After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 9

Though Luo Chuchen was quite startled, he soon recovered and resiliently finished his landscape painting before hurriedly returning to the Chu residence for dinner.

Heaven knew he didn’t want to endure another round of Chu Yuanzhu’s sarcastic remarks.

By the time he arrived at the Chu residence, the sun had not yet set. After inquiring with the steward and learning that Chu Yuanzhu was still at the Ministry of Revenue, Luo Chuchen breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his own courtyard with Shechuan.

Having walked for so long in the afternoon and endured such anxiety, Luo Chuchen was utterly exhausted. He only remembered to have Shechuan store the painting safely in the study. Originally intending to sit and read a storybook while waiting for Chu Yuanzhu’s return to discuss the matter of attending the painting academy, he ended up dozing off at the table, unable to fight his drowsiness.

After tidying up outside, Shechuan entered the study and couldn’t help but smile at the sight. He fetched a cotton robe from the bedroom and draped it over Luo Chuchen.

Less than half an hour later, a servant came to announce that dinner was ready. Luo Chuchen was awakened by Shechuan, yawning and struggling to open his eyes. After a moment, he said slowly, “Shechuan, prepare the bathtub early tonight. I’m going straight to bed.”

“Of course,” Shechuan replied, replacing the robe with a cloak. “The wind has picked up outside, young master. Be careful not to catch a chill.”

Luo Chuchen took a couple of steps before remembering something. “Bring the paintings along too.”

Shechuan, already aware of the earlier events, quickly jogged to retrieve both paintings, handling them with great care.

When they reached the dining hall, Chu Yuanzhu was seated at the table, adjusting the candle flame. He glanced up and said, “You’re here?”

“Uncle,” Luo Chuchen replied, still somewhat weary but forcing himself to nod politely before taking a seat beside him.

The table was already set with dishes, all of Luo Chuchen’s favorites. Under normal circumstances, he would have eagerly devoured the meal, but today, he was too tired and had little appetite. He merely went through the motions of finishing a bowl of rice.

By the time Luo Chuchen set down his chopsticks, Chu Yuanzhu was still eating leisurely. Struggling to stay awake, Luo Chuchen pondered how to broach the subject with Chu Yuanzhu later.

From the time he was young, Chu Yuanzhu had always been irreverent and even somewhat irritating.

Chu Yuanzhu was less than ten years younger than Luo Chuchen’s mother, the beloved late-born son of Old Master Chu. Gifted and clever, he had been hailed as a child prodigy since childhood.

Initially, Luo Chuchen had high expectations for this young uncle wasn’t he the epitome of the idealized “other people’s child”?

However, during their first meeting, Chu Yuanzhu waited until the adults weren’t looking, poked Luo Chuchen’s chubby cheek, and frowned, saying, “So ugly, like a little monkey.”

Luo Chuchen: “…”

Blinking, he stared at Chu Yuanzhu, who then looked at him with pity and added, “You’re stuck like this for life after three. You’ll always be this ugly.”

Luo Chuchen: “…”

This was not what he had imagined.

Moreover, Luo Chuchen often looked in the mirror. Though only a few years old, he could tell he had inherited much of his mother’s beauty and would surely grow into a handsome young man. How could he possibly be as ugly as a monkey?

Chu Yuanzhu waited a moment, disappointed to find his little nephew showing no reaction, merely staring blankly at him.

Why didn’t he cry?

This was only the beginning.

Later, every time Chu Yuanzhu visited the Marquis’s estate and found himself alone with Luo Chuchen, he would deliberately try to make him cry.

Over time, Luo Chuchen evolved from not knowing how to retaliate to being able to trade barbs with Chu Yuanzhu on equal footing.

This continued until Liang Jue moved into the Marquis’s residence.

When Chu Yuanzhu arrived, the two were studying. Seeing Liang Jue sitting close beside Luo Chuchen, he paused for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Oh, so you’ve picked up a little follower now?”

Liang Jue, having known in advance that Chu Yuanzhu would be visiting, politely greeted him.

Luo Chuchen quickly explained Liang Jue’s identity, but Chu Yuanzhu didn’t seem particularly impressed. He snorted, sat down beside them, and leaned in to take a look.

On the wooden table were assignments left by their tutor. Luo Chuchen had written one answer, Liang Jue had written another, and they were in the middle of discussing them.

Though Luo Chuchen didn’t want him looking, he felt it would be inappropriate to act too “barbaric” in front of Liang Jue. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “Uncle, what brings you to the Marquis’s residence today?”

“My father sent me to deliver some things,” Chu Yuanzhu replied, quickly scanning both of their answers before scoffing, “Is this all? If you beg me nicely, I could give you an answer ten times better.”

Luo Chuchen was simmering with frustration but didn’t know how to retort. Just then, Liang Jue spoke in a low, firm voice, “The tutor’s assignments are meant to be thought through independently. If he spends some time and consults some books, he can certainly come up with a solution himself. Simply handing him an answer like that isn’t helping him it’s harming him.”

Wow, impressive.

Luo Chuchen’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. “Exactly, that’s right.”

Chu Yuanzhu was left speechless.

After a pause, he cast a faint glance at Luo Chuchen and said, “It’s important to know one’s own limitations.”

