Chapter 8
Cao Xun savored every moment of his bath, letting the soothing water seep into his muscles and melt the fatigue of his body. Thirty minutes in the quiet heat, he soaked in the rejuvenating luxury before stepping out, refreshed and ready. He changed into fresh, off-white clothes, looking every bit the man of distinction he was, no matter how many wars he had fought.
Though forged in the fires of war, Cao Xun was more than just a soldier. He was the eldest son of the prestigious Dingguo family, and though the battlefield had shaped him, he wasnât blind to the value of the finer things in life. His upbringing was one of refinement, and whenever he could, he indulged in the pleasures of that world, standing as a reminder that even warriors could embrace elegance without losing their edge.
As the warmth of the bath faded, a refreshing coolness took over, sweeping away the remnants of fatigue like a gust of wind scattering leaves. He emerged from the water, feeling revived, standing tall with new energy coursing through him, ready for whatever came next.
The soft, off-white attire he wore wrapped around him with a cool comfort, the fabric caressing his skin and promising relaxation against the night to come. He stood tall and poised, ready to meet the world once again, the softness of his clothing doing nothing to dull the sharpness of his presence.
Basking in the afternoon sun, Cao Xun allowed the warmth of the spring rays to wash over him, feeling the pleasure of the moment sink in.
Ah Jiu, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but yawn in contentment, but upon spotting the Duke, his eyes brightened with admiration, his voice carrying a teasing note.
"Look at you, dressed in that way, and you mirror the Second Master in his youth. You could make a stir in the capitalâturn the heads of even the most stoic maidens. They'll blush just looking at you."
Cao Xun had weathered countless comments, even pressure from the Emperor himself, on matters of marriage. He was a man whoâd never been blind to his own desires. Ah Jiu, despite his youthful ignorance of love, understood the role marriage played, assuming the Duke sought the same.
Cao Xun didnât flinch at the flattery, a wry smirk playing on his lips as he responded coolly, "Save your compliments."
Was it wrong to praise the Duke for his youth?
Cao Xun moved through the veranda to the front yard, the sun filtering through the trees, casting playful shadows across the red-painted columns. The craftsmanship was flawless, each pillar painted with meticulous detail, a stark contrast to the memories of his past.
He remembered his grandfatherâs frugality, how the old man had refused to waste time or money on upkeep. The back house bore the scars of neglect, its pillars weathered, but the front yardânow that was a different story. It was pristine, a perfect setting for guests, a practice his grandfather had called "face-saving work."
With the Cao familyâs rise in status, thanks to the Empress and the newly appointed Crown Prince, Panâs position had climbed too. Renovations to the Dukeâs mansion were inevitableânothing less than perfection to reflect their new glory.
The front yard stretched out at the far end of the veranda, to the left.
Outside the study, Azhou and Zhang Tai were already waiting.
Zhang Tai, a man of over fifty, with silvered temples and a posture that screamed strength and discipline, had served as the Duke's general manager. His eyes, when they met Cao Xun, showed a blend of admiration and satisfaction.
"The Duke has outdone even the old master. He reclaimed Jiuzhou before hitting thirty. They mustâve drunk themselves senseless to celebrate," Zhang Tai remarked.
Cao Xun, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, replied, "Iâm just the heir to generations of soldiers. Itâs not only my doing. Uncle Tai, come in."
Zhang Tai followed him in, while Azhou stayed behind, watching the door.
Cao Xun took the main seat with a commanding air, gesturing for Zhang Tai to sit.
But Zhang Tai refused, eyes full of pride and concern. "Duke, I worry for you. Entrusting the mansion to someone so young... and considering Pan shiâs feelings... It's a heavy decision."
Cao Xun, speaking with cold authority, declared: "This is my family, the Cao family. I have the power to appoint anyone I choose. Are all the servants in my house loyal to her? Are you satisfied?"
Zhang Tai, with a mocking sneer, retorted: "They wouldnât dare!"
With the Duke of Guo's return, anyone who had sided with Pan shi would have to rethink their allegiance.
