After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 82 (continued)

“I may have returned to divide the inheritance, but all I’m taking is bricks and tiles, and things that belong to me,” Zhou Xun said leisurely. “I won’t touch any of the decorations in the Zhou residence. Since you’ve been so wary of me all these years, worried I’d take away Zhou Cai’s share, you might as well check the household items back at home. Make sure nothing’s missing—especially the dowry and the women’s jewelry. I remember you had quite a few beautiful hairpins. Are they all accounted for?”

 

Madam Zhou’s anger surged, and she trembled all over. “What nonsense are you spouting!”

 

“It’s a pity you’ve guarded against so many things all your life but failed to guard against the one person you should have,” Zhou Xun said, bowing slightly. “I’ve said my piece. Please, take care of yourself—at least until the spring of next year.”

 

As Zhou Xun turned to leave, Madam Zhou, her face pale, chased after him. “Explain yourself!”

 

Zhou Xun frowned as he felt her hand gripping his arm. Zhou Cai quickly followed, saying, “Mother! Let go!”

 

“You! You’re against me too! You’re a useless child!” Madam Zhou, enraged, began to berate her own son, unable to control her words. “I did everything to support you, to push you forward, and now you’ve let someone else take the lead. I helped you in every way I could. You couldn’t even hold onto a man! What good are you? What good are you?”

 

Madam Zhou’s words struck Zhou Cai deeply. He trembled, his eyes reddening as he let go of Zhou Xun’s arm and lowered his head.

 

— Thus, the bond between mother and son was severed.

 

Zhou Xun watched coldly as the argument unfolded. Madam Zhou, having vented her anger, knew she had no more words to say. She covered her face and left in tears. The head of the Ye family, witnessing the scene, glanced at his cousin in awkwardness before shaking his head and leaving.

 

In the long hall, only Zhou Xun and Zhou Cai remained. Once everyone else had departed, Zhou Xun took a seat.

 

He had long sensed that Zhou Cai had something to say.

 

Zhou Cai, with reddened eyes, finally looked up and smiled weakly. “You must be very pleased with yourself.”

 

Zhou Xun countered, “What do you think?”

 

He addressed the tearful Zhou Cai. “Now that everyone’s gone, you don’t need to put on such a sorrowful act.”

 

“Is that so?” Zhou Cai lifted his head slowly, still smiling despite his red eyes and lingering tears. “I was hoping you might feel some sympathy for me—but if that’s not the case, then I won’t bother.”

 

Zhou Xun looked at Zhou Cai with disdain, his irritation growing. At the same time, he grew more cautious.

 

Zhou Cai sat back, gazing out at the dismantling of the Zhou family’s walls. He suddenly smiled and tilted his head. “The Emperor has been very kind to you, hasn’t he? Even coming up with ways to take revenge on us. Now, everyone in the capital knows that the Emperor is humiliating us for your sake.”

 

Zhou Xun remained silent, waiting for Zhou Cai to reveal his intentions.

 

“…The Emperor once treated me well too. Back then, there was no Zhou residence here, just a hundred-year-old ginkgo tree. He had the residence built here. That’s the kind of person he is—he loves so deeply that he wishes for the person’s life, and hates so deeply that he wishes for their death,” Zhou Cai said indirectly. “I went to the palace yesterday… I knelt in front of the palace for a long time, nearly dying there before he agreed to see me. Do you know why he saw me? To distance himself from me.”

 

“He spared the Zhou residence from punishment because he wanted to ensure that you could distance yourself from it. He won’t let you have a mother’s family that affects your legacy. Moreover, he’s keeping us around for you to watch our troubles and, in the end—deal with them yourself,” Zhou Cai said. “But have you ever wondered why the Emperor is so good to you?”

 

Zhou Xun stared at him coldly.

 

Zhou Cai looked at him, smiling strangely. “Do you really think he’s so fond of you? How long have you known him, and how long have I known him? Today, he can abandon me for you, and tomorrow, he could abandon you for me…”

 

— Their relationship with the Emperor was not as simple as Zhou Cai implied.

 

Zhou Xun thought.

 

The highest form of deception is a mixture of truth and lies. Zhou Cai’s nearly confessional tone was setting up for something deeper. When Zhou Cai said that line, Zhou Xun realized that Zhou Cai’s true attack was finally here.

