CENTIE Chapter 59

“How could these two blank sheets of paper be my letters?”

Madam Wu sneered, “You’re asking me? I should be asking you! I was puzzled earlier as to why you sent back two blank letters. Yesterday, the second branch delivered a message, and only then did we realize what a grave mistake you’ve made. I can’t tell if you’re clever or foolish—if you intend to harm others, at least use your brain! You took it upon yourself to send back the letters, but you even allowed someone to swap them without anyone noticing. Honestly, you’ve lived all these years in vain.”

Fourth lady, Madam Wu was so angry her chest hurt. The Wu family had been thriving for nearly a hundred years, with numerous branches and countless disputes in such a large family. The fourth branch had always maintained a neutral position—not seeking achievements but avoiding mistakes. Yet yesterday, the second branch, who held official positions in Chang’an, sent a message questioning why the fourth branch had acted recklessly again.

Fourth Madam Wu was utterly stunned by the question. Upon further inquiry, she learned that their fourth branch’s concubine-born daughter had attempted to manipulate the appointment of a newly ranked scholar-official, leveraging the family’s influence. Now, this scandal had spread among the literati in Chang’an. Everyone knew that the Marchioness of Dingyong was ruthless and could not tolerate the legitimate son left by the original wife, scheming tirelessly to suppress her stepson.

The rest of the Wu family was entirely unaware of this. It was only by chance that the second branch’s gentleman overheard this matter being discussed at a banquet. Alarmed, he immediately wrote a letter back to the main family to ask about the details. It was at this point that Madam Wu finally understood the significance of those strange blank letters from some time ago.

Wu Junru, who had a poor relationship with her legitimate mother, was unwilling to seek her help. So, she bypassed Madam Wu and wrote directly to her father, the fourth master of the Wu family. But Fourth Madam Wu, a sharp and astute matriarch of a large family, would never allow a concubine-born daughter to bypass her and communicate with the main household. She intercepted Wu Junru’s letters without hesitation and opened them to see what the girl had written that warranted bypassing her as the mother.

However, the letters contained nothing but blank sheets of paper, which puzzled Madam Wu. With so many matters to attend to daily, she soon dismissed the strange letters from her mind. Some time later, another blank letter arrived from Wu Junru, which raised her suspicions. She intended to discuss it with Fourth Master Wu at an appropriate time but became entangled in other affairs and forgot about it entirely. Now that the matter had blown up, Madam Wu realized too late that the letters had been switched by someone during transit. She regretted deeply—had she been more vigilant and informed Fourth Master Wu earlier, the disaster might have been averted.

But now that things had escalated, there was no way Fourth Madam Wu would admit her mistake. Instead, she placed all the blame squarely on Wu Junru. The elders of the Wu family were furious. Previously, during the Chang’an plague, the Crown Prince had exploited Wu Junru’s actions to blackmail the Empress into making significant concessions. And now, once again, it was Wu Junru who had dragged the Wu family into such a scandal.

A Wu family woman, narrow-minded, persecuting her stepson, conspiring with the family to manipulate the Ministry of Personnel’s selection process—what kind of reputation was that supposed to be?

Fourth Madam Wu was also panicked. Previously, although Wu Junru had gained a reputation for being unkind, Fourth Madam Wu could completely deflect responsibility by claiming that Wu Junru was a concubine-born daughter who only listened to her biological mother and ignored the discipline of her legitimate mother. Ultimately, it could be explained as Wu Junru’s own failure in observing the virtues of womanhood, having nothing to do with the Wu family or Madam Wu herself.

But this time was different. If the accusation of manipulating official appointments were confirmed, it would implicate the entire Wu family. While it was true that many noble families engaged in such practices—secretly communicating with the Ministry of Personnel to secure positions for their own family members or to edge out political rivals—it was an unspoken rule. Doing it was one thing, but if it was exposed publicly, it would bring immense disgrace.

The Wu family was naturally unwilling to bear such a reputation. After scolding Fourth Madam Wu harshly, the Wu family’s matriarch ordered her to resolve the matter immediately. Feeling guilty, Fourth Madam Wu didn’t dare talk back. She promptly had a carriage prepared and set off in person to confront the concubine-born daughter in Chang’an.

