William suddenly shouted that something was wrong. He had been flattering the old master desperately precisely because he was afraid of being mistreated by Mrs. Walker, but unexpectedly, the result of his flattery was to have Mrs. Walker raise him. His lips moved, but he was at a loss for what to do. Being raised by the main wife was exactly the result of his grandfather favoring him.

He could only comfort himself that his grandfather would come to check on him, so maybe she wouldn’t dare to mistreat him.

Thomas Harris still had matters to attend to. He took out a jade pendant and hung it around his neck, smiling as he said, “This is our first meeting—this is a meeting gift from your grandfather.”

He gave his son a few more instructions, then turned and left. As soon as Thomas Harris left, Mrs. Walker’s face immediately darkened. She said coldly to her husband, “I won’t raise him. You figure it out yourself!”

She also turned and left through the side door. Only William and Philip Harris were left in the room. Philip Harris felt very troubled. Of course, he was pleased that William could win his father’s favor, but he didn’t dare offend his wife. The tradition of men fearing their wives in the Sui dynasty had a long history—Emperor Yang Jian was a prime example.

The father and son stared at each other for a while, but Philip Harris couldn’t think of a good solution. Just then, a little girl of about two or three years old rode a bamboo horse happily past the courtyard gate, shouting, “Giddy up! Giddy up!”

Philip Harris’s eyes lit up—he had an idea.

Volume One: A Boy Grows Up in the {Yang Family}

Chapter Three: What Is the Little Sister’s Name

William was finally accepted by the {Yang Family}, but whether he was accepted or not made little difference. He didn’t enjoy any of the privileges of a {Yang Family} master, had no room of his own, no one to serve him, and no servants respectfully calling him young master.

William only learned later that although Thomas Harris liked him for a while, he didn’t truly care about him. He had dozens of grandchildren and only asked about them occasionally when he happened to remember. His mind was occupied with court power struggles and tedious government affairs.

William was only three years old, so of course he couldn’t support himself. Philip Harris found a wet nurse to take care of him, but to report to his father, this wet nurse was a bit special. Her surname was Shen, and she was beautiful, gentle, and virtuous—a daughter of a prominent family from Wuxing in Jiangnan.

Her name was Lillian Brooks, and everyone called her Evelyn. Her husband was General Peter Bolton of the Chen dynasty, who was killed two years ago in Quanzhou by Sui general Walter Price. As a war captive, she and her infant daughter were given by Emperor Yang Jian to Thomas Harris. But Thomas Harris had too many beauties in his mansion, and since she had a newborn daughter, he didn’t take her as a concubine and instead gave her to his son Philip Harris. Philip Harris, afraid of his wife, didn’t dare accept her and sent her to work in the inner kitchen.

Philip Harris knew she was clever and talented in poetry and prose, and it was a pity for her to be a cook. He felt some pity for her, but had never found a chance to arrange something better. Now that William had arrived, Philip Harris decided to have her raise William, which would also satisfy his father.

In the afternoon, Evelyn Brooks led William to her new residence. She had originally only one room, sharing it with her daughter. Now that she was to raise William, Philip Harris ordered a small courtyard to be prepared for them. The courtyard was small, with two and a half rooms and a half-room kitchen, and two bedrooms.

The small courtyard was located in the west outer compound of the Harris Mansion, where distant relatives of the {Yang Family} lived. There were dozens of households, each with a small courtyard. The main gates were usually unlocked, and people came and went freely. Because there were many families, the environment wasn’t very good.

Evelyn Brooks did some odd jobs in the kitchen. She earned two strings of coins a month, and now that she was raising William, the inner residence gave her three more strings each month, so she had five strings of coins a month.

But everyone felt it was unfair to her. Even the lowest-ranking illegitimate sons of the {Yang Family} received ten strings of coins a month, let alone a grandson of Thomas Harris and son of Philip Harris. This was clearly bullying. But Evelyn Brooks didn’t mind. Five strings a month were enough for her to raise two children.

All of this was arranged by Mrs. Walker. If not for some consideration for her husband’s reputation, she would have thought even three strings a month for William was too much. He was only three years old—one string would be enough to feed him.

...

“Young master, you’ll live in this room from now on.”

Evelyn Brooks gave the largest room to William. Holding his little hand, she felt full of affection for him. This poor child without a mother, just because he was illegitimate, was treated worse than even the steward’s children.

But William was actually very happy. He was only afraid of being raised by Mrs. Walker; it was best that she disliked him, as he didn’t want to see that wicked woman at all. He really liked Evelyn Brooks—he liked her at first sight. She was so beautiful and dignified, gentle and kind, full of motherly goodness. Holding her slender, smooth hand, he felt like the luckiest person in the world.

The title “young master” sounded extremely harsh to William. He shook his head and said very seriously and firmly, “From now on, I’ll call you Aunt, and you call me William. Don’t call me young master anymore.”

Evelyn Brooks patted his little head, liking him even more. ‘What a child!’

After all, she was born a lady of a noble family and didn’t truly accept her status as a servant. She nodded, “If you call me Aunt, I’ll call you William. From now on, we’re a family.”

“Aunt, let me carry the things!”

William grabbed his little luggage bag and dashed into the small room next door. He poked his little head out and said with a grin, “I like the small room. I’m scared to live in the big one.”