Chapter 55: Interference

Zhou Chengwang’s heart was aching, but that was not the worst of it. The worst thing was hearing Zhao Yan’er ask him, “Brother, when will you give me a present?”

A present?

His gaze fell to her waist, but the sachet he had gifted Zhao Yan’er was already gone.

Zhao Kai assumed Zhao Yan’er was asking for a wedding gift, so he coaxed her, “What would you like?”

“I like anything you give me, Brother.”

Zhao Yan’er’s sweetness was undeniable; Zhao Kai was delighted to hear it, and he didn’t think much of it, nor did he notice Zhou Chengwang quietly leaving.

Zhou Chengwang felt restless. He knew letting go of Zhao Yan’er was inevitable, but the accumulation of various factors made him feel increasingly unsettled.

“Young Master, why are you so gloomy? Is something troubling you?” Lin Zhenting sidled up.

“Get lost!”

Zhou Chengwang didn’t want to deal with him.

Lin Zhenting saw the fire raging in his heart and thought the time was right, so he handed him something.

“This belongs to you, doesn’t it?”

A roughly embroidered sachet was placed before him, with the character “Zhou” stitched on it.

“Where did you get this?”

“I found it at the Zhao family’s gate—didn’t expect it really belonged to you.”

Zhou Chengwang’s face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn’t imagined the gift he’d given Zhao Yan’er would be discarded.

He knew his embroidery was poor, but it had been a token of his sincerity.

“Young Master, was this a gift for someone special?” Lin Zhenting asked deliberately.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Of course, it’s not my place. But…” Lin Zhenting’s eyes flickered, “I just saw Second Virtue Manor give Zhao Kai a mountain of gifts. You two are so close, you could be brothers.”

Hearing this, Zhou Chengwang quickly stood to look out from the tavern’s second floor. The carriages from Second Virtue Manor stretched across the entire street, drawing astonished stares from all.

“Is Second Virtue Manor planning to gift Zhao Kai their entire estate? So many things… I can’t even count them.”

“Look at you! Second Virtue Manor is obviously celebrating Zhao Kai. His wedding to the Zhao family’s young lady is imminent—they couldn’t let it pass unnoticed. But I’ve never seen such a grand display from Second Virtue Manor.”

Zhou Chengwang listened, feeling bitter. He’d never cared for these things, but seeing his possessions claimed by Zhao Kai one by one unsettled him deeply.

It was bad enough that someone so talented existed—why did they have to take everything from him?

Apart from his identity as Young Master, he had nothing else.

Lin Zhenting watched his expression, secretly pleased. No matter how good the relationship, when someone takes what’s yours, jealousy inevitably follows.

“Young Master, is Zhao Kai really so close to Second Virtue Manor?”

Lin Zhenting’s question finally ignited Zhou Chengwang’s anger.

“What do you mean? Are you mocking me on purpose?”

“No… I just worry for you, Young Master. I know you treat Zhao Kai as a brother, but have you considered he’s using you to climb higher? Privately, he doesn’t respect you.”

“Impossible!”

“Then what about the sachet? Surely Zhao Kai knew it was yours?”

Zhou Chengwang gripped the sachet tightly, lost in thought.

After receiving Second Virtue Manor’s gifts, Zhao Kai instructed they be stored in the treasury. The gold and silver belonged to Zhou Chengwang—best to leave them for him. He had more than enough wealth to last several lifetimes; taking more was pointless.

“Brother, everyone’s talking about how highly Second Virtue Manor regards you. I’m truly happy for you,” Zhao Yan’er congratulated.

No matter how highly regarded, it still wasn’t his. Zhao Kai wasn’t greedy, but he hadn’t seen Zhou Chengwang all day and wondered where he’d gone…

“Did Chengwang go to the gambling house?” he asked.

“No,” Zhao Yan’er’s mood soured at the mention of Zhou Chengwang. “Brother, why are you always worried about him? He’s always causing trouble, never anything good…”

If Zhou Chengwang heard this, it would break his heart.

“I promised the Master I’d look after him—how could I ignore him? Have someone search for him.”

“Brother…” Zhao Yan’er frowned. “He’s not a child, he doesn’t need your care.”

She said it, but felt Zhou Chengwang had been acting strange these days…

“Well, he’s rarely been out. Of course we need to pay attention, or Second Virtue Manor wouldn’t be pleased.”

He paused. “But Chengwang really is like a child who hasn’t grown up. If only I were Young Master of Second Virtue Manor—I could raise it to new heights.”

“Huh?” Zhao Yan’er stared, bewildered. “Brother, do you really think so?”

“Of course.” He squinted, a sly smile on his lips.

“No way! If you really became Young Master, I couldn’t be with you…”

Zhao Yan’er pouted, and Zhao Kai, amused, pinched her rosy cheek. “Alright, I’m teasing you. How could I inherit Second Virtue Manor? Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the right.”

Whether Zhou Chengwang’s ears were simply keen or he was just too close, he felt Zhao Kai’s last words were spoken especially loudly.

“Come, let’s go back.”

Zhao Kai and Zhao Yan’er departed together. Zhou Chengwang emerged from the shadows, his face tinged with sorrow.

So Brother Zhao truly desired the Young Master’s position, truly wanted to inherit Second Virtue Manor.

Had he been scheming against him all along?

Zhou Chengwang felt chilled to the bone. He couldn’t bear to imagine what kind of person Zhao Kai, who had always seemed sincere, truly was.

He’d barely known anyone in his life; Zhao Kai was the first, and the one he’d admired wholly, without reservation.

To say he wasn’t insecure would be a lie. Even as Second Virtue Manor’s blood nephew, seeing his uncle and father wanting to swear brotherhood with Zhao Kai, wanting to keep him at Second Virtue Manor, he couldn’t express his troubled feelings.

He couldn’t let anyone take what belonged to him…

“See, I was right. Zhao Kai is exactly that kind of person—pretending to be your brother while using you as a stepping stone, climbing over you to seize everything you have,” Lin Zhenting observed, taking it all in.

Zhou Chengwang no longer wished to argue; he’d silently accepted this truth.

“Young Master, why don’t we make a wager? Let’s see if Zhao Kai will harm you and steal everything you have.”

Zhou Chengwang looked at him. “Do you think I’ll fall for your tricks again?”

“There’s already precedent—how could I dare plot against you? Rest assured, everything’s within your grasp. If you’re afraid I’ll try anything, you can have someone watch me. What do you say?”

This time, Lin Zhenting truly had no intention to harm Zhou Chengwang as he had before. He merely wanted to see how deep Zhao Kai’s ambition ran.

With the position of heir to Second Virtue Manor laid before him, how could he not be tempted? Even the highest king would be moved.