Chapter 79 – Zheng Jinxiu Returns!

Chapter 79 - Zheng Jinxiu Returns!

Madam Zheng said, "If she were a son, it might have worked out. But what great fortune can a girl achieve?"

"You underestimate the power of women. A good woman can nurture her husband and educate her children, bringing prosperity to three generations. Her great fortune might come from raising an extraordinary son."

Madam Zheng pondered and found it plausible. No wonder the Imperial Princess placed such emphasis on bloodline.

She now acknowledged that even the untamed Jinyu was smarter than Jinxiu, who had been meticulously groomed by them. Their prominent families had thrived for centuries, producing generations of talented individuals – this was the strength of their bloodline.

"Doesn't that mean we'll have a grandson of unparalleled status?"

Old Master Zheng chuckled. "My dear, the chicken hasn't even grown up yet, and you're already dreaming of a phoenix hatching from its egg. Your imagination is running wild."

"I may be thinking too far ahead, but your words are rather harsh, my lord. Our daughter is a phoenix by birthright; it was a twist of fate that she landed in a chicken coop. She has nothing to do with a golden phoenix rising from humble beginnings."

Both sighed in agreement. That was precisely the point – she was born for greatness. Even if she accidentally fell into a chicken coop, she would eventually soar out.

And what of the egg that accidentally found its way into the phoenix's nest?

...

With the family matriarch's return imminent, Lady Zheng orchestrated the servants in a flurry of activity, scrubbing and renovating the courtyard where the matriarch would reside, replacing anything worn with new.

A day before her arrival, the floor heating system in her quarters was lit up anew. In truth, the weather had already warmed up; it had been almost two months since the New Year, and plum blossoms were blooming outside. Other households had long ceased using their floor heating systems.

But Lady Zheng believed that late spring frosts could still be severe, and with the matriarch's advanced age, extra care needed to be taken. As for Old Master Zheng, he only oversaw external affairs, leaving the management of the household to his wife. Thus, she decided to have the heating activated.

On the day of the matriarch's return, the entire family rose early. Except for Old Master Zheng and the eldest son, Zheng Hongxu, who had work duties, everyone else ventured outside the city gates to welcome her back.

Coincidentally, Zheng Hongxu had just finished copying the family genealogy and emerged from his studies. This was the first time Zheng Jinyu had seen Zheng Hongxu in over a month.

He ignored Zheng Jinyu, and she, in turn, was not one to seek attention from his cold demeanor; the two remained indifferent to each other.

After waiting outside the city for a while, they noticed a carriage approaching in the distance. A flag bearing the character 'Zheng' was raised on its side, indicating that it belonged to the Zheng family.

Mrs. Zheng exclaimed joyfully, "She's back, your grandmother is back."

The group hurried to greet them as the carriage came to a halt.

The curtains were drawn aside, revealing Mrs. Zheng beaming as she led her concubine and children to pay their respects to the matriarch. As they bowed, an adorable young maiden leaped out of the carriage.

"Mother."

Zheng Jinxiu threw herself into Mrs. Zheng's arms.

Mrs. Zheng's smile froze on her face.

Zheng Jinyu's expression also stiffened. She had thought that with the change in the protagonist's setting, the storyline would take a different turn. To her surprise, the main character had returned.

Didn't they say she wouldn't come back for a few years?

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu were delighted, each approaching her from one side, joyfully circling around Jinxiu.

"Jinxiu, it's fantastic that you're back. Third Brother has missed you so much."

"Third Brother, Jinxiu has missed you too."

"And Second Brother? How about him?"

"Jinxiu has missed Second Brother as well."

"Jinxiu, did you have fun in our hometown of Xingyang these days?"

"It was fun indeed. There were many cousins, both older and younger sisters, at Uncle's house."

While they engaged in conversation, Lady Zheng was a mix of emotions.

Her sudden return wouldn't disrupt their plans, would it?

"Mother,"

The elderly madam sighed and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."

