Under his robe's sleeves, Chen Liqin's fingers trembled slightly.
His son, who had finally managed to return home after so much difficulty, was arranged to live amid a pile of miscellaneous items.
There was no need to mention Zhang Zhuo's indignation. How could Chen Liqin not know the fishiness hidden within this? And how could he not be indignant as well? However, since matters had already reached this point, spreading word of this would bring absolutely no benefit.
As the common saying goes, Family Scandals Should Not Be Aired In Public. If others learned of this matter, it would only vainly add to the laughingstocks of the Confucian scholarly circles. As for Chen Ji, he could only think of ways to compensate him after the fact; right now, he absolutely could not make a public fuss.
Outside the doors of the Spring Listening Courtyard, Chen Liqin looked at the bricks and roof tiles filling the entire courtyard. After pondering for a moment, he instructed the manservant, "Bring the steward here. I want to ask him exactly what is going on. How could he mishear such a trivial matter! Madam clearly arranged for Chen Ji to stay in the Mingquan Courtyard, so how did he end up leading Chen Ji to the Spring Listening Courtyard?"
"Yes." The manservant's expression was tense. Lowering his head, he immediately turned to leave.
Sensing that something wasn't right, Zhang Xia hurriedly tugged quietly on Zhang Zhuo's sleeve and said in a lowered voice, "Dad, be careful of him tipping them off and colluding on a story, allowing the steward to cover this matter up."
Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. Then, he shouted loudly, "You manservant there, come back!"
The manservant froze for a moment. "What instructions does Lord Zhang have?"
"Just wait here." Zhang Zhuo looked at Zhang Xia. "Daughter, go find any random manservant and have them bring the steward over."
Zhang Xia agreed and ran off as fast as she could fly.
Chen Liqin glared fiercely. "What is Lord Zhang doing?"
Standing to the side, Zhang Zhuo said casually, "Lord Chen, did the steward truly mishear? You ought to know clearly in your heart. Chen Ji, were you present when Madam Chen arranged the living quarters? If you were present, tell us, where did she arrange for you to stay? Don't be afraid; I will back you up and seek justice for you."
Under his sleeves, Chen Liqin's fists suddenly clenched tight.
When Madam Liang was arranging the living quarters at the time, Chen Ji was indeed present.
Furthermore, Madam Liang had stated the reasons for the arrangement with utmost clarity: the Mingquan Courtyard was far from Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao's living quarters, while the Spring Listening Courtyard was closer. No matter what, it was impossible to mistake the two.
If Chen Ji acted like a foolish youth who disregarded the bigger picture and shook everything out into the open, the reputation of his Chen Estate would be completely ruined.
At this time, seeing Chen Ji not answering, Zhang Zhuo urged him with questions again: "Chen Ji, did you hear clearly at the time? Where did Madam Chen say?"
Chen Ji froze slightly. "It was the Mingquan Courtyard."
Chen Liqin's heart relaxed. For a seventeen-year-old child to already know how to consider the bigger picture was exceptionally rare and commendable.
Hearing Chen Ji's words, Zhang Zhuo formed a tacit understanding in his heart: This time, Chen Ji only wanted to screw over the steward to death and had no intention of letting the flames of war spread to Madam Liang. Having just returned to the estate right now, it wasn't yet the time to roast Madam Liang on a fiery spit.
However, outwardly, Zhang Zhuo remained unforgiving. Taking a step forward, he said to Chen Ji, "You don't need to be afraid. If you have suffered any grievances, just say them out loud; this official will seek justice for you. At worst, we'll just stop returning to this Chen Estate in the future. Rest assured, I guarantee your food, clothing, and daily necessities will all be better than Zhang Zheng's. I'll have him vacate the residence he currently lives in tonight and give it to you!"
Chen Liqin said impatiently, "Does Lord Zhang not have a son of his own? Why are you always thinking about other people's sons? How will Zhang Zheng feel in his heart after hearing these words?"
Zhang Zheng chuckled. "I don't mind. If Chen Ji is willing to come tonight, I'll move to another courtyard tonight... even sleeping on the streets is fine."
Chen Liqin's tone stagnated. "You...!"
At this time, with the steward bending his waist and lowering his head, Zhang Xia hurried over, leading him.
Arriving before everyone, the steward first cast a glance at Chen Ji, then looked at the wide-open doors of the Spring Listening Courtyard. He immediately understood that the matter had been exposed.
