Chapter 93

Chapter 93

When Zhong Yizhu and his party left the prefectural office, Zhong Yourong was being flogged outside the hall.

Zhong Yourong screamed like a pig being slaughtered, but the rest of the Zhong family were too immersed in their own impending misery to spare him any attention.

Everything they had schemed and fought to seize, enjoyed for less than a year, was about to be lost entirely—and they were to be exiled a thousand li away... Zhong Laotai, accustomed to a life of wealth and comfort, suddenly recalled the hardships of fleeing famine many years ago. Exile would be even worse than that. Unable to accept it, she flailed her arms and clawed at Chief Clerk Wan, claiming that he had induced them into bribery—that they were country folk who knew no better.

The identity she would never have admitted to in public—that of a village woman—she now wielded conveniently as a shield.

Unfortunately, the prefect wasn't some fool who could be swayed by her words. The Zhong family's accounts, combined with the confessions of Zhong Laosan and Wang Shun, were more than enough for a conviction. Whether she confessed or not didn't matter.

Zhong Laotai then turned her gaze to Zhong Yizhu, who was shielded behind Pei Mu. She was consumed by regret—had she not targeted Zhong Yizhu, she could have lived out her days peacefully as the family matriarch. Her extreme remorse burned into hatred as she fixed her eyes on them and spewed the most venomous curses.

The prefect waved a hand, ordering her to be dragged away and locked up. But she immediately switched tactics, crying and pleading.

"Zhu Ge'er, I'm your own grandmother! You can't abandon me, you can't abandon me..."

Zhong Laosan and Wu Shi's regret and terror went without saying—both kowtowed to Zhong Yizhu with tears and snot streaming down their faces, desperately hoping for leniency through their pleas. But Pei Mu simply pulled Zhong Yizhu aside, avoiding them.

This family had no backbone and no loyalty. Even the prefect couldn't stand to watch anymore, waving for the guards to show Zhong Yizhu and his group out.

Fang You emerged from the crowd to rejoin them. Though the case had been decided, the onlookers hadn't dispersed—they were watching the flogging, all fired up and saying it served them right.

Yang Luo, who Pei Mu had sent to keep an eye on the Zhong family, was the one who'd yelled "Fire!" in time to save the account books. Seeing Zhong Yizhu's party turn the corner, he ran over to meet them.

Once they got out of that imposing government building and onto the lively streets, everyone finally breathed easy and came back to themselves.

Pei Mu and Zhong Yizhu exchanged a glance. Zhong Yizhu's eyes showed both triumph and a hint of blankness.

The two had asked Yan Wenqin ahead of time and learned that the new prefect was an honest, fair-minded official. They also knew roughly what fate awaited the Zhong family if they won the case.

When Yan Wenqin learned the full story, he offered to help—to preserve Zhong Yizhu's inheritance for him. Only upon arriving in the prefectural city did Pei Mu and Zhong Yizhu discover that the head of the Yan household was a retired third-rank official from the court, so Yan Wenqin's offer carried real weight.

But Zhong Yizhu didn't want to do the same thing the Zhong family had done, and Pei Mu had another consideration. Setting aside whether precedent existed, if Zhong Yizhu took over the family business, he would also inherit the family's obligations and those people. Better to make a clean break.

They thanked Yan Wenqin for his kindness and just asked if he could help them with something else later, if it wasn't too much trouble.

The prefect moved fast. Zhong Youyao got kicked out of the academy, and the Zhong family's residence and shops were all sealed. The injured Zhong Yourong was taken to a medical clinic by Zhong Youzhi, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. Zhong Youyao and Zhong Yourong's families were left with nothing—no money, no place to stay, total chaos.

Zhong Yourong had suffered fifty strokes and was gravely wounded. Right then, Zhong Youtong's in-laws showed up to take advantage of the mess—demanding Zhong Yourong hand over the fragrance recipes from Zhong's Fragrance Shop, and in return they'd find him a place to stay and pay for his treatment.

Hit by such a sudden fall from grace and then provoked like that, Zhong Yourong spat up blood and passed out cold.

Zhong Youtong had been married into the Liu family for less than a month when her natal family collapsed—like a bolt from the blue. Only after marrying did she realize that the Liu family looked rich, but inside it was a den of wolves. Her sisters-in-law were all scheming shrews, and she had a tough mother-in-law breathing down her neck. She was already miserable, and now that her family had fallen, wouldn't everyone just walk all over her?

Thinking about what was coming, Zhong Youtong couldn't help but shudder.

When she found out her new husband had gone to her eldest brother to demand the fragrance recipes, she didn't even know whose side to be on. When her husband came back, she went up to ask how her brother was doing, but he shoved her away.

Zhong Youtong burst into tears.

Every member of the Zhong family got what they deserved. By the day Zhong Laotai, Zhong Laohan, and Zhong Laosan and his wife were sent into exile, nobody even came to see them off.

No one seeing them off meant no one had greased the guards' palms—which crushed the last hope of the four, who'd been counting on having money for decent meals on the road.

Compared to Chief Clerk Wan, who also got exiled but had family and kids seeing him off, the four of them looked ridiculous.

After years of living the good life, just a few days in jail had them feeling like death would be better. Zhong Laotai was still in the same clothes she'd been arrested in, but she'd lost the fire to curse anyone out. Her lips were chapped, her hair was a mess, and she kept muttering curses under her breath—only Zhong Laosan and Zhong Laohan next to her could make out what she was saying.

What she didn't know was that the two people closest to her had started blaming her too.

The guards escorting them saw that none of the four had relatives bringing food or money, and their faces turned sour. One of them sneered.

