The Heir

Сhарtеr 235: Diе with Мe

Tiаn Веnсhаng’s words were likе а stone thrоwn into still watеr, sеnding riррlеs fаr and wide.

Мost of those attending thе triаl werе fond оf gоssiр, аnd the Тiаn fаmilу’s аffairs hаd been the biggеst tоpiс of convеrsation in rеcent timеs. То оutsidеrs, thе рropеrtу disputе bеtwеen thе Tiаn brоthers seеmеd like аn impasse, but if whаt Tian Bеnсhаng said wаs true, it would be likе finding а wаy оut оf а sееminglу hoреless situаtion.

Zhеn Niang, who wаs alsо listеning tо the triаl, undеrstооd the situation сlearly.

Earliеr, Luo Wenqian hаd whisperеd to hеr аbout this vеry matter. Back when Master Tian met with Luo Wenqian, in addition to discussing the loan, Old Master Tian had also deposited a box at the Yi Hou Sheng Firm. Inside the box was a letter—his will.

To be honest, Luo Wenqian was conflicted about this matter. He regarded the Tian family as his enemies. By lending money to the Tian family, he had essentially invested in them, hoping to eventually gain control of Tian ink and reclaim his family’s ink workshop.

Unexpectedly, Old Master Tian had played this clever move by depositing his will at the Yi Hou Sheng Firm. Given Luo Wenqian’s strained relationship with the Tian family, no one would have suspected such a move. For Luo Wenqian, the Tian family’s affairs were like a grand drama, and he intended to use it to reclaim the ink workshop. He had no desire to get entangled in the will dispute. However, as the owner of the firm, he was obligated to safeguard the letter Old Master Tian had deposited there—a matter of professional integrity for a banker.

It could be said that Old Master Tian’s move was exceptionally shrewd.

“So there was another will. I always thought Tian Huai’an couldn’t have been so foolish,” Old Madam Li nodded in agreement. Previously, Tian Huai’an had left the family property to a concubine, something no one could understand.

“A will? Where is this will?” The prefect frowned at Tian Benchang’s words.

“It is deposited at the Yi Hou Sheng Firm,” Tian Benchang said, staring at Luo Wenqian.

“Oh, Master Luo, is this true?” The prefect then turned to Luo Wenqian.

“Yes. Old Master Tian did indeed deposit a letter at my firm,” Luo Wenqian replied with a cupped-hand salute. As a purchased official, he was not required to kneel in such circumstances.

“Very well. Please retrieve it, Master Luo, so it can be verified in court,” the prefect instructed.

“In that case, I must ask the eldest son of the Tian family to provide the secret code,” Luo Wenqian said, following the firm’s regulations.

“Agreed,” Tian Benchang nodded. He then requested paper and a brush, wrote down a secret code composed of his birth details, and handed it to Luo Wenqian. After verifying the code, Luo Wenqian signed a document and gave it to the bailiffs, who took the code to the Yi Hou Sheng warehouse to retrieve the item.

The Yi Hou Sheng warehouse also housed a money counter, handling the firm’s banking business.

Immediately, two bailiffs accompanied Tian Benchang to the Yi Hou Sheng Firm. The manager there verified the secret code once more and, with Luo Wenqian’s signature, retrieved the box Old Master Tian had deposited. The box was still sealed.

After obtaining the box, the group quickly returned to the yamen.

Meanwhile, Wang Decai and Chunzhi, kneeling in the main hall, maintained a calm appearance on the surface, but their hearts were filled with unease. They had never imagined that Old Master Tian had played such a hand back then."Butler, what if there really is a will?" Chunzhi asked in a low, uneasy voice.

"Face soldiers with soldiers, water with earth," Wang Decai replied, though inwardly he was also thinking: if Tian Benchang truly had Old Master Tian's will, how could he extricate himself from this affair?

Just as the two were racking their brains for an escape plan, Tian Benchang returned to the main hall with two bailiffs. The bailiffs immediately presented the box, and the prefect tore open the seal on the spot, retrieving the letter.

"...All Tian family property shall be inherited by the eldest son, Tian Benchang... My health is failing, and recently I have observed that Concubine Chun is restless and unfaithful. Therefore, I leave this will stored at the Yi Hou Sheng Firm. All matters after my death shall be based on this will; all others are not to be trusted..." The letter contained much, but the most crucial were these lines.

Especially the phrase "Concubine Chun is restless and unfaithful," which essentially condemned Chunzhi of a grave crime.

"It's fake! This will is fake! I beg Your Honor to uphold justice for this humble concubine!" Chunzhi nearly fainted upon hearing the contents of the will. Now, disregarding all propriety, she rose from the floor and lunged forward to tear the letter.

Two bailiffs on either side forcefully pushed her back to the ground.

"Fake? Concubine Chun, why don't you take a look at the seal, fingerprint, and handwriting on the will? Not to mention anything else, the seal has always been under your control. I have been locked in prison all this time—how could I possibly forge it?" Tian Benchang asked coldly.

His words left Chunzhi speechless.

Chunzhi now understood clearly: Old Master Tian had prepared everything long ago. At the same time, she felt resentment and anger. The old master claimed to care for her, yet in the end, he left the family property to his eldest son and even branded her with the crime of being "restless and unfaithful." Master Tian was cutting off all her paths.

At this point, the prefect ordered someone to bring the Tian family's seal impression for comparison, and after verifying the fingerprint and handwriting on the will, he confirmed that the will was indeed written by Old Master Tian himself.

With this conclusion, the Tian family property case could be said to be settled.

And since this will was genuine, it was clear that the will previously held by Chunzhi was fake.

