Chapter 174: A Total Loss

Chapter 174: A Total Loss

In truth, he didn't know what his choice would be if such a situation were real. But with Jinxiu by his side and Wang Fuzhen absent, it was only the detestable Zheng Jinyu playing tricks on them. Naturally, he chose to reassure Jinxiu.

Upon hearing his response, Zheng Jinxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Third Brother, Jinyu was just joking with us. If you truly like Zhen Zhen, you should naturally save her."

Ugh!

Listening to her insincere words, Zheng Jinyu felt like vomiting. She had been eagerly waiting for Zheng Hongxu to choose her while pretending to be demure.

Zheng Jinxiu's possessiveness was strong. If she wasn't chosen, her hatred for Zheng Hongxu would only deepen.

Just as Zheng Jinyu was having these thoughts, Zheng Hongxu, relieved, chuckled. "I knew Jinxiu was the most sensible. In the future, when you're married, your husband will protect you, not us elder brothers."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jinyu already had the third question in mind.

She smiled nonchalantly. "Third Brother, it's time for you to ask me your third question."

Zheng Hongxu was about to speak when Zheng Jinxiu and Zheng Hongqi intercepted him.

"Take your time, think carefully before you ask."

"But what should I ask her?"

Zheng Jinyu's game had caught them off guard, and they couldn't think of a question right away.

Then, the three of them began discussing in front of her.

"How about asking why she hates us?"

"That's obvious, it would be a waste of a question."

"Should we ask if she despises Jinxiu a lot?"

"That's also a given, her dislike for Jinxiu is written all over her face."

"Well... then... should we ask if she wants to snatch our parents away?"

Zheng Hongqi: "..."

"What's the problem then?"

"You say this isn't right, that isn't right. What exactly do you want to ask?"

Zheng Hongqi turned to Zheng Jinxiu and asked, "Jinxiu, do you have any questions?"

Zheng Jinxiu glanced at Zheng Jinyu and whispered to both of them, "I'm rather curious about her relationship with Prince Chen."

Zheng Hongqi understood and said to Zheng Hongxu, "Ask her when she started getting involved with Prince Chen. I refuse to believe that he would reject Jinxiu just because of bloodline and choose her instead. Chances are, they were already involved beforehand."

"Alright." Zheng Hongxu promptly turned to Zheng Jinyu and inquired, "When did you start your involvement with Prince Chen?"

Zheng Jinyu rolled her eyes at him and replied coolly, "Our first encounter was halfway to the capital, at an inn where Elder Brother introduced us. I assume you're all aware of that. As for our involvement... if you insist on calling that chance meeting a dalliance, so be it."

Zheng Jinxiu chimed in, "That can't be true. With the way you looked back then, there's no way he could have fallen for you at first sight."

Everyone present still remembered Zheng Jinyu's appearance when she first arrived. To them, she wasn't much better off than a beggar. They didn't believe that Prince Chen could have taken a liking to such a Zheng Jinyu at first glance.

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly, looking at Zheng Jinxiu's contorted face and said, "Yes, there is indeed a reason why he broke off the engagement with you and chose me. I'm aware of that reason as well. Unfortunately, your three questions have been used up, so any more would be part of the next round, and I'm under no obligation to answer."

"Y-You..." Zheng Hongxu sputtered. "How can you be so cunning?"

Zheng Jinyu replied coolly, "That's because you're slow-witted and didn't think clearly before asking. If you had simply asked why Prince Chen broke off his engagement with Zheng Jinxiu, wouldn't that have sufficed?"

The trio: "..."

"Alright, it's my turn now. For the final question, if Zheng Jinxiu were to become a nun and then both she and Wang Fuzhen fell into the water, who would you save?"

The trio: "..."

What kind of question was this?

Zheng Hongxu fumed. "Zheng Jinyu, are you doing this on purpose?"

"Yes, I am. Can't handle it? Are you going to answer or not?"

Zheng Hongxu hesitated, casting a glance at Zheng Jinxiu. He stammered, "If Jinxiu were married, her husband would naturally be the one to save her if she fell into the water."

"So you chose Wang Fuzhen?"

Zheng Hongxu remained silent but nodded slightly.

He lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with Zheng Jinxiu.

Zheng Jinyu looked at her sister with a smile, and Zheng Jinxiu first felt hurt, then furious.

Her fists clenched tightly inside her sleeves, turning her knuckles white.

Zheng Hongqi, sensing her unease, whispered words of comfort, "Jinxiu, your third brother not choosing you doesn't mean he doesn't care for you. It's just that after your marriage, there will be a distinction between men and women. Your husband would be the one to protect you, and it wouldn't be proper for your third brother to intervene."

Zheng Jinxiu managed a forced smile, "I understand. Besides, how could I and Zhen Zhen fall into the water at the same time? This was just a playful game between sisters."

Hearing this, Zheng Hongxu, who had been feeling guilty, suddenly realized something and glared at Zheng Jinyu, "Stop trying to sow discord here. Without assumptions, neither Jinxiu nor Miss Wang would have fallen into the water simultaneously."

Zheng Jinyu replied with a calm smile, "Third Brother speaks wisely. Even if such a situation did occur, Miss Wang would have her own husband to save her. It wouldn't be your turn to intervene, right?"

Zheng Hongxu opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

Zheng Jinxiu clenched her fists in frustration.

Indeed, Wang Fuzhen wasn't his sister. Why should he be the one to save her? In the future, when Wang Fuzhen married, it would have nothing to do with her even more so.

This reminded her of an incident that had occurred two years prior.

She had been walking with Wang Fuzhen when the latter nearly fell into the lotus pond. Without a second thought, Third Brother had disregarded propriety and pulled her up, maintaining a compromising position for quite some time.

After the incident, they had claimed that their hearts were still racing from the scare, and they had momentarily forgotten to let go, prompting those present to swear not to speak of it.

Now, thinking back, could they have developed feelings for each other at that moment?

Zheng Jinxiu was furious.

Damn that slut, actually trying to seduce my brother right before my eyes!

Damn it.

She would never allow her to marry into the Zheng family; she would rather take her along to the Lu family herself.

Didn't Lu Shen have a liking for her?

Seizing the opportunity while Lu Shen's novelty and interest in her remained fresh, as the lawful wife, she was determined to make her life thoroughly miserable.

It would be best to find a way to ensure she can never bear children.

A woman, unless she can bear children, will never rise to prominence in her lifetime.

After such imaginative contemplation, Zheng Jinxiu found her plan feasible.

Zheng Jinyu's objective had been achieved. She smiled at them gently before lifting the food tray and turning to leave.

The three of them had been hastily summoned to the ancestral hall from their meal, leaving them unsatisfied. They could only watch as she carried the food tray away, swallowing their saliva in anticipation.

Not long after, Zheng Jinxiu was allowed to return to her quarters for sleep. As a young lady, her family wouldn't permit her to spend the night alone with her two elder brothers in the ancestral hall.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu, however, remained confined within the ancestral hall.

The following day, Lu Shen paid another visit. Zheng Jinyu bestowed additional silver upon Chunmei, instructing her to bribe the servants in Zheng Jinxiu's quarters.

In order to maintain appearances, there were over a dozen servants, including matrons and maidservants, in her courtyard. When she was upset, she would often vent her anger by scolding or even physically disciplining them. Following these outbursts, her wet nurse, Auntie Zhou, would intervene, citing inadequate performance as a reason to replace the servants. With frequent changes in staff, it was relatively easy to plant informers around her.

Approximately two hours later, Lu Shen departed. Chunmei hurriedly relayed what she had overheard to Zheng Jinyu.