Without even looking at Liang Jue, he flicked his sleeve and walked away.

Luo Chuchen ignored his bad temper and explained to Liang Jue, “Don’t mind him. Chu Yuanzhu has always been like this narrow-minded and petty. Next time you see him, just avoid him. You don’t have to listen to his nonsense.”

Unexpectedly, after that incident, Chu Yuanzhu also refused to meet Liang Jue voluntarily. Every time he came to the Marquis’s residence, he would use the adults as an excuse to pull Luo Chuchen aside alone.

Recalling all the times Chu Yuanzhu had teased and tormented him in the past, Luo Chuchen felt a headache coming on. His drowsiness vanished, and he picked up his chopsticks again, idly picking at some vegetables.

Chu Yuanzhu set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and looked up. “What’s with the sudden change? Eating so little and even picking at vegetables unprecedented.”

He didn’t really expect a proper answer and continued, “Do you have something to ask me?”

Luo Chuchen was startled.

Chu Yuanzhu said, “With your level of subtlety, even what you plan to eat tomorrow is written all over your face. You’ve been hesitating since you walked in, glancing at me every now and then. Only a block of wood wouldn’t realize you have something on your mind.”

Luo Chuchen wanted to argue he hadn’t even decided what to eat for breakfast tomorrow, so how could Chu Yuanzhu possibly know? But since he needed a favor, he suppressed his irritation.

“Well,” Luo Chuchen began, “I’ve heard that the Imperial Academy now has a School of Painting?”

Chu Yuanzhu nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Do you want to go there?”

Luo Chuchen replied, “Mm, I’ve never been cut out for studying. Compared to the imperial exams, I prefer painting.”

He braced himself for a sarcastic remark, but to his surprise, Chu Yuanzhu simply nodded and said, “That’s fine.”

Luo Chuchen: “…”

So easily?

Chu Yuanzhu then asked seriously, “What’s your foundation like? I’ve never heard your parents mention you studying painting.”

“I’ve actually liked it since I was little, though back then I only drew small things. After arriving in Yunzhou, one of the academy instructors was skilled in painting, so I kept privately begging him to teach me,” Luo Chuchen breathed a sigh of relief and brought out the excuse he had prepared long ago. After all, Chu Yuanzhu wouldn’t have time to go to Yunzhou. “Recently, while traveling, I painted a few pieces. Uncle, you can take a look if you’d like.”

With that, Luo Chuchen had Shechuan bring the scrolls forward.

Chu Yuanzhu wasn’t in a hurry to look at them. He glanced at Luo Chuchen with a faint, knowing smile and said, “So this is what you were waiting for here.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t understand what he meant and blinked in confusion.

Chu Yuanzhu didn’t elaborate further. He stepped aside, unrolled the scroll, and after just one look, couldn’t help but raise his head to glance at Luo Chuchen again.

When he reached the second painting the portrait of Liang Jue, Luo Chuchen indeed saw Chu Yuanzhu frown openly, without any attempt to hide it.

Yet he said nothing.

After a while, Chu Yuanzhu finally set down the scroll and nodded to Luo Chuchen. “Quite good, indeed.”

Luo Chuchen beamed with joy.

Getting a word of praise from this uncle was harder than the sky falling.

Chu Yuanzhu sat down, thought for a moment, and said, “The Painting Academy was established less than two years ago. Admissions are strictly by the rules, and I don’t know anyone there, so it’s not easy to slip you in at the last minute. However.” He paused. “I do know a highly renowned painter who is currently staying in the capital. Leave these two paintings with me for now. In a few days, when I have time, I’ll take you to visit him. If he agrees to take you as his disciple, that would be even better.”

Luo Chuchen hadn’t expected him to steer the conversation toward apprenticeship so quickly and hesitated. “Apprenticeship? I’ve never really thought about it.”

Chu Yuanzhu said, “What if I told you this painter is named Yin Zikun?”

Luo Chuchen vaguely recalled hearing the name before, but judging by Chu Yuanzhu’s tone, this painter seemed to be quite distinguished. “Ah, is it him?”

Chu Yuanzhu frowned slightly. “You actually don’t know.”

Luo Chuchen: “…”

He’d been found out again.

Chu Yuanzhu said, “I’m not an expert in this field, so I can’t offer you much help. The Painting Academy’s entrance exams are still over a month away. Having a master to guide you would only be beneficial. If you truly don’t want to and would rather spend your days wandering the mountains and rivers with Liang Jue, painting trivial sketches, then I’ll leave you to it.”

Luo Chuchen was somewhat surprised by Chu Yuanzhu’s attitude. He had to admit that his uncle was genuinely considering his best interests though he couldn’t understand why he had to take a jab at Liang Jue in the process.

He wasn’t one to refuse a good offer and quickly replied, “I’m willing.”

Chu Yuanzhu’s expression softened slightly. “Alright then. You’ve achieved your goal, so hurry back to your own courtyard and stop hovering around me. I’ll let you know in advance in a few days. I’ll prepare the tuition gifts too just make sure you tidy yourself up.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t mind the slightly teasing remarks. He grinned, bowed, and said, “Thank you, Uncle.” Then, with Shechuan in tow, he turned and dashed off.