Chapter 44: Lady Zheng’s Tears Overflow, Sending People to Investigate the Fang Family

Chapter 44: Lady Zheng's Tears Overflow, Sending People to Investigate the Fang Family

These were scars left behind after healing; they couldn't be removed in just a few short months.

And also, also... Why were there so many knife wounds on her left hand?

Seeing Lady Zheng examining her injuries, Zheng Jinyu abruptly pulled her hand back.

Lady Zheng paused, then tugged her hand back again.

"What's going on here?"

Zheng Jinyu forced a smile, "Mother, it's nothing. I accidentally did this to myself a long time ago."

But these scars seemed to have been there for years. How old could she have been back then?

What was the Fang family thinking? How could they let such a young child handle a dangerous object like a knife?

Madam Zheng was furious, her anger leaving her breathless.

"Someone, come here."

She summoned her maid to enter.

"Madam."

"Go and invite a physician over."

"As you wish."

Zheng Jinyu interjected hastily, "Mother, those wounds are years old and have long since healed. There's no need to call a physician."

"No, we must have a doctor examine them," Mrs. Zheng insisted.

While awaiting the physician, Mrs. Zheng inquired about Zheng Jinyu's childhood.

But Zheng Jinyu gracefully brushed off the questions with a smile, repeatedly insisting that she was perfectly fine.

The more she acted this way, the more heartbroken Lady Zheng became, and the more convinced she was that the Fang family were inhumane.

Regrettably, when she had dispatched Nurse Xu to fetch Jinxiu, she had given the Fangs a substantial amount of silver.

The money was meant to express gratitude for their care of Jinyu, and also to ensure that Jinxiu wouldn't be sent back – effectively buying her freedom from the Fangs.

But now, she regretted that decision.

She had nurtured the Fangs' daughter with such care, only for them to torment her own flesh and blood, filling her with indignation.

Shortly after, the physician arrived.

"Physician, can you tell how old these scars are?"

The physician, seasoned in his craft, examined them and pointed at one. "This one must be about four or five years old, wouldn't you say?"

Zheng Jinyu nodded in agreement.

Then the physician continued, "And this one, it has to be around a decade old, doesn't it?"

Zheng Jinyu fell silent.

Madam Zheng was heartbroken.

"More than ten years? How old were you back then? How did this happen?"

Under Madam Zheng's pressing, Zheng Jinyu reluctantly revealed the truth.

She whispered, "I was cutting pig grass."

Has she been cutting pigweed for ten years?

Madam Zheng felt her world crumble, her body on the verge of collapsing.

"Doctor, please take another look at these," she requested desperately.

The physician examined the darker scars.

He replied, "These appear to be remnants of frostbite that has healed."

Chilblains?

Madam Zheng's mind was filled with the image of a three- or four-year-old girl cutting pig feed in the freezing winter up in the mountains.

Madam Zheng tottered again and plopped down onto her chair.

She gave the physician a generous sum of silver, asking him to keep his mouth shut when he left.

The physician assured her that it was a basic ethical code for doctors not to divulge patients' information indiscriminately.

She instructed her servants to send Zheng Jinyu back home and then locked herself in her chamber, not emerging for the entire afternoon.

Madam Zheng didn't disclose these events to Master Zheng; instead, she quietly left the house the following day.

Chunmei reported, "Miss, the coachman said that Madam has gone outside the city, to a manor about ten miles away."

"Who did she go to see?"

"I'm not sure. It's rumored that manor is involved in espionage activities."

Zheng Jinyu understood - Lady Zheng must have spent money to hire someone to investigate her past in Fang Village.

Exactly, Zheng Jinyu smiled.

What Madam Zheng uncovered herself and what she chose to reveal carried an entirely different weight.

She wasn't being overly sensitive or lodging complaints. She was the wronged and abused one. For the sake of family harmony and to spare Zheng Jinxiu from guilt, she bore the suffering herself while maintaining an illusion of peace.

