Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 194: The Four Characters of Brotherly Friendliness and Brotherly Respect, Taught by Father (Involving Xue Tuan)

Chapter 194: Chapter 194: The Four Characters of Brotherly Friendliness and Brotherly Respect, Taught by Father (Involving Xue Tuan)

Xue Tuan started to contradict him at every turn.

Teach her to read, and she turns around and tears up the book.

Let her learn characters, and she goes on a hunger strike in the blink of an eye.

Hundreds of tricks up her sleeve, never-ending.

Ji Xin, petrified with fear, also had to worry every day that Xue Tuan would be put to death by Cui Yun. Perversely, the more mischievous the cat became, the deeper the smile at Cui Yun’s mouth.

Ji Xin didn’t understand.

Yet she found this mischievous cat endearing, as if flowers had bloomed in her heart.

Xue Tuan’s claws weren’t sharp enough; tearing books wasn’t an easy task for her. With her short little legs pressing down on the book, her front paws clamped down on a few pages and pulled for dear life.

Putting too much force at once, she succeeded in tearing them, but also uncontrollably tumbled several times on the floor.

The Marquis was watching that moment. He leaned against the window, his expression calm.

Perhaps the fall hurt a little, Xue Tuan rubbed her head and couldn’t help but sniff sadly, and meticulously patted the dust off her fur—concerned with cleanliness.

Perhaps feeling pity for the pathetic sight, Cui Yun’s heart softened.

Thus, to facilitate Xue Tuan’s tearing, he started doing the page-turning for her.

With help, of course, everything became easier. Xue Tuan moved forward, her delicate teeth biting into a page.

A "rip" sound, was the sound of knowledge.

Cui Yun turned the page again, and she bit again. After a few rounds, seemingly realizing she was being played, she staggered to the doorway, morosely looking up at the sky.

Then there’s the hunger strike, which was even more interesting.

Xue Tuan was young and didn’t eat much per meal, but she had to be fed several times a day.

How could she withstand the hunger?

But with resolute willpower, even when sheep’s milk was brought to her lips, she wouldn’t open her mouth.

Because of this, Ji Xin was fraught with anxiety, yet Cui Yun was completely unconcerned.

"Starve for a few meals and she’ll behave."

Upon hearing this, Xue Tuan tightly pursed her little mouth even more resolutely.

Cui Yun, relaxed and carefree: "Let’s see how long you can be stubborn with me."

Xue Tuan proudly lifted her head.

No one knows how long later, her paw prodded her deflated belly.

Her proud head gradually drooped inch by inch. Instinct made her nose sniff towards the food bowl. And, concerned about her dignity, she warily glanced at Cui Yun.

At that moment, Cui Yun wasn’t looking at her but was writing with his pen.

He wasn’t looking, not at all.

Then she could just try a bite.

No one knows how long later, after a fierce battle between her pride and hunger, hunger triumphed over reason.

She walked over proudly. Then, her cat face quickly buried itself in the exquisite Jade Bowl, and her soft pink tongue gave a lick.

After doing all that, she quickly turned to see if Cui Yun had noticed.

Undiscovered.

So, there was a second mouthful, then a third.

Just as she was contentedly patting her round and full belly, the Jade Bowl was empty.

The rational Xue Tuan: ...

She closed her eyes heavily.

Steady footsteps came from behind, and Cui Yun walked over.

Without a word, he picked up the bowl and left, and soon brought back a new serving of sheep’s milk, placing it where the previous one had been.

Cui Yun was also willing to give face to his cat, the young man casually said: "I could pretend that I saw nothing."

From then on, Cui Yun did not press her. The matters of reading and recognizing characters were set aside for the time being.

So she returned to her leisure, and Xue Tuan loved running around the courtyard during the day.

Cui Yun ordered Ji Xin to watch over her but did not stop her.

At first, Xue Tuan just went to the garden to bask in the sun and doze off dizzily.

Latterly, the little kitten ran to the courtyard gate, looking around at the outside world.

