Chapter 377: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Chapter 377: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Xiao Yuming returned home to complete darkness. Arriving at Shi An Garden, he intended to report the situation to Tang Shuyi. However, upon entering, he was stopped by Cui Zhu, "Young Master, the Duke and the Lady have already retired for the night."

Xiao Yuming glanced at the sky, "What time is it that they are already asleep?"

Cui Zhu replied, "You'll understand once you're married."

Xiao Yuming cast a glance towards Tang Shuyi’s chamber, noting the faint light still within, but nonetheless, he turned and left. Cui Zhu exhaled in relief, fearing their Second Young Master would rashly barge in.

The next morning, before breakfast, Xiao Yuming relayed the information he gathered from Wu Xiao Liu to Tang Shuyi: the scandalous affairs of the Wu family's patriarch, the mistress of the third son, and so on. Tang Shuyi was at a loss for words – the Wu family’s disarray was beyond ordinary!

"I'll find a storyteller to expose all of the Wu family's deeds without omission," Xiao Yuming said through clenched teeth.

"Those thieves and harlots in the Wu household dare to slander others."

After hearing this, Tang Shuyi nodded, then suggested, "If you're truly angry, torture them slowly."

Xiao Yuming furrowed his brows, pondering, "How should we slowly torture them?"

Tang Shuyi replied, "You figure it out."

She stood up to go to the dining room for a meal, with Xiao Huai joining her, while the siblings discussed the matter as they walked. After breakfast and further discussion, they approached Tang Shuyi to present their conclusion.

"There are so many unsavory affairs in the Wu family – don't expose them all at once. Let them leak out bit by bit," Xiao Yuming said. "Keep the Wu family in constant fear."

Tang Shuyi smiled and nodded, "That’s fine, but there's no need to be covert. Tell them openly that we are the ones spreading the word."

"The Wu family is already on its last legs; there is nothing to fear. At the same time, it serves as a warning to others that Xiao Huai may not wield power over the court and the Duke’s family might not strut about the capital city, not because they can’t, but because they choose not to."

"Good, I will have someone write a notice about Wu Xiao Liu's gambling and post it in the marketplace," Xiao Yuming declared. "Tomorrow, we'll post about the third Wu master keeping a mistress."

Then, a scandal a day will be released.

"Good," Tang Shuyi agreed, then turned to Xiao Huai, "Also, give the Duke time to gather evidence against the Wu family."

These scandals of thieves and harlots can only ruin the Wu family's reputation, but they won't force them out of the court.

"Good," Xiao Huai said.

He originally planned to use the Wu family as a whetstone for Li Jingyi, but it seems best to make a move ahead of time.

Once the arrangements were agreed upon, Xiao Yuming strode out. He first had over a dozen notices written, then mounted his horse and rode to the bustling market areas of the capital, personally overseeing the affixing of the notices regarding inkstones and graphite. After the task was completed, he even assigned men to guard beneath the posted notices.

The notorious rake, Xiao Er, had not caused a stir in the capital for a considerable time, but now he was brazenly posting notices about Wu Xiao Liu, drawing many onlookers eager for gossip.

The Wu Family

In the study, Old Master Wu was deep in discussion with his strategists. Having failed in the struggle for the throne, and with the Empress soon to be ousted from the palace, the Wu family was on the brink of decline, leaving Old Master Wu utterly distressed in recent days.

"Perhaps we should have Her Majesty the Empress soften her stance toward the current Emperor," suggested one of the strategists.

Old Master Wu dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand, "No, that young Emperor is under Xiao Huai's thumb."

"Then perhaps you should humble yourself before Duke Dingguo," another strategist proposed.

Old Master Wu’s face was taut with tension, and he remained silent. In truth, he was now regretting spreading rumors about Xiao Yuming. However, he had been discreet in his actions, and since the madam of the brothel was dead, there was no way for Xiao Huai to trace it back to him.

At that moment, the strategist added, "It’s better to resolve enmities rather than let them fester. Besides, you and Her Majesty the Empress don’t hold any deep-seated grudge against Duke Dingguo."

Old Master Wu furrowed his brow and kept silent. His family indeed did not have a mortal feud with Duke Dingguo’s house, although there had been several unpleasant encounters. For instance, there was that time they tried to marry the Third Prince to Duke Dingguo’s beloved daughter. But even that was not such a grave matter, and besides, it had come to nothing, had it not?

"That's true..." he began.

But before he could finish, there was a knock at the door. Old Master Wu, frowning, said, "Come in."

The door opened and his attendant entered, then whispered in his ear, "Young Master Xiao Er has had notices posted in the market, proclaiming that Sixth Master Wu is a gambler."

Old Master Wu’s hand clenched into a tight fist, "How did this information leak?"

This information naturally referred to his own actions of spreading rumors about Xiao Yuming. The house of Duke Dingguo must have realized it was their doing; otherwise, they wouldn't retaliate in kind.

"We are not sure yet," the attendant shook his head.

Old Master Wu, still frowning, thought for a moment and then decided, "Never mind, it’s not a big deal."

After all, Wu Xiao Liu’s gambling was a well-known fact among many.

"Understood."

The attendant acquiesced with a response and departed. Old Master Wu tapped his fingers on the tabletop, deep in thought, when another strategist spoke up, "My lord, you could use this incident as an opportunity to apologize to Duke Dingguo, which might also facilitate a reconciliation."

"Indeed," another strategist concurred, "It would carry more weight if Her Majesty the Empress herself were to issue the apology."

Old Master Wu, with a furrowed brow, remained silent; the likelihood of the Empress apologizing to Duke Dingguo’s wife was slim. He knew all too well her nature—proud and vengeful. No doubt she now detested the Duke and his wife to the core, otherwise she wouldn't have had him spread the rumors about Xiao Yuming.

"Later, have the lady visit Duke Dingguo’s wife to talk," Old Master Wu finally said.

The strategists felt that Lady Wu probably wouldn’t be up to the task. They all knew of Duke Dingguo’s wife and her deeds, which showed she was a woman who stood her ground, possibly even outmatching the Empress, let alone Lady Wu.

But Old Master Wu had made up his mind, and as strategists, they naturally would not contradict him.

That evening, breaking with his usual routine, Old Master Wu went to Lady Wu’s courtyard and directly ordered her to apologize to Duke Dingguo’s wife the following day. After hearing this, Lady Wu scoffed, "Let the second wife go. I'm not up to the task."

Old Master Wu, his face flushed with anger, retorted, "You will go, whether you want to or not."

With that, he left with a swish of his sleeves, while Lady Wu sat tightly clenching her fists. Her maid, seeing her distress, softly consoled her, "Madam, think of your son and daughter."

Wiping away tears, Lady Wu lamented, "If not for them, why would I endure those despicable people!"

"Evil deeds will meet their fate eventually, just wait and see," the maid whispered.

Lady Wu huffed, "I even hope that one day everyone will know of that despicable couple’s doings."

The maid sighed deeply; if the affair between the master and the second wife were to become known, her own young masters and mistresses would also be implicated!