The Marquis of An Yuan, Zhao Su, returned to his residence after being coldly received by the Marquis of Jing’an, Xie Hao. His anger burned hot.
“Tell Zhao Jin to get over here.”
Zhao Jin had calculated the day his father would finish his official duties and report to the palace, so he waited quietly in the residence.
“You unfilial son! Look at the good job you’ve done—your old man has completely lost face!”
Zhao Jin did not dodge or evade. He took the blow solidly.
The Marquis of An Yuan had grabbed a brush holder and smashed it against Zhao Jin’s forehead. The skin broke, and a large swollen lump quickly rose.
“What are your legs for? Don’t you know how to dodge?”
The Marquis was furious and exasperated. This damn boy had never been so obedient as to let him hit him before. If he had grabbed an inkstone instead, wouldn’t he have cracked his skull open?
“Father.”
Zhao Jin’s voice choked with emotion. He stared straight at his father—his living father. In his previous life, while he was exiled to Liaodong for military service, his father had been imprisoned in the imperial prison. On the road to exile, he received news of his father’s death.
“What are you crying for? I’m still alive!”
Marquis Zhao Su shivered with goosebumps. Both father and son had fiery tempers. Since this son turned ten, he had never been so docile. The Marquis was extremely unaccustomed to it.
“Someone! Call the residence physician.”
The Marquis glanced at Zhao Jin’s forehead. “Let’s have your injury looked at first.”
Zhao Jin didn’t care about such a minor wound. “Father, did His Majesty reprimand you?”
The Marquis’s anger subsided quite a bit. He shook his head. “It doesn’t count as a reprimand. Your grandfather and the late Marquis of Jing’an both rendered great service in supporting the throne. His Majesty mentioned the two elders and said this marriage was arranged by them. He had heard some rumors from somewhere and mentioned the line: ‘What the elders bestow, how dare one refuse.’”
“‘What the elders bestow, how dare one refuse.’ His Majesty… he’s getting older and speaking from sentiment.”
The Marquis did not mention that although the emperor had said it with a smile, he himself had broken out in a cold sweat.
The current emperor was never known for leniency. Now in his twilight years, with the succession still unsettled and the princes stirring in dark currents, this iron-willed, heroic ruler—though his body had weakened—refused to admit old age and was extremely suspicious.
This marriage between their two families had unfortunately landed right in the eye of the storm.
“Father, this son knows he was wrong. This son is willing to marry Second Miss Xie.”
At this moment, Zhao Jin felt deeply grateful to Emperor Zhao Wu.
“I want to hurry up and bring her into the family too.” The Marquis thought of Xie Hao’s impenetrable, stubborn attitude and his anger flared again. “That old fox Xie Hao is naive and doesn’t understand the times. He stubbornly insists that his second girl has offended a malevolent star and must stay at home to avoid disaster. It’s not suitable for her to marry now—he wants to choose another date.”
“You’ve finally grown up a little. Going to the Jing’an Marquis household to apologize was well done—you’ve finally developed some sense. His Majesty even praised you, saying that knowing one’s mistakes and correcting them shows a filial child. No matter who whispered slander in front of His Majesty, at least you’ve been cleared.”
Zhao Jin gave a bitter smile. His sincere and genuine feelings had, in the eyes of the Marquis of Jing’an, probably turned him into someone with ulterior motives.
“Father, this son truly wants to marry Second Miss Xie.”
The Marquis scoffed. Since the matter had now been brought to His Majesty’s attention, the sooner they married her in, the better—before the emperor remembered it again.
As for her inability to bear children, that was no issue at all. Many households had principal wives without sons, with concubines producing a pile of illegitimate sons. The current dynasty had no rule preventing illegitimate sons from inheriting titles.
Following the emperor’s wishes was nothing to be ashamed of. The young man was thin-skinned and insisted on finding some righteous excuse—he wouldn’t expose it. “Then it depends on your ability.”
……
“Second Sister, this ice cream is really delicious.”
Xie Yunzhi held a small celadon bowl. Cold vapor rose from it. The creamy yogurt inside was softer than tender tofu. It melted sweetly and fragrantly in the mouth, cool and smooth as it went down. He squinted his eyes in delight.
“Second Sister, I want more.”
The bowl was quickly emptied. Xie Yunzhi licked his lips. His big round eyes looked greedily at Xie Lanqi.
Xie Lanqi smiled and pinched his chubby little cheeks. “We agreed—only one bowl.”
“Second Sister, Second Sister.” Xie Yunzhi tilted his face up, gently shaking her arm and acting spoiled nonstop.