He lifted the hem of his robe and knelt down. Kowtowing repeatedly, he said, "Master, everything is this lowly one's fault. I implore Master to punish me!"
Feeling Hate Iron for Not Becoming Steel, Chen Liqin rebuked, "How could you mishear such a trivial, minor matter? How can the Chen Estate's management be entrusted to you anymore? Madam clearly arranged for Chen Ji to..."
"Hold on!" Zhang Zhuo grabbed Chen Liqin's wrist, interrupting his words. Looking down condescendingly at the steward's back, he asked with a beaming smile, "This official shall ask you: Why did your Chen Estate refuse to let Chen Ji stay in a perfectly fine Mingquan Courtyard, and instead insist on arranging this Spring Listening Courtyard filled with miscellaneous items for him?"
Chen Liqin's expression changed. Zhang Zhuo was actually attempting to induce a confession right inside his Chen Estate.
Just as he was about to say something, Zhang Zhuo's palm suddenly clenched tight, squeezing so hard it hurt.
At the side, Madam Liang wanted to open her mouth to remind the steward, but unexpectedly, Zhang Xia suddenly looked at her. "Aunt, you look so beautiful today."
Madam Liang froze slightly and subconsciously replied, "Thank you, Second Miss Zhang..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the steward had already answered: "Reporting to Lord Prefect: Because this Spring Listening Courtyard is close to the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master, this lowly one arranged for the Third Young Master to stay here."
Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. He had successfully bluffed the other party, but he hadn't expected that even without colluding on a story, the steward would actually take all the blame onto himself.
Chen Liqin flew into a towering rage. "Zhang Zhuo, what are you trying to do? Are you treating my Chen Estate as a government office, daring to perform an induced confession here?"
Zhang Zhuo brushed the robes on his body and sighed softly. "Lord Chen, do you not feel sorrowful that the rights and wrongs of your own family must be judged by this official, the Prefect?"
Chen Liqin stood frozen in place.
Ignoring him, Zhang Zhuo looked down at the steward. "This official asks you: Who instructed you to do this?"
Having already realized the situation, the steward gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Zhang has misunderstood. No one instructed this lowly one to do this. This lowly one also acted out of good intentions, wanting the Third Young Master to get closer and interact more with the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master."
Zhang Zhuo asked again, "Since that's the case, then after you led Chen Ji here, why didn't you arrange for servants to clean it?"
The steward hesitated. "This..."
Without saying more, Zhang Zhuo turned around, grabbed Chen Ji by the wrist, and walked toward the doors. "Let's go. Come back to the Zhang Estate with me; don't stay here suffering grievances! In his Chen Estate, even a mere servant can be Hiding The Sky With One Hand and bullying his superiors. Today they arranged a miscellaneous storage courtyard for you; who knows what kind of things they might do tomorrow!"
Chen Liqin hurriedly took two quick steps, attempting to grab Chen Ji's other arm.
But before he could reach him, Chen Ji had already broken free from Zhang Zhuo's hand. "Lord Zhang, I am not going to the Zhang Estate."
Zhang Zhuo turned his head in confusion. "Mhm?"
Chen Ji said calmly, "Lord Zhang, just having a place to stay is quite nice already."
Chen Liqin slowly stopped in his tracks, his nose stinging slightly.
He cast a cold glance at Madam Liang, then turned his head to glare viciously at the steward. He instructed a manservant by the side, "Drag the steward out... and cane him to death!"
Beneath the scorching noonday sun, the steward panicked.
His body began to tremble like a sifting sieve, and sweat soaked his back. "Master, this lowly one has been wrongly accused..."
Grabbing Chen Liqin, Madam Liang snatched the conversation. "Master, this Wang Gui's mother is your wet nurse. You previously said you were going to visit her after returning to the capital. If you cane Wang Gui to death, how will you have the face to see her in the future?"
Chen Liqin remained silently speechless.
Pulling Chen Liqin, Madam Liang pleaded again, "This concubine knows Master is angry, and this concubine isn't saying we should just let him off like this. Wang Gui can be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape living punishment. Drag him down and beat him with twenty heavy strokes of the staff first, then deduct his salary for three years. As the primary wife managing the household, this concubine also bears fault. This concubine will go to the Buddhist hall later, kneel for three days and three nights, fast for three days before the Buddha, and reflect upon my own transgressions."
Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia exchanged a glance. This punishment couldn't be described as anything but heavy. By dropping her own pride and dignity to protect the steward, Madam Liang ensured he would suffer twenty heavy staff blows; even if he didn't die, he would definitely lose a layer of skin.
With Madam Liang acting in such a manner, the steward was absolutely bound to survive today.
However, whether this punishment was sufficient or not was not up to them to decide.
From the corner of his eye, Zhang Zhuo glanced at Chen Ji. Seeing his expression, and recalling his previous attitude, he formed a solid idea in his heart.
He stepped forward and grabbed Chen Liqin. "Even if this Wang Gui is your domestic slave, there's no need to constantly shout about beating and killing him. I think Sister-in-law's proposal is quite good. A state has state laws, and a family has family rules. With such a servant appearing in the household, the primary wife managing the household naturally needs to reflect properly. However, once Wang Gui's injuries heal, he won't continue being the steward anymore, right?"
Chen Liqin remained expressionless. "Naturally, he won't."
Zhang Zhuo sighed with emotion. "I originally wanted to snatch Chen Ji away, but I didn't expect his feelings for the Chen Family to be so deep. Forget it, forget it. It's not appropriate for me to casually play the villain again."
Chen Liqin stared at him intently. "The moment Lord Zhang arrived, my Chen Estate was thrown into Chickens Flying And Dogs Jumping. Yet now you want to play the good person?"
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily. "Lord Chen has misunderstood me! It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"
At this time, seeing that he had escaped a disaster, Wang Gui breathed a slight sigh of relief. There was technique to caning with a staff; those manservants probably wouldn't strike too viciously. Otherwise, with his status as the son of Master's wet nurse, sooner or later he would turn the tables and deal with them.
Thinking up to this point, Wang Gui kowtowed three times on the ground, producing loud thumps. With Voice And Tears Together, he wailed, "This lowly one is ashamed to face Master. I shall go down and receive my punishment right now."
However, right after his voice fell, the sound of footsteps rang out from behind.
Running over carrying a sentinel staff in his hand, Chen Wenzong arrived before Chen Liqin and bowed in greeting. "Father, what happened here again?"
Chen Liqin casually explained, "This Wang Gui's mind was bewitched by evil; he arranged for your younger brother to stay in this miscellaneous courtyard, and even purposely didn't dispatch servants to clean the courtyard for him. Now that the truth has been found out, he is about to receive twenty heavy staff blows."
Chen Wenzong turned to look at Wang Gui kneeling on the ground, his gaze growing several degrees colder. "I'll do it."
Wang Gui's body went limp.
...
...
Evening, sunset.
After suffering twenty heavy staff blows, a Faint Breath Wang Gui was carried to his quarters by the manservants.
Chen Wenzong had used his full strength for every single strike. After delivering twenty blows, even his arms, which hadn't been exercised in a long time, became swollen and sore.
When he reached the eleventh strike, Chen Wenzong was so tired he was somewhat drained of strength, so he rested for a while before continuing to beat him. After these twenty blows were finished, Wang Gui no longer even had the strength to wail.
This was already the second time he had been punished because of Chen Ji in these past two months. Who knew what kind of terrible luck had fallen upon him. The Concubine's Son he used to casually mold and manipulate however he pleased was now completely untouchable.
As for today's matter, was it a coincidence, or was that Concubine's Son meticulously calculating and scheming? Cold sweat pouring down from the pain, Wang Gui lacked the energy to think about it.
Carrying him through the courtyard, the manservants pushed open the wooden doors to his quarters.
A manservant said in a low voice, "Godfather, it's not that we didn't want to help you. It's truly because the Eldest Young Master struck too viciously; we couldn't stop him."
Feebly and weakly, Wang Gui said, "Shut up. Put me on the bed, and all of you get lost! Don't think your old man here doesn't know you all just want to see me make a fool of myself!"
The manservants curled their lips and said no more. Working together, everyone placed the steward face down on the bed.
Just as they were about to turn and leave, they suddenly saw the steward abruptly bounce up from the bed and shout, "Pah, pah, pah! What is this on my pillow?!"
Fixing their eyes to look closely, the manservants saw the steward's face and mouth completely smeared with a layer of pitch-black feces. The foul stench was unbearable.
Screaming like a madman until his voice went hoarse, Wang Gui went completely hysterical. "Who did this?! Which one of you did this?! You dare to do it but don't dare to admit it, right?! Just wait until your old man here recovers; I'll deal with you one by one!"
(End of this chapter)