Madam Wang looked at Zhang Gaoqiu, who was bowing to pay his respects, and there was a bone-chilling coldness in her eyes, a hint of killing intent flowing in them.
If Zhang Gaoqiu hadn’t miscalculated, how could I have been defiled?
"You still have the face to see me?" Madam Wang glared angrily at Zhang Gaoqiu.
Zhang Gaoqiu smiled bitterly and said, "Aunt, I am really wronged! Who could have thought that my cousin and I would faint together? Don’t you find it strange? How could such a coincidence happen?"
"Are you implying that someone secretly plotted against us?" Madam Wang’s brows furrowed.
Zhang Gaoqiu nodded bitterly, "It seems so, otherwise how could both my cousin and I have fainted at the same time?"
"Tell me what happened again," Madam Wang said.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu recounted the events, and after listening, Madam Wang clenched her fists tightly, a hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes: "Who is assisting Zhang Chen? The defense of our Shen Family is strict, sneaking in is not easy. It must be a traitor within our Shen Family, acting against us in the shadows."
Zhang Gaoqiu then raised his head to look at Madam Wang, his eyes carefully observing every detail on her, then testedly said, "After my cousin and I fainted, what happened...?"
Madam Wang glanced at Zhang Gaoqiu, maintaining her composure as she said, "I subdued Zhang Chen, then waited in your courtyard for the Madam and others to come and catch the adulterer, but waited and waited, and no one showed up. After several hours, I knew something had gone wrong, so I left."
At this point, Madam Wang couldn’t help but recall the scene from that day in her mind, the violent impact, crashing into her again and again across time and space, causing her fair, tender hands to clench into fists, a hint of killing intent once again appearing in her eyes, yet she immediately concealed it.
Zhang Gaoqiu didn’t notice the anomaly in Madam Wang and was skeptical about her words. At this moment, Madam Wang changed the subject: "Let’s temporarily put aside the matter of Zhang Chen. Your marriage with Shen Ling cannot be delayed any longer. I have already spoken with Zhang Chen to annul the engagement with Shen Ling. I intend to send someone to the Zhang Family in Kyoto to propose marriage. Write me a letter, and I will have it delivered to Kyoto."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu was stunned, showing a hint of hesitation on his face. The reason he had been courting Shen Ling was to seek the Shen Family’s item, but now that it’s lost, he had many choices. Shen Ling was not his ideal match.
Moreover, he had taken Shen Ling before marriage, so he inevitably looked down on her, but things had come to this stage, and he could only nod reluctantly: "I will write the letter now."
Madam Wang nodded in satisfaction, watching carefully as Zhang Gaoqiu wrote the marriage letter, then said, "If you have time, persuade Shen Qiu for me. He and Jiang Nan are not a good match..."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu looked up in astonishment at Madam Wang, his eyes filled with surprise. He knew that Madam Wang had been trying her best to match Shen Qiu and Jiang Nan, so why was she suddenly trying to separate them?
However, unable to understand Madam Wang’s thoughts, he nodded and said, "Yes," and continued writing the letter, his mind racing with thoughts: "Marrying Shen Ling now offers me no benefits..."
While his thoughts were changing, Zhang Chen had already arrived at the Madam’s residence. After announcing himself, he entered the inner hall to see the Madam sipping tea.
Seeing Zhang Chen approach, a smile appeared on her face: "Good grandson, come over here and let grandma take a good look at you."
Zhang Chen bowed, then approached as the Madam pulled him closer to examine him. After some conversation between the two, Zhang Chen spoke, "Grandma, I have come today with two requests for you to make decisions on."
"What matters do you have? Has someone in the residence mistreated you?" the Madam’s voice was stern: "Tell me if you’ve been wronged, and I will definitely stand up for you."
The Madam’s words were firm and powerful, and Zhang Chen could see she was genuinely concerned, so he smiled and said, "Not at all, with you supporting me, who would dare mistreat me? I think, my engagement with Shen Ling is a forced one, and I already have someone I like, so it’s better to call it off for everyone’s good."
Upon hearing this, the Madam’s face immediately turned somber: "Boy, tell me, has anyone threatened or coerced you? Just tell me, and I shall stand up for you! Even though I’m old, and have lived in the back residence for many years, I am not yet senile, the Shen Family is still under my control!"
Zhang Chen hurriedly said, "These are my heartfelt words, truly sincere, with no coercion from anyone, please do not wrong a good person. I simply feel that a forced relationship is not sweet, it’s better to let go and find love elsewhere."
"Is that truly what you think?" the Madam asked, taking a deep breath, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes.
Zhang Chen nodded earnestly.
Hearing this, the Madam said, "If that’s the case, I will take charge and cancel the engagement."
