By the time the sky was fully bright, Master Zhou’s carriage had stopped in front of Immortal’s Abode.
Immortal’s Abode wasn’t even open yet, but Master Zhou’s attendants banged fiercely on the door with great force and noise. Eventually, the door was opened.
“I’ve thought about it,” said Master Zhou calmly. “You meant well.”
“And since it came from good intentions, it ought to be fulfilled.”
Cheng Si-lang, who had been worn out and restless for days because of the restaurant troubles, was stunned when he heard this.
He began to wonder if he had misheard.
“We all want the restaurant to run well, so let’s just help each other properly,” said Master Zhou. “We can’t be the ones tearing it down ourselves before anyone else has even had the chance to look down on it.”
“Since you’re confident you can manage it, then it’s yours to manage.”
From stormy winds to clear skies overnight—faced with Master Zhou’s sudden change in attitude, Cheng Si-lang felt even more at a loss.
But no matter what, he kept one thing firmly in mind: he couldn’t hand his sister’s restaurant over to someone else.
Not good with words, he simply stayed silent and bowed respectfully.
“You’re still unfamiliar with things, and you’ve got your studies,” Master Zhou went on. “So here’s the plan: I’ll send you an experienced hand to help keep an eye on things.”
As he spoke, he pointed to the old servant behind him. “This is my household’s senior bookkeeper.”
Is that so…
Cheng Si-lang hesitated for a moment.
To be honest, falling out completely with Master Zhou wouldn’t be a good thing either. If both sides could take a step back, that wouldn’t be so bad…
Seeing the young scholar’s expression soften, Master Zhou secretly smiled with satisfaction.
Even with Master Jiangzhou backing them, there was nothing to fear.
After all, this was someone else’s family matter.
A matter of the Zhou family.
And since it involved the ownership of property, Master Jiangzhou likely wouldn’t intervene recklessly, right? Surely he wouldn’t want to risk being accused of trying to seize someone else’s estate?
A scholar of such standing still cared about his reputation in certain matters—even if he was willing to cast it aside in others.
A mere scholar, with just a few servants, thinking he could take control of these assets…
What a naive thought.
A day or two, a month or two, maybe even half a year—that might work.
But longer than that?
Sure, they all bore the surname Cheng, but there are some things… not just anyone can pull off.
Meanwhile, in front of Yudai Bridge, a noisy carriage came to a halt. Surrounded by a dozen or so maids and servants, Madam Zhou stepped down.
It had been more than ten days since their last visit.
“That little maid is truly outrageous. We’ve brought more people this time so we won’t lose face if she starts causing a scene,” the stewardess whispered to the maid beside her as she gave out orders.
“…You few go knock down the door… You few keep an eye on that young servant… You few go hold down that maid directly… And you, go inside and carry her out…”
These instructions had already been given once back at home, and she was repeating them again now—showing how seriously they were taking this.
After all, there were only two little maids and one young servant inside. Each of them was smaller than any one of the Zhou household’s women—yet they were treating the situation with such caution.
One of the maids couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What are you laughing at?” the stewardess said in a low, stern voice. “Don’t be fooled by the fact there are only three of them—you’d better be careful.”
“Don’t forget who that mistress is…”
A direct disciple of True Master Li, someone who could drink and laugh with the King of Hell himself.
Fortunately, she had been sick for a long time and remained in a deep sleep. Otherwise, if she got angry, a single word could bring death with just a flick of the King of Hell’s hand.
The maids nodded solemnly, a chill running through them.
Madam Zhou had already stepped down from the carriage and was standing steadily, looking up at the door.
“All right, go on, quickly,” the stewardess clapped her hands and said, giving one more reminder: “And remember—move fast.”
Four maids stood before the door. They took a deep breath, raised their hands, and knocked.
“Open—” they shouted, their hands coming down on the door.
The door swung open in response.
The four of them, having gathered all their strength, stumbled forward from the momentum and tumbled inside, letting out startled cries.
Their shouts triggered a chorus of panicked shrieks from the other maids behind them.
The entire front of the building erupted into chaos, drawing curious glances from passersby.
“What are you screaming for!” Madam Zhou snapped angrily.
The other side hadn’t even started causing trouble, yet her own people were already making a scene!
The maids quickly fell silent, and the ones who had tumbled in scrambled to their feet. Only then did they see a young servant boy standing under the eaves, looking at them with a strange expression.
The group of maids assigned to restrain him suddenly felt unsure.
The boy hadn’t shouted, hadn’t resisted, and had even opened the door—so… should they hold him down or not?
“Out of the way,” Madam Zhou barked.
The maids hurriedly stepped aside to make room, and Madam Zhou lifted her foot and stepped inside.
The boy under the eaves raised a hand.
The maids instantly tensed, and charged forward without hesitation.
But the boy only rubbed his nose, then turned and casually stepped to the side.
The maids, halfway through their charge, skidded to a halt, nearly tripping over themselves in the chaos.
“Madam is here.”
Inside the main hall, a maid announced, stepping out as she spoke.
Madam Zhou gave a curt “Mm” in response, but couldn’t help casting a glance over the maid.
So she was from the Zhang family!
No wonder she had always been so arrogant!
It was one thing to be bold in the past, but now that the mistress was ill, if she kept acting so overbearing—it wasn’t protection anymore, it was domination, bullying her master.
Madam Zhou curled her lips in disdain and completely ignored her, lifting her foot and stepping through the doorway.
The maid smiled faintly, bowed slightly, and stepped aside to let her through.
Stepped aside…
This caught the group of maids assigned to restrain her off guard—they froze.
Why was everything so different from what they had expected the moment they walked in?
“You all, tidy things up and take Jiao Jiao home,” Madam Zhou said as she took a seat in the main hall.
