Zhao Heng clutched his throbbing wrist and turned around, only to see Zhao Shen appearing at the doorway at some unknown time.
He sat upright in his wheelchair, looking as gentle and elegant as ever, yet his voice carried a hint of coldness. “Second Brother, you have overstepped.”
Zhao Heng stared at him, dazed.
This elder brother had always been a nightmare hanging over his head. From childhood to adulthood, there was nothing he could ever best him in.
Even now, though the man was a cripple, he still stood a head taller than him.
As long as he was around, their father would never truly see Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng struggled to suppress the resentment in his heart. After a long silence, he said hoarsely, “It was a momentary impulse. I ask for Brother’s forgiveness.”
Zhao Shen turned his wheelchair himself until he was in front of Ji Yunshu. He asked softly, “Are you alright?”
Ji Yunshu was not the type to suffer in silence. She immediately voiced her grievances. “Second Brother nearly scared me to death, barging in here for no reason and accusing me of driving Miss Yao away. I’m not so bored that I’d go out of my way to chase her off. In fact, I should thank her for the fact that I could marry you, don’t you think?”
A faint smile touched Zhao Shen’s face upon hearing this. “You are right.”
Having said that, he turned back to Zhao Heng. “Apologize to your Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Zhao Heng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re making me apologize to her over such a trivial matter?”
Zhao Shen said coldly, “Disrespecting your elder brother’s wife is no trivial matter. Or would you rather I speak to Father about this?”
Zhao Heng knew that no matter what, his father would never side with him. If it came to that, he would only face even harsher punishment. He could only bow his head in resentment and cup his hands toward Ji Yunshu. “It was my fault. I ask for Eldest Sister-in-law’s forgiveness.”
Ji Yunshu pursed her lips. What could she do even if she didn’t forgive him? The apology wasn’t sincere anyway.
However, considering Zhao Heng had been physically and emotionally tormented these past few days and was already unlucky enough, she didn’t feel like being petty. “Forget it. I can understand Second Brother’s anxiety over Miss Yao’s disappearance. It isn’t safe for a young lady to be out there alone. Instead of wasting time making trouble for me, Second Brother should focus on finding her.”
Zhao Heng had expected that, given her temper, she would surely seize the opportunity to make things difficult for him. He hadn’t expected her to be so reasonable. He gave her a deep, lingering look before taking his leave.
Seeing Ji Yunshu staring blankly at Zhao Heng’s retreating figure, Zhao Shen couldn’t help but ask, “I thought you hated Miss Yao.”
When she had laid her cards on the table with him, she had spoken of wanting Zhao Heng dead. Now that such a good opportunity had arisen, why wasn’t she trying to finish off Yao Ruolan?
Ji Yunshu caught his meaning and retracted her gaze. “I do hate her. But according to what you’ve said, I’m afraid she won’t die that easily.”
With her protagonist’s halo, Yao Ruolan wouldn’t just survive; she would likely turn her misfortune into a blessing.
Thinking of this, Ji Yunshu added, “You might as well send someone to keep an eye on her. She might just stumble upon some fortuitous encounter.”
Zhao Shen’s eyes flickered. It seemed Ji Yunshu’s “dream” was more than just a simple dream.
Ultimately, however, he asked nothing. He simply ordered his subordinates to keep a close watch on Zhao Heng and Yao Ruolan.
Yao Ruolan’s disappearance left Zhao Heng consumed with anxiety. Although he didn’t dare to search for her openly, he immediately dispatched everyone he could use.
Since Madam Yao was ill, the servants in the residence were inevitably lax, and rumors spread rapidly.
Upon hearing the news, Madam Yao’s condition worsened.
The next morning, Zhao Heng came to pay his respects. After only a few words, he was in a hurry to leave.
Madam Yao grabbed him, gasping for breath. “Just how long are you going to keep acting like this? Do you want me to close my eyes for good before you’re satisfied?”