Wu Junru, on the other hand, already knew she had been sabotaged by Xiao Jingduo again. She was seething with rage—how dare Xiao Jingduo swap her letters and keep her in the dark for so long! This was a humiliation beyond measure. Grinding her teeth in anger, Wu Junru tried to explain to Madam Wu Si, “Mother, let me explain. That wasn’t my intention, I only meant to—”

Madam Wui sneered coldly at Wu Junru, cutting her off. Wu Junru found herself unable to justify her actions. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she screamed, “Wait! If my letters were swapped, then who wrote the replies I received?”

Wu Junru rushed to her dressing table and hurriedly opened her jewelry box, carelessly scattering hairpins and ornaments all over the floor. She rummaged through it frantically, only to slump in despair moments later, muttering, “How could this be? How is this possible?”

The “reply” letter from Fourth Master Wu was missing.

Fourth Madam Wu had followed closely behind Wu Junru when she started rummaging. Standing right behind her, she stared intently at Wu Junru’s every move. Now, seeing the expression on Wu Junru’s face, Fourth Madam Wu immediately understood. Filled with both anger and frustration, she gritted her teeth and said, “I don’t even know what to say to you. You’re a Marchioness, and yet you can’t even manage your own household. I swear, this—ugh, this is giving me a headache!”

Wu Junru collapsed onto the ground, consumed by deep self-doubt.

How could this be? With her previous life’s workplace experience, she had always prided herself on her ability to manage subordinates. She had thought that running a household was far beneath her capabilities. She had never taken the maids or concubines in her household seriously. Even though she had grown more grounded in recent years, she couldn’t deny that she still carried an air of superiority as a modern woman who had traveled back in time. She believed she was inherently more capable than these ancient people.

But reality had dealt her a cruel blow. The letters she sent out had been swapped, which could be attributed to her limited control over the external world from within the inner courtyard. But now, even the “reply” she had carefully kept safe was gone. Didn’t this mean that she had lost to Xiao Jingduo even in the area she was most proud of—managing her household?

“I recall your stepson is only seventeen, isn’t he? And you can’t even outwit a seventeen-year-old boy. He’s just a young gentleman, with most of his influence in the outer courtyard. Yet as his legitimate mother, you can’t even keep control of the inner courtyard.” Madam Wu shook her head in disappointment. “Forget it, I can’t be bothered to lecture you. The mess you’ve created inevitably falls to me to clean up. Is your stepson at home? Call him over. When I tell you what to say, you say it.”

Fourth Madam Wu spoke so plainly that Wu Junru immediately looked up with reddened eyes. “You want me to yield to Xiao Jingduo?”

“What else?” Fourth Madam Wu was furious. “You lack the skills to win, yet you still want to keep your pride? It doesn’t matter if your reputation is ruined, but don’t drag the entire Wu family down with you.”

Xiao Jingduo happened to be at the residence. Hearing the summons from the Fu’an Courtyard, he responded with a soft “hmm” and leisurely followed the maid leading him toward the main hall.

Before he even entered, a servant girl came running to greet him. With a practiced elegance, she lifted the bead curtain and greeted him sweetly, “This servant pays respects to the young lord. May the young lord enjoy good health.”

Xiao Jingduo found it amusing. Upon entering the main room, his gaze immediately landed on Wu Junru, whose face was stiff, and Madam Wu, whose smile radiated enthusiasm.

“So this is the young lord. What a fine child, truly outstanding,” Fourth Madam Wu said warmly.

Xiao Jingduo performed the required formal greeting, but before he could kneel, Fourth Madam Wu hurriedly stepped forward to support his arm. “By rights, you are my grandson. We’re all family here—no need for such formality.”

Even Fourth Madam Wu found her words nauseating. The Wu family wanted Xiao Jingduo to relinquish his position as the legitimate eldest son, and Xiao Jingduo resented the Wu family for their coercion. Both sides were well aware of each other’s true nature and the underhanded actions they had taken. Yet now, Madam Wu had no choice but to lower herself and speak kindly to Xiao Jingduo.

