Despite their best efforts to cover up the situation, they couldn’t completely mask the commotion outside. Concubine Yang’s voice grew louder, threatening to become even more earth-shattering. Everyone became restless, worried that He Zhizhong might have lost control and gone too far. Second Young Master was the first to go out, followed closely by Lang and Bai shi, who found excuses to leave. Only Madam Cen and a few others remained to keep Jiang Changyang company and maintain a façade of normalcy.
Zhen Shi was always eager for gossip and had been waiting to see the drama unfold today. Seeing the situation, she tried to slip away, but Madam Cen gave her a task: “Your father has a pair of rhinoceros horn carved lotus leaf cups to give to Chengfeng. They’re stored in my white rattan box inside. Go find them and bring them out.” With Zhen Shi’s temperament, letting her out would likely lead to her fanning the flames and making matters worse, so how could they risk letting her go?
Zhen Shi had already started to pout, but upon hearing she could rummage through Madam Cen’s box, she immediately perked up and took the key. However, her cunning mind led her to insist on bringing someone along to help search. Mudan smiled apologetically at Jiang Changyang and rose to accompany Zhen Shi.
Zhen Shi was very familiar with Madam Cen’s room and went straight to find a two-foot square white rattan box under Madam Cen’s bed. She skillfully opened the box, first taking out the pair of rhinoceros horn lotus leaf cups, but didn’t stop there. Her eyes gleamed as she rummaged through the gold, silver, and jade items inside. She picked up an ancient vase with a bulging body and flared mouth, turning it over repeatedly while whispering to Mudan with a grin, “Aren’t Mother’s things beautiful? She has another box full of various gold-embroidered brocades. And a small casket with many sese pearls and other precious items. This vase is said to be an antique, worth quite a bit.”
Zhen Shi truly didn’t consider herself an outsider. At first, people might find her talkative and overbearing, but now it was clear she was simply unable to hide her thoughts and was protective of her own in front of others. Mudan suppressed a smile and nodded, “Mother does have many nice things.”
Suddenly, Zhen Shi’s face fell, and she sighed, “There are many nice things, but they’re Mother’s private possessions. I can only look at them.” She then dejectedly put the items back in the box, locked it listlessly, took another turn around the room, and finally left with Mudan, obviously reluctant to go.
When they returned outside, He Zhizhong had already come back with the Second Young Master and the others, but Concubine Yang and the Sixth Young Master were nowhere to be seen. He Zhizhong took the box from Mudan’s hand, opened it, and placed it in front of Jiang Changyang, saying with a smile, “This rhinoceros horn was obtained years ago in Polu country and was meticulously carved by skilled artisans. It has been in the family for quite some time. For your wedding, I didn’t have anything else suitable as a greeting gift, so this will have to do.”
Jiang Changyang quickly stood up to bow and express his thanks, respectfully accepting the gift with both hands. He then casually began discussing He Zhizhong’s recent sea voyage as if nothing had happened. He Zhizhong, being image-conscious and unwilling to lose face in front of his new son-in-law, struggled to maintain his composure, smiling and chatting amiably.
Mudan watched He Zhizhong from the side, noticing that despite his smiling face, his eyes betrayed his fatigue. Madam Cen’s expression was also grim, clearly both of them were putting on a brave face. Worried, she glanced at Madam Xue, who was silently serving tea.
Seeing this, Madam Xue beckoned her to come out. Once they were standing in a corner, Madam Xue said, “Your father forced your Sixth Brother to write the divorce letter, but he refused, cursing loudly. He called Sun Shi heartless, and shameless and said he would drag this out until she died… He also said none of us were good people, watching him become like this without caring. His leg injury hasn’t even healed, yet we’re finding ways to torment him, inciting Sun Shi to divorce him, just wanting to kill him to divide his share of the family property. He was making such a scene, and the Sun family’s words were also unpleasant. Your father was furious and beat him, saying he had to write the divorce letter whether he wanted to or not.”
Mudan was speechless for a moment. In reality, He Zhizhong had always been good to Lang and Sixth Young Master, his two sons by concubines, never mistreating them. How could he not be hurt by such hurtful words? She guessed that the piercing scream they heard earlier was Sixth Young Master being struck by He Zhizhong, so she asked Madam Xue, “It sounded so painful. Do you know where he was hit? What about the Sun family?”
“The Sun family left after receiving the divorce letter,” Madam Xue sighed deeply. “Your father didn’t beat your Sixth Brother much at first, just two slaps. But he’s been spoiled since childhood and couldn’t bear it. He remained stubborn, thinking your father wouldn’t do anything to him. Little did he know your father had already made up his mind. He asked what family property Sixth Young Master was talking about, reminding him that he had said before if he dared to go, he would break his leg and drive him out. After causing such a big mess for the family, he still dared to live. So he had people press his injured leg on a bench, saying that keeping this leg would only harm the family, and it would be better to disable it permanently.
He still wouldn’t yield, saying the trouble wasn’t entirely his fault and that your father was biased. Your father was about to do it when he finally got scared. As soon as your father’s foot touched his leg, he screamed. The reason his voice suddenly stopped was that he fainted from fright. Concubine Yang was wailing, thinking he had been beaten to death, so she was inconsolable, and several people couldn’t restrain her.
