Chapter 81: Breaking Free from the Cage

Zhen Meng left Zhen Qian’s room with reddened eyes. When he had first followed Zhen Qian out of the remote mountains and gazed upon the bustling world beyond, he had felt a joy as boundless as the open sky. Yet the mark of the Qin family was deeply branded onto his heart; to say there was no affection was a lie. Still, Qin Hao had tasked him to spy on everything that transpired within the Zhen family. When the dispute over the family’s division arose, though torn inside, he reported the situation to Qin Hao—never expecting to be betrayed by Qin Hao in turn. Regret gnawed at Zhen Meng as he imagined how, upon learning the truth, Zhen Qian would surely cast him out. He had steeled himself for this fate. Yet, contrary to all expectation, Zhen Qian, upon discovering the truth, continued to protect him and even promised to help him break free from the Qin family’s grasp. In that moment, the weight of remorse crushed him.

Wang Qun soon finished compiling an inventory of the Zhen family’s holdings in Luquan County, and the findings were staggering. After a century of accumulation, the Zhen family owned two or three thousand acres of land in Luquan alone, not to mention other businesses. Their assets in this county alone amounted to twenty or thirty thousand strings of cash. One could scarcely imagine the vastness of their properties in the whole Hengzhou region—truly, the household of a grand clan.

The saying, “The rich have fields stretching to the horizon, the poor not enough land to plant a stake,” was by no means an exaggeration!

But such concerns were far from Zhen Qian’s mind at present. Though not a historian, he understood a simple truth: after long years of peace, both the gentry and those in power had forgotten the dangers that lurked in the changing of dynasties. They were lost in the prosperity and revelry of the age, forgetting the warning once spoken by Emperor Taizong of Tang: “Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.”

“I never imagined the Zhen family owned so much in Luquan County. Uncle Wang, if we wish to exchange our share for the Zhen family’s local holdings, it seems we might fall short.”

Wang Qun, too, was startled by the sheer scale of the Zhen family’s assets. Their earlier plans now seemed fanciful. “What now? Just those two or three thousand acres of land are worth over twenty thousand strings. The Xing family will never hand it over for nothing.”

To possess thousands of acres and live out one’s days as a carefree scion of privilege was little more than a beautiful fantasy; reality was crueler. Still, Zhen Qian had no intention of settling into the life of a wealthy idler. Glancing at the list of properties, he said, “If we exclude these two or three thousand acres, perhaps the Xing family will agree?”

Wang Qun hesitated. “If we forgo the farmlands and only keep the businesses, there should be no problem. But the Xing family will surely recall all their people; after all, these are Zhen family men, not loyal to us. Without their help, we have no one to manage the businesses, and trying to take them over might ruin us instead.”

Zhen Qian nodded; Wang Qun’s words were sound. There was no talent market in these times, and training people took time. Slaves could be bought, but skilled craftsmen were not easily found. To try and swallow all the Zhen family’s businesses in Luquan at once was unrealistic.

He lowered his head and examined the list of businesses carefully. Suddenly, his eyes sparkled. Picking up a brush, he marked several items and handed the list to Wang Qun. “Let’s take over these ventures and exchange the rest for land, especially the several hundred acres in Xiantai Village—we must secure that.”

Wang Qun considered the marked businesses and calculated quickly. “These, together with the fields in Xiantai Village, would be worth over ten thousand strings. The Xing family shouldn’t make things too difficult—these businesses aren’t in Zhending and won’t harm them much. Young Master, you should negotiate with the Xing family.”

Ever since they had spoken to the Xing family about dividing the inheritance, word had reached the clan patriarch, and the Xing family had betrayed them without hesitation. Zhen Qian now harbored not a shred of goodwill toward them. He had taken the initiative to withdraw, seeking only a share for his children, but the Xing family showed not a hint of leniency. Such a woman could not be described by any insult.

Seeing Zhen Qian heading off to negotiate, Xiaozhu grew anxious, glancing uneasily at Xiaomei, unable to voice her worries. Wang Qun chuckled at the two fretful girls. “Are you afraid the young master won’t keep you both?”

Were it not for Wang Qun’s presence, Xiaomei would have voiced the same thought. Though it was what she feared, she feigned bravado. “The young master would never do that!”

Xiaomei, amused by Xiaozhu’s words, pinched her playfully and teased, “You’re not honest! And who was talking in her dreams the other night?”

Startled, Xiaozhu clapped a hand over Xiaomei’s mouth, casting a nervous glance at Wang Qun, only relaxing when he turned his gaze to the window. “You talk about me, but you’ve been absent-minded these days too—walking around stepping on my heels…”

The girls began to bicker, forgetting Wang Qun’s presence altogether. After half an hour, Wang Qun, who had been silent, suddenly coughed. “The young master is back.”

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Both girls tensed, their faces clouded with anxiety. Like rabbits startled by a hawk, they clung to each other, all four eyes fixed on the door.

Zhen Qian appeared in the doorway, his face cold and stern. The girls’ hearts sank as if plunged into ice, their breathing shallow with fear.

Wang Qun saw the anger radiating from Zhen Qian and spoke up. “Young Master, did the Xing family make things difficult for us again?”

Zhen Qian snorted, bringing his palm down hard on the table. His voice was colder than before. “This is outrageous!” He recounted his dealings with the Xing family, then produced a letter from his breast and tossed it onto the table, unwilling to say more.

Wang Qun saw the letter had been opened, so he read it swiftly. His expression darkened with each line, until finally he, too, was furious. “The Second Master knew all along, and the Xing family deliberately concealed the truth to stir up trouble. I never thought the Xing family could be so heartless. We must ask the patriarch to intervene!”

But Zhen Qian shook his head. “Let it be. The matter has already caused a stir. If the patriarch is truly informed, the Zhen family’s disgrace will become public. Fortunately, the Xing family knows they’re in the wrong and did not obstruct our plans to exchange the Luquan holdings. Let’s quietly pack our things and leave, without making a fuss.” He drew two deeds from his sleeve and handed them to the two girls, whose hands trembled so much they could barely take them. Tears welled in their eyes as they bit their lips to keep from sobbing.

“This is letting the Xing family off too easily,” Wang Qun sighed, casting a long, complicated look at Zhen Qian. Sensing his resolve not to fight over the inheritance, Wang Qun felt a weight lifted and a rare smile appeared. “Young Master, you’ve truly grown up. Leaving the Zhen family is a good thing—I’ll arrange everything quietly. But we should send someone ahead to Luquan to make preparations.”

To Zhen Qian, the Zhen family was a golden cage—beautiful, but still a prison. Leaving was only a matter of time.

No one paid much attention to the once-prominent but now faded eldest son. It was not until three days after the locks were placed on his small courtyard that anyone realized he had left the family altogether. The Xing family let it be known that Zhen Qian had moved to Luquan County. Whether anyone bothered to seek out the truth behind his departure, no one could say.