Seeing that Wang Fugui had completely ceased moving, Young Master Wang, who had been drunkenly sprawling all this time, suddenly found his strength.
He threw himself forward like a howling wolf and wailed as he clutched the corpse:
“Father! Father! How could you leave like this?! Your unfilial son failed to save you!”
—Deep in emotion and overflowing with sorrow, beating his chest and stomping his feet in agonizing tears.
Had Nan Zhi not known he was playing dead just moments ago, she might have genuinely thought Young Master Wang was a devotedly filial son.
Yet Manager Wang wept even more extravagantly than Young Master Wang, snot and tears streaming down his ashen face, his grizzled hair trembling uncontrollably:
“Fugui... you were foolish... you were so foolish...
It is all this old man's fault, all my fault...”
He lay hunched on the ground, his back heaving as he sobbed, as though every ounce of his spirit had been drained away.
Such loyalty?
Nan Zhi was somewhat surprised and could not help looking toward Wanniang.
The latter wore an indifferent expression, showing none of the joy that should have accompanied exacting vengeance.
“Uncle Li was the head brewer who brewed wine alongside my father in those early years, as well as Wang Fugui’s master.
He truly raised Wang Fugui as his own son.”
A trace of emptiness lingered in Wanniang’s eyes as she let out a cold sneer:
“Back then, the reason Wang Fugui was able to smoothly take over the Qu family’s estate was partly due to his involvement.
“Heh, when my father was alive, he treated him generously—never missing a yearly tribute or seasonal gift. When his mother passed away, my father even had people wrap two hundred taels of silver for him.
“Yet the moment my Qu family fell into ruin, he couldn't wait to defect to Wang Fugui, winning over the distillery managers and bribing the shopkeepers on his behalf...
“He treated Wang Fugui like his own flesh and blood, completely blind to the fact that the man only saw him as a useful old dog!”
Wanniang’s figure grew increasingly translucent. Paying no heed to Manager Wang’s grief-stricken expression, she mocked:
“What, do you still not understand? That day in the prison cell, Wang Fugui had already resolved to make you take the fall for the fatal poisoned wine lawsuit.
“How laughable that you only saw how filial he acted toward you on the surface, not daring to talk back, while behind your back, he wished nothing more than for you to drop dead!”
—She wanted to say even more venomous words, but suddenly recalled something and reluctantly swallowed them back.
When it came down to it, how was she any different from Manager Wang?
Both had been deceived by Wang Fugui’s honest and sincere facade. Who wasn’t pitiable?
“This old man... this old man knows.”
Manager Wang turned his head blankly, two streaks of tears still staining his face. His grizzled hair matched his weathered visage, yet the words that fell from his lips sent a chill straight to the bone:
“Eldest Young Mistress, back then, this old man knew that your Qu family was wronged.
“Master Qu showed me great kindness during his life, and I am not an ungrateful person.
“It's just that in all my life, I only ever regretted one thing: I have no son. Even when I die in the future, there will be no one to shatter the mourning basin and wail at my wake.
“Fugui may have wronged others, but he never wronged this old man!
“When he was an apprentice, he warmed my feet and washed my legs, washed my quilts and made my bed, cooked meals and poured tea. At such a young age, he worked like an ox from morning to night.
“Once during the eleventh month, I fell ill with a cold. When I woke up, I saw Fugui holding my feet in his arms, warming them against his chest...
“A person’s heart is made of flesh. Though I have no son, pardon my impudence, but in my heart, Fugui was my son! And Young Master is my grandson...”
“Uncle Li!”
Young Master Wang shoved Manager Wang away, his brows knitted in utter disgust. “What nonsense are you babbling?! Why bring up past matters now?!”
A hint of dejection appeared in Manager Wang’s eyes, but he said nothing in response.
He merely wiped away his tears and suddenly dropped to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly before Wanniang with loud, resounding thuds:
“Don’t the storybooks always say it? The dead cannot be brought back to life. Eldest Young Mistress, now that you are dead, can’t you just let this matter rest?
“Now Fugui... is dead. He paid with his own life for the thirty-seven lives of the Qu family, and that ought to be enough.
“I beg you to show mercy, spare the young master, and spare the Wang family. Will you?”
Seeing that Wanniang gave no response, Manager Wang turned in another direction and kowtowed ceaselessly toward Nan Zhi, his eyes brimming with desperate pleading:
“Lord Nan, I beg you to save the Wang family and spare the young master! Today’s events must never be known by outsiders!
“Once people find out, the Wang family is finished, and the brand of ‘Immortal Brew’ is ruined!
