tallest building

Chapter 10 All Kindness and Favor Expired

Gong Xu returned home earlier than usual that day and happened to meet the steward delivering people from the brokerage firm.

The brokers greeted Gong Xu warmly.

Gong Xu then asked the steward, "Are there not enough people in the manor?"

"Reporting to Master, it is our household that is selling people," the steward said.

"What a joke! We've always been the ones buying people from within our own household; there's no reason for us to sell people out," Gong Xu said, his face slightly darkening. "Whose idea was this?"

The brokers were shrewd enough to flee at the sight of this situation.

The steward looked troubled and said, "It was two maids who serve the madam. The madam complained that they were not serving her well, so she made a scene in the mansion early this morning."

Upon hearing that it was related to Wen Mingqian, Gong Xu's face darkened even more. As he walked inside, he said, "Does she think she can just sell us off like that? This family isn't for her to call the shots!"

Upon entering the second gate, I saw the two maids kneeling by the passageway, their faces bruised and purple, looking quite unsightly.

Upon seeing Gong Xu, they both knelt down and kowtowed, saying nothing but weeping.

"Who hit him?" Gong Xu asked, frowning.

“It was Zhang Mama, who serves the Madam,” Hongxing said, covering her face. “She said that the two of us servants were deliberately neglecting us, and without allowing any explanation, she raised her hand and hit us.”

Then he forced the young mistress to sell us both, saying that if she didn't, she would lose her reputation for being virtuous.

Gong Xu was already very angry, and he couldn't bear to hear the two maids mention Wen Mingqian forcing Song Shi.

So he said, "You two get up and go to the back. Rest for a couple of days after the medicine is applied; you don't need to do any work for now."

"Master, this...this might not be a good idea," the steward stammered. "The young mistress has already agreed to the madam's request to sell these two maids."

"Madam, who do you think she is?!" Gong Xu angrily questioned the steward. "She bullied the young mistress, and instead of protecting her, you all acted like she was in charge!"

“Master, please calm down. We have no choice. The young mistress is currently ill, and with all this commotion, how can she recover? We are doing this to keep things peaceful,” the steward sighed.

Gong Xu didn't say anything more; his anger wasn't directed at the servants in the first place.

Upon arriving at the Song family's courtyard, Granny Yang came out from the inner room.

"Master is back. Let someone serve you dinner first." Madam Yang's voice was very low. "The young mistress's illness has worsened again. She finally managed to fall asleep after taking her medicine."

"How long have you been asleep?" Gong Xu's voice was also very soft.

"It's been almost half an hour," said Granny Yang.

"Tell her to sleep! We'll eat together when she wakes up," Gong Xu said, turning and leaving.

Granny Yang went out to take a look, and returned happily.

"Young Madam, Master has gone to see that man surnamed Wen. They brought this trouble upon themselves!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Song smiled slightly. She hadn't slept at all; it was all for Gong Xu's benefit.

Yunfengzhai's courtyard is not large, but the most eye-catching thing is the Chinese tallow tree that is more than a room tall, covered with flowers that hang down in lovely profusion.

The setting sun cast its golden rays through the gaps in the flowers and leaves, filling the courtyard with a golden glow.

Wen Mingqian and his mother were reading a book together under a tree, with a sewing basket on the stone table next to them.

Wen Mingqian was dressed in plain clothes, his black hair was as black as satin, and because he lowered his head, only his smooth forehead could be seen.

Gong Chang'an, who was nestled beside her, was still young but stunningly beautiful.

Especially when she raised her head, her eyes, as black as lacquer, shone with an undeniable intelligence. Immediately, Wen Mingqian also noticed someone's arrival. She calmly raised her head and met Gong Xu's gaze.

More than seven years later, when they met again, Wen Mingqian had already transformed his grievances and injustices into a calm and composed demeanor.

She slowly rose, took her son's hand and stepped forward, curtsied to Gong Xu, and then said to Gong Chang'an, "Quickly pay your respects to the master."

"Chang'an greets Father." Gong Chang'an bowed formally.

This child, meeting his father for the first time since birth, showed no awkwardness or shyness, nor was he overly affectionate or ingratiating.

She was poised and graceful, with impeccable manners, and appeared to be very well-mannered. Even though she grew up in a remote border region, she showed no signs of inferiority or timidity.

Gong Xu looked at him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

But he didn't allow himself to dwell on it for too long, so he simply nodded slightly and ordered in a detached tone, "Go play over there."

Gong Chang'an tactfully left the courtyard, but did not go far.

"What are you doing back here?" Gong Xu asked Wen Mingqian in a low voice.

"So, Master, you finally remembered to ask me?" Wen Mingqian met Gong Xu's gaze the whole time. "This is my home, why can't I come back?"

"Have you forgotten why you left in the first place?" Gong Xu sneered. "Do I have to remind you again?"

“Of course I remember,” Wen Mingqian said, looking at the angry Gong Xu, his eyes turning from calm to cold. “Back then, I was wronged and could not be reported to the authorities for verification, so I had no choice but to return to Shuangxi.”

"Ha!" Gong Xu couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Are you trying to distort the truth just because time has passed?"

“The master has believed I was the murderer from the very beginning, and he has already condemned me in his heart.” Wen Mingqian’s lips curled into a sneer. “But I have never confessed to the crime, and I’m not saying this now that time has passed.”

"I guess I misjudged you. I thought you were just a bit arrogant and stubborn. Now it seems you're completely shameless and unrepentant!" Gong Xu looked at Wen Mingqian with disgust, feeling like he was going to vomit.

Wen Mingqian was not hurt by his words and expression. The pain and humiliation she had suffered over the years had long since wiped away all the kindness and affection between her and Gong Xu, leaving nothing behind.

If you don't care, you'll get hurt less.

She took a step forward, raised her head slightly, and her eyes became even colder and more piercing as she stared unblinkingly at Gong Xu: "Does Master think I am despicable? Are you then noble and immaculate?"

"What do you mean? You still have the nerve to question me?! You killed my son! Our Gong family has already been more than kind to you. I advise you not to push your luck!" Gong Xu was completely enraged by Wen Mingqian, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Your so-called benevolence and righteousness is nothing more than not divorcing me and letting me continue to be the nominal second wife of the Gong family." Wen Mingqian chuckled, "But in the end, it's not for my sake, but for your future and reputation."

"You wicked woman!" Gong Xu clenched his fist. "You're utterly heartless! If I had known this would happen, I would have..."

"What was it like back then?" Wen Mingqian took another half step forward, almost touching Gong Xu. "Should you have killed me back then to prevent future troubles? Or should you have given me a letter of divorce and parted ways with me?"

You weighed the pros and cons carefully before sending me back to Shuangxi, in order to preserve the dignity of your Gong family to the greatest extent possible.

Outnumbered and powerless, I couldn't prove my innocence, so I had no choice but to swallow this half-cooked rice.

To Gong Xu, Wen Mingqian's accusations were nothing but sophistry.

But there was one thing he couldn't deny: they did it to save face for the Gong family.

“Master, during my seven years in Shuangxi, the torment and suffering I endured was no less than that of anyone else.”

You were the ones who refused to investigate thoroughly back then, and you're even less likely to bring up old grievances now. Just like you said, time has passed, and there's no going back.

"I've come back this time not to seek justice, nor because I'm nostalgic for this place. It's just that Chang'an has grown up, and you've ignored him for so many years. If I don't bring him back, wouldn't I be ruining his future?" Wen Mingqian's tone softened, showing a willingness to compromise and back down.

(End of this chapter)