Jian Zhang drew a deep breath and clenched his teeth before he managed to keep from laughing. "Mother, what exactly happened? When did I ever try to harm my second brother?"
Seeing Jian Zhang's utterly composed expression, the old madam assumed he had come prepared.
She trembled with fury and hurled another teacup at him.
This time, Jian Zhang did not dodge. The cup struck his forehead, splitting the skin at his temple, and blood immediately streamed down.
Scalding tea splashed over him. Jian Zhang could not suppress a muffled groan, and the tea leaves stuck to his face left him looking utterly bedraggled.
Having hit him with the cup, the old madam felt considerably better. But the thought of her own son still sitting in prison sent the flames inside her surging again. "What happened?! Your second brother merely took a fancy to a concubine, and you handed him over to the authorities?! While this old woman is still alive, you're already treating the second branch like this. Once I die, won't you swallow his entire family alive and strip them to the bone?!"
"With such a vicious heart, and no care for your younger brother, what right do you have to inherit the Marquis's Estate?!"
The younger Shi-shi stood to one side, clutching a handkerchief and dabbing at her tears.
Jian Ruonan was dumbfounded. The old madam was certainly a master at tossing the blame around.
Second Uncle had been carrying on with Concubine Wei. First, Second Aunt got blamed, and now it was Father's turn. So Second Uncle had done absolutely nothing wrong?!
With the old madam's backside planted so far to one side, no wonder Father had resorted to drastic measures and sent Second Uncle to the Imperial Prison.
[When the children are at odds, it's because the elders lack virtue!]
Jian Zhang: !!
He had initially wondered whether he had gone too far, but hearing Nannan's thoughts suddenly cleared his mind.
In other households, legitimate and concubine-born sons got along well. The men banded together and supported one another. Only in their Jinyang Marquis's Residence did even the legitimate sons frequently clash.
If not for his mother, how could he and his brothers have become as incompatible as fire and water?!
Jian Zhang refused to admit anything, even if it killed him. "Please tell me, Mother, what exactly happened? I know nothing of it."
Seeing him act like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, the old madam's chest heaved with anger. An older servant beside her stepped forward and explained the entire incident.
Only then did Jian Zhang give an "Oh," as though realization had finally dawned. Immediately afterward, his brows knitted, and he pretended he had only just learned the truth. "So the one carrying on with Concubine Wei was... my second brother."
He pressed his lips together and took an enormous breath. Only after exhaling did he say, "Mother, they were caught in the Plum Grove. It was poorly lit there. Please forgive me for being so overcome with anger that I failed to see who it was. I'll have someone release my second brother at once."
The moment he finished speaking, Jian Zhang ordered a servant to prepare a horse.
He knelt on the floor, looking neither servile nor overbearing.
From his expression, he seemed to have suffered an injustice greater than the heavens.
Even the old madam began to waver slightly, as though he really had been wrongly accused.
[Oh, oh, Father's acting is pretty good! Where's the applause? Where are the flowers?! Fans, give him a cheer!!!]
Jian Zhang: "..."
There were no secrets in the Jinyang Marquis's Residence. Everyone who ought to know about Concubine Wei's adultery with an intruder already knew. After hearing the news last night, the younger Shi-shi had slept exceptionally soundly.
Whenever the first branch suffered misfortune, the second and third branches rejoiced.
The younger Shi-shi had even secretly praised the old madam's wisdom in handing the culprit over to the authorities.
Doing so was bound to anger Inspector Wei. Without the Wei family's support, Jian Zhang would have even less strength to compete with their second branch for the marquisate.
But now that she took stock of things, it turned out the unfortunate ones were the second branch.
Even more infuriatingly, Jian Lang had been sent there by the old madam herself.
A hint of resentment crept into the younger Shi-shi's gaze as she looked at the old madam.
Jian Zhang stubbornly maintained that he had known nothing, leaving the old madam unable to toss the blame onto him. Besides, the woman Jian Lang had slept with was Jian Zhang's concubine. Jian Lang was the one whose sins ran deep.
But the old madam was no easy opponent, either.
She wiped away her tears and continued her tearful accusations. "As his elder brother, don't you know you should look after him? How can your father and I feel safe entrusting the Marquis's Estate to you when you behave like this?!"
"Eldest Son, you've always been good at your studies, and now you're good at serving as an official, too. You're the one I worry about least. Even without being the heir, you can live well. Leave the position to your two younger brothers."