 

“Zhou Xun, you’re a smart person. You should know that such luck doesn’t exist,” Zhou Cai said enigmatically, with a hint of sympathy in his eyes. “The Emperor is treating you well only because—”

 

“You are being used as a substitute for someone else.”

 

The truth finally dropped.

 

Zhou Cai’s voice continued, almost like a spell: “Don’t you find his attitude strange from the moment he saw you? Why did he let you go when you first met him? Didn’t you have any doubts?”

 

“He searches for another person in your words, seeks another person in you. Do you think you were rescued? Do you think you received a rare fortune and glory? No, it was never meant for you; it was meant for someone else!” Zhou Cai said with provocative, well-prepared words. “You’re just a pitiful creature who stole the love meant for another!”

 

He slammed his hand on the table and observed Zhou Xun’s expression, finally feeling a sense of satisfaction after his painful and troubled heart was eased.

 

Delightful!

 

He wanted to see Zhou Xun’s reaction, to see if he had hit a nerve!

 

“He will treat you the same way he treated me. There will always be someone who resembles that person more than you do—eventually, you will cry and kneel in front of the palace just as I did…” Zhou Cai, seeing Zhou Xun bow his head, pressed on. “Have you ever felt the experience of kneeling for an hour?”

 

He saw Zhou Xun’s shoulders quiver slightly and continued, “Don’t be too pleased with yourself. Today it’s me, and tomorrow it will be you. Eventually, you will also…”

 

“Pfft.”

 

He heard a laugh.

 

…Zhou Xun was actually laughing?

 

He was laughing?

 

“I’ve been here so long that I forgot to give you this parting gift,” Zhou Xun said, lifting his head. He ordered the guards to come in and take out a package, tossing it to Zhou Cai. “Here.”

 

As Zhou Cai held the package, Zhou Xun added, “It’s a knee pillow for you. When you kneel in the future, you can use it.”

 

Zhou Cai: …

 

Zhou Xun: “If you hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten.”

 

“…Zhou Xun,” Zhou Cai said coldly, “don’t be so smug.”

 

The response was a light laugh. “No need to worry about me.”

 

“Substitute? Replacement? Yesterday, today? My relationship with him is not so mundane. Besides… do you think I’d still believe your words today?” Zhou Xun said slowly, his eyes lowered and smiling.

 

“He is good to me,” he said.

 

Simply these four words.

 

Madam Zhou eventually sat down. She sat on a carved wooden chair, covering her face and crying. The head of the Ye family sat beside her, growing increasingly impatient as he watched his cousin.

 

From their earlier conversation, he had picked up several clues—such as the seemingly prosperous Zhou residence now being in tatters, Zhou Cai having completely lost favor with the Emperor, and even the top scholar title now being in question. Moreover, that child named Zhou Xun seemed to be the Emperor’s new favorite.

 

Even the disarray in the residence seemed related to this young man.

 

He wasn’t concerned with Zhou Cai’s matters; his most pressing concern was Zhou Xun.

 

Who exactly was this Zhou Xun?

 

He looked at Zhou Xun’s features and, for some reason, felt a vague sense of dread. Although the young man looked to be only in his twenties, he exuded an immense threat.

 

— Having navigated the business world for years, he trusted his instincts deeply.

 

“Wen Liang, crying now won’t help,” the head of the Ye family said, pressing his impatience as he tried to calm her. “You need to tell me what’s happening with the Zhou family now!”

 

Madam Zhou sobbed a few times, clearly reluctant to speak. The head of the Ye family pressed on, “You should know that the Ye family and the Zhou family are in-laws—when one prospers, the other does too; when one suffers, so does the other. Besides us, who else will help the Zhou family?”

 

Madam Zhou hesitated for a while before finally revealing a bit of the truth. The head of the Ye family listened and then asked, “Putting aside the Zhou family’s issues for now, who exactly is Zhou Xun?”

 

“A bastard’s son!” Hearing the name Zhou Xun, Madam Zhou, who had been crying, instantly became gritted with anger.

 

“A bastard?” The head of the Ye family said, feeling an ominous premonition. “Who is his mother?”

 

“His mother, his mother…”

 

“Speak up!”

 

The head of the Ye family suddenly snapped. Madam Zhou was startled and quickly said, “He is the son of that vile Lin Yan.”

 

“Lin Yan? The young lady of the Lin family? Didn’t the entire Lin family get exiled?” The head of the Ye family was taken aback, suddenly recalling an old matter, and said angrily, “…I told you to cut the weeds and get rid of the roots. How could you let them live until now?”

