CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 364: CONFRONTATION

Zou Jiang, a scholar, deeply respects the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate lineage, and kindly reminds Mrs. Zou, "Madam, when you see the Old Master later, be careful not to say anything unpleasant. If you anger the Old Master, everyone in your household will suffer the consequences."

Having been crying, Mrs. Zou hurriedly asks upon hearing this, "Housekeeper Zou, what do you mean by that? Has the Old Master misunderstood something?"

Zou Jiang responds, "Madam, there’s no need to ask further. Just remember one thing: when your very life is at stake, be prepared to make a sacrifice to survive."

At stake... Make a sacrifice to survive!

Even if Mrs. Zou is naive, she knows that this hints at a major peril threatening the lives of everyone in her household.

Upon hearing this, the wives of Zou Yuqian and Zou Yunkun both turn pale with trembling teeth.

Several of the younger members cry out and ask, "Old Housekeeper, what on earth is going on? Why would Grandfather arrest us?"

Zou Jiang dares not say too much. The more he says, the more County Magistrate Zou might question his loyalty.

Inside the Huilan Courtyard, County Magistrate Zou is already seated under the corridor of the main house. Seeing Zou Jiang bringing Mrs. Zou and the others, he frowns and angrily questions, "Where are those rebellious sons, the eldest and the second?"

He had ordered Zou Jiang to bring the entire household of Mrs. Zou here, yet now two of the most important people are missing—what does this mean?

"Zou Jiang, are you defying my orders again?" County Magistrate Zou asks sternly, dissatisfied with Zou Jiang’s favoritism towards Mrs. Zou’s household.

Zou Jiang replies, "Old Master, the eldest and the Second Young Master haven’t returned yet. I have already sent people to look for them."

Master Cao had just been instructed to lock Doctor Wen and the midwives Wei and Liu in the guesthouse rooms. Returning to hear this conversation, he quickly volunteers, "Old Master, Housekeeper Zou is a scholar, not suited for hunting down people. This task should be mine. I volunteer to personally go and find the eldest and the Second Young Master."

County Magistrate Zou, no longer trusting Zou Jiang, naturally agrees, "Very well, take people with you immediately to find those two rebels. No matter where they are or by what means, bring them back to me."

"Yes." Master Cao immediately leaves with ten Protectors to search.

County Magistrate Zou turns to Mrs. Zou and spits in her direction, "Poisonous woman, I had thought you changed for the better, but you actually planned to harm me using a lowlife. What a vicious heart you have!"

Mrs. Zou, feeling extremely wronged, weeps, "Old Master, you know what I’ve been through for you. I’d do anything for your sake. Think back to those days..."

"Silence! Are you trying to remind me that my success came only by relying on your elder brother?" County Magistrate Zou, very proud and sensitive about his ascent thanks to Mrs. Zou’s elder brother.

As a result, after her elder brother was honored as a scholar and returned home, he began to mistreat Mrs. Zou, taking concubines one after another, bringing maids to his bed one after another.

But Mrs. Zou has been fond of County Magistrate Zou since her youth, enduring his maltreatment time and again; otherwise, Concubine Lu wouldn’t have been able to be so brazen for all these years.

Mrs. Zou, filled with grievances, wants to plead her case with County Magistrate Zou, but Zou Yuqian’s wife can no longer hold back and asks County Magistrate Zou, "Father-in-law, what is the purpose of humiliating and bringing us here like this? If you don’t give your daughter-in-law a reasonable explanation, even if it means my death by running into a column today, I won’t swallow this insult!"

Zou Yuqian’s wife, Ms. Bao, though her family had no government officials and wasn’t considered a noble family in the Prefecture, they were a family that valued education across generations. Her grandfather and father were both scholars, and she had an inherent pride that would not allow her to endure such disgrace without seeking clarity.

"Heh! You still have the audacity to question this official! Wait until your husband returns and ask him yourself!" County Magistrate Zou was not taking it lightly, that a younger family member dared to challenge his authority as the Zou Family Master.

