As the dining table was cleared, He Zhizhong looked at the steward standing by the door. The steward bowed, saying, “Everything is arranged.” The entire family, including the infant He Ze, then moved from the main hall to the small ancestral shrine.
Jiang Changyang quietly pulled Mudan aside, whispering, “Should we be here?” Though Mudan was a daughter, he felt like an outsider. No family would want such matters exposed, especially a father-in-law in front of his son-in-law.
He Zhizhong overheard and turned back, saying softly, “It’s fine. Consider this a cautionary tale.” He then entered and sat down, calmly ordering, “Bring the sixth son up.”
The sixth son was escorted to the door by two servants. He suddenly pushed them away, growling, “I have feet. I can walk myself!” He then strode into the shrine, standing defiantly before He Zhizhong with tightly pressed lips.
“Kneel!” He Zhizhong’s voice wasn’t loud, but his tone was firm.
The sixth son stood stubbornly for a moment but eventually succumbed to He Zhizhong’s overwhelming presence, kneeling with some difficulty. Concubine Yang, standing far outside the shrine, saw his still-healing leg and stifled a sob.
Without looking up, He Zhizhong ordered, “Take Concubine Yang away!”
“Master, I won’t dare again,” Concubine Yang desperately swallowed her cries, biting her handkerchief and trembling. Sending her back to her room at this moment would be like asking for her life.
Madam Cen gently said, “Let her stay.”
He Zhizhong relented and turned to the sixth son: “Sixth son, do you know your mistakes?”
Sensing a glimmer of hope, the sixth son immediately crawled forward, clutching He Zhizhong’s knees, choking out, “Father, I know I was wrong. I’ll never dare again. Please spare me.”
He Zhizhong looked down at him, asking slowly, “You know your mistakes?”
The sixth son nodded vigorously: “Yes, I know. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you, sought ill-gotten gains through gambling, been selfish and glory-seeking, and harmed our family.” He thought his answer was quite good.
But He Zhizhong kicked him away forcefully, pointing and shouting, “You don’t know your mistakes! Even now, you still don’t understand! If you did, you wouldn’t have dared to mock and jeer at the family dinner, ruining everyone’s mood for your own sake! If you knew your mistakes, you wouldn’t think I’ve mistreated you, that everyone’s mistreated you! If you knew your mistakes, you wouldn’t have the nerve to beg me now! Do you think this is like before? That I’m just joking or arguing with you?”
The sixth son panicked, quickly saying, “No, no, I truly know I was wrong.”
He Zhizhong took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. Yes, the sixth son’s reactions—alternating between admitting fault and pleading, then being bitter and arrogant—showed he hadn’t realized this time was real. He still thought it was all bark and no bite, just playing around.
He Zhizhong’s gaze slowly swept over his visibly nervous and uncomfortable grandchildren, and his silent sons and daughters-in-law. He spoke heavily and slowly: “Sixth son, I ask you: Did you abandon the family business to gamble, borrowing money in the family’s name? Your mother and brothers tried to repay your debts and get you out of jail, but instead of being grateful, you disrespected your stepmother, refused to repay the money, and caused turmoil in our home. Is this true?”
The sixth son nodded: “Yes. I was bewitched.”
“I ask you again: The spice shop was built through the blood and sweat of your brothers and me. Our entire family depends on it. Yet you disregarded everyone’s safety, sought petty gains, colluded with ill-intentioned people, invited wolves into our home, and nearly destroyed us all. Even afterward, you showed no remorse. Is this true?”
This accusation was far more serious than the previous one. The sixth son hesitated, not wanting to answer directly: “I was foolish. I didn’t realize they had set a trap…”
He Zhizhong suddenly raised his voice: “A fly won’t land on an uncracked egg! Do you think your brothers and I only deal with honest and good people in our overseas business? Just answer me: did this happen or not?”
The sixth son reluctantly nodded: “Yes.”
“Good. It all comes down to your misconduct.” He Zhizhong sighed, then continued gravely: “Without rules, nothing can be achieved. Sixth son, do you remember? Before I went to sea, I said if anyone in our family disobeyed and went gambling, I would break their legs…”
Terrifying memories flooded back. The sixth son cried out and jumped up, protecting his injured leg as he tried to flee: “No one can break my leg. I’ll fight to the death if anyone tries!”
He Zhizhong glanced at the servants outside, who immediately restrained the sixth son. He shouted frantically: “If you hate me so much, why did you give birth to me? You should have drowned me at birth!”