Xiao Jingduo straightened up and responded with a faint smile, “Thank you, Fourth Madam.”

“You’ve grown so much before we realized it. Over these years, we’ve been in Qinghe and haven’t had many opportunities to see you. Both your grandfather and I deeply regret it. But fortunately, you’ve made something of yourself—passing the imperial examination at just seventeen! It makes all our thoughts of you worthwhile.”

Xiao Jingduo replied humbly, but his demeanor remained aloof. Fourth Madam Wu noticed that he still addressed her as “Fourth Madam” rather than “Grandmother” and understood that he was a tough opponent. Without offering him tangible benefits, he was unlikely to give in.

Fourth Madam Wu adjusted her tone, adopting a reproachful yet regretful demeanor as she said, “To be honest, it’s our fault—you’ve been wronged because of us. Your grandfather is always preoccupied with external affairs, and I’m busy managing the household. We neglected to discipline Eighth Daughter properly, allowing her to grow into a spoiled and narrow-minded person. By the time I realized it, it was already too late. I’ve been trying to guide her back onto the right path ever since. Even after she married, I worried constantly, writing to her often to advise her, and she promised me she would change. But who would have thought that she was deceiving me in her letters? She continued acting recklessly, causing you so much suffering.”

As she spoke, Fourth Madam Wu turned her head and pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears. “It’s all my fault for being negligent and letting you endure such hardships.”

“Eighth Daughter (Bā Niang)” was Wu Junru’s ranking in the Wu family, and it was appropriate for Madam Wu, as her legitimate mother, to address her this way.

“Madam Si, there’s no need for this,” Xiao Jingduo replied with a faint smile. “I originally thought the Marchioness’s actions were sanctioned by the Wu family. Now, it seems there might be more to the story.”

“Exactly,” Fourth Madam quickly agreed. “As daughters grow older, and with us being far away in Qinghe, there are many things we couldn’t oversee, leaving us in the dark. Had we known about your situation earlier, we certainly wouldn’t have let Eight Daughter continue down the wrong path.”

In these words, Fourth Madam Wu acknowledged that Wu Junru’s behavior as a wife was flawed and unacceptable. While she absolved herself and the Wu family of responsibility, for a prominent aristocratic family to openly admit fault—especially to a junior—was already an exceedingly rare concession.

After making such a significant show of humility, Fourth Madam Wu fully expected that Xiao Jingduo, with his lowly commoner origins, would be moved to tears and feel deeply honored. Yet, after waiting for a long time, there was no response from Xiao Jingduo.

His eyes flickered with a faint, elusive smile as he looked calmly at Fourth Madam Wu and said, “ Fourth Madam’s concern is truly touching. However, I recently heard from my fellow graduates that the Marchioness seemed to have sent a letter to the Wu family, and it appears to involve the court’s selection of officials.”

If Madam Wu thought she could resolve the matter with a few flattering words in private, she was being far too naive. Without tangible benefits on the table, Xiao Jingduo had no intention of letting the matter drop.

Hearing the subtle threat in his words, Fourth Madam Wu felt her head throb painfully. She had been puzzled as to how Wu Junru, a young lady raised in an aristocratic family, could repeatedly stumble in the hands of a mere boy. Now, she was starting to understand.

This young man appeared humble and reserved on the surface, but behind the scenes, he was ruthless and unyielding, showing no mercy in his schemes. Worse, he was utterly impervious to bribes or threats, caring little for his reputation and focusing solely on his gains. A person like this was, indeed, difficult to deal with.

Feeling threatened by Xiao Jingduo, Fourth Madam Wu was deeply displeased. She wanted to retort immediately—did he really think the Wu family was easy to bully?

But when the words reached her throat, she found herself at a loss for what to say. She knew full well about Xiao Jingduo’s behind-the-scenes machinations: switching his stepmother’s letters, impersonating Fourth Master Wu’s handwriting in his replies. Each of these acts was an egregious betrayal of filial piety and propriety. Yet, infuriatingly, the letters sent to the Wu family had been replaced with blank paper, and the forged reply kept by Wu Junru had been taken as well. At the moment, they had no evidence to confront Xiao Jingduo.

