Chapter 102: A Heart of Jealousy
On a winter morning, the early sun cast a gentle light.
Walking from Dongguan Street, steam rose from the stalls selling plain noodles and pan-fried buns.
All the shops had opened, lining up like two opposing chessboards locked in a fierce battle.
The remaining snow on the eaves and tiles, the flowers of deep winter, reflected the faint, distant sunset glow, half-dreaming, half-awake.
Qin Mingxu dismounted before the Zheng Residence gate. The letter Feng Gao had given him, tucked inside his inner garment, felt as heavy as lead. He knocked and informed the gatekeeper of his intention to see the Maternal Grandfather of the Emperor and the Maternal Uncle of the Emperor. The gatekeeper sized him up, asked for his name, and lazily went inside to report. After a moment, the gatekeeper hurried back out and said, “Boss Qin, the Master and Young Master invite you in.”
He walked past the long corridors and gardens, the gatekeeper leading him further inside.
The early sun gilded his travel-worn figure. His worry and longing for his wife made him look like a warrior ready to enter the arena.
As he reached a corner of the garden path, he suddenly smelled the scent of burning paper money.
He followed the scent and looked over. Beneath a plum blossom tree, a woman was burning paper and murmuring something. The woman’s profile made him gasp in surprise.
Sang Yu, why was Sang Yu here? Who was she burning paper money for?
Just as Qin Mingxu was about to walk towards the plum blossom tree, the woman’s mournful voice reached his ears.
“Director Feng, we once shared tender moments at Plum Blossom Ridge. I never saw you as someone physically disabled. Now that you are dead, I can do nothing but burn more paper money for you, wishing you a safe journey to the underworld…”
Qin Mingxu’s mind felt like it was about to explode.
He walked further in, and the plants rustled.
The woman burning paper heard the movement and knew someone was coming. She quickly hid behind the garden pond and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Her clothing, her hair ornaments, her expression – they were so familiar.
Qin Mingxu couldn’t help but call out, “Sang Yu—”
The gatekeeper, walking ahead, turned back. Seeing Qin Mingxu lagging behind, he hurried to his side and said, “Boss Qin, please come this way.”
“I’m going to find my wife.”
Qin Mingxu seemed not to hear, continuing to walk inside.
The gatekeeper stopped him and said, “Boss Qin, how can your wife be in the Zheng Residence? You must be seeing things. Our Master and Young Master are waiting for you. Please come.”
His words brought Qin Mingxu back to his senses.
Yes, the tribute wine incident. When he passed Dongguan Street, the Zhu Family Wine Shop clearly had a seal on it. Everyone knew Sang Yu had been imprisoned, and people were talking. How could Sang Yu be in the Zheng Residence now? Moreover, Sang Yu was over seven months pregnant, her belly round and high, while that woman was slender.
Why did the woman in the Zheng Residence resemble Sang Yu so much?
When she was burning paper money, she was murmuring about Director Feng. Clearly, she was burning paper money for Feng Gao. Could Feng Gao’s death have made her so sad?
“We once shared tender moments at Plum Blossom Ridge.”
Those words felt like spoiled leftovers from the night before, making Qin Mingxu feel disgusted.
Feng Gao and she had a private affair.
Hmph. Feng Gao actually had the nerve to call Sang Yu his Elder Sister. Then why find such a replacement? His intentions were obvious.
Physically disabled.
Even a physically disabled person’s heart can be dirty.
No man in this world could tolerate his wife being desired by another and desecrated by a replacement.
Qin Mingxu suppressed his instinctive urge to vomit and followed the gatekeeper into the main hall.
The Zheng father and son were waiting for him.
Seeing him arrive, Zheng Tai smiled and said, “Boss Qin, please sit and have some tea to warm yourself. You must be tired after rushing back from Fuliang.”
Qin Mingxu politely took his seat.
On the small table for guests, a teacup was placed. Qin Mingxu took a sip; it was neither hot nor cold, just right. It was as if they had calculated when he would arrive.
Qin Mingxu became wary.
He slowly finished his tea and probed, “Am I walking into a trap by coming to the Zheng Residence today? The people from the Zhu Residence and Qin Residence have all been arrested. Soon, shackles and government soldiers from the prefectural office will be waiting for me.”
Zheng Father remained silent, blowing on the foam in his teacup.
Zheng Tai chuckled and said, “Boss Qin is a smart man. The path ahead – whether it’s a ditch, a river, or a main road – is yours to choose.”
