Bao Hui's speeches had become increasingly polished.
In just half a year, he had earned quite a reputation throughout Yellow Dog County.
Perhaps more than a constable, Bao Hui was better suited to being a propagandist.
Whenever he reached an emotional point in his speeches, Bao Hui would be moved to tears, leading the arrest warrant officers present to applaud.
He even brought along a few of Zhu Xiaosuo's neighbors to testify how incorrigible Xiaosuo was.
People called Bao Hui "the first mortal to battle against immortals."
When Zhu Xiaosuo heard about it, he had no reaction.
What reaction could he have?
When the wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push, especially when Bao Hui was about to be crushed by it.
He knew where Bao Hui got the courage to insult him like this.
There was definitely someone backing him.
The Niu Clan, or the Ma Clan, or perhaps even the Yang Clan.
It didn't matter anymore.
Zhu Xiaosuo's reputation plummeted rapidly.
Gradually, even the household servants began to show him less respect.
They no longer bowed when greeting him, merely nodding perfunctorily.
Especially the servants under Madam Feng.
Once, as Zhu Xiaosuo hurried back to his room, a maid carrying pastries bumped into him, spilling them all over the ground.
Seeing it was the master, the maid first tilted her head in greeting, then sarcastically said:
"Oh dear, these pastries were meant for the Grand Madam! She loves these the most. I had them specially made by the pastry chef from the north side of the county this morning. Now that they're ruined, the Grand Madam is sure to be furious!"
If the Grand Madam gets angry, won't the master get angry too?
A mere maid dared to criticize the master.
Zhu Qigao was also at a loss for words.
Perhaps this young girl had never seen Zhu Xiaosuo kill a servant.
Just as Zhu Xiaosuo was about to lose his temper, Zhu Qigao whispered:
"Master, she's Zhu Qisong's daughter."
Zhu Qisong, the newly promoted Chief Steward by Madam Feng.
He was fully responsible for managing the businesses under Madam Feng.
Since Zhu Xiaosuo's side of the business was running at a loss, sometimes he was also responsible for paying Zhu Xiaosuo's subordinates.
Of course, Zhu Xiaosuo, as the master, forced Zhu Qisong to share some funds.
One cannot easily harm the daughter of someone they owe.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaosuo snorted coldly and walked away.
The incident of Zhu Xiaosuo being silenced by a maid quickly spread throughout Mountain Chicken County.
People jokingly referred to it as "the maid who angered the immortal master."
It even reached the ears of the Niu, Ma, and Yang Clans and the County Magistrate.
They arranged a gathering specifically to mock Zhu Xiaosuo.
Niu Daijie took a sip of wine and said:
"Zhu Xiaosuo was only in the limelight for three months, and now he's even less than a maid. It's truly laughable."
Ma Weixin, the niece of the young Ma Clan master, echoed:
"Isn't that the truth? I thought he was a formidable character, but it turns out he's just a paper tiger."
Qin Ruyu also raised her glass in celebration:
"Under the combined efforts of the immortal masters from the three clans, Zhu Xiaosuo is nothing more than a clay chicken or a dog."
Seeing the two cultivators from the Yang Clan remain silent, Niu Shilin asked:
"Friends, won't you share your thoughts?"
Niu Daijie represented the Niu Clan's stance, Ma Weixin represented the Ma Clan's stance, and Qin Ruyu represented her own stance.
Someone from the Yang Clan needed to express their stance.
Yang Linqiu said:
"We came because the Niu Clan master said there was a joyous occasion to celebrate. If this is the celebration, we don't know what to say. We can only say that similar things attract each other."
Niu Daijie was displeased upon hearing this, slammed his cup down, and said:
"Zhu Xiaosuo has fallen, and your Yang Clan has also taken a bite out of the Zhu Clan. What, now that you've profited from the Zhu Clan's downfall, you want to pretend to be a saint?"
Ma Weixin added:
"Exactly. People always criticize our Ma Clan, but at least we're consistent inside and out. Unlike some, who pretend to be virtuous while being full of deceit."
Yang Shuru retorted:
"Niu Daijie has Niu Shilin to back him up, I can't beat him, I admit. But who are you, Ma Weixin? When I was young, I could strip your aunt and hang her up, and I can do the same to you now."
With just a simple statement, Ma Weixin was left speechless.
She glanced at her aunt Ma Baoying, whose face was extremely displeased, indicating that what Yang Shuru said was true.
Niu Shilin intervened:
"Alright, we came to talk about happy things, why are we arguing? Let's not talk about it, let's eat and drink!"
Qin Ruyu quickly chimed in:
"Yes, yes, we're all immortals, no need to make things awkward, right? Come, let me show you a trick!"
"The County Magistrate has such skills?"
"Hey, without some tricks, I wouldn't be at this table..."
The meal ended awkwardly and unhappily.
Without the pressure from the Zhu Clan, the alliance among the Niu, Ma, and Yang cultivators quickly fell apart.
They once again fell into a whirlpool of open and covert struggles.
In the endless oppression, Zhuang Yun had been gone for almost nine months.
The subsequent events finally stabilized.
Zhu Xiaosuo's influence had been reduced to negligible levels.
For him, Mountain Chicken County no longer had a place for him.
He was a man of dignity, and everyone was waiting for him to announce his departure.
He had publicly expressed his intention to leave.
One reason was the ostracism.
Another reason was that Madam Feng had given birth.
The upper echelons and cultivators of Mountain Chicken County knew this was Zhuang Yun's child.
But Madam Feng was still the Grand Madam of the Zhu Clan.
And Zhu Xiaosuo's stepmother.
A widow should still maintain her image and the Zhu Clan's reputation.
Zhu Xiaosuo originally thought so.
He overestimated Madam Feng's dignity.
Madam Feng gave birth to a son, named Zhuang Yingdi.
Zhuang, as in Zhuang Yun.
She openly announced that the Zhu Clan's Grand Madam had given birth to a child for someone with the surname Zhuang.
It was undoubtedly a slap in Zhu Xiaosuo's face.
But Zhu Xiaosuo still had no reaction.
Madam Feng had already taken control of almost the entire Zhu Clan.
And now she had given birth to a son with the surname Zhuang.
Combined with Zhu Xiaosuo's fallen state.
The Zhu Clan changing its surname to Zhuang was already a foregone conclusion.
Madam Feng not only wanted to seize power but also wanted to drive Zhu Xiaosuo away.
With her own son, Zhu Xiaosuo naturally became an eyesore.
If Zhu Xiaosuo left now, he could still take some family assets with him.
If he waited until Zhuang Yun broke through and was then forced out, he would truly be a stray dog.
After Madam Feng gave birth, she held a grand banquet and invited Zhu Xiaosuo.
Zhu Xiaosuo gladly attended.
At the banquet, Madam Feng's complexion was exceptionally good.
Having given birth, her face was rosy, likely due to the medicinal care left by Zhuang Yun.
She was all smiles towards Zhu Xiaosuo.
In front of everyone, she handed over the deeds to the two cloth shops and the contracts of selling oneself of the staff and owners to Zhu Xiaosuo.
She spoke of family unity, but her words hinted that he should leave with dignity.
Zhu Xiaosuo nodded.
Indicating he understood.
Everyone knew he was a man of dignity.
Madam Feng believed that since he was a man of dignity and she had left him with dignity, he should take the hint and leave gracefully.