Chapter 132 - Please Show Mercy!
Zuo Shaoqing finally finished sorting through the stack of tasks in front of him. His entire body stiffened from prolonged sitting. He rose, stretched, and let out a tired yawn as he made his way over to Lu Zheng.
Approaching Lu Zheng from behind, Zuo Shaoqing draped himself over Lu Zheng's back and inquired, “It's quite late now, isn't it? Time for us to retire for the night?” As he said this, his nimble hands slipped beneath Lu Zheng's collar.
Lu Zheng indulged in his playful antics. After Lu Zheng completed his last document review and approval, he turned around and scooped him up. However, he had no intention of heading back to the inner chamber; instead, he steered them towards the courtyard.
“Where are we going?” What's this? Is Master Lu planning to leave him alone for a whole month?
“Activate your muscles and joints. I want to assess how much your martial arts skills have progressed,” Lu Zheng's statement instantly shattered Zuo Shaoqing's delightful reverie.
“No…” Is that really necessary? Zuo Shaoqing wriggled, attempting to break free from Lu Zheng's embrace. Unfortunately, his body was no match for Master Lu's strength.
A small training ground was situated at the rear of the courtyard, where Lu Zheng conducted his morning training sessions. Eighteen different types of weapons were neatly arranged, and Lu Zheng placed Zuo Shaoqing on his feet and gestured toward the training field. “Select a weapon of your choice. I'll give you ten moves!”
Zuo Shaoqing swayed slightly, then cast a resentful glance backward at Lu Zheng. The romantic mood had dissipated, but the prospect of sparring with Lu Zheng still excited him.
He flexed his wrist joints and leisurely strolled toward the array of weapons. Unlike other scholars who shied away from weapons, he didn't harbor aversion for them, but neither did he possess the fervor of a martial artist.
Weapons held no practical use for him. In his previous life, he had wielded a blade to take down scores of foes, but these objects didn't resonate with him.
His fingers trembled as he reached for a three-foot-long broadsword, reminiscent of his past life. The blood-soaked memories seemed to replay before his eyes. How had he endured using such a deadly weapon to claim lives?
After sliding his hand along the hilt, Zuo Shaoqing plucked a spear from the rack and grandly positioned himself before Lu Zheng.
He gestured toward Lu Zheng with a smile and said, “Please be merciful, Master Lu!”
Lu Zheng shook his head and offered an honest appraisal, “This spear doesn't seem to suit you.”
Zuo Shaoqing wanted to retort that no weapon here suited him. After all, a scholar couldn't go about brandishing a sword all day, could he?
“I'm going to make my move. Be on your guard!” Without waiting for Lu Zheng's response, Zuo Shaoqing gripped the long spear and charged at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng crossed his arms in front of his chest and relied solely on his agility to evade Zuo Shaoqing's attack.
After their prolonged sparring session, Lu Zheng abruptly extended his hand, delivering a resounding slap on Zuo Shaoqing's back. “Ten moves have passed; it's time to get more serious,” he advised.
Zuo Shaoqing swiftly pivoted and aimed his long gun directly at Lu Zheng's chest, employing a straightforward, forceful thrust devoid of any embellishments.
Lu Zheng acknowledged this with a nod. He gripped the gun single-handedly, maintaining an unwavering stance. Even Zuo Shaoqing, on the opposite end of the weapon, couldn't budge it.
“Impressive strength and quick reactions, but your techniques lack power,” Lu Zheng commented as he exerted a pull, propelling Zuo Shaoqing towards a wooden stake on the training field's periphery.
From behind, Ye Zichen gripped Zuo Shaoqing's hands, positioning him correctly. “Remember, a gun differs from a sword. Proper handling is crucial.”
The silver spear's tip gleamed in the moonlight as it tore into the wooden stake, generating a gust of wind. With a resounding “crack,” the stake shattered into pieces.
Reflecting on Lu Zheng's technique, it seemed as if there was a flow of energy along the gun's handle, converging at the spearhead. Such a thrust could be deadly if directed at a person.
Lu Zheng removed the spear from Zuo Shaoqing's grasp and casually placed it on the weapon rack, expertly aligning it in its slot. “Come, I have something more suited for you.”
Zuo Shaoqing flexed his hand, relishing the sensation of immense power he had just experienced. He now comprehended why some individuals dedicated their lives to martial arts, chasing after that ultimate strength.
