Cheng Yi laughed coldly upon hearing this.
The Third Branch had always been fence-sitters. First they told them the news about Cheng Xu’s impending marriage to the legitimate eldest daughter of the Min family, then hinted that Cheng Xu liked Zhou Shaojin, and then led people to the cave… They took the risk of putting a hallucinogenic drug in Cheng Xu’s wine, wanting to make Cheng Xu take liberties with Zhou Shaojin while his mind was unclear, then they would catch them in the act and force the First Branch to give up the position of clan heir. Even if they couldn’t get the position of clan heir, they would at least have something on Cheng Xu to use for future purposes. Who would have thought that when the Third Branch saw things going wrong, they would wash their hands clean of the whole affair and stand here righteously pleasing both sides. Could it be that after doing business for so long, they only valued profit over family affection?
How hypocritical!
But who exactly beat Cheng Xu into this state?
Cheng Yi suspected it was that maid called Ji Ying who served Cheng Chi.
Hadn’t she injured Cheng Yi of the Fourth Branch before?
But why would Cheng Chi do this?
This made no sense at all.
If anything happened to Cheng Xu, the First Branch would be the most disgraced.
Moreover, even if Cheng Xu lost his position as clan heir, Cheng Chi was the youngest of the “Shui” generation – no matter what, it wouldn’t be his turn to become clan heir. This would bring him a hundred harms without a single benefit, and he was an extremely intelligent person…
Cheng Yi couldn’t figure it out.
But he disliked even more his former ally’s naked betrayal.
He opened his mouth to refute.
Someone tugged hard at his sleeve.
He looked in that direction and saw his son Cheng Shi constantly giving him meaningful glances, signaling him not to say anything.
How could this be acceptable!
If they missed this opportunity, there wouldn’t be another!
No matter what, they had to make Zhou Shaojin accuse Cheng Xu of impropriety toward her!
Cheng Shi hadn’t expected his father to lose control this time and actually expose all of the Second Branch’s intentions before everyone.
No wonder Great-Grandfather told him that for some matters, if he could speak plainly to Father he should, but if he couldn’t, he shouldn’t mention them at all.
Father had been in Jinling City for so long, accustomed to being flattered by those people in Jinling, that inevitably he had become somewhat arrogant when dealing with matters.
But in this room, except for Cheng Wen’s father and that branch family member Cheng Ju, who among them were easy to deal with!
If they pushed Zhou Shaojin too far and Zhou Zhen stepped forward, they would only be able to shamelessly apologize to Zhou Zhen.
That would be a huge loss of face!
Seeing that his father Cheng Yi hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation at all and still wanted to argue with Cheng Lu, Cheng Shi could only steel himself and step forward, saying: “Father, right now Jiashan’s health is what matters. Whatever it is, let’s talk about it after the doctor arrives.” As he spoke, he tugged hard at his sleeve again.
For a moment, Cheng Yi still hadn’t realized that his words just now had been somewhat excessive, but Great-Grandfather had repeatedly instructed him to discuss matters with his son. He thought about it and finally swallowed the words he was about to say.
Cheng Mian breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Second Branch and First Branch really started fighting, it would be their Fourth and Fifth Branches who suffered – standing on either side wouldn’t be good.
He quickly scolded Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi, who had been standing silently beside him: “What are you two standing there stupidly for? Go see if the doctor has arrived yet! Then have someone quietly bring over a sedan chair to carry your cousin to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.”
Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi were both holding back their anger!
Clearly it was Cheng Xu who failed at taking liberties with Shaojin and got beaten up by Shaojin, so how did it become Shaojin’s fault when it came out of Madam Yuan’s mouth?
Fortunately, Uncle Cheng Chi and Old Madam Guo hadn’t said anything. Otherwise, even with elders present, they would have risked the accusation of being “unfilial” to say a few words.
Hearing their father’s instructions, although the two were reluctant, they still went their separate ways – one to urge the doctor, one to direct servants to bring the sedan chair.
Seeing this, Cheng Wen laughed a few times, feeling it was time for him to step forward and say something. He said: “Cousin Cheng Chi, don’t be unhappy. What kind of person is Jiashan – don’t we all know? If you say he did something immoral, I wouldn’t believe it even if you killed me. As for the Zhou family niece, we all watched her grow up too – she’s also a sensible and proper good child. There must be some misunderstanding here! Yes, a misunderstanding, definitely a misunderstanding! Once Jiashan wakes up and explains clearly, it’ll be fine.”
Another fence-sitter!
Cheng Yi’s eyes turned red with anger.
Cheng Chi glanced at him, then at Cheng Lu, his expression growing even colder as he said: “Since everyone thinks it’s a misunderstanding – how Jiashan became drunk to the point of unconsciousness and ended up sitting alone in the cave, and how the Zhou family niece just happened to run into Jiashan… I won’t dig three feet down to investigate. Everyone disperse! Crowding in this cave isn’t good for Jiashan’s condition either!”
What did these words mean?
Cheng Lu frowned.
But Cheng Yi, Cheng Shi, and Cheng Zheng felt their hearts skip a beat!
Was Cheng Chi threatening them?
Did he know what happened?
Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng carefully thought through every action Cheng Chi had taken from when Wu Baozhang screamed to when they led everyone to the cave.
There didn’t seem to be anything unusual… or perhaps they were being too sensitive!
The two maintained their silence in tacit agreement.
When Cheng Wen thought about the thousand taels of silver he had promised his mistress and was still hoping Cheng Chi would show him a way forward, he immediately fawned: “Yes, yes! Cousin Cheng Chi is right. Since Cousin Cheng Yi says it’s impossible for outsiders to have come in, then it must be someone from the household. Everyone in this household has their place – who could run away? Once Jiashan wakes up and we know what actually happened, won’t we know everything! Let’s all disperse, disperse!” As he spoke, he pushed his son Cheng Nuo and said, “Why aren’t you taking your wife back? A woman who doesn’t stay properly at home but runs around the compound doing what?”
Wu Baozhang’s heart jumped when she heard this.
This matter was ending just like that?
After spending so much effort and using so many schemes, Zhou Shaojin hadn’t lost even a single hair and it was just ending like this!
She bit her lip and quickly glanced at Cheng Lu, full of unwillingness.