Chapter 34: A Public Falling Out

Chapter 34: A Public Falling Out

After all, it was the virtuous and cunning Zheng Jinxiu, skilled in the art of pretense. In an instant, she realized that she had fallen into Zheng Jinyu's trap and promptly regained her composure. Just like Zheng Jinyu, she closed her eyes and prayed devoutly.

It was as if the fleeting glimpse of malice was merely an illusion.

Madam Zheng continued to listen to the monk's discourse.

After a while, she said she would go to the abbot to seek a fortune through a divination, instructing the two girls to pray sincerely in the meantime.

The moment she left, Zheng Jinxiu opened her eyes and whispered to Zheng Jinyu, "You're not sincere at all. You must be angry with Third Brother for what he did to you. You were probably hoping he would fail the exams, so how could you sincerely pray for his success?"

Zheng Jinyu had no idea what praying was about. She had only climbed up here out of exhaustion and was resting on the cushioned mat by kneeling.

"How do you know?" Zheng Jinyu tilted her head, smiling at her sister.

Zheng Jinxiu spoke proudly, "I knew it! I knew you were just pretending. You must be seething with jealousy over the dowry they've prepared for me, right? And you must be furious that Second Brother and Third Brother like me more than they do you. You're obviously jealous, so why do you keep trying to please everyone? Aren't you tired?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled indifferently.

Zheng Jinxiu was extremely displeased. She felt that she shouldn't be laughing—she should be crying. She should be throwing a tantrum with Lady Zheng, sobbing as she declared her status as the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family, and begging them to send her back to the Fang family so that everyone would despise her.

But she hadn't expected Zheng Jinyu to be such an adept actress. None of her provocations affected her, and she could still manage to laugh.

"What are you laughing at? Aren't you ashamed? They don't value you at all, yet you still try to curry favor with them. Even Third Brother spoke to you like that, but you still sincerely pray for his well-being. I've never seen anyone as despicable as you."

"Haha…" Zheng Jinyu suddenly burst into laughter. "How can you say that? Aren't you just like that right in front of me?"

"In front of me…" Zheng Jinxiu's voice faltered as she sputtered, "You're talking about me?"

"Huhu, isn't that so? It's hilarious! They say I'm shamelessly trying to win them over, but they're my family, we share the same blood, we're bound by the closest ties of kinship. I call them Mother and Elder Brother, and they love me—isn't that only natural? Yet you, with the Fang surname, should be called Fang Daya. Instead of pleasing your own parents, you come to fawn on someone else's—aren't you being rather cheap?"

"You..." Zheng Jinxiu's expression drastically changed. "Do you mean that?"

"Why? Can't you handle the truth?" Zheng Jinyu smirked coldly, then continued, "Moreover, that dowry belongs to the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family. Do your research and think carefully, are you the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family?"

Zheng Jinxiu's face turned ashen. "Are you saying... you want to compete with me for my dowry?"

Zheng Jinyu offered a faint smile. "Would I need to seize anything for the dowry of a legitimate daughter of the Zheng family?"

"You... Zheng Jinyu, do you dare let Mother hear these words? Do you dare let her see the true face behind your facade?"

Zheng Jinyu replied calmly, "No matter what I say or do, the blood of the Zheng family flows through my veins. I am, and always will be, Miss Zheng."

Didn't the original owner, despite their dislike for her, still receive a decent dowry when she married out?

"But you, Fang Daya, do you dare let our dear Mother hear these words of yours? Would you dare expose your true nature to her? Haha, if you don't behave, you won't be considered a daughter of the Zheng family anymore."

She was curious to see what would happen to her, Zheng Jinxiu, if she didn't win the affection of the Zheng family members.

As she spoke, a rare coldness appeared on Zheng Jinyu's face. "We're both playing our parts on this stage, each relying on our own acting skills. What are you pretending to be? If your tea ceremony is superior, I'll accept my defeat gracefully. Don't act like an innocent lotus flower after opening a tea garden, damn it."

