Chapter 62: Crying Won’t Help

Chapter 62: Crying Won't Help

Old Master Zheng added, "We're doing this for your own good. How could your father and mother harm you? I promise, as long as you're willing to return, within three years at most, we'll come to Xingyang ourselves to bring you back."

Zheng Jinxiu understood that crying was futile now.

She was just unwilling to accept it.

She had lived with them for so many years, yet she couldn't compete with Zheng Jinyu, who had only returned a few months ago.

Was bloodline truly that significant? Why did they have to send her away? Why did she have to make way for Zheng Jinyu?

"Dad, Mom, I understand. This is what I owe to Younger Sister Jinyu. She pretended to be ill and lived outside for fourteen years. Now... now it's my turn. It's time for me to atone for my sins."

Mrs. Zheng looked at Old Master Zheng with sadness.

He sighed. "If that's how you want to think of it, then so be it. Remember, whatever we do is for your own good. We're sending you away precisely because we don't want to give up on you."

Zheng Jinxiu sniffled. "Dad, I understand. This is my fate."

Zheng Jinxiu consented, prompting the servants to start packing for their departure.

Zhou, who had earlier boasted about effortlessly dealing with a rural girl, now cowered with her head lowered.

Zheng Jinxiu shot her a mocking glance. "Nanny, I trusted you so much, thinking you were so capable. Yet what happened? You couldn't do anything in the face of their decision. Father and Mother are still favoring Zheng Jinyu more and more. Even Prince Chen wants her instead of me. Now, I'm being sent away to live under someone else's roof in Xingyang. What can you possibly say at this point?"

Since Zheng Jinxiu was to be sent back to her hometown in Xingyang, this old woman would have to follow.

Their entire life of wealth and prosperity relied on Zheng Jinxiu.

"Noble Lady, don't worry. Perhaps going back to your hometown in Xingyang could be an opportunity."

Zheng Jinxiu smiled bitterly. "What kind of opportunity?"

"In Xingyang, no one knows that you aren't truly from the Zheng family. When you get there, the matter of Prince Chen's broken engagement won't affect you. I've already investigated – the head wife of the Zheng family's main branch only has a son and no daughter. With how much everyone adores you, if you manage to win over the matriarch of the Zheng family, she could choose a better match for you than Prince Chen, wouldn't you say?"

Zheng Jinxiu replied, "Aside from the imperial princes, who else in this world could offer a better match than Prince Chen?"

"Well, you can't put it that way. The Gao imperial family has only been around for a hundred years, whereas families like the Zhengs, Cui, and Wangs have existed for centuries. The throne has changed hands several times, yet they remain untouched. The true aristocratic families hold the nouveau riche imperial Gao family in contempt."

Zheng Jinxiu's eyes brightened.

Madam Zhou continued, "Their royal family, the Gao clan, is only powerful in the capital. Once you reach Xingyang and see the true power of the noble families, the depth of their backgrounds, you might not even consider Prince Chen worthy anymore."

Zheng Jinxiu sighed. "I know you're trying to comfort me, but it's not just his royal bloodline. He's also a member of the Xie family, and the Xie family's foundation is no less impressive than the Zhengs'. "

"So what? He's just a descendant of one of the branches in the capital, not the main lineage of the Chen County Xie family."

Zheng Jinxiu thought to herself, I'm not a direct descendant either, just an adopted daughter.

Well, she was only comforting herself with all these words.

"It seems there really is no way to stay. I'm so unwilling – she's taken something that took me over a decade to obtain after being back for mere months."

Madam Zhou tried to console her, "You should look on the bright side."

"Haha, forget it. What else can I do besides think about it?" As Zheng Jinxiu spoke, more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Go call my Second Brother and Third Brother. I should properly bid them farewell."

Madam Zhou nodded. "That's right. Remember, even if you have to leave, don't let Zheng Jinyu have an easy time."

"Certainly."

Madam Zhou went to fetch Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu, informing them that Zheng Jinxiu wished to bid them farewell.

They had just learned about their parents' plan to send Zheng Jinxiu away, and before they could verify the news, they heard that their sister was going to say goodbye to them.

Without much thought, the two hurried to Jinxiu's residence.

"Jinxiu."

"Jinxiu, we've heard that Father and Mother plan to send you away. Is it true?"

Zheng Jinxiu's face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen from crying for a long time.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, it's true. They're sending me away, sending me away... Sobs."

Zheng Hongxu said indignantly, "Don't cry. I'll beg Father and Mother not to send you away."

Zheng Jinxiu held onto him. "Don't go. They love me too, but they have no choice. Don't make things difficult for them; they're doing this for my own good."

Zheng Jinxiu tactfully narrated the exaggerated account of those events to them, subtly implying that their parents had done this to clear the path for Zheng Jinyu. Of course, she also mentioned that it wasn't her parents' intention, but rather pressure from the Imperial Princess's residence, leaving them with no choice but to comply.

In their ears, however, it meant that their parents were cowards who feared offending the Imperial Princess, willing to let Jinxiu suffer for it.

As for making way for Zheng Jinyu, it was said that by leaving and using illness as an excuse to withdraw from the engagement, it would prevent rumors of Zheng Jinyu seducing her sister's husband, preserving both families' reputations.

She deliberately downplayed the fact that this was done to protect her own reputation and foster daughter status.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Hongxu and Zheng Hongqi were filled with anger, insisting on going to seek justice for her.

But Zheng Jinxiu pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"Please don't go, I beg of you. Because of me, my sister had to pretend to be sick and live outside for fourteen years, enduring much hardship. I should also pretend to be ill and live outside for a few years, as it is what I owe her."

"How can you calculate it like that? It wasn't your fault that you two were switched at birth, so why should you suffer because of her?"

"Exactly, her being switched could only mean she lacked fortune, and it's not anyone's fault."

"Yet, by persisting, we'd only burden Father and Mother further. They've raised me all these years; it's my turn to alleviate their worries. Second Brother, Third Brother, please, don't go."

The two of them were overwhelmed with guilt, believing that it should be their duty as sons to relieve their parents' burdens, not their sister's.

But since their sister had accepted her fate and was insistently blocking their way, they were powerless to act otherwise.

All they could do was rage in frustration.

Zheng Jinxiu lifted her tear-streaked gaze to look at them and ask, "Second Brother, Third Brother, I'll be away for three years. You won't forget Jinxiu, will you?"

"We certainly won't. You'll always be our little sister, the one and only."

Feeling slightly reassured, Zheng Jinxiu continued, "Don't say that. If Sister Jinyu overhears, she might feel upset."

"Hmph, you're still defending her? If not for her, why would you be sent away? If she hadn't suddenly returned, you could have married Prince Chen properly, and none of this would have happened."

"Yes, that's right, Jinxiu, you're just too kind-hearted."