Zhang Heng Prepares to Showcase His Skills

The next day, Marquis Yong'an's Estate.

Zhang Heng was, after all, a Fifth-rank martial artist, his physique far surpassing that of ordinary people.

Coupled with the estate's deep foundations and willingness to spare no expense, they utilized their treasured top-grade healing sacred medicine.

In just one night, Zhang Heng's injuries were eighty to ninety percent healed.

Qin Xuehua personally brought him ginseng soup, her voice full of heartache and indignation: "My poor Heng'er, you've suffered so much this time. It's all that wicked creature's fault, with such malicious intent, to even lay such a vicious hand on his own brother."

Zhang Wanning gritted her teeth and added: "Exactly, that beast Zhang Yu must be jealous that Mother dotes on you, jealous of your talent, that he used such despicable means to harm you. Does he think he can ruin you this way? Dream on!"

Zhang Qingyue said softly, "Fifth Brother, take good care of yourself. Don't dwell on those sordid matters anymore."

Jiang Luohan sat on an embroidered stool a little further away. She managed to maintain a semblance of concern on her face, but deep in her eyes, there was still a trace of imperceptible distance and lingering disgust.

Zhang Heng's face was pale, his eyes sinister. The fear and humiliation from yesterday had not completely dissipated; instead, they festered in his heart, turning into deeper resentment.

He listened to the comfort of his family and "beloved," especially the unanimous condemnation of Zhang Yu. That surge of wicked fire and the urge to prove himself welled up in his heart again.

His eyes flickered with venomous and resolute light. "Didn't Zhang Yu boast that all the glory and wealth of the Marquis Estate are solely supported by him in secret? Then I'll show him who's truly incapable."

He threw off the covers and prepared to get out of bed. "From today onwards, all businesses, industries, manors, and shops within and outside the Marquis Estate will be taken over by me, Zhang Heng. I will do ten times, a hundred times better than that waste Zhang Yu. I will let him know that his laughable reliance and schemes are nothing but wishful thinking before me, utterly vulnerable."

Seeing his "ambition," Qin Xuehua felt both gratified and heartbroken. "Heng'er, if you have such ambition, your mother naturally supports you. You are smarter than Zhang Yu and have high talent; you will definitely do a thousand times better than him."

Zhang Wanning also clapped her hands and cheered, "Yes, Xiao Heng will definitely succeed! Let that waste see what true ability is."

Zhang Qingyue nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

Jiang Luohan looked at Zhang Heng's renewed spirit, and the sense of distance in her heart faded a little.

With the support and encouragement of everyone, Zhang Heng's confidence soared. He immediately summoned his personal attendant and ordered, "Come, bring your men. I want to audit the accounts of every single shop, one by one, and understand their operational status."

"Yes, Young Master." The attendant took the order and left.

Zhang Heng, attended by his maids, changed into new clothes and was about to depart immediately.

Just then, outside the heavy vermilion-lacquered gates of the Marquis Estate, a deafening clamor suddenly erupted. "People of Marquis Yong'an's Estate, listen up! Under the orders of my master, we are here to collect the debts owed by your Zhang Yu. A total of seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand five hundred taels of silver ingots, with IOUs and agreements as proof. Please open the gates quickly and settle the matter clearly to avoid any unpleasantness."

It was people from the Wang Family.

"What? The Wang Family? Collecting debt? Seven hundred and sixty thousand...?"

"Heavens, that much money?!"

"Look quickly, there are so many Wang Family stewards outside, and they're even beating gongs."

The entrance of the Marquis Estate was instantly crowded with servants, who murmured amongst themselves with looks of panic.

Qin Xuehua, Zhang Wanning, Zhang Qingyue, and Jiang Luohan, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, hurried to the front courtyard. Hearing the shouts and the gong from outside the gates, their faces turned deathly pale, as if they had been slapped hard in public, the sting burning fiercely. Especially Qin Xuehua and Jiang Luohan, one the matriarch of the Marquis Estate, the other the daughter of a minister, when had they ever endured such public humiliation of debt collection? This was simply stripping their skin and trampling it on the ground.

"This is too much! The Wang Family is going too far!" Qin Xuehua trembled all over with anger, pointing at the gate, her voice sharp.

"How dare they, how dare they humiliate my Marquis Estate like this?" Zhang Wanning also shrieked, filled with urgency and rage.

Zhang Qingyue tightly pursed her lips, looking outside the gate, then at the ashen-faced Zhang Heng and the swaying Jiang Luohan, her heart turning ice-cold. She knew that Zhang Yu's "prophecy" had come true. This was not just a debt; it was a long-planned revenge and humiliation by the Wang Family.

The Marquis Estate was definitely going to lose face this time.

Jiang Luohan was furious and ashamed to death, as this debt was entirely under her name.

"Mother, don't panic."

Zhang Heng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear and humiliation in his heart. He knew he couldn't afford to lose his composure right now.

There was a written agreement for this debt, and the Wang Family had the legal standing. Making a big scene would only bring more shame to the Marquis Estate.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Let's just pay the money back. Consider it a disaster averted by spending money. We absolutely cannot let the Wang Family look down on us!"

"Right, pay the money! Our Marquis Estate isn't unable to afford it."

Zhang Wanning also puffed out her chest, trying to maintain the dignity of a young lady of the Marquis Estate.

However, despite what was said, seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand five hundred taels was no small sum.

Although the Marquis Estate was wealthy, it would be extremely difficult to gather such a large sum of cash on hand at short notice.

"Madam, Young Master, the cash available in the accounts, plus the revenue from various shops these past few days, can at most gather... one hundred and fifty thousand taels."

Steward Fu hurried over, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and reported in a low voice.

"One hundred and fifty thousand taels?"

Qin Xuehua's brows furrowed. The shortfall was too great.