Your father then had cold water splashed on Sixth Young Master’s face, and the first thing he did when he woke up was to write the divorce letter. After the Sun family received the letter, your father had money and goods given to them and sent them away. He told Concubine Yang to accompany him back to his room. In my opinion, this matter isn’t over. I’m afraid there will be more trouble after you leave. You should have seen it, your father was shaking with anger at the time.”
Hearing Madam Xue says that the Sixth Young Master claimed the trouble wasn’t entirely his fault, Mudan realized he was implying it was because of her. Although it’s true that if Sixth Young Master hadn’t had issues with his behavior, he wouldn’t have fallen for Liu Chang’s scheme, ultimately, it did start because of her. She remained silent.
After dinner, while the family was sitting and chatting, she went to find He Zhizhong: “Father, I have something to tell you.”
He Zhizhong smiled, “Go ahead.”
Mudan tugged at his sleeve: “I want to speak with you privately.”
Seeing her unusual expression, He Zhizhong stood up with a smile and said to Jiang Changyang, “See? We were just saying how spoiled she’s been since childhood, and now it shows.” Jiang Changyang just smiled.
The father and daughter entered the study, and He Zhizhong said with a smile, “What secret does Danniang have to tell me?”
Mudan bit her lip, hesitating for a long time before carefully looking at He Zhizhong and saying, “Father, I want to confess something to you. Earlier, when Sixth Brother was gambling and ended up in jail for so long, I was behind it. Liu Chang set a trap, and when I couldn’t persuade him to stop, I had Guihua pay some internal guards to arrest him when Liu Chang was about to make his move. I just wanted him to learn a lesson and remember it.”
He Zhizhong’s smile suddenly disappeared, and he remained silent for a long time. Mudan was a bit scared and tightly held onto his sleeve, not saying anything, just looking at him with wide eyes. Her perspective was different from He Zhizhong’s. Sixth Young Master was only her half-brother in this body, and they had never been close. Even after she returned home, he had never interacted with her much, let alone shared any deep feelings. When he brought great risk to the entire family, and normal persuasion proved ineffective, she took what she believed to be an effective approach to protect the rest of the family. But He Zhizhong was different; the Sixth Young Master was his flesh and blood, and his beloved youngest son. Driven by emotion, his approach would naturally be different.
Would he think she was cruel? She deeply cherished the affection He Zhizhong and Madam Cen had for her, and the reason she wanted to tell He Zhizhong personally was that she knew he would find out one day. Rather than letting him hear it from someone else, she preferred to tell him herself. Mudan worriedly tugged at He Zhizhong’s sleeve again: “Do you think I went too far?”
He Zhizhong looked at Mudan with a complex expression. The once soft and kind Danniang, who would rather suffer herself than utter a word of complaint, had now learned to resolve issues forcefully. Without realizing it, she had changed more and more, becoming somewhat unfamiliar. He sighed, “Danniang, you kept this matter very secret. I suppose no one else in the family knows?”
Mudan knew she absolutely couldn’t implicate Madam Cen and Second Young Master, so she said, “After he was arrested, the family was busy trying to get him out. I told Mother and Second Brother that Liu Chang was pressing hard and that it might be better to let Sixth Brother stay in jail for a while to avoid trouble. They listened to me.”
He Zhizhong sighed, “They certainly wouldn’t tell me about this. Since you’re worried I might think you went too far, why tell me at all?”
Mudan said softly, “I did this without selfish motives, so I’m not afraid of you knowing. I’m telling you specifically because I don’t want you to be heartbroken over Sixth Brother’s situation and then be hurt again by my deliberate concealment. Although the later troubles were entirely caused by Liu Chang, Sixth Brother wasn’t wrong in saying it wasn’t entirely his fault…” She hardly knew what she was trying to express and became more confused as she spoke. She shook her head, “I’ve done everything I could. Anyway, I don’t want anyone in the family to be hurt. I don’t want Mother to be sad, and I don’t want you to be sad.”
He Zhizhong quietly looked at Mudan, seeing her start to shake her head and become incoherent. He then said softly, “Say no more. I understand. The matter with Liu Chang is in the past, let’s not mention it again. You don’t need to feel guilty about your Sixth Brother’s situation. He brought it upon himself, and you handled the gambling incident very well. If I had been there, these things wouldn’t have happened, and…” He fell silent for a while before saying with some difficulty, “I failed to teach him properly.”
Father and daughter were speechless for a moment.
As the light grew dimmer and the first evening drum sounded, He Zhizhong seemed to suddenly wake up. He raised his head and smiled at Mudan, “It’s time. Go home now. Don’t keep them waiting. I’m a bit tired, so I won’t see you at the door. Tell Chengfeng for me.”
Mudan bowed sadly to take her leave. As she reached the door, she heard He Zhizhong call out from behind, “Danniang…”
She turned back and saw He Zhizhong’s gray temples and tired expression in the twilight. She said with concern, “Father?”
He Zhizhong waved at her, “I don’t blame you. Take care and live well.” Seeing Mudan’s expression suddenly relax, He Zhizhong thought glumly that this child probably still harbored some resentment towards him for bringing Yang shi and her son into the family back then. Madam Cen and the others, likely all had some complaints. But even though Sixth Young Master had made so many mistakes, he was still his son, and he couldn’t bear to watch him waste away like this.