“Uncle Harris, has someone been giving you trouble again?”

Henry Clark called out loudly.

“N-no…”

Old Butler grew even more flustered.

At this moment, Henry Clark didn’t believe him at all. Without another word, he took a big stride, walked around the table, and moved to the old man’s left side. Instantly, a large, dark bruise, swollen high, came into view.

Boom!

Seeing this bruise, Henry Clark’s heart shook violently. A soft spot deep inside him suddenly twitched, as if struck by a heavy blow.

“These beasts, they even laid hands on you!”

Henry Clark’s eyes instantly turned blood-red, his whole body trembling with rage. He finally understood why Uncle Harris had been acting so strangely today, and why he had deliberately turned his face while speaking.

These past years, his situation within the clan had been difficult, often facing deliberate trouble and humiliation from many people. But as long as it wasn’t too much, he always told himself to endure it. But why would these people target an old man?!

“David Clark! It was David Clark, wasn’t it? Was he behind this? That bastard!”

Henry Clark was furious beyond measure.

Within the clan, the one who targeted him the most, and who was capable of such things, was only him.

“I will never let him off.”

With eyes red, Henry Clark turned and left.

“Young master, you mustn’t!”

Old Butler hadn’t expected Henry Clark to be so agitated. Deeply anxious, he hurriedly grabbed Henry Clark.

“This has nothing to do with David Clark. This time, it was my own carelessness—I tripped and fell on the road. Young master, please don’t go.”

But Henry Clark wouldn’t listen at all. Old Butler gritted his teeth and finally said, “Young master, even if not for yourself, you must think of the late master and madam!”

Buzz!

Hearing these words, Henry Clark shuddered all over, as if struck by lightning.

“Young master, this old servant is already advanced in years and won’t live much longer. My only wish is to see you succeed, so that the master and madam can be comforted in the afterlife.”

Old Butler sighed.

Outside, the wind howled. With his back to the old man, Henry Clark said nothing, but tears streamed from his eyes.

His father had served as an official in the court, but over eight years ago, he had suddenly died in an accident away from home. After that, his mother also passed away in grief. This had always been the greatest pain in Henry Clark’s heart, something he could never forget.

Who doesn’t long for a loving father and mother, for family happiness? But Henry Clark could not. Losing his parents so early forced him to grow up quickly.

How could a son ignore the kindness of his parents?

His father’s death had been suspicious, and more than once, Henry Clark had wanted to go out and investigate the truth.

But Pingchuan County was on the frontier, truly far from the reach of the emperor. The road leading out was fraught with danger—fierce wild beasts, bandits ruling the mountains, murderous demons, evil cultivators, and cultists.

Without expert protection, it was almost certain death. Henry Clark was just a bookish scholar with no strength to even truss a chicken. If he went rashly, it would be a road to ruin, all for nothing.

Faintly, Old Butler’s voice came to his ears:

“…In just a few months, it will be time for the imperial examination. You’ve prepared so long for this day. The clan forbids private fighting—if, because of me, ‘the Madam’ seizes this as an excuse, all your efforts will be wasted. All our years of hardship would be for nothing! How could I, this old servant, ever face you again?”

Henry Clark’s heart shook violently, torn between conflicting emotions. At last, he let out a long sigh and lowered his hand.

“Uncle Harris, don’t worry. I know what to do. I won’t let ‘that woman’ have her way.”

When he mentioned the Madam, a deep hatred flashed in Henry Clark’s eyes.

Those “uncles and aunts” coveting Henry Clark’s family property, along with David Clark, were merely pawns acting on someone’s orders. The true mastermind was the “Madam,” the direct descendant of the clan.

She was the root of all Henry Clark’s “misfortunes.” Everything that had happened to him was thanks to her!

Over eight years ago, when his parents were still alive, Henry Clark had called her “Aunt.” Back then, she didn’t have the status she held now.

But later, as she gradually gained power in the clan, her status rose, and she became known to all as the “Madam.”

Her character was cold, ruthless, and vengeful. For the slightest offense, she would beat or kill maids and servants. When Henry Clark’s mother was alive, she had clashed with her many times over such matters, earning her deep resentment.

Love for the house extends to the crow on its roof; hatred for the house extends to the crow as well!

After his mother’s death, Henry Clark became the target of her anger.

Though there was no direct evidence, Henry Clark knew in his heart that everything aimed at him was done at the Madam’s instigation.

If not for the clan’s rules, set by the ancestors, that woman would have had fewer scruples. Henry Clark didn’t know if he would even be alive today.

Over the long years, Henry Clark had learned to be cautious and patient. He knew deeply that without great strength, he could never stand against that woman.

“A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years. I am weak now, but I won’t always be. One day, I’ll make that woman pay the price.”

Henry Clark took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and sat back down.