Reporting to the Authorities

Little sister Zheng Shan seemed to realize she'd said the wrong thing, covering her small mouth as she looked at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa glanced at the Seventh Young Master beside him, who had a look of amused observation, then lowered his head, smiled at his little sister, and petted her head.

The little sister understood immediately. She tilted her face up and began to complain:

"Wang Gui is the worst! Of everyone in the manor, he's the one who likes to bully people the most!"

"How did he bully you? Tell me, I'll sort it out for you."

The Seventh Young Master put down his bowl, smiling at Zheng Shan, who looked ready to plead her case.

"He stole my Pig Grass Leaves! I spent two hours picking them, and he snatched them all!"

"Pig Grass Leaves?" The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa.

"They're used to feed the pigs in the manor," Zheng Fa said, lowering his gaze. "My family eats them too."

"..." The Seventh Young Master held his rice bowl, looking at the plain white rice inside, and for a moment, he seemed unable to speak.

"He didn't even eat them after he stole them, he just threw them on the ground and stomped on them!"

Little sister just wanted to lodge a complaint, but talking about it still made her angry, and tears welled up in her big eyes.

From her expression, it was clear that the fact that the Pig Grass Leaves were trampled and ruined made her sadder than Wang Gui stealing them.

"Is that so?"

The smile on the Seventh Young Master's face slowly faded.

"That's not all! The new cloth that someone gave my brother, the beautiful new dress my mother made for me, Wang Gui and his men tore it to shreds as soon as I put it on!"

Zheng Fa looked at the old clothes his little sister was wearing, his gaze also deepening.

When he was at home, although Wang Gui wasn't friendly to their family, at most he would just isolate him and his little sister.

Now that he was staying in the Zhao Manor, Wang Gui probably felt that he had stolen his position as a Page, and harbored resentment, acting more and more recklessly.

"Anything else?" Before the Seventh Young Master could ask, Zheng Fa spoke.

"Yes! He also badmouthed the Seventh Young Master and my brother!" Zheng Shan pouted. "He said the Seventh Young Master is eccentric and difficult to serve, just born lucky, and that my brother would definitely be beaten to death by the Seventh Young Master!"

Zheng Fa looked at the Seventh Young Master, whose complexion had worsened, and gave his little sister, who looked indignant, a very complicated look.

This little one could even stir up trouble!

More importantly, even Zheng Fa believed that his little sister couldn't have come up with such words at her age—it must have been something Wang Gui actually said.

In this world, compliments were rarely sincere, but insults were often filled with genuine feeling.

This criticism of the Seventh Young Master was definitely from the heart...

And yet, the Seventh Young Master knew what kind of person he was, and perhaps deep down, he might even think Wang Gui was right!

Wouldn't that be even more infuriating?

At the doorway, Wang Gui stood holding a basin of freshly cooked chicken, staring blankly at Zheng Shan, his face paler than the peeled chicken legs in the basin.

Steward Wang, behind Wang Gui, immediately pulled him to his knees and prostrated him on the ground, not even daring to utter a word of plea.

The Seventh Young Master looked at the father and son kneeling on the ground, pursing his lips.

He lowered his head and forced a smile at Zheng Shan, saying, "Wang Gui is so bad, how do you want me to punish him?"

Zheng Shan's eyes lit up. "It's up to me?"

"Up to you!"

"I..." The little one bit her finger, pondering for a long time. "I can't think of anything!"

"Then shall I give you a suggestion?"

"Yes! My brother said, you're the smartest, Seventh Young Master!"

Zheng Fa: ...I never said that!

The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Fa in surprise, his expression becoming much brighter.

After all, children don't lie, right?

"Last time my mother beat him with a board, and he didn't seem to change," the Seventh Young Master glanced at Wang Gui, who was kneeling on the ground trembling. "How about another beating?"

"Okay, okay!" Zheng Shan clapped her hands, but then looked a little dissatisfied. "But after he was beaten last time, he became even worse."

