Сhеng Lu sаid indignаntlу, "Is this еvеn something gооd? Dо I think I’m nоt dirtу enough? Triсk уou?!"
Min Jiа gaspеd shаrрlу.
Аlthоugh she alrеady knew about this mattеr, shе nevеr eхресted Маdаm Yuаn wоuld deсeive Chеng Хu and thе Min family in suсh a waу!
A fire sееmеd tо burn in Мin Jiа’s hеart.
Hеr еxрrеssiоn turned еxtrеmеly unplеаsant.
Нaving achiеved his goal, Сhеng Lu flаshed а hint of a smile аnd bоwеd to Мin Jiа оnсе mоre. "It’s gеtting lаte. I suрpоse the Сheng fаmilу will сomе lооking fоr you soоn. I’ll take my leavе now!"
Min Jia lоoked рuzzled аnd аsked, "Yоu came to find me just to tell me this?"
What was the point of doing so?
Cheng Lu laughed heartily, his expression twisted with a hatred that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth. "As long as I can make Cheng Xu unhappy, I feel delighted!"
Min Jia was stunned, yet she had to admit there was some truth to Cheng Lu’s words.
Cheng Lu strode away arrogantly.
A guard called out, "First Madam," signaling her for instructions.
At that moment, Min Jia’s mind was in turmoil, utterly unsure of what to do. Seeing the guard’s signal, the first thought that surfaced in her mind was to quickly let this Cheng Lu leave, lest he go mad and start shouting in front of the Yuan and He families, which would spell trouble.
She couldn’t help but wave her hand at the guard.
The guard retreated.
Min Jia felt a chill run down her spine.
If Cheng Lu’s words were true, what should she do?
She was already married to Cheng Xu. The Min family had never had a woman remarry, so she had no choice but to continue living with Cheng Xu. But given Cheng Lu’s current madness, if he told her today, who knew who he might tell tomorrow? Madam Yuan and Cheng Chi were the masterminds behind this. Who could be found to stop Cheng Lu?
She couldn’t tell her natal family. Once married, she was a member of the Cheng family. Revealing the Cheng family’s disgraceful affairs to her parents and brothers would only cause them heartache. As for her sisters-in-law, they had married into the family from outside and would only mock her, making her a laughingstock.
As for her in-laws... Min Jia suddenly thought of Cheng Shao.
He was currently the most senior member of the Cheng family, both Cheng Chi’s uncle and Cheng Xu’s great-uncle. His relationship with them was neither too close nor too distant. It would be most appropriate for him to intervene.
Having made up her mind, she looked up and saw Nanny Shang hurrying over with several sturdy maidservants.
Min Jia couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
This Cheng Chi arrived really quickly!
She smiled and nodded at Nanny Shang, saying, "Nanny, you’re too late. That Cheng Xiangqing has already left."
Seeing her half-smiling, half-mocking expression, Nanny Shang’s heart sank.
Whenever this Cheng Lu appeared, nothing good ever came of it!
However, Cheng Lu’s audacity was truly excessive.
Originally, the old madam had planned for the family to visit Zhetan Temple, but the Wu family invited them to Hongluo Temple instead, explicitly stating it was to pray for a child for the newlywed young madam. Second Madam Qiu was moved upon hearing this. Later, when they learned that the Yuan and He families had also decided to offer incense at Hongluo Temple, they all went together.
It was a last-minute decision. Who would have thought they would encounter Cheng Lu?
It seemed they had been careless.
Fortunately, he had approached First Madam Xu. If he had made his way to Zhou Shaojin’s side...
Nanny Shang didn’t dare to think further.
She hurriedly smiled and said to Min Jia, "First Madam, you must have been frightened!"
Min Jia hinted meaningfully, "He saw many people gathered around me, said a few words, and then scurried away."
Nanny Shang quickly asked with concern whether she was frightened and if she needed to call a physician.Min Jia hastily dismissed Nanny Shang: "The newlywed young madam of the Wu family will be arriving shortly. We can discuss matters further when we return."
After all, they were no longer part of the same household.
Nanny Shang retreated with a smile, feeling somewhat dismissive of her.
If First Madam Xu truly believed Cheng Lu's words, then she was beyond saving. Let her stir up trouble as she pleased, as long as she didn’t bring it before Zhou Shaojin.
Fourth Master was truly formidable. He had divided the family early on; otherwise, living alongside Madam Yuan and others, with one person saying this today and another saying that tomorrow, even with Zhou Shaojin’s gentle temperament, she would likely have found it unbearable.
When she saw Cheng Chi, she couldn’t help but suggest, "Why not find an opportunity to lure him to a brothel and beat him half to death?"
That would stop him from jumping around thinking no one could control him, as if the Cheng family had no way to deal with him!
"No need," Cheng Chi replied coldly. "He has no means to harm the Cheng family now. Seeing Jiashan pass the imperial examinations, he’s simply consumed by jealousy and resentment. Since he’s targeted Jiashan, let Jiashan handle it—isn’t he planning to take an official post outside the capital? If he can’t even manage this matter, I’d say it’s better for him to stay in the capital. At least if trouble arises here, we can help clean up the mess. Once he’s out in the provinces, who knows what kind of disaster he might cause."
Moreover, if his speculations were correct, the eunuch Chen Li of the Qianqing Palace likely wasn’t innocent in the events of the previous life. Hadn’t he allowed Cheng Lu to smoothly marry into the Chen family precisely because he valued Cheng Lu’s ability to stir up trouble? Now that Cheng Lu had already made contact with the Fourth Prince’s residence, why not let their relationship grow even closer?
Cheng Chi smiled and instructed Nanny Shang, "Just make threats of violence, but be careful not to actually harm anyone."