"Concubine Chun, Butler Wang, what do you have to say for yourselves now?" the prefect demanded, slamming the gavel heavily.

A concubine scheming against her husband, a servant scheming against his master—such a grave case of treason had not occurred in Huizhou for many years. Such cases were most damaging to public morals, and the prefect decided to impose a severe sentence.

Chunzhi knelt on the ground, murmuring as she tried to defend herself, but faced with Master Tian's handwritten will, she truly had no way to argue.

"Your Honor, this humble commoner has something to say," Tian Benchang spoke up from the side.

"Speak," said the prefect.“When this humble one previously encountered misfortune, my wife and children were fortunate to be taken in by Second Young Master Tian. Upon the Emperor’s ascension to the throne, a great amnesty was granted to all under heaven, and I was blessed with imperial grace, receiving pardon. However, Huizhou is thousands of miles from Qiongzhou. Had it not been for Second Young Master Tian sending someone to deliver travel funds, I fear I would never have been able to return to my hometown in this lifetime. It can be said that whatever I have today is entirely due to Second Young Master Tian’s great kindness. After returning to Huizhou, I was again favored by Second Young Master Tian and entrusted with the role of steward in the Tian household. Grateful for his benevolence, I have always adhered to my duties. Although Second Young Master Tian was expelled from the Tian family due to his involvement in the land donation case, I firmly believe he will eventually return. When Master Tian passed away, and Concubine Chun inherited the family estate, I found many aspects of it suspicious. Therefore, I decided to remain in the Tian household to serve Concubine Chun, but in truth, I intended to uncover the truth of the matter, in order to repay Second Young Master Tian’s kindness. It is only that, to my shame, I have achieved nothing thus far. As for Concubine Chun’s scheme to seize the family property, it truly has nothing to do with me.”

Tian Benchang spoke eloquently, effectively absolving himself of any involvement in Concubine Chun’s plot to seize the family estate.

Zhen Niang had witnessed shameless acts before, but never one as brazen as this. At that moment, she felt an urge to curse aloud, while also having to admire Wang Decai’s quick wit. Everyone knew of Second Young Master Tian’s great kindness toward Wang Decai. If Chunzhi did not have any leverage over Wang Decai, his explanation might indeed have allowed him to escape unscathed. Thinking this, Zhen Niang clenched her fists.

“What did you say?” Chunzhi stared at Wang Decai with an expression of utter disbelief.

As a woman from the pleasure quarters, all she had ever sought was a home of her own. Back then, she had been purchased by Tian Er and presented to Old Master Tian. Relying on her beauty to secure favor was her only path forward.

Her conflict with Madam Tian arose because if she did not fight, Madam Tian would not tolerate her. Consequently, she incurred the hatred of the eldest young master of the Tian family. Thus, her strategy had always been to win over Tian Er and suppress Tian Da, ensuring Tian Da could never regain his footing.

In this, she had succeeded. Truth be told, she was content, for as long as Tian Er was in charge, he still showed her, as his concubine, a degree of respect.

After all, Tian Er had been raised to power with her support.

However, ever since Wang Decai arrived at the Tian household, this man had shown immense ambition, and now he appeared even more ruthless and ungrateful.

Yet, one’s selfishness and desires should not be too great, for excessive greed leaves one vulnerable to the schemes of petty individuals. She herself was a prime example. When Old Master Tian fell gravely ill, Wang Decai often used household affairs as a pretext to approach her. Driven by her own overwhelming selfishness and desires, she quickly fell under his influence.

Wang Decai claimed that the Tian brothers could not be allowed to remain. With Tian Da imprisoned for the time being, there was no need to worry about him. Thus, she took advantage of the Xu family’s land donation case erupting and Tian Er being imprisoned to incite the Tian clan members. Using fear of implication as a pretext, they expelled Tian Er from the family.

Then, when Old Master Tian’s condition worsened, she used the seal in her possession to forge a will, forcibly pressing the old master’s hand to leave a fingerprint. Relying on this will, she obtained the Tian family estate, and the old master was driven to his death in anger.

What had the old master said on his deathbed? “Retribution. You adulterous pair will face retribution.”

Of course, at the time, she had paid no heed to those words.Still scheming in her heart, she believed that in a few more years, once the dust had settled, she would take the Tian family's property and marry Wang Decai. Wang Decai had promised her that by then he would divorce Madam Su, and she would become the legitimate wife, finally having a home of her own.

What a beautiful dream.

Now awake, retribution had indeed come. This Wang Decai was nothing but a treacherous wolf.

As Concubine Chun spoke, she crawled forward two steps on her knees, stopping before Wang Decai, staring at him with a deathly glare.

"Your Honor, every word I speak is true." Wang Decai, however, did not even glance at Concubine Chun.

"Every word is true, indeed. But you want me to bear such a great crime alone? I refuse. Wang Decai, do you remember a certain thing I once said?" Concubine Chun now spoke with venom in her voice.

"The concubine has said too many things in daily life. I truly do not know which words the concubine is referring to." Wang Decai kept his eyes lowered.

"Don't remember? I'll make you remember." Chunzhi suddenly laughed, then raised her hand. Before anyone could react, a pair of scissors hidden in Chunzhi's sleeve slashed across Wang Decai's throat.

Blood splattered all over Chunzhi's face and head, making her look utterly terrifying.

"Ah..." Wang Decai reached out, desperately clutching his spurting throat, staring at Chunzhi in disbelief. He felt Chunzhi's face growing increasingly blurry, and at that moment, he remembered what Chunzhi had once said. One time in bed, Concubine Chun had whispered, "Decai, do not betray me, or else, before I die, I will not let you live."