The younger Shi-shi and Jian Chuyun also dabbed at their tears, looking unbearably aggrieved.
Jian Zhang remained kneeling without a word.
The old madam wiped her tears while clutching her chest, looking as though she was about to die of anger.
"Eldest Son, consider this your mother begging you!! Have some mercy!" Tears streamed down the old madam's face. Ignoring the maids and older servants trying to stop her, she lunged forward to kneel before Jian Zhang.
"This old woman will kneel to you. Please take pity on me."
She was using an utterly shameless tactic to force Jian Zhang to declare that he would relinquish the marquisate.
Although the old madam was determined to pass the title to the second or third branch, the old master was still alive, so she could not make the decision alone. If Jian Zhang agreed, however, the matter would become much easier.
The old madam was so desperate to protect her son that anyone watching would surely sigh, "How great a mother's love is!"
But who would take pity on Jian Zhang?
He had an entire green prairie of cuckoldry growing on his head, and now he was being forced to surrender his title, too.
Jian Ruonan was so shocked that her eyes widened like bronze bells.
[This much drama?! Huh?]
[Such low-level household scheming, and it's beaten my father until he can't even fight back!]
Great Xia placed immense importance on filial piety. Someone deemed unfilial could even be barred from serving at court. If word spread that the old madam had knelt before Jian Zhang, the censors would impeach him. In a more serious case, he could lose his office and even be imprisoned.
Jian Zhang's face darkened, but he said nothing.
He glanced helplessly at Min.
Dignified and gentle, Min had always put propriety and respect first. Faced with the old madam's tantrums, she was completely at a loss.
Jian Xilu was even more bewildered. Wasn't this the behavior of a street hooligan?
Had Grandmother become this shameless over the marquisate?
Were they truly going to have to hand the title over on a silver platter?
A trace of despair appeared on Jian Zhang's face.
The weight of filial piety was pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
The younger Shi-shi and Jian Chuyun were thrilled.
Jian Chuyun, in particular, had already noticed her eldest uncle's expression beginning to soften.
If Eldest Uncle agreed, she would become the marquis's legitimate daughter, and her mother would become a first-rank titled lady.
Jian Chuyun clutched her mother's hand tightly, her body trembling with excitement.
She no longer felt quite so repulsed even while supporting the old madam's hand, which had been picking at her feet.
Jian Zhang was indeed wavering. Even if he surrendered the title, he could still serve as an official. With his abilities, he could earn his wife a first-rank imperial title.
With the label of filial duty pressing down on him, he might very well lose the black gauze hat of office on his head, too...
[I've never seen anyone so utterly shameless!]
[Now that the atmosphere has been whipped up to this point, it'll be hard to bring this to an end unless I step in!]
Min and Jian Xilu glanced at Nannan but did not take it to heart. The old madam was being so forceful. What could Nannan possibly do?
Inside the main room, Jian Zhang knelt with his head lowered.
Held back by a crowd of serving women, the old madam wailed to the heavens and beat at the earth.
Jian Ruonan suddenly stepped forward and overturned the table with a crash.
"..."
The main room abruptly fell silent.
After flipping the table, Jian Ruonan threw her arms around Jian Zhang and began bawling. "Father, Father, does it hurt?!"
"Grandmother was clearly the one who had Second Uncle arrested! Why is she blaming Father?!"
"Grandmother, how can you be so cruel?! Why did you hit Father with a teacup?! Why?!"
"The blow landed on Father's body, but the pain landed in his daughter's heart!!"
"Aaaaaah, it hurts so much!!! I feel so awful!!! I'm going to die!!!"
Taking advantage of her young age, Jian Ruonan plopped onto the floor and began kicking up a tantrum and rolling around. As she rolled, she stared at the old madam. "Aaaaaah, if this pain kills me, I'm taking all of you with me!!!!"
She lay on the floor, dark, twisted, crawling...
[Going mad feels so good!!!!]
[Ohhh, this feels so good I could die!!!]
[Come on, old madam! Let's compete! Let's see who's crazier!!]
[I dare to lie on the floor and roll around. Do you?! Huh?]
Jian Xilu: "..."
Jian Zhang: "..."
Min: "..."
The old madam shuddered in fright, let out a sobbing hiccup, and stared blankly at Jian Ruonan.
Before you continue