MFMH C79

Chapter 79 – Cleansing the Duke of Zhen’s Household

As the saying goes, no wall can block out the wind forever, and no fire can be wrapped entirely in paper—the more one tries to conceal, the easier the flaws appear.

For the sake of a title, the Duchess had sought another man’s seed, then conspired with her daughter Gu Qingyao to murder Gu Changfeng. In the end, Gu Changfeng fell from a cliff, gravely wounded and losing his memory. Gu Qingyao successfully married Prince Jinyang and became a lofty princess consort, while the Duchess gave birth to a “precious son.” They thought themselves triumphant, but Gu Changfeng survived against all odds, later being established as the heir of the Duke of Zhen’s household. The Duchess’s schemes had all turned to dust.

An imperial edict made the household servants clearly see the situation. Though the Duchess remained strong-willed, she was still a widowed mother with a weak child. Her daughter might be the wife of Prince Jinyang, but a married daughter was like water poured out—no matter how long her reach, she could not stretch her hand back into the household. Gu Changfeng had the emperor’s favor and stood poised to become the new Duke of Zhen. Those servants who had slighted him before were now filled with fear, terrified he might punish them at any moment.

The situation eased somewhat after Zhou Yu arrived.

Fearing Gu Changfeng too much to fawn upon him directly, the servants turned their attentions to his personal attendant.

Beforehand, Shen Yanbei had instructed Zhou Yu what to do. Thus, when faced with the servants’ flattery, Zhou Yu accepted it all without refusal—every gift, he took.

Seeing Zhou Yu as approachable, the servants sighed in relief, currying favor with him in hopes he might persuade Gu Changfeng not to hold grudges. Zhou Yu beat his chest and promised all around!

Once familiar with some servants, Zhou Yu began probing for information.

Most of the household stewards were the Duchess’s confidants—or at least those who had climbed up through connections or flattery. This meant many managers were incompetent and arrogant, while capable men were suppressed and bullied, breeding resentment.

Finding this entry point, Zhou Yu spread a rumor among the servants: the heir was dissatisfied with the state of the household and planned to sweep away the useless managers, appointing the capable in their place!

The news stirred the household. Apart from the Duchess’s confidants, the useless stewards panicked, scrambling to bribe Zhou Yu with meals and gifts, begging for leniency. Meanwhile, ambitious ones quietly readied themselves to rise. Zhou Yu suddenly became the busiest man in the household, feasting every day.

Taking advantage of this, he pretended to grow drunk at one gathering and let slip a “truth”: the heir had endured years of the Duchess’s oppression—how could he not vent his anger now that he had risen? Reorganizing the household was merely an excuse; the true goal was to reclaim his dignity. If anyone could help the heir get his revenge, the heir would ensure they lived in luxury!

With this hint, everyone understood—the heir meant to strike at the Duchess!

Tempted, some began to reflect on her behavior over the years. As they dug deeper, the strange details around her pregnancy and the birth of the second son became glaring. Sharp minds quickly sensed something wrong—what had happened to the maids and attendants of the main courtyard?

Tracing this thread further, they uncovered vital evidence: the nanny once cast out of the household still lived! Found and confronted, she was willing to reveal the Duchess’s hidden secrets.

Zhou Yu first met her. She was a woman of over fifty, weathered and weary, yet her bearing still showed the discipline of trained service. After confirming her identity, a flash of wild emotion filled her eyes as she insisted on seeing the heir personally—she had a secret to confess about the Duchess!

Time was pressing. Shen Yanbei and Gu Changfeng immediately went to meet her.

Their carriage rolled out of the capital toward a nearby village, stopping at an unremarkable hamlet.

At the sight of Gu Changfeng, the woman froze. The tall man before her was as she remembered, yet his aura was different—once dour and upright, now calm and reserved.

Though haggard, she was indeed the Duchess’s former attendant. Gu Changfeng’s tone was cool: “Nanny An.”

Startled, she quickly lowered her gaze, kneeling. “This humble woman greets the Heir!”

