Chapter 57: Unhappy Retribution
"Yes, Second Young Master." The servant took the order and was about to take action.
At this moment, Zheng Chengyan's eyes accidentally fell on the forgotten article on the side. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he gave the order again: "Go, bring me the girl from the Pei family!"
"Yes, Second Young Master." The servant replied respectfully and turned to leave.
However, not long after the servant left, a personal servant came running over in a panic, "Second Young Master, something bad has happened. The Pei family's villa has suddenly caught fire. Miss Pei and the Second Master are trapped inside and can't escape!"
Zheng Chengyan was shocked and incredulous when he heard this: "Trapped in the fire? How could the fire suddenly start?"
"When I arrived, I saw a mess at the scene, with two bodies... As for the cause of the fire, it has not yet been determined, but I heard from nearby residents that Miss Pei ignited the fire herself!"
"Some people also said that she couldn't stand the long-term oppression of the Pei family, and she became discouraged and chose to commit suicide."
Zheng Chengyan suppressed the shock on his face and knelt down on the ground.
Pei Sina's death not only meant the complete failure of his revenge plan, but also made him lose the talented woman who wrote for him.
After a short silence, Zheng Chengyan suddenly burst into laughter, with a hint of bitterness and despair in his laughter: "What a Pei Sina, she even wants to drag me down with her even when she is dying. She really has good intentions!"
He punched the ground hard, causing dust to fly. He clenched his fists tightly, as if he wanted to pour out all his resentment and anger.
"Second Young Master, don't worry. Although Pei Sina is no longer with us, there are countless talented men and beautiful women in this world, and there are also many geniuses among poor families. I will find another one for you right away!" Seeing this, the servant hurriedly comforted her with a flattering smile on his face.
"You're right. The world is so big that we can easily find people of real talent and learning." Zheng Chengyan's expression eased slightly and he urged the servant to act quickly.
Just as the servant left, he met Su Wanyu who was rushing over.
Su Wanyu pretended not to have heard the previous conversation, and slowly walked to Zheng Chengyan, her voice gentle with a hint of barely perceptible pride: "Husband, why are you kneeling here for so long? Is there something troubling you?"
Normally, Zheng Chengyan enjoyed humiliating Su Wanyu in front of everyone to show off his authority, but at this moment, he was completely humiliated. He hurriedly covered the wounds on his body with his robe, and said with anger and shame: "This matter has nothing to do with you. Go back to your backyard!"
Seeing him kneeling on the ground in such a miserable state, Su Wanyu secretly rejoiced in her heart. She looked up at the gloomy sky with a sarcastic smile on her lips: "Husband, it seems that it will rain tonight. Please take good care of yourself and don't catch a cold."
There was a hint of joking in her words, but to Zheng Chengyan, they sounded like genuine concern.
His heart beat faster involuntarily, and shame and regret dyed his cheeks red.
"You too... in a few days I will..."
His speech was rarely interrupted, as if there was some unspeakable secret stuck in his throat, and his eyes flickered.
Just as he mustered up the courage to speak again, Su Wanyu had already turned around, leaving behind only a resolute back.
In an instant, his heart seemed to be gnawing at by millions of ants, and humiliation and unwillingness once again overwhelmed his reason.
It was a feeling of frustration that went deep into his bones, making it almost impossible for him to stand firm.
The moment Su Wanyu left the study, she gently unfolded in her hand the water control strategy paper that Pei Sina had spent several days writing with great effort.
Every line and every suggestion on the paper was a good solution to the current flood, which helped Zheng Chengyan shine in front of the emperor and earned him a reputation as a wise ruler before he even took the imperial examination.
But this honor that should have belonged to him now seems to be transferred to someone else.
Night falls quietly, the sky changes from gray to dark color, the stars disappear, and dark clouds gather.
Zheng Chengyan knelt in the yard from dusk until late at night. After two long hours of waiting, his knees were numb, but his heart was aching even more clearly.
In the end, Guo softened her heart and, despite the order to confine herself to house arrest, she resolutely went to the residence of Marquis Zheng just to plead for Zheng Chengyan.
However, before she stepped over the threshold, a whisper from inside the house made her stop.
That was a gentle conversation between Lord Zheng and young Miss Guo.
Little Guo's voice was as thin as a thread, but it was soft yet firm: "Master, I'm afraid something might happen to the baby in my belly."
Lord Zheng's answer was firm and protective: "Don't worry. No one in the mansion dares to look down on you. If anyone dares to hurt you or the child, I would rather have blood splattered all over the house."
When Guo, who was outside the door, heard this, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.
She originally thought that it was still early and she could take this opportunity to eliminate the threat in Xiao Guo's belly, but she never expected that Lord Zheng's love for Xiao Guo was so deep, beyond her imagination.
Guo quickly gathered her thoughts, forced herself to remain calm, and called out loudly, "Master, Yan'er has realized his mistake, please forgive him this time! He promises not to do it again!"
Lord Zheng frowned and fell silent.
After all, Zheng Chengyan was his son whom he had loved for many years. The punishment had been given. The night was as cold as water. If he were to kneel down again, he might suffer physical harm.
Just when his mind was about to relax, the little Guo in his arms whispered, "Master, the second young master is still young and has a promising future, but you can't spoil him too much, lest he repeat the mistakes of the youngest son of the Guo family and neglect his work."
Upon hearing this, Lord Zheng nodded repeatedly, obviously agreeing with what little Guo said: "That makes sense. You really know how to educate children better, unlike your sister who only knows how to spoil them."
Guo's heart seemed to be pricked by a needle, and the handkerchief in her hand was unconsciously twisted into a tight knot.
Normally, she could always maintain her gentleness and composure, but the recent blows had caused cracks in her disguise, and the carefully maintained veil of hypocrisy was crumbling and seemed like it would break at any time.
She suppressed the sadness and dissatisfaction in her heart and said as softly as possible: "Master, looking at the weather, I'm afraid it will rain heavily tonight..."
Inside the house, Lord Zheng's voice sounded again, with obvious impatience: "Go back to your own yard! Don't disturb Jing'er's rest here!"
Guo's body suddenly stiffened, and the handkerchief in her hand was clenched tighter. She wanted to argue something, but the lights in the room suddenly went out, followed by little Guo's gentle and complacent laughter, which was like thorns, piercing her heart.
Guo was ten years older than little Guo. In her memory, her younger sister was always in tears, but now her smug laughter seemed like a mockery, making her so jealous that she almost lost her mind.
After being married to Lord Zheng for more than ten years, she has never received any real love. She has to put on a brave face, marry one concubine after another for him, and play the role of being generous and tolerant.
All the sacrifices and patience were ultimately rewarded with his indifference.