Chapter 374: The Zou Family

After hearing Tian Wan's words, Wang Ancheng did not immediately respond, but leaned back in his chair and fell into thought.

Seeing Wang Ancheng remain silent for a long time, Tian Wan grew quite impatient, but he was too embarrassed to urge him on, so he could only calm himself and ponder his next course of action.

"Chiliarch Tian, the Zou and Gong families you just mentioned are both prominent clans in Suzhou. I have heard of both, but I do not know the details deeply. How about this — I will immediately send someone to investigate, and only then make a decision accordingly! It would be best for Chiliarch Tian and his party to find some secluded place to stay, and be sure not to let anyone discover your whereabouts, lest the matter blow up!"

After a long while, Wang Ancheng spoke with a calm expression.

He had already figured out the crux of the matter: regardless of Tian Wan's purpose, he had to help with this, but it could not be done too ostentatiously, lest it become known to all and cast a very bad shadow on the Emperor's reputation.

He did not mind being used as a weapon by Tian Wan.

For the Imperial Guard, anything beneficial to the Emperor and the Imperial House was simply to be done with a free hand — that was the very duty of the Imperial Guard.

Wang Ancheng had long since concluded that doing more of what pleased the Emperor was the true foundation of his position; the Imperial Guard were after all the Emperor's servants, and in all matters they ought to think of their master first.

Compared to the emperors of past dynasties who kept numerous consorts in the harem, the present sovereign was far too self-disciplined in this regard. A dignified Great Ming Emperor, with only a handful of women in his harem — this was truly too shabby.

Wang Ancheng also understood that the Emperor's self-discipline was inseparably linked to the unceasing natural and man-made calamities of recent years.

When one worries over state affairs all day long, who still has the leisure to sing of the wind and admire the moon, or linger among the flowers?

But as Tian Wan had said, the realm was now at peace, and the people's hearts had truly settled down — it was time to let His Majesty enjoy himself a little.

Wasn't it just a woman? As long as she truly had a face like a flower and beauty like the moon, then finding a way to obtain her would suffice.

What were the Gong and Zou families anyway?

Entering the palace to serve our Emperor — is that not ten thousand times better than being a plaything for these swine and dogs?

The so-called Jiangnan gentry were worth less than nothing in the eyes of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Were it not for concern over the Emperor's reputation, Wang Ancheng would have uprooted them entirely.

As for what charge to use, that was even simpler — among these so-called gentry and great households, which one lacked deeds of seizing by force and crimes against heaven and reason?

When the time came, find a wronged victim and incite him to file a complaint.

Being able to clear them out under the banner of upholding justice for the people would be no small merit.

The most urgent matter now was to ascertain the specific situation, and only then settle on the corresponding strategy.

"Since Chiliarch Wang already has a plan, I shall not disturb you further. I will find a place to stay myself. But I must remind Chiliarch Wang of one thing — this matter is best handled quickly, lest other unforeseen changes arise midway!"

The Zou mansion, occupying a full ten mu of land, sat in Tianshui Lane in the southern part of Suzhou's south city. It was a typical Jiangnan garden-style residence, with carved beams and painted rafters throughout, and every courtyard boasted scenery that was elegant, unique, and unlike any other.

Just as Tian Wan was planning to seek help from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the wretched-looking Zou Shu also returned home. Chen Yuanyuan, whom he had ransomed for eight hundred taels of silver, followed along as well. After entering the mansion, she was carried by a soft sedan chair into a small courtyard in the inner quarters and settled there.

"Father, having suffered this undeserved calamity today, if this gets out it will truly bring utter shame upon our Zou family. If this humiliation is not avenged, how can our Zou family hold our heads up in Wujiang? Will we not be laughed at behind our backs by the Gong family? I beg you, Father, to act on my behalf — send someone at once to find that Tian villain and punish him severely!"

After the invited physician had applied the ointment and left, Zou Shu, having changed into fresh clothes, lay on the brocade couch. Enduring the waves of sharp pain from his face, he briefly recounted the day's events, then spoke through gritted teeth to his father Zou Renzhong, who had come upon hearing the news.

