The sky had grown a little dark.
A few flecks of blood spattered Wei Nisheng's face. His expression was frighteningly calm as he stood in the courtyard, holding the dripping sword.
Opposite him, Wei Mingde, Cui Shi, and Wei Shouzheng dared neither advance nor retreat.
Wei Mingde's official robes were rumpled, cold sweat pouring from his forehead. He spread his arms to block the way, yet dared not come within three paces of Wei Nisheng.
Cui Shi trembled all over beside him, clutching Wei Mingde's official robes.
Half of Wei Shouzheng's face was still red. His legs weak, he hid behind Cui Shi, not even daring to poke his head out.
In the distance, a dozen or so servants formed a loose ring. None dared approach.
Wei Nisheng said nothing. He merely looked at them.
Ten years.
When his father came, he lowered his head; when his legitimate elder brother came, he stepped aside; when his stepmother came, he bowed.
But tonight, he stood here, sword in hand, facing them.
All it had taken was one sword, one life.
Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.
Wei An came stumbling over from the direction of the Side Courtyard.
As soon as he reached the Central Hall in the Main Courtyard, he pushed through the watching servants and rushed into the courtyard.
The first thing he saw was Wang Rong's corpse at the entrance to the Central Hall, lying in a pool of blood.
Wei An froze, but only for an instant.
Meanwhile, the three members of the Wei Family huddled together. At the sight of Wei An, they cried out as though they had spotted a straw to save them from drowning.
"Wei An!! Hurry, hurry! Talk some sense into this wicked... no! Talk some sense into Ni Sheng!!"
"Otherwise, our Wei Family will truly be ruined!"
Hearing Wei Mingde's words, Wei An gritted his teeth.
"The second young master has finally been pushed too far."
He had been Wei Zheng's trusted aide back in the day, following the old master for decades, from provincial appointments to his entry into the Grand Secretariat. What towering winds and waves had he not weathered?
He knew this was no time for "persuasion."
What did the second young master need in a situation like this?
Not sympathy, not comfort, but moral justification!
Killing required a reason. Killing a servant required rules all the more.
Under the laws of Great Zhou, a servant who insulted his master was to be caned.
Under the Wei Family's rules, a household servant bound by a Death Contract could be beaten to death without consequence for defying his superiors.
As long as propriety and law were on his side, Wang Rong's death would count for nothing, and the Wei Family would have nothing to say.
So Wei An drew a deep breath, strode forward, and stood beside Wei Nisheng. Facing Wei Mingde, he thundered,
"Master! This old servant dares to ask you a question!"
His booming voice startled Wei Mingde, who turned to look at him.
"Should a vile servant who publicly insults a legitimate son be killed?!"
"When a household servant bound by a Death Contract defies his superiors, does he deserve death under the laws of Great Zhou and the rules of the Wei Family?!"
"In purging the household today, has the second young master not upheld its good conduct and its rules?!"
Three questions fired in succession, every word a blade.
The questions left Wei Mingde's mind reeling.
But he was, after all, a man seasoned in officialdom. In an instant, he understood Wei An's meaning.
He was offering Wei Nisheng a step down-and offering the Wei Family one as well.
As long as they admitted Wang Rong deserved to die, Wei Nisheng had done nothing wrong by killing him!
Wang Rong had insulted his master first; Wei Nisheng had killed the servant afterward. In sentiment, reason, and law, his actions were justified!
As for whether Wang Rong lived or died...
A mere servant. If he was dead, he was dead!
His only fear now was that Wei Nisheng would carry that sword to the Ancestral Hall.
That would be a calamity that swallowed them whole!
The Wei Family's century-old good name could not be destroyed in his hands!
Thus, with almost no hesitation, Wei Mingde immediately picked up the thread.
"Yes! Yes! Wang Rong deserved to die! He publicly insulted his master. Even death was too good for him!"
As he spoke, he cautiously took a step forward, his voice ingratiating.
"Ni Sheng, you did the right thing! You were upholding our family's good conduct! You were purging the household!
"I... I was momentarily confused and believed that servant's slander!"
Cui Shi hurriedly nodded as well, her voice trembling. "Yes, yes, yes! Wang Rong deserved to die! Ni Sheng, don't do anything rash..."
Wei Shouzheng stammered, "Your elder brother was wrong... I shouldn't have believed that vile servant either..."
Seeing this, Wei An struck while the iron was hot. He turned to Wei Nisheng, his tone gentle.
