Zhou Ping’s beard was scruffy—clearly, he had been too tormented these past few days to bother with such things.
Only when he heard Second Master Zhou speak did he seem to snap out of it. Turning his head, he looked at Second Master Zhou with a glimmer of hope and asked, “Second Uncle, you’re back… what did they say over there?”
What did they say?
Second Master Zhou looked at him and got angry just thinking about it. “What could they say? You people went too far!”
He had seen the wound on Qi Fangyun’s head—it had already been bandaged, but even so, it was a horrifying sight. Clearly, it had been a serious injury.
Old Madam Zhou had a temper and used to beat her children when she was young, but who would’ve thought that even in old age she hadn’t changed—still hitting people that hard?
And after all, she was a noblewoman from a marquis household! This wasn’t just hitting someone—it was offending the entire Marquis family!
Zhou Ping’s expression turned dark.
He couldn’t help but grumble angrily, “It’s all because of that unvirtuous woman! If not for her, things wouldn’t have turned out like this!”
…
Second Master Zhou had nothing more to say about that. He could only ask, “There’s no point saying that now. What’s your plan? This matter has blown up far too much…”
If someone else had smashed the chastity memorial arch, it might have been possible to suppress the scandal—claiming it was just malicious gossip meant to slander the Zhou family.
But the person who did it was a member of their own household!
Zhou Ping’s own legitimate son!
Now even the local authorities had started investigating.
And the old madam’s death last night… was far too suspicious. Even Second Master Zhou couldn’t help but wonder—
Could those old rumors actually be true?
Looking at that mother and son, they really did seem like the kind who could kill their daughter or sister just to erect a chastity arch.
Zhou Ping let out a long breath, dragging it from deep in his chest. Frustrated, he clawed at his hair and said, “Second Uncle, please don’t get involved anymore. I’ll go out and try to think of a way. I’ll leave the household matters to you for now.”
Old Madam Zhou had died, and there were many things to take care of—announcing her death, setting up the mourning tent, arranging for the descendants to keep vigil and cry at the altar, hiring monks and Taoist priests for rites, and bringing in a feng shui master to choose a burial site.
So many things to do.
Second Master Zhou hadn’t wanted to get dragged into the mess, but in the end, blood was still thicker than water, and the clan had long relied on Zhou Ping’s branch. He could only sigh and agree.
Zhou Ping, meanwhile, hurried straight to Duke Chu’s residence.
The Liu family, Duke Chu, lived in the district near the imperial city where the nobility clustered together. Even among such noble families, Duke Chu’s residence stood out.
Two large stone lions flanked the gate, fierce and imposing, and the bright red door had no fewer than thirty-six bronze studs.
Standing outside, Zhou Ping hastily tidied his hair, then respectfully handed over a visiting card. “Please, brother, do me a favor and say that the Vice Commander of the City Patrols, Zhou Ping, requests an audience.”
At the gates of a powerful household, even a seventh-rank official was just another petitioner. Duke Chu’s residence might not be that of a prime minister, but it was close enough.
The gatekeeper raised his nose skyward as he accepted the card, then leisurely took the silver Zhou Ping slipped him. With a snort, he said, “Wait here.”
At this point, Zhou Ping could only keep his temper in check.
But inside the Duke’s residence, when the Liu family received his card, no one went to see him. They simply tossed the card aside and said:
“Tell him His Grace isn’t home. The young lord isn’t here either. No visitors.”
Zhou Ping hadn’t expected Duke Chu’s family to outright refuse to see him. He grew anxious at once. “Little Brother, please, I beg you—just tell them I once followed the young lord back in the day…”
The gatekeeper glared at him. “How many times must I say it? His Grace and the young lord aren’t home. No visitors! Now scram!”
Servants of powerful households all had eyes on their foreheads. Zhou Ping wanted to argue, but he didn’t dare. He could only swallow the insult and turn to leave.
As soon as he left, the gatekeeper went inside to report.
Old Lord Liu snorted coldly. “Useless. Nothing but a liability. And you—why are you acting like some sentimental woman?”
He was talking about his own son—the Duke’s shizi, Liu Jinghong.
Liu Jinghong chuckled and sat gracefully across from him. “I just thought that since he had once worked for me, and considering the Zhou family is connected to the Yongping Marquis through marriage, so I said a few words on his behalf. Who knew he’d be so useless?”
Not only had he failed to bring trouble to the Yongping Marquis, he hadn’t managed to harm the Qi family either. He’d just ended up dragging himself into a mess.
Old Lord Liu’s expression darkened. “You’d better be careful. People like him are already riddled with fleas—they feel no more itch. If something happens to the Zhou family, he might start talking about things he shouldn’t.”
That was a warning—about the incident from back then.
Liu Jinghong understood clearly. He poured a cup of tea for the old man and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Father. I’m not that foolish. He won’t get the chance.”
He even laughed. “You won’t believe it—this idiot, after we paved the way for him to enter the Military Command Bureau, thought it wasn’t enough. He forced his sixteen-year-old sister to marry a corpse, then hanged her himself. Now the authorities are investigating.”
Naturally, he would give things a little push behind the scenes.
To help Zhou Ping die faster.
A pawn that failed to complete its task had to be discarded without hesitation.
Such useless things had no place at their side.
Old Lord Liu gave a pleased grunt but then muttered with concern, “His Highness Qi Wang has never been so reprimanded before. His Majesty was truly furious this time.”
The Eastern Palace and Qi Wang had always been at odds.
For a long time, Qi Wang had kept the Crown Prince firmly suppressed.
But ever since Xiao Yunting returned, things had begun to shift.
Qi Wang had been demoted to a mere county prince, while Xiao Yunting was now constantly praised by Emperor Yongchang.
The emperor even kept Xiao Yunting by his side often.
That was… not a good sign.
Liu Jinghong smiled. “It’s only temporary. The Crown Prince’s health isn’t good, after all.”
The father and son exchanged a look—each understanding what the other implied.
Old Lord Liu gave a final warning: “Tread carefully! Don’t let anything slip. By the way, there’s one more thing…”
Liu Jinghong responded with a questioning hum.
After sipping his tea, the old man set the cup down and looked at him with a calm but pointed gaze. “Her Highness the Princess doesn’t like that newly returned young lady of the Yongping Marquis household.”
Her Highness the Princess?
Liu Jinghong immediately understood—Old Lord Liu was talking about Princess Baorong.
Princess Baorong had always been deeply favored by Emperor Yongchang. Even Qi Wang likely wasn’t as pampered as she was.
She held great influence over both the emperor and the Noble Consort.
Her moods could directly affect the fortunes of a family like theirs.
Liu Jinghong gave a light “Oh,” then chuckled. “Her Highness is truly… She’s a cloud in the heavens—how could she let herself be troubled by some speck of dirt on the ground? That girl’s nothing but a puddle of mud. With one lift of the hand, she could vanish.”
To people like them, no matter how much Qi Yuan struggled, she was nothing more than an ant.
And what were aristocratic families?
They were elephants. If an elephant crushed an ant, all it took was a puff of breath or the twitch of a foot.
It wasn’t even worth doing themselves.
But… if Her Highness desired it, that would be a different story entirely.
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