“Young Master is still young, has a prominent father-in-law, and has a bright future ahead of him. He is destined to become a high-ranking official! If the Wang family is ruined... if the Wang family is ruined...
“This old man is kowtowing to you! In the next life, I will work like an ox and horse to repay your immense grace and virtue. I beg of you!”
Watching all this, Qu Wan found it utterly ridiculous.
A frail old man bitterly pleading, and a bereaved young master glaring at her with venomous hatred.
Right now, she looked exactly like the villain in a storybook.
Yet the culprit behind it all had died so quickly and easily.
Had Wang Fugui not committed evil, her parents would still be alive, enjoying familial happiness, and she would not be left with a solitary grave, wandering aimlessly in despair.
“How amusing. Just because a villain treated you well, you can so easily cast the wicked deeds and atrocities he committed against others to the back of your mind?
“The Wang family’s reputation is important, so this official should just turn a blind eye to the Qu family’s grievances?
“Though Wang Fugui is dead, his karmic debts have yet to be settled completely.”
Nan Zhi stepped sideways to avoid him, firmly refusing Manager Wang’s bows.
“Manager Wang, allow me to correct your words first.
“First, Wang Fugui received his just deserts. If Wanniang hadn’t come knocking today, he never would have confessed to what happened back then. Where does this notion of him ‘paying with his life’ to the Qu family come from?
“Second, regarding the matter of the Wang family using Qu Wan’s bones to brew wine, as an Arrest Officer of the Demon Suppression Division, I will report every single detail truthfully without adding embellishments, but also without hiding a thing.
“As for whether those high officials and noble lords who drank the ‘special ingredient’ Immortal Brew will come looking for trouble with your Wang family, and whether that trouble will ruin your young master’s future...”
Nan Zhi drew out her words, watching Young Master Wang’s face turn increasingly pale before slowly delivering the final line:
“...that has nothing to do with me.
“After all, I am merely a humble butcher’s daughter whose family runs a pork shop. If I wish to live in peace, I still have to rely on your young master.”
Hearing this, how could Young Master Wang fail to understand?
Never had he imagined that what he said back then had not only reached her ears, but had also been kept firmly in her mind.
“Then what do you want?! My father is already dead! Are you expecting me to repay every bit of grievances from decades ago?!”
Tears welled in Young Master Wang’s eyes as he roared at Nan Zhi:
“As an Arrest Officer of the Demon Suppression Division, by duty, you ought to capture ghosts and subdue demons! In private, my Wang family invited you here, so you should not have stood by and watched someone die without helping!
“Yet now, you actually consort with this ghost! Not only did you drive my father to his death, but you also want to ruin my Wang family’s reputation, cut off my livelihood, and sever my future!
“I, Wang Chen, may hold no official post, but I have classmates and mentors! My father-in-law, Ma Wuyan, is the maternal uncle of Lord Qi in the Northwest Circuit Bureau of Military Affairs!
“As long as I do not die today, don't even think about getting away with this! I will surely lodge a complaint with the Demon Suppression Division, accusing you of the crimes of ‘consorting with wicked entities, disrupting Yin and Yang, and standing by without saving a life’!”
“Look at that, just look at that. You’re awfully enthusiastic. I couldn't bear to kill you, yet you force my hand...
“Originally, I only intended to beat you up to vent some frustration.
“But since you’ve laid it out so plainly, I have no choice but to silence you.”
Nan Zhi swung the wooden stick in her hand and said with a smile:
“I have great respect for my opponents. Speak, after you die, would you prefer an earth burial, water burial, or cremation?”
“Butcher’s daughter! You wouldn't dare kill me!”
Young Master Wang shrieked, cowering behind Manager Wang like a frightened bird:
“The Demon Suppression Division possesses the Xiezhi Mirror! If you kill me, you will not escape the death penalty either!”
“Oh? You even know such confidential secrets. It seems that father-in-law of yours truly has some ability.”
Nan Zhi wore an expression of mild surprise as she swung the long stick in her hand:
“Who would have thought? Does your family pass down this skill of living off women as an heirloom?
“You said it yourself—I’m just an unruly butcher’s daughter. Killing you is just killing you, why ask if I dare...”
The long stick was raised high and swung down abruptly—
Manager Wang’s face turned the color of ash.
Young Master Wang closed his eyes in despair.
Wanniang was about to stop her.
The very next moment, a crisp metallic clang rang out. A flash of white light glinted, sword qi swept past, and the wooden stick snapped in two.
“Clang—”
“Crack!”
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