In the end, she ventured a step forward, only to be nudged back by Ji Xin.

"Don’t run around; you can roam anywhere in Ju Courtyard."

Ji Xin had no one to talk to in the past and led a lonely life; only recently has a lively creature appeared in her courtyard. Even though it cannot speak, every time she talks to it, the little kitten seems to understand.

Just like now.

"The Eldest Young Master recently rejected the marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager. Although several days have passed, the household has yet to settle down. The Old Master and the Dowager in the main courtyard have not yet expressed their stance. Yesterday, the Marquis rushed back from the military camp upon hearing this and was furious."

She sighed deeply. The thought of Cui Yang in anger made her shudder uncontrollably.

"A thick military club striking down upon the Eldest Young Master’s body. The Marquis himself comes from a military general’s background, such a blow—"

Xue Tuan was unaware of this incident.

Its round eyes gazed at Ji Xin, appearing to listen attentively.

"The Eldest Young Master’s back was covered in blood, flesh and blood indistinct."

Cui Bai, battered yet kneeling upright.

——Do you realize your mistake?

——I only wish to marry the girl I love, there is no mistake. Regardless of the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage, even if it were the Emperor himself, I would defy fate.

——You are truly beyond redemption!

In that moment, Cui Yang sneered coldly, his strikes merciless.

Cui Yun immediately disregarded propriety. He shielded Cui Bai and knelt before Cui Yang. Firmly grasping the military club.

——Father, what is this? Do you intend to beat brother to death? I have been aware of brother’s matter from the beginning to end. If you need to vent your anger, please punish me as well.

Those words evidently enraged Cui Yang.

——Very well, what a pair of brothers!

Cui Yun showed no fear, his dark eyes fixed directly on Cui Yang.

——Brotherly respect, brotherly deference—these are lessons taught by you, father.

Just as the situation became uncontrollable, Cui Xuan finally arrived.

Her hair was disheveled, clearly having run all the way. Sweat dotted her forehead, and the poise of an aristocratic lady was nowhere to be seen. Upon seeing the wounds on Cui Bai’s body, Cui Xuan’s eyes suddenly reddened.

She wanted to touch Cui Bai, yet feared accidentally hurting his wounds.

Cui Bai’s pale lips moved: "I have been unfilial, causing Mama worry."

Cui Xuan couldn’t help crying.

This was her most considerate son; not even after he joined the military camp had he ever suffered such severe injuries.

Looking again at Cui Yang, she found this man distant and frightening.

He treated her with respect as if they were guests to each other, even though he didn’t love her.

But how could he be so merciless towards his own flesh and blood?

Cui Xuan even wondered, if Cui Bai had been born to him and his late Madam, would he suffer in such a way?

Her teeth clenched with trembling anger. She had never hated him so much.

"Yun, help your brother down. Get a physician to see to his wounds," she said.

Cui Yang’s stern face loosened, revealing a brief moment of uncertainty.

"Shuyu, these are merely superficial wounds—"

"Marquis!"

Cui Xuan interjected.

"Superficial wounds? What if you cripple him, would it still be a minor injury?"

As she spoke, she staggered a few steps and pushed away Cui Yang’s extended arm.

"What are you doing?"

"If you do not care for your son, I do."

"As a father, you have a duty to discipline, but tell me, what did he do wrong?"

Cui Yang’s lips quivered.

Cui Xuan stared at him, questioning word by word.

"Is it because he defied the Empress Dowager? Or is it because Princess You Ning’s mother was a close friend of the late Madam?"

These things, Ji Xin did not know. She was only aware that the Marquis and Marchioness had a heated argument that night. The Marchioness, usually so gentle, had fully erupted for the sake of the Eldest Young Master.

She lowered her head to caress Xue Tuan.

"Don’t go outside. All the servants on duty are being cautious, afraid to be caught and punished in the commotion."

Speaking of this, she felt utterly perplexed.

"Our Madam is so good in every way, why is it that the Marquis just doesn’t care?"

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