Character Persona Perfected, No Need to Pretend Anymore

Whether it was to maintain his persona or for the rewards of imprisonment, Zhang Yu had no choice but to agree to this matter.

"Mother, your son... your son is willing to go!"

He lifted his head, his eyes meeting Lady Qin's, his face full of obedience as he said, "Heng'er is young, his constitution weak—naturally he cannot endure the suffering of prison. As the elder brother, it is my duty to share my younger brother's burdens and ease my mother's worries."

Qin Xuehua, Zhang Wanning, and Zhang Heng all exchanged knowing smiles. Zhang Yu's answer was exactly what they had expected.

How could a lapdog ever refuse?

"Then let's go. I'll see you out and also explain things to the Jingzhao Magistrate's runners, so they won't make things difficult for you."

Qin Xuehua rarely showed such consideration for her eldest son.

Zhang Wanning, looking displeased, snapped at Zhang Yu, "Why aren't you thanking Mother? She's condescending to lower herself and speak with those lowly runners for your sake—this is an immense favor."

She conveniently forgot that Zhang Yu was taking the blame for Zhang Heng; if anyone should thank her, it should be Zhang Heng.

"Rest assured, Mother. I will not disgrace the Marquis Estate's reputation."

Zhang Yu remained utterly respectful, turned, and prepared to leave, heading to the Jingzhao Prefecture to confess on his own.

Qin Xuehua and the others nodded silently, thoroughly satisfied with Zhang Yu's performance.

[Ding! Detected that the host has "voluntarily" fulfilled the promise to take the blame. This behavior meets the final requirement of the "People-Pleasing Persona." Current "People-Pleasing Persona" progress: 100%.]

[Congratulations, host. The "People-Pleasing Persona" mission has been successfully completed. From this moment onward, the host no longer needs to ingratiate himself with the Marquis Estate members or the fiancée. Future behavioral choices will be decided autonomously by the host.]

The mechanical voice was cold, yet it struck like a thunderbolt from the Nine Heavens, splitting open the depths of Zhang Yu's mind.

"No need to deliberately maintain anymore..."

"Decide on my own..."

Three years.

Over a thousand days and nights, he had forced himself to wear the mask of "pleasing," desperately currying favor with everyone in the Marquis Estate, and that damned fiancée.

Now, this life of hypocrisy was finally coming to an end.

Suddenly, he turned around—slowly, excruciatingly slowly—and silently gazed at Qin Xuehua and the others.

On his face, there was no longer any trace of the former servility or fawning.

Qin Xuehua was slightly startled by his look; an inexplicable, faint discomfort flickered through her heart.

Those eyes... too calm. So calm they didn't belong to the timid, groveling Zhang Yu.

Zhang Wanning also frowned, feeling that her useless eldest brother was acting strangely today, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was off.

Zhang Heng met Zhang Yu's gaze, and his heart jumped. The look carried no obvious emotion, yet it sent a chill down his spine.

Zhang Yu's lips moved.

Qin Xuehua assumed he was about to spout some nonsense like "Rest assured, Mother" or "Your son will surely remember," and was already preparing to look away.

Then she heard Zhang Yu say, in a grave tone, "Mother, do you know what it means if I go take the blame?"

For the sake of cultivation rewards, he still had to sit in prison. But since he no longer had to grovel to these ungrateful wolves, he wouldn't hold back.

"What do you mean by that?"

Qin Xuehua shot to her feet, staring at Zhang Yu in disbelief. This son, who had always meekly accepted whatever came his way, actually dared to talk back to her—this was outright rebellion.

A cold arc curled at the corner of Zhang Yu's mouth. There was no trace of humor in that curve, only frozen mockery.

"Mother, do you truly not understand, or are you playing dumb?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear. "The moment I step out that door today, bearing the charge of assaulting an Imperial Relative and entering the Jingzhao Prefecture prison, my future will be completely destroyed."

Qin Xuehua's face darkened. "Nonsense. It's just a few days in jail—how could it be that serious?"

"Not that serious?"

Zhang Yu cut her off, his gaze blazing as it pierced straight through Qin Xuehua. "Not to mention the damage to my reputation, but the Wang Family alone won't let this go. They lost that much face, had one of their Legitimate Sons' legs broken—do you think they'll just let it slide?"

He slowly swept his eyes over everyone, his tone heavy and dark:

"They can't touch the Marquis Estate. They can't touch your precious Second Young Master. But do you think they can't touch me—a willing scapegoat of an Eldest Young Master?

Whether I live or die in that cell, whether I come out missing an arm or a leg—have you ever once considered that?"

He took a step forward, and somehow his posture carried an oppressive aura.

"You... you insolent brat!"

Qin Xuehua, driven pale by his barrage of accusations, her chest heaving violently, pointed a trembling finger at Zhang Yu.

She had never imagined that this meek, submissive son could utter such heart-piercing words, tearing open the bloody reality and laying it bare before her.

"Insolent?"

The last trace of warmth in Zhang Yu's eyes vanished, replaced by an icy coldness.

"I may be insolent, but I'm still nothing compared to your favoritism.

Zhang Heng is the apple of your eye—you're afraid he'll fall if you hold him, afraid he'll melt if you put him in your mouth.

When he gets into trouble, your first thought isn't how to teach him to take responsibility, but how to cover it up, how to find a scapegoat."

And what about me?

Just because of two accusations from Zhang Heng—whether true or false—you didn't even investigate, and you threw me out to the countryside to fend for myself.

Even when you later brought me back, it was only a tactic to flaunt your 'benevolence.' And now you want me to take the fall for your precious youngest son.

Am I not your son too?

Am I just supposed to be shoved forward to bear the blame?

Do I really disgust you that much?