CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 282: SITUATION (PART 3)

Without these words, First Master’s face was already gloomy: "The Marquis Mansion’s marriage proposal, how dare you complain to me and blame Xiqiu?! The Grand Dowager settled on Xiqiu, and since she is the elder, shouldn’t you heed the Grand Dowager and let it be? What we needed was someone to protect Xing, to maintain the marital ties between the two mansions. As long as the Marquis Mansion was happy, whoever married there was of no concern to us. But you... you dared to play tricks with the Grand Dowager, forcing her to arrange a marriage for Xiyu. She’s just a young girl, and you want the Marquis to wait for a mere child to grow up to be wed. What, pray tell, is going through your head?"

Lady also felt remorse, thinking that the Marquis Mansion is not what it once was, but still, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. She underestimated the strength of the Marquis Mansion. Even so, regardless of how regretful she felt, she would never admit it: "I’m not blaming you for this, yet you dare blame me?! Where were you when Xihua was ill, and where were you when Xihua died? Those days, I was mentally and physically exhausted, running between the two houses, even dreaming of Xihua jumping around and talking to me. After she passed, all you did was send a letter, without even showing your face. How cold-hearted of a father you are." She paused, her voice turning bitter: "I told you that Xing marrying Eighth Girl was Xihua’s wish. Do you know why Xihua insisted Eighth Girl marry there... because before she died, your good son-in-law already harbored feelings for Sixth Girl, Xihua, even in death, couldn’t rest peacefully!"

First Master did not believe her at all. He stood up, looking at Lady with utter disappointment: "The Marquis Mansion’s affair didn’t go through, and Sixth Girl’s marriage ended up the way it did. Instead of reflecting on these mistakes, all you do is criticize Sixth Girl. So you found solace with the concubine, resolving the issue easily?! Zhang Feifeng, I’m very disappointed in you." First Master shook his head, sighing as he waved his hand: "You were convinced that even if I disregarded everything, I would still consider Shenzhi and wouldn’t do anything to you, wasn’t that right... Yes, indeed, I cannot do anything to you."

Lady felt a tinge of joy hearing this, a slight triumph showing in her eyes. But before she could fully revel in it, First Master spoke again, his voice flat and devoid of emotion: "From today, you will stay in this courtyard, and without my order, you are not allowed to go anywhere. As for the concubine, I have already notified Lord Xu. Such a poisonous woman can no longer be tolerated in Tong Mansion."

Lady was stunned. If First Master was throwing a tantrum, she wouldn’t be scared because she knew his anger was a sign that he still cared, just like every argument they ever had in the past. But if First Master was unusually calm, it meant he couldn’t even be bothered to argue, just like he did with Madam Wang back then; without a word, he sent her off to the countryside, never asking about her again.

Lady felt a sense of dread, taking a step back. First Master no longer looked at her, hands behind his back, heading outside, while saying: "Shortly, I’ll have Manager Lai collect the internal courtyard’s token. You don’t have to worry about matters at home anymore, just stay here quietly."

Stripped of power and put under house arrest!

Lady’s face changed dramatically. For years, she had held Tong Mansion tightly in her grasp; her words made the rains and winds come at her command, a sneeze from her could terrify the whole mansion for days. She was used to such days; she couldn’t hand over the power, definitely not: "Master, Master, you can’t do this, this household was managed single-handedly by me, I won’t easily relinquish power." She spoke while gripping the keys inside her waistband tightly, retreating non-stop!

First Master reached the door when he suddenly halted in his tracks, looking at her with dim eyes: "If you refuse to hand it over, fine; tonight, pack your things. Don’t you want to return to Yingtian... I’ll send you back!"

"You... Tong Zheng’an." Upon hearing this, Lady looked at First Master’s face and knew he was serious, not just trying to scare her. Shocked, she grabbed his sleeve, tears falling: "Tong Zheng’an, are you really going to divorce me over this trivial matter? Where is your heart?!"

Without a word, First Master waved her off with disgust, flicked his sleeve, and resolutely walked out the door!

Lady was pushed back, falling onto the heated brick bed by the window, disbelief flooding her eyes!

When the courtyard door opened, First Master saw Tong Shen Zhi and his siblings standing at the entrance, and Tong Xiyan crying her heart out. The moment the door was opened, she fell to her knees at First Master’s feet: "Father, Father... please do not be angry with Mother, she has endured so much over the years, even if she did something wrong, can’t we balance her merits against her faults? Although this may initially be unfair to Sixth Sister, who has been hurt, she is now out of danger. Let’s treat Sixth Sister a hundred times better than before, compensating for all the suffering she endured, just please don’t be angry with Mother any longer!" She was sobbing to the point of breathlessness, choking as she spoke: "If Father is truly angry, then I am willing to take Mother’s punishment. Even if it means going to Puji Temple, shaving my head, and spending the rest of my life in solitude, I would have no complaints."

First Master stood silently, his gaze deep and cold, eyes gradually shifting from Tong Xiyan’s face to Tong Shen Zhi’s, father and son locking eyes...

After a long while, Tong Shen Zhi slowly stepped forward, helping Tong Xiyan up, calmly telling her: "Wrong is wrong, there’s no such thing as merits offsetting faults in this world!"

First Master’s eyes flickered slightly with relief as he gazed at Tong Shen Zhi!

Just as he finished speaking, a loud crash suddenly came from inside the otherwise silent room. Tong Xiyan was startled upon hearing it, pushing away Tong Shen Zhi’s hand and running in. Shortly after, her cry echoed: "Mother, Mother..." Then she called: "Father, Brother... Mother has fainted."

Tong Shen Zhi nodded at First Master, bypassing him to walk up the steps and enter the inner room. First Master turned back for a long, heavy look at the inner room before walking away without turning back.

Lady had hit her head on the window sill and fainted immediately. By the time the doctor arrived, she was unable to speak.

As expected, First Master had Manager Lai take the keys from Zhui Garden. First Master then instructed Manager Lai, "In Lady’s room, other than the usual servants, irrelevant people are not to come and go casually." He also said: "Starting today, the affairs of the mansion will be handled by Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss. If there are any issues, report back, and those holding tokens can find Sixth Miss in the West Courtyard."

A stone stirs up a thousand waves.

Although the surface of the mansion appeared calm as ever, secretly, it was as though the entire place had been turned upside down. None of them had expected that First Master would strip the Lady of her power and give it to Sixth Miss and Fourth Miss to manage. Although it was said to be two people, who didn’t know that with Fourth Miss’s wedding approaching, and with all the stress of embroidery and wedding dresses, not to mention the affairs of the dowry fields, and Lady being ill requiring her care, she hardly had time to manage the household affairs. The real power fell into the hands of Sixth Miss.

No one could have imagined that the once lowly concubine’s daughter, locked away in the East Cross Courtyard with Madam Xia, struggling with her three daily meals, would one day stand above everyone in Tong Mansion, holding their fate in her hands.