripped onto the blue bricks, spreading faint wet marks.

"All I ask is that, having relied on my brother since childhood—he is both brother and father to me—I cannot bear to watch him be punished and meet a miserable end."

"These past days I've been sleepless, constantly pondering, with nothing to repay or ask for. I have only relied on memory, day and night sketching, drawing the appearance, temperament, and usual preferences of everyone in the An Nan royal household. I only beg you to glance at these drawings; if they have any use, could you show mercy and deal leniently with my brother?"

He wept, his body trembling slightly, yet he never lost composure in his wailing; he remained clear-headed, each word sincere.

With those words spoken, the study fell silent once again.

A trace of obvious surprise finally flickered in Du Shanü's eyes.

She had just told Chinu that she didn't believe a ten-year-old child could know much, but now......

Now she realized, the person is not only smart, but even capable of reaching this extent!

She raised her hand to signal.

Chen Weifang immediately stepped forward, took the small cloth bundle, gently unfolded it, and laid out the papers inside one by one on the writing desk.

Sheets of thin paper were spread out, neat and tidy, numbering actually several dozen.

Du Shanü lowered her gaze, bent her head, and carefully flipped through.

The portrait lines on each sheet are childish, yet clearly they strove to capture the outline, grasp the spirit, the brows, eyes, and expressions lifelike, depicting the features of the An Nan royal family members without the slightest difference.

Moreover, what's rare is that the sides of each sheet are densely filled with small annotations; though the handwriting is a bit immature, it is neat and clear, detailing each person's likes and dislikes, temperament, habitual means, private taboos, and even listing clearly the secret affection and grudges among several people, and the covert checks-and-balances relationships......

Impressive.

Truly impressive.

Although she had known before that heroes emerge from youth, she never imagined that a youth could be this young.

Du Shanü left half a month ago, and he has only stayed here for half a month.

Unexpectedly, unexpectedly he could steady his mind, reassess where his 'value' lies, and strive for himself, or rather, plot for that worthless older brother......

Such disposition, how could it not be considered clever?

Compared to Ouyang Yan, it's simply heaven and earth!

?? Coming coming~ Lately my condition isn't particularly good, I might be a bit late tomorrow?