However, Ms. Bao was not willing to wait: "Please, father-in-law, clear up my confusion right now!"

"Rebellious, utterly rebellious," County Magistrate Zou pointed at Ms. Bao, glaring angrily at Mrs. Zou: "Look at the shrewish woman you’ve brought back. Not a single decent person in your household!"

Turning to Ms. Bao, he continued: "You want an explanation, right? Fine! Guards, drag that harlot out here!"

Two Protectors immediately rushed into the room, dragging Zhong Cuilan, who was still lying on the floor, out of the room, and threw her onto the ground of the courtyard.

County Magistrate Zou pointed at Zhong Cuilan and said: "Ask this lowly woman what vile acts she has committed with your husband!"

Ms. Bao was astute and upon hearing this, she felt a darkness before her eyes, guessing what might have happened. Nonetheless, she said: "Father-in-law, my husband has always respected you, it’s impossible for him to do anything that would disgrace you. It must be this woman falsely accusing him."

Furthermore, she added: "This woman has recently grown close to Concubine Lu. Her maid, Mo Qiuyue is also someone sent by the Lu Family. This whole incident must be a vile plot hatched by the Lu Family and Concubine Lu!"

Finally catching her breath, Mrs. Zou promptly chimed in: "The wife of the eldest son is right. Old Master, it’s a scheme by Concubine Lu. Over the years, she has dreamt of eliminating our family, just so her son can inherit the Zou family."

"Old Master, look, take a look. Her poisonous scheme could get our entire household caught here. If you fall for her trap, our family could die, and it would be no big deal, but the Zou family would lose its rightful lineage."

If County Magistrate Zou truly cared about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring, he wouldn’t have favored Zou Yuzhen all these years. However, after pondering, he sensed some truth in Ms. Bao’s words and thought that today’s incident might indeed involve Concubine Lu’s machinations.

County Magistrate Zou, who did not want to be played, immediately ordered ten Protectors to bring Concubine Lu over.

Concubine Lu had expected that she would be summoned to Huilan Courtyard, and upon seeing the Protectors arrive, she followed obediently. After seeing County Magistrate Zou, she performed a courtesy and said: "Old Master, Lian’er is here. Please, ask whatever you wish."

Concubine Lu did not pretend to be unaware of Zhong Cuilan’s affair with County Magistrate Zou. With the uproar reaching such a pitch, everyone in the household knew about it. As someone capable of holding her own against Mrs. Zou in the inner court, pretending ignorance wouldn’t gain County Magistrate Zou’s trust. It was better not to feign unawareness.

County Magistrate Zou questioned Concubine Lu: "Why have you been so close to Zhong Cuilan lately? You even gave her a maid, who was sent by the Lu Family. What are your intentions? Are you looking to harm the Zou Family?!"

Concubine Lu gently knelt down and said: "Old Master, the reason I’ve gotten close to Zhong Cuilan is entirely for your sake. Thinking of how much you favor her, in order not to disturb you, Lian’er took the initiative to befriend her."

"As for Mo Qiuyue, it’s because both she and Zhong Cuilan are refugees from the Northwest, capable of speaking their hometown dialect. I thought that if Zhong Cuilan, being pregnant, had a fellow countrywoman by her side, it would ease her mood, which is beneficial for nurturing the fetus."

Concubine Lu’s explanation was sensible and flawless.

"Nonsense, you poisonous woman! You must have colluded with Zhong Cuilan to harm my eldest son, I’ll fight you for this!" Mrs. Zou attempted to pounce on Concubine Lu but was restrained by two Protectors wielding large staffs and could not move.

Concubine Lu looked at Mrs. Zou and said: "Madam, I know you hate Lian’er, but what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. What’s the relation between Zhong Cuilan and me? Would she risk her own life to help me eliminate your household? She’s not a fool."