Cao Xun scoffed: "These are trivial matters. Iâll leave them to you."
This made it clear that he wanted Zhang Tai to handle it as a favor.
Zhang Tai, with a tone of frustration, continued: "Earlier, my youngest son found himself in a conflict, not of his making, after being relentlessly provoked. He accidentally hurt a thug, and although he was in the right, he still caused harm. If that thug reports this, my son will be imprisoned, and the Dukeâs household will be tainted with the disgrace of allowing its servants to harm others. Pan shi used this as leverage to force me out."
Cao Xun, unphased, remarked: "Liuâs leg is hurt, correct? Donât worry, his other leg is fine."
Cao Xun then pushed a document across the desk toward Zhang Tai.
Zhang Tai stepped forward, grabbed the document, and examined it closely. It was Liu Laiziâs confession, detailing how his gang had been bribed, complete with handprints for verification. While Liu Laizi didnât reveal who had ordered the attack, the document made it abundantly clear that Zhang Taiâs son had been wrongly accused and was certainly not a perpetrator of violence.
A rush of warmth spread through Zhang Tai's chest.
Being the chief steward of Duke Dingguoâs mansion required sharp intelligence, and it wasnât hard for Zhang Tai to see through the underhanded tactics of Liu Laizi and his cronies. But as a servant, he needed his master's backing. With the old Duke gone and the new Duke at the border, Panâs influence had grown, leaving Zhang Tai cornered.
For the sake of the Dukeâs reputation and the safety of his family, Zhang Tai had been forced to step down. But now, with the new Duke returning in triumph, Zhang Tai could resume his position without fear.
"Thank you, Duke, for not abandoning me. I will ensure I purge all those parasites from our house!"
*
The west courtyard of the Duke's Mansion was a chaotic mess.
Pan Shi stormed away from the main courtyard, her rage so intense it nearly crackled in the air. First off, her son, Cao Shao, had clearly chosen to back Cao Xun over her, a slap to her face that burned deep. Then, Cao Xun had the gall to swagger back into Beijing, showing not a shred of respect for her as the head of this damn family. The nerve.
After some comfort from her nanny, Pan Shi managed to get a hold of herself and rest. But no sooner had she settled in than the wife of the head steward rushed over with dreadful news: "Madam, it's bad - the Duke wants Zhang Tai back!"
Pan Shi's face hardened.
When her husband was alive, Zhang Tai had been a loyal dog to him. That made sense. But now, with her husband dead and Cao Xun back in the capital, Zhang Taiâs shameless decision to ignore her and crawl back to serve the Duke was a blatant insult. The properties that hadnât been in her hands had been handed to her, but Zhang Tai had the audacity to snub her and run directly to the Duke.
Who the hell did he think he was? He'd regret this decision soon enough.
Without wasting a second, Pan Shi immediately elevated her own dowry steward to the top position. This new steward was utterly obedient, and with him, Panâs personal fortune only grew larger by the day.
"Madam, the Duke must have plans to use Zhang Tai again. We need a strategy," the steward's wife pressed, panic in her voice. They had once schemed against the Zhang family to oust Zhang Tai, but now, the real question was how to bring the Duke's own actions down on him and rid them of this nuisance.
A general seasoned by battle would be far more unforgiving than Pan Shi ever would be.
Before Pan Shi could steady herself, another maid burst in, gasping for breath: "Madam, the Duke has started going through the accounts!"
Panâs confidence wavered. Only one thing filled her mindâhad Cao Xunâs desperate need for money, after returning broke from the border, pushed him to these extremes?
Pan Shi had been expecting this day. She'd already instructed her dowry steward to make the accounts look flawless.
Of course, the dowry stewards could tamper with the books, but the other stewards across the Duke's estates were no amateurs. It was no secret that Cao Xun, now the Duke, would be back. Shops that once made one thousand taels of silver had recently dropped to eight hundred taels. How could the Duke not dig into this? To cover up, the estate managers had kept separate accounts and documented every single transaction with meticulous care.
