Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 83

83: Left No Survivors

Unaware of Yun Jingchu’s thoughts, Tian Qingyi was overjoyed—she could now openly raise Liu Daniang’s daughter, preserving the bloodline of those devoted sisters.

The morning after Yun Jingchu’s agreement, Tian Qingyi eagerly informed Fan Zhuzhu during her routine visit. Having raised the original host, Fan Zhuzhu inquired more thoroughly—unexpectedly necessitating some prepared excuses.

Convinced by Tian Qingyi’s detailed account, the doting Fan Zhuzhu readily consented, only mildly displeased about the delayed public acknowledgment—though the child’s welfare overrode objections.

That afternoon, Tian Qingyi dispatched Qingyu to prepare Ruoshui’s side. Three days later, after Ruoshui’s petition and Qingyu’s intercession, Tian Qingyi finally permitted Ruoshui’s return to Yuzhu Residence.

Yuzhu Residence’s servants, meticulously selected since Yun Jingchu’s household management, prioritized discretion over cleverness—ensuring no word left without permission. This secrecy enabled their mourning-period intimacy; violators faced beatings and sale to harsh regions.

However, Yun Jingchu’s brief tenure overseeing the entire Jiufang estate left gaps—especially in Li Yan’s independently managed Qinhai Courtyard. Despite gradual replacements, her control remained incomplete compared to Yuzhu Residence.

Though Jiufang Xin’s death was sudden, his chronic illness and family-centric priorities had prompted advance arrangements. Initially intending equal inheritance between both sons with political resources solely for the younger, Jiufang Qiyu’s premature death voided revisions.

Dying unconscious, Jiufang Xin never knew his wishes were ironically fulfilled—his enforcers “accidentally” disobeyed instructions.

Indebted to Tian Qingyi, Li Yan secretly burned Jiufang Xin’s will stipulating equal division—even coercing Steward Liu (via his son’s safety) to destroy his backup copy and swear secrecy.

Originally planning to exile Steward Liu’s family to the ancestral home, Tian Qingyi—advised by Yun Jingchu—instead paid them off to leave Kaifeng permanently under their non-disclosure agreement.

Thus, as Jiufang Xin’s sole surviving “son,” Tian Qingyi inherited everything by default.

Modern morals compelled her to split assets with Li Yan—who refused, citing sufficient dowry. Despite the Jiufangs’ diminished wealth (some lands sold for funerals), remaining holdings were substantial. Persistent insistence finally divided the estate into quarters: two for Tian Qingyi/Yun Jingchu, one for Li Yan, the last for relatives—formalized legally, ending unconditional support.

Relatives initially cheered their windfall until learning the free ride was over—prompting accusations of filial impiety and tradition-breaking. Tian Qingyi endured their vitriol; unlike Jiufang Xin, she refused to subsidize idleness—a stance aligned with Yun Jingchu. The declining Jiufang fortune couldn’t sustain parasites.

Publicly, she pacified them: keeping prior gifts, establishing a clan school at the ancestral home, offering preferential tenancy (20% rent reduction), and vague hardship assistance—contingent on her availability and mood.

Their funeral-related land sales being common knowledge, and with Jiufang Lai’s mediation, relatives grudgingly accepted. As Jiufang Xin’s sole surviving brother, Jiufang Lai received special treatment—one-third of the ancestral home and 100 mu of land. Still dissatisfied but pragmatic, he banked on future generosity from his “nephew’s” anticipated success.

Preemptively securing Jiufang Lai’s compliance prevented greater uproar—achieving their goal of ending familial freeloading. Whereas Jiufang Xin annually distributed year-end provisions fearing relatives’ hardship, Tian Qingyi severed this dependency entirely during the asset division.

The ancestral home split three ways: Jiufang Lai’s share, Tian Qingyi’s portion, and the remainder for the clan school. Lacking funds for prestigious tutors, she hired only a basic teacher—conditioned on mandatory attendance for all clan children under ten, regardless of gender, tuition-free.

Gender inclusion nearly provoked renewed outrage until waived fees silenced objections—none refused free advantages.

Regarding Kaifeng residences, Tian Qingyi offered Li Yan half—but she insisted on keeping only the Qinhai Courtyard while relinquishing household authority. Thus, Yun Jingchu managed the entire Jiufang estate except Qinhai Courtyard.

Funeral management experience, supplemented by Li Yan and Fan Zhuzhu’s guidance, eased Yun Jingchu’s transition—though staffing and training delays meant full control required more time.

Knowing Dongxue’s attachment to familiar caregivers, Tian Qingyi retained Ruoshui—hence her petition’s approval.

The night after Ruoshui’s return, a disguised Tian Qingyi smuggled sedated Dongxue into Yuzhu Residence via backdoor baskets draped with hemp cloth.

The next morning, servants cleaning the courtyard started at sudden wailing—as did a groggy Yun Jingchu and freshly awakened Tian Qingyi. Rushing to the side chamber where Dongxue had been placed under Qingyu’s watch, Tian Qingyi found the toddler hysterically evading Qingyu’s comfort attempts amidst unfamiliar surroundings.

Fortunately, Yun Jingchu had preemptively cleared nearby areas—preventing Dongxue’s cries from escaping the compound.

Witnessing Dongxue’s tearful rejection of both Qingyu and herself, Tian Qingyi announced loudly: “Ten strings of cash to whoever calms the young master!”

Servants swarmed unsuccessfully until Ruoshui—summoned from the kitchen—instantly soothed Dongxue, who reached for her eagerly. This provoked envious speculation among staff about the mysteriously appearing child.

A late-rising Yun Jingchu arrived dramatically, demanding: “Whose child is this?” before Tian Qingyi—feigning embarrassment—dismissed everyone. Behind closed doors, crashing objects and heated arguments ensued, interspersed with Tian Qingyi’s placations.

Eavesdropping servants mentally reconstructed scandalous narratives. Yun Jingchu maintained cold indifference for two days—even dining separately—while Tian Qingyi showered appeasements, ordered Ruoshui to care for “the young master,” and imposed secrecy about “her child.”

Their improvised performance implied everything without explicit statements. Henceforth, Yuzhu Residence harbored an open secret—a little master beloved by his father but not his mother.

Pre-new year, grim news arrived: Shang Yan’s exiled family had been murdered en route—all cleanly throat-slit, no survivors.

Such ruthless precision pointed unmistakably to Ma Zhusege.

As winter deepened and the festival atmosphere thickened, the Jiufangs’ mourning-restricted New Year passed quietly—though Tian Qingyi’s heart grew stormier, especially after adopting Dongxue.