"Very well."

Upon their return, they gave the elderly madam and Zheng Jinxiu a warm welcome.

Then, Lady Zheng met with the elderly madam privately to inquire about the reason for bringing Zheng Jinxiu back.

The elderly madam explained, "There are many girls in Xingyang, and naturally, there are more conflicts. Jinxiu gets along well with her brothers and cousins, but not with her sisters. They always bully her over there. Your eldest sister-in-law, out of consideration for me, has favored Jinxiu from time to time, so she hasn't suffered much. But what happens when I'm gone? Can your eldest sister-in-law protect her all the time? Those girls aren't your eldest sister-in-law's biological daughters. If she keeps punishing them for Jinxiu's sake, their own mothers might have complaints. If they influence your brother-in-law through pillow talk, causing a rift between the couple, then it would be counterproductive."

Lady Zheng was speechless for a moment before she said, "How could this happen?"

The elderly madam replied, "We only had Jinxiu as a daughter before. It's not her fault that she doesn't know how to interact with sisters."

"Ai!" Lady Zheng let out a long sigh, looking helpless as she said, "Since she's back, there's no other choice. Now, what should we do?"

"What else can we do? Just say that her illness has recovered, and find a good family for her to marry into." The elderly madam pondered for a moment and suggested, "Don't look within the capital to avoid further conflict. How about this? You contact your family and arrange for her to marry into the Cui family."

Lady Zheng nodded silently. "That's a good idea. Let's start discussing now, and she can be married off after she comes of age."

"Indeed, we must handle this matter with care. We've nurtured her all these years and have never treated her unjustly. It's only right to secure a good future for her as well, to fulfill the bond we share."

"Yes, Mother," Chunmei replied obediently.

...

Zheng Jinxiu's return was truly unforeseen, proving that plans could quickly be disrupted by unexpected events.

Instinctively, Zheng Jinyu sensed that her return wasn't merely a simple homecoming; she had come prepared.

Logically, it would have been more reliable for her to find a suitable match in Xingyang than to return to the capital. Remaining in the capital, exposed to gossip and whispers, her adopted daughter status would inevitably be revealed. What was her motive?

There must be something amiss.

"I can't just sit idly by," Zheng Jinyu muttered to herself, abruptly standing up.

Chunmei promptly asked, "Miss, what is your plan?"

Zheng Jinyu said, "Fetch the kite that Prince Chen gifted me. I want to fly it."

Fly a kite?

"Very well."

Word quickly reached Xie Peiyu in the Princess's residence that Zheng Jinyu was flying a kite in her own courtyard.

That very evening, Xie Peiyu once again played the role of a rooftop visitor.

"Jinyu, why have you summoned me?"

Zheng Jinyu took a deep breath. "Zheng Jinxiu is back, haven't you heard?"

"Mm, I've heard. Seems like she isn't willing to accept defeat."

"She must have returned for a reason, though I'm not yet certain what it is. But I can't just sit idly by."

"So, what's your plan?"

Zheng Jinyu gave a cold laugh and said, "I need your help. Try to get the Fang family here."

"Should we send some people to capture them?"

"No, they need to know that their own daughter is living a life of luxury in the capital. Just a fraction of what she has would be enough for them to live a wealthy life. They should come looking for her themselves."

"Are you asking them to seek refuge with Zheng Jinxiu?"

"Exactly."

Xie Peiyu immediately grasped her intention.

"Alright, I'll take care of it."

This was a move Zheng Jinyu had planned long ago, but last year's sudden departure of Zheng Jinxiu had hindered her plans.

She had thought that since she was gone, there would likely be no further intersection between them, and thus, she had abandoned this plan.

But now that Zheng Jinxiu had returned, she decided to proceed with her original plan.

As an accomplished translator of both Chinese and English novels, I am currently engaged in rendering a historical palace intrigue romance novel filled with royal elements. Please provide the text you would like me to translate, and I will elegantly and accurately transpose it into English for you.