Chen Liqin’s fingers trembled slightly beneath his wide sleeves. His son, who had finally returned home after so long, was placed in a room filled with junk.

It wasn’t just Zhang Zhuo who was furious; how could Chen Liqin himself not see the strangeness of the situation? He was also indignant. However, at this point, spreading the news would be pointless. As the saying goes, family scandals should not be aired publicly. If others knew, it would only make the scholar-official community laugh at them. As for Chen Ji, Chen Liqin could only find a way to compensate him later; for now, he could not make a scene.

Outside Tingquan Garden, Chen Liqin looked at the courtyard full of bricks and tiles. After a moment of thought, he instructed a young servant, “Bring the steward here. I want to ask him what happened. How could he misunderstand such a small matter? Madam clearly arranged Mingquan Garden for Chen Ji, so why was he led to Tingquan Garden?”

“Yes, sir,” the young servant replied, looking nervous, and hurried away with his head bowed.

Zhang Xia felt something was wrong. She quickly tugged at Zhang Zhuo’s sleeve and whispered, “Father, be careful he doesn’t tip off the steward so they can collude and cover up the truth.”

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and called out loudly, “You, servant, come back!”

The servant hesitated. “What are your orders, Lord Zhang?”

“You wait here,” Zhang Zhuo said, looking at Zhang Xia. “Daughter, go find any other servant and ask them to fetch the steward.”

Zhang Xia agreed and ran off swiftly.

Chen Liqin glared. “What are you doing, Lord Zhang?”

Zhang Zhuo replied nonchalantly, “Lord Chen, did the steward really mishear? You should know the truth in your heart. Chen Ji, were you present when Madam Chen arranged the lodging? If so, tell us where she arranged for you to stay. Don’t be afraid, I will see justice done for you.”

Chen Liqin’s fist clenched abruptly inside his sleeve. Indeed, Chen Ji had been present when Madam Liang arranged the lodging. Furthermore, Madam Liang had stated the reason for the arrangement very clearly: Mingquan Garden was far from where Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao lived, while Tingquan Garden was close. There was no way to get it wrong. If Chen Ji, being young, disregarded the bigger picture and revealed everything, the Chen family’s reputation would be ruined.

At this point, seeing Chen Ji hadn’t answered, Zhang Zhuo urged him again, “Chen Ji, did you hear clearly then? Where did Madam Chen say?”

Chen Ji nodded slightly. “It was Mingquan Garden.”

Chen Liqin felt relieved. It was rare and commendable for a seventeen-year-old to already know how to consider the broader situation.

Hearing Chen Ji’s words, Zhang Zhuo understood: Chen Ji only wanted to eliminate the steward this time and did not intend to extend the conflict to Madam Liang. Chen Ji had just returned to the manor, and it wasn’t yet time to put Madam Liang on the spot.

But Zhang Zhuo persisted. He stepped forward and said to Chen Ji, “Don’t be afraid. Speak out if you have any grievances; I will ensure justice for you. At worst, we won’t return to this Chen manor in the future. Don’t worry, I guarantee your food, clothing, and daily expenses will all be better than Zhang Zheng’s. The residence he lives in now will be vacated for you tonight!”

Chen Liqin said impatiently, “Doesn’t Lord Zhang have a son of his own? Why are you always thinking about other people’s sons? How would Zhang Zheng feel hearing all this?”

Zhang Zheng chuckled, “I don’t mind. If Chen Ji is willing to come tonight, I’ll move to another courtyard tonight—I’d even sleep on the street.”

Chen Liqin’s words caught in his throat. “You!”

At this moment, Zhang Xia arrived, hurriedly leading the steward, who was bowing his head. The steward came before everyone. He first glanced at Chen Ji, then at the open gate of Tingquan Garden, and immediately realized that the truth had come out. He lifted his robes, knelt down, and kowtowed while saying, “Master, it’s all my fault. Please punish me!”

Chen Liqin, exasperated, said, “You can’t even handle such a small matter correctly. How can I entrust the Chen manor to you? Madam clearly arranged for Chen Ji…”

“Wait!” Zhang Zhuo grabbed Chen Liqin’s wrist, interrupting him. He looked down at the steward’s back and asked with a smile, “Let me ask you, why did your Chen manor not let Chen Ji stay in the perfectly good Mingquan Garden, but instead insist on arranging this Tingquan Garden, which is filled with junk, for him?”

Chen Liqin’s expression changed. Zhang Zhuo was actually trying to coerce a confession right there in his manor. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Zhuo’s grip tightened abruptly, causing him pain.

Madam Liang, standing nearby, wanted to speak up and warn the steward, but Zhang Xia suddenly looked at her and said, “Auntie, you look so beautiful today.”

Madam Liang paused slightly, then instinctively replied, “Thank you, Miss Zhang Er—”

Before she could finish, the steward had already replied, “Reporting to Your Excellency, the Prefect, because Tingquan Garden is close to the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master, this humble one arranged for the Third Young Master to stay here.”

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. He had indeed tricked a confession out, but he hadn’t expected the steward to take all the blame upon himself without any prior collusion.

Chen Liqin was furious. “Zhang Zhuo, what are you trying to do? Are you treating my Chen manor as the yamen, even resorting to coercing confessions here?”

Zhang Zhuo brushed his robes and sighed softly, “Lord Chen, if the disputes within your own family have to be judged by me, the current prefect, don’t you find that sad?”

Chen Liqin froze on the spot.

Zhang Zhuo ignored him, lowering his gaze to the steward. “I ask you, who instructed you to do this?”

The steward had already collected himself. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Your Excellency is mistaken. No one instructed this humble one to do this. I also did it out of good intentions, hoping the Third Young Master could foster closer ties with the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master.”