Seeing his mother so ill, Zhao Heng didn’t dare to provoke her with harsh words. He merely said, “Mother, Ruolan is a young woman out on her own. If anything happens to her, what will we do? Regardless of anything else, the priority is to find her.”
Madam Yao smoothed her chest to catch her breath before saying, “She came to our family when she was six. I raised her with my own hands; do you think I don’t care for her? But as things stand now, what do you plan to do even if you find her? Will you have her follow you forever without any status or title? If she were willing, why would she have left?”
Zhao Heng fell into a silence.
Seeing that his emotions had settled and he was no longer as agitated as before, Madam Yao breathed a secret sigh of relief.
She then spoke with earnest gravity. “I told you long ago: only when you possess enough power and status do you have the right to do as you please. But you refused to listen. I exhausted my efforts to secure the marriage with the Ji family for you, yet because of your momentary impulse, things have turned out like this. A single Imperial Decree from the Empress Dowager has severed any possibility between you and Ruolan. Do you regret it?”
Zhao Heng tried to divine his mother’s intent. It seemed there might still be room for maneuver. He lowered his head and said, “It was my haste that caused me to err. I ask for Mother’s guidance.”
Madam Yao said slowly, “You are still young; it is natural to be confused for a time. Ruolan already belongs to you, so what is the rush? Once she is found, settle her outside first. That way, she will be spared the gossip. You, after all, must eventually take a proper wife.”
“Mother…”
At this, Zhao Heng became anxious again.
Madam Yao sighed. “When will you ever become as steady as your brother? Look at the Shizi. He is only half a year older than you, yet he has kept his Qionghua Courtyard impenetrable all these years.”
Zhao Heng grumbled, “Eldest Brother is naturally good at everything. Father likes him, and even you think he’s better than me.”
Seeing her son still hadn’t grasped the point, Madam Yao poked his forehead. “No matter how good he is, what does that have to do with me? The one I can rely on is you. Listen to me: secure a good marriage and take the title of the Marquis’s residence in the future. Then, it won’t be impossible for you and Ruolan.”
Zhao Heng was puzzled. “But Father said the title belongs to my brother. Even if Brother has no heirs, he can adopt.”
Madam Yao looked at Zhao Heng for a long time before deciding to speak more plainly. “You are grown now. You should know that pie doesn’t just fall from the sky. Some things must be won for oneself.”
For the first time, Zhao Heng saw a flame called ambition burning in the depths of his mother’s calm eyes.
And that flame, in that very instant, seemed to ignite something buried deep within his own heart.
He was also his father’s son. Why couldn’t he inherit the title?
If he inherited the marquisate, wouldn’t the Ji family and even the Empress Dowager in the palace have to show him some respect?
Besides, how much longer could the Empress Dowager live?
Who knew what changes might occur in the future?
One day, he would be able to marry Ruolan through the front door with full honors.
The more Zhao Heng thought about it, the more his heart burned. “Mother, I understand what you mean.”
Madam Yao said with relief, “I am your mother. Everything I do is for your own good. If you had understood sooner, that Ji woman would already be your wife. With the Ji family as your backing, what is it that you couldn’t have?”
Zhao Heng said quickly, “It was my fault for not realizing Mother’s painstaking efforts sooner.”
Her son’s comforting words made the stifling frustration in Madam Yao’s chest vanish. she smiled and said, “Once I am well, I will look for a noble daughter from a high-ranking family for you. Her status must not be inferior to Ji Yunshu’s. You will know what to do then, right?”
Madam Yao had confidence in her son. Zhao Heng was truly gifted with good looks; from childhood, there had never been a shortage of girls who were smitten with him.
This time, Zhao Heng did not disappoint her. “Rest assured, Mother. I won’t mess it up again.”
It wasn’t entirely his mother’s words that had stirred his ambition.
Rather, it was the memory of his father’s merciless Family Discipline, his own powerlessness as he wept with his beloved in the face of the Imperial Decree, and being forced by his elder brother to apologize to Ji Yunshu. All these events had made him deeply realize the importance of power.
One day, he would trample them all beneath his feet.