“Rise.” Gu Changfeng motioned her up, asking nothing at first. But anxious at his indifferent manner, she burst out: “I have something to report, my lord!”

“Speak,” Gu Changfeng said evenly.

“The second young master is not the duke’s son! The Duchess betrayed her vows, corrupting the bloodline—this is a heinous crime!” Nanny An’s tone was righteous indignation.

Gu Changfeng’s gaze remained calm. “Do you understand that words can bring disaster?”

She flinched. Perhaps his composure provoked her, for she suddenly grew frantic, crying: “Every word I speak is true! The second young master is a bastard—born of Liu Biyun and some nameless man!”

She even dared speak the Duchess’s name aloud. Shen Yanbei raised a brow.

Nanny An’s eyes glittered with vindictive delight. “When the duke wished to name you heir, Liu Biyun objected. They quarreled, and in anger he mocked, ‘If you’re so capable, then bear me a son!’ He stormed off—but she took the words to heart. She realized only a child from her own womb would secure her hold. Yet the duke was often away, his health already failing, and her age made conception difficult. So Liu Biyun devised the scheme of borrowing seed!”

“She had me seek a strong, handsome young man, brought into the household by trick, drugged, and forced into her bed. Afterwards, she had him killed.”

“She also plotted your removal!” Nanny An watched closely for a reaction, but Gu Changfeng’s brow did not even twitch. Fearing he doubted her, she poured out everything.

“At the time, rumors in the capital said you loved Prince Jinyang. Gu Qingyao, infatuated with him, could not bear anyone else near him, and hated you. She complained to Liu Biyun. Soon after, Liu Biyun received word that the duke’s fate was uncertain on campaign. She ordered you to escort Gu Qingyao to pray for him—planning your death en route.”

“The plan worked. You met disaster, while Gu Qingyao feigned distress, summoning men to ‘search’ for you. She then arranged her marriage to Prince Jinyang. When word came that the duke was gravely ill, Liu Biyun hurried to wed her daughter, then announced your death and built you a cenotaph. At the same time, she trumpeted her own pregnancy.”

“Originally, her scheme was to give birth in secret and later present the child as adopted. But when she learned the duke was dying, she grew bold—she would openly bear the bastard as her son!”

“Because the months did not align, she had to force labor early, delivering a premature child as if full-term!” Nanny An’s voice rose, eyes blazing with hate. “I myself carried the inducing medicine to her! Yet once she entered the birthing chamber, she accused me falsely and cast me out!”

“I had been loyal all along, thinking perhaps there was some misunderstanding, hoping to reconcile after her delivery. But she sought my death to silence me!” Nanny An trembled with fury. “Only my years in the inner court taught me to be wary—thus I survived. At first, I could not believe she would discard me, but hope turned to despair.”

“In such households, servants often meet such ends. But I never thought it would be me!” she spat bitterly. “Liu Biyun’s cruelty deserves retribution! I hid here in this village, waiting for the day I could unmask her vile face. The safest place is often right under one’s nose—she never imagined I still lived, waiting to strike!”

So it was. Shen Yanbei traced the events in his mind, begrudgingly impressed at the Duchess’s audacity. Yet he felt no sympathy for this nanny.

As the Duchess’s claw, she too had committed many evils. Her downfall was simply karmic.

Gu Changfeng’s face remained still. Anxious, Nanny An pressed: “If you doubt me, I have another witness! One of Liu Biyun’s former maids!” To spite her mistress, she had long kept track of the household. Knowing Liu Biyun had purged everyone involved in the birth—midwives and maids alike—she had secretly purchased one of the maids who was sold off.

Shen Yanbei and Gu Changfeng exchanged a look of surprise.

They went to see this maid, who hated the Duchess just as much, confirming every word.

“The Duke’s household needs a thorough cleansing,” Shen Yanbei said on the return journey, playing with Gu Changfeng’s calloused hand.

“Mm.” Gu Changfeng twitched, uneasy. His hands, rough and masculine, lacked all softness. But Shen Yanbei interlaced their fingers, leaving him no choice but to let him hold them.

