At that moment, the Peng family’s father and three sons exchanged glances with one another, the atmosphere heavy and somber.

Old Master Peng, Peng Chunli, looked at his youngest son. “Have you thought it through?”

“Yes, I have.” Peng Fangming’s face was set with resolve. “In truth, from the moment we decided to board this ship, there was already no turning back. Regardless of who that person is, his position and ours are aligned. These past days I have been watching him closely — he conducts himself with method and order, and the people under him are exceptionally capable yet disciplined. From this alone, one can see they are not the sort to do whatever it takes without scruple. A man with limits cannot be entirely rotten — and besides, are we Pengs such good people ourselves?”

That a son as untameable as a wild horse could now speak such words was something Peng Chunli would not have dared imagine before. Who could have anticipated that the most wayward child in the household had suddenly come to his senses, and had even turned around to think of the family’s interests?

Over these two months he, too, had been watching, and just as Fangming said, the other party was not the sort to treat lives as worthless. They acted with method and principle — so much so that he had even wondered whether they might be people from some military camp. As far as he knew, even within the military one would not necessarily find such strict discipline.

Whatever the case, once the arrow was loosed there was no drawing it back. They had no retreat. He could only hope that this step forward would not bury the foundations built by several generations of the Peng family.

Peng Chunli looked toward his eldest son, Peng Fangyü. “Keep a closer eye on Zhu Ling in the yamen. I have always felt his good days are nearly at an end.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Fangjie — when you are out entertaining yourself, find opportunities to keep watch on Zeng Xiangyan. Keep your mouth shut and do not say what ought not be said.”

“Father, you can rest easy. Would I not even know that much?” Peng Fangjie cast a sideways glance at his younger brother. The brother who had once been his partner in recklessness had suddenly matured — the pressure weighed on him considerably.

Peng Chunli did indeed feel at ease where his second son was concerned in this regard. He himself had grown up at that age and understood perfectly well that a group of young men from noble households gathered together were not entirely without their uses.

“You two go out. Fangming, stay behind.”

Peng Fangyü’s expression was somewhat complicated — not that he harbored any resentment, only that, like Peng Fangjie, he now felt a certain pressure.

A moment of silence passed, then Peng Fangming spoke. “Father, you need not worry. That man is not the sort to burn his bridges. If I did not have that assurance in my heart, I would not have dared to work with him.”

“That is not what Father is worried about.” Peng Chunli sighed. “The local powers entrenched in Jinyang are not easy to deal with. Even a dragon crossing the river may not necessarily be able to subdue them. Yet if what he schemes succeeds, more than half the families of Jinyang City will be drawn in. From that point forward our Peng family will inevitably need to take a step forward and upward. Those who accomplish great things must have this kind of audacity and vision — in this regard you have done very well. However, whatever contingency measures are needed must still be prepared.”

Peng Chunli looked at his youngest son, so changed from what he had been, and despite the mountain weighing on his heart he felt a warmth of pride. If this gamble were won, the Peng family would profit a hundredfold from a single stake.

“This afternoon I already had Wang Luo quietly send the younger members of the household away. Even if the worst comes to pass, we will not be swept away all at once.”

Peng Fangming, who had been out all day and knew nothing of this, nodded in agreement. “Father is still the most thorough in his thinking.”

“Fangming, you must remember — you are still the same as before. There is no need to suppress your temper, and no need to show them a pleasant face. You are still the same unruly youngest son of the Peng family.”

“Yes, Father. Playing the pig to eat the tiger — I know how.”

“Handle what that person has entrusted to you well. In my heart I have some suspicions about his true identity, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Simply do your best by it.”

“Yes.”

On the other side of things, the wife of Zeng Xiangling came to call at the Yü family residence.

Wu Zhen had received instructions from the young lady well in advance. She led the visitor in and then waited quietly to one side — ears open, mouth sealed.

“Little Auntie, has Uncle woken today?” Madam Zeng stepped closer and curtsied, discreetly raising her eyes to confirm the person behind the bed-curtains.

“He came to for a little while earlier, but now he has fallen back into a deep sleep.” Madam Yü lightly dabbed the corner of her eye, let down the bed-curtains, and turned to her niece-in-law with a haggard expression. “Why have you come at this hour? Is something the matter?”

Madam Zeng hesitated for a moment, then stated her purpose. “Little Auntie, do you know that my cousin has locked up her husband?”

Madam Yü was taken aback. “How can that be… When did this happen? I had not the faintest idea.”

“You do not concern yourself with matters outside these rooms, and now it is my cousin who manages the household — why would she let you know? I am being meddlesome, but hearing the rumors circulating outside I could not help worrying they might harm my cousin’s reputation, so I have come to say too much.” Madam Zeng clasped Madam Yü’s hand and spoke with earnest gravity. “You really must advise her. Once married, a husband and wife walk the road of a lifetime together. Even if Qi Qiu came in as a live-in son-in-law, he is still a man of letters with academic credentials. To wear him down too harshly is to harm her as much as him. A life together must be lived well, don’t you agree?”

Madam Yü nodded repeatedly. “You are right, you are right. Weiwei is truly… it is my failure to discipline her properly. The fault lies with me as her mother.”

“There is no question of fault. How could I not know my cousin’s nature? Her heart could not be better — she simply needs to be handled with care. Her husband has only just come into the household, so naturally he does not yet understand her. Still, with it spreading this way, it does no good for my cousin’s name.” Madam Zeng smiled. “My husband says tomorrow he has some business to attend to, and since the opportunity presents itself, he will take my cousin’s husband along to broaden his horizons — so that people may know what has been spreading is all nonsense. Where is her husband locked up? He is perfectly fine. What do you think?”

“Good, good, Xiangling has gone to such trouble. I will go and speak to Weiwei about this. She was only spoiled by me into this manner — in truth, if you approach her the right way she is quite easy to manage.”

“How could I not know that?” Madam Zeng covered her mouth with a laugh, glanced at the bed-curtains where not the slightest movement stirred, and asked, “Has Uncle truly shown no improvement at all?”

“Every remedy has been tried, yet the periods of sleep grow longer and longer.” Madam Yü’s voice caught in her throat. Not wishing to shed tears before a younger member of the family, she turned her head away and pressed her hand to her mouth.

“He will recover. My husband has heard there is a renowned physician in the capital and has already sent someone to fetch him…”

“Truly?” Before she could finish, Madam Yü cut her off and asked anxiously.

“Of course it is true. My husband said one must at least try before giving up hope.”

“Xiangling is so thoughtful. Please convey my gratitude to him. Little Auntie will remember this in her heart.”

Madam Zeng smiled gently. “What are you saying — we are family. Of course we hope Uncle will recover quickly.”

Her purpose achieved, she stayed to chat a while longer. Seeing the sky grow dark, Madam Zeng took her leave.

Madam Yü had things weighing on her mind. She rose, smoothed her hair at the temples, and said, “Steward, stay here and keep watch over the master. I will go and have a word with our young lady.”

“Yes, Madam.”

After seeing the mistress off, Wu Zhen lifted the bed-curtains. He raised his head and found the master lying there with his eyes open. He was just about to speak when he saw the master make a silencing gesture and glance toward the outer room.

Wu Zhen swept his eyes around the interior of the room and understood at once. “You may all go and make preparations. I will wipe down the master.”

The two maidservants attending in the room curtsied and withdrew. He walked to the doorway, looked out to verify the servants had moved off, then quickly closed the door and hurried back to the bedside.

“Master, there is no one left.”

“Tell me what has been happening in the household.” Master Yü drew a labored breath. “Focus on what is most important.”