After Su Rongrong was confined to the side courtyard, the estate's internal affairs fell into complete disarray. Those maids and older servants who had originally relied on the Su family all shrank back to see which way the wind blew, none of them willing to do any work easily.
The Duke saw this but said nothing. Instead, he had all the estate's authority tokens and keys sent directly to my room.
"This estate needs someone in charge. You try managing things first. If there's anything you don't understand, ask the steward directly."
Taking the heavy keys, I understood in my heart that this was the Duke publicly showing his support for me. I did not decline. My very first act was to dismiss all of the Su family's trusted associates in the accounts department.
When Su Rongrong heard about this in the side courtyard, she smashed dishes in her room in a fit of rage and even had Yuanru run out to stop me.
"Lady Consort, the accounts of this estate have always been managed by our young mistress. By making such reckless changes, aren't you afraid the Duke will blame you when he returns?"
"Since the Duke gave the keys to me, then everything in this estate must go by my rules. Take her away and slap her face ten times to teach her some manners."
The two sturdy older maids behind me stepped forward immediately. Before Yuanru could even react, the crisp sound of slaps echoed through the courtyard. Watching this scene unfold through the crack in the door, Su Rongrong shrank back in fear. She probably finally realised that in this estate, she was no longer the young mistress who could get away with anything.
Holding the account books, I went through them line by line, auditing the funds the Su family had embezzled over the years. I wanted to make Su Rongrong realise that every bite of fine delicacy she had enjoyed in the past would have to be spat back out now.
Fu Jingyun was locked up in the dungeon. Although he was not subjected to any severe torture, the sheer drop from grace was already driving him insane. I had refused to see him this entire time, which slowly extinguished the last glimmer of hope in his heart.
At dusk on this day, I slowly walked into the dungeon carrying a flask of fine wine.
"Wanning, I knew you wouldn't just leave me to rot. Please, speak to father for me. Even sending me to the border as a common soldier is better than being locked up here."
Looking at his wretched state, I felt not a single shred of pity. I poured a cup of wine and handed it to him. His hands trembled as he took it and downed it in one gulp.
"Young master, the Duke has already struck your name from the family registry. From now on, you are no longer the young master of the Duke's estate, but just an ordinary man named Fu."
The wine cup in Fu Jingyun's hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. He stared at me with wide eyes, as if he had just heard some absurd fantasy. He had always assumed the Duke was merely acting in the heat of anger and would eventually show mercy out of old affection.
"Impossible. I am his only son. He couldn't be this heartless."
"The Duke said that just as he could give you everything, he can also take it all back. As for Su Rongrong, she can barely fend for herself right now. Do you honestly think she still cares about you?"
I told him that to protect their reputation, the Su family was already preparing to report his sudden death to the court, so that Su Rongrong could remarry as a widow. Hearing this, Fu Jingyun collapsed to the ground like a heap of mud, muttering Su Rongrong's name over and over again.
I walked out of the dungeon and looked at the last fading rays of the setting sun. A man like Fu Jingyun did not deserve any sympathy, even in death. But I want to watch him live even more — to watch the power and the woman he cares about most leave him one by one.
Since the Su family couldn't get any advantage in the estate, they began to spread rumours outside. In the capital, the talk of the town was that the Duke had lost his mind, bewitched by a temptress, and had even abandoned his own adoptive son. A few scholars who prided themselves on being high and mighty even ran to the gates of the Duke's estate to spout nonsense, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
Inside the study, the Duke listened to the noise outside, his face darkening. He was a military man and had no patience for dealing with the verbal attacks of these scholars.
I put down my needlework and spoke to him softly. "It is useless to meet force with force in these matters. We must make them shut their own mouths. My lord, since they say I've bewitched your mind, then let's invite everyone in to have a look."
I had the steward set up a public notice stand at the gates of the estate. I also had all the evidence of the Su family embezzling the estate's property over the years, and the evidence of Fu Jingyun's debts outside, copied onto bright red paper, posting them in the most prominent places.
Those onlookers had originally come to watch the drama, but once they saw that irrefutable evidence, the wind instantly shifted. The people began to gossip and whisper, calling the Su family ungrateful wolves and Fu Jingyun a prodigal son. The few scholars, looking at the wall full of evidence, turned red with embarrassment. They couldn't utter a single word, and in the end could only slink away in shame.
I stood inside the gate, watching the crowd gradually disperse outside. The Duke walked up behind me and took my hand. Although he didn't say anything, I could feel his grip tighten slightly.
This time, the Su family had lifted a stone only to drop it on their own feet. They wanted to use public opinion to pressure us, but forgot that justice naturally resides in the hearts of the people. But this matter wasn't over yet. Lord Su still has several arch-rivals in the imperial court who will probably take this opportunity to kick him while he is down.