CHAPTER 567: CHAPTER 556: THE MARCHIONESS’S MAID

"Must you be so aggressively pressing?" Zhong Huaiwen’s face turned ashen.

Zhong Jue looked at him, laughing as he retorted, "Am I really the one who orchestrated today’s events? If Aunt Wei hadn’t been covetous of the family estate, would this have happened at all? If Grandmother and you hadn’t favored some over others, would I have been driven to this point? Besides, wasn’t it you, Father, who examined the accounts and then stormed into Aunt Wei’s courtyard to confront her three days ago?"

"You..." Zhong Huaiwen’s face fluctuated from green to white, unable to respond.

"Father, do you understand why I’m pressing Aunt Wei so hard today?" Zhong Jue fell into a reminiscence, "Do you remember, when my mother was in difficult labor with Lan’er, there were only a few doctors in the capital after the New Year’s. After much difficulty, we found one, but what happened? He was taken to Aunt Wei’s courtyard because she claimed a headache from the wind, and you believed it, saying that women give birth slowly, and you believed that too."

The cold look in Zhong Jue’s eyes intensified: "Had I not rushed to Aunt Wei’s place, perhaps my mother would have died in labor that year, along with Lan’er – two lives lost. Eventually, my mother gave birth to Lan’er only to see her health ruined henceforth. And this woman, who always pretends to be frail, is she genuinely weak? Since birth, Lan’er has been medicated for over a decade, yet everyone says Zhong Yin is the one with frail health. Ask yourself, do you really believe that?"

Zhong Yin shuddered, but Zhong Jue had not finished, "While my mother was alive, you were already ensnared by Aunt Wei. After Lan’er was born, have you ever sincerely cared for them, even for a day? After my mother’s passing, it became even worse. Even the servants in the Zhong Residence dared to slight Lan’er, the legitimate daughter. Did you ever intervene? Zhong Yin could acquire new clothes and jewelry at whim all year round, yet Lan’er had to wait for specific times each season, and even then, she received outmoded styles."

Zhong Huaiwen looked embarrassed and couldn’t make eye contact with Zhong Jue: "Why didn’t you tell me about these things?"

"Would telling you have made a difference?" Zhong Jue said, fraught with sarcasm, "Your heart had already turned to her and her two children. I am the legitimate eldest son, yet I had to seek education outside in the academy, while Zhong Lang, a bastard, is worth your personal instruction and searching for a suitable Master for him. I do owe you thanks, though. If not for your actions, I wouldn’t have been spurred on to achieve success and become the third-place winner in the Imperial Examination."

Zhong Lang’s face turned from red to black in shame and suppressed rage as he hung his head low.

"Not to mention the Imperial Examination. Who do you think added laxatives to the porridge I had? Zhong Lang, I despise you for not daring to compete on merit but resorting to underhanded and vile tactics."

"I never... I never thought to do that, it wasn’t me," Zhong Lang defended with a flushed face.

Zhong Jue’s mocking smile did not fade as he continued, "Of course, it may not have been you personally, but you acquiesced when your aunt added laxatives, didn’t you?"

"I didn’t," Zhong Lang continued to object.

"Whether you did or not, the point is if it had succeeded, you would’ve benefited. Can you honestly say you never wished for Father to give up on me so you could inherit the estate?"

"Without evidence, you can’t make baseless claims," Old Madam Wei countered weakly amid the confrontation.

"True, I lack evidence for that incident. Even after the servant later confessed to being instigated by Aunt Wei, you still deny it. But this time, the evidence of her embezzling from the estate is solid and indisputable, right? Father, ask your conscience, after all the hardships and grievances my sister and I endured since childhood, do you think I would let it go just because of your word?"

Zhong Huaiwen seemed to be shamed by the recollection of those events, hanging his head as he asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you want then?"

"What do I want?" Zhong Jue suddenly felt tired, realizing that spending his time on these people was a waste.

"I don’t want much—only for Aunt Wei to repay what she owes."

"How much is still outstanding?" Old Madam Wei, clinging to her frail body, glared at Zhong Jue with hatred.

Zhong Jue was no longer afraid of such looks and indifferently glanced at Zhong Lang.

Zhong Lang fell silent for a moment, then revealed the truth: "We’re still short of thirty thousand Silver Taels, and six pieces of the antiques and calligraphy are missing."

Old Madam Wei stumbled as she supported Zhong Huaiwen’s body: "That much?"

"Can grandmother make up for it? If you cover it yourself, I won’t quibble over it," Zhong Jue sneered.

Angered by his words or the shortfall in silver, Old Madam Wei retorted furiously: "When the time comes for the division of assets, don’t you still have to provide for Lang’er? Do you think everything in the house is yours?"

Zhong Jue had been waiting for this response: "Since grandmother has said so, let’s settle it like this. For now, let’s take note of the shortfall caused by Aunt Wei, and when it comes to dividing the family assets, distribute 80% to the legitimate son and 20% to the bastard son. These will offset the inheritance for my second brother!"

"You... You’re bullying others because of your power," Old Madam Wei was so angry she was nearly having a heart attack.

Unaware and unconcerned, Zhong Jue asked Zhong Lang, "Second brother, do you also think I’m not being excessive?"

"Not excessive," Zhong Lang said through clenched teeth.

"Father, what do you think?"

"Your second sister is not yet married, and Lang’er hasn’t taken a wife either..."

Zhong Jue smiled: "Father, rest assured, when it’s time for my second sister to marry, her dowry will naturally be provided from the public fund. However, the jewelry and valuable ornaments in her room that shouldn’t belong to a concubine daughter must be returned."

"You..." Zhong Yin was about to retort, but once again was silenced by the icy look in Zhong Jue’s eyes.

"Do as you wish." Zhong Huaiwen was listless at this point; the events had completely deviated from his intent, and he no longer wished to interfere. Over the years, he had indeed neglected Lady Wei and their two children, and it was understandable that Jue’er resented him and Aunt Wei. Moreover, he and his mother still had some private savings, so it would not result in Lang’er living in too miserable a state.

However, what he didn’t know was that Old Madam Wei and Aunt Wei, like him, had almost entirely spent their private savings on their maternal family.

In the end, all the items that Zhong Lang managed to recover were sealed in the storeroom. Despite Zhong Yin’s many objections, the items that should not belong to a concubine daughter were still taken away. Zhong Lang and Zhong Jue signed a contract regarding the future division of the family assets, witnessed by Zhong Huaiwen and two clan elders. When it was time to leave, the looks the two clan elders gave to Zhong Lang were somewhat off.

"Father and grandmother, please be at ease, the household expenses will remain the same as before, and nobody will be treated unfairly. Even after Lord Wenping joins our household, it will be the same. It’s just that some people should not harbor illusions about possessions that aren’t theirs," Zhong Jue said.

Upon hearing Zhong Jue’s words, Zhong Huaiwen’s heart finally felt some relief; fortunately, his eldest son was not unfeeling and ruthless, and he even began to reassess his son.

Handsome and talented; he had never complained before. It was only the pressure that had driven him to this...

Before long, he would marry Lord Wenping. It seemed that the revival of the Zhong Residence was in sight!