“Uncle! How could you do this?”
In the main hall, Cheng Si-lang, who had been waiting for a long time, spoke up as soon as he saw Second Master Cheng come out.
The sky was already bright. Normally, at this hour he should have been studying – the exams were less than a month away. Even last night, he had only joined the family for the banquet and then gone straight home without staying to watch the lanterns. But before dawn, when he heard the news from the servant, he simply couldn’t concentrate on reading anymore.
“That property was something Sister worked so hard to earn. Uncle, how could you… how could you…”
Second Master Cheng frowned and glared at him.
“Have you gone stupid from too much studying?” he said. “Don’t you know the law?”
“But, Uncle, that kind of thing – if no one brings a charge, the officials don’t investigate…” Cheng Si-lang said hesitantly.
Second Master Cheng gave a cold snort.
“When no one brings a charge, that’s when nothing’s happening,” he said, pointing toward the courtyard. “Do you think our family hasn’t had enough trouble already? Why do you think I was impeached? Why do you think she was dragged out, nearly beaten and killed? It’s all because she acts willfully and leaves others something to use against her!”
Cheng Si-lang was not good with words, and having always been taught to respect his elders and teachers, his face flushed bright red under Second Master Cheng’s scolding.
“T-that… that was clearly because you, Uncle, acted improperly first…” he stammered.
“Insolent brat!” Second Master Cheng roared. “Is that how you speak to me?”
Cheng Si-lang flinched and lowered his head.
“See that? See that? This is all her doing!” Second Master Cheng said furiously, pacing back and forth. “No respect for Heaven, Earth, ruler, or kin – now you’ve all learned it from her!”
“Even some country bumpkin buying a patch of land knows to put it under his father’s or grandfather’s name – yet she, a mere daughter, dares to do such an absurd thing and still thinks she’s in the right!”
“To have those documents changed without anyone finding out, I had to work hard for it – spent money, called in favors!”
“And now you come to question me, asking how I could do such a thing? How could I? Then tell me – what should I have done?”
“You impudent wretch! Daring to lecture your elder – where has all that book learning gone? Get out of my sight!”
Cheng Si-lang, scolded so harshly his head was spinning, hastily bowed and covered his face as he withdrew.
Compared to Second Master Cheng’s attitude, Second Madam Cheng – who had also come early that morning to see Cheng Jiao-niang – was much gentler.
“Jiao Jiao, this is all for your own good,” she said, her tone carrying a hint of unease.
“Madam must be joking,” the maid said with a smile. “It’s the first time I’ve heard that taking someone else’s possessions could somehow be for their good.”
“Is Jiao Jiao someone else?” Second Madam Cheng immediately replied, giving the maid an unhappy glance. “Is the Master someone else?”
The maid looked at her and smiled.
“Madam has changed,” she said.
It seemed like a stray, unfinished remark, but Second Madam Cheng understood perfectly well.
Her face flushed slightly.
The words meant that in the past – not only toward Cheng Jiao-niang, but even toward this maid – she had always been deferential and polite. Yet now, with the documents altered and the property legally hers in black and white, her attitude had changed at once.
Clearly, with grain in hand comes confidence in the heart; she was finally feeling secure and full of self-assurance.
No longer was she living off others’ charity – now she truly held money and property in her own grasp. Even if, for the moment, it was only a piece of paper, there was still plenty of time; once the deed was in her hands, what could possibly be out of reach?
Yes – there was nothing to fear anymore.
Second Madam Cheng straightened her back.
“Things aren’t the same as before,” she said vaguely, glossing over the maid’s words, then turned back to Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Now that you’re in the spotlight, and your father has only just come to the capital with shallow roots, who knows how many people are watching us in secret and in the open – just waiting for a chance to ruin your reputation and your father’s career.”
“You’re right,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
That same phrase again.
Second Madam Cheng couldn’t help but look at her.
Ever since Second Master Cheng had laid everything bare the night before, this girl had neither flown into a rage nor caused a scene. At the time, she had merely said that one line, then stood up and left.
The couple hadn’t slept a wink all night and had hurried over before dawn – only to find that this girl hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet.
It seemed she’d slept quite well last night…
Was she really… unbothered?
