Chapter Sixty-Nine: Another Confrontation

Muddling things up!
The current predicament faced by Lady Xing was exceedingly awkward. Steward Xing had been brought over from her own family home; if he were not someone she trusted, she would never have kept him on as the steward of the inner quarters. Even if he was guilty of embezzlement, bribery, or keeping a mistress outside, these matters were unrelated to his loyalty to her. Thus, though she loathed Steward Xing for being more of a hindrance than a help, she had no choice but to step forward and shoulder his faults.

With this in mind, Lady Xing became even more certain that the eldest legitimate son of the Zhen family standing before her could not be allowed to remain. She said, “I am aware of all these matters. After today, I shall have them thoroughly investigated. If things are truly as you say, Elder Son, I will show no mercy and drive that wretch out of the house myself. I am weary now—you should go back.”

“Trying to stall for time?”
If you strike the snake but fail to kill it, you will only bring disaster upon yourself. Once this opportunity slips away, it will never come again. Zhen Qian knew perfectly well that the current power between the two sides was imbalanced. Though he appeared to have the upper hand today, as soon as he left, Lady Xing and Steward Xing would immediately turn the tables. Once they wiped their mouths clean, he could only wait for their counterattack.

He had endured for a long time, waiting for today’s strike to succeed in one blow. If not for concern about the impact on the Zhen family, he would have exposed everything in the main hall earlier, rather than allowing the pair any chance to catch their breath.

“Steward Xing has managed the inner household purchases for many years—a sign of the Zhen family’s trust. Who would have thought this traitor would betray us, using the family’s money to keep a mistress, bringing shame upon us all? Since Mother does not wish this matter to reach the authorities, I will write a detailed letter to Father, describing everything from start to finish—how I, the legitimate eldest son, have been bullied by a mere servant at home. I will also ask the clan patriarch to look into the matter and decide how it should be handled!”

Only a moment ago, Lady Xing had been pondering how to clean up after Steward Xing’s bribery and secret mistress. Now, hearing that Zhen Qian planned to inform the second master, who was serving as an official outside, and the clan patriarch, she nearly leapt up to stop him. If things escalated this way, not only would Steward Xing be implicated, but she herself would not escape unscathed.

Lady Xing found herself regretting that she had gone too far in those earlier matters. Ever since Zhen Qian had lost his memory, her impression of him remained stuck in the past. Now, he seemed a stranger—was this still the same Zhen Qian who knew nothing but burying his head in books?

She could hardly be blamed for her lack of perception. Since his amnesia, she had only seen Zhen Qian three or four times in total, and at each greeting he had been as respectful as always. Even when Steward Xing had come away with a loss in his courtyard, she had merely thought the steward had been too arrogant and provoked an honest man, not that Zhen Qian had changed much.

But now, the Zhen Qian before her seemed a different person altogether: sharp-tongued, clear-minded, seizing upon every one of Steward Xing’s weaknesses, and when she tried to drag things out, he openly set his pieces on the board—writing to his father, appealing to the clan patriarch for justice. He was forcing her onto the fire!

“What exactly is Zhen Qian trying to do?”
Lady Xing pondered rapidly, but could not fathom his intentions. Was he planning to have Steward Xing removed today? That could not be—without Steward Xing, she still had other people from her own family at her side. Even if she replaced the steward, could Zhen Qian really extend his reach into the inner courtyard?

She was not raised in a humble family; she was all too familiar with the open and hidden struggles of great households, which was why she insisted on using her own people in the inner quarters.

But now, with Zhen Qian pressing right up to her doorstep, Lady Xing was beginning to panic. Just as she was about to ask him what he really wanted, she looked up to see Zhen Qian suddenly turn to Steward Xing and bark harshly, “You wretch, get out!”

“What did you say?”
Steward Xing could hardly believe his ears. In front of Lady Xing, Zhen Qian dared to tell him to get out? Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner!

But at the very next moment, hearing Lady Xing herself utter a cold “Out,” Steward Xing realized he was truly unwelcome here. He scrambled from the room like a dog with its tail between its legs, knowing that since Lady Xing had not thrown him out immediately, he would not be expelled next. However, he could not understand what Lady Xing and Zhen Qian had to discuss behind his back.

Having slipped out, Steward Xing was anxious, and as he closed the door, seeing no one around, he crept to the window to eavesdrop.

“Mother, let us speak frankly—there is no need for pretense. Steward Xing’s actions are nothing more than an attempt to disgrace me, but in truth, I suspect his real aim is to drive me out of this household. Am I not right?”

This was not mere speculation on Zhen Qian’s part, but only human nature. If Lady Xing had only daughters, things would be simple. But now that she had two sons, everything was different. The two young girls had told him that when Lady Xing first married into the family, she treated Zhen Qian as her own. But after having sons herself, her attitude gradually changed. She began saying in public that Zhen Qian had become addled from studying too much, questioning how the family would manage in the future, while praising her own sons as clever and certain to support the great family’s estate someday. In every way, she suppressed Zhen Qian while elevating her sons.

All of this was, at its core, a struggle over the Zhen family inheritance. Only by removing Zhen Qian—this thorn in their side—could she hope to succeed.

Steward Xing heard Lady Xing roaring from within, “What are you saying? Who is trying to sow discord between mother and son? How could you say such things…”

At this, Steward Xing’s heart relaxed and he sneered inwardly. If she wanted to put on a show of virtue, who in the Zhen family did not already know the truth? Clearly, today’s incident was only a trigger; the real contest no longer concerned him. His only worry was that Lady Xing might dispose of him as a scapegoat to appease public anger. The thought made him unwilling to listen further, so he turned to greet guests in the front hall.

Just as he was about to leave, another voice drifted from the room—this time it was Zhen Qian, calm and unhurried: “Mother, do not be angry. All discerning people can see what is happening. Regardless of whether I remain in this family, I will always be a threat. You may deny it, but the fact remains. I suspect many are waiting to see this farce unfold, so let me speak plainly…”

The voices inside suddenly stopped. Steward Xing pressed his ear to the window but could not hear a sound, making him frantic with curiosity about their conversation.

The voices within rose and fell, sometimes faint, sometimes loud, clearly arguing about something. He caught hints about the family estate and was secretly alarmed, unable to fathom Zhen Qian’s motive for bringing up the inheritance now. But just as he was about to leave, a wild idea struck him: Could it be—he wants to split the family?