 

“Lin Yan was very cautious, protecting her child tightly, so I couldn’t take action,” Madam Zhou said, clenching her fists. “Moreover… who would have thought that a bastard could stir up such a storm? He’s just a powerless and insignificant…”

 

The head of the Ye family stood up, closing all the doors and windows. “Cut the weeds and get rid of the roots, cut the weeds and get rid of the roots! Why didn’t you listen?! Since he’s from the Lin family and now has a connection with the Emperor, who knows when he might start investigating the Lin family’s case! If he clears the Lin family’s name, our entire Ye family could be ruined!”

 

Madam Zhou was startled and said hesitantly, “Is that really possible? After all, cousin, you handled things cleanly back then…”

 

“We need to come up with a plan,” the head of the Ye family said, frowning. He thought of Zhou Xun’s appearance and shook his head more forcefully. “If he looked like a fool, it wouldn’t be such a problem to let him go. But since he looks so sharp and clear… he must not be allowed to stay!”

 

He suddenly looked up and said, “The timing is actually good. He’s still a commoner and not an official. The longer we delay, the more troublesome it becomes! He’s still at the Zhou residence, right?”

 

The head of the Ye family was about to get up. Madam Zhou was startled and quickly whispered, “This is the Zhou residence! Are you planning to kill someone here…?”

 

The head of the Ye family looked at his dull-witted sister with frustration and said, “There are countless methods for killing someone. Must you be so foolish? Naturally, we first need to speak with him to find out where he’s living now. He’s living alone right now, so we can send people to lie in wait at his residence, and then…”

 

He made a hand gesture.

 

Madam Zhou nodded.

 

Right! Why didn’t she think of that!

 

As long as Zhou Xun is dead, her son would have a chance, and she could return to her previous life!

 

Madam Zhou did not know that Zhou Xun was currently residing in the palace. She was fully occupied with planning to send people to lay in wait at Zhou Xun’s residence.

 

The two hurried to the hall, as if afraid that their cooked duck would fly away. The head of the Ye family was mentally sketching Zhou Xun’s figure, feeling both resigned and increasingly wary.

 

If Zhou Xun were truly a son of one of the Zhou family’s concubines—even if not Madam Zhou’s legitimate son—it would still be highly beneficial to the Zhou family. But since he was a child of Lin Yan, he must be dealt with accordingly. The more outstanding he was, the more he must be eliminated!

 

This child is so terrifying. Even though he currently has no official titles, he cannot be allowed to remain!

 

Thinking this, he contemplated the possibility of sending assassins to Zhou Xun’s residence. He knew that Zhou Xun was living outside the Zhou residence, presumably in some other manor, perhaps even at an official’s house, where infiltration might still be possible.

 

— Until.

 

“The Emperor has arrived!”

 

A loud announcement came from the main gate of the Zhou residence. Hearing this, the head of the Ye family and Madam Zhou instinctively knelt. They exchanged a glance and realized that the Emperor was not present.

 

What was the Emperor doing at the Zhou residence?

 

“The Emperor often visited the Zhou residence before, so it’s not surprising that he’s here today. He must be…” Madam Zhou said, suddenly brightening. “Could it be my son… my son…”

 

She hurriedly ran towards the hall. The head of the Ye family followed her, having already roughly planned his assassination.

 

As they neared the hall, seeing the Emperor’s dark robe and the deep blue, subtly patterned official attire of the grand eunuch, the head of the Ye family carefully slowed his pace.

 

— Previously, the matter of the Ye family member selling official positions had been investigated by the Emperor’s inspectors. Since the matter had just been resolved, he didn’t want to provoke the Emperor’s ire.

 

Moreover, those inspectors were insatiable. Not only did they deal with that family member, but they also confiscated his assets. If not for the Ye family’s connections with the local officials, those hounds might have taken a bite out of the Ye family’s wealth!

 

As he pondered how to pay his respects, he heard a deep male voice inside.

 

“Have you played enough? If you’re done playing, then go back,” the Emperor’s voice was heavy, carrying authority without anger. “There’s a lot of dust here, so be careful not to damage your lungs.”

 

The young man in white responded with a “Hmm.”

 

Head of the Ye family: ?!?

 

Wait, did he just hear that correctly?

 

Zhou Xun is now living in the palace?!