The main hall was silent.
Liu Shun swallowed hard and glanced around. On everyone’s faces were mixed emotions—shock, fear, hesitation, and struggle. He guessed his complexion must have been the worst of all.
Steward Fu Ji stood silently in a corner, arms folded. No one dared to whisper. Liu Shun glanced at his companions and clenched his teeth.
His eyes, already bloodshot from last night’s lack of sleep, were even redder now, his face twisted with anger. If it weren’t for them binding him onto the ship, how would he have ended up in this predicament?
Resentment welled up in his heart. His trembling arm picked up the brush, about to write on the blank paper.
“Liu Shun! What are you doing?!”
A steward nearby growled lowly, teeth clenched. Among them, Liu Shun was the weakest and the dullest. No one expected him to be so clueless at a moment like this!
Fu Tian only said to write down suspected individuals, but didn’t say they had to. As long as their testimonies matched, denying any suspicions, what could Fu Tian do to them?
He exchanged a glance with others, only to see that besides Liu Shun, some others had also lowered their heads and picked up their brushes.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Only then did he realize just how terrifying Fu Tian’s ploy truly was.
Suddenly gathering them all without prior notice gave them no time to prepare excuses. Then throwing such a difficult test their way while Steward Fu Ji watched from above, naturally no one dared whisper.
Without the ability to communicate, and without trust among them, once someone took the lead to write, others would inevitably follow.
Confess and be lenient; resist and be harsh. No one wanted to be the one left behind.
Liu Shun ignored the whispered warning, brushing the brush over the paper.
The hall was filled with only the heavy sound of breathing and the scratching of brush on paper.
A steward wiped sweat from his forehead, clenched his teeth, and also picked up his brush.
The papers were collected faster than expected.
Liu Shun was the first to finish and, with a slight nod towards Fu Ji, he flattering said, “Steward Fu, I’m done. Please say a good word for me in front of the Young Dongjia.”
Several others’ expressions changed, glaring fiercely at him before hastily handing in their own papers.
Before long, all the papers were gathered.
Fu Ji said faintly, “Thank you all for your effort,” then left, clutching the stack of papers. The servants brought out fresh snacks and drinks, but no one was in the mood to eat.
Fat Steward looked at Liu Shun’s trembling hands and chuckled, “What do you think the Young Dongjia will do once he catches the culprits?”
A steward in the front row shot him a cold glance, sneered, then turned away, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Fu Ji took the papers to find Fu Tian.
***
After leaving, Fu Tian actually went to the study. Zhou Chuanqing and Chu Xiangtian were both there. The three of them ate snacks while discussing who they could expose.
Zhou Chuanqing praised, “You’ve learned fast.”
“It’s all thanks to Brother Zhou,” Fu Tian scratched his face modestly.
Chu Xiangtian was displeased, “Zhou Chuanqing, stop filling Fu Tian’s head with your bad ideas.”
Zhou Chuanqing glanced at him, silent but his eyes clearly said: as if you have any less bad ideas.
Chu Xiangtian’s forehead veins bulged. He looked at the little Young Dongjia nibbling on pastries like a small beast and made a mental note of Zhou Chuanqing’s influence.
Fu Ji knocked and entered, placing a stack of papers on the desk before the three men. “They’ve all been submitted. These few are from Liu Shun and his group.”
He carefully pulled several sheets from the stack and put them in front of Fu Tian. When Liu Shun and the others handed in their papers, Fu Ji had memorized each one, now showing them to Fu Tian.
The smile on Fu Tian’s face faded. He picked up each paper and read silently, his lips curling coldly. On all their papers, every name except their own was written down.
“What do you think their faces will be like when they find out Steward Li already confessed?” Zhou Chuanqing snapped his fan in his palm, “Let’s go watch.”
Fu Tian finished reviewing the rest. The names were scattered, but most wrote down Liu Shun and his group. Clearly, everyone knew where they stood.
“Uncle Ji, take these with you. We’re going over now to announce the results.” Fu Tian stood, smiling brightly.
