Chapter Sixty-Three: The Ten-Thousand-Gold Decree

“All right, all right, I promise you, Muxue. Come home, please!” For the first time, Old Madam Chen’s face showed a rare expression of remorse. Yet she still wanted to hear Chen Muxue’s answer first, her aged eyes full of hope and urgency.

“Yes.” Chen Muxue glanced first at Su Zheng to gauge his reaction. Seeing that he showed no objection, she gave a slight nod.

Joy immediately spread across the old lady’s face, but the excitement overwhelmed her, making her head spin so badly she could barely stand.

From a distance, someone quickly came over to support her, helping her to the grand armchair.

Chen Muxue had wanted to follow and check on the old lady’s condition, but Su Zheng’s voice stopped her, “She’ll be fine. Let her rest and she’ll recover. Let’s help your parents home first.”

“Okay.”

At this point, Chen Muxue obeyed Su Zheng without question and, at his suggestion, supported Chen Jianguo and Lü Hongmei as they left the ancestral house.

With Su Zheng’s family gone, the atmosphere at the scene still hadn’t calmed. The events of the meeting had left everyone feeling as though they’d just ridden a rollercoaster, speechless and at a loss.

It was supposed to be a simple announcement: expel Su Zheng and Chen Muxue’s family from the clan and be done with it. Yet, out of nowhere, the eighty-million-yuan contract between Haoyuan Trading and the Li family of Qingyang was revealed.

Everyone thought they had hitched themselves to the powerful Li family, already dreaming of a bright future, only to witness Haoyuan Trading being transferred right before their eyes.

In the end, everyone realized that not only had Haoyuan Trading become Chen Muxue’s personal property, but even the old lady had apologized to her in person and invited her back into the family!

A flurry of discussion erupted in the hall, with everyone voicing their opinions, their expressions a complicated mix.

“All right, that’s enough! The meeting’s over! Disperse!” The old lady frowned, weakly waving for everyone to leave. She wanted a moment of peace to herself, to reflect on all that had happened with Chen Muxue, and wonder if she had truly wronged her granddaughter.

One by one, they departed, leaving only a few maids standing by. The once-crowded hall now lay silent, tinged with loneliness and desolation.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded at the entrance, and a crowd burst in.

“Grandmother, grandmother, help me!” A voice, choked with sobs and fear, cried out from within the group.

Old Madam Chen forced herself to sit up and saw her grandson, Chen Peng, his face full of panic.

“Peng, what happened to you? Who beat you like this?” Shock and anger mingled on the old lady’s face as she took in Chen Peng’s battered appearance, her heart aching for her grandson.

“Well, well… You must be Old Madam Chen? We’ve come to see you today for a little chat. No need to be so nervous.” Abiao spoke with a relaxed air, a slight smile at his lips, as he took a seat.

“Hmph! Was it you who beat Peng? Who are you to cause trouble in my house? Such insolence!” The old lady’s face grew cold as she glanced at Chen Peng, flanked by two burly men. She understood at once and glared at Abiao, her voice sharp.

With a crash, Abiao suddenly leapt up and kicked over the chair beside him. “Insolence? The insolence is yours!”

“You’re old enough to know better, yet you dared to order this useless grandson of yours to kill someone? You’ve got some nerve!”

Abiao’s words left the old lady utterly shocked, but she quickly snapped back, “Nonsense! I have no idea what you’re talking about—kill someone? Who was killed? I’m warning you, you broke into my house, assaulted my grandson, and now you slander me as well. What are you after? Get out of my house at once!”

Abiao chuckled, his face twisting into a sinister grin, “So the old bat plays dumb. Do you think I’d come here without real evidence? Since you won’t admit it, that’s fine. I’ll just post these proofs online and see how long your family can cover the sky with one hand in Qingyang!”

“Proof? What proof? Don’t talk nonsense and try to scare an old woman like me!” The mention of evidence deflated much of Old Madam Chen’s bravado. Suspicion flickered in her eyes as she glanced at Chen Peng.

Meeting her gaze, Chen Peng instantly looked away, guilt written all over his face.

“Peng, look at me and tell the truth. What really happened? How did you get involved with these people?” The old lady, noticing his unease, ignored Abiao and pressed her grandson with severity.

“Grandmother, I—I—I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…” After stammering for a long time, Chen Peng finally broke down in tears, overwhelmed by guilt.

“Useless! Why are you crying? Whatever it is, I’ll help you handle it. Just tell me what happened!”

Old Madam Chen’s brows knitted in anger at her grandson’s behavior.

“What a touching bond between grandmother and grandson,” Abiao sneered, “Yet for all your affection, he’s still betrayed you.”

With that, he pointed at Chen Peng and addressed the old lady, “Your precious grandson has confessed. He said you ordered him to commit murder. The evidence and testimony are all in hand. So, old lady, how do you plan to solve this?”

“What?! Nonsense!” Old Madam Chen was stunned, utterly incredulous.

She turned to Chen Peng in outrage, “Peng, did you really try to kill someone? When did I ever tell you to do such a thing? You little wretch, what lies are you telling?”

“Grandmother, I—I didn’t want to! Please forgive me, help me, I have no other choice!” Chen Peng wiped his tears, and after a long moment, as if making up his mind, he suddenly looked up and continued calmly, “Grandmother, weren’t you the one who told me to kill Chen Muxue and Su Zheng? Now that the truth is out, you can’t put all the blame on me!”

“You—you—unfilial brute! How dare you falsely accuse your grandmother? Have you lost your mind?”

“When did I ever tell you to harm Muxue? Shut your mouth this instant!” The old lady was thunderstruck, shocked and furious. She had never imagined that the grandson she’d always adored would say such things! And she was equally appalled at Chen Peng’s actions—how could someone of their own blood, a member of the same family, try to kill Muxue? Was he even human?

“All right, you two can settle your family feud later. For now, let’s discuss compensation.” Abiao waved impatiently and gave the old lady a sideways glance. “I know all about your attempted murder. So let me be clear: I want hush money. If you refuse, I’ll expose your dirty deeds for the whole world to see. I think you know what will happen next, don’t you?”

The old lady’s face was filled with grief and indignation. At Abiao’s words, her whole body seemed to freeze.

“My conscience is clear—I have never done such a thing, and I will not confess to it just because of a few wild words and the slander of this unfilial child. Everything must be judged by evidence!”

Abiao burst out laughing, “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say. Come, here’s all the evidence. Take a look for yourself!”