"Don't worry, this time I'll beat him to death."

The Seventh Young Master's expression remained unchanged as he said this.

Wang Gui at the door could no longer hold on, slumping to the ground, his face filled with despair, only muttering unconsciously, "Young Master, spare me."

"To death?" Little sister Zheng Shan was also startled. "Like my father?"

Her concept of death was almost entirely derived from her late father, Zheng Fu. Thinking of this, a conflicted look appeared on her face, and she cautiously tugged at the Seventh Young Master's sleeve, saying, "Don't beat him to death."

"Oh?" The Seventh Young Master looked at Zheng Shan, who was pleading for Wang Gui, a hidden smile in his eyes. "Don't you hate him the most?"

"I hate him, but... I can forgive him!" Zheng Shan said, patting her small chest to show her magnanimity. Then, her voice lowered, "Father died. Mother said I was too young then, I don't even remember him."

The Seventh Young Master touched her small, bowed head. He remained silent for a long time before nodding and saying, "Since you've already forgiven him, I'll spare his life."

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Tears streamed down Wang Gui's face, unsure if they were from overwhelming joy. Behind him, Steward Wang also wore an expression of relief after escaping disaster.

"Thank her," the Seventh Young Master pointed at Zheng Shan.

Wang Gui and his son kowtowed repeatedly to Zheng Shan.

The youngest sister, Zheng Shan, seemed a little scared and hid behind Zheng Fa.

The Seventh Young Master suddenly said to Steward Wang, "You are Wang Gui's father. A child's misdeeds are a father's fault. You are no longer fit to be a steward!"

Steward Wang trembled but dared not speak.

"Get out."

Wang Gui, filled with relief, left with Steward Wang, not noticing the despair on his father's face.

Zheng Fa, however, guessed Steward Wang's worries: having managed such a large estate for five years, his methods were likely not entirely above board. Losing his position as steward might invite retribution.

As for Wang Gui... Zheng Fa, having experienced similar ups and downs in life, could only wish him the strength to bear such a drastic change.

He glanced at the Seventh Young Master, thinking that this young master probably understood his own decision. It might be even more despairing for Steward Wang than if Wang Gui had been beaten to death.

Perhaps it was intentional.

After dinner, the Seventh Young Master and Gao Yuan still had to stay at Steward Wang's house—there was simply no room for them at the Zheng Family's residence.

Zheng Fa escorted the two of them. When they reached the intersection, the Seventh Young Master suddenly spoke:

"Zheng Fa, I envy you."

"Hmm?"

"I am a young master, and you are a farmer, yet I envy you." The Seventh Young Master looked at the night sky. "Your mother worries about you. Even if you returned in glory, she would first want to know if you are living well, if you are safe. Your sister, at such a young age, knows to speak well of you in front of me."

Zheng Fa nodded, unable to discern the expression on the Seventh Young Master's face.

"This is something I can never have." The Seventh Young Master waved his hand. "Today, I came for them. Go back!"

Zheng Fa watched the two of them leave, then turned and walked towards the light from his mother's room.

As he reached the doorway, he heard Mother Zheng scolding his youngest sister, Zheng Shan.

"Why aren't you listening again?"

"Mother, when was I not listening!" Zheng Shan's tone was a little wronged.

"Didn't I tell you not to let your brother report things!"

"I didn't ask Brother to say anything! I said it myself!"

"But what if you offended the Young Master? Wouldn't that implicate your brother?" Mother Zheng still felt her daughter was a bit too bold.

"I'm only six years old! Is the Young Master going to hold it against me?"

Zheng Fa pushed the door open, picked up his little sister, whose eyes were wide and who was speaking indignantly, and said with a smile, "Mother, don't scold little sister. The Seventh Young Master even praised her."

"Exactly!" The little sister raised her head, looking smug, and even proud of her acting skills.