Chapter 60: Letting You Come with Me to the Frontier

Chapter 60: Letting You Come with Me to the Frontier

Zheng Jinyu: "..." How did her address for Lady Zheng turn into mother-in-law?

"There's no point in doing all this when our families' affairs will be made public sooner or later. It only invites ridicule."

Lady Zheng gritted her teeth, anger boiling inside but unable to express it.

After much contemplation last night, she had devised a plan that would benefit both sides.

Not only could she switch the bride to be married to Prince Chen to Jinyu, but she could also minimize the damage to Jinxiu's reputation.

However, this plan required the cooperation of the Imperial Princess.

"Imperial Princess, why don't we ask the children to leave so we can speak privately?"

"Very well, my future daughter-in-law."

The Imperial Princess instructed the servants, "Take Second Miss out for a stroll, and all of you, withdraw."

"Yes, Imperial Princess."

Zheng Jinyu followed the maid out, feeling a tinge of regret that she wouldn't hear the gossip between her mother and the Imperial Princess.

"Imperial Princess, it's like this: you see, our two families have had a long-standing relationship, haven't we? It's been quite amicable, wouldn't you agree?"

The Imperial Princess looked at her guardedly. "Speak your mind directly. Don't try to cozy up to this princess. The one with a good relationship with your Zheng family is the late patriarch of the Xie family, who has been gone for many years."

Mrs. Zheng was taken aback.

She had just called the Imperial Princess her daughter-in-law, but now she wasn't giving her any respect.

And who was trying to cozy up just now?

"For the sake of both our families' reputations, I would like to ask for the Imperial Princess's cooperation in putting on a show."

The Imperial Princess replied, "How dare you! This princess is no actress."

Mrs. Zheng hurriedly explained, "That's not what I meant. Your sudden request to replace someone from our family could harm Jinxiu and Jinyu's reputation. Others might speculate wildly about Jinxiu's character, making it difficult for her to marry in the future."

"Well, you could tell the truth to the public and announce that our two daughters were switched at birth. Our Princess's residence is meant to marry the true legitimate daughter, not an impostor. Wouldn't that solve the issue?"

"Ah... No, no, if it gets out that she isn't our biological child, we'd have to choose a husband for her as if she were an adopted daughter."

The Imperial Princess scoffed with a mocking smile. "So you're saying you still have to deceive others?"

Mrs. Zheng: "..."

"Very well, as you said, the girl is innocent and pitiful. If this matter escalates, it wouldn't bode well for Yu'er or Jinyu's reputation. Then, I'll cooperate with you. Tell me, how do you need my cooperation?"

"I will announce that she is ill." Mrs. Zheng had spent the whole night thinking of this solution.

"Think of a way to have her return to Xingyang and stay there for two or three years, pretending to be sick. The Imperial Princess is eager to have a daughter-in-law. Meanwhile, remind everyone of the promise made by our great-grandfather, who betrothed a child in the womb. It could've been either Jinxiu or Jinyu since there were two in the womb. Since Jinxiu's illness persists, the Zheng family worries about delaying Prince Chen's marriage, thus proposing the change of bride. This reason can mitigate the impact on Jinxiu's reputation when calling off the engagement. What do you think?"

"Mother-in-law means that you will be the ones to bring up the change of bride?"

"Indeed."

"Alright then, but don't drag it out for too long. Also, keep a close eye on Zheng Jinxiu. Don't let her harass my son again, or I won't hesitate to turn against you."

Madam Zheng: "..." What does she mean my daughter is bothering her son? If it weren't for her schemes, would things have become so awkward? If she weren't an Imperial Princess, I'd surely give her a piece of my mind.

Despite her anger, Madam Zheng maintained a polite facade and expressed her gratitude repeatedly.

...

The maid from the Princess's residence had originally been showing Zheng Jinyu around the courtyard. As they wandered, they ended up in a yard filled with towering bamboo, only for the maid to suddenly vanish.

Confused, Zheng Jinyu looked around but couldn't spot anyone. The maid who had been right behind her seemed to have disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Hey, hey, is anyone there?"

As her voice echoed, a melodious flute tune drifted from the depths of the bamboo grove.

Following the sound of the flute, Zheng Jinyu soon spotted a figure dressed in green.

Who else could it be but Xie Peiyu?

She would give him a perfect score of 99 for his performance, but held back that last point for fear that he might become too arrogant.

Zheng Jinyu was no fool; she immediately guessed that it was all part of a scheme.

The maid from the princess's residence had brought her here, assisting Xie Peiyu in his attempts to woo her.

But why? She truly couldn't understand why Xie Peiyu would be interested in her.

"Princess Chen, your highness," Zheng Jinyu greeted him with a composed bow.

The flute music across the way ceased, and through the rows of lush green bamboo, the two gazed at each other from a distance.

"I inadvertently lost my maid. Would it be too much trouble for Prince Chen to guide me out?"

Xie Peiyu was taken aback, studying her intently before asking, "Is that all you have to say to me?"

Zheng Jinyu responded, "What else is there?"

"You didn't consider the possibility that the maid was arranged by me, deliberately bringing you here?"

Zheng Jinyu gave a cold smile. "I did consider it, but I'm playing along as if I haven't."

"Does Prince Chen have something he wishes to discuss with me privately? Please speak your mind."

Her eyes were clear and composed, giving off an air of seriousness.

This left Xie Peiyu in a state of mixed emotions, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"You must be aware of the marriage between us, yes?"

Zheng Jinyu remained calm and collected. "Mm, I've heard about it."

However, her family was soon to relocate as well. Once this battle was over, Xie Peiyu would request from the Emperor to garrison the frontier, thus taking his mother, the Imperial Princess, and his sister, the County Princess, away from the capital.

"Why did you choose me?" Zheng Jinyu inquired.

Xie Peiyu, however, didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he said, "We'll be leaving soon."

Zheng Jinyu was taken aback, not expecting him to bring up this matter.

But she wasn't overly surprised.

"After this battle, I plan to stay in the south to guard the region. Our entire family will move there."

Zheng Jinyu asked, "Have you discussed this with the Imperial Princess?"

Xie Peiyu shook his head. "No, I intend to talk to her after the battle is over. She won't disagree."

In ancient times, women followed their father's wishes at home, their husband's after marriage, and their son's after their husband's death.

Even the esteemed Imperial Princess was no exception.

Thus, she usually wouldn't oppose Xie Peiyu's decisions.

If he said he wanted to relocate the whole family to guard the south, the Imperial Princess would follow.

"I don't agree. It's too far away, and I can't bear to leave my parents. Prince Chen, why don't you just call off the engagement? Just say that you're going south and Zheng Jinxiu isn't willing to go, so both families' engagements are dissolved. It would be for the best for everyone."

Xie Peiyu looked at her with a gentle smile and shook his head. "No, our family won't back out of the engagement."

"You…" Zheng Jinyu was somewhat angered. "I've said that I don't want to leave my parents."

"If it were Zheng Jinxiu saying that, I might believe it. But you? Hah, you haven't spent much time with them and don't have deep ties. Your inability to leave is a pretense; the truth is, you're unwilling to come with me, isn't it?"

Zheng Jinyu was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Since you already know, why ask? The fact is, I'm unwilling to go with you. Besides, my parents only recently found me. They would be too reluctant to part with me. They wouldn't agree to this."

Zheng Jinyu believed that presenting this reasoning to Old Master Zheng and Lady Zheng would not only dissolve the marriage proposal from the princess's residence but also protect Zheng Jinxiu's reputation. They would surely consent to it.