“Master, he’s already been punished once for his leg. If you want to break his leg again, you might as well kill him!” Concubine Yang wailed hysterically, trying to rush into the shrine. Concubine Wu emotionlessly held her back, unmoved by her struggles and scratches. Even Zhen Shi winced at the sight, thinking she’d have to be careful around her mother-in-law in the future.
Madam Cen frowned slightly, turning her face away. The eldest son couldn’t help but step forward, whispering, “Father…” Was He Zhizhong going to break the sixth son’s leg? Though the sixth son was detestable, if He Zhizhong did it, he might fall ill himself.
He Zhizhong’s face turned livid. He breathed heavily, waving the eldest son away, and said with difficulty: “After all, you are my flesh and blood. I can’t bring myself to break your leg personally, but you can no longer stay in this family. How can we set an example for the children if the older generation doesn’t behave properly? How can we expect them to establish themselves in life?”
Hearing that his leg wouldn’t be broken, the sixth son and Concubine Yang’s cries gradually subsided. He Zhizhong took a heavy breath: “It’s partly my fault for not teaching you properly. Your current state—unable to distinguish right from wrong, seeking quick success—I bear some responsibility. So I’ll give you a thousand strings of cash. This is your last chance. Whether you use it to start a business or gamble it all away is up to you. From now on, your fortune and life have nothing to do with the He family. We are no longer father and son. Remember clearly, I’m expelling you today not because of anyone else in the family, but because of your own mistakes and lack of remorse. This is the punishment you deserve.”
The sixth son finally understood that today’s outcome was irreversible. He stood up straight, slowly raising his head to look resentfully at He Zhizhong: “A thousand strings of cash? And we’re no longer father and son? Fine, if that’s what you say!”
“That’s what I’m saying. Even if you become rich and successful, I wouldn’t beg at your door. Now go!” He Zhizhong’s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. A Thousand Strings was meant to give the sixth son one last chance, but clearly, he still felt shortchanged. What had gone wrong?
The sixth son was initially too proud to care about the thousand strings, but as he reached the door, he heard Concubine Yang sob: “Sixth son… how will you survive when you can’t carry heavy loads?”
He suddenly changed his mind. Why should the others benefit when they were all He family sons? He turned back to He Zhizhong: “I want it in silk.”
Seeing his expression, He Zhizhong’s last hope was completely shattered. He told the eldest son: “Give it to him. Tomorrow, inform all our business associates that he’s no longer part of our family. Any future loans will be his responsibility, not ours.”
The eldest son silently handed over the money. A thousand strings were no small amount. The sixth son looked at He Zhizhong: “My leg is injured. At least have someone send me to an inn?”
He Zhizhong waved his hand wearily.
The sixth son turned to Concubine Yang: “Mother, you’ve never had good days in this family. Why not come with me? We’ll go to Yangzhou, be our masters, wear what we want, eat what we want, without having to serve anyone day and night.” Though expelled, he had somewhat prepared for this outcome, so he wasn’t devastated. Moreover, he believed his intelligence was no less than his brothers’. He was sure he’d become successful and return in glory, infuriating He Zhizhong and the others.
Concubine Yang, who had been in tears moments ago, recoiled as if scalded. A thousand strings were substantial but not excessive. If the sixth son worked hard, they could start a small business and support a small family comfortably. But living like the He family was a dream. And that was if the sixth son behaved—if he gambled instead… She dared not imagine what might happen. She glanced furtively at He Zhizhong.
He Zhizhong looked at her impassively: “If you want to go with him, you may. You’ve been with me for years; I won’t mistreat you. You can take your clothes, jewelry, and your maids. But remember one thing: once you leave, you can never return. Even if you die at our doorstep, I won’t bury you.”
Concubine Yang’s lips trembled as she made her difficult choice. Finally, she told herself it was best to stay. If the sixth son failed and had nothing to eat, she could still help him from here. If she left with him, she’d be cutting off all retreats. With lowered eyes, not daring to look at anyone, she said softly: “I’m old now, with no relatives in Yangzhou. My health is poor; I need medicine often…”
Though not explicitly stated, her meaning was clear. She wouldn’t go with the sixth son.
This was something the sixth son had never expected. He fell silent, his expression gradually turning cold. After a long while, he knelt before Concubine Yang and said quietly: “Mother, this parting maybe forever. Take care of yourself.”