“No cheating.” Before her heart softened, Xie Lanqi lightly pulled his cheeks. After days of eating and drinking well, the little boy’s delicate round face had grown even plumper.
“Tomorrow I’ll make you something else.”
Xie Yunzhi’s eyes lit up. He nodded vigorously. Second Sister was the best at making fresh and tasty things.
The Marquis of Jing’an and his wife had decided to drag out this unavoidable marriage indefinitely while wholeheartedly making up for their debt to their second daughter. With her biggest worry gone, Xie Lanqi spent her days researching food, drink, and health regimens. She let herself go completely, living as a wealthy, idle noble.
The siblings were chatting and laughing when they suddenly heard a commotion.
“Miss, Madam has sent someone with a message. She wants you and Second Young Master to return to the residence.” Die Meng inquired and then came forward to report.
“Harness the carriage. We’re going back to the residence.”
The Marquis of Jing’an household was founded by a meritorious minister who rose with the dynasty’s founding emperor and had luckily survived repeated purges. The title had been passed down for three generations. Each generation had few children and no internal fighting. They were skilled at business, and three generations of accumulated wealth made the Jing’an Marquis household the richest among the capital’s noble families.
After the late Marquis of Jing’an passed away, due to Xie Hao’s temperament, the current household had lost imperial favor and distanced itself from the center of power. Lady Liang managed the household affairs, keeping everything low-key and following the principle of not displaying wealth.
The carriage the Xie Lanqi siblings were riding in looked ordinary on the outside, but inside it was luxurious and comfortable—smooth and not bumpy at all on the road.
“Good, good—the ice hasn’t melted yet.”
Xie Yunzhi’s attention stayed fixed on the large wooden tub beside him. Inside the big tub was a smaller one holding bowls of ice cream, surrounded by blocks of ice.
The carriage suddenly jolted to a stop.
Xie Yunzhi poked his head out. “Why have we stopped?”
“Second Young Master, we’ve reached the city gate. There’s some kind of commotion ahead—people are lined up in a long queue,” the coachman replied.
“Second Sister…” Xie Yunzhi wanted to go see what was happening.
Xie Lanqi was not interested. “Die Meng, take some people and follow him.”
Xie Yunzhi eagerly jumped down from the carriage. Relying on his small size and agility, he squeezed and wriggled his way to the front.
It turned out it wasn’t street performers. A line of criminals wearing cangue boards was parading through the streets for public humiliation.
“Second Young Master, wait a moment. There are too many people—we can’t get out.”
Die Meng struggled to push through the crowd. Seeing Xie Yunzhi lose interest and want to leave, she quickly stopped him. Pushing against the flow of people could easily lead to accidents.
“Criminal Zhang Wu insulted his widowed sister-in-law and bullied his young nephew. I am not human.”
The criminals on public display not only wore thick wooden cangue boards around their necks and hands but also had to shout out their crimes as they walked.
Compared to thieves and similar offenders, what Zhang Wu had done aroused more curiosity. Latecomers asked around, and those who knew immediately repeated the story.
“This Zhang Wu is not a decent person. When his older brother died, he left behind a widow and orphans. His widowed sister-in-law was a chaste and virtuous woman who devoted herself to raising her children. While old Physician Zhang was still alive, the mother and children lived fairly peacefully. Who would have thought that as soon as old Physician Zhang passed away, before outsiders could even do anything, this Zhang Wu—his own younger brother—started tormenting the widow and children to death.”
“Oh my, exactly! My aunt’s cousin’s godmother lives nearby and saw it with her own eyes. In broad daylight, Zhang Wu kicked open his nephew’s courtyard gate and pointed at the mother and children, saying he would sooner or later pluck them clean like picking melons—one by one. Is that even human speech?”
“What a beast!”
“If they hadn’t been bullied to the point of being unable to live, his widowed sister-in-law wouldn’t have gone to the authorities to accuse him.”
What Zhang Wu had done easily aroused public outrage. It made people hate him deeply. His reputation was completely ruined, and he quickly became known as something worse than pigs or dogs.
“Pah, pah—retribution!”
Die Meng recognized Zhang Wu as the scoundrel who had testified at Youfu Temple. She spat forcefully twice.
“Who is he?” Xie Yunzhi asked curiously.
All the capable maids by Second Sister’s side studied and read with her; they were well-mannered and respectful. This was the first time he had seen Die Meng do something so unrefined.
