As everyone was looking down on Zhang Yu, Steward Fu hurried over, bent forward, and reported in a low voice, "Madam, the Eldest Young Master's case... the verdict is in."
Qin Xuehua asked blandly, "How long did they sentence him to? A few months? A year or two?"
She had expected the Wang Family to apply pressure, but figured the Marquis Estate could pull some strings and get him locked up for a while, then let him go.
Steward Fu's throat bobbed. His voice was dry.
"Madam... it's... it's fifty years.
"And there were some complications with the case. It was eventually transferred to the Court of Judicial Review, and the Eldest Young Master was sent to the Heavenly Prison."
This was naturally Li Dagang's doing, with the Wang Family's covert interference as well. Zhang Yu now had dozens of cases hanging over him.
"Clatter!"
The celadon teacup slipped from Qin Xuehua's hand and shattered on the floor, tea splashing everywhere.
She shot to her feet, her face deathly pale. "F... Fifty years?!"
That was far beyond what she had expected.
She might not have liked Zhang Yu, and she had even tacitly approved of Zhang Heng's many little schemes, but she had never wanted him dead or imprisoned for life.
Zhang Wanning first covered her mouth in shock. Then a trace of barely concealed glee surfaced in her eyes.
Serves him right!
That eyesore of a good-for-nothing Eldest Brother was finally going to disappear for good!
The gentle smile on Zhang Heng's face froze instantly, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Fifty years?
He had originally planned to make Zhang Yu suffer for a few years inside, endure endless torment, and preferably die in prison.
But he hadn't expected the Wang Family to be so ruthless, much less for the case to be sent straight to the Heavenly Prison!
A place like the Heavenly Prison... How many days could a good-for-nothing like Zhang Yu last?
Jiang Luohan's heroic brows knitted tightly. She said in a grave voice, "Something's amiss. The Wang Family must have fabricated other charges behind the scenes and struck to kill."
"Mother, it's all my fault. This is all because of me."
Zhang Heng was the first to "react." He fell to his knees and said remorsefully, "If Eldest Brother hadn't taken the blame for me, how could he... how could he have ended up in such a state?!"
He beat his chest and stamped his feet, acting with such heartfelt sincerity that he perfectly embodied a younger brother consumed by "deep regret" and "devotion to his family."
Seeing this, Zhang Wanning immediately stepped forward to defend him, her tone cutting.
"Xiao Heng, get up.
"How can you be blamed for this?
"Blame Zhang Yu himself. Who told him to behave so badly and leave such a trail of misdeeds that the Wang Family could use against him?
"Now his crimes have been piled together, and he's been sentenced to fifty years and sent to the Heavenly Prison. He brought this on himself. Serves him right!"
She could hardly wait to nail Zhang Yu to the pillar of shame and pin all the blame on him.
Jiang Luohan glanced at Zhang Wanning. Though she found her words harsh, she had to admit that if Zhang Yu had been spotless, it would have been difficult for the Wang Family to conjure up so many serious charges out of thin air.
Zhang Yu's own actions had likely played no small part in landing him in this predicament.
She remained silent, neither agreeing nor objecting.
Qin Xuehua wearily closed her eyes and waved a hand. "Perhaps... this is simply his fate."
She blamed everything on "fate," deftly avoiding responsibility for being the one who had decided Zhang Yu should take the blame, and turning away from the faint, unwelcome guilt buried deep in her heart.
Yes, Zhang Yu had simply been born unlucky. This was a tribulation fated for her, with nothing to do with her or the Marquis Estate's choices.
Then, as if only just remembering something, she turned to Jiang Luohan, her face showing just the right amount of reluctance and apology.
"Luohan, about this... Zhang Yu has been sent to the Heavenly Prison and sentenced to fifty years. He'll probably spend the rest of his life there...
"You're his fiancée. What... what are you going to do?"
Her words seemed concerned for Jiang Luohan, but in truth she was testing her and laying the groundwork for what she would say next.
Zhang Wanning immediately cut in.
"Mother, what's there to hesitate about?
"That good-for-nothing Zhang Yu was never worthy of Sister Jiang.
"Now he's in the Heavenly Prison, his future ruined. Are we really going to make Sister Jiang live like a widow and waste her life waiting for him?
"This engagement has to be broken off."
"Exactly,"
Qin Xuehua said, nodding along. Her tone turned firm. "I've made up my mind. I'll end your engagement to Zhang Yu. He's a convicted criminal now, and he's no longer... connected to our Marquis Estate. Sigh, in any case, we can't let him drag you down any further."
Jiang Luohan had already wanted this, and even secretly felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
Zhang Yu's imprisonment and sentence gave her the perfect, legitimate reason to break off the engagement.
At the same time, she stole a glance at Zhang Heng, who happened to be sneaking a look at her. A ripple stirred in both their hearts.
Zhang Heng was beside himself with excitement. He was already ready to officially take Zhang Yu's fiancée for himself.
Zhang Wanning's eyes shifted, and she said, "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 divorce letter in his own hand?
"That way, everything will be in black and white, perfectly clear. It'll also keep people from saying later that Sister Jiang kicked him when he was down."
Her words sounded perfectly respectable, but her intentions were dark. She wanted to see Zhang Yu's miserable state in the Heavenly Prison with her own eyes, then kick him while he was down.
"That's right, Mother,"
Zhang Heng lifted his head and chimed in. "Eldest Brother has suffered such a terrible misfortune. Both out of propriety and sentiment, we should go see him. We can explain things clearly and... at least honor the last of our brotherly affection."
His words sounded fine, but inwardly he sneered again and again.
Go see Zhang Yu?
Of course they had to go!
He had already arranged a "good show." In the Heavenly Prison, right in front of Zhang Yu, he would shatter the last of his dignity and hope.
Before you continue