Chapter 90: Did Cousin Cui Do This On Purpose?

Chapter 90: Did Cousin Cui Do This On Purpose?

To draw attention, he put on a veil deliberately?

"No, it's nothing."

His voice sounded off, likely due to the swelling on his face.

Madam Zheng was deeply concerned. Setting down her chopsticks, she hurried over to the men's table.

"Oh my, who did this? How could they?"

Cui Yongnian replied, "I have no idea. I was just walking along when a few masked men in black clothes stopped me. They didn't say a word before they started beating me up, especially targeting my face."

With Old Master Zheng on one side and Madam Zheng on the other, they both stood by Cui Yongnian.

Hearing his account, Old Master Zheng was furious. "In broad daylight, under the emperor's nose, who dared to assault someone? Come, let's report this to the authorities. We must catch the culprit behind this sinister act."

Madam Zheng also fumed. "Yes, we should go report it."

This was her family, and they had been guests at her home, yet they had ended up beaten like this. How could she face the Cui family and explain this?

Zheng Jinyu sat calmly, enjoying the spectacle.

Zheng Jinxiu felt a twinge of guilt and tried to rise from her seat several times, but then sat back down, fidgeting nervously on her bench.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu were clearly aware of what had happened, exchanging subtle glances throughout the scene.

When they heard Old Master Zheng and Madam Zheng shouting about reporting the matter to the authorities, they grew anxious.

Zheng Hongxu hastily spoke up, "Father, Mother, please don't rush to report it to the officials. Perhaps we should ask Cousin Cui if he has offended anyone. Why would someone attack him for no reason?"

Old Master Zheng and Madam Zheng, having been overly agitated earlier, hadn't considered this angle. Now, with Zheng Hongxu's reminder, they calmed down slightly.

Old Master Zheng inquired, "Yongnian, have you offended anyone?"

Cui Yongnian shook his head. "No, it's impossible. I've only recently arrived in the capital, and I don't know many people. How could I have offended someone?"

They found some sense in that. How could someone who had just arrived in the capital have offended someone?

At this moment, Zheng Hongqi asked again, "Then, Cousin Cui, do you think they might be from Qing River? Could they have chased after you?"

"Ahh? No way, what kind of deep grudge would it take to chase someone all the way from Qing River to the capital?" Lady Zheng was astounded.

Cui Yongnian shook his head and said, "That's unlikely too. I'm quite well-liked in Qing River; I don't have any enemies."

"But you can never tell. Maybe someone is jealous of you?"

"Jealous?" Cui Yongnian asked curiously, "What could they be jealous of me for? Unless… they're jealous of my good looks?"

Everyone: "…."

Zheng Jinyu then spoke up, "Second Brother and Third Brother, your assumptions are rather peculiar. Why must it be that Cousin Cui offended someone to get beaten up? From what I can see, there's nothing wrong with Cousin Cui's character. He himself said he has no enmities with anyone."

Glancing at his pitifully bruised face, Zheng Jinyu couldn't help but giggle. "Cousin Cui, perhaps you were beaten up precisely because of your good looks, making people jealous."

Zheng Jinyu wasn't just talking nonsense. After Lu Shen investigated Cui Yongnian, he had become wildly envious of the latter's handsomeness.

Striking Cui Yongnian's face was precisely what he had instructed.

Zheng Hongxu and Zheng Hongqi were momentarily stunned as well.

Mrs. Zheng realized the implications and said, "Why would anyone be envious of Yongnian's looks? They're not competing with him for anything..."

Her voice trails off abruptly.

"Competing for what?" Old Master Zheng, not known for his emotional intelligence, inquired.

Mrs. Zheng looked at Zheng Jinxiu with a complicated expression.

Zheng Jinxiu pretended to be innocent, blinking her eyes. "Mother, what's wrong? What could I possibly compete with Cousin Cui for?"

Seeing her daughter's naive appearance, Mrs. Zheng averted her gaze.

"There's nothing. You all carry on eating. Yongnian, this matter seems suspicious. Reporting it to the authorities might not yield any results. How about this - you stay at home and recover for a few days. If you trust your aunt, leave the matter to me. What do you think?"

Cui Yongnian replied, "I'm unfamiliar with the people and ways of Beijing, and I have no idea what to do. I'll leave everything to Aunt's discretion."

"Alright, dear child, you've suffered. It's alright."

A foreboding feeling arose in Zheng Hongqi's heart, and he added, "Cousin Cui, this might be a misunderstanding. Since you don't have any enemies, it's possible that they got the wrong person. It was just bad luck that they targeted you instead."

Zheng Hongxu, being in sync with his twin brother, hastily agreed, "Yes, yes, it could be a misunderstanding. They might have attacked the wrong person."

Cui Yongnian awkwardly replied, "Perhaps so."

Madam Zheng wore a solemn expression as she fixated on her two sons.

As an observer of the entire scene, Zheng Jinyu could tell from Madam Zheng's reaction that she had likely guessed something.

Madam Zheng was actually quite sharp and could see through minor schemes easily.

Of course, when it came to matters directly involving Zheng Jinxiu, her intelligence seemed to falter.

Ah, not only Madam Zheng, but the entire Zheng family appeared to lose their wits when dealing with Zheng Jinxiu.

After the meal, Zheng Jinxiu confided in her two brothers, "I feel like Mother is starting to suspect something. What should we do?"

Zheng Hongxu hastily reassured her, "Don't panic. Even if Mother finds out, it was Lu Shen who ordered the beating. It has nothing to do with us."

Zheng Hongqi commented, "Indeed, it has nothing to do with us. But what if Mother discovers the truth and it affects her impression of Mister Lu? What if she firmly opposes Jinxiu's marriage to him?"

"This..."

"You should still find a way to give him a subtle reminder. It's best if Mother doesn't find out."

"Alright then."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure emerged from behind the rockery.

The trio was utterly startled.

"Big Brother, why are you here?"

Zheng Hongyan strolled out from behind the rockery with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I was just passing by and happened to overhear such an intriguing story. Oh no, I mean incident."

Their expressions drastically changed.

Not waiting for them to speak, Zheng Hongyan scolded, "Hmph, you've all grown some backbone, collaborating with outsiders to beat up your own cousin? How come I didn't know you were so wicked?"

Zheng Jinxiu immediately burst into tears and knelt before Zheng Hongyan, hugging his leg. "Big Brother, don't blame Second Brother and Third Brother. They did it all for me. If you're angry, just direct it at me."

"Y-You..." Zheng Hongyan was furious, raising his hand before angrily lowering it again.

"Tell me, what's going on? Why would you team up with outsiders to assault your own cousin?"

Zheng Hongyan invited them to his courtyard, where he listened to their detailed account of the incident.

When they finished, Zheng Jinxiu sobbed, "I know Cousin Cui is an excellent man, someone I don't deserve. But I truly don't want to leave my parents and brothers to marry far away. Second Brother and Third Brother were worried about me and unwilling to see me marry too far, so they had no choice but to resort to this plan."

"What do you mean 'had no choice'? If you didn't want to marry far, why didn't you talk it out with Mother properly?"

Zheng Jinxiu wept, "I did, but Mother said marrying far is for my own good, just like when she sent me to our hometown in Xingyang. I... W-waa, Big Brother, am I not allowed to stay in the capital anymore? Does my staying here affect Sister Jinyu, so Mother wants to get rid of me? I promise I won't disturb her; I'll even avoid her if necessary. Please, don't send me away, don't abandon me."