“He’s a beast who speaks like a beast,” Die Meng replied casually. Seeing fewer people to the south, she said, “Second Young Master, let’s go back.”
……
“Whoever came up with parading criminals in cangue at the city gate—I want to beat him to death! My face is getting sunburned!”
Among the crowd lining up to enter the city, a fat man in black riding a tall horse and wearing a sapphire-blue brocade robe was cursing loudly.
“Xue San, if I tell you who it was, would you dare do anything?”
“See if I dare! Who was it?”
“The Heir of the Marquis of An Yuan, Zhao Jin.”
Xue San choked. “Feng Liu, how do you know it was him? Did he do this?”
“Who else would do it but him? The criminal leading the parade is Zhang Wu. The one who testified that the second miss of the Jing’an Marquis household can’t bear children was Zhang Wu—and she’s Zhao Jin’s fiancée.”
“Zhao Jin is going to marry a woman who can’t have children—this news has spread all over our noble and military circles. He used to be so arrogant and look down on everyone. Now he’s become a laughingstock. He can’t break off the engagement, so he’s taking it out on Zhang Wu.”
“He’s calculating well—ruin Zhang Wu’s reputation so no one can use his testimony against him anymore. Tsk tsk, covering his ears while stealing the bell. Zhao Jin has finally met his day.” Feng Liu laughed lewdly.
Xue San had a deep grudge against Zhao Jin. Unlike Feng Liu, who was cunning, Xue San was crude and vicious. After hearing this, he laughed loudly. “When I get back to the residence, I’ll have someone find a hen that can’t lay eggs and send it to the second miss of the Jing’an Marquis household.”
Xue San was a complete villain—wicked and cowardly. He didn’t dare provoke Zhao Jin directly, so he picked on the softer target: the Jing’an Marquis household.
Xie Yunzhi heard every word. His face turned red with anger. Like a cannonball, he charged forward. “Bastard!”
Die Meng couldn’t stop him in time. She watched in horror as the Second Young Master collided with the horse. The fat black man on horseback actually urged the horse to trample him. “Second Young Master!”
Suddenly, a horsewhip sliced through the air with a sharp “crack.” It struck Xue San with a muffled thud, making him scream in pain and roll off his horse.
At the same time, the whip’s owner leaped forward, scooped Xie Yunzhi up with one arm, and handed him to Die Meng.
The whip had lashed Xue San’s back, leaving a foot-long wound—skin split open and flesh torn.
“An… An Yuan Marquis Heir?”
While Feng Liu was cursing furiously, he finally saw who it was. He tumbled off his horse and faced the murderous Zhao Jin, legs trembling.
Zhao Jin walked straight toward Xue San, looking down at him from above. His dark eyes burned with raging fury. His voice was eerily light as he asked, “What did you just say? I didn’t hear clearly. Say it again.”
Xue San had never suffered such pain. He rolled on the ground howling. The agony made him forget his fear of Zhao Jin. He kept cursing at him. “I’ll send you a hen that can’t lay—”
Zhao Jin’s eyes turned vicious. He grabbed Xue San’s hair with one hand and slapped him hard across the face—left, then right—without mercy.
He used full force. Amid the sharp cracks, Xue San’s fat face swelled into a pig’s head.
“Ahhh!”
The blood-curdling scream made everyone’s hearts tremble.
“Say it again.” Zhao Jin stopped, his voice very low—almost gentle.
Xue San opened his mouth and spat out broken teeth. He shook his head frantically, terror-stricken.
“Still want to say it?”
Xue San’s mouth was full of blood foam, teeth missing who-knows-how-many. He couldn’t speak, only shook his head wildly.
Only then did Zhao Jin let him go, leaving him to collapse like a dead dog. His icy gaze turned to Feng Liu.
“Young Master, I… I didn’t say anything…”
Zhao Jin’s eyes reddened. He stepped forward slowly and placed one foot on Feng Liu’s right hand.
Feng Liu screamed in pain—his bones snapped. He cried out once and then shut his mouth. Zhao Jin’s look terrified him.
Feng Liu had no doubt that Zhao Jin wanted to kill him.
And Zhao Jin had indeed thought of killing him. Compared to Xue San, Feng Liu was a venomous snake hiding in the shadows—vile and hateful. The countless lives lost in the An Yuan Marquis household were connected to him.
“Second Sister.”
Xie Lanqi ran over panting. The scene before her made her scalp tingle.
“Yunzhi, what happened?”
The girl’s soft voice was slightly breathless. Zhao Jin’s back stiffened. In an instant, he came back to his senses.