Zhang Yu's Fiancée

Hearing their self-righteous remarks, Zhang Yu let out a cold laugh, dripping with sarcasm and absurdity.

"Fine, fine—a fine show of vying for favor and throwing a tantrum."

Zhang Yu was speechless, convinced these people had screws loose, as if they couldn't understand plain human speech. He had to spell it out more bluntly: "Today, I, Zhang Yu, voluntarily go to the Jingzhao Prefecture to bear the crime of beating the Wang Family's junior. Consider it repayment for the debt of birth and upbringing. From this day forward, I sever all ties with the Marquis Yong'an's Estate—no further connection whatsoever."

With that, he turned without hesitation and left, walking alone toward the Jingzhao Prefecture office.

These words of ruthless severance he spoke with clarity and calm, carrying not a trace of petulance or agitation.

Yet, when they landed on the ears of Qin Xuehua and the others, they received a completely different interpretation.

Qin Xuehua's tense expression relaxed slightly, and she even revealed a knowing, mocking smile.

"Hmph, isn't he still obediently going to take the blame?"

She murmured to Zhang Wanning beside her, her tone dripping with contempt: "I told you, this whole fuss of his is just him feeling sour and trying to show how important he is. See? No matter how big his tough talk, in the end, he still trots off to take the blame like a good boy. Just a child's tantrum."

She didn't take Zhang Yu's declaration of severance seriously at all, dismissing it as nothing more than a ploy for attention.

Zhang Wanning also curled her lips, wearing an expression that said she saw right through it all: "Exactly, all thunder and no rain. I thought he might actually stir up some waves, but he's still going to take the blame, isn't he? Talking about severing ties—who's he trying to scare? Once he's suffered a few days in jail, he'll be begging the Estate to bail him out. Then we'll see if he still has the face to talk tough."

Zhang Heng also let out a sigh of relief: "Eldest Brother has always been like this—stubborn and stuck in his own head. Mother, Sister, don't bother taking it to heart. Once he's out of jail and sees how hard the world is out there, he'll naturally realize how good he had it at home."

There was no helping it—three years of Zhang Yu's groveling image had been deeply ingrained. No matter what he did, everyone assumed he was just trying to curry favor with the Qin family.

Zhang Yu left the Estate but didn't head straight to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

He turned into a quiet street and entered a shop called "Mo Yun Zhai," which sold brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The shop was small, and the shopkeeper looked a bit dull.

The moment that dull-looking shopkeeper saw Zhang Yu, his expression shifted instantly, sharpening with alertness.

He quickly checked the doorway and lowered his voice: "Boss, what are you doing here?"

This was one of Zhang Yu's own men, named Li Dagang, who usually handled intelligence and business operations in the Capital City.

Zhang Yu also lowered his voice, his face stern and unsmiling: "That good-for-nothing 'little brother' of mine, Chen Heng, stirred up trouble. The Estate wants me to take the fall for him."

"That's too much!"

Li Dagang had been promoted by Zhang Yu himself and couldn't help speaking up for him: "How many times has this been? If they're so heartless, why does the young master always have to kiss up to them?"

Li Dagang was well aware of Zhang Yu's reputation as a groveler, but he couldn't understand why Zhang Yu would bend over backward for those ungrateful wretches at the Estate.

As Zhang Yu's right-hand man, Li Dagang knew the immense power Zhang Yu held in his hands—a force easily capable of toppling the Marquis Yong'an's Estate.

So, in theory, Zhang Yu had no reason to grovel to the Estate's people at all. That was what baffled Li Dagang.

Thus, he could only parrot the common view: maybe Zhang Yu, starved for affection in his youth, desperately sought approval from his family.

Zhang Yu nodded silently and said, "This is the last time. After today, the Estate has nothing to do with me."

"Really?"

This time, it was Li Dagang's turn to be skeptical, given Zhang Yu's past behavior.

"So much useless chatter."

Seeing Li Dagang's doubtful look, Zhang Yu said irritably, "Stop overthinking all that nonsense. I have an important task for you, and it needs to be done fast."

"What—fabricating charges against yourself?"

Hearing what Zhang Yu instructed, Li Dagang was utterly dumbfounded, even more shocked than when Zhang Yu said he'd stop groveling to the Estate.

Who in their right mind would fabricate charges against themselves?

Had the boss gone mad from the Estate's bullying?

After a long silence, Li Dagang tried to dissuade him: "Boss, this... this is no joke."

"Even if you want to get the Estate's attention, there's no need to degrade yourself like this."

After some thought, Li Dagang arrived at the same conclusion as the Estate's people: Zhang Yu was using this as an excuse to curry favor.

Oh, for crying out loud!

Zhang Yu helplessly pressed his forehead. Looks like this 'groveler' reputation of mine isn't going away easily.

"Enough talk. Just do as I say."

Zhang Yu couldn't be bothered to explain and directly ordered: "Get the word out immediately. Gather a batch of evidence for crimes—nothing too serious, but nothing too light either. Preferably charges that only get me jail time, not a beating."

Li Dagang understood: the boss wanted a long stint in prison to earn the Estate's sympathy.

Though he felt it wasn't worth it, he had no choice but to comply: "I understand. I'll arrange it right away."

"Good."

Zhang Yu nodded. "Also, I don't want my time in jail to be too rough. Spend some money to bribe the wardens and guards. I want a clean private cell, and the food and drink can't be too bad—at least clean."