Intrigued, Zuo Shaoqing followed Lu Zheng into a room and inquired, “What's more suitable for me? Is there a secret weapon hidden here?”
“It's getting late; let's continue this tomorrow,” Lu Zheng suggested.
Zuo Shaoqing's eyebrow twitched. Had Lu Zheng brought him to the training field at night just to impress him?
After a bath, Zuo Shaoqing sat with his hair towel-dried, observing Lu Zheng lounging on a plush couch.
Suddenly, Lu Zheng announced, “Yinyi has arrived.”
Zuo Shaoqing set aside the cloth in his hand. Soon after, there was a knock on the door, and Yinyi's deep voice resonated, “Master, everything is taken care of.”
“Come in!” Lu Zheng opened his eyes and tossed a thick coat to Zuo Shaoqing, indicating for him to put it on.
Initially, Zuo Shaoqing had assumed that Lu Zheng had merely asked Yinyi to deliver a message to the Zuo Family. However, upon reflection, he realized that there was more to it than that when Yinyi had left.
Just as he fastened the belt of his outer coat, the door swung open, and Yinyi entered carrying a wooden box. That wooden box struck him with familiarity no matter how he looked at it.
Zuo Shaoqing rose from his seat, pointing at the box as he inquired, “What's this?”
Yinyi carefully set the items on the table, explaining, “I retrieved it from Zuo Shaoyan's room.”
Zuo Shaoqing's eyes narrowed as he opened the wooden box for inspection. It indeed contained the manuscripts, all of them, except for the ones presented in court today.
Merely by observing the order of the papers, one could discern that someone had tampered with them. Zuo Shaoqing surmised that this wooden box must have been in Zuo Shaoyan's possession during the Conference Test period.
Given that his room had minimal security during that period, Yinyi couldn't have been expected to guard an empty room all day. Luo Xiaoliu spent most of his time wandering around the Academic Institution.
Zuo Shaoyan likely experienced a pang of doubt and desired to gauge the likelihood of success in his high-stakes examination, which prompted him to allow others into his study. Yet, he remained oblivious to Zuo Shaoyan's reactions after reading the manuscripts.
Zuo Shaoqing believed that even if this cheating case had not surfaced, Zuo Shaoyan must have foreseen it.
When the cheating case did emerge, Zuo Shaoyan went along with it, selecting a few theories that resembled the Conference Test questions. He then sought out a scholar who would vouch that he possessed prior knowledge of the exam questions, thereby implicating the entrance exam results as fraudulent.
“I'm not surprised that he pulled this off. I'm just curious how he managed to find a willing scholar so quickly.”
Yinyi gazed down, and with a respectful tone, he replied, “The scholar I brought back has already been admitted. He and Zuo Shaoyan crossed paths at the Immortal Lai Inn. This morning, a man who appeared to be a servant suddenly approached him, handed him a few sheets of paper, and claimed they were written before the entrance exam.
His head spun with bewilderment, recalling his reluctance to part with his name, he rushed to the Ministry of Justice to report the case.”
“Does he suspect that Zuo Shaoyan supplied him with these documents?”
“I'm uncertain. The man who delivered the papers was not from the Zuo Mansion. Based on the description provided, I've dispatched agents to verify that he serves as one of the coachmen in the Department of Revenue's Shang Shu Hall.”
“Minister of Revenue?” Zuo Shaoqing was caught off guard. Since when had the Zuo Family become entwined with the Ministry of Revenue?
Initially, he had assumed it might be due to Jiang Che's assistance. Little did he expect Zuo Shaoyan to wield such influence, connecting all the individuals within the Ministry of Personnel Department.
“Have you forgotten? The young lady from the Minister of Revenue's household… “Yinyi chuckled knowingly, aware that Zuo Shaoqing had specifically instructed Luo Xiaoliu to relay this news to the Zuo Mansion's Young Madame.
“It's her…” Zuo Shaoqing stroked his chin, a trace of contemplation crossing his eyes. “I assumed that since he couldn't leave the exam premises, he would likely remain unnoticed by Shang Shu Manor. I never anticipated this young miss's affection.”
“Naturally, the Minister of Revenue disapproves of single children, let alone married men. However, at the time, news of the Zuo Family's alliance with the Duke Zhen Residence was circulating, so he saw it as an opportunity to perform a noble deed.”