Zheng Jinxiu didn't fully understand Zheng Jinyu's words, but she wasn't stupid. Pondering the context, she realized that Zheng Jinyu had just indirectly insulted her without using any vulgar language.

Zheng Jinxiu's face flushed with anger, and her neck turned red. Not being accustomed to using abusive language in her upbringing, she struggled for a moment before mustering two words, "Bitch."

Zheng Jinyu heard footsteps approaching and decided not to say anything further.

She cast a fleeting glance at the furious Zheng Jinxiu, whose face was now bright red, then promptly closed her eyes, feigning devout prayer.

Zheng Jinxiu was no different; she was dedicated to her role when it was necessary.

After all, she wasn't like Zheng Jinyu, who relied on her bloodline to remain in the Zheng family. Even if she wasn't favored, she wouldn't be driven out.

Zheng Jinxiu, on the other hand, solely depended on her obedience and understanding to win their affection in the Zheng family.

"Jinxiu, Jinyu, we've finished our tasks. Quickly, get up."

The two opened their eyes and rose from their seats.

On either side of Madam Zheng, they held her arms with smiling faces, as if the previous incident had never occurred.

They followed Madam Zheng's carriage back to the residence, sharing in the burden of the items she had purchased as a scapegoat.

A string of prayer beads was sent to the Old Lady's courtyard, while a jade pendant of Guan Yin was intended for Master Zheng.

Each of their sons received a Guan Yin pendant, an amulet for safety, and one for academic success, all sorted accordingly.

In addition, both Zheng Jinxiu and Zheng Jinyu received a jade Buddha pendant each.

A motley assortment of items, none of them particularly valuable. The jade pendant was ordinary, too, but the emphasis was on Madam Zheng's claim that it had been blessed.

However, Zheng Jinyu had witnessed her giving a thousand taels banknote to the monk.

To put things into perspective, thirty taels of silver sufficed for an ordinary citizen's annual expenses in the capital. Wasn't this simply throwing money away?

...

Upon returning home, Zheng Jinxiu carelessly tossed the jade Buddha aside.

Madam Zhou hurried to catch it. "Oh my, Miss, what happened? You can't just drop the jade Buddha like that."

"It's not like it's some rare treasure. Why should I cherish it?"

"You can't say that. It's been blessed."

"Hmph, that bumpkin Zheng Jinyu has one exactly like this."

Madam Zhou's expression froze.

Zheng Jinxiu said, "Before, these things were unique to me; only I had them. But now, everything is shared in twos. There's one for me and another for that wretched Zheng Jinyu. Nurse, it's just not the same anymore."

As she spoke, tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Lady Zhou comforted her, "Didn't Nurse tell you that there's no need to compare yourself with her? You won't be staying long in the Zheng family. Focusing on your husband's household affairs is what truly matters."

"I don't want to either, but I can't bear it. You have no idea how she provokes me."

She recounted the events at the temple to Lady Zhou in detail. After finishing, she cried again, "What tea art, tea plantation, and 'Innocent White Lotus of Prosperous Times'? These sound like veiled insults. She must be indirectly cursing me. Nurse, you're from the countryside too. What do country folk mean when they use such expressions?"

Madam Zhou was also perplexed. Her family and the Fangs were from the same region, and she had never heard such an insult used there.

Back then, while she was pregnant with her husband's child, he had tragically passed away. Her in-laws accused her of being a jinx, causing his death, and they expelled her from their home despite her pregnancy.

Later, she gave birth to her son, Zhou Bo, outside. Desperate and unable to survive on her own, she was rescued by Madam Zheng, who coincidentally hired her as the wet nurse for her eldest daughter.

"Perhaps she wasn't directing the insult at you?"

"It can't be. Her intention is clear, implying that I'm not the real daughter and she is. She wants to snatch everything that belongs to me. Wet Nurse, I'm so scared."