Chapter 120: This Wei Shi'an actually enticed his disciple to become his foster son!

Wei Shi’an sprang to his feet. "Is that really what he said?"

The gatekeeper nodded. "Yes, sir."

A complex feeling stirred within Wei Shi’an. It had been many years since he last saw Xi Sheng. He had guessed that Xi Sheng would come sooner or later, but he had not expected him to arrive so quickly. Fortunately, he had already convinced that boy, Li Su, to acknowledge him as a foster father. Had he waited any longer, Xi Sheng might have arrived and prevented the boy from doing so. Furthermore, without a formal title, he would have found himself inexplicably inferior to Xi Sheng.

At this thought, the corners of Wei Shi’an’s mouth curled into a smile. "I shall go out and meet him."

Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin had waited outside for only a short while when Wei Shi’an came hurrying out. As he approached the academy entrance, however, Wei Shi’an smoothed his robes, slowed his pace, and began to stroll forward with an unhurried air. The gatekeeper watched in confusion—why had the Dean suddenly stopped rushing?

Wei Shi’an caught sight of Xi Sheng from a distance and maintained his composed facade. "What wind blew our Chief Grand Secretary here?" he asked with a trace of mockery.

Xi Sheng glanced at him indifferently. "Do you not already know?"

The gatekeeper’s eyes widened. The Chief Grand Secretary? This was the world-renowned Chief Grand Secretary Xi! The man looked at Xi Sheng with eyes full of adoration.

Wei Shi’an shot the gatekeeper a look, thinking to himself, *Whose side are you on, anyway?* The gatekeeper gave Wei Shi’an a sheepish grin.

Wei Shi’an turned to Xi Sheng, looking smug. "Come inside with me, though my son is still in class and has no time to see you right now."

Xi Sheng narrowed his eyes and stared at Wei Shi’an.

"Oh, that’s right," Wei Shi’an added, gloating. "I don’t suppose you know yet—I have adopted Li Su as my foster son, and he is now studying martial arts and the investigation of things under my tutelage."

Uncle Lin couldn't help but look at Wei Shi’an in astonishment. The Dean had actually adopted the young master? He turned his head to carefully observe Xi Sheng’s expression. Was this within his master’s expectations?

Xi Sheng remained impassive. "I know now."

"Pretentious," Wei Shi’an muttered under his breath.

Wei Shi’an led Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin into the academy, leaving the gatekeeper behind in a daze. He remembered that student named Li Su quite well—he was the Chief Grand Secretary’s apprentice and the Dean’s foster son! With such a background, few among his peers in the capital could compare. His future was truly boundless. Backed by both the Chief Grand Secretary and the General’s Mansion, who would dare not show him respect?

***

Once inside the courtyard where Wei Shi’an lived, Xi Sheng spoke up. "Arrange a room for me. I shall be staying at the academy for the time being."

A sense of crisis welled up within Xi Sheng. He had fully expected that while Wei Shi’an would be willing to teach his young apprentice, the boy would never agree to acknowledge him as a master. Now, however, while the boy had not become a disciple, he had become a foster son! Xi Sheng felt conflicted, haunted by the sense that he was no longer the only pillar of support for his apprentice.

"What? Are you planning to stay and be an instructor at my academy? I am sure my students would be quite thrilled."

"If you believe they can adapt to my teaching methods, you are welcome to arrange it."

Wei Shi’an fell silent. Recalling Li Su’s various assignments, he realized that none of his students could handle that level of rigor; it would only crush their confidence for the upcoming examinations.

Wei Shi’an arranged for Xi Sheng to stay in the guest room of his courtyard. He continued to gloat, "Xi Sheng, my son has a particular talent for the investigation of things. Do you know what we have created together?"

Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin watched him quietly, offering no response. Wei Shi’an did not need them to, continuing on his own. "We have created a 'thousand-mile eye'! It allows one to observe the movements of others from a great distance. Used in military campaigns, it is a formidable weapon!"

Both Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin were slightly surprised. Xi Sheng had known that Li Su had a talent for the investigation of things, which was exactly why he had intended to send him to Wei Shi’an. He did not want to waste that talent, believing Li Su was fully capable of pursuing both studies. Furthermore, with the General’s Mansion backing Wei Shi’an, building a good relationship there would make Li Su’s path in officialdom much smoother. Xi Sheng had been paving the way for the boy for a long time. As for Wei Shi’an taking Li Su as a foster son, it was clear he was very satisfied with him.

Xi Sheng gritted his teeth in secret. *This Wei Shi’an, actually enticing my apprentice to become his foster son!* He suspected Wei Shi’an had tried many times to win the boy over, but the boy had remained steadfast in choosing him as his master. Wei Shi’an had only settled for the next best thing.

Wei Shi’an and Xi Sheng began to bicker over how Li Su should allocate his time. After much arguing, Xi Sheng gained the upper hand, securing more of the boy's schedule.

"In any case, my son said that once he finishes the imperial examinations, he will devote more time to the investigation of things. I shall not fight you for now." In reality, he simply couldn't win the argument.

Uncle Lin kept his head lowered, his mouth twitching. It was truly the young master's blessing to have such a foster father and a master.

With Xi Sheng’s arrival, in addition to his daily tasks, Li Su now had to receive private instruction. The lessons covered not only the material for the imperial examinations but also the intricacies of the capital’s power dynamics and the way of officialdom. Li Su, unaware that his workload had increased once more, was busy explaining problems to his fellow students.

***

The students of the Yellow Study said reluctantly, "If Brother Li leaves, there will be no one left to explain these problems to us like this."

Li Su was not one to hide his knowledge; he answered every question put to him with sincerity, which for him served as a form of consolidation. Because of this, the students of the Yellow Study were loath to see him go.

Li Su couldn't help but laugh. "You can all come with me."

The students: "..." *Do you think we don’t want to?*

One student said with a mournful tone, "Brother Li, after you take the exams this month, you will surely move to the Heaven Study. We would like to go, but we simply do not have the ability... Let us make the most of the remaining time and ask our questions now."

The students nodded in unison. At other times, Li Su would discuss matters with Yun Qin and Song Sheng. Song Sheng spoke little, but every word he uttered carried weight.

After class, Li Su went straight to find Wei Shi’an. He had finished the carving he was making for his master, though he did not know when his master would arrive. As he reached the courtyard, he saw a familiar figure.

"Master!" Li Su shouted, filled with excitement. *If I had known that thinking of my master would be so effective, I would have done it sooner!*

Xi Sheng sized him up. Because of the martial arts training with Wei Shi’an, Li Su looked stronger and had grown taller. The boy trotted over to Xi Sheng’s side. "Master, when did you arrive?"

Xi Sheng’s usually stern face softened slightly. "Not long ago. You have grown."

"Young Master," Uncle Lin said.

Li Su smiled and greeted him, "Uncle Lin."

Wei Shi’an coughed twice.

"Foster Father."

Only then did Wei Shi’an nod in satisfaction.

Li Su sat beside Xi Sheng and told him about what had happened at the academy. When he mentioned the incident with Wang Tao, Xi Sheng glanced at Wei Shi’an, who rubbed his nose in embarrassment.

Xi Sheng said to Li Su, "The Wang family has fallen, and as for Wang Tao, he has received the punishment he deserved."

"Thank you, Master. You have worked hard," Li Su said, reaching out to knead Xi Sheng’s shoulders and pat his back.