I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 209 Kill him!

In a vacant lot in Xicheng, Jingyuan County, the garbage that used to be piled up has been cleaned up and replaced by a simple stage made of wooden planks.

As soon as the gongs and drums sounded and the singing began, the surrounding people were drawn over, crowding around in circles.

On the stage, the actress playing the lead role in "The Love and Hate Between a Woman and Three Men in a Wealthy Family" knelt on the ground and cried, "I and my cousin Xu were childhood sweethearts. If you hadn't coveted my beauty and used the power of the Zhao family to force me, how could I have married you?"

"My cousin Xu has been so kind to me that he has never married! Unlike you, you heartless, lecherous, and shameless old man, who has a concubine on one side and a maid on the other, enjoying the bliss of having multiple wives!"

"You yourself are impotent in your own chambers, so am I destined to live a life of widowhood?"

"Well said!" a woman shouted from below!

The actor playing Master Zhao was furious, jumping up and down. "I've never seen such a shameless person! Tell me, when did you get pregnant with that bastard child with that Xu guy?"

The actress playing Madam Zhao smiled and said, "Who said I'm carrying my cousin Xu's child? I'm clearly carrying Master's nephew!"

Wow! The spectators below erupted in uproar; what a spectacle!
"Aaaaaaah!" The actor playing Master Zhao slumped back in his seat in anger. "You harlot, today I, your master, will kill you!"

"Master, Master!" The actor playing the steward scrambled onto the stage, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! The officials from the prefectural government want to exhume the body for an autopsy!"

. . . .

The grand opera performed on the open ground lasted for three days, and the love and hatred between Madam Zhao, Master Zhao, Master Zhao Thirteen, and Cousin Xu deeply touched the hearts of every resident of Jingyuan County.

How deep has this influence reached? In Jingyuan County, the greetings between residents have evolved from "Have you eaten?" to "Do you know the Zhao family..."

Stray dogs on the street light up as if they've entered a latrine when they hear the word "兆".

Although the play uses the Zhao family name to represent them, who doesn't know that it alludes to the Zhao family, the most powerful family in Jingyuan County? Some people have even tried to unravel the mystery and deduce the true parentage of Master Zhao's three children.

"I bet the boss is definitely the son of that guy from the Baoan Hall."

"How did you know?"

“I was the one who delivered Madam Zhao’s baby back then. I was quite surprised at the time, because the eldest son of the Zhao family looked like he was born at full term, but Madam Zhao insisted that he was premature.”

"Can premature babies be the same as babies that aren't premature?"

"That's right! That Mrs. Zhao insisted that she ate too much and too well during her pregnancy, and that's why the baby absorbed the nutrients so well."

"Did Master Zhao believe it?"

"I believe it! He seems completely content with his son, so I dare not say anything, nor do I dare to ask!"

"Now that you mention it, I remember that my mother-in-law was working for the Zhao family. One day, she suddenly came home with a big smile on her face and said that Mrs. Zhao was pregnant after only two months of marriage. Mr. Zhao was so happy that he rewarded her with three months' wages!"

"The joy of sitting on the throne is a lie; the truth is she's pregnant and getting married!"

"Tsk tsk, this Master Zhao is really pitiful, he's been a living turtle for so many years!"

One of the women suggested a new idea: "Pity? Perhaps not. Maybe Master Zhao knows?"

"You know? You can't be, can you?"

"Why not? Think about it, Master Zhao has so many women in his house, but only Madam Zhao has given birth to three children over the years. Why? It's because Master Zhao is impotent!"

The women sitting in the circle nodded. What Madam Zhao said in the play must be true! "What kind of family is the Zhao family? They have no heirs, so their money, land, and shops will all have to be given away! Who can do that?"

That's absolutely impossible!
"So, in order to protect the family business, Master Zhao turned a blind eye to Madam Zhao's affair. Otherwise, as the head of the Zhao family, how could Master Zhao not know that Madam Zhao was having an affair with her cousin?"

Even a fool wouldn't believe it if you told him that!
The woman's rigorous logic and thorough understanding of reason make her a veritable Chongqing version of Sherlock Holmes.

As the rumors spread and the evidence grew, the elders of the Zhao family could no longer sit still and convened a family meeting overnight.

The eldest patriarch of the Zhao family said in a deep voice, "Tell me, what should we do?"

The members of the Zhao clan all lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Fine, if you don't want to be the bad guy, I'll do it!" Old Master Zhao stood up shakily, picked up the family genealogy book placed in the center, took the pen and drew a big X on the page of Master Zhao, while also crossing out all the family members who had been addicted to Five-Stone Powder.

The Zhao family members were trembling with fear.

"Those Zhao family members who have disgraced the Zhao family shall all be expelled from the clan!" Old Master Zhao put the family genealogy back in its original place, sat down, and after a long pause, said, "I want to relocate the Zhao family elsewhere. What do you think?"

The Zhao family members looked at each other. "The Zhao family has lived here for generations. If we leave, we will be ashamed before our ancestors."

"How could I not know?" said Old Master Zhao. "But haven't you heard what people outside are saying about our Zhao family? Now our business has plummeted, our unmarried sons and daughters are having difficulty finding husbands, and our married daughters are frequently coming back to cry and complain, causing chaos!"

"If we stay here, the Zhao family will be cursed and gossiped about for the rest of our lives!"

"Grandpa, please think it over! Let's consider other methods..."

"No need to think about it anymore. My mind is made up. Those who are willing to come with me should pack their things. Those who are not willing will not be forced. We will separate our clans here and have nothing to do with each other from now on!"

"Grandpa, don't be angry. Such a big matter as relocating the clan must be given time for us to consider."

"You can consider it. I will set off in three days."

After the Zhao family members respectfully saw Old Master Zhao off, they gathered together to complain and discuss. Some were reluctant to leave because of their property, while others wavered and planned to sell their property and leave.

Taking advantage of the situation, Tang Zhao bought a large amount of property in the name of the Zhong family, including the winery that the Zhao family had been running for decades.

When Zhong Kang received the contract for Zhao's winery, he was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. Despite his injuries not being fully healed, he gritted his teeth and got up to see him off.

Tang Zhao gave them some encouragement, then mounted his horse and led his men away with Gu Ci, only to be blocked at the city gate.

"Your Highness!" Old Master Zhao bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities!" Tang Zhao looked down from her horse. "What business does Old Master Zhao have with this princess?"

"Your Highness is truly skilled. I have lived my whole life and yet I have no way to save you."

"I don't understand what you mean, sir."

"Your Highness, please forgive us when you can. The eldest branch of the Zhao family made a mistake. Please do not implicate others."

"Doesn't Old Master Zhao think it's too late to say this?" Tang Zhao sneered. "When the Zhao family bullied others with their wealth and power, they should have thought about this day coming."

"This princess really likes the saying: I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will kill them!"

"These words are for Old Master Zhao, and for everyone in the Zhao family."