The Marquis's Ruthless Heart

The group was collectively disparaging Zhang Yu when Steward Fu hurried in, bowed, and reported in a low voice: "Madam, the verdict for the Eldest Young Master's case... has come down."

Qin Xuehua's tone was flat as she asked: "How long was the sentence? A few months? Or a year or two?"

She anticipated the Wang Family would apply pressure, but also felt that with the marquis's household greasing the wheels, a stint in confinement would be the end of it.

Steward Fu's throat bobbed, his voice hoarse:

"To answer Madam... it's... fifty years.

Moreover, there were some twists in the case, and it was ultimately transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. The Eldest Young Master has been thrown into the Heavenly Prison."

This was naturally Li Dagang's doing, with covert manipulation from the Wang Family as well. Zhang Yu now had dozens of cases hanging over his head.

"Clatter!"

The celadon teacup in Qin Xuehua's hand slipped, shattering on the ground as tea splashed everywhere.

She shot to her feet, face pale: "Fifty... fifty years?!"

This far exceeded her expectations.

Though she disliked Zhang Yu and had even tacitly allowed Zhang Heng's many small schemes, she had never wished for his death or lifelong imprisonment.

Zhang Wanning first covered her mouth in shock, then a barely suppressible glint of schadenfreude surfaced in her eyes.

Serves him right!

That obstructive waste of an eldest brother was finally about to disappear for good!

The warm smile on Zhang Heng's face froze instantly, his pupils contracting slightly.

Fifty years?

His original plan was to let Zhang Yu suffer a few years inside, endure torment, and preferably die in prison.

But he hadn't expected the Wang Family to strike so ruthlessly, nor that the case would be directly funneled to the Heavenly Prison!

A place like the Heavenly Prison... how many days could that waste Zhang Yu last?

Jiang Luohan's brows, sharp with a heroic air, knitted tightly as she said in a grave tone: "This is suspicious. The Wang Family must have fabricated other charges behind the scenes and gone for the kill."

"Mother, it's all my fault, all my doing."

Zhang Heng was the first to "react," kneeling in remorse: "If it weren't for taking the blame for me, how could Eldest Brother have... have ended up like this?!"

He beat his chest and stamped his feet, acting with such sincerity that he carved out the image of a "deeply regretful," "brotherly" younger brother to perfection.

Seeing this, Zhang Wanning immediately stepped forward to defend him, her tone cutting:

"Xiao Heng, get up quickly.

How can this be blamed on you?

If anyone's to blame, it's Zhang Yu himself. Who told him to behave so badly and rack up so many misdeeds, giving the Wang Family leverage?

Now with multiple charges combined, sentencing him to fifty years and throwing him into the Heavenly Prison—he brought it on himself, and he deserves it!"

She was eager to nail Zhang Yu to the pillar of shame, shifting all the blame onto him.

Jiang Luohan glanced at Zhang Wanning. Though she found her words harsh, she had to admit inwardly that if Zhang Yu himself had been spotless, the Wang Family couldn't have fabricated so many serious crimes out of thin air.

That Zhang Yu had fallen to this state—he likely bore no small part of the fault himself.

She remained silent, neither agreeing nor refuting.

Qin Xuehua wearily closed her eyes and waved a hand: "Perhaps... this is just his fate."

She attributed everything to "fate," deftly sidestepping her own responsibility for making Zhang Yu take the blame, and also avoiding that faint, unwilling guilt deep within her heart.

Yes, it was Zhang Yu's own bad luck, a calamity destined for him—nothing to do with her or the marquis's household's choices.

Then, as if just remembering something, she turned to Jiang Luohan, her face wearing a perfectly timed expression of difficulty and apology:

"Luohan, look at this... Zhang Yu has been thrown into the Heavenly Prison, sentenced to fifty years. In this life, he's probably...

You're his fiancée, so... what should be done about this?"

Her words seemed to care about Jiang Luohan, but were actually a probe, a prelude to what she would say next.

Zhang Wanning immediately cut in:

"Mother, what's there to hesitate about?

That waste Zhang Yu was never worthy of Sister Jiang anyway.

Now that he's trapped in the Heavenly Prison with his future ruined, are you going to make Sister Jiang waste her life as a widow for him, ruining her future?

This engagement must be dissolved."

"That's right,"

Qin Xuehua nodded in agreement, her tone turning resolute: "I'll decide this—I'm dissolving the engagement between you and Zhang Yu. He is now a convicted criminal, and as for my marquis's household... ah, in any case, I can't let him drag you down any longer."

Jiang Luohan had long harbored this intention and even breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Zhang Yu's imprisonment and sentencing gave her the perfect, legitimate reason to break off the engagement.

At the same time, she stole a glance at Zhang Heng, who was also sneaking a look at her, and a ripple stirred in both their hearts.

Zhang Heng was ecstatic inside; he had already prepared to formally take over Zhang Yu's fiancée.

Zhang Wanning's eyes darted, and she added:

"Mother, Sister Jiang, breaking off the engagement is inevitable.

But for Sister Jiang's reputation, shouldn't we go see Zhang Yu and have him write the annulment in his own hand?

That way, it's clear in black and white, and no one can say later that Sister Jiang kicked him when he was down."

Her words sounded high-minded, but in truth, her heart was dark—she wanted to see with her own eyes Zhang Yu's miserable state in the Heavenly Prison, then twist the knife.

"Yes, Mother,"

Zhang Heng also lifted his head, chiming in, "Eldest Brother has met with such a disaster; by all reason and sentiment, we ought to go see him once. Settle things clearly, and... consider it fulfilling the last shred of brotherly bond."

He spoke smoothly, but inside he sneered coldly.

Go see Zhang Yu?

Of course, he would!

He had already arranged a "fine show," planning to tear apart Zhang Yu's last shred of dignity and hope right in the Heavenly Prison, face to face.