Steward Wu bent at the waist, his expression icy.
He knew exactly what Madam meant.
"Madam, although the Chu Family is a wealthy household in Baiyuan County, Baiyuan Academy is different from the Criminal Defense Division. We can't interfere so easily. If we want to deal with the Third Young Master, I'm afraid only Protector Zheng can do it."
"Zheng Xiguan already had Deputy Protector Hong take action, but it seems... he failed."
"Besides, Zheng Xiguan wouldn't expose his identity for the sake of a mere bastard son." Madam's voice from behind the curtain remained calm.
"Then..." Steward Wu looked troubled. "If the Third Young Master stays hidden in the academy, and Protector Zheng can't get involved, won't we just be letting him grow stronger?"
"Grow stronger?" The woman behind the curtain sat up with the help of her maid, her voice tinged with disdain. "How far could a mere bastard son possibly go?"
"Writing and painting might help him become an official, but he's still only flesh and blood. Just like his mother, a little medicine will do the trick."
Madam picked up a candied fruit her maid offered and held it in her mouth, savoring it slowly. "His mother drank it for a year before she passed away. That bastard son has been drinking it for over half a year, too. I wonder what method that Steward Fang used to keep him alive until now."
Steward Fang!
Steward Wu's expression shifted. Fear and resentment showed in his eyes.
"Come to think of it, Steward Fang is quite capable. Not only did he prolong that bastard son's life, he even managed to get him into Baiyuan Academy."
"Madam, should we..." Steward Wu said sharply.
"Heh. At a critical time like this, don't alert the enemy." Madam looked beyond the