Zhuang Chou had not expected me to have him replace Zhuangzi as both the manor's chief guard and steward.
"Mr. Jiang, could we discuss this further?" Zhuang Chou actually wanted to refuse.
I asked coldly, "What? You're unwilling?"
Zhuang Chou lowered his head. "No, I just feel that this is unfair to the boss. He has done a great deal for this manor all along. Removing him just like that—we all feel indignant on his behalf!"
I frowned. "We? Do you mean the Twelve Earthly Branches, or all the guards in the manor?"
This was not a good sign. Could it be that Zhuangzi had turned the manor into a solid front?
Still, the only people he could have won over should have been the Twelve Earthly Branches, perhaps along with the twenty-four manor guards. Jiang Ziyan and the other hundred Mechanical people could not possibly be at his beck and call.
Zhuang Chou said, "Naturally, the Twelve Earthly Branches. We have always followed the boss's lead. If you remove him, we will have no one to rely on!"
The more he said, the more I felt that Zhuangzi truly could not remain in the manor any longer.
My face darkened. "So I'm only the manor's owner in name? My words no longer carry weight? Tell me, does Zhuangzi call the shots in this manor, or do I?"
Zhuang Chou was stumped by my questions.
He froze for a few seconds before saying softly, "Naturally, Mr. Jiang calls the shots. Mr. Jiang is the true owner of this manor."
I snorted. If they did not sort out who was boss and who was subordinate, the manor would sooner or later descend into chaos again.
No wonder Jiang Ziyan had once said there were internal problems within the manor. It now