Chapter Four: Killing Is Nothing More Than Bowing the Head

After finishing his bow, Kong Sheng stood there calmly, saying nothing. Unsure of what to say, he simply waited for the mother and daughter before him to speak first.

Lady Zheng’s lips curled with cold indifference, her gaze brimming with contempt, disdain, and scorn so intense she made no attempt to conceal it. She shot a glance at Red Cotton.

The young maid, Red Cotton, strutted out from behind Yang Xueruo, standing before Kong Sheng with an air of pride. Pinching her delicate fingers, she pointed at him and said, “Kong Sheng, you’re a man in your prime, yet you care nothing for honor or learning. Day after day you’re living in idle luxury at the Yang family’s expense, spending their money on brothels and loose women. Do you have any shame left? Even I, a servant, am embarrassed for you!”

Kong Sheng raised an eyebrow. It seemed these two, relying on their status or loathing “him” enough, couldn’t even be bothered to speak to him directly, delegating the task to a mere maid.

Red Cotton’s attitude could only be described as thoroughly vile—an outright humiliation. Had it been the old Kong Sheng, desperate to stay in the Yang household, he would have had to endure it in silence. Out in the world, he might have been a troublemaker unafraid of a fight, but within the Yang residence, he couldn’t lift his head—this was exactly why everyone at the Yang estate looked down on him, and how he earned the nickname of “the spineless one.”

But the Kong Sheng of this moment had no intention of stooping to argue with a willful, bullying girl of barely more than a dozen years. He smiled lightly and cupped his hands in salute. “Miss Red Cotton is right. It is indeed no way to keep lingering in the Yang household. Please allow me to gather my things and depart at once.”

His response surprised not only Red Cotton but also Lady Zheng and her daughter.

Oh? Lady Zheng couldn’t help but raise her eyes for a closer look. Today’s Kong Sheng seemed quite unlike the scoundrel of old. He was still that detestable, wayward youth, yet his demeanor had shifted, becoming unfamiliar to her.

The reason they had summoned him today was because Lady Zheng and her daughter had finally reached the limits of their tolerance. They intended, behind Yang Qi’s back, to drive Kong Sheng from the household. Lady Zheng had planned this for some time, but hadn’t acted until she heard he had once again gotten into a brawl in a filthy place like the Rose House. She had then resolved to settle things once and for all.

Of course, this was with Yang Qi’s tacit approval.

Red Cotton had prepared herself to continue berating Kong Sheng, but when he obediently volunteered to leave the Yang household, she was at a loss. She turned back, glancing timidly at her mistress and young lady, waiting for their instructions.

Lady Zheng coughed lightly, waved her hand, and Red Cotton immediately withdrew to the side.

Lady Zheng looked Kong Sheng up and down, then spoke with deliberate slowness, “Young Master Kong, since you entered the Yang household, have you ever been treated unfairly here?”

Kong Sheng smiled faintly and replied evenly, “Madam, the Yang family has never treated me unjustly. I will always remember the kindness shown to me and never dare forget it.”

Lady Zheng was astonished. She thought, how is it that this rascal now answers so composedly, without the least trace of his former vulgarity? How odd! Still, outwardly she maintained her haughty bearing as a noblewoman and said, “Since the Yang family has been good to you, why then have you behaved so recklessly outside, brawling and frequenting brothels? Not only do you squander the family's money, you also ruin its reputation! Well? Can you explain yourself?!”

Her last words rose sharply in volume, hard and cutting.

Kong Sheng remained silent, only bowing his head respectfully. On one hand, he had nothing to say; on the other, he knew Lady Zheng’s scolding was but a prelude to expelling him, and any argument would be pointless. Better to wait for what would come next.

Sure enough, Lady Zheng’s voice turned icy: “The Yang family does not mind supporting a wastrel, but it will not allow you to tarnish our name any longer! Therefore—”

She stopped abruptly, her gaze flickering as she considered her next words.