"The second matter is about the spot in the Inner Courtyard of Chongzheng Academy. After reconsidering, I regret it. Mother’s keepsake was left to me by her, how can I use it as a trade item? Please have mercy, considering my youth, and allow me to retract my decision." Zhang Chen said.
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen looked at Zhang Chen, and asked again, "Are you sure? You don’t know when or if the heirloom will be found."
"I am sure," Zhang Chen replied.
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen nodded, "Since you have this intention, I will follow your wishes."
Zhang Chen could feel that Madam Shen was genuinely sincere towards him. However, the Shen Family’s relations were intricate and complex; caught between her son and her grandson, she remained hesitant but was somewhat inclined. Yet, Zhang Chen did not blame the elderly lady; if he were in her position, he might also favor his own son.
After chatting with Madam Shen for a while longer, Zhang Chen bid her farewell and left. As he walked out of her courtyard, Zhang Chen gazed at the smoke-filled Shen Family estate, a thoughtful expression in his eyes, "Now that my purpose in coming to the Shen Family is accomplished, I should strive to enter the Chongzheng Academy to see if I can gain the opportunity for my physical body to enter the Spiritual World. Leaving the Shen Family now is indeed a move to avoid harm. The Shen Family has been targeted by Yellow Heaven Dao and secretly schemed against by the Salt Gang and Cao Bang. I must make an early retreat."
With this in mind, Zhang Chen returned to his own courtyard and began pondering the next steps.
"Zhang Chen, I have a feeling that staying at the Shen Family is not quite right. We should move out early to prevent any subsequent troubles. Too many people within the Shen Family have malice against us; we might not be able to withstand the brewing storm." Mrs. Zhang said aloud.
"I’ll go out tomorrow to look for a house. Once I find one, we’ll move out," Zhang Chen reassured Mrs. Zhang.
To be honest, he did not want to stay here either; he had long considered leaving.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhang gently rubbed her still red and swollen cheek, a slight smile on her face, "The Shen Family is vast and powerful. With just the flick of a finger, they could crush us to dust, plunging us into an abyss of disaster. Although your mother’s relics are good, too many are eyeing them. You should withdraw early. If your mother watches over us from the heavens, she would surely feel that your safety is more important than any object."
Zhang Chen nodded in agreement, understanding Mrs. Zhang’s point, and said, "Rest assured, Second Lady!"
On the morning of the next day, Zhang Chen used his Escape Technique to leave and reappeared at Liu Ji’s small courtyard.
At this moment, Liu Ji was sitting under a plantain tree in the courtyard, meditating and practicing Qi Cultivation. Hearing Zhang Chen’s movement, he opened his eyes and said irritably, "Can’t you knock when you arrive? What if you intrude on my privacy? That will be troublesome."
"What privacy could you possibly have? The only thing worth praising is your Absolute Defense. What else do you have that can’t be seen?" Zhang Chen retorted irritably.
Liu Ji was too lazy to argue further and changed the topic, "You’re here again. Is there something you need?"
"I want to buy a courtyard, one that’s safe, hidden, and discreet." Zhang Chen said, "Preferably far from Yellow Heaven Dao, one that won’t attract their attention."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ji asked, "Do you have a budget?"
"Ten thousand taels of silver," Zhang Chen replied.
Liu Ji shook his head, "Jinling is a place where land is precious. Wanting to buy such a courtyard with ten thousand taels of silver is a fool’s dream! For such a courtyard, it needs to be a separate and elegant dwelling located in an area with influential houses to meet your requirements."
"This kind of courtyard can’t be obtained without at least a hundred thousand taels. Even a hundred thousand is just the starting price," Liu Ji said.
"But I don’t have that much money," Zhang Chen responded.
Liu Ji scratched his head, "Difficult! Leave it to me; come here in three days to hear from me."
"Here are ten thousand taels in silver notes." Zhang Chen pulled the notes from his sleeve.
"Where did you get so much money?" Liu Ji’s eyes widened at the sight of the silver notes.
Rebels don’t have money!
If rebels had money, why would they rebel? Why would they put their heads on the line?
Liu Ji himself didn’t even have a hundred taels of silver.
Yet he pushed the silver back towards Zhang Chen, "No need! With ten thousand taels, you can’t even buy a hair of what you need. Keep it for yourself. With our friendship, if I’m helping you, there’s no need for you to spend silver."
"How to buy a house without silver?" Zhang Chen was puzzled.
"Yellow Heaven Dao is about to make a move on the Shen Family; the pie in Jinling City will inevitably be re-divided. How many have their eyes on the Shen Family’s big pie? For me to abuse my power to get you a courtyard at this time is simple," Liu Ji smiled smugly.
Liu Ji didn’t have money, but with Yellow Heaven Dao about to strike the Shen Family, the Shen Family’s vacated benefits would soon make him a wealthy steward.
PS: Additional Chapter for alliance leader Feng Junshi Haoran (three).