“Madam wishes to take our mistress back?” the maid asked.
“What, is that not allowed?” Madam Zhou looked at her, half smiling.
“We maids wouldn’t dare to say,” the maid replied with a smile.
The maids who had already rolled up their sleeves, ready to spring into action, froze once again.
Good—at least they know their place.
Madam Zhou waved her hand dismissively.
“You should ask our mistress herself,” the maid added.
Madam Zhou smiled faintly, then stood up as expected.
“Very well, I’ll go ask her,” she said, lifting her foot to walk inside. At the same time, she subtly covered her mouth and nose with her hand.
Someone who’s been sick for so long… naturally, their body must carry a certain smell…
The curtain was hurriedly lifted by the maidservants as Madam Zhou stepped into the bedroom.
“Jiao Jiao, how are you feeling today?” she said as she entered, eyes cast downward. “Come home with me to recover. It’s not convenient for you to stay out here.”
She chuckled to herself right after speaking.
“Thank you, Aunt, for not turning me away…”
Murmuring to herself, Madam Zhou suddenly froze.
Why… did her voice just now sound a little different?
“Thank you, Aunt, for not turning me away,” she murmured again.
Yes, that was her voice.
But that voice from a moment ago…
“Yes—thank you, Aunt, for not turning me away.”
The voice spoke again.
Madam Zhou suddenly felt a chill run from her tailbone through her entire body. She stiffly looked up toward the bed.
The bed was still the same bed, and the person on it was still that same person.
Wearing the same pale blue satin robe, loosely draped and pooling on the floor, her jet-black long hair cascading like a waterfall, one hand propping her head, the other resting on her body—the girl lay on her side, staring straight at her.
Staring at her…
Staring at her!
Madam Zhou screamed sharply, spun around, and ran out, only to crash into the maids crowding behind her, who hadn’t expected it.
The maids screamed in response. Madam Zhou stumbled forward but didn’t stop, continuing to run outside.
Unfamiliar with the surroundings, she suddenly ran straight into the doorframe and let out an even more piercing scream as she fell backward out the door.
Stumbling, her foot caught on her dress, and she tumbled down the steps.
Amid the maids’ escalating screams, Madam Zhou lay sprawled on the ground, her vision darkening, her head tilted—motionless.
The shouting, crying, and screaming nearly overturned the entire small courtyard.
Standing under the eaves, the maid and Jin Ge’er were frozen in shock, mouths agape.
“What did Miss do?” Jin Ge’er asked, stunned.
“Miss didn’t do anything,” the maid replied blankly. “She just said one sentence.”
Just one sentence…
Just one sentence, and Madam Zhou was so terrified her mind scattered—she scared herself unconscious…
The maid began to laugh again, louder and louder, covering her mouth with her hand, tears streaming from her eyes.
Miss doesn’t have to do anything—as long as she’s here, just being here is enough…
“Jin Ge’er,” she said with a smile, beckoning him over, “Come, you go say a sentence too.”
“Can I be as powerful as Miss?” Jin Ge’er asked.
The maid nodded with a smile and whispered something in his ear.
Jin Ge’er laughed in response, then stepped through the chaos of maids and ran out.
Since the mistress had fallen ill, the door latch that Jin Ge’er always carried had long been tossed aside. He slammed the door open and ran outside, not even caring whether it was closed behind him.
No need to worry anymore, no need to be afraid anymore. With Miss here, there’s nothing to fear…
When Jin Ge’er ran into Immortal’s Abode, Master Zhou was leisurely lifting a tea bowl and taking a sip.
“…You all still handle the accounts. As for this old servant, he can assist your shop manager with the chores…” he continued.
Helping out—this was even better.
Cheng Si-lang nodded.
Just helping out was definitely better. Every path must be taken step by step…
A servant with no proper status, and a scholar who’s officially recognized but useless—if they wanted to compete with him, pfft…
Master Zhou smiled as he sipped his tea again.
“Fourth Young Master!”
Jin Ge’er’s sharp voice rang out as the door was pulled open.
“Miss has woken up!”
At these words, everyone in the room was stunned, all eyes turning toward the excited young servant standing at the door.
Miss… has woken up…
Miss! She’s awake!
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room froze. After a brief pause, the sound of a loud bang echoed.
Cheng Si-lang was the first to stand up and rushed outside. Jin Ge’er was pushed aside, and the loud noise was the sound of someone banging on the door.
Manager Wu immediately stood up as well. Overcome with excitement, he hadn’t managed to stand at first, but finally got to his feet, staggering as he ran out.
Jin Ge’er stumbled a bit inside the room too. When he looked up again, only Master Zhou and his servant remained inside.
“Our mistress is awake!” Jin Ge’er looked at Master Zhou and grinned as he shouted again.
Master Zhou still held the tea bowl at his lips, seemingly dazed, but the shout brought him back to his senses.
Awake…
Awake…
Suddenly, chaotic images flashed before Master Zhou’s eyes.
The thug who had fallen backward, shot in the head; the stiff, crooked-eyed Secretariat Editor Liu; the ministers in the court looking shocked…
And then, suddenly, those images all shifted—becoming himself…
Master Zhou immediately felt suffocated, and the tea bowl in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor.
“Master! Master!”
The old servant sensed something was wrong and quickly shouted while reaching out to pat and comfort him.
Master Zhou’s face flushed red. He gripped his neck with both hands, trying to cough but couldn’t, his whole body trembling in a heap.
“Someone, hurry! Master is choking!” the old servant called out anxiously, pounding desperately on Master Zhou’s back. “Who knew you could choke just drinking tea!”
Jin Ge’er looked at Master Zhou, who was almost suffocating, and laughed heartily.
Sure enough, just one sentence could scare someone to death—he really was as formidable as the mistress.
