CHAPTER 192: CHAPTER 192: XIAO WANG SUFFERS A MISERABLE LOSS

[Chapter 192: Xiao Wang Suffers in Silence]

Upon hearing Xiao Wang’s words, Mrs. Wang instantly remembered: the vegetables! Yes, the vegetables were the cause of her son’s arrest! It was all the fault of the second branch of the family!

Then, she shrieked and lunged forward, trying to scratch Sun Mei’s face. "You ruined my son! You ruined my son! Give me back my son!"

Clearly, Mrs. Wang was under immense stress and her sanity was fraying; she was acting like a madwoman.

The clan leader frowned and had Mr. Zhao pull his wife away. Only then did he ask Xiao Wang again, "What exactly happened?"

"It’s... it’s..." Xiao Wang began, wanting to explain, but she suddenly hesitated. She didn’t know what to say. Should I talk about how I tricked a four-year-old child out of the deed to the old residence? Or should I admit we thought Zhao Dong’s vegetable garden was a treasure trove, capable of growing priceless vegetables, and we wanted it for ourselves? And in the end, our scheme backfired spectacularly, and we even got our own men arrested? She was utterly at a loss for words.

Sun Mei sneered. "What is it? Why don’t you tell us? Let everyone hear how we supposedly ruined your husband."

Now, Xiao Wang felt like a mute who had eaten coptis—bitterly suffering but unable to speak of it. Finally, she choked out, her neck stiff with indignation, "It was... it was you! You tricked me into buying your old residence! We just gifted some vegetables grown in that old residence—the one from Landlord Qin—and then... and then..."

Saying this, she covered her eyes with her handkerchief and started crying again.

Sun Mei and Zhao Dong both put on expressions of astonishment. Sun Mei said, "Xiao Wang, what nonsense are you spouting? When you came to our house asking to buy the old residence, didn’t we tell you we were keeping it for Zhao Cheng to use when he gets married? That it wasn’t for sale?"

"How did it turn into us tricking you? Besides, there’s nothing wrong with that vegetable garden. We ate vegetables grown there all the time, and there were no problems."

Then she turned to Tongtong. "Tongtong, what’s going on here? Weren’t you the one holding onto the deed for the old residence?"

Zhao Zhitong blinked, then blinked again.

Grandpa Bai spoke at the opportune moment, Little girl, it’s your turn to perform.

Zhao Zhitong quickly responded, "Ah, oh."

Then, squeezing her eyes shut and opening her mouth wide, she burst out crying with a WAHHH! "It... it was on the day of the Housewarming Banquet! My aunt suddenly came to me. She said... she said everything belonging to the Zhao Family was mine, so how could I let Big Brother use it?"

"She also said I should sell everything in the house for money and keep it for myself! Then she said she’d give me five taels of silver if I sold the deed to her. I didn’t want to, so she hit me... WAHHH..."

As the child’s innocent-sounding words registered, the surrounding villagers began to murmur disapprovingly. They all started saying that Xiao Wang was truly unscrupulous, tricking even a child. It was despicable.

Xiao Wang’s face turned green with rage. This wretched little brat! She’s exaggerating everything! When did I ever hit her? And I clearly gave her two sets of jewelry as well!

But just then, the clan leader’s sharp gaze fell upon her once more.

Xiao Wang truly found it hard to defend herself this time. Finally, she could only stammer, "I... I just wanted to buy a plot of land for my son, Zhao Ji, to build a house..."

"Nonsense!" The clan leader slammed his palm on the table, furious. "There are plenty of plots for building houses in our village! Why on earth would you go and deceive a child?!"

Sun Mei interjected at the right moment, interrupting the clan leader, "Let it go, let it go. It’s the New Year. Since it’s sold, it’s sold. We’ll just buy another plot of land for Zhao Cheng later."

The clan leader sighed. He looked at Mrs. Wang’s family with disappointment and shook his head. Zhao Chun is finished this time. Their hopes now rest on Zhao Ji.