Before Cao Xunâs return, his trusted men had been working behind the scenes, secretly collecting these account books.
When Pan Shi entered the main courtyard with her dowry steward, Wu, they found Zhang Tai combing through a half-empty box of account books, with a dozen more boxes of records stacked nearby.
"Iâve met the Madam," Zhang Tai said coolly.
He spared a glance at the Duke sitting at the head of the room and bowed deeply, a measure of respect forced into his tone as he addressed Pan Shi.
Pan shi simply stared at Cao Xun with a confused look and sharply demanded, "Fushan, are you so weak and desperate for rest? Why the hell are you suddenly auditing the accounts?"
Cao Xun smirked, unfazed, and shot back, "It's been far too long since I've been home, and sleep's been evading me. I expected everything to be in order, and I thought the businesses had advanced over the years. Then, Zhang Tai asked to return, so I had him go through the books and assess the current manager's work."
Pan's palms began to sweat, and Manager Wu's face grew ghostly pale behind her.
Pan shi tried to maintain her composure, forcing a smile. "Zhang Tai has been loyal to your father. Heâs done his duty faithfully. If it werenât for his slip-up that nearly ruined the Dukeâs reputation, I wouldnât have had to replace him."
Her words were a thinly veiled threat to Zhang Tai, reminding him that the Zhang family's power was still firmly in her hands.
Zhang Tai scoffed at the warning, disregarded her, and immediately exposed the fraudulent accounts he'd found.
Cao Xun leaned in, scrutinizing the ledgers before turning to Manager Wu and snarling, "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Manager Wuâs legs shook uncontrollably as he collapsed to the floor, sweat pouring down his face. "My lord, I... I must admit... my subordinates deceived me. They fabricated false accounts behind my back to line their own pockets."
The Duke had clearly come prepared, but still, he dared not claim innocence. In a desperate bid to save himself, he pushed the blame onto his subordinates.
Cao Xun, not breaking his gaze, turned to Pan shi and coolly remarked, "Mother, this man has served you loyally for years. I could easily hand him over to the authorities for a full investigation. But, besides damaging your reputation, it could drag the Empress and His Highness into this mess."
Pan's clothes were soaked through with sweat. She finally understood that Cao Xun wasnât planning to fully sever their ties just yet. Like a drowning woman clutching at a lifeline, she quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, let's keep this quiet and settle it without making a scene."
Cao Xun nodded sharply. "Fine. I donât care who pocketed the money. Since it all passed through Manager Wuâs hands, Iâll place the full blame on him. If he can recover the stolen funds, weâll call it resolved. For your sake, Mother, Iâll let him retire and go back to his hometown."
At those words, Manager Wu shot a fearful glance at Panâs attire.
Pan shi ground her teeth in fury. What difference did it make whether she returned money already pocketed or had her flesh torn from her bones?
But if she refused, Cao Xun would have Manager Wu detained and report the whole scandal to the authorities. If he cared nothing for his reputation, both she and the Empress would be dragged down with him, and the consequences would be catastrophic.
*
In just two to three days, Duke Dingguo's household underwent a complete upheaval, with servants being swapped out like a game of chess pieces.
The word spread fast, whispers circulating far beyond the mansion, and even the second master, Cao Shao, couldn't keep a lid on it.
Digging deeper into the situation, Cao Shao went to his brother, his face a mask of defeat: "Brother, I..."
Cao Xun waved him to sit, offering a knowing smile. "Our mother meant well. She was devastated when our father passed, but she still had to hold it together, managing everything while I was out on the border. After all her sacrifices, she was tricked by Manager Wu and the others. She didnât see through the deception."
Hearing this, Cao Shaoâs shame deepened. He couldnât help but suspect his brother was only trying to salvage their mother's reputation.