She was well aware that her husband, Yang Qi, was obsessed with his reputation and would not tolerate gossip behind his back. Expelling the descendant of an old family friend had to be done discreetly, leaving no room for rumor.

Kong Sheng knew they were finally coming to the heart of the matter—he had long awaited this. He stepped forward and bowed. “Please be at ease, Madam. I will leave the Yang household immediately, never again stepping foot inside, nor acting in the name of the Yangs. Should I break my word, I will accept whatever punishment the Yang family sees fit.”

With that, Kong Sheng turned and left without a trace of hesitation.

Lady Zheng and Yang Xueruo exchanged startled glances, both seeing shock and confusion in the other’s eyes—this youth’s behavior was decidedly out of character!

Just as Kong Sheng was about to cross the threshold, Lady Zheng called out sternly, “Kong Sheng, you’re just going to walk out like this? Come back and speak!”

Kong Sheng felt a tinge of helplessness and annoyance. He had agreed to leave and promised to sever all ties—what more did they want? He turned back slowly, his voice growing distant. “What further instructions does Madam have for me?”

Lady Zheng said nothing, only fixing him with her proud gaze. Yang Xueruo slowly rose, her bearing graceful as she passed behind the screen.

Kong Sheng understood at once. He could not help but let out a soft laugh. “Very well, I will return and write a letter dissolving the engagement as proof, and hand it to Miss Red Cotton, so that Miss Yang may regain her freedom.”

A faint smile finally appeared on Lady Zheng’s alluring face. She nodded slightly but maintained her reserve. “Since you understand the situation, then on behalf of the Yang family, I thank you. But there’s no need to rush the dissolution of the engagement, nor should it be handled so hastily. Do you understand what I mean?”

Kong Sheng’s expression did not change, but his voice grew even more detached. “I do not understand, Madam. Would you please clarify?”

Lady Zheng forced a smile. “The Yang and Kong families have been close for generations, which is why we joined in marriage. After your family’s decline, the Yangs took you in, provided for you, and hired tutors to teach you martial arts. We have fulfilled our duty to the utmost. Yet you have not only failed to repay us, but have repeatedly disgraced the family name and made enemies for us, stirring up endless trouble… So, today’s outcome is the result of yesterday’s actions. You must not bear any grudge.”

Kong Sheng’s mouth twitched. Her words were lofty and righteous, placing herself atop the moral high ground, magnifying his faults and failings to the utmost.

He thought to himself, it’s just a matter of breaking off an engagement—why make it so complicated and grandiose?

Lady Zheng’s tone shifted. “That you would take the initiative to dissolve the engagement shows a glimmer of conscience. But the engagement between the Yangs and Kongs is well-known throughout Jiangnan. If the reason is not made public for all to hear, there will still be rumors—that the Yangs are breaking off the engagement because of poverty, and so on—damaging our family’s reputation.”

She had talked at such length, circling around and around, that Kong Sheng finally saw through their intentions: the Yang family wanted him to publicly propose the annulment, exposing his own disgrace, so as to preserve Yang Qi’s official reputation and highlight their own virtue.

Damn it, such hypocrisy, such self-righteousness, such insatiable demands!

A flicker of anger began to stir within him. The Yangs cared for their name, but he still needed a way to survive. His reputation was already wretched; should he cooperate with their little drama, he would be thoroughly ruined, with no hope of living in Jiangning ever again.

Those sons of officials like Liu Nian would, with the Yang family’s subtle hints, surely seize the chance to strike him down.

To kill a man is no more than a knife to the throat. The Yangs had offered him a few minor favours, and with ulterior motives at that; yet they expected him to sacrifice his life for Yang Qi’s reputation. It was truly vicious, shameless, and utterly oppressive.

Such were his true thoughts at that moment. His soul, after all, harbored a certain solitary pride, now flowing through this body. He had thought he could face the disgraceful past of “Brother Kong” and the insults from the world with equanimity, as if none of it concerned him, but at this crucial moment, he realized it was not so simple.

Lady Zheng’s insinuations and demands had already touched the very limits of his endurance.