"Alright, let's move. You didn't live like decent people, so don't expect any filial kids to come see you off."

The four were in heavy shackles, and after just a few days, their wrists and ankles were already bruised and swollen. By the time they'd walked from the jail to the city gates, the skin had rubbed raw and started bleeding. And from Rongyang Prefectural City to where they were being exiled was a thousand li.

The four stared bleakly at the prosperous city behind them. When they turned around, they met Chief Clerk Wan's nasty glare.

...

The trip back from the prefectural city to the village felt a lot faster than the way there—maybe because they were eager to get home, and also because a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

On the way back, Zhong Yizhu booked the best cabins for everyone. The cabins were roomy and bright, with windows that opened up to river views—real nice.

Yang Luo and Fang You were thrilled. Liu Youzong and his son tried to refuse at first, but gave in once they heard the fare couldn't be refunded. Everyone was in a great mood, including Sun Yunniang. She'd been stuck in the prefectural city her whole life and never really gone anywhere. Now she leaned against the railing, taking in the scenery and watching the fish. She realized how fresh and amazing the outside world was—no wonder the young man had been willing to risk danger to get out.

Zhong Yizhu used the ship's little kitchen to make Pei Mu a bowl of sweet soup. When he pushed open the door to their cabin, Pei Mu was still sound asleep.

These past few days, Pei Mu had been running around every day. A guy who normally couldn't be bothered to say more than a few words had made who knows how many connections and passed along who knows how many messages to set up the final plan.

Back then, when Zhong Yizhu had angrily said he'd burn down the Zhong house to keep his father company in death, Pei Mu—who didn't know how to comfort people—had taught him how to set a fire. And now, Pei Mu had really stood by him, avenging his father with his own hands and getting him justice.

Properties seized by the government could be sold off. They'd asked Yan Wenqin to buy Zhong's Fragrance Shop for them, and they'd buy it back once they had the money.

As for the house, Zhong Yizhu talked it over with his mother. They both agreed there was no point going back. That rough little courtyard at the foot of the mountain in Liushan Village was their real home now. His father was also buried in Liushan Village—their family being together was better than holding onto some cold, empty shell.

Besides, neither of them wanted anything more to do with the Zhong family. The memories tied to that house could just stay in the past.

Zhong Yizhu set the sweet soup on the little table and lay down by the bed to watch Pei Mu. Before he knew it, he'd fallen asleep too.

Zhong Yizhu hadn't dreamed of his father in a long time. Looking at the middle-aged man not far off—gray at the temples but still full of energy—he almost didn't dare go up to him.

Zhong Laoer smiled at him just as gently as always: "Our little Zhu Ge'er has grown up."

Zhong Yizhu stepped forward hesitantly: "Father, you haven't come to see me in such a long time."

Zhong Laoer smiled and patted his arm: "Zhu Ge'er's so busy, of course your father wouldn't come bother you. Besides, how do you know I haven't been coming to see you quietly?"

Zhong Yizhu couldn't help but ask: "Father, do you blame me?"

Zhong Laoer let out a soft sigh: "Silly child, how could I? You haven't blamed your father, so how could I blame you?"

He looked at the young man in front of him: "Our Zhu Ge'er is really capable—even more than your father. If I'd seen things clearly earlier and handed the shop over to you, none of this trouble would've happened. Zhu Ge'er, don't carry any burden. Just go do what you want to do."

Zhong Laoer stroked Zhong Yizhu's head and sighed: "You've had it rough, Zhu Ge'er."

Zhong Yizhu held it in for a moment, then burst out crying.

These past few days, he'd asked himself, asked Pei Mu—would his father blame him for destroying the business he'd built up? Pei Mu had told him firmly no—that what ruined the Zhong family business was the third branch and those two old fools, not him.

But was it really not his fault?

Zhong Yizhu, like he'd finally found a release, couldn't stop crying. He thought maybe it really was like Pei Mu said—even if his father knew in the afterlife, he'd just feel heartbroken and take his side.

When Pei Mu woke him, Zhong Yizhu was still hiccuping from crying, and for a moment he couldn't tell reality from dream.

Pei Mu had already carried him onto the bed and taken off his outer robe, and now he was holding him tight in his arms.

"What did you dream about that made you cry like this? Come on, tell me."

The room had grown dark, with no candles lit, and Pei Mu's voice was low and gentle in the darkness.

Zhong Yizhu recounted the dream between sobs, and Pei Mu scooped him up and nuzzled him. "So you were missing your dad. Once we're back in the village, the first thing we'll do is go see him, okay?"

Zhong Yizhu sniffled. "Okay."

Zhong Yizhu stayed buried in Pei Mu's arms, crying a little more, gradually calming down. Then, remembering something, he looked up. "I made you some sweet soup."

Pei Mu leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose. "I already had some. It was really good."

Zhong Yizhu tilted his chin up, like a cat basking in praise, but he was honest in what he said: "Mom and He Geer helped me make it."

"Still, that's pretty impressive."

...

Two days later, they all rode an oxcart back to Liushan Village.

Villagers on the road spotted them and called out in surprise: "Is that Pei Mu and Zhu Ge'er back? You all doing okay?"

Zhong Yizhu and Pei Mu exchanged a glance, then smiled in reply: "All is well. Everything's fine."

The villagers didn't know the specifics of what they'd been up to, but seeing the whole family and the village head and his son return safe and sound, they beamed with joy.

"Good to hear, good to hear!"

When word got around, Wang Xiaorong and his husband, along with the village head's family, soon came out to greet them.

In the distance, the mountains were lush and green; up close, voices chattered and laughed—all of it welcoming them home.