Chapter 4: The Turning of Fortune's Wheel

“Nonsense! You're lying! Sob... Du Long, you scoundrel, you’ve sullied the reputation of Zhao Lin’er! If you don’t give me an explanation today, I... I’ll have you pay with your life!” Zhao Lin’er pointed her delicate finger at Du Long, her voice shrill with fury. Clearly, she had been utterly stunned by the bombshell he had dropped, leaving her on the verge of hysteria.

“Hmph! Du Zhentian! You’ve raised a fine son! If you don’t give me an answer today, I, Zhao Guodong, will not let this go!” His daughter’s wailing snapped Zhao Guodong from his daze. The dignified official of the Ministry of Revenue was no longer composed; his face was livid with anger as he glared at Du Zhentian, demanding an explanation!

Confronted by Zhao Guodong’s wrath, Du Zhentian’s face darkened further, his gaze cold and fixed on his son. “Du Long! Speak with evidence. If you cannot give me a satisfactory answer today, you will no longer be a descendant of the Du family, nor will you be my son!”

Du Long stared in disbelief at his father, who was threatening to sever all ties with him. His face betrayed a storm of emotions—shock at first, then incredulity, and finally, rage.

Suddenly, he turned his icy gaze on Zhao Lin’er. The woman who had once been so haughty now glared back at Du Long’s murderous eyes, but her bravado was clearly forced.

“Heh heh...” Looking at her feigned boldness, Du Long flashed a wild, sinister grin. “It’s easy enough to prove whether this woman has been involved with another man! Just call for a matron to examine her! I, Du Long, swear here and now: if Zhao Lin’er is still a virgin, I will accept any punishment, including being stripped of my status as the Du family’s rightful grandson, without complaint or regret!”

Silence.

The entire hall was deathly still; a pin drop could be heard. All eyes fixed on Zhao Lin’er—even her own father, Zhao Guodong, could not help but look at his precious daughter with doubt.

She was restless, her eyes evasive, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. It was clear to all that Zhao Lin’er felt guilty, and everyone instantly realized that Du Long’s accusation was likely not slander after all.

“Lin’er... is what he said true? Speak up, child!” At last, Zhao Guodong could not hold back, his voice trembling as he questioned his beloved daughter.

“This... this... Father, he’s just slandering my reputation. Sob...” Her face was as pale as paper, and Zhao Lin’er stammered out a feeble defense before covering her face with both hands and bursting into tears.

Everyone could hear the lack of conviction in her voice. The moment she heard about being examined, she was terrified out of her wits, and all her confidence evaporated. Such a fact could not be denied so easily.

Zhao Guodong, a seasoned old fox from years in officialdom, also sensed something amiss in his daughter’s tone. He knew that to stay and argue further in the Du household would only bring even more disgrace to the Zhao family.

Casting a dark glance at his beloved daughter, Zhao Guodong abruptly stood, feigning anger. “Hmph! Du Zhentian! I will not let this go! Lin’er, we’re leaving! Whether the Du family agrees or not, this marriage is annulled as of today!”

Zhao Lin’er could not bear to remain in the hall a moment longer. At the mention of leaving, she leapt from her seat and hurried after her furious father.

“Wait!” At that moment, a commanding voice halted them. It was Du Long, the notorious scion, who stepped two paces to block the Zhao family’s path.

“Du Long! Don’t go too far! The engagement between the Du and Zhao families is over. From now on, we shall keep to our own affairs!” Zhao Guodong’s face changed as he shouted angrily at Du Long.

“Please, Minister Zhao, do not be agitated. Since your daughter refuses the examination, the Du family will not force her. However, let us be clear today! You, Minister Zhao, brought your daughter to the Du house to break off the engagement, showing no regard for our family’s dignity. Since that’s the case, why should the Du family care for the Zhao family’s face? Take this and remember! It is I, Du Long, who is repudiating an unchaste fiancée—not your Zhao family breaking off the match with the Du family!” Du Long pulled from his robes a letter of repudiation prepared in advance and handed it to Zhao Guodong, making sure everyone understood the truth.

“Well... Well... Very well!” Zhao Guodong’s expression shifted from green to red as he swept his gaze over the assembled members of the Du family. He spat out three words in succession, then tore the letter to shreds and tossed it to the ground, leading Zhao Lin’er away without another word.

As the father and daughter departed in disgrace, not a word was spoken in the hall. The Du family all stared at their infamous scion, and their gazes seemed to hold something new.

“Hmph! Zhentian, you’ve raised a fine son! He’s managed to turn the Du and Zhao families into mortal enemies!” After a long silence, the sixth eldest of the Du family, Du Zhen’nan—Du Long’s sixth uncle—finally could not resist mocking his third brother, Du Zhentian.