Seeing that sly smile on Fu Tian’s face, Chu Xiangtian thought the Young Dongjia looked like a little beast about to go to war, arrogant and proud—somehow so likable that he wanted to pull him into his arms and squeeze him hard.
Fu Tian and Fu Ji walked away. Chu Xiangtian sighed in regret, realizing he wouldn’t be able to squeeze him just yet.
After Fu Ji left, the hall’s eerie atmosphere didn’t ease. Centered on Liu Shun and his group, everyone secretly wondered if their own names had been written down. Underneath, turmoil raged, but no one was willing to speak up.
Only when Fu Tian and company returned was the strange silence broken.
Fu Tian sat on the grandmaster chair, smiling, “I’ve read all your answers. Now let Uncle Ji count the votes, and everyone can hear the results.”
Fu Ji nodded and placed the papers on the table. Then he took a large blank sheet and began reading the votes aloud.
“Liu Shun—one vote. Yang Wu—one vote. Zhang Qi—one vote…”
His voice was steady and unchanging but struck everyone’s hearts like a heavy hammer.
Liu Shun was so frightened he slumped in his seat. The others turned pale, weakly trying to argue for Fu Tian.
“Young Dongjia, this is slander…”
Fu Tian smiled at them, even soothingly, “Everyone rest assured, I would never wrong a… good person.” He emphasized “good person.” The few who spoke froze, lowering their heads guiltily.
“Pan Chengqing—two votes…” Fu Ji finished reading and folded his arms, waiting for Fu Tian’s instructions.
“This is defamation!” Fat Steward jumped up as if burned. He was Pan Chengqing. He thought he was just watching the show but didn’t expect someone to write his name with a bad conscience.
“Young Dongjia, I’ve been framed!” Pan Chengqing laughed awkwardly. “Please be discerning and don’t be fooled by villains!”
Fu Tian kept smiling, nodding at Pan Chengqing to calm him. “Don’t worry, Steward Pan. Actually, I suddenly remembered something.”
He smiled warmly, “Steward Li later had a pang of conscience and gave me the list of accomplices. I just have a bad memory and forgot to mention it earlier…”
Pulling out Steward Li’s handwritten Confession List, Fu Tian looked innocent. “I hope no one blames me?”
Everyone:
Zhou Chuanqing bumped Chu Xiangtian lightly and whispered, “Look at that expression, learned it from you, didn’t he?”
“Holding people’s lives in his hands, smiling innocently while asking if you mind, then stabbing them in the back—that sly fox look, he really is just like you, that despicable fellow.”
Zhou Chuanqing clicked his tongue. “Like attracts like.”
Once the Confession List appeared, Liu Shun completely broke down.
Between last night’s tossing and turning and today’s invisible pressure, his nerves snapped entirely when he heard Steward Li had confessed.
If he had clung to any hope before, now he only prayed Fu Tian would go easy on him.
He scrambled to Fu Tian, sobbing, “I confess! I confess everything! Please, Young Dongjia, spare me! I still have an old mother and a newborn child at home…”
Fu Tian’s smile faded. He turned to Fu Ji, “Have them taken away, along with Steward Li’s Confession List, to be handed over to the authorities.”
“Yes.” Fu Ji gathered several burly servants and forcibly dragged Liu Shun and the others out. The remaining stewards looked on nervously at Fu Tian, who showed no sign of leaving, waiting for his next move.
Fu Tian picked up the papers on the desk and flipped through them casually. Slowly he said, “I’ve read all these…”
“I also know, besides Liu Steward and his group, there are others trying to cover themselves…”
Hearing this, everyone wiped sweat from their brows, some already lowering their heads in guilt.
“But when the water’s too clear, there are no fish.”
Fu Tian continued, “This time I won’t pursue further. But… if there’s a next time, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Everyone nodded nervously, no one daring to speak, forced to steel themselves to hear what he had to say next.
“All right, since Liu Steward and the others have been brought to justice, let’s get to the real matter.”
Fu Tian spoke calmly, “The reason I gathered you all this time is to reform some existing regulations. The results of following the old rules are clear—only more parasites breed.”
“So I have some ideas. Listen carefully. If you find anything lacking, feel free to suggest better ones…”