Although Zhao Chun’s arrest had caused a delay, the ancestral worship ceremony still had to proceed.

So, the clan leader shakily rose from his chair and announced the commencement of the worship ceremony.

Due to Zhao Dong’s removal from the clan registry and Zhao Chun’s arrest, Zhao Qiu, who had always been an overlooked figure, had his moment to shine today.

He became the representative of their lineage branch, responsible for entering the Ancestral Hall to perform the rites.

Once everyone else was occupied, Zhao Dong said with a laugh, "Brother Wang, you’ve witnessed quite the farce today. Come, let’s go to my home. We brothers should have a good drink."

Wang Fuhai was puzzled. "Hmm? Aren’t you participating in the ancestral worship?"

So, Zhao Dong told Wang Fuhai about his request to separate from the clan.

Hearing this for the first time, Wang Fuhai was thoroughly surprised. He felt Zhao Dong was incredibly bold. After all, very few people would voluntarily request to leave their clan. Doing so meant forfeiting the clan’s backing in the future.

However, seeing Zhao Dong in good spirits, Wang Fuhai shared his cheerfulness and readily agreed, "Alright, alright! Today, we won’t go home until we’re thoroughly drunk!"

After a hearty laugh, he added, "But it’s not quite time for drinking yet. I came because I have something important to tell you—good news, in fact!"

Lowering his voice slightly, he said, "The Emperor was greatly pleased after eating our vegetables. He has specially bestowed a plaque upon you. I reckon it will arrive soon."

"My master is worried that you might be caught off-guard and commit a breach of etiquette in front of the palace envoys, which wouldn’t be good. So, he specifically tasked me with coming here to inform you in advance, so you can be mentally prepared."

Zhao Dong’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh?"

"What are you ’huh’-ing about?" Wang Fuhai patted Zhao Dong’s shoulder and whispered, "This is a special favor His Highness Prince Liang specifically requested for you. It’s a wonderful thing!"

Zhao Zhitong stood obediently to the side, listening to Uncle Wang speak with her father, and politely refrained from interrupting.

Hearing talk of an imperial plaque, Zhao Zhitong silently asked Grandpa Bai, Grandpa Bai, is an imperial plaque from the Emperor a good thing?

Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and chuckled. "An imperial plaque inscribed by the Emperor himself is not only bestowed upon structures and subjects within the empire but also gifted to tributary nations and vassal states. Receiving such a plaque is an immense honor for a family. Of course, it’s a good thing!"

After hearing Grandpa Bai’s explanation, Zhao Zhitong grew excited. "Wow! My daddy is so amazing to receive such a wonderful thing!"

Seeing Zhao Zhitong’s adoring expression, Grandpa Bai couldn’t help but interject, insisting that he was the truly amazing one. After all, he was the one who provided the space and the Spiritual Spring water that made this achievement possible.

Zhao Zhitong said with a touch of playful pride, Then I’m amazing too! I watered the vegetables. Mother is amazing; she planted them. Big Brother is also amazing; he tilled the land...

The little girl counted on her fingers, praising everyone in the family one by one, but deliberately left out Grandpa Bai. This made Grandpa Bai’s beard tremble with mock indignation, and he huffily pretended to ignore Zhao Zhitong.

Then Zhao Zhitong immediately started to wheedle and coax Grandpa Bai to cheer him up.

Zhao Dong and Wang Fuhai were laughing and talking, about to head back to the Zhao residence. Just then, a striking horse carriage suddenly appeared, followed by a large retinue of people.

Leading the procession was a woman dressed in a red court gown, wearing an official’s headdress.

She alighted from the horse carriage, stood ramrod straight, glanced at the plaque above the Ancestral Hall, and announced in a clear, loud voice, "Where is Zhao Dong of the Zhao Clan? By order of His Imperial Majesty, I am here to deliver an imperial edict!"