Chapter 1644 – Seizing Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (54)
His actions were sudden and rude, startling the son awake, causing him to wail uncontrollably.
Mr. Green Hat was extremely impatient, his eyebrows furrowed in displeasure.
The noble lady exclaimed in shock, “What’s wrong, Young Master? Is there anything that can’t be said calmly? Why frighten the child?”
“Get out! I have something to discuss with my lady,” Mr. Green Hat suppressed his anger and dismissed the servants.
Once they were gone, he got straight to the point, asking his wife who the child she bore really belonged to.
The noble lady turned a bit anxious and confused, vaguely saying, “Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Did someone say something in front of you? Young Master, you know exactly who my son belongs to, why unfairly accuse my innocence?”
Mr. Green Hat questioned, “Before you were pregnant, were you involved with that scoundrel from the Nie Clan, sneaking off under the pretense of attending Elegant Gatherings?”
The noble lady’s expression changed dramatically, her exquisite makeup nearly falling apart from shock.
“How could you believe such slander against my innocence? It’s one thing not to trust me, but to doubt the child you have cherished for so long based on someone else’s words?”
Mr. Green Hat sneered, “It doesn’t matter if you deny it; deep down, you know the truth better than anyone. Maybe you don’t even know who the child’s father is! I haven’t delved into who you might’ve been with before marriage, but as a matron of the An Clan, you’ve been so restless—how can you face me?”
The more he spoke, the more humiliated he felt, the thought of his formal wife being unfaithful casting a shadow of shame over him.
Before the emergence of the Four Books for Women in the Court, relationships between men and women weren’t conservative; the higher the status, the more so.
It was normal for powerful widows to keep concubines, and for unmarried women to have a few male friends; the gentry circle was even more open.
However, after marriage, one should focus on supporting their husband and raising the family.
This had been a tacit understanding in circles years ago.
Of course, since the publication of the Four Books for Women, the demands placed on women by men in court have suddenly become harsh. What was once considered normal has now become intolerable. If it was so before marriage, how could it be any different after?
The couple argued fiercely, not quite hysterical, but they certainly left no room for each other’s dignity.
“If you have so many grievances against me, why have you been silent all along?” Mr. Green Hat pressed hard, and the noble lady, now enraged, retorted with a scornful laugh, “What exactly are you throwing a tantrum about? You know all too well. If the Nie Clan were still powerful as before, and if I had your child with that person, do you think you’d dare to breathe a word? You wouldn’t even dare let out a fart! You’d probably just admit that I’d served him well while you hoped to reap the benefits! Let me tell you, even the escort from the brothel has more guts than you. Deep down, do you really not know my relationship with that man? Haven’t heard a whisper? Ridiculous! You might subconsciously know the truth but are too scared to investigate further. What’s with all this ‘big man’ dignity you’re trying to toss my way? If you’re capable, go kill that man! Go now! What’s the point of roaring at me in the inner courtyard? Do you think I want this? If I told you, under pressure, would you dare to stand up? Coward!”
Mr. Green Hat’s face turned ashen upon hearing this.
“Why wouldn’t I dare?”
The noble lady shot back sharply, “Of course you dare now! Is the Nie Clan the same as it once was? If it were back then, would you dare to speak up? Your entire family would’ve been at the mercy of the Nie Clan! Now, they’re just an old, toothless bug pretending to be king on a hill, and you’re unhappy about it, perhaps already planning a coup, but you’re too concerned about your image to risk being labeled a traitor. Now you question me just to use me to take a stab at the Nie Clan!”
“Say that again!”
The hidden ambitions of Mr. Green Hat had been ruthlessly exposed by his wife, igniting his rage.
“Hmph, I’d dare to say it ten or twenty more times,” the noble lady sneered confidently, “With just you, even if you turn against the Nie Clan, it’s like hitting a stone with an egg. If you can use this to get my father’s support and play on his guilt, your chances of success would drastically increase. As long as you still need my father, far from just saying one more line, I could speak for ten days and ten nights—would you dare to kill me to silence me? I ask you, would you dare!”
Mr. Green Hat was caught speechless by his wife’s words, his red eyes swirling with a complex mix of emotions.
After a long moment,
“You wouldn’t dare!”
The noble lady raised her hand to straighten her dress, head held high, she walked past him, leaving behind two words.
“Coward!”
She wasn’t wrong; Mr. Green Hat did indeed need his father-in-law’s help, and now was not the time to turn against the in-laws. Once he succeeded and gained power, he wouldn’t have to continue enduring the humiliation from that shrew.
The An Clan and Zhou Clan quickly reached a tacit understanding, taking advantage of Nie Qing forcing Zheng Hao into a tight spot, they decisively interfered, disrupting the rhythm of the internal conflict.
Both the An Clan and Zhou Clan had previously relied on the Nie Clan, who had placed little vigilance against them and even showed some trust; no one expected former lackeys to suddenly turn around and bite back.
If anyone was surprised by the An and Zhou Clans joining the internal conflict, it was Zheng Hao. Even though he took the early advantage and tricked Nie Qing out of two cities, once Nie Qing reacted, he launched effective counterattacks.
Zheng Hao’s foundation was still weak; even with Qi Guanrang and some others secretly backing him, he could not match Nie Qing, nearly getting demolished in a lesson.
With the An and Zhou Clans joining the internal conflict, Nie Qing’s back caught fire, and Zheng Hao’s pressure on the front line suddenly decreased. Not only did he catch his breath, but he forced the emboldened Nie Qing into a corner, making them quite flustered.
Qi Guanrang and his partner were gathered around the hearth, enjoying the show, intending to throw more fuel onto the hard-won internal conflict.
Nie Qing and the others quickly sensed something was wrong, unwilling to be dragged into the mud of internal strife; however, Zheng Hao’s greed and the ambitions of the An and Zhou Clans would not cease easily. The more Nie Qing considered the bigger picture, the more the others felt emboldened, and eventually, tempers flared into real conflict.
Nie Qing understood very well that at this pace, he’d either die in the three-clan internal struggle or painstakingly quell the conflict only to fall into Jiang Ji’s clutches.
After much thought, Nie Qing chose the latter.
Jiang Ji was an external threat, while Zheng Hao, the Zhou Clan, and the An Clan were internal threats.
Nie Qing believed he’d done nothing wrong, but they had betrayed him, striking from behind during the Nie Clan’s most difficult times. To let such ungrateful villains live would be like leaving trouble for the new year.
Nie Qing didn’t want to one day reach the underworld and be scolded by his father for failing to control his own retainers.
He made up his mind; this internal conflict would only get fiercer. Aside from the necessary ceasefire on New Year’s Day, the other times would be an endless brawl. Initially, only a few families fought, but soon, other powers got dragged into the chaos, making the situation increasingly chaotic.
Looking across Zhong Zhao, Nan Sheng, and Dongqing, only Jiang Ji and An were still celebrating.
The former were having a normal new year, and the latter, suddenly becoming a father!
