Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Steward’s Weakness

During this period, Steward Xing had been in a foul mood. Ever since Zhen Qian had confronted him face-to-face about accepting bribes, Xing’s wife had kept him on an even tighter leash. Whenever he went out to make purchases, he was always accompanied by another person—if that wasn’t surveillance, what was? Coupled with Wang Qun’s earlier hints to the merchants, those traders now acted with utmost caution, unwilling to risk losing Zhen family business over Xing’s favor.

Watching his funds dwindle, Steward Xing began to worry. If he didn’t find a new source of income soon, he wouldn’t be able to support not only himself but also his mistress.

Whenever he thought of the mistress he kept outside, a strange excitement would well up inside him, so different from the torment he felt toward his wife at the Zhen estate. The root of this was simple: his wife had been chosen by the Xing family, while his mistress was someone he had met by chance, petite and delicate, evoking pity. After helping her family pay off several dozen strings of debt, he had placed her outside and supported her in secret. Each clandestine rendezvous left him exhilarated beyond measure.

That day, after hurriedly settling the affairs of the Zhen household’s inner court, Steward Xing, burdened by his worries, made his way to his mistress’s residence. The moment he entered, he noticed that neither his mistress nor his son came out to greet him as they usually did. Alarmed, he quickly pushed open the door, his pupils contracting as he almost leapt in shock, blurting out, “You... why are you... here?”

On the left side of the room, his mistress sat on the bed holding the child, her expression utterly terrified. When she saw Xing at the door, she nearly burst into tears. On the right side, there were two men—one standing, eyes lowered as if lost in a dream, unmoving; the other, seated, elegantly fanning himself with a folding fan, was none other than Zhen Qian, the man Xing hated most.

“Steward Xing, this is hardly the way to treat a guest,” Zhen Qian remarked with a leisurely smile. “Am I, an unexpected visitor, intruding on your private affairs?”

Steward Xing forced himself to calm down. After his brief shock, he replied bitterly, “Not at all! Eldest Young Master, your methods are impressive. I wonder, what business brings you here today?” The last time his mistress had appeared at the back gate of the Zhen estate, Xing had realized Zhen Qian had discovered his movements. Even relocating his mistress would have done little good, so he had admitted to the Xing family his extramarital affair, and after gaining their approval, he no longer feared Zhen Qian.

“Of course.” Zhen Qian gestured to another stool. “Please, sit. I do have things to ask you today. Would you be willing to discuss them in private?”

As long as he clung to the Xing family’s support, Steward Xing truly had no fear of the Zhen family’s eldest son. He waved at his startled mistress, signaling her to leave, and sat boldly before Zhen Qian.

Zhen Qian waved at Wang Peng behind him. Watching Wang Peng exit and close the door, Zhen Qian spoke, “Let’s speak frankly. Don’t assume that with the Xing family backing you, you can act with impunity in the Zhen household. If I write a single letter to my father, you’d be dismissed from the estate and sent to the county jail. So don’t provoke me.”

Steward Xing’s heart skipped a beat. He knew Zhen Qian’s threat was real, but his face betrayed no weakness. “Are you threatening me?”

“Not a threat—a warning.” Zhen Qian snapped his fan shut and pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve, tossing it before Xing. “Take a look at this, and then consider how you should speak to me.”

Steward Xing picked up the paper from the floor. After a glance, his face turned deathly pale, his body trembling uncontrollably—his voice faltered, “This... impossible! I burned it...”

That slip was a page from the very ledger he had destroyed, now resurfacing in his hands. How could he not be terrified?

“Are you wondering how the ledger still exists?”

Steward Xing opened his mouth, recalling how he had burned the ledger in the dead of night, searching his memory for any oversight. Yet the handwriting on this page was unmistakably his own—he could not be mistaken.

“This is a forgery! You’re trying to blackmail me!”

“Blackmail you?” Zhen Qian laughed softly, “Do you think such a claim would stand in court? Don’t assume you can deceive the Xing family and get away with it. When the time comes, do you think they’ll still protect you?”

Having arranged for someone to monitor Steward Xing, Zhen Qian had long set his sights on the ledger. While Xing was out, he’d stolen the original, then had Song Yi skillfully copy it. The one Xing burned was a fake. Zhen Qian hadn’t produced the ledger before the Xing family, not out of any desire to spare Xing, but simply because he hadn’t felt the need at the time.

He had agreed to return to the Zhen estate in three days with Wang Qun, but unexpectedly, Wang Qun sent word that the clan leader was still in residence. Zhen Qian’s plan to gather information before meeting the clan leader fell through, so he resorted to waiting at Steward Xing’s mistress’s home, hoping for news.

Now, the previously composed Steward Xing wilted like a frostbitten eggplant. The matter of his mistress was already confessed to the Xing family, recast as a concubine; though kept outside, it was difficult to use as leverage against him. As for the ledger, he and the Xing family had concealed it, since the family didn’t want to be accused of lax oversight. Yet now, with the ledger in Zhen Qian’s possession, the situation had changed drastically.

Sheltering under another’s roof, one must bow their head. Steward Xing was not without sense. Seeing Zhen Qian had seized his weakness, all bravado vanished. If he could show humility before the Xing family, he could just as easily feign obedience here. Moreover, Zhen Qian’s sudden appearance at his mistress’s home convinced him this visit was not merely for trouble.

“Eldest Young Master, I was blind to your greatness. Please, be generous and don’t take offense at a mere servant like me. Whatever you command, I’ll see it done, even if I must risk life and limb.”

Zhen Qian chuckled, already knowing Steward Xing was adept at currying favor and adjusting to circumstance. He wasted no more words and said, “I’m here today to ask you: why did the clan leader suddenly come to the Zhen estate, and what did he discuss with the Xing family? Tell me everything, without the slightest omission. Also, what is the Xing family’s attitude, and what are their thoughts? If you speak honestly, I’ll return the ledger to you. But if you try any tricks, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”