Nanny Shang understood and replied with a knowing smile, "Yes."
Chen Li was as cunning as a fox, but this time he might just fall into Cheng Lu’s hands.
Thinking of this, Cheng Chi’s mood lifted, and he asked Nanny Shang, "Where is the madam?"
※
Zhou Shaojin was coaxing Yun Ge’er to sleep.
Yun Ge’er, who would turn one in just over twenty days, was bursting with energy. Perhaps because he had risen early to travel to Hongluo Temple, disrupting his usual routine, he refused to nap when it was time. He could roll over, crawl, and even walk while holding onto things. One moment he was crawling on all fours toward the kang table, the next he was leaning against the window lattice to look outside, never staying still for even a moment.
Before long, Zhou Shaojin was panting and covered in sweat.
She could only support Yun Ge’er as he played under the corridor.
But he insisted on standing on the beauty couch to pluck the azaleas growing beneath the corridor.
Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t allow it, so he stared at her with his big, round eyes, calling out "Mama" repeatedly, melting her heart. She began to hesitate, wondering if she should just let him pick a few flowers to play with, when Min Jia walked in, accompanied by several maids and elderly servants.
"You’re back!" With many visitors today and the temple being less convenient than home, the Cheng family members were all resting in the same courtyard. Seeing Min Jia, Zhou Shaojin greeted her.
Min Jia couldn’t help but scrutinize Zhou Shaojin.
Today, she wore a rose-red brocade vest, her delicate face adorned with eyes as clear as water, even more radiant than the azaleas in full bloom beside her. The gentleness in her brows and eyes was as serene as a mountain spring, with not a trace of gloom to be seen.
Min Jia’s heart skipped a beat.
If Zhou Shaojin were truly as Cheng Lu had described, how could she appear so carefree and at ease?The thought flashed through her mind. Min Jia couldn't help but say to Zhou Shaojin, "Just now when I went to the release pond, a man suddenly barged in, saying his name was 'Cheng Xiangqing.' He was chased out by the guards. I was just about to ask my mother-in-law who this Cheng Xiangqing is. I heard that you grew up in the Cheng family—have you ever heard of this person?"
Cheng Lu.
What is he up to now?
Just hearing his name made Zhou Shaojin feel annoyed, and she couldn't help but frown. "He was originally a distant branch of the Cheng family. Later, he was expelled from the clan due to his improper conduct..." After saying this, she asked Min Jia, "Who else knows about this? Have the Cheng family's guards been notified?"
Most of the Cheng family's guards were Cheng Chi's men. If the guards knew, Cheng Chi would know as well.
She believed Cheng Chi wouldn't allow Cheng Lu to act recklessly like this.
Zhou Shaojin's righteous and stern tone greatly surprised Min Jia, but it also felt like a basin of clear water had been poured over her mind.
She immediately realized that Cheng Lu was lying!
If what Cheng Lu said was true, Zhou Shaojin should have covered for him. Why would she speak in a tone that left everything to Cheng Chi to handle? Even if Cheng Lu's words were true, he might have only mentioned things that were favorable to himself. As for what he had actually done, he hadn't said a word.
In other words, Cheng Xu might not be as despicable and shameless as Cheng Lu had claimed.
Min Jia suddenly felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she let out a long sigh of relief.
"Nanny Shang rushed over," she said with a smile. "But that Cheng Xiangqing had already run away."
Since Nanny Shang already knew, Cheng Chi must have known as well.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Min Jia still standing there looking at her, she immediately understood clearly that Cheng Lu must have said something to Min Jia.
Rumors stop with the wise, but there is also the saying that many mouths can melt metal.
After thinking for a moment, she still said to Min Jia, "If you have doubts in your heart, why not ask Master Xu? After all, you are husband and wife."
If a husband and wife lack the most basic trust, how can they live together?
Min Jia understood the implication of her words.
She thought of Zhou Shaojin's obedience to Cheng Chi.
Was it because of this that they were so deeply in love as a couple?
But Cheng Lu liked Zhou Shaojin—even she could see that... Which of Cheng Lu's words were true? And which were false?
Min Jia felt a terrible headache.
In the end, she decided to ask Cheng Xu.
At the very least, she wanted Cheng Xu to know that she wasn't a fool and wasn't completely ignorant of his affairs.
But when she walked to Cheng Xu's study, intending to ask him, she saw him in a blue robe, tidying up the study with a lonely expression on his face. The prepared questions she had readied suddenly felt difficult to voice, and instead, she unconsciously adopted a more consultative tone: "Yesterday, when I went to the Great Conch Temple, I was releasing creatures by the release pond when someone suddenly rushed out..." She told Cheng Xu everything about her encounter with Cheng Lu.
Cheng Xu looked at her in surprise.
Shouldn't anyone who encountered such a thing confide in the person closest and most trusted to them?
He and Madam Min treated each other with respect and courtesy—why would she tell him these things?
What was her true intention in saying this to him?
Cheng Xu put down the book in his hand, faced Min Jia, and said solemnly, "What do you want to say?"
Hadn't she already thought it through before coming?
Why did it suddenly feel so difficult to say now?Min Jia pursed her lips, raised her head, and looked earnestly into Cheng Xu's eyes, saying, "I just want to know if what Cheng Lu said is true? Did you really bully Lady Zhou? Did Uncle Chi really take advantage of the situation and marry Lady Zhou?"
Cheng Xu curled the corner of his mouth and sneered, "What if it's true? What if it's false?"
He actually had such an attitude!
Min Jia was so angry she could spit blood, but thinking that since she had already confronted Cheng Xu, if she backed down now, she might never know the truth in her lifetime, and this matter would forever remain a thorn in her heart.
※
Dear readers, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel