Chapter 262: Turning The Tables
Zhou Wangshu dismounted first, then helped Su Yaoguang down from the horse-drawn carriage.
The Marquis of Cheng’an and the Cheng’an Marchioness stood at the doorway along with the mansion’s managers.
“Jing’er is back.” The Marquis of Cheng’an warmly came forward to greet him.
“Marquis, it’s better to call me Wangshu. I’m not used to the name Jing’er. Perhaps it’s because I’ve lost my memory and have no recollection.” Zhou Wangshu said.
The Marquis of Cheng’an nodded: “Alright, Wangshu, let’s go in!”
The Cheng’an Marchioness smiled and said: “The last time I saw my daughter-in-law, I didn’t know she was family. I already felt close to her then, but it turns out there’s such a deep connection.”
“The Marchioness is so kind, and I feel a bit close to you too. I’m new here and may not be familiar with many things, so please don’t mind, Marchioness.”
“We’re family, no need for such formalities.”
Su Yaoguang looked at the viperous beauty before her. If Zhou Wangshu hadn’t told her about the things she had done, it would be impossible to imagine that such a beautiful exterior hid a rotten heart.
“Madam…” A maidservant ran over and said to the Cheng’an Marchioness, “The Heir Apparent he…”
“Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion has no Heir Apparent.” The Marquis of Cheng’an said coldly, “The Emperor has already stripped him of his qualification as the marquis manor’s Heir Apparent.”
“Marquis, the Second Young Master has gone mad and killed all the servants in an entire courtyard.”
“Wretch! What is he causing trouble about now?” Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Cheng’an stormed off angrily toward the backyard.
The Cheng’an Marchioness nearly fainted and, holding on with her last breath, chased after the Marquis of Cheng’an. She was truly beset by troubles both inside and out—dealing with the mess left by Xia Zhen internally and facing the impending opponent externally.
“Should we go take a look?” Su Yaoguang asked.
“It’s too bloody. Don’t go, I’m afraid it’ll scare you.” Zhou Wangshu said, “But as the elder brother, I have to go take a look and add some fuel to the fire.”
“If you’re going, then I’m going. What scene haven’t I seen?” Su Yaoguang pointed to a servant to lead the way and headed to Xia Zhen’s courtyard.
Just as they reached the courtyard entrance, the overpowering stench of blood nearly made Su Yaoguang vomit.
How many people must have been killed?
Su Yaoguang looked up, but before she could see anything, Zhou Wangshu covered her eyes.
“What?” Su Yaoguang grabbed his hand to remove it and look, but Zhou Wangshu stopped her.
“Don’t look.” Zhou Wangshu said in a heavy tone, “He’s truly lost all conscience.”
Su Yaoguang didn’t insist.
“Let’s go.” Zhou Wangshu pulled Su Yaoguang away.
Su Yaoguang hadn’t seen anything, but she heard the angry cursing and mad cackling from inside.
Xia Zhen had always been a ruthless playboy, and now he was even more deranged, as if driven to lose his reason.
It’s not the strong opponent one fears, but the one who plays by no rules—a madman. Normal people can’t imagine a madman’s thought process, so it’s hard to predict their next move.
“Didn’t you say you were going to add fuel to the fire?”
“In this situation, no need—they can burn brightly on their own.”
Zhou Wangshu’s attendant came in and said to Zhou Wangshu: “Master, there’s the latest news.”
Su Yaoguang brought the servants from the general’s mansion and settled into the largest courtyard in Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion—Hui Yuan.
She sat there drinking tea while the servants bustled inside and out.
An old woman came over and said to Su Yaoguang: “We checked carefully all around. The entire courtyard’s furnishings are very thoughtfully arranged. Those gauze curtains and various vessels have all been soaked in purple orchid grass. Purple orchid grass is colorless and odorless with low toxicity, but over time, it turns into a chronic poison. Once a person frequently touches these things, their body will grow increasingly weak, eventually resembling the symptoms of a long-standing severe illness.”
“As expected, quite a grand scheme, very thoughtful.” Su Yaoguang looked toward Zhou Wangshu not far away, “Husband, did you hear? Your smiling tiger stepmother is very welcoming to us and thinks highly of us too—arranging these sneaky tactics right upon our arrival. What big gift do you think we should return to her?”
“Madam, no need to rush. Three days from now, they’ll hold a recognition banquet for us, and there will be big gifts from others then too. We can return the favor all together at that time.”
“We’ve only been in the capital city a short time. First my recognition, then yours. It’s just that the two recognitions are different in nature, and the situations we face are different too.”
“When I’m not here, don’t stay in Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion. I’m not at ease about you.”
“Rest assured, I’m not that foolish. Besides, when you’re not here, she won’t dare do anything to me. After all, I still have a General Who Protects the Nation for a father.”
Having a backer makes all the difference.
Look at her—before, when facing trouble, she always thought of clever ways to handle it, but now she goes straight for direct confrontation. Who let her have the confidence now, knowing this way is the simplest and most direct?
The next day, Su Yaoguang specially returned to the general’s mansion to have a meal with Su Rende and his wife, telling them everything was fine at Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion—reporting only good news and not worries, lest they learn that Zhou Wangshu had returned this time to avenge his family, causing them to worry every day.
Afterward, she went to Peach Blossom Workshop to manage the business.
“Today, several old women from Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion came, saying they wanted to procure some things for the Cheng’an Marchioness. But they didn’t pay, saying we’re family and don’t need to be so precise.” Jia Chunni said angrily, “Who is family with them? This is Yaoguang’s shop, not Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion’s shop. Why shouldn’t they pay?”
“What’s the rush? Collecting debts is something I’m familiar with. I’ll get it back with interest.” Su Yaoguang said, “In the future, if people from Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion procure things again and don’t pay, just keep good accounts. I’ll make them spit it out.”
“Good.” Zhang Pandi smiled and said, “You don’t know how much of a money grubber Chunni has become. Seeing such a large sum lost, she’s heartbroken. I said to wait for Yaoguang to come and discuss countermeasures, but she insisted that such a thing happened under her management because she’s too useless and can’t handle those crafty servants.”
“Now that we have a big tree to shade us, ordinary official families only want to befriend us and won’t rush to offend us. Only the top few nobles are hard to provoke, but while we can’t provoke them, my father can. Then we can directly demand the debt in front of the Emperor and see if they have the face for it. So, no need to worry.”
“Yaoguang, is it really okay for you two to return to Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion?” Zhang Yingdi asked, “This morning I heard that you two had just returned to Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion yesterday, and that Second Young Master started making trouble, killing several servants. The whole Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion was awash in blood. Everyone’s saying it’s a show of strength against you husband and wife. That Second Young Master is used to being barbaric, and his methods are always ruthless.”
“No matter how much trouble that Second Young Master causes, he’s just a paper tiger and can’t harm us. But such rumors can continue to spread—the wider the better.”
As long as Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion’s reputation becomes foul enough, it will be smoother for Zhou Wangshu to take over Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion later. Speaking of which, having a pig-like opponent is a relaxing and pleasant thing.