“Jiao Jiao, this truly is for your own good – and for the good of our Cheng family,” Second Madam Cheng reiterated.
“Then why aren’t those properties listed under Second Master’s name, but under yours?” Ban Qin couldn’t help blurting out.
The dark circles under her eyes and the redness around them showed she hadn’t slept well the night before.
“That’s exactly for Jiao Jiao’s sake,” Second Madam Cheng said quickly. “If they were under her father’s name, wouldn’t that make them part of the Cheng family estate – belonging to the First Master as well? Your father may have no divided loyalties, but who can guarantee the others in the Cheng family don’t?”
Ban Qin bit her lower lip, wanting to speak but finding no words.
Seeing the maid fall silent, Second Madam Cheng couldn’t help feeling a surge of satisfaction.
See – everything perfectly reasonable. Who could argue with that?
“Jiao Jiao, don’t worry,” she said warmly, her face full of affection. “This is all just for appearances – it doesn’t really mean the property belongs to me. It’s all yours; you still make the decisions. Ban Qin will remain the chief steward, and when you marry someday, you can take it all with you if you wish.”
The room fell silent again.
The stillness made Second Madam Cheng’s mouth go dry – it felt as if she were performing a monologue to an unresponsive audience.
“Jiao Jiao, you don’t trust me? Your father and I…” she began with a sigh.
“I trust you,” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted.
“Huh?”
Second Madam Cheng looked up at her in surprise.
“As long as you believe, then I’ll believe,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
After speaking, she looked down at the stack of documents that had been placed before her – the ones bearing her own name, which Second Master Cheng had replaced.
“Ban Qin,” she said.
The maid answered softly and knelt forward to pick them up.
“Burn them,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Burn them?
Second Madam Cheng gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in shock. Ban Qin also stared at Cheng Jiao-niang in disbelief.
Was she serious?
But the maid showed not the slightest trace of surprise. She answered softly, “Yes,” and without a moment’s hesitation tossed the documents into the nearby brazier.
Smoke rose before their eyes as the papers curled and smoldered, turning to ash in an instant.
Just like that?
Second Madam Cheng stood there, stunned.
“Does Madam have any other business?” the maid’s voice pulled her back to her senses.
“Ah – no, no, that’s all,” Second Madam Cheng said quickly, rising to her feet. Then, remembering something, she added hastily, “If Jiao Jiao needs anything, just have someone come and tell me–”
Before she could finish, she caught sight of the maid watching her with a faint, knowing smile.
“…Tell Ban Qin,” Second Madam Cheng corrected herself smoothly. “If anything needs to be done, just let me know.”
The maid only looked at her without replying.
Everything about this room and these people felt strange. Second Madam Cheng, not wanting to linger a moment longer, quickly excused herself and stepped out.
Was that really it?
That simple?
Still half in disbelief, she couldn’t help turning back for another look.
“What else could I have done?” Second Master Cheng snorted when he heard this. “It was the proper, rightful thing to do – only someone as unruly as her would act otherwise! And now I, her father, have to clean up the mess!”
He let out a sharp breath, leaned back against the armrest, and sat down with a look of resentment.
“Just think of how much trouble she’s caused me since she was a child! She brought misfortune to her grandfather, to her mother, and even ruined my own career!”
“But your career is going well now,” Second Madam Cheng reminded him. “That’s all thanks to her.”
“That’s because the Emperor is benevolent and wise!” Second Master Cheng said, his brows shooting up. “Otherwise I’d still be stuck rotting in the Censorate!”
Second Madam Cheng only smiled and said nothing more.
Cheng Qi-niang’s dislike and fear of Cheng Jiao-niang ultimately came from jealousy -she was afraid her sister would steal their father’s favor. But wasn’t she herself the same?
A daughter like that – disciple of an immortal, rich, capable of earning merit – if Second Master Cheng were to start worshipping her like a living Bodhisattva and obeying her every word, what place would she and her own child have left in this household?
Toward that girl, she felt envy, fear, longing to get close, and deep disgust all at once.
“Stop overthinking it. It’s already settled,” Second Master Cheng said. “Go arrange for someone to speak to the people involved, make everything clear, so they don’t go running their mouths and saying things they shouldn’t – don’t let them drag us into trouble.”
Second Madam Cheng answered obediently, then happily went over to look at the brocade box.
