“Yes, because the master was fond of wine, there’s no evidence.” Madam Yang Shi spoke with a mix of self-mockery and lamentation. Supported by Elder Maid Chen, she cried out to First Master Yang’s spirit tablet, “My lord, you brought this upon yourself. Forgive your wife for being unable to seek justice for you!”
Her sudden sharp voice startled Second Master Yang. He swept his sleeve dismissively: “Nonsense! Let me tell you, the matter of my Fourth Son isn’t over!”
“Second Brother wants to leave? Perhaps you’d like to see if you recognize everyone in the courtyard?”
Madam Yang Shi’s leisurely voice from behind made Second Master Yang finally notice the dozen or so people kneeling in the courtyard. His eyes narrowed as he looked, and his heart trembled.
Yang Jingshan spoke calmly: “The warehouse manager fled, fearing responsibility. But these porters who delivered the goods are still in the city.”
“What deliveries? I don’t know what Elder Brother is talking about.” Second Master Yang glared viciously at Yang Jingshan.
From outside the hall came a porter’s voice: “It was the tenth day of the third month when Manager Zhao from the Yang family’s second branch found us brothers, asking us to move some brocade from the Yang family warehouse in Small East Lane…”
Sweat-soaked Second Master Yang’s undershirt. Everyone in the Yang family knew Zhao was the second branch’s manager. They had deliberately hired outside porters instead of using the manor’s workers.
Before the porters could finish, Second Master Yang snarled: “These people dare to steal Yang family brocade? Elder Brother, you should send them to the prefecture office!”
Yang Jingshan clapped his hands.
Two servants dragged in Manager Zhao, bound like a bundle. He cried out: “Second Master, I had no choice but to confess!”
“You ungrateful wretch!” Second Master Yang kicked him down, cursing, “You deserve death for framing your master!” He turned back contemptuously, “You think you can frame me with the words of these worthless servants? You underestimate me!”
Second Master Yang refused to confess and tried to leave.
“Stop!” Madam Yang Shi called out loudly.
Second Master Yang was forced to halt, his face tense: “What else, Elder Sister-in-law?”
His flickering eyes betrayed him. His head slightly lowered, all his earlier swagger gone. Madam Yang Shi had sat back down, hands folded, sitting properly with a gracious smile: “As an aunt, I’m also pained by Fourth Son’s accidental injury. I’ve sent for Imperial Physician Gu.”
Imperial Physician Gu was renowned for his skill. Second Master Yang had to stiffly express his thanks.
“The second branch has few male heirs, unlike the first branch. I have two legitimate sons and three legitimate grandsons. I remember Chengyu is two years younger than Sixth Son. If Fourth Son’s condition is properly treated, he might still stand at his wedding someday.”
“You… you…” Madam Yang Shi’s words stabbed Second Master Yang’s heart, making his voice tremble.
Greatly satisfied, Madam Yang Shi rubbed salt in his wound: “After October this year, when we receive the Prince of Jin’s plaque, you and Third Brother will have nothing to say, and according to custom, should move out. You have a few months to find a residence.”
Don’t admit it, don’t concede, don’t move! These three phrases sprang up in Second Master Yang’s mind.
“The Yang family will never again buy silk from the Zhou family. Your Third Sister-in-law’s family workshop will never receive Yang family orders. You’re close to Third Brother – since he’s not here today, relay this to him. If you want to argue, we can open the ancestral hall and discuss everything before our ancestors one by one. If you want to live peacefully… stop causing trouble!”
She was threatening him and Third Brother. If Madam Yang Shi dared to speak so openly, she must have all the evidence. If they didn’t behave, opening the ancestral hall wouldn’t just mean expulsion from the Yang family mansion – it meant expulsion from the Yang family itself, their names struck from the genealogy.
Madam Yang Shi’s voice rang like a bell, making Second Master Yang’s head buzz. He couldn’t even remember how he got back. How did the first branch know the silk was from the Zhou family, woven at the Third Sister-in-law’s family workshop?
“My lord!” Madam Zou had awakened, and seeing him return, threw herself at him crying, “You must get justice for Fourth Son! What will become of him!”
Second Master Yang shuddered violently. Fourth Son was crippled. Though he knew the first branch was involved, he had no proof. Even the attendants said Fourth Son fell by himself. If they didn’t stay quiet, Sixth Son would be next… “Where is Sixth Son?!”
His question confused Madam Zou.
“Father, I went to see Elder Brother.” Eleven-year-old Sixth Son walked out of the bedroom.
Second Master Yang rushed forward and held Sixth Son tightly. No, he wouldn’t concede. He still had one card to play. “Send Sixth Son to Chang’an! First thing tomorrow morning, put him on a boat!”
“My lord, what’s wrong?” Madam Zou was completely bewildered.
Second Master Yang gritted his teeth: “Sixth Son is eleven now, and his uncle is in Chang’an. It’s time he sees the world! This matter is decided!”
With Sixth Son gone, he would have no more worries. He absolutely wouldn’t concede – he would get justice for himself and Fourth Son.
At dawn, the Zhao family gatekeeper yawned as he opened the door, seeing a carriage stopped at the gate. There was no driver; the carriage sat quietly. He grumbled as he walked forward, casually lifting the curtain: “Who parked their carriage at our gate…”
A scream broke the silence. The gatekeeper saw the carriage full of corpses, turned to run in terror, tripped on the threshold, and shouted: “Murder! There’s been a murder!”
…
In Madam Niu Wu’s manor, six corpses were laid out neatly in the wing room.
Zhao Xiuyuan glanced at Niu Wu: “These were all your servants, weren’t they? Called first-rate fighters, huh! Don’t think too highly of yourself. Don’t implicate the Zhao family.”
He shook his head and walked out.
She had begged him for people to help the Zhao family, only to receive such mockery. Niu Wu trembled with rage, her nails digging into her palms: “If the Zhao family is so capable, why didn’t they send their people!”
Zhao Xiuyuan turned back at the door, his handsome face full of derision: “The Zhao family married you because we weren’t capable enough.”
The Zhao family married her because they weren’t capable. If they were capable, how could they have looked at someone like her?
His words provoked Niu Wu into screaming, rushing forward to slap him.
He caught her wrist. Lowering his head to her ear, he said: “Ji Fu returned to the Ji family yesterday to report that Jin Yingying is unharmed. Grandfather told you to kill Yang Jingyan, but your people went after her instead. Niu Wu, you forgot my words – let me remind you once more. I want Jin Yingying alive. She’s mine. It’s not your place to kill her.”
“I’ll kill you!” Niu Wu pulled at her hand, wanting nothing more than to kill Zhao Xiuyuan.
Zhao Xiuyuan’s gaze lowered to her belly: “Why such a hurry? Shouldn’t you at least wait until you’re carrying a son? With the crime of husband-murder on your back, would you still have a chance against Yang Jingyuan?”
He pushed Niu Wu away, leaving with a loud laugh.
Hatred drove Niu Wu mad. She leaned against the doorframe, closing her eyes: “I will destroy you all.”