Chapter 51 - 51 51 Discussion

Words : 1756 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Discussion Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Discussion Zheng Fa followed behind Housekeeper Wu, arriving at the madam’s secluded small building. In the past, the sounds of string and woodwind music often emanated from this two-story building, enticing people to pause. But today, the building was quiet, as if it was deliberately waiting for him. Drawing on the observations and tales since entering the mansion, Zheng Fa pieced together an image of the madam in his mind. She hardly ever left the small building, even disliking servants disturbing her with trifles, but over twenty years she had the entire Zhao Mansion in the palm of her hand, to the point where people knew only of the madam and not Mr. Zhao. She raised a son who was naive and foul-mouthed, clearly not cut out to be the Family Head, but not to mention the complicated collateral branches handed down over a thousand years by the Zhao Family, even the sons raised in the front courtyard by Mr. Zhao, none dared to claim they could replace the future position of the Seventh Young Master. If Zheng Fa were to describe his impression of the madam in one sentence, it would only be—those skilled in warfare have no great exploits. “Madam hasn’t been in a good mood recently,” Housekeeper Wu whispered ahead. Zheng Fa looked up at the back of Housekeeper Wu. Housekeeper Wu seemed to be talking to himself: “However, these last few days, her mood seems a bit better.” Zheng Fa said softly with gratitude, “Thank you for the tip, Housekeeper Wu.” A woman full of desire for control over power and overprotective towards her son, how could she be in a good mood with Zheng Fa, a dangerous and uncontrollable figure, appearing by her son’s side? The madam’s reaction to him cultivating the “Spiritual Crane Body” could only be a few possibilities in his view: Seeing him as a threat, kill him—but then face possible revenge from the powerful figure behind him. Fearing the powerful figure behind him, she would turn a blind eye—not a situation bearable for someone like the madam. With Zheng Fa’s current insight, he felt the most likely behavior for the madam was to pretend to turn a blind eye. But slowly keep her son and Zheng Fa apart, secretly observing Zheng Fa. No longer provide any resources to Zheng Fa, and regard every action of Zheng Fa with caution. Until one day, Zheng Fa reveals the truth that there really isn’t any powerful figure behind him, then she would dispose of him freely. If he didn’t bring out “Junior High School Mathematics”, Zheng Fa believed that he would enjoy a period of stability and even a momentary glory within the Zhao Mansion, and then have nowhere to bury himself. “Madam dislikes men, when talking to us, it’s always through a curtained screen, she even doesn’t like to talk too much with us,” Housekeeper Wu turned his head at this moment and seriously instructed Zheng Fa: “Don’t let your eyes wander carelessly, lest you anger the madam.” Zheng Fa nodded upon hearing this, following Housekeeper Wu up the stairs. The second floor was still heavily curtained, only the faint silhouette of a person could be seen inside. A maid stood at the second-floor staircase entrance and upon seeing them spoke: “Madam has summoned Zheng Fa.” “What about me?” Housekeeper Wu blankly watched as Zheng Fa lifted the curtain and walked inside, unable to restrain himself from asking. “You?” The maid glanced at him: “Is Housekeeper Wu very idle?” Housekeeper Wu touched his own face, harboring an inappropriately disrespectful doubt in his mind: Could it be that madam’s standard for seeing people isn’t based on gender, but appearance? ... Passing through several curtains, Zheng Fa finally saw the interior. A couch occupied the spot against the inner wall of the room, with two small tables in the center of the room before the couch; one of the tables held two somewhat familiar books—”Junior High School Mathematics” and “Elementary Mathematics”, with a stack of papers filled with writing beside them. Beside the small table, a woman was sitting diagonally, a simple black wooden hairpin was inserted in her hair with a few naughty strands falling onto her white wide-sleeved robe; her figure was beautifully outlined by the undulating fabric. Hearing Zheng Fa’s footsteps, the woman didn’t raise her head and pointed at another empty small table saying, “Please sit, have some tea.” Zheng Fa hadn’t expected the madam to look like a young woman in her twenties; he knelt before the small table, picked up the steaming teacup and took a sip. His mind still thought about the repeated invitations along the way, this was not like treating him as a member of the Zhao Family, perhaps there was a bit of respect for the powerful figure behind him. “How is it?” “I can’t tell,” Zheng Fa honestly said. “No matter, I brewed it without knowing.” Finally, the madam raised her eyes to glance at him, her face expressionless, and pointed at the two books