On the final day of the Lantern Festival, Cheng Qi-niang still hadn’t gotten her wish to go out and see the lights. Furious, she threw quite a tantrum at home, but Second Madam Cheng was so busy she barely had a moment to stand still, let alone pay her any attention.
Meanwhile, the ten men and women sent from her maiden family finally arrived. With them, Second Madam Cheng felt like a tiger with wings – her strength doubled. She quickly divided them up: a few stayed by her side, while others were sent off to the shops.
“More people?”
When the managers saw the new arrivals, they were all surprised.
“We’re not short-handed,” they said.
The maid still wore that faint, knowing smile, but Second Madam Cheng’s explanation came smoother and more confident by the word.
“Just making the show look complete,” she said with a smile. “It’s all for appearances -have them lend a hand, do odd jobs, fill out the scene. Don’t take them too seriously.”
They didn’t matter now… but what about later?
“Miss Ban Qin, s-so… it’s really under a new owner now?” Manager Wu asked.
“What else did you expect? It’s not like it’s been sold to outsiders this time – it’s all within the family. If we made a scene over that, who would it be for?” the maid replied.
“True enough… family ties, proper order, the law and all that…” another manager sighed. “What can we do?”
And so, the personnel within the shops were quietly adjusted, almost as if by accident. Those involved in the shares and profit distributions soon received new documents as well.
“This…” Fan Jianglin looked at the document handed to him, his face darkening with anger as he slapped it down on the table. “I knew something like this would happen!”
“What do we do now?” Lady Huang asked, her face filled with worry and frustration.
Fan Jianglin sat there gloomily for a while.
What to do?
What Second Master Cheng had done was, on the surface, perfectly reasonable. Other than finding some chance to give him a good beating behind closed doors, he honestly couldn’t think of any solution.
But of course, he couldn’t actually do that. If he caused a scene, not only would it ruin his own career, it would also bring trouble upon his sister.
Unable to contain his frustration, Fan Jianglin raised his hand and smacked himself hard on the head.
This stupid brain – can’t come up with a single idea! If only Third Brother were here…
At the thought of Xu Maoxiu, his throat burned painfully, and he turned away to hide it.
Compared to Fan Jianglin, who knew a bit about the tensions between father and daughter, the situation on the Li family’s side was much simpler.
When presented with the new documents, First Master Li looked both dazed and ashamed.
“This was my oversight. I nearly caused Miss to be accused of unfilial conduct,” he said hurriedly. Taking the revised papers, he immediately had his own household fetch their old copy and, right in front of the steward sent by Second Master Cheng, burned it to ashes.
“As long as you understand. If your own children behaved this way, what would you do? All the more now that my master and the young lady are under close watch…” the steward said irritably.
“Why, I’d have to break their legs, of course!” First Master Li declared firmly, bowing as he spoke. “Please beg forgiveness from Miss and Master on my behalf.”
As he said this, he discreetly handed over a large red envelope.
The steward’s face immediately lit up with delight. Pocketing the envelope, he cheerfully took his leave.
“But why would it be put under her stepmother’s name again?” Li Mao asked, frowning.
“Don’t forget – Second Master Cheng is the Second Master,” First Master Li said, stroking his beard. “And quite the one for playing tricks… seems he hasn’t changed a bit.”
As he said this, he suddenly shivered, his gaze sweeping across the hall.
“Speaking of which, perhaps we should look into things ourselves,” he said sternly. “Let’s see how much profit has been made over the years from the dowries of our womenfolk.”
At those words, several faces in the hall changed color.
In a large clan where the family assets were never divided, it was common enough for people to use various tricks to protect their own interests – and using one’s wife’s dowry to grow private wealth was a tried and true method.
That Second Master Cheng would resort to this came as no surprise – but no one expected that a single document would spark such thoughts in First Master Li’s mind. It seemed the New Year festivities had just come to an abrupt end.
Li Mao paid no mind to the looks on the others’ faces. He had never played such games, and now he found these petty profits beneath him. Yet when he looked at First Master Li’s dark, grim expression, his brows furrowed.
“The tricks Second Master Cheng plays – he knows them well, and Father, you know them too. But do you think the First Master Cheng doesn’t?” he asked.