Yinyi stole a glance at his master and, seeing no objection, continued, “Not only that… The young lady also placed a few individuals within the Zuo Family. One of them has already caught the attention of Mrs. Hoe, and I suspect he didn't have benign intentions.”
Zuo Shaoqing's expression turned frigid as he thought about the child growing in Mrs. Hoe's womb.
Mrs. Hoe was someone he had once used to manipulate Zuo Shaoyan. If she returned to the picture, Zuo Shaoyan's prospects of marrying into a noble family would be dashed.
“Just a few days ago,” Yinyi replied vaguely, refraining from disclosing to Zuo Shaoqing and Master Lu that there was another person trailing them outside of the Zuo Mansion. This person was primarily focused on the master of the Zuo Mansion and had not uncovered Zuo Shaoyan's conspiracy in time.
Zuo Shaoqing tapped the table and addressed Lu Zheng, “Yinyi, I know you have the means to expose the true nature of the legitimate sons and daughters born in the Zuo Mansion to the entire capital.”
Yinyi glanced at his master, aware that he was temporarily under Zuo Shaoqing's command, but Master Lu was the rightful master.
“I will do as he wishes,” Lu Zheng assured Zuo Shaoqing, draping his arm around him to offer comfort.
Lu Zheng had always been aware that Zuo Shaoqing and the Zuo Family were at odds, but he never anticipated that matters had reached such a critical juncture.
In private, he hoped for Zuo Shaoqing to find a warm and harmonious home where he could care for his parents and siblings. If the Zuo Family had any sense, they would gladly support the formation of a reliable and strong family for Zuo Shaoqing.
Regrettably, at present, not only did the family fail to grasp the situation, but they also engaged in self-destructive actions.
“Yes, please provide your instructions,” Yinyi bowed to Zuo Shaoqing.
Nestled in Lu Zheng's comforting embrace, Zuo Shaoqing felt that the deep-seated grudges in his heart were losing their grip. At this moment, his primary focus was to guide the Zuo Family toward their own downfall, one step at a time.
“You know how the rumors about Zuo Shaoyan's remarriage, Zuo Shaoling's mysterious illness, and Zuo Shuhui's abduction for a day have spread,” Zuo Shaoqing continued.
A wry smile tugged at the corner of Yinyi's lips. He could envision the impending downfall of the Zuo Family's reputation once this news circulated throughout the capital, and the possibility of them being shunned by the aristocratic circles.
“This subordinate thought that… this might not be appropriate!” Ever since the Zuo Family had arrived in the capital, rumors of goodwill and malice had surrounded them, particularly due to Zuo Shuhui's favor from Duke Zhen.
“Remaining true to the Zuo Family, your actions may prove detrimental.” Yinyi offered earnest advice.
Zuo Shaoqing was well aware of this fact. His Zuo's Mansion's reputation would suffer greatly, especially considering his exposure of the examination fraud.
Unless… Zuo Shaoqing calmly stated, “I also intend to tarnish Mrs. Xue's reputation. It's time for her to answer for my mother's transgressions!”
The memories of his departed mother weighed heavily on Zuo Shaoqing's heart, prompting him to wonder why fate had not allowed him to intervene when Mrs. Ruan was still alive. In that case, he would have never allowed Mrs. Ruan to fall victim to Mrs. Xue's cruelty again.
Yinyi's expression tightened; he fully understood Zuo Shaoqing's implication. In noble households like theirs, the backyard was meticulously maintained, and the instances of a legitimate heir seeking vengeance against an aunt's concubine like the Zuo Family were countless.
It was no wonder he harbored such deep animosity towards the direct lineage of the Zuo Family.
Lu Zheng's eyes, dark as ink, rested on Zuo Shaoqing's head as he gently stroked it. He was not skilled at offering comfort, but he always conveyed his genuine concern to Zuo Shaoqing.
He smiled at Lu Zheng and said, “I'm alright; it's all in the past.”
Lu Zheng considered for a moment and added, “You can take action whenever you see fit! They deserve to face the consequences of their actions. You should never feel guilty about it.”
“Hahaha…” Zuo Shaoqing let out a maniacal laugh as he embraced Lu Zheng, causing Lu Zheng's expression to darken.
“Does Master Lu believe I would feel guilt over this?” Zuo Shaoqing wiped away his tears and spoke with a cold tone. “There are numerous ways to bring about someone's demise, but the truth is, death is not the most terrifying outcome. Living in despair is the ultimate punishment.”
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