Chapter 11: Showdown

"What?" Wen Ping’s expression changed instantly, his eyes glaring at the man as if they could spit fire. "Why don't you just go rob someone!"

The man maintained a good-natured appearance. "Calm down, Master Wen. Getting angry won't solve the problem."

Someone whispered, "Where else could you get money this fast besides robbery?"

Wen Ping felt a dull ache in his chest, his breathing becoming labored. "I... I don't have that much money."

"You don't?" The man’s smile vanished, replaced by a murderous aura. "What are you waiting for? Chop off his son's fingers!"

A subordinate responded with an "Understood," swung a kitchen knife, and hacked downward.

"Ah—"

"Wait!" Wen Ping’s shout and the youth’s scream rang out almost simultaneously.

The youth leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the ground.

Wen Ping rushed over, his face deathly pale. "Yun'er, Yun'er, are you alright?"

Wen Yun’s eyes were tightly shut, and he showed no reaction.

"You bunch of animals, just you wait! Even if I have to fight you to the death, I won't let you off easy!" Wen Ping jumped up.

The man laughed. "Don't be so anxious, Master Wen. Your son was just scared unconscious."

Wen Ping froze, only then remembering to look at Wen Yun’s hands. He checked the left, then the right, and finding both hands intact, he immediately looked at the wall.

A faint knife mark on the wall seemed to mock his distress.

The man holding the kitchen knife chuckled. "Master Wen, if you care so much about your son, why are you so stingy with a little silver?"

"A little? That’s one thousand taels!" At the mention of silver, the half of Wen Ping’s soul that had been scared away returned.

The leader stepped closer, his face devoid of any expression. "Master Wen, I gave you a chance just now. Next time, the knife won't just land on the wall. Think carefully: will you pay, or will you leave your son’s fingers behind?"

"Can... can it be a little less?" Wen Ping finally realized how difficult these people were and softened his tone.

Losing a finger wouldn't affect his life, but how could he face the Master’s questioning?

If that happened, the things he had done to cover up for his son would likely be exposed!

He couldn't take that risk.

Wen Ping gritted his teeth. "I don't have that much silver. Please, give me some more time..."

"How many days?" the leader immediately pressed.

"Half a month—" Seeing the man’s expression darken, Wen Ping immediately changed his words. "Ten days, give me ten days!"

The man held up three fingers. "Three days. Bring the silver in three days, and you can take your son."

"Three days is too tight."

"That’s your problem." The man waved his hand. "Take Young Master Yun away and treat him well."

Wen Ping’s expression shifted. "Where are you taking my son?"

The man smiled. "Rest assured, Master Wen. For these three days, your son is very precious to us."

Watching his son being dragged away by several men, Wen Ping’s expression flickered repeatedly; in that instant, he seemed to age several years.

"Master Wen, you’d better hurry," the man said, then walked away with his hands behind his back.

Wen Ping stood motionless for a long time before walking back on legs that felt like jelly.

One thousand taels—how was he supposed to scrape together one thousand taels!

In a daze, someone blocked his path.

Wen Ping rolled his eyes, focusing on the person in his way.

"Baozhu?"

"Our young lady is waiting for you at the tea shop ahead," Baozhu said, then turned and walked away.

Wen Ping stood there stunned for a moment before chasing after her. "Baozhu, what does the Second Young Lady want with me?"

Baozhu glanced toward the direction of the Qianjin Gambling House and said expressionlessly, "I don't know. The young lady wants to see you; just go."

Wen Ping noticed Baozhu’s reaction, and his heart immediately sank.

Did the Second Young Lady know about his son going to the gambling house?

Realizing this, Wen Ping’s heart plummeted to the bottom of a well. He followed Baozhu, walking unsteadily until they reached a teahouse.

In the private room, a young girl in a green dress rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window with a leisurely air.

"Young Lady, Steward Wen is here."

Wen Ping walked over and bowed. "I wonder why the Second Young Lady has summoned this old servant?"

Wen Hao’s calm gaze fell on Wen Ping’s face. When her stare made him feel uneasy, she curled her lips into a smile. "I was wondering why Steward Wen was in such a rush today. So, it was to redeem someone from the gambling house."

Wen Ping’s expression changed instantly, and he looked at Wen Hao in astonishment.

He had guessed that the Second Young Lady’s summons had something to do with the gambling house, but he hadn't expected her to be so direct.

When he was young, he had been the Master’s page boy. He was the only servant from the Master’s hometown in the vast Wen household, and even the Mistress gave him face. What did the Second Young Lady mean by this?

Wen Hao held her teacup and took a shallow sip, not gesturing for Wen Ping to sit.

Wen Ping felt increasingly out of his depth. "Second Young Lady, this old servant still has matters to attend to back at the manor—"

Wen Hao set the teacup on the table and chuckled lightly. "To go back and scrape together money?"

Wen Ping’s expression shifted drastically.

"One thousand taels in three days—that won't be easy to gather, will it?"

"Second Young Lady, please don't listen to idle gossip—"

Wen Hao couldn't be bothered with nonsense. She said calmly, "Baozhu—"

Baozhu reached into her sleeve, pulled out a stack of banknotes, and slapped them into Wen Ping’s hand.

Wen Ping held the banknotes, his voice cracking. "Second Young Lady, what is the meaning of this?"

"Baozhu, go outside and keep watch."

Once Baozhu had silently retreated, Wen Hao got to the point. "Steward Wen, let’s talk about the matter my father entrusted to you."

Wen Ping didn't react for a moment. "The Second Young Lady refers to—"

Wen Hao smiled sweetly. "The matter of you lying and saying he was already married to his cousin before he arrived in the capital."

These words were like a thunderclap on a clear day. Wen Ping’s eyes widened, and he looked at Wen Hao as if he had seen a ghost.

Wen Hao was in no hurry; she lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea.

It was a long time before Wen Ping found his voice. "Se-Second Young Lady, where did you hear such absurd talk—"

Wen Hao’s face darkened. "I advise Steward Wen to think about that one thousand taels before you speak."

Wen Ping felt as if his throat had been constricted; he lost his voice instantly, his mind in complete chaos.

How could the Second Young Lady know about Lady Qing? And even know about the instructions the Master gave him?

Was he seeing a ghost?

The young girl’s voice rang out eerily. "If you don't want people to know, don't do it. Does Steward Wen think that is true?"

The color drained from Wen Ping’s face. The peerlessly beautiful girl seemed somewhat sinister in his eyes.

He... he might really be seeing a ghost!

"Second Young Lady... what do you want?" First the shock at the gambling house, then Wen Hao’s abnormal behavior—it caused Wen Ping, who was usually quite steady, to lose his composure.

"It’s not about what I want; it’s about what Steward Wen wants." Wen Hao looked at him expressionlessly. "Does Steward Wen want to accept these banknotes and be a person of conscience who tells the truth, or would you rather be an accomplice who tells lies with your eyes open, waiting to collect Wen Yun’s corpse in three days?"

"Collect his corpse?" Steward Wen’s pupils contracted, and he gasped.

Wen Hao reached up to touch the peach blossom hairpin in her hair, smiling faintly. "They say money makes the mare go. If they can chop off Wen Yun’s fingers for one thousand taels, if I offer ten thousand... I should be able to buy his life, right?"

"Second Young Lady, you—"

Wen Hao pulled the peach blossom hairpin from her hair with a cold face and slapped it onto the table. "Steward Wen, you know I can afford ten thousand taels. Oh, that’s right, I also know one more thing."