Cao Xun leaned forward, took a sip of tea, and then, with calculated intent, moved beside Cao Shao's chair. Placing a firm hand on his shoulder, he spoke with piercing sincerity: "Second brother, our grandfather fought tooth and nail to build this family. He bled for it. Now, itâs just you and me left to carry the weight. As the elder, Iâm the one who has to steer this ship. Iâve fixed what needed fixing, and I bear no grudge against our mother. I just hope you wonât hold it against me."
Cao Shao stood up, locking eyes with his brother, and said with resolve, "Brother, you have no reason to worry. I never thought otherwise. The blame falls squarely on me. Iâve been too wrapped up in my own pursuits, ignoring the family's responsibilities."
Cao Xun chuckled, "Thatâs because our father was busy at the border and couldnât teach you these lessons. But let me make it clear: to gain respect in this world, mere learning wonât cut it."
Cao Shao nodded. Despite his brief stint at the Hanlin Academy, he had already faced enough political maneuvering to know better. Cao Xun continued, "Managing a household is no different from running a nation. You need to control every financial transaction like the Ministry of Households. Know each servantâs worth like the Ministry of Personnel. When someone steps out of line, deal with them swiftlyâjust like the Ministry of Punishment. Those who can run a household properly are as good as high-ranking officials. Thatâs how we serve this nation."
Nine years younger, Cao Shao no longer saw his brother just as an elder but as the father he never had.
So, instead of falling for Pan's manipulative schemes, he found himself even more in awe of Cao Xunâs ability to control the situation with a firm hand.
*
Hereâs a more direct, assertive, and aggressive version of the text youâve provided:
Today, Cao Xun strutted into the room, draped in a moon-white brocade robe, commanding the space with a presence that towered even higher than when he was perched on his horse.
Yunzhu had seen her fair share of handsome men before, like Cao Shao, who stood with a formidable build, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. His appearance in brocade was dignified, but it didnât touch the raw magnetism Cao Xun radiated.
In fact, Cao Xun was already half a head taller than his father. His lean waist, even more striking with that added height, only emphasized his dominance.
As Yunzhu thought of her older brother, she couldnât deny that, while taller than Cao Xun, his massive, hulking frame lacked the same elegant, refined allure that both Cao Xun and her father exuded with ease.
As she absorbed his commanding presence, Yunzhu let her gaze flicker to Cao Xunâs face.
In conversation with her father, he was smooth, relaxed, and effortlessly charming, a cultivated gentleman who, despite his youth, carried the gravitas and insight of someone twice his age.
This was no ordinary encounter. This was something far beyond anything Yunzhu had ever experienced.
The trio moved into the hall, and Yunzhu slipped into position by the door of the side room. She peered through the curtain, still watching.
Cao Xun was guided to the main seat beside Li Yong, placed strategically across from Yunzhu, his proximity making it impossible to ignore him.
Even though he was fully engaged in conversation with her father and his wife, Cao Xun still stole a few subtle glances towards the side room. It didnât take him long to realize that the only person who could be hiding back there was none other than the eldest daughter of the Li family, the one who had caught his younger brotherâs attention.
As Li Yong spoke, Cao Xun casually picked up his teacup and shot a look at the door of the side room before his eyes dipped downward.
Then, out of nowhere, Yunzhu locked eyes with himâthose narrow eyes, strikingly similar to Cao Shaoâs, but where Cao Shaoâs gaze was filled with affection, Cao Xunâs was a mix of cool gentleness and something far sharper, something dangerous. This was a man seasoned by power, with the wisdom of a ruler and the calculating mind of a strategist.
Yunzhu, leaning against the door frame, imagined Cao Xun before her, sipping tea with an effortless grace. His status, his intellect, his looksâeverything about him was leagues beyond Cao Shao. A man she was promised to marry, yet one who almost seemed too perfect to be real.
Everything seemed idealâexcept, maybe, for that slight age gap.
But honestly, who cared?
Marrying Cao Xun meant becoming the wife of Duke Dingguo. Cao Shaoâs mother might have thought she was beneath him, but Cao Shao? Heâd be forced to call her âsister-in-law.â
Just the thought of it sent a rush of triumph through Yunzhu.