The Zhen family committed many misdeeds, and the blame almost entirely fell on Master Zhen. The Zhen family was not completely ruined as a result, and they still had a considerable fortune, but it was not as good as before.
Madam Zhen wasn't implicated, but things didn't go much better for her. With Master Zhen in prison, her life became difficult. The Zhen family was already outwardly harmonious but inwardly discordant, and with the Fourth Master stirring things up, things were naturally even less likely to improve.
Sure enough, once Master Zhen's matter was settled, the Zhen family immediately split up, and the one who benefited the most was Master Zhen the Fourth.
Youqing took a look at Liu Shi. Yes, it was Liu Shi. She had indeed committed suicide, but Youqing had sent someone to watch over her and had her rescued. Liu Shi then disappeared from sight.
"What are your plans?"
As a woman, Youqing felt sympathy for Liu's plight.
Liu was still not confused, so she naturally had no plans and shook her head.
"Then you should rest well. Now that Master Zhen is in prison, he will definitely not be out in his lifetime. The Zhen family has also split up, so you will be free from now on."
Upon hearing this, Liu was stunned. The patriarch of the Zhen family had been imprisoned just like that? The Zhen family had split up just like that?
"You're not lying to me, are you?"
Liu didn't know who saved her, but having already died twice, she really couldn't bear to die again.
If you were to ask who Liu hated most in her life, it would be Madam Zhen and her parents. If it weren't for them, she would never have ended up in such a state.
Now that she heard that Master Zhen had been imprisoned and the Zhen family had split up, Liu could imagine how devastated Madam Zhen must be. The thought of Madam Zhen not doing well made Liu feel much better.
"You can easily find out about this anywhere, there's no need for me to lie to you."
Liu thought about it and agreed. Although she didn't know the identity of the person who saved her, the person who could bring her out of the Zhen residence must be extraordinary.
"Thank you for telling me this, Madam."
"I just came to say hello, it's not worth thanking."
“It’s worth it. I’m not a very lucky person. I’m not very capable, I don’t do things properly, and I’m not even a good person. I never thought I would have such good luck and meet such a good person.”
Youqing didn't say anything else, only told her to rest well and not to overthink it, and then left.
Liu's experience can be seen as a microcosm of the experiences of some women in this era.
Her parents favored sons over daughters and practically sold her into the Zhen family to bring good fortune. After her husband died, the Zhen family erected a memorial arch for her chastity, demanding that she remain faithful and even depriving her of good food and clothing.
The Zhen family's actions were inherently dishonest.
As for the matter between Liu and the Fourth Master, it was actually the Fourth Master who did it on purpose. Otherwise, how could a pitiful little girl like Liu, who was tormented by maids and servants, have any dealings with the Fourth Master in the front courtyard?
However, the Fourth Master did this in a secretive way, which made Liu mistakenly believe that it was because she seduced him that the later events occurred. After the two had a relationship, the Fourth Master gave Liu unprecedented tenderness.
He was Liu's first man, so naturally she had feelings for him. However, the matter of the child came too suddenly, and many things happened, so Liu's feelings for the Fourth Master were almost gone.
Compared to Master Zhen, Madam Liu disliked Master Zhen and Madam Zhen even more. Otherwise, Madam Liu would not have been able to endure it for so long, since the methods Madam Zhen used on her were really hard to bear.
Youqing was curious about what grudge Master Zhen had against Master Zhen that made him do this. After all, with Master Zhen gone, the foundation of the Zhen family was destroyed, leaving only some money, and not much at that. His own quality of life would also decline.
Logically speaking, he had no reason to do this.
Out of curiosity, Youqing asked Liang Jiugong to inquire about it, and that's how she learned the truth.
This story begins with the older generation of the Zhen family.
There are now four patriarchs in the Zhen family who have survived to adulthood. There are four patriarchs and four mothers. Patriarch Zhen is the eldest son and also the legitimate son.
This also shows that the deceased Old Master Zhen did not care much about women, otherwise he would not have been able to have so many sons from different mothers. These four are the only ones who survived; there were quite a few men and women who did not survive.
In earlier years, the infighting within the Zhen family was much fiercer than it is now. When Old Madam Zhen's first child was a daughter, she was tricked by a concubine during childbirth, which damaged her health. Although she was not unable to have more children, she needed to recuperate for two or three years.
The old lady's mother-in-law then took it upon herself to stop giving her son's concubines the cooling medicine, and subsequently, children in the backyard sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
Madam Zhen was naturally unwilling, so many of the children in the backyard died young.
After her health improved, she gave birth to the current Master Zhen, who became the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Only then could Madam Zhen secure her position as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhen family.
Later, children continued to appear in Master Zhen's backyard. Several boys who were close to Master Zhen's age died. The second master, the third master, and the fourth master who survived were all about ten years younger than Master Zhen.
As for why the Fourth Master hates Master Zhen so much, it is inextricably linked to Madam Zhen.
At first, Madam Zhen didn't pay much attention to her younger illegitimate sons. However, Old Master Zhen doted on the young and pretty Concubine Miao, who was also the mother of the Fourth Master. Seeing that this doting attitude was going too far, Madam Zhen couldn't sit still anymore.
She used tricks to make Aunt Miao lose her health, and then, feeling it wasn't safe enough, she had someone else lose the health of the Fourth Master.
Madam Zhen kept this a secret until her death. However, after the Fourth Master got married, his wife's belly remained empty for a long time, and neither did his concubine. The Fourth Master secretly consulted a famous doctor and only then did he realize that there was something wrong with his body. Following the clues, he found that the problem actually involved Madam Zhen.
Destined to never have children, Madam Zhen had already passed away, so the Fourth Master blamed it on Master Zhen, which led to all the subsequent events.
Now that Master Zhen has his share of the family fortune, enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life, he is destined to have no children, but he has nothing to worry about. What does the rise and fall of the Zhen family have to do with him?
When Youqing learned about these things, she was also somewhat surprised by the dramatic events in the Zhen family. To be honest, if this plot were made into a TV series and broadcast in the 1920s, the ratings would probably not be too low.
This is so melodramatic, one thing after another.
Despite all that Master Zhen did, he was quite capable. He didn't make any reservations about the antenna, nor did he touch anything he shouldn't have. However, he can't be considered a good person.
Liu Shi might not be unaware of Master Zhen's manipulation of her, so Youqing didn't say much. She arranged a new identity for Liu Shi, giving her a job so she wouldn't have to worry about the future. As for the past, Liu Shi of the Zhen family had already committed suicide, and she could live freely now.
The grand drama at the Zhen family mansion has come to an end, but the impact of this drama has not yet dissipated.
What is your opinion on chastity arches?
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