“What of the boy?” Shen Yanbei asked softly. The family’s shame could not be aired. The Duchess’s bastard son, passed off as the duke’s blood, could not remain.

“The child is innocent, but he is no brother of mine. He cannot stay in my father’s house,” Gu Changfeng said coldly. The Duchess had already betrayed his father; he would not let this affront remain in the household won by his father’s blood and toil.

Shen Yanbei smiled faintly. “Then send him to his true family, and announce the second young master has died suddenly.” It was the same trick they had once used against them. Now he would return it in kind.

For once, Gu Changfeng’s frown eased.

Shen Yanbei’s smile deepened. Back then, rumors spread that Gu Changfeng admired Prince Jinyang—surely planted by the prince himself, who excelled at such underhanded tricks. With such slander, no other family would take him, leaving marriage to the prince the only path.

The prince had no interest in beauty—he wanted the power of the Duke of Zhen’s line. After Gu Changfeng’s “death,” he settled for Gu Qingyao. But with the duke’s death as well, the match gave him nothing.

Now that Gu Changfeng was heir, sending the bastard to the princess consort would surely make the prince’s household boil with chaos.

Preparing to cleanse the estate, Gu Changfeng and Shen Yanbei first purchased a batch of honest new servants. Returning to the household, Gu Changfeng went straight to the main courtyard.

“The heir must stop here—the Lady does not wish to see you!” The gatekeeper matron rushed to block him.

Gu Changfeng frowned slightly. “Step aside.”

“Please return…” she began, but was drowned out by another voice.

“I want to go out! I want to play!” A boy shrieked, bawling on the ground. Two maids tried soothing him, but he shoved them away. “Get lost! I want out!” He bolted toward the gate.

“Second… second young master!” the matron gasped, trying to grab him. The boy spat in her face.

Stunned, she wiped her cheek as he dashed out—straight into Gu Changfeng.

“Ow!” The boy scrunched his nose, eyes welling as he wailed.

The maids paled and rushed forward.

“Take him away,” Gu Changfeng ordered, brow furrowing. The maid behind him obeyed swiftly, pulling the child aside.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

“What is this noise?” A displeased voice cut in. The Duchess appeared, richly dressed, frowning slightly.

Their gazes met. Gu Changfeng was expressionless; her face darkened. Just as she prepared to scold, she noticed the boy in strange maids’ arms and hurried forward. “What are you doing? Release him!”

Gu Changfeng blocked her. “This is the Duke of Zhen’s household. Those not of it cannot remain.”

Her silk kerchief crumpled in her grasp. “What do you mean?”

“If you would hide, expect to be exposed,” Gu Changfeng said coldly. “Do you still remember Nanny An and Miss Ruo Lan?”

Her pupils trembled. She forced composure. “What nonsense is this?”

“No matter. As long as you remember what you have done.” He ordered the boy taken away.

“Stop!” she cried, face contorted. “He must not be taken!” She signaled her loyal guards.

Gu Changfeng struck first, his fist dropping one. The leader called his men to attack.

One against ten, Gu Changfeng held his ground, blows fierce and unrelenting. Venting long-held rage, his fists landed heavy, making Zhou Yu, who guarded the boy, suck in a breath.

Soon, the guards lay groaning, their leader hurled against a tree, coughing blood.

“Do not force me,” Gu Changfeng said, eyes like ice, his killing intent palpable. “Or we can go before my father’s grave. But I think you lack the face to meet him.”

The murderous aura chilled all present. The Duchess blanched, almost believing he meant to kill her.

“Mother! Save me!” the boy screamed.

She stumbled forward but was barred by strange men. “The heir orders that no one from the main courtyard may leave!”

“You… you…” Her chest heaved—and she collapsed in a faint.

Afterward, Gu Changfeng, armed with the dossiers Zhou Yu had gathered, ruthlessly purged the household. The Duchess’s confidants and the lazy were all cast out. In no time, the Duke of Zhen’s household lay firmly in his grasp.