Chapter 1283: In the Foot
Zhao Zhai and Zhao Ye were growing increasingly frustrated with the situation.
Ms. Qin’s pitiful crying had become a common occurrence. However, the one responsible for these complaints was no longer Ms. Zheng; it was the new madame, who proved to be even more adept at it. What made matters worse was that she was younger than Ms. Zheng, making her appear even more endearing when she wept.
Zhao Mu was well aware of Ms. Qin’s intentions. As a result, his treatment of her had changed, and he was now favoring his new daughter-in-law. He believed that Ms. Qin, along with her two sons, were scheming to disgrace the new madame and undermine her position.
With Zhao Mu’s support, the new madame grew even more self-assured. She seized the opportunity to assert her dominance over Ms. Qin by claiming half of the nonchalant, casual, and indifferent furnishings from the storeroom. Apart from her monthly allowance, Ms. Qin was left with nothing.
Ms. Qin’s loyal aides were systematically removed from their positions.
Ms. Qin found this situation intolerable. She had a few tricks up her sleeve, having served the Zhao Family for many years. This ignited a fierce battle between her and Madame Zhao.
As the conflict escalated to involve their respective sons and daughter-in-law, the Zhao Mansion plunged further into chaos.
Ms. Qin found herself at a loss for what to do.
She resorted to devious and shameless tactics. When Madame Zhao’s brother assumed the role of manager at the Zhao Family, Ms. Qin feared that her own assets would be threatened by an outsider. Desperate to prove his incompetence, she even attempted to bribe someone to set fire to her brother’s warehouse. Her plan backfired disastrously as the fire spiraled out of control, consuming several silk storage warehouses and half of the weaving workshop.
Zhao Mu was on the brink of collapse.
Word quickly spread throughout the town, heralding the imminent downfall of the Zhao Family.
The absence of silk threatened to inflict substantial financial losses upon them, jeopardizing their ability to fulfill their contractual obligations. Consequently, they found themselves compelled to offer compensation.
With half of the workshop reduced to ruins, silk production ground to a halt. Fortunately, the incident occurred during the night when the workshop was empty, sparing any potential casualties.
Ms. Qin was equally stunned, her limbs turning ice-cold as she remained motionless in her room.
How had it come to this? She had merely sought to start a fire, never imagining that it would result in such extensive destruction.
Zhao Mu awoke and promptly reported the incident to the authorities. Initially suspecting Zhao Shuqing’s uncles as the culprits, he vowed to hold Zhao Shu accountable.
However, as investigations progressed, they apprehended the arsonist, leading them to Ms. Qin and her associates.
Ms. Qin, inexperienced in such matters, succumbed to the pressure and revealed the truth when questioned by the authorities.
Unable to deny her involvement, Ms. Qin resorted to tears and complaints. She lamented her extensive contributions to the Zhao Family and painted the new madame as the instigator of her troubles. Ms. Qin insisted that the heartlessness of the new madame had driven her to take drastic measures, claiming she had only intended to start a small fire. She even speculated that the new madame might have orchestrated the incident to frame her.
Zhao Mu, Zhao Zhai, and Zhao Ye were infuriated, struggling to contain their anger.
Though they had long recognized Ms. Qin’s deceitful and malicious nature, they had not anticipated the extent to which she would go.
As the truth emerged, the Zhao Family prepared to offer full compensation.
Zhao Shu, exasperated by the situation, decided to purchase the Zhao Family’s workshop, mansion, six stores, and 5,000 acres of prime land. His substantial wealth rendered financial concerns obsolete.
Zhao Mu, disheartened and lacking the means to mount a comeback, lost the will to persevere.