“With my family imprisoned, do I still have a choice?” Qin Mingxu said indifferently.
Zheng Father put down his teacup and said in a low voice, “Naturally… you do.”
“Please enlighten me, Maternal Grandfather of the Emperor and Maternal Uncle of the Emperor.”
Zheng Tai carefully observed Qin Mingxu’s expression and said, “If the people of the Qin and Zhu families are all in trouble, what benefit would that bring to the Imperial Consort or our Zheng Residence? You know what the Imperial Consort wants, and what the Zheng Residence wants, don’t you, Boss Qin?”
Qin Mingxu pondered for a moment and said, “You may take whatever I possess. As long as my family is safe.”
The Zheng father and son exchanged a look.
“Last night, at the Qixia Post Station…” Zheng Father began, then stopped.
Qin Mingxu’s heart skipped a beat.
Zheng Tai caught his expression and said, “Young Master Qin, if you have something to say, please speak frankly. Even if you don’t, we already know. Let’s put it out in the open, and we can discuss it.”
In truth, they were just trying to trick him.
Feng Gao was very careful. Last night, at the Qixia Post Station, he left no trace. The people sent by the Zheng Residence were ensnared by Feng Gao’s trap and took half an hour to escape, tracking nothing.
However, with Zhang Jing’s prior suspicions, the Zheng father and son had already become wary. Seeing Qin Mingxu dare to come voluntarily today, they decided to use words to trap him.
Indeed, Qin Mingxu revealed his hand: “The Crown Prince case on the first day of the twelfth lunar month… the evidence is now in my hands. I have no intention of threatening you, Maternal Grandfather of the Emperor and Maternal Uncle of the Emperor. I only wish to save my family. If you could be lenient, we can all live in peace. My family and I would be eternally grateful.”
Qin Mingxu had been away in Fuliang for nearly half a month. How did the evidence suddenly fall into his hands?
All these signs confirmed to the Zheng father and son that Zhang Jing’s guess was correct: Feng Gao was not dead.
“Oh? Boss Qin, I don’t understand what you’re saying. What ‘evidence’ could possibly have anything to do with the Zheng Residence?”
“Whether it has anything to do with it, you know best, Maternal Uncle.”
“Where did Boss Qin obtain it?”
Qin Mingxu thought for a moment and said, “Left behind by Director Feng Gao before his death.”
Zheng Tai threw his head back and burst into laughter.
His laughter left Qin Mingxu bewildered.
“Lord Maternal Uncle, what are you laughing at?”
“Do you believe Feng Gao’s words so easily? No wonder people say that in the Qin Residence, you are the nominal master, but Feng Gao is the true master. Your wife, your fortune, everything you have, is controlled by Feng Gao,” Zheng Tai said, staring directly at Qin Mingxu.
That statement ignited an unprovoked anger in Qin Mingxu.
He said sternly, “Maternal Uncle, do not speak nonsense.”
Zheng Tai pressed on, “Feng Gao sent you to negotiate with us, so you came. Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to leave this door today?”
Qin Mingxu calmly replied, “If that were the case, within three days, the evidence would be presented to His Majesty’s imperial desk. Furthermore, every important official in the court would receive a copy. It would be nothing more than a mutual destruction.”
“Mutual destruction? Who is the fish, and who is the net? Who dies, and who is broken? In any case, it has nothing to do with Feng Gao. He and Zhu Sangyu can live freely from now on. Eunuchs cannot have children. Your child can be his child. Perfect. Zhu Sangyu’s marriage to you was merely to have a child…” Zheng Tai said.
“Silence! Silence!” Qin Mingxu stood up and roared.
Heaven knew how much it stung him every time Feng Gao reached out to touch Sang Yu’s belly.
My Elder Sister’s child is my child. Hmph, Feng Gao covets not only his wife but also his child!
Mutual destruction. It is not Feng Gao who dies, nor is it Feng Gao who is broken. Feng Gao, who is nominally “dead,” can conveniently escape and hide in the common folk forever.
Isn’t this exactly what Feng Gao planned? To eat the pancakes made by his Elder Sister and drink the wine brewed by his Elder Sister his whole life. Feng Gao had said this before.
Zheng Tai’s laughter was like the seductive allure of the poppy.
“You killed Feng Gao. I will release Zhu Sangyu, and I will release your entire family. From then on, this eunuch will be out of your lives… You will no longer have to endure his dictates, you will no longer be constrained by him… Your home, your wife, your child, will belong entirely to you…”
