"Mother," Jin Yu strode in from outside. Lately, he had been clashing fiercely with Master Jin over Yu Shu, and his proposal to marry Princess He An had also been rejected.
As soon as Jin Yu entered, he saw Madam Jin and Jin Rong eating together. His rage ignited, "You bastard, what are you doing here?"
"How dare you! Who are you calling names?" Madam Jin slammed the table and rebuked Jin Yu.
"Mother, this bastard..."
Slap! Madam Jin slapped Jin Yu hard across the face, stunning him. His mother had never hit him before, yet today she struck him for Jin Rong!
"Mother, you hit me!"
"You are becoming more and more insolent!" Madam Jin was furious. How dare he call her son a bastard? Did he not know who the real bastard was, the illegitimate child born of an illicit affair?
"Mother, why are you protecting this worthless bastard?" Jin Yu's eyes turned red with anger. "Do you know what he's done? He's taken everything that rightfully belongs to me!"
"Enough, get out!" Madam Jin trembled with rage. What did he mean by "everything that rightfully belongs to him"? Clearly, Jin Yu was the one who had stolen everything that belonged to her son!
"Mother!"
"Get out!" Madam Jin roared. "Guards, escort the eldest young master out! From now on, without my permission, you are not to step foot in my courtyard!"
"Mother..." Jin Yu looked at Madam Jin in disbelief, unable to understand why she, who had always doted on him, would treat him this way. Had Jin Rong done something?
"Jin Rong, what have you done to my mother?" Jin Yu lunged forward to strike Jin Rong but was stopped by the household servants. While Jin Yu was fighting with Master Jin over women, Jin Rong had gradually gained a foothold in the Jin family. The current Jin Rong was no longer the son of a mere slave girl, who could be trampled upon at will.
"Eldest Young Master, I have done nothing," Jin Rong said calmly.
"I will kill you! You dared to manipulate my mother!"
"Drag him away!" Madam Jin yelled, beside herself with anger. After Jin Yu was dragged away, she turned to Jin Rong with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I haven't taught him well."
Jin Rong stood up. "Madam, I have matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer."
Madam Jin wanted to ask him to stay, but Jin Rong gave her no opportunity and quickly left Madam Jin's main courtyard. Madam Jin watched him leave, tears streaming down her face. Her son, her own flesh and blood, treated her like an enemy. What could be more despairing than this?
"Madam, please don't cry," the nanny supported Madam Jin, who was on the verge of collapsing. "At least, we have found the young master."
Madam Jin quickly wiped away her tears. "Yes, at least I have found my son. But thinking about how cruelly I treated him before, I am filled with regret."
"It's not your fault. The fault lies with Master and that usurper, that wild seed!" the nanny whispered. "From now on, Madam can treat the young master doubly well and make up for the eighteen years he was owed."
"Yes, I will treat him doubly well and repay him for what he was owed." Madam Jin's spirits lifted. "I will help him take over the Jin family. I want my son to be the sole master of the Jin family!"
Jin Rong emerged from Madam Jin's courtyard, the strange feeling still lingering in his heart. Madam Jin's sudden display of goodwill, and even striking Jin Yu, was too peculiar. Could it be that Madam Jin knew Jin Yu was not her biological son and wanted to join forces with him against Jin Yu and Master Jin?
"Chong Jiu."
"Young Master."
"What has Madam been doing lately?" Jin Rong inquired. "Has there been anything unusual?"
"Madam and Master are not on good terms. The eldest young master and Master are also having a difficult time over Miss Yu Shu. Madam doesn't seem to be acting unusually."
"Nothing unusual at all?"
"If there is anything unusual, it would be Madam's attendant, Nanny Han."
"What has she been doing?"
"She's been seen drinking and gambling with the old servants in the manor, asking them if they know anyone with a birthmark, especially on their leg."
Jin Rong frowned. On his leg? He did have a red birthmark there, about the size of a fingernail. Why was Nanny Han asking about this?
"Go investigate why Nanny Han is inquiring about this," Jin Rong ordered. There must be a secret he didn't know. If he could uncover this, he might understand Madam Jin's intentions.
"Yes, Young Master." Chong Jiu was about to leave when he remembered something. "Oh, right, Young Master, Miss Ying Xue has a letter for you."
Jin Rong's face lit up. He quickly took the letter and read it from beginning to end, a smile curling his lips. "Opportunity knocks. The chance to completely control the Jin family has arrived."
"Young Master, what should we do?"
"Issue the order. Spare no effort in suppressing the Cen family's business. We will swallow the Cen family and become the richest in the Imperial Capital."
The Cen family's merchant ships had gone missing, and their businesses were facing one problem after another. Partners who had collaborated with the Cen family for years were now terminating their contracts. To make matters worse, the Jin family was now adding insult to injury.
"Patriarch, all our ships are gone," a subordinate reported. Overnight, it seemed all of the Cen family's good fortune had been used up. First, their transport ships disappeared, then all their businesses encountered problems. The Jin family seized this opportunity to snatch a considerable portion of their business. In a short period, the Cen family was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Merchants who had cooperated with the Cen family came forward demanding compensation, especially given the heavy losses from the disappearance of the Cen family's merchant ships.
"Patriarch, the merchants we've been working with are all in an uproar. Please find a solution quickly."
Cen Yu's androgynous face was as cold as ice. In such a short time, the Cen family had fallen from the position of the wealthiest in the Imperial Capital to the brink of ruin. If he didn't believe someone was deliberately seeking revenge, he wouldn't believe it himself.
"Contact the Shangguan family. I want to see the head of the Shangguan family," Cen Yu said after a moment of thought. The Cen family could not fall, not at this time. Once the Cen family collapsed, he would lose his bargaining chip.
"Yes, Patriarch."
As most of the Cen family's industries had ceased operations, the losses increased with each day of closure. At this juncture, if anyone could help him, it would only be Shangguan Jin.
Steward Lou ushered the visitor into the hall. Shangguan Jin was in the kitchen making pastries.
"Patriarch, Cen Yu, the head of the Cen family, has arrived."
Shangguan Jin calmly continued making pastries. Today, he was making plum blossom cakes. The plum blossoms had bloomed recently, and he wanted to send a plate of plum blossom cakes to Qin Xue for her to try.
"He arrived rather quickly."
"After all, the Cen family has suffered a severe blow and incurred heavy losses in such a short time. The Jin family has taken advantage of their misfortune. At this point, the only person he can turn to is you, Patriarch," Steward Lou said softly. "Will you see him?"
"Wait until my pastries are out of the oven," Shangguan Jin said unhurriedly. The Cen family's downfall was imminent, and no one could save them. They had repeatedly targeted his master, and his master had tolerated it until now, likely reaching his limit.