Du Zhen’nan had always felt his standing in the army was no less than Du Zhentian’s, and in martial ability he considered himself superior. Yet, because he was not a direct descendant, the position of family head had gone to Du Zhentian, something that had always left him resentful.

In Du Long’s memories, when he was framed back then, there had been hints of his sixth uncle’s involvement.

“Sixth Uncle! Can it be that you don’t realize that even if we had tried to save face for the Zhao family today, they would have ended up opposing us anyway?! Even Zhao Lin’er couldn’t wait to throw herself into Li Xiaojun’s arms. Do you still cling to the fantasy that the Zhao family would remain friendly with us?” Du Long answered with disdain, eyeing his father’s long-time rival.

“You brat, is that any way to speak to your uncle? Mind your tongue!” Du Zhen’nan was about to explode, but before he could, Madam Zhou—Du Long’s mother—intervened, scolding her son with a glare.

She wore a mask of anger, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed her. Her scolding was more for show than substance, a way of shielding her son; after all, even if he won, it would not do for a junior to openly defy his elders.

With Madam Zhou’s intervention, all critical voices died down, even Du Zhentian, who might have rebuked his son, held his tongue. After all, Du Long had at least acted with some justification today.

“Zhentian, though Du Long’s actions were rather extreme, he had reason for what he did. Even that old fox Zhao Guodong had to leave in disgrace. The Zhao family has already conspired with the Li family. Now that the mask is off, it’s better to lay everything bare than let them plot against us in secret,” said Du Zhentong, the eldest of the Du brothers.

Though he was the oldest of the second generation, Du Zhentong lacked both martial prowess and military prestige, so the family headship had passed him by. Nevertheless, his even-handedness earned him respect within the family.

“The eldest is right! Since the Zhao family has chosen to side with our old military rivals, the Lis, confrontation was inevitable. There’s no point in hiding anymore. Du Long was right this time—at least we hold the moral high ground!”

With the eldest brother’s support, the other family elders chimed in. They all agreed that it was the Zhao family who first showed disrespect by breaking off the engagement. Before Du Long had even entered the hall, the arrogance of the Zhao father and daughter had already angered the Du family. To see them humiliated in return was, in truth, deeply satisfying.

With these words, the matter was considered settled. As Du Long was no longer needed, his mother took him away from the scene, leaving the elders to discuss further family affairs.

As the saying goes, bad news spreads fast. Since the Du family had chosen to sever ties with the Zhao family, they made no effort to conceal what had happened.

Soon, the news that Zhao Lin’er, the Zhao family daughter engaged to the Du family, had been repudiated for her affair with Li Xiaojun spread throughout the capital.

A “letter of repudiation” was a major topic for gossip even among ordinary families, but when it occurred among the great clans, it was nothing short of sensational.

The scandal quickly reached the ears of the patriarchs of both families. Ironically, this time it was the Zhao family’s old master who coughed blood in rage, while the Du family’s patriarch, though angry, found some solace in the fact that his grandson was not at fault.

For Zhao Lin’er, who had been eager to dissolve her engagement with Du Long in order to marry into the Li family, the scandal was a disaster. Though she had only been involved with Li Xiaojun, the world is quick to judge; once one’s reputation is stained, no one assumes the best. If she could be unfaithful while engaged, who could say she had not been with others?

In short, Zhao Lin’er’s hopes of marrying into the Li family as the legitimate wife were shattered. Though Li Xiaojun believed her, the Li elders did not, nor were they willing to accept her as the principal granddaughter-in-law.

Li Xiaojun’s grandfather declared that at best, the Zhao family’s daughter could be taken as a concubine; if she was unwilling, she could seek her fortune elsewhere.

With just those few words, Zhao Lin’er’s dreams collapsed. She was, after all, the cherished daughter of a high-ranking official, and yet now faced losing even the position of principal wife.

Capital City, Drunken Moon Pavilion.

This famous establishment, known for food and lodging, played host that night to a clandestine encounter. In a secluded chamber, after a night of passion, a man and a woman lay naked in each other’s arms, whispering sweet nothings.

“Xiaojun, you know what’s between us. I gave you my first time. How can you bear to let me be just a concubine?” Zhao Lin’er pressed her fair cheek against the man’s sweat-damp chest, gazing at Li Xiaojun with a pitiful expression.

“Sigh... Of course I understand. But my grandfather has spoken, and there’s nothing I can do...” Li Xiaojun, still basking in the afterglow, lied with open eyes.

He sneered inwardly: “Zhao Lin’er, who would have thought you’d end up like this? So aloof when you first came to me, and now you’re destined to be just my concubine. Not only do I get you, but your family’s influence as well. From now on, I’ll have as many wives and concubines as I please, and no one can stop me!”