Knowing the truth but being unable to speak it was utterly infuriating. Fourth Madam Wu, a noblewoman accustomed to being catered to by others, was not used to enduring such humiliation. Now, Xiao Jingduo, confident in their lack of evidence, was pushing his advantage, and Fourth Madam Wu was incensed.

“You passed the imperial examinations at just seventeen, which shows you are very clever. But you must understand two sayings: ‘A single hand cannot clap,’ and ‘The bird that sticks out gets shot.’ Your rigid nature might make things difficult for you in the officialdom.”

“A single hand cannot clap” alluded to the Wu family’s influence in the court, while “the bird that sticks out gets shot” was a blatant warning about Xiao Jingduo’s future career. Xiao Jingduo understood every word, but it was laughable to think such threats would intimidate him.

From the moment he intercepted Wu Junru’s letters, Xiao Jingduo knew he had thoroughly offended the Wu family. Moreover, the Wu family and Xiao Jingduo had always stood on opposing sides. Slightly offending them or completely severing ties made little difference. If that was the case, why maintain the facade of harmony? It was better to force them to cough up some real benefits.

“It’s not necessary for Fourth Madam Wu to worry about my future,” Xiao Jingduo replied calmly. “Speaking of which, I happened to come across two letters. Judging by the handwriting, they seem to belong to the Marchioness. I’m rather ignorant about how to handle them. Perhaps Madam could give me some advice?”

Fourth Madam Wu stared fixedly at Xiao Jingduo, who met her gaze without flinching. Her anger surged—no one had ever dared to threaten her like this. Yet, as she looked into his determined eyes, she couldn’t deny how tricky this situation was.

His gaze held a solitary courage and unwavering resolve, clearly showing that he wasn’t afraid of the Wu family exposing his theft of the letters. But the Wu family was afraid.

For such a prestigious family to be outsmarted and have their correspondence intercepted without noticing until the damage was done—it would be utterly humiliating if word got out. Xiao Jingduo didn’t care about his reputation, but the Wu family did. Moreover, Fourth Madam Wu, out of her own self-interest, didn’t want the matter of the withheld letters scrutinized further. After all, it was her negligence that delayed things in the first place.

“What a bold young man, unafraid of tigers despite being a newborn calf,” Fourth Madam Wu remarked with a slow smile. “Tell me, then—what is it that you want?”

“I heard that Madam has come to the Marchioness’s residence,” Xiao Jingduo said firmly yet calmly. “My grandmother and several aunts are already waiting at Gaoshou Hall, eager to reminisce with you. I don’t ask for much, but I do hope you’ll kindly take the time to explain these misunderstandings in front of them.”

Xiao Jingduo’s tone was steady, and he made his ultimate goal clear. While Fourth Madam Wu had summoned him to Fuan Hall and forced Wu Junru to apologize, the matter would remain confined to those walls, unheard by others. Xiao Jingduo wasn’t satisfied with that. What he wanted was for Fourth Madam Wu to publicly acknowledge Wu Junru’s wrongdoing in front of everyone. He had seen how aristocratic families blindly defended their daughters without regard for right or wrong. Now, he wanted to turn the tables.

Wu Junru, instructed earlier by Fourth Madam Wu, had remained silent until now. But at this point, she couldn’t contain herself. “How outrageous! You dare to order my mother around?”

Fourth Madam Wu didn’t respond, and Wu Junru started to panic. If Fourth Madam Wu reprimanded her in front of the elder matriarch and other key family members, her reputation would be utterly ruined. How could she maintain control over the household in the future? For an aristocratic family, reputation was paramount. Any scandal was tightly concealed. If her legitimate mother publicly chastised her, it would be tantamount to the family abandoning her.

“Mother!” Wu Junru pleaded. “He’s always been disrespectful. It’s bad enough that he defies me, but now he dares to threaten you as well. Mother, don’t be fooled by him!”

“Fourth Madam Wu,” Xiao Jingduo reminded softly from the side.

While Wu Junru was frantic, Fourth Madam Wu calculated her options with precision. After all, Wu Junru wasn’t her biological daughter. Using an illegitimate daughter to cleanse the Wu family’s reputation—why not? It would even make her appear virtuous, willing to put principles above family ties. Such a reputation for fairness would be most advantageous.