Zhang Zhuo asked again, “If that’s the case, then why, after leading Chen Ji here, did you not arrange for servants to clean the place?”

The steward hesitated. “This—”

Zhang Zhuo said no more. He turned, grabbed Chen Ji’s wrist, and started walking towards the gate. “Come, come back with me to the Zhang manor. Don’t suffer grievances here! In this Chen manor, even a single servant can wield immense power and bully his superiors. Today they give you a junk-filled courtyard; who knows what they’ll do tomorrow!”

Chen Liqin quickly took two steps, intending to grab Chen Ji’s other arm, but before he could reach him, Chen Ji had already pulled his hand free from Zhang Zhuo’s grasp. “Lord Zhang, I will not go to the Zhang manor.”

Zhang Zhuo turned back, puzzled. “Hmm?”

Chen Ji said calmly, “Lord Zhang, it’s good enough to have a place to stay.”

Chen Liqin slowly stopped, his nose stinging with emotion. He gave Madam Liang a cold glance, then turned his fierce gaze to the steward and ordered a nearby servant, “Drag the steward out—beat him to death!”

Under the scorching midday sun, the steward panicked. His body trembled like a sieve, and sweat soaked his back. “Master, this humble one has been wronged!”

Madam Liang grabbed Chen Liqin, interjecting, “Master, this Wang Gui’s mother was your wet nurse. You even said you would visit her after returning to the capital. If you beat Wang Gui to death, how will you face her later?”

Chen Liqin remained silent.

Madam Liang continued to plead with Chen Liqin, “This concubine knows Master is angry, and I’m not saying we should just let him off. Wang Gui can be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape severe punishment. Have him dragged out and given twenty strokes with the staff, then dock his salary for three years. This concubine, as the mistress of the house, also bears fault. I will go to the Buddhist hall later and kneel for three days and three nights, fasting for three days before the Buddha, to reflect on my own shortcomings.”

Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia exchanged glances. This punishment was indeed severe. Madam Liang was essentially sacrificing her own reputation to save the steward. Twenty strokes with the staff meant the steward, even if he survived, would be severely injured. With Madam Liang acting like this, the steward certainly couldn’t be killed today. However, whether this punishment was sufficient was not for them to decide. Zhang Zhuo glanced at Chen Ji from the corner of his eye. Seeing his expression, and recalling his previous attitude, he understood.

He stepped forward and pulled Chen Liqin. “Even if this Wang Gui is your household servant, there’s no need to demand his death. I think your wife’s suggestion is quite good. There are state laws and family rules. When a servant like this appears in a household, the mistress of the house naturally needs to reflect thoroughly. However, after Wang Gui recovers from his injuries, he won’t continue to be the steward, will he?”

Chen Liqin’s face was devoid of expression. “Of course not.”

Zhang Zhuo sighed with emotion, “I originally wanted to take Chen Ji away, but I didn’t expect him to have such deep feelings for the Chen family. Oh well, I shouldn’t continue being the bad guy.”

Chen Liqin stared at him intently. “Lord Zhang, you caused chaos in my Chen manor the moment you arrived, and now you want to play the good guy?”

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily. “Lord Chen, you’ve misunderstood me! A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

At this moment, Wang Gui, seeing that he had escaped death, let out a slight sigh of relief. Beating with a staff had its techniques; those young servants probably wouldn’t hit too hard. Otherwise, with his connection to the Master’s wet nurse, he would eventually turn the tables and deal with them. Thinking this, Wang Gui kowtowed three more times on the ground, making loud thuds, and said tearfully, “This humble one has let Master down. I will go and receive my punishment now.”

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps were heard from behind. Chen Wenzong arrived, carrying a staff in his hand. He bowed to Chen Liqin. “Father, what has happened here now?”

Chen Liqin casually explained, “This Wang Gui was deluded and arranged your brother in this junk-filled courtyard, deliberately not sending servants to clean it for him. The truth has now been uncovered, and he is to be given twenty strokes with the staff.”

Chen Wenzong turned to look at Wang Gui, who was kneeling on the ground, his gaze turning colder. “I’ll do it.”

Wang Gui’s body went limp.

Evening fell, the sun setting.

After receiving twenty strokes with the staff, Wang Gui was barely alive and was carried by servants to his living quarters. Chen Wenzong had put all his strength into each stroke. After delivering twenty blows, his arms, which hadn’t been exercised in a long time, became swollen and sore. By the eleventh stroke, Chen Wenzong was somewhat exhausted, so he rested for a while before continuing. After these twenty strokes, Wang Gui no longer even had the strength to whimper.

In the past two months, this was the second time he had been punished because of Chen Ji. He didn’t know what misfortune had befallen him; the illegitimate son he used to easily manipulate now seemed completely beyond his control. Was today’s incident a coincidence, or was the illegitimate son meticulously planning? Wang Gui was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out, and he had no energy to think.

The young servants carried him through the courtyard and pushed open the wooden door of his living quarters. One servant whispered, “Godfather, it’s not that we didn’t want to help you, but the Eldest Young Master hit too hard. We couldn’t stop him.”

Wang Gui weakly said, “Shut up, put me on the bed, and all of you get out! Don’t think I don’t know you all want to see me humiliated!”

The servants pouted and said no more. Together, they carefully laid the steward face down on the bed. Just as they were about to turn and leave, the steward suddenly sprang up and exclaimed, “Pah, pah, pah, what’s on my pillow?”

The servants looked closely and saw that the steward’s face and mouth were smeared with dark, foul-smelling feces. Wang Gui screamed, pulling at his throat hysterically, “Who did this? Which of you did this? You dare to do it but not admit it? When I recover, I’ll deal with each and every one of you!”