"My son, do not be anxious. Rest and recuperate well — your father will find a way to handle this matter. Our Zou family has lived in Jiangnan for generations and counts as one of the notable clans of this region. We will absolutely not tolerate being slighted by others! Steward, send someone at once to investigate this matter. Be sure to find that Tian villain's trail and seize him! Do not concern yourself with the expense!"

Zou Renzhong, clad in a blue Daoist robe, gave the order with a dark expression. The steward Zou Chun, who stood beside him, acknowledged with a bow and hurried out the door.

Over fifty years of age, Zou Renzhong had several wives and concubines, but all they had borne him were daughters. It was not until he took a concubine in his thirties that he finally sired Zou Shu, his only son. After that, none of his wives or concubines ever produced another male child.

By coincidence, Zou Renzhong, who had repeatedly failed the examinations, passed the autumn provincial examination in the very year Zou Shu was born. For the Zou family, that year could be called a double blessing.

From then on, Zou Renzhong, who had already treasured this son born to him in old age like a jewel, doted on Zou Shu even more. Whatever Zou Shu liked, he would find some way to obtain, satisfying his son's every desire.

Though he never passed the higher examinations after becoming a provincial graduate, Zou Renzhong was quite content. Knowing he lacked the talent for further success, he devoted his energy to business and moneymaking. After more than ten years of effort, relying on the connections of the Zou clan's kin, he made the family's wealth even more substantial.

Although he was extremely indulgent toward this clever and quick-witted son from childhood, the Zou family was after all a great hereditary clan, and their family discipline was still quite strict.

Zou Renzhong's discipline of Zou Shu could be considered barely adequate — he had also restricted and screened the friends his son kept after growing up. Thus Zou Shu had not picked up the vices of drinking, gambling, or whoring. Though he was not outstanding in any respect, it seemed the family estate could still be held together, and would not decline after Zou Renzhong passed away.

"My son, why did you have to fight with the Gong family's young master over that opera girl? The Gong family is also a great clan in Wujiang, and their network of connections is no weaker than ours. Though our Zou family has business rivalries with them, on major matters the two families advance and retreat together. If we were to tear faces over a woman, that would truly be unwise! My son is no one who cannot see reason — how could you act so willfully and perversely this time? All the great beauties of the realm gather in our Jiangnan. With the standing of our Zou family, what sort of beauty could we not find? In the future, my son should think more carefully on such matters!"

After the steward had left with his orders, Zou Renzhong, seated in his chair, dismissed the several maidservants in the room, then spoke with a furrowed brow.

He had long heard of his precious son's rivalry with the Gong family's young master over a woman, and knew that for now both sides were constrained by their status and had only reached the stage of sulking at each other, without any overly excessive actions yet.

He had not expected that today's sudden turn of events would catch Zou Renzhong off guard — he had been just about to secretly send someone to make that opera troupe disappear entirely, so as to avoid a falling-out with the Gong family over this matter.

This son of his was simply bewitched by lust. Taking advantage of today's incident, he had actually gone and ransomed the woman straight back to the mansion.

Once the Gong family learned of this, they would surely feel they had lost face, and would certainly retaliate by other means in secret. Given the Gong family's power, they would definitely make the Zou family, which was already inferior to the Gong family, suffer a great loss.

Zou Renzhong had already made up his mind: no matter what his son wanted this time, once he found that Tian fellow and sank him and his servants to the bottom of the river, he would find an opportunity to secretly send this opera girl to the Gong mansion, as a way of bowing his head to the Gong family.

Judging from the signs of lost wealth and invited disaster ever since his son got involved with her, this was a femme fatale. If she entered the inner quarters, who knew what great calamity she might invite. Rather than that, it would be better to let her go plague the Gong family instead.

He believed that if he did this, the Gong family would have nothing to say.

For great hereditary clans, when anything threatened the overall interests of the family, the wisest choice was always how to defuse the matter and turn a great disaster into a small one.

Zou Shu had no idea of his father's plans. After hearing Zou Renzhong's lecture, he only perfunctorily said he would never act so absurdly again. But in his heart, he was thinking that in a few days, once the pain subsided somewhat, he would consummate his union with the beauty — and while enjoying that happy event, he would also make Gong Ruofu lose all face before everyone, and from then on he himself would become the number one figure among the scholar-officials of Wujiang.