Chapter 77: Madam Zheng’s Guilt Leads Her to Gift Jinxiu with Some Shops

Chapter 77: Madam Zheng's Guilt Leads Her to Gift Jinxiu with Some Shops

No, it wasn't a mistake. She didn't hate Zheng Jinxiu yet. At this moment, her guilt was simply overshadowing her affection for Zheng Jinxiu.

Zheng Jinyu pulled her hand back. "Mother, it's all in the past. Let's not dwell on such matters anymore."

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about it. You used to…."

Zheng Jinyu's expression froze, and Madam Zheng immediately fell silent.

"I can't believe I brought it up again after promising not to."

Zheng Jinyu remained silent, sitting calmly.

People, she mused, could be truly contradictory at times.

If you constantly reminded them of your suffering, they might feel guilty at first, but eventually, they'd grow tired of it.

Yet, if you asked them not to speak of it, they would still bring it up, as if by mentioning it more often, their guilt could somehow lessen.

"Mother, my elder brothers are aware of the true nature of my entanglements with Jinxiu sister and Prince Chen, correct?"

Lady Zheng was momentarily taken aback, unsure of where this was leading, but quickly nodded, "Yes, they do. What's the matter?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled, "It's alright as long as Father, Mother, and my brothers understand. I don't concern myself with what others may say."

Lady Zheng sensed something more to her words and made a mental note of it. This was not the first time she had mentioned this, suggesting it was no mere coincidence.

However, she didn't press for details, knowing that this child had endured much hardship over the years. She had always silently suffered without complaint.

If someone were to take advantage of her silence and bully her behind closed doors, Lady Zheng could not tolerate it.

"Jinyu, you've been through so much lately. Since you enjoy managing shops, Mother will entrust these establishments to you as well."

Lady Zheng took out deeds to several cosmetics shops and placed them in Zheng Jinyu's hands.

"Makeup and jewelry are two sides of the same coin when it comes to catering to women. You might as well try your hand at both."

Observing Zheng Jinyu's silence as she gazed at the deeds, Lady Zheng added, "It's alright if you don't know how. Mother will teach you. The higher the rank of your marriage, the more substantial your dowry should be. We're not lacking in anything; we don't rely on your husband's family for food or shelter. Thus, they won't dare look down upon us."

Not knowing how else to compensate her, Lady Zheng could only ensure that her daughter's dowry became increasingly generous.

This move held a certain 'cure-all' effect. Holding onto this asset, Zheng Jinyu's mood indeed improved significantly.

"Jinyu, with the situation as it is now, what do you think we should do? Should I discuss it with the Imperial Princess and have both of us step forward to clear your name?"

"No need. Attempting to clarify would only draw more attention to the issue."

"But…" Lady Zheng was torn, grappling with inner turmoil. "If… if it really comes to that, we can claim that Jinxiu is an adopted daughter."

Zheng Jinyu still shook her head. She thought to herself, Didn't your entire family claim just a few days ago that Zheng Jinxiu was your biological child? Now you want to say she's adopted? Are you playing house? Is this all just for fun?

Who knew how people outside would perceive this?

Moreover, forcing Lady Zheng to clarify the situation wouldn't have the same satisfying impact as presenting undeniable evidence in the future.

Striking Zheng Jinxiu's face would be a slap to the entire Zheng family's reputation.

When the truth of their actions today came to light, their attempts at clarification would only be a laughingstock.

Probably anyone would call them idiots for prioritizing an adopted daughter over their biological one's reputation.

Ironically, Mrs. Zheng visibly relaxed upon seeing her daughter shake her head.

She might feel guilty, but she still wanted to protect Zheng Jinxiu, which was why she first offered her those shops as consolation before even mentioning the word 'clarification.'

"Sigh," Mrs. Zheng let out a long sigh. "Mother had no choice back then. Jinxiu is already fifteen, and soon she'll be able to marry into a good family. As a daughter of the Zheng family, she could find a decent match. But if she were just an adopted daughter, she'd have to settle for a lower status marriage and wouldn't be able to secure a good family."

Zheng Jinyu found it amusing. Zheng Jinxiu, a peasant girl, wouldn't exactly be considered a lowly match even if she married as the Zheng family's adopted daughter, right? Did they think they were owed something? Why should anyone take on such a burden?

Observing Mrs. Zheng's worried expression, Zheng Jinyu offered a suggestion.

"Yes, even as a concubine's daughter raised by the legal wife, that status is better than being an adopted daughter." Look at my intelligence, what are you all, a bunch of brainless fools, fussing about?

Would clarifying that Zheng Jinxiu was a biological child make a difference? Can fire be contained in paper? Can a lie turn into the truth?

Even if you clarify the situation, there will still be many who refuse to believe it.

After all this fuss, you'll end up in a lose-lose situation with a ticking time bomb over your heads. What exactly do you hope to gain from this?

Madam Zheng indeed froze upon hearing her words.

After a long while, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Right! How could I not have thought of that?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly, keeping her thoughts to herself. Such a brilliant plan—I naturally couldn't reveal it to you earlier.

Zheng Jinxiu's identity must remain that of an adopted daughter switched at birth. There's no way she can be acknowledged as my legitimate elder sister.

Let you protect her, huh? Hehe, now you're in a bind, aren't you?

Madam Zheng was filled with regret. "We should have consulted you from the start. Saying that Jinxiu is your father's concubine's child, raised by the legal mother, would have been better than this. If the legal mother raises her, even as a concubine's child, she wouldn't be inferior to a legitimate daughter."

Madam Zheng beat her chest in remorse.

If only they had claimed from the beginning that Zheng Jinxiu was born to a concubine, who tragically died in childbirth, and that she was then taken under Madam Zheng's wing.

It would have resolved both Jinxiu's identity issue and the marriage arrangement between their youngest daughter and Prince Chen. How wonderful that would have been.

Alas, it was too late. They had already announced to the world that Zheng Jinxiu was their biological daughter, insisting that she carried twins.

Now, to claim she was a concubine's child would be a blatant contradiction.

Lady Zheng left with regret in her heart and informed Old Master Zheng of the situation, adding another person to the list of those beating their chests in remorse.

The only ones without regrets were likely the two brothers who had fallen under Zheng Jinxiu's spell. To them, Zheng Jinxiu had to be a legitimate daughter, preferably the only one. They could not tolerate the thought of demoting her status to that of a concubine's child.

Perhaps because they had just heard about Zheng Jinyu's tragic past, Zheng Hongxu, who was usually brainless, had refrained from bothering her recently. Even when they accidentally crossed paths at the dining hall, he didn't give her the cold shoulder as he used to.

However, Zheng Jinyu knew that this respite was temporary. Guilt couldn't haunt them for a lifetime, especially for someone like Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu, who never liked her in the first place. A reprieve of ten to twelve days was already a blessing.

Sure enough, after only half a month, Zheng Hongxu cornered her again in the garden.

Zheng Jinyu looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Third Brother, you're looking for me?"

"Hmph." Zheng Hongxu snorted coldly. "Zheng Jinyu, that's enough. I gave up my courtyard to you, and now you're setting up workshops in our home. On top of that, you've taken a few of Mother's shops and transformed them into jewelry boutiques."

"Hmm? What's the matter?"

Zheng Hongxu gritted his teeth. "Why have you taken more of Mother's beauty parlors?"