Chapter 90

Chun Xing heart sank suddenly.

In panic, she looked towards Uncle Zhong, “Uncle Zhong, save me! You’re the one who instructed us to do this!”

The whole courtyard was in an uproar.

Uncle Zhong’s face turned pale instantly. After a moment of contemplation, he lifted his robe and knelt down, “Your Highness.”

Xifeng looked earnestly at Xie Tingzhou.

He and Chang Liu were both raised by Uncle Zhong. Although they were not related by blood, they were closer than family.

Xie Tingzhou said lightly, “Get up and speak. Do you have anything to say?”

Assisted by Xifeng, Uncle Zhong stood up and said hoarsely, “This old servant did express a desire to drive away Shi Yu, but this plan was not devised by this old servant.”

Xie Tingzhou glanced down at Chun Xing.

Spring Apricot hurriedly explained, “We also wanted to share Uncle Zhong’s worries.”

Uncle Zhong was the steward of the mansion. If they shared his worries, it meant they were connecting with Uncle Zhong, which might earn them some recognition in front of Xie Tingzhou.

“Their behavior is improper, and their words are inappropriate. Deal with them accordingly,” Xie Tingzhou said before leaving.

If their behavior was merely improper, they could be sold off. But if their words were inappropriate, it meant they couldn’t control their own mouths even if they left the mansion.

Usually, families of wealth and status had several ways to handle such situations. Either they could be sold off with a gag, which was a permanent solution, or they could be beaten to death directly.

Xie Tingzhou was ill and unable to go hunting with Cang. This task fell on Chang Liu.

After completing the task, Chang Liu returned to report to Xie Tingzhou. When he saw Uncle Zhong kneeling in the courtyard, he was shocked.

“Grandpa!” Chang Liu ran over, “Grandpa, why are you kneeling?”

Uncle Zhong shook his head with embarrassment. He was getting old, and kneeling for a while made his head dizzy.

Chang Liu tried to pull him up in a hurry, but Uncle Zhong couldn’t get up. Chang Liu rushed to find Xie Tingzhou, but was stopped by Xifeng before entering the house.

“Come back!”

Chang Liu stomped his feet anxiously, “Grandpa is still kneeling. What’s going on?”

Xifeng pulled Chang Liu aside and roughly explained the situation to him.

As the steward of the mansion, Xie Tingzhou had refrained from publicly scolding Uncle Zhong, leaving him some dignity in front of others.

The character “Zhong” in Uncle Zhong’s name was given by the old master. He had once saved the old master’s life and almost lost his hand in the process. Later, the old master bestowed upon him the surname “Xie” and the name “Zhong.”

Uncle Zhong felt unworthy of the surname bestowed upon him by the master and called himself Ah Zhong. Later, everyone called him Uncle Zhong.

The character “Zhong” wasn’t mistaken. He was indeed a loyal servant who had served his master faithfully for many years. He felt deeply troubled to act without permission. Xie Tingzhou could guess that he was acting on behalf of the old master.

Although Uncle Zhong knelt on his own accord, he shouldn’t have spoken out of turn in front of others, considering his position as the steward of the mansion.

The more Xie Tingzhou refrained from punishing him, the worse Uncle Zhong felt.

Chang Liu’s nose wrinkled with worry. It was just the beginning of spring, and the ground was still cold. How could Uncle Zhong, at his age, bear such discomfort?

“What should we do now?” Xifeng was also anxious but had no solution. “You’re usually so clever, what do you think?”

Chang Liu pondered for a moment and said, “I’ll go find His Highness.”

Having just finished his medicine, Xie Tingzhou looked up from his bowl and saw Chang Liu kneeling on the ground as soon as he entered.

He asked slowly, “Is kneeling contagious now?”

Chang Liu pouted, looking like he was about to cry. “Your Highness, can I take Uncle Zhong’s punishment instead?”

Xie Tingzhou wiped his hands with a cloth, “I haven’t punished him.”

“But he feels worse than if he were punished.” Chang Liu stuttered.

Xifeng, standing at the door, thought Chang Liu would come up with a brilliant idea, but he didn’t expect this.

He stepped into the room, pulled Chang Liu up from the ground, and scolded, “Are you trying to force His Highness through yourself? What can His Highness do? He hasn’t even punished Uncle Zhong. Are you asking His Highness to bow down to Uncle Zhong?!”

