Chapter 18: I Am Merely Fanning the Flames

“What?”

“Could the lady of the house find out about this and end up implicating Sister Shen?”

“No, I was discreet. Besides, their petition was submitted long ago but has been ignored. I just applied some pressure to help move things along.”

“She’s still living at the Marquis of Northern Town’s residence. If I go too far, it’ll surely provoke the lady of the house’s backlash, which would be counterproductive.”

Bai Jin smiled knowingly and teasingly patted Xiao Tuyu’s shoulder. “Well done! You’ve gone this far for Sister Shen and still won’t admit it?”

Xiao Tuyu couldn’t help but recall what Shen Xianyue had said earlier—that this engagement was unexpected for her, and besides...

“Anyway, you can say some things to me, just not in front of her. Young ladies are sensitive, and reputation is very important.”

“All right, all right. Now that our Zishu has a fiancée, he’s certainly become much more mature.”

Xiao Tuyu ignored him and walked ahead on her own.

“Wait for me! Let’s go together.”

“I’m heading back to the Marquis’s residence. Are you coming too?”

“Of course! How could I not? The lady of the house must be furious right now; I want to see the commotion.”

Xiao Tuyu rubbed his forehead—Bai Jin truly had a strange obsession with watching chaos unfold.

At the Marquis’s residence.

“Smash!”

The lady of the house angrily threw down her teacup, shattering porcelain everywhere.

“Didn’t I tell them to watch their words and actions? Even if they must act recklessly outside, they shouldn’t give others a handle on them! And look at this—he not only forcibly took a girl from a common family but caused a death!”

Madam Wang stood cautiously to the side, unable to suppress her sighs.

The Zhu family had some influence, but in the capital, where even a falling brick could harm several third-rank officials, that wasn’t enough.

They had always relied on the Marquis of Northern Town’s prestige to act arrogantly outside. The lady of the house had repeatedly reminded them to be cautious, yet such a scandal still broke out.

“The deceased woman was a farmer’s daughter, with no power or connections. How could the authorities accept their petition?”

Madam Xiao said, “A farmer’s daughter is still a life. If it were some stray dog or cat, then her death might be dismissed. But do you know what people are saying? That our Marquis of Northern Town’s residence disregards the law and condones murderers.”

The lady of the house felt utterly overwhelmed by recent misfortunes—first Li Yang’s injury, then troubles from her natal family—wearing her down.

“Do you think this might involve the Champion Marquis...?”

She gently rubbed her temples, closing her eyes to calm herself.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s unlikely. I sent someone to inquire. The incident happened long ago, and the petition was submitted early, but the officials never processed it. Recently, some officials conducted routine inspections and couldn’t keep it hidden any longer, so it surfaced.”

“If it were the Champion Marquis, that would be too coincidental.”

The lady of the house’s headache worsened. “What you say makes sense, but ever since he returned, the household has been restless. He caused his own mother’s death and disrupted the peace here—a real curse!”

Madam Wang quickly gestured to the maids nearby to leave, worried that overhearing too much might cause rumors.

Once only the two of them remained, Madam Wang approached the lady of the house and gently pressed on her temples, expertly massaging away the tension.

“I know you’re angry, madam, but the title is still in master’s hands, and the heir is our eldest son. No matter how much he stirs trouble, he can’t take that away. Let’s just treat him as an unwelcome guest and keep our distance.”

“As for Zhu Rui’s matter, it can be blown up or downplayed. Officials are smart; they know whom to provoke and whom not to. As long as the Zhu family clarifies that the main family was unaware and finds a few farmers who worked with Zhu Rui to testify—perhaps with some silver—this can be smoothed over. At worst, Zhu elder will be blamed for poor supervision.”

“But I’m afraid Zhu Rui’s life can’t be saved.”

The pain eased considerably, and the lady of the house sighed. “Zhu Rui’s actions already cost a life. Such a parasite will only bring more trouble. Write a letter to the Zhu family as you said—clear things up and reduce taxes for the farmers on the estate for two years to soothe the people.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Thankfully, you’ve always been by my side. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have a confidante.”

The lady of the house closed her eyes to relax, but before the pain fully subsided, a maid cautiously entered.

Madam Wang glared at her. “What urgent matter disturbs madam?”

The young maid immediately bowed her head and nervously said, “Madam, from the heir’s quarters—someone reported that the heir insists on getting out of bed, and the servants cannot stop him.”

“What?”

The lady of the house opened her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. “Nothing is peaceful from top to bottom.”

Madam Wang sighed as well. The heir was nearing the age to marry but remained reckless and impulsive.

They approached the heir’s courtyard and heard loud commotion inside even before entering.

“You insolent dogs! Who gave you the courage to block me? Let go!”

The courtyard was filled with people kneeling.

“Heir, madam said you are not allowed outside until you fully recover. The servants dare not disobey!”

Xiao Liyang limped, supported on both sides, with someone kneeling and clutching his clothes, repeatedly kowtowing. His crutch was taken far away and held tightly in a servant’s arms.

“I will not listen to her but only to myself. If you block me again, I’ll have you all executed!”

Unfortunately, this threat had no impact; they still held him and blocked his way.

Xiao Liyang’s anger flared instantly. Using all his strength, he threw the people around him aside. Without support, he fell flat on his back.

The lady of the house, furious, strode up to him and scolded, “Look at what you’ve become! If others see the heir of the Marquis of Northern Town in this state, they’ll laugh their teeth out!”

Xiao Liyang painfully lifted his head to look at the elegant lady before him. “Why won’t you let me out?”

Madam Wang quickly signaled the others to help him up. In just moments, his robe was stained with patches of dirt, looking utterly unsightly.

“I’m keeping you in for your own good. A few days ago, you recklessly provoked Xiao Tuyu and ended up making a fool of yourself. Everyone outside is waiting to laugh at you. Besides, your leg is injured—why go out and give them more material to mock?”

“What are you standing there for? Help me back inside!”

The servants hurriedly moved to comply, turning to enter the house.

“Wait!”

Xiao Liyang suddenly shouted, shaking his arms irritably. Yet the servants clung to him as if glued. It was laughable—his own household servants obeyed the lady of the house but couldn’t be commanded by their master!