In just a few moments, Fourth Madam Wu had made up her mind. She glanced at Xiao Jingduo again before standing up and saying, “Very well. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen our in-laws. I must admit, I’ve missed them.”

Xiao Jingduo smiled as well, casually summoning a maid and instructing, “Escort Fourth Madam Wu to Gaoshou Hall. I’ll follow shortly.”

Once Fourth Madam Wu left, Wu Junru could no longer contain her fury. Pointing at Xiao Jingduo, she shouted, “You’re utterly despicable! How dare you use such vile methods to steal and read my letters!”

“The letters were written by you,” Xiao Jingduo said calmly. “If you had the courage to write them, why don’t you dare let me share them publicly? If you dare to act, you must be prepared to bear the consequences. Since you tried to manipulate my career prospects through underhanded schemes, you should also prepare to face retribution.”

“You think just because you passed the imperial examination, you can do whatever you want? Offending me means offending the entire Wu family! Aren’t you afraid of their retaliation?”

“Would they have left me alone without this incident?”

“Would they have left me alone without this incident?” Xiao Jingduo retorted with a smile. “Besides, soon enough, you won’t be part of the Wu family anymore.”

Wu Junru shivered at the implications of his words. Glaring at him, she realized Xiao Jingduo didn’t care to maintain any semblance of civility. Finally, defeated and unwilling to give up, she hissed, “You forged a letter from the court officials. Don’t think I’ll ever let you off for this!”

“Heh,” Xiao Jingduo chuckled nonchalantly. “Then find that letter first before you accuse me.”

“You—!” Wu Junru was livid. “You even planted a spy in my household! Since when did this start?”

“We’re even,” Xiao Jingduo said with ease. “Didn’t you plant Furong beside me in the past? I’m simply returning the favor. Not just this—everything you’ve done to me, I’ll repay one by one. You think that with the Wu family’s backing, no one can touch you. But have you ever considered that while you are nothing without the Wu family, they can easily discard you without a second thought?”

With that, Xiao Jingduo turned to leave. “I still have to go to Gaoshou Hall. I won’t waste more time with you.”

Fourth Madam Wu was about to publicly declare her stance at Gaoshou Hall, and Xiao Jingduo had to be there to oversee it. Staying behind was merely to confront Wu Junru and make things clear.

Xiao Jingduo intended to make Wu Junru a discarded pawn of the Wu family. He wanted to see how she would fare in the Marquis’s residence without their protection.

The injustices Zhao Xiulan endured seven years ago were finally being avenged. ‘Mother, I hope in your next life, you’ll be steadfast, courageous, and find peace, free from the abuse of others.’

After Fourth Madam Wu left the Marquis’s residence, Wu Junru didn’t come out of her room for a long time, and the rest of the Xiao family pretended not to notice.

When Xiao Ying returned from the military camp, a servant relayed the day’s events. “Marquis, Fourth Madam Wu visited today.”

“My mother-in-law? What did she say?”

When the servant repeated Fourth Madam Wu’s statements from Gaoshou Hall, Xiao Ying fell silent.

Xiao Ying hadn’t married Wu Junru out of affection. He had merely needed a wife from a noble background to bolster his status. But now, it seemed this aristocratic wife had brought nothing but trouble instead of enhancing his reputation.

“Marquis, Madam seems to be upset. Would you like to check on her?”

Xiao Ying didn’t respond immediately. After a long sigh, he said, “Let’s leave it for now.”

He didn’t know how to deal with Wu Junru at the moment and decided to wait before taking any action.

After Fourth Madam Wu left, the Xiao household was filled with mixed emotions. Time passed, and May was already halfway through.

One early morning, the gates of the Marquis Yongning’s residence were pounded on loudly.

“Great news! Xiao Jinshi’s appointment decree has arrived!”

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T/N: I hope everyone had a good holiday. I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter, one of my family members was hospitalized over Christmas and the few days before that, so it’s been a little hectic. I should be able to start posting more frequently starting next week.

Happy reading!

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