Chang Liu suddenly realized his mistake and hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant. I was just worried.”

After a moment of silence, Xie Tingzhou spoke, “Tell Uncle Zhong that he doesn’t owe me anything.”

Chang Liu was puzzled, but Xifeng, being older, immediately understood. He dragged Chang Liu out of the door.

Xifeng relayed the words of His Highness to Uncle Zhong. After pondering for a moment, Uncle Zhong struggled to stand up with difficulty, supported by the ground.

Chang Liu hurried forward to help.

Uncle Zhong leaned on Chang Liu to steady himself and said weakly, “Help me to Ming Xuan.”

He understood His Highness’s words. His Highness didn’t punish him because he didn’t owe anything to His Highness.

Although Uncle Zhong didn’t like Shi Yu, he prided himself on being upright and would never set traps behind others’ backs.

As the evening approached, the quiet Ming Xuan was disturbed again by a knock on the door.

Er Ya came to answer the door and, seeing Uncle Zhong, hurried to call Shi Yu.

Breaking free from Chang Liu’s support, Uncle Zhong stood straight in the courtyard.

Just as Shen Yu stepped out of the threshold, she saw Uncle Zhong bow deeply in her direction.

Shen Yu was surprised and quickly went over, supporting the old man’s arm as he bowed a second time. “What are you doing?”

Uncle Zhong said, “I owe you, and these bows are what I should repay you with.”

As he was about to bow again, Shen Yu held him up and said firmly, “I can’t agree with that. As the saying goes, ‘Disaster doesn’t strike the wife and children, and crimes don’t reach the parents.’ Even close relatives aren’t punished together, let alone you, who have no connection with them. This matter has nothing to do with you.”

“But…”

“Did you conspire with them?”

Uncle Zhong looked solemn. “No.”

“Did you deliberately hint at them?”

“Never.”

“Did you ever think of scheming to drive me out of the mansion?”

“I’m not that kind of person. I originally wanted to have a good talk with you and persuade you to leave voluntarily.”

“That’s right,” Shen Yu smiled. “I’ve also heard Xifeng say that you might as well support me to death. But if Chang Liu really supports me to death, it has nothing to do with Xifeng either.”

Chang Liu complained, “Why would you think of me dying? Can’t you use a different analogy?”

Shen Yu smiled, released Uncle Zhong’s hand, took a step back, and said, “It’s just a joke. I won’t hold it against you. But I’m not someone who repays kindness with resentment. If you don’t like me, I naturally don’t like you either.”

“However,” Shen Yu paused, “Although I can’t accept your bow, Shi Yu will return the courtesy.”

Shen Yu bowed deeply in return.

Although Uncle Zhong was highly respected in the mansion, he often received respects from juniors, but this was the first time he felt his back straighten with pride.

The sincere bow from the young man helped him regain his dignity.

Uncle Zhong’s eyes reddened slightly, and he regained his previous demeanor. “Although I received your courtesy today, I still disagree with you staying in the mansion. We’ll have to talk about it later.”

The three of them left Ming Xuan, leaving Uncle Zhong with mixed feelings.

The young man was neither humble nor arrogant, tactful in his actions, and had the demeanor of a nobleman. Their family must have strict moral standards. However, he couldn’t understand how such a young child ended up in such a situation.

Uncle Zhong thought to himself, if Shi Yu didn’t have those incidents with His Highness, he wouldn’t have thought of driving him out of the mansion. Where could such a young child go after leaving the mansion?

At this moment, he completely forgot about Shi Yu’s treasure trove in the storage room.

Chang Liu asked, “Grandpa, did you suddenly find Shi Yu quite good? Quite likable?”

Before he could finish speaking, the courtyard door of Ming Xuan creaked open again.

“I forgot to mention.” Shen Yu stuck her head out, “I was going to say there’s no need for a talk. I’m stubborn, and you can’t drive me away. You might as well not waste your effort.”

Uncle Zhong flicked his sleeve and pointed, then quickly withdrew, and the door slammed shut.

Uncle Zhong was so angry that he puffed his beard and stared, “Such an attitude, not likable at all!”

But Chang Liu and Xifeng couldn’t help laughing.