Zou Yuzhen was overjoyed and bowed with his hands folded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Jiang." Only Zou Jiang dared to see County Magistrate Zou at this time. If it were someone else, they would definitely not dare to disturb County Magistrate Zou’s good mood. "Old Master, Third Young Master has returned. These are some articles he wrote; please take a look," Zou Jiang said, bowing his head without looking at Zhong Cuilan, and he placed the articles on the desk. "Third Young Master said he has already reprimanded the Lu Family People, and the men of the Lu Family have been much more honest and dare not cause trouble anymore. Please rest assured, Old Master." County Magistrate Zou glanced at the few folded white papers and then withdrew his gaze, looking at Zhong Cuilan’s belly. He said, "Tell him I know, let him go back first, and come to pay respects tomorrow." County Magistrate Zou used to dote on Zou Yuzhen because Zou Yuzhen was born to him in his later years and was clever. But now Lan’er was pregnant, and the child in her belly was his true late-born son, the testament to his valor. Moreover, the Lu Family was always causing him trouble, and he was annoyed with the Lu Family. He simply gave Brother Zhen’er the cold shoulder to make the family understand his stance. Zou Jiang would not go against County Magistrate Zou’s wishes. He bowed and replied, "Yes." He turned to leave and communicated County Magistrate Zou’s words to Zou Yuzhen. Upon hearing this, Zou Yuzhen’s heart sank, and he glanced towards the study’s doorway. When he heard Zhong Cuilan’s insincere remark, "Old Master, why doesn’t Lan’er step out so that you can see Third Young Master first, after all, he is the young son you have doted on for many years," his eyes filled with a cold light. Hmph! This despicable woman Zhong Cuilan, one day he would let her know who truly is the master of Zou Mansion. "Yes, Yuanfei will head back now and will come tomorrow to pay respects to father. Uncle Jiang, you’ve worked hard," said Zou Yuzhen, bowing towards the door of the study, his voice louder and filled with respect, "Your son will take his leave first." Zou Yuzhen had a setback in the study, and Zou Yuwan did not have any better luck with Mrs. Zou. Mrs. Zou had been suppressed by Concubine Lu for twenty years, and recently she had finally been able to hold her head high. Seeing Zou Yuwan arrive, she took her time to berate her thoroughly, making Zou Yuwan cry bitterly before letting her leave. Both siblings came away with nothing and had very ugly expressions on their faces when they arrived at Concubine Lu’s Haitang Courtyard. Concubine Lu was still grounded, but Zou Yuzhen and his sister could visit her. "Third Master, Fifth Miss, please come in quickly. The concubine has been waiting for you," the maid Chanzhi said excitedly at the sight of them, hurrying them into the main room of Haitang Courtyard, and even before they entered the room, she shouted, "Concubine, Mrs. Han, Third Master, Fifth Miss have arrived." Brother Zhen’er, Sister Wan, you’ve finally returned. If you hadn’t come back soon, mother would have sent someone to pick you up," Concubine Lu hurriedly greeted them and took the hands of Zou Yuzhen and Zou Yuwan, her eyes reddening as she spoke. "Nanny, mind your words. Third Master and Fifth Miss’s mother is Mrs. Zou, you’re only a concubine," Mrs. Han reminded from the side. Knowing that Mrs. Han was looking out for her, Concubine Lu quickly responded, "Nanny’s reminder is right; I was too quick with my words and made a mistake." Although the title was a minor issue, her position was currently at a disadvantage. If Mrs. Zou caught her on this, it would be enough to cause her significant trouble. She then asked the siblings, "How is your third uncle... How is Young Master Lu San’s health? Is there a hope for his recovery?" In terms of legitimacy, Brother Zhen’er and Sister Wan’s uncles were Mrs. Zou’s brothers, not any of her own brothers from the Lu Family. Zou Yuzhen frowned. At a time , the concubine was still thinking about the Lu Family People. "Young Master Lu San is doing well," Zou Yuzhen replied perfunctorily, and asked Concubine Lu, "What’s the deal with Zhong Cuilan? Haven’t you and Mrs. Han figured out a way to deal with her yet? Today, she actually entered father’s study; that is a vital place in the mansion, where in the past, only you could enter. Now she has gone in, which shows that father’s affection for her is deepening. Moreover, she was sent by the Old Master’s wife, she’s one of her people, and if this threat is not removed, life will be hard for the three of us." Speaking of Zhong Cuilan, a murderous gleam appeared in Concubine Lu’s eyes: "That wench has a good body and has completely enchanted the old man. Let her be arrogant for a while, soon enough, she will be our footstool, forced to do whatever we say." Zou Yuzhen heard the implication in Concubine Lu’s words and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by this, concubine? Could it be that you have got something on Zhong Cuilan?" Zou Yuwan also listened with excitement, quickly asking, "Is it true, concubine? You really have something on Zhong Cuilan? What is it, please tell us." Zou Yuzhen frowned upon hearing this, regretting that he had asked too soon and forgot that Zou Yuwan was there. He said to Zou Yuwan, "You don’t need to know too much about this matter. Go back and rest first, the concubine and I still have things to discuss." Zou Yuwan looks clever, but in reality, she is foolish and cannot keep a secret; we cannot let her know too much about this. Dissatisfied, Zou Yuwan complained to Concubine Lu, "Look at Third Brother, he still doesn’t trust me." "Go back!" Zou Yuzhen’s face turned cold, and he scolded, "Don’t make me repeat myself." Seeing Zou Yuzhen’s changed expression, Zou Yuwan dared not stay any longer and could only leave in grievance. After Zou Yuwan left, Zou Yuzhen sent Maid Chanzhi away before asking Concubine Lu, "Concubine, what exactly did you and nanny find out?" Concubine Lu sat on the soft couch, leaning slightly, her voice laced with triumph, "No need to investigate; from the moment she got pregnant, nanny and I knew her death is not far off." Zou Yuzhen’s eyes narrowed as he listened, "What do you mean, concubine? Are you saying the child in Zhong Cuilan’s belly isn’t father’s?" Concubine Lu laughed, "Heh, my son, do you think it’s possible? With all the women that old man has, how many years has it been since you’ve had a new brother or sister? What qualification does Zhong Cuilan have to receive such fortune?" Even though Zhong Cuilan is a rarely seen vixen and her body is such that once a man touches her, he cannot let go, there’s no reason she should be pregnant upon just entering the household. Besides, the old man has been impotent for more than a decade; if someone he was with could still get pregnant, it must mean he’s been cuckolded. Zou Yuzhen had not realized County Magistrate Zou was impotent; he just thought the old man was too old to have children, and that Zhong Cuilan, in order to secure her position in the mansion, sought seed from another, which resulted in her pregnancy. After all, it wouldn’t be surprising if Zhong Cuilan did such a thing. Last time he encountered her in the garden, he took the opportunity to grope her several times. That lowly woman only verbally objected, saying not to do so, but she didn’t try to evade and even pressed her serpentine body against his hand. "Whose bastard is it? Who did she steal from?" Zou Yuzhen said, "We need to find this person fast to take care of Zhong Cuilan." We must do it before she continues to bewitch the old man, causing him to think even less of the concubine. Concubine Lu said, "I haven’t found out yet, but rumor has it that she’s had an unclear relationship with her foster father’s second son... After serving the old man for two days, she mentioned something about returning to her parents’ home as a newlywed, to show gratitude or whatever. Humph, after going back, she must have done something with that second brother; otherwise, she wouldn’t be pregnant." "There’s one more thing..." Concubine Lu lowered her voice, taking malicious pleasure, "I heard that the two Elders once went to that old hag’s house."