beside her saying, “For me?” “First for the young master, then for the madam.” “Does the order matter?” “It matters greatly.” Madam finally smiled: “The thought is nice, but don’t send them next time.” Zheng Fa showed a puzzled expression. “It’s headache-inducing.” The madam pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes glancing sidelong at the two books with a look of distaste. “Tell me, why give them to my foolish son?” She seemed slightly more relaxed as she took a sip of tea from her own cup. Zheng Fa was silent for a moment, finally speaking: “I regard the young master as a friend.” A hint of coldness appeared on the madam’s face: “He is the young master, you are an Attendant Student, what gives you the right to consider him as a friend? Is it because of that Nascent Soul that dares not show itself behind your back?” So there is a Nascent Soul behind me? This is news to me. Zheng Fa was not frightened by the madam’s tone of anger, but continued: “I am but an Attendant Student, yet I also see the young master as a friend.” “Ha, you’ve been upfront from the start.” The madam’s tone was mocking, yet her expression seemed somewhat softer. Both understood each other’s point: Zheng Fa was expressing his goodwill towards Seventh Young Master, treating him as a friend from the beginning, and naturally would not change just because he has caught the eye of powerful individuals. This was a statement made to a mother. The madam was silent for a while, then suddenly said: “I don’t believe it, and even if I did, it’s not enough.” Zheng Fa understood what the madam meant. She was not only a mother, but as the high-ranking person in Zhao Mansion, she inevitably disliked anything and anyone outside of her control. She would not let emotions sway her, nor would she abandon her suspicion of someone based on a single remark. She would certainly not gamble with her own son. “I have heard that this time the Immortal Item meeting at Zhao Mansion has two spots?” “Oh?” “I wonder if I could secure one.” The madam, looking at Zheng Fa who was not showing loyalty but instead making demands, straightened up as if she was seeing him seriously for the first time. “You are very clever, truly clever,” the madam laughed while clapping her hands: “I really didn’t expect that someone as young as you could possess such understanding.” She understood Zheng Fa’s implied message: You think I cannot be controlled, that I have ulterior motives – well, I’m telling you that I need you, I need Zhao Mansion. This is telling a Family Head: you have my weakness. Madam observed Zheng Fa with a sharp gaze: “Now I truly believe that there is indeed an old monster behind you.” Zheng Fa was stunned for a moment, the Seventh Young Master always said, asserting that his mother definitely believed there was a powerful figure behind Zheng Fa. So the madam herself doesn’t believe it? “Don’t look at me like that, my foolish son believes anything he hears,” the madam touched the stack of paper, curling her lips as she spoke: “In the Xuanwei Realm, anything is possible, who said that practicing Spiritual Crane Body must definitely involve the help of a Nascent Soul True Person?” “Isn’t it possible that you have an Innate Taoist Body? Not needing to practice at all?” “Perhaps you found some Immortal family treasure, ate some rare and exotic fruit? Received some mysterious inheritance?” Zheng Fa: “...” The madam pointed at the stack of paper written full of words: “Do you know what this is?” Zheng Fa shook his head. “This is what I had people ask around for, the records about you from childhood, including people from your hamlet, people from the mansion, your parents’ friends, the tutor who taught you for a year, etc., their impressions and opinions of you.” The madam flipped through those records, speaking: “Before your father passed away five years ago, you were ordinary, somewhat innately wise at studies, but nothing exceptional.” “After your father passed away, you became silent and reserved, other than helping with household chores and mostly keeping to yourself, not socializing with others.” “Oh, someone said you are cunning and deceitful, only good at ingratiating yourself with the young master, that you will definitely lead the young master astray someday, he even drafted a detailed plan for spoiling my foolish son—quite talented, oh, it’s Wang Gui.” Zheng Fa: “...” “For someone who has never left the village and doesn’t interact much with people, how could you have such an understanding of human nature?” The madam tossed aside the records she was holding: “Physique, Magical Treasures, Immortal Fruits – none of these can give you such insight, unless you have innate wisdom or there truly is someone teaching you behind the scenes.” Zheng Fa remained silent. “But a single word trying to secure a spot at our Zhao Mansion Immortal Item meeting,” the madam looked at him and said: “No.” Upon hearing the madam’s refusal, Zheng Fa smiled.

Chapter 51 - 51 51 Discussion

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