As an esteemed translator of both Chinese and English novels, I am currently engaged in rendering a historical palace intrigue romance novel, replete with courtly elements. Please provide the text you would like me to translate elegantly and accurately into English.

"Miss Second, Lady wishes to see you in the main courtyard."

"Oh, what's the matter?"

"I've heard that Prince Chen has returned, and the Princess' residence has sent an invitation."

Zheng Jinyu was taken aback. Xie Peiyu was back?

Perfect, it's time to address some matters.

When Zheng Jinyu arrived at the main courtyard, Lady Zheng was holding an invitation in distress.

The problem was that the invitation mentioned only her and her youngest daughter, Jinyu, but not Jinxiu.

How would Jinxiu react to this?

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"You're here. Come, sit down quickly."

Madam Zheng placed the invitation before her and said, "Look, this is an invitation sent from the Princess's residence. Tomorrow, you and I should pay a visit."

Upon seeing only her own and Madam Zheng's names on the invitation, Zheng Jinyu almost chuckled.

However, she held back and frowned slightly. "Is Sister Jinxiu not going?"

"Ai!" Madam Zheng let out a long sigh. "Yes, that's what worries me. I wonder what could be on the Princess's mind, inviting only the two of us and leaving out Jinxiu."

Zheng Jinyu remained silent.

Wondering what the Imperial Princess is thinking? Didn't she make it clear during her last visit?

Seems like you've forgotten that.

Madam Zheng continued her one-sided conversation, "But if the Imperial Princess considers Jinxiu as family, then there's no need to send an invitation, for it would seem distant, wouldn't it?"

Zheng Jinyu: "..." No, this self-deception of yours is just too amusing.

And she even asked if it was right. She didn't know how to respond.

"Prepare yourself well for tomorrow, and you may leave now." Lady Zheng waved her hand, dismissing her daughter.

After a while, it was heard that Zheng Jinxiu had been summoned again. Zheng Jinyu merely smiled, refraining from any comment.

Let her go, let her embarrass herself.

Lady Zheng pretended ignorance, and the following day, she accompanied her two elegantly dressed daughters to the residence of the Imperial Princess.

In the carriage, Zheng Jinxiu chattered non-stop, with eight out of ten sentences somehow relating to Prince Chen.

With a gentle smile on her lips, Zheng Jinyu carefully chose her words to flatter her sister as she recalled their limited past interactions, essentially using it as a form of subtle intimidation.

"I truly envy you, Sister. Your relationship with Prince Chen is so affectionate."

Zheng Jinxiu blushed and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense. Whenever Prince Chen visits the Zheng residence, he's actually looking for Elder Brother."

Oh, so you're aware of that, are you?

You make it sound like Prince Chen took the trouble to come and see you specially.

Madam Zheng chuckled. "Alright, alright, you're almost there. We've arrived at the Princess's residence."

Their voices faded, and Zheng Jinxiu lifted the curtain to gaze outside, where the magnificent princess residence came into view.

Madam Zheng alighted from the carriage first.

The manager of the Imperial Princess's household was waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lady Zheng, he was quite pleased; but when he spotted Zheng Jinxiu alighting from the carriage as well, his smile became rather forced.

Yet, there were some things that couldn't be said outright.

As the steward invited Madam Zheng and the two Misses Zheng into the residence, he also discreetly signaled to a servant boy to hurry and inform the Imperial Princess of the situation.

Upon receiving the news, the Imperial Princess was rather displeased.

"Why is she sticking to me like a persistent plaster? We didn't invite her, so why is she here? Send her away."

Steward: "Ah? P-Princess, isn't that... rather inappropriate?"

"And what's wrong with that? Am I, an Imperial Princess, not even allowed to dismiss someone without considering others' opinions?"

The steward appeared quite perplexed.

Countess Xie Jingrou interjected, "Mother, if we were to form an alliance with the Zheng family, they would become our relatives. She might even become Yu'er's aunt. It wouldn't be proper to send her away."

The Long Princess gazed intently, then curled her lips. "If that's how you feel, then let's drop the matter. Her audacity is truly something."