Currying Favor
Zhao Yuankun was young and healthy, and recovered quite well. In just one night, he recovered a lot and was no longer as weak as he had been the day before.
He had just taken his medicine under Lady Su's care and was about to rest when a servant came to report that the clan elder Zhao Xingyun come to see him.
"Please come in quickly," he said.
Feeling uneasy, Lady Su glanced at the housekeeper. Only after the housekeeper gave her a slight nod did she leave through the door.
"Yuankun, how are you?" Zhao Xingyun asked Zhao Yuankun as he entered the room.
"Alright." Yuankun Zhao Yuankun pretended to struggle to sit up. "In this state, I am unable to pay my respects to my thirteenth great-uncle. I am truly ashamed."
Zhao Xingyun quickly pressed him back down. "Lie down quickly, don't move. We're just grandfather and grandson, why do we need these formalities? It's really important that you get better."
He then asked, "What exactly happened to you?"
The steward hurriedly said, "Master, it's not good for you to trouble yourself. Let me speak to the Thirteenth Master instead."
He recounted to Zhao Xingyun the revised and edited version of events he had discussed with Zhao Xingyun Zhao Yuankun, adding, "Madam was also angry that Master had suffered this undeserved calamity, and impulsively went to question Fifth Miss. Before anything could happen, she was slapped by First Madam."
As soon as he saw Zhao Xingyun enter, he knew that the truth about Madam's trouble-making couldn't be kept secret any longer. Zhao Xingyun must have come because of Lady Su's disturbance.
They have quite a few members, and the alley entrance is their only way in and out. At least half of the bystanders who were watching the commotion were from the clan. Lady Su chose that place precisely because she wanted to ruin Zhao Ruxi's reputation within the clan.
Zhao Yuankun is unaware of this matter yet.
Upon hearing the steward's words, he was both shocked and furious. "What happened? Where did Madam go to question people? Did she go to the Earl's mansion? Foolish! Isn't she just offering herself up to be bullied?"
Lady Su was the wife the old lady arranged for him, so naturally he didn't like her.
Why is it that Zhao Yuanxun married a woman from a prominent family, Zhao Yuanliang married a daughter of an official, but he alone married a merchant's daughter?
He completely forgot that when he got married, the Duke was already seriously ill, and the money in the mansion was flowing out like water, leaving the house an empty shell.
The old lady arranged for him to marry a woman Lady Su because she was a merchant's daughter with a generous dowry. Even if she didn't covet her daughters-in-law's dowries, each daughter-in-law still had a substantial dowry, ensuring that his family wouldn't starve.
If Zhao Yuankun were to marry a poor but wealthy official's daughter, and the Marquis's mansion were to become so poor that it had nothing to eat, would the Old Madam and Lady Zhu be expected to use their own dowries to support Zhao Yuankun's entire family?
She has to support her own husband and children, and now she has to support her brother-in-law's whole family? Why should she?
The Duke doted on his youngest son, but he was seriously ill at the time and unable to help; moreover, he felt that his wife's words made sense. So he agreed to the marriage.
Marrying a merchant's daughter may not sound prestigious, but at least it's practical; you'll never have to worry about food or clothing, and your youngest son will be well-fed and clothed for life.
Zhao Yuankun disliked the Lady Su's identity, but he knew that if he wanted to pursue an official career, he would have to rely on his wife and her family's money. Therefore, he treated Lady Su well; and he did his best to help her family whenever they needed anything.
He had no interest in women, so he hadn't taken a concubine all these years. He had won over Lady Su's heart, and she let Zhao Yuankun spend her dowry money as she pleased.
The steward hurriedly replied, "They didn't go to the Earl's residence. They stopped Fifth Miss's carriage at the alley entrance."
Even so, Zhao Yuankun was still uneasy. But in front of Zhao Xingyun, he couldn't ask him any further questions.
He gave Zhao Xingyun a bitter smile, "That woman is so naive, causing my thirteenth great-uncle so much worry. But she's only thinking of me, her grand-nephew. Sigh!"
Zhao Xingyun didn't come here to talk about this.
He waved his hand. "Yuankun, do you know that your elder brother is using this as a pretext to sever ties with you? He just went to the clan chief and wanted to cut ties with you."
"What?" Zhao Yuankun was so shocked that he straightened up, but the movement aggravated his wounds, and he fell back down with a cry of pain.
"Master," the butler quickly pressed him down, "Master, please don't get agitated, you'll reopen the wound."
Zhao Yuankun ignored him, his eyes fixed on Zhao Xingyun: "Thirteenth Uncle, what's going on?"
Zhao Xingyun then recounted what had just happened.
Since he came to deliver the message, he naturally wanted to flatter and befriend Zhao Yuankun, hoping to gain some benefits.
Before Zhao Yuankun could say anything, he launched into a tirade against Zhao Yuanxun, accusing him of being heartless and disregarding brotherly affection. He also expressed his sympathy for Zhao Yuankun.
"Where is that document?" Zhao Yuankun interrupted his rambling.
Zhao Xingyun was taken aback. "... It's on your older brother. He said he wanted to take it to the government office for filing."
"Fine, since he's so ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless too." The raging fire burning in Zhao Yuankun's chest almost consumed him.
"Have someone bring a stretcher and carry me to the gate of the Earl of Suiping's Residence," he instructed the steward.
"Well... sir, your injuries are still quite severe. It's most important to recover first. We can talk about everything else after you've healed," the butler advised.
Zhao Xingyun also said, "Yes, yes. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. The most important thing for you is to take care of your health. If you develop a chronic illness and become as frail as your elder brother, all your ambitions will become empty words."
He came to flatter and ingratiate himself with Zhao Yuankun, not wanting to offend Zhao Yuanxun too much, nor wanting to be seen as a troublemaker in front of the clan leader and others. But if Zhao Yuankun went to Zhao Yuanxun's door to cause trouble now, his visit today would inevitably be exposed.
Therefore, he spared no effort to dissuade Zhao Yuankun.
Zhao Yuankun insisted on going, glaring at the butler and saying, "I'm not paralyzed yet, and you can't even order me around anymore? Should I have your whole family sold off right now?"
The steward had no choice but to agree. He went out to order a stretcher to be prepared and sent someone to inform Lady Su.
Leaving aside the situation of the third branch, let's talk about the first branch. After Zhao Yuanxun returned, he kept people watching the movements of the third branch.
"Master, the Thirteenth Master has gone to the Third Master's residence," a servant reported.
A mocking smile appeared on Zhao Yuanxun's lips, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. "See, just as I thought."
In recent years, their household has faced financial difficulties, but they have never let the clan suffer. Half of the expenses for the clan school are covered by the Earl's family. Whenever a clansman needs help, he does so whenever he can.
But what happened today chilled his heart.
Zhao Yuankun had only managed to obtain a minor official position, and then he was dismissed. The clansmen immediately tipped their scales in his favor. If he were to rise to a higher position later, would there still be a place for Zhao Yuanxun in the clan?
Zhao Ruxi hadn't expected that her grandmother and parents were planning to use this incident to sever ties with Zhao Yuankun. When she returned home and found out, she gave them a thumbs up.
The behavior of her people was exactly what she wanted.