The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 411

In the courtyard.

Zong Zhao and Xu Wan had not left.

While the Old Marchioness stayed inside tending to the Old Marquis, the couple waited outside, fearing that the elderly pair might collapse under the weight of their grief.

Zong Zhao turned to Xu Wan and said, "I couldn't hold back."

Xu Wan pressed her hand over his and reassured him, "Your father knows you too well. In that situation, even I wouldn’t have been able to stay silent."

Zong Zhao fell into silence.

Before long, the Old Marchioness emerged from the room.

Though she had always maintained her dignified appearance, she now seemed to have aged years in mere moments.

"Mother-in-law." "Mother." The couple rose to their feet.

The Old Marchioness took a seat, her expression eerily calm—so much so that it unsettled those around her.

Xu Wan sat beside her and gently urged, "Mother-in-law, don’t dwell on it. This is the fault of wicked people, not yours or ours. We mustn’t punish ourselves for their crimes—it’s unfair to us and our family."

The Old Marchioness patted her hand and turned to Zong Zhao. "Zhao’er, I’ve already transferred much of the family’s wealth to your name. But half remains under your father and me. I wish to donate it."

Both Zong Zhao and Xu Wan froze.

The Yangyuan Marquis Manor was wealthy enough to rival a kingdom. Even half its fortune was an astronomical sum.

The Old Marchioness gave a bitter smile. "Thirty years ago, when I first married into the manor, many already coveted our wealth. Back then, your father and I were young and proud—we refused to yield, never considering how such prominence could invite danger. Later, after years of marriage without children, we wondered if something was wrong with us. Now, I can’t help but suspect if evil hands played a part in that as well."

Zong Zhao had never heard her speak of these things before. He hadn’t realized that their family had faced such threats over their wealth long ago.

The Old Marchioness sighed softly. "I’m tired. I no longer have the strength to fight. Once the fortune is donated, the household will be yours to manage. Jincheng, Suxue, and her child—I entrust them all to you."

"Mother-in-law…" Xu Wan sensed something amiss and quickly protested, "No, I’ve never learned how to manage a household. I wouldn’t do it well. And Jincheng and Wenxiu—they still have half a year before the imperial exams, followed by the palace examination… I wouldn’t have time to oversee the manor."

Zong Zhao also caught the implication in her words and added, "Mother, I support your wish to donate the fortune, but not now."

"Why not?" the Old Marchioness asked, puzzled.

Zong Zhao’s voice lowered. "Because those three did not die by the law."

The Old Marchioness’s heart skipped a beat.

Only then did she remember—Zong Zhao had carried out the killings in secret, not through legal means.

Fear ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍gripped her as she pressed, "Zhao’er, will you be in danger?"

Zong Zhao shook his head. "No. The Emperor permitted it."

"The Emperor… permitted it…" The Old Marchioness repeated the words, suddenly understanding why the Ministry of Justice had so swiftly covered it up—orders had come from the very top.

She pressed further, "But why would the Emperor—"

Zong Zhao cut her off. "Mother, don’t ask more. I’ll handle the rest. When everything is settled, I’ll explain."

Tears welled in the Old Marchioness’s eyes as she whispered, "Very well…"

Zong Zhao stepped forward and embraced her gently. "Mother, you and Father must stay strong. If anything happens to you, Zong Yan would never rest in peace, and I… I would be tormented for the rest of my days."

The Old Marchioness closed her eyes, letting her tears fall. At first, she wept quietly, but soon her sobs turned into wails, as if decades of sorrow and pain were finally pouring out.

The Old Marquis was gravely ill.

Though he had always been healthier than his wife, the shock had shattered him. Each time he woke, he coughed up blood, unable to keep medicine down—whatever he swallowed, he vomited.

Zong Zhao stayed by his bedside, using acupuncture to soothe him. But within days, the Old Marquis’s hair had turned white.

When the autumn exams ended, Xu Wan went to the examination hall to fetch the children.

A flood of scholars poured out, and from afar, Zong Jincheng’s bright, energetic voice rang out: "Where’s my mother? Hey, you there—stop shoving! Think you’re so tall? Just wait—I’ll be taller than all of you in a few years!"

"Jincheng, over here!" Xu Wan spotted him and waved.

Zong Jincheng’s face lit up, and he pushed through the crowd with renewed vigor. "Mother! I’m done! I aced it! That top scholar spot is mine!"

Someone nearby scoffed, "Yeah right, kid. Keep dreaming."

The little lordling bristled. "Is that any way to speak to the future top scholar?"

"Top scholar? Maybe in another decade, brat."

Zong Jincheng: "!!!"

He was about to retort when Xu Wan called again, "Jincheng, come here!"

"Fine!" He huffed, shooting the heckler a glare. "Remember the name—Zong Jincheng! You’ll see it on the rankings!"

The other scholar just rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Zong Jincheng waved his fist at him but ultimately didn’t press further, skipping cheerfully over to his mother instead.

"Mom, I missed you so much! Nine days—it’s been a whole nine days since I last saw you!"

Xu Wan smiled and replied, "Yes, yes, nine days. Our young master Jincheng has had it so rough, hasn’t he? Come over by the carriage and wait with me. Let me wipe your face first."

"Okay!" Zong Jincheng bounced along with her.

Xu Wan took a damp cloth and gently cleaned his face, then his hands, transforming the grubby little rascal back into the handsome, adorable boy he was.

Softly, she said, "This was the last time you’ll have such a long exam. The spring exams will only last three days, and the palace exam just one. Our Jincheng won’t have to suffer like this again."

Zong Jincheng grinned, flashing his teeth. "Of course! I’ll pass them all in one go!"

"Mm." Xu Wan responded with a faint smile.

"Auntie!" "Madam!" The other four boys returned one after another, their faces and clothes covered in dust, as if they’d just rolled out of a field.

Maids attended to them, wiping their faces and hands, while Xu Wan listened to their eager accounts of the exams. Each one brimmed with confidence, clearly having performed well.

Xu Wan smiled and said, "Then I’ll be waiting for the good news of your success. For now, let’s take a day to rest. You can all go home and spend time with your parents. Classes in the grand study hall will resume tomorrow."

"Great!" "Sounds good!"

Wei Xinglu and Shen Yibai bid farewell and climbed into their family’s waiting carriages.

Meanwhile, Zong Jincheng grabbed two of his brothers by the hands, pulling Zong Wenxiu and He Zheng into their own carriage.

Inside the carriage, Zong Wenxiu was the first to notice something amiss.

He turned to Xu Wan and asked, "Auntie, did something happen? You seem a little down."

Zong Jincheng and He Zheng had been roughhousing, but at these words, they immediately looked at Xu Wan. Though she wore a calm smile, there was a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

The little troublemaker tensed up. "Mom, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you while we were away?"

He Zheng chimed in, "Auntie, who was it? Tell us, and we’ll go stand up for you!"

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