The path for scholars in the Great Xia Dynasty to rise from obscurity to prominence is one that no one can bypass. Even for a powerful family like The Norton Estate, blessed with ancestral favor, the younger generation cannot skip these three checkpoints. In this respect, noble birth and humble origins are equal.

Scholar!

Out of ten thousand students, perhaps only a little over twenty will make it.

Recommended Scholar—out of ten thousand scholars, it’s already impressive if ten succeed.

Presented Scholar.

Out of ten thousand recommended scholars, only one can emerge.

Stanley Norton is a recommended scholar, and also possesses some of the greatest martial prowess in the household. Therefore, he is the most powerful person in the residence after Henry NortonBrian Norton. It is precisely because of his scholarly background and years of study that his temperament has naturally been influenced by the literati. Deep down, he is still a scholar at heart. To put it nicely, he is a man of letters; less kindly, he is a pedant. Such people, deep inside, tend to look down on women, and what they despise most are women like the Seventh Lady, who use their charms to manipulate. The Seventh Lady’s manners may seem proper, but she has already lost much favor in Stanley Norton’s eyes.

“What a foolish woman. Does she really think that just because she’s Henry Norton’s concubine, everyone has to respect her? Damn it, she hasn’t even slept with Stanley Norton!” Gavin Norton thought viciously to himself, but his expression remained calm as he met the Seventh Lady’s gaze without fear. “So, madam, are you saying that you ordered this fellow to go to Jin Qiu Garden and push me into the pond?”

The Seventh Lady’s smile froze on her face, her watery eyes flashing with disbelief. In her impression, Gavin Norton had always been a somewhat timid youth—ambitious, but lacking a strong heart, and not difficult to deal with. That’s why she had tacitly approved of Calvin Norton’s actions, hoping to eliminate a rival for her own son in advance. It seemed to have worked, but now, under Gavin Norton’s calm gaze, she felt a growing chill in her heart.

“Little vixen, you’re still far from being able to compete with me!” Gavin Norton sneered inwardly. The Seventh Lady had some influence in the household and was an unattainable figure to the servants, but to Gavin Norton, she was of little consequence. In terms of status, he was the son of Henry Norton. Though not the heir, he was not someone a mere concubine could sway, even if she had borne a son.

“You keep saying it was Quentin Norton who pushed you into the pond. Do you have any proof?” The Seventh Lady raised her eyebrows and retorted.

“If I dare say so, of course I have proof!” Gavin Norton replied coolly, then shifted his gaze away from the Seventh Lady, not sparing her another glance. “But as for you, Eleventh Brother, you keep insisting my maid stole from you—do you have any proof?!”

“Huh?!” Gavin Norton suddenly changed the subject, turning the accusation toward Calvin Norton, catching him completely off guard and throwing him into confusion.

“If you can’t produce any evidence, then let her go. This kind of trivial matter isn’t even worth mentioning!” Gavin Norton smiled lightly, then turned to Lydia and said, “Lydia, go help Lillian up and take her back. There’s nothing more for you here!”

“Yes?!” Lydia replied cautiously, glancing at everyone. Seeing that no one stopped her, she hurried over to Lillian, helped her up, and slowly led her out of Baihua Garden. Throughout the process, no one spoke or tried to stop them. The others merely glanced at the two as they left. Quentin Norton, seeing them about to leave the garden, shifted slightly as if wanting to say something, but under Gavin Norton’s icy gaze, he remained silent.

“All right, now it’s time to talk about my business!” Watching his two maids leave Baihua Garden, Gavin Norton turned around and spoke.

“Gavin Norton, the person has already been released. What more do you want?!” Calvin Norton’s face was livid, turning red as he shouted furiously.

“Eleventh Brother, that’s an interesting thing to say. Do you really think I went to the trouble of alerting Fourth Grandfather just for a mere maid? Do you think what I said earlier was just to bargain for the release of a little maid? Eleventh Brother, you’re far too naive!” Gavin Norton said coldly, ignoring Calvin Norton’s expression. “Fourteenth Lady, you said Quentin Norton went to Jin Qiu Garden to help you look for your lost gold jewelry. So, let me ask you—when exactly did you go to Jin Qiu Garden?!”

“Are you interrogating me?!” The Seventh Lady’s face darkened as she demanded harshly.

“Why shouldn’t I interrogate you?!” Gavin Norton sneered, his voice suddenly sharp, showing no intention of giving the Seventh Lady any face.

“Insolent! And you call yourself a scholar? Don’t forget, I am your elder. How dare you speak to me in such a tone!!” The Seventh Lady pointed at Gavin Norton, shrieking.

Chapter Six: Ruthless—Deer Cauldron