"Second young master, did you hear that? You were upholding the family's good conduct and purging the household!
"He was a household servant bound by a Death Contract. You killed him, and that is that. No one can blame you!"
Then he stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"Second young master, that's enough. You've won."
Wei Nisheng looked at Wei An, then at those three panicked people.
His father's face was full of ingratiation, his stepmother forced a smile, and his legitimate elder brother cowered with his head tucked down.
He still did not lower the sword in his hand.
"Uncle Wei, you're right.
"You immediately laid out a step for me to climb down, letting me end this with dignity.
"But... do they mean what they're saying now?
"When they wake tomorrow, will they go back on their words? Will they turn around and pin the blame on me?
"Will they invent another version of tonight's events, claiming the second young master committed violence with a sword and forced his father to admit fault?"
"Second young master, you..."
Wei An was clearly a little rattled too. He had not expected Wei Nisheng to think that far ahead.
"It's not enough. Still not enough.
"What I want is not their 'agreement,' but their 'admission.'
"A public admission, before everyone, that they cannot take back."
With that, Wei Nisheng fixed his gaze on Wei Mingde and spoke calmly.
"Father, you just said Wang Rong deserved to die, and that I did the right thing?"
Wei Mingde hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes!"
"Then whose slander had you believed when you told me to take my own life in the Central Hall and said you had no son like me?"
Wei Mingde choked.
Wei Nisheng turned his gaze to Wei Shouzheng.
"Elder brother, whose lies had you believed when you ordered Wang Rong to slap my face and spit on me three times?"
Wei Shouzheng's face flushed crimson, his lips trembling.
Wei Nisheng then looked at Cui Shi.
"Mother, when you said, 'Ni Sheng, you're young; perhaps you spoke without thinking,' who were you speaking for?"
Cui Shi's face went white.
"I want you to explain yourselves clearly now, in front of everyone."
"Who lied about the matter with Wang Rong? Who egged Father on to force me to take my own life?"
"Until you make this clear today, I will not put down this sword. I can go to the Ancestral Hall at any moment."
The evening breeze blew past, carrying the stench of blood.
The servants in the distance held their breath as they watched.
Meanwhile, Wei Mingde's expression was exceedingly ugly.
Admit fault in public? Before all these servants, admit that I was muddleheaded, believed slander, and forced my son to take his own life?
Where would that leave my dignity?
But he looked at the sword in Wei Nisheng's hand, at the blood already dried upon it, and remembered Wang Rong's corpse.
What if this boy really goes mad and rushes to the Ancestral Hall...
Dignity, pure nobility, reputation in office-it will all be finished!
So Wei Mingde gritted his teeth and finally spoke.
"It... it was my fault as your father."
"I should not have believed only that vile servant Wang Rong's side of the story. I should not... should not have forced you."
"You... you did nothing wrong. That vile servant Wang Rong deserved his death!"
After speaking, he glared fiercely at Wei Shouzheng, the chief culprit, then raised his foot and kicked him.
"This all started with you! Have you nothing to say?! You bastard!"
After taking the kick, Wei Shouzheng dropped to his knees on the spot.
"It was all my fault as your elder brother! I shouldn't have listened to Wang Rong, shouldn't have ordered him to hit you... I've wronged you!"
As he spoke, Wei Shouzheng slapped himself across the face.
The smack was especially loud.
Watching this unfold, Cui Shi knew she could not escape either.
"Ni Sheng, I was momentarily confused too... I thought everything Wang Rong said was true.
"I was afraid you would get into trouble, so... so I said those things. I didn't mean to..."
Wei Nisheng watched them.
His father admitted fault in public because he feared the Wei Family's reputation would be swept into the dust.
His legitimate elder brother knelt and slapped himself because he feared for his own prospects.
His stepmother wept and apologized out of simple fear.
But he had already secured the "public admission" he wanted.
From now on, these servants who had not signed Death Contracts would bear witness. Tonight's darkness would bear witness. Wang Rong's corpse would bear witness.
Did those three members of the Wei Family want to overturn the verdict? Turn around and pin the blame on him? Not a chance.
At that thought, Wei Nisheng lowered his head and looked at the sword in his hand.
Clang! He threw the sword to the ground.
Ten years.
Ten years of obedience, ten years of forbearance, ten years of living with his head bowed.
Tonight, he had finally stood tall.
A gentleman had come into his strength; he could no longer be broken and humiliated.
Before you continue