A Time-Traveling Mishap: I Became an Ancient Nobleman

Chapter 9 My beautiful mother is suffering!

Zhou Hanzhang finally understood why everyone had spoken of his father in such a way before.

My beautiful mother is suffering, and so is Aunt Youlan.

I'm suffering even more...

The more I think about it, the sadder I become.

It's bad enough that I'm dressed up as a fake young master, but to make matters worse, I have to deal with a father like this.

While they were having dinner, Madam Zhou asked Qiuyue to call Aunt Fang and Kezhen, but Aunt Fang said that Kezhen needed to reflect quietly now.

When Mr. Zhou heard that Zhou Kezhen needed to reflect on her actions, he looked at Mrs. Zhou with great confusion and asked, "Why does Lanxin want Kezhen to reflect on her actions?"

Zhou Hanzhang finally couldn't help but roll his eyes when he saw his beautiful mother. "Do you really not know what's been going on with Kezhen lately?"

"What happened to Kezhen? Didn't you say before that she had taken a fancy to a poor scholar and insisted on eloping with him? We locked her up at home, so what could have happened?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhou's father suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that this girl has gone on a hunger strike?"

Then she shook her head again, "That won't work. She won't go on a hunger strike. Are you suggesting she threaten suicide? She's tried crying and making a scene; she's almost dead..."

As his words became increasingly outrageous, Madam Zhou asked, "Husband, have you eaten?"

Mr. Zhou looked puzzled. "No, I haven't started eating yet."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Mrs. Zhou slammed her chopsticks heavily onto the table.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhou's father quickly said, "Madam, I don't think I'm very hungry. I'll go check on Kezhen first."

Granny Zhou looked at him and said, "Eat first, then go."

Father Zhou secretly glanced at Madam Zhou's face. Although her face was as black as ink, she ultimately did not refute Granny Zhou's words.

He quickly replied, "Okay."

Then he picked up his chopsticks and quickly stuffed the rice in his bowl into his mouth, not daring to pick up any of the dishes in front of him. While eating, he muttered to himself, "Did I guess wrong?"

Granny Zhou couldn't stand it anymore and told him about the recent rumors about Kezhen and what had happened today.

“Your daughter’s reputation is about to be ruined, yet you still have the appetite,” Madam Zhou said.

Mr. Zhou was so frightened that he wanted to put down his chopsticks, but he couldn't bear to leave the last mouthful of rice in his bowl. He quickly shoveled the rice into his mouth before saying, "This is nothing serious. With Madam here, nothing will go wrong."

Mrs. Zhou laughed in exasperation, "You really think highly of me."

Father Zhou also laughed and said, "This is not how I think highly of you, Madam. You are a capable person. If you hadn't married me, you would have definitely developed even better. If you were a man, you would be even more remarkable. You might not even be as good as my brother."

Seeing that his father spoke earnestly, without a trace of flattery, Zhou Hanzhang was also impressed.

Madam Zhou glared at him, "Just eat your food, why are you talking nonsense!"

Mr. Zhou quickly shut his mouth, secretly glancing at his wife's expression with one eye and at the dishes on the table with the other.

After hesitating for a long time, I still didn't dare to pick up any food and silently put down my bowl and chopsticks.

After waiting for Granny Zhou to finish her meal, Madam Zhou quickly stepped forward to help her up and said to Madam Zhou, "Madam, I'll take Granny Zhou back first."

Madam Zhou had long wanted him to get lost, and seeing him say this now, she waved her hand and said, "Be careful, send the nanny back and come back quickly, I have something to discuss with you."

Mr. Zhou quickly nodded in agreement.

After Zhou's father left, Zhou Hanzhang couldn't help but admire his beautiful mother from the bottom of his heart.

Although it is difficult to disobey the emperor's orders, it is not easy to manage the household well and make the business thrive while facing such a husband day after day for decades.

"Zhang'er, there's a problem with the people around Kezhen," Madam Zhou said to Zhou Hanzhang after spitting out her mouthwash.

Zhou Hanzhang nodded, "Indeed, without the cooperation of the people in Kezhen's room, that person would never have been able to get her underpants. We really need to investigate."

Madam Zhou said to Qiuyue, "Go and summon all the servants who serve Kezhen to the main hall."

“Mother, if we summon people here in such a grand manner, we might not be able to find the person. It would be better to go to Kezhen’s room quietly and catch them off guard,” Zhou Hanzhang suggested.

Madam Zhou already had a plan in mind, but she also felt that what her child said made sense, so she immediately took Zhou Hanzhang to Zhou Kezhen's residence.

Upon arriving at Zhou Kezhen's residence, they heard Aunt Fang's ethereal voice, "Who among you did this? You'd better come forward yourselves."

When Madam Zhou and Zhou Hanzhang entered, they found the courtyard full of people, including not only those from Zhou Kezhen's room but also those from Aunt Fang's room.

It seems that this Aunt Fang is quite a clever person.

But when she saw Madam Zhou and Zhou Hanzhang come in, their eyes looked somewhat helpless, it seemed they still couldn't find the person.

Madam Zhou stepped forward and looked at the people standing in the courtyard. Without saying much,

“Our Zhou family has never tolerated traitors. Now that such a big thing has happened, if no one admits it, let’s just sell them off. It’s not a big deal to replace them with another batch.”

Looking at the servants below, who all showed expressions of panic upon hearing these words, Zhou Hanzhang added, "They know that Mother is kind, so they have done such despicable things. If they are to be sold, it would be better to sell them to the lowest place so that they can experience the wickedness of the world."

As soon as she said this, a pretty young maidservant hurriedly stepped forward, "Madam, that day... I saw Tao Hong holding Miss's undergarments..."

Tao Hong immediately became anxious upon hearing this, "I am responsible for cleaning Miss's personal clothing. What's so strange about me taking Miss's undergarments?"

Zhou Kezhen quickly added, "Mother, it certainly wasn't Tao Hong. She's served me since she was little, her family is clean, and she has no reason to do such a thing."

Seeing her so anxious, Zhou Hanzhang said, "Go aside first. The situation is still unclear. Not to mention Tao Hong, everyone here is a suspect."

Aunt Fang quickly pulled her back and stepped aside, saying, "Your mother and brother are here. What are you doing talking to them? Do you even have a brain?"

Zhou Hanzhang: ...

If you want to talk, then talk; if you want to teach a lesson, then teach a lesson. There's no need for personal attacks.

Madam Zhou stared at the young maid who was speaking, but said nothing.

Under Madam Zhou's gaze, the young maid began to tremble all over, and soon fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Are you very scared?" Mrs. Zhou asked, looking at her.

"No...no, it's just that Madam is so dignified, and I can't bear to see you looking at me like that," the maid said, her voice trembling.

"You can't even stand looking at them like this... I was thinking that if we couldn't find them later, I would give each of you five lashes first, and if we still couldn't find them, I would sell them all."

The maidservant became even more frightened upon hearing this and immediately knelt down in front of Madam Zhou.

"Madam... I'm not lying. I really did see Tao Hong carrying Miss's undergarments and walking outside that day."