Ouyang Ke looked at Lin Wanru in confusion. Lin Wanru slowly said, “This time, I fell into a trap. I was determined to get rid of the child in Concubine Zhou’s belly, but I forgot about the formidable old madam of Shou’an Hall. Today, every word that Nanny Zhang said was like a knife to my heart. She all but called me a venomous woman! Hmph! What nonsense about ‘having a son requires fate’? What she really meant was that I will never bear a son and should stop dreaming about holding onto the position of the main wife forever!”

Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment before saying, “Mother, do you mean that all of this was orchestrated by Grandmother?”

Lin Wanru scoffed. “Nanny Zhang simply did all the things the old madam wanted to say but couldn’t, and wanted to do but found inconvenient. The old madam couldn’t afford to publicly shame me, so Nanny Zhang took care of it for her! Just wait, this matter is far from over.”

Ouyang Ke turned pale with shock. “If that’s the case, what will you do, Mother? Will Father distance himself from you from now on?”

Lin Wanru smiled gently. “Silly child, what is there to fear? When soldiers come, we fight them; when water rises, we build a dam. I have my ways to win back your father. If the child in Concubine Zhou’s belly truly belongs to him, then naturally, it will be his precious treasure. But if he begins to doubt……”

Ouyang Ke stared at Lin Wanru in bewilderment. “Mother, you mean……”

Lin Wanru shook her head and said softly, “Ke’er, you should go back for now. I have matters to discuss with Nanny Wang.”

Still carrying doubt on her face, Ouyang Ke left. Lin Wanru summoned Nanny Wang and asked, “I heard that Concubine Zhou’s distant cousin was also given a position as a steward in the manor. Is that true?”

Nanny Wang was momentarily stunned but quickly replied, “Yes, Madam. Last year, when all the stewards were summoned, you even met him. He’s tall and thin, with decent features. His name is Zhang Yashan. You praised his bookkeeping skills as well-organized and even rewarded him.”

Lin Wanru let out a cold laugh. “So it’s him. Do you know how much he earns in our household? Besides his monthly salary, does he have any other sources of income?”

Nanny Wang chuckled. “Madam, I’ve been managing affairs under you for years, and I have a clear grasp of these matters. He originally came to seek refuge with Concubine Zhou, but she’s just a concubine, what power does she have to place him anywhere? She had to beg the master to grant him a position. His monthly salary is five taels of silver, but aside from that, his extra earnings are quite limited.”

A slow smile spread across Lin Wanru’s face. “And what if the master decides to dismiss him and throw him out?”

Nanny Wang laughed. “Then his entire family would have no way to survive.”

Lin Wanru nodded. “Tell him this— if the master expels him, I will personally grant him thirty taels of silver each month and provide him with a house. He need not worry.”

Nanny Wang chuckled again. “Madam, you must be joking. The master is in good spirits, why would he suddenly expel him?”

Lin Wanru cast a glance at Nanny Wang and said, “Nanny, Concubine Zhou is enjoying her moment of glory right now, and I refuse to hand everything over to that vixen without a fight. People say that if you don’t uproot the weeds completely, they will grow back with the spring breeze. Since that’s the case, I might as well see this through to the end and completely sever that vixen’s path! In Ouyang Manor, the old madam is heartless toward me, and the master is unreliable. The only person I truly trust is you. So, I must rely on you to handle this matter.”

Nanny Wang had served Lin Wanru for many years and was well aware of her cunning and ruthlessness. Hearing that, she immediately understood Lin Wanru’s intent and responded, “Madam, that is a brilliant plan. However, Steward Zhang is still Concubine Zhou’s cousin. Why would he willingly comply with us?”

By now, Lin Wanru had fully regained her former cold and calculating demeanor. She said indifferently, “If he agrees, then even if he’s expelled, he will have a new place to work under my arrangement and receive thirty taels of silver monthly. I always keep my word. But if he chooses to remain loyal to Concubine Zhou, even if she does give birth to a son, the master will never make her his official wife because of her lowly status. What benefits could Zhang Yashan possibly gain from siding with her? Let him think carefully. If he dares hesitate, I have plenty of ways to deal with him!”

Nanny Wang wasted no time. Early the next morning, she found Zhang Yashan and greeted him with a bright smile. “Steward Zhang, I have come to congratulate you.”

Zhang Yashan was busy calculating that year’s earnings in his room. Hearing Nanny Wang’s voice, he walked out with a smile. “Nanny Wang, you do know how to make people happy. But look at me, my salary is barely enough to get by. What joy is there to celebrate?”

Nanny Wang smiled, then led Zhang Yashan into the room, shut the door and windows, and carefully relayed Lin Wanru’s proposition word for word. Watching Zhang Yashan’s shocked expression, she smirked and said, “Steward Zhang, let me give you some advice. If you want benefits, take action. If not, just pretend you never heard this.”

Zhang Yashan hesitated and muttered, “A person must have a conscience. When I first came to the capital with nowhere to turn, my cousin was the one who helped me, pulling me from hell to heaven. Even if I worked like an ox or a horse, I could never repay her kindness. Now you ask me to betray her? I simply cannot……”

Nanny Wang’s expression darkened as she sneered coldly. “What a fine example of loyalty. Very well, I’ll go back and report to Madam. But you know her temperament— if you refuse, you must bear the consequences. Don’t regret it later!” With that, she turned angrily to leave.

Zhang Yashan suddenly recalled how ruthless Lin Wanru could be when dealing with servants. A chill ran down his spine. He reached out and grabbed Nanny Wang, gritting his teeth as he said, “To be honest, I’ve been poor for too long. Some days, I barely afford a single steamed bun, not knowing where the next one will come from. If Madam is willing to give me this opportunity, I will do as she says!”

Only then did Nanny Wang smile. She set a date with Zhang Yashan and returned to report to Lin Wanru.

────ρя


That day, when Ouyang Zhi returned home from outside, the first thing he did was visit Concubine Zhou, who was pregnant. Just as he reached the doorway, he saw a figure suddenly rush out in a panic, fleeing toward the bamboo grove.

Ouyang Zhi was startled and shouted, “Who goes there?!” The person did not even turn back and ran for his life.

Lifting the curtain, Ouyang Zhi stepped inside, sneering. “Who was in your room just now?”

Concubine Zhou looked at him in confusion. She had been sitting in the room the entire time and had not seen anyone at all. Naturally, she answered honestly, “I was alone.”

Ouyang Zhi’s suspicion grew, but he suppressed his anger. He reasoned that perhaps he was being overly paranoid, but if a man truly had just left Concubine Zhou’s chamber, what would that mean?

As he pondered, he reached for the teacup and placed it on the bedside table. A sudden clatter echoed through the room as his hand knocked into something. He picked it up and found a folded piece of paper.

Ouyang Zhi knew that Concubine Zhou had never been fond of writing or drawing, so he asked, “What is this?” He unfolded it under the candlelight, revealing a portrait.

The face in the painting was unmistakable— it was Zhang Yashan, Concubine Zhou’s cousin.

Rage surged through Ouyang Zhi. In an instant, he slapped Concubine Zhou’s face multiple times, leaving her cheek swollen and red.

“Shameless woman! Absolutely shameless!”