Chapter 236: A Solution

Chapter 236: A Solution

This time, she meticulously recounted all the recent vexing matters to Master Zheng.

"You tell me, how could she behave like this? I've been so attentive and caring towards her, yet she says that she's been pushed into this situation because of me. What does she mean by blaming me for arranging her marriage with the Lu family? Hadn't she and that Miss Wang been the ones to cause trouble first? Would I have been threatened by Lady Lu otherwise?"

Master Zheng replied, "Being threatened is a minor issue. The main thing is that you thought the Lu family was a good match back then."

Lady Zheng: "…."

"Well, alright. But after discovering that Lu Shen wasn't such a good catch, didn't I help mediate? Regardless of whether it eventually worked out or not, didn't I put in effort and worry? Shouldn't my efforts be acknowledged even if there were no tangible results?"

"Yes, yes," Master Zheng nodded and said. "Isn't this what parents do for their children? From infancy to adulthood, we tend to their every need, even changing their diapers. You've made sacrifices for her, so why dwell on gains and losses?"

Lady Zheng was taken aback. "Old man, I was hoping for some comfort from you, but instead, you're criticizing me?"

Master Zheng smiled without responding.

Lady Zheng huffed. "Fine then. Let's not talk about the marriage with the Lu family. Take the Fang family incident. She actually blames me for not sending them away earlier, which led to everyone finding out. Sigh, isn't it because she insisted on taking them out to watch a performance that this mess happened? If she had followed my arrangements, how could such an incident occur?"

"Why did you consent to letting her leave then?"

"I... " Lady Zheng was momentarily stunned.

Indeed, why had she agreed back then?

She was always meticulous in her actions; how could she have acquiesced to Zheng Jinxiu's impertinent request?

Not just this instance, but upon reflection, it seemed she had always fulfilled whatever Zheng Jinxiu asked for without refusal.

Upon this realization, Lady Zheng felt a tinge of fear.

A mother was supposed to teach her child that one should not blindly indulge them and spoil them without limits.

Could it be that... "Master Zheng, do you think we've been spoiling her too much?"

Master Zheng stroked his beard and nodded. "We have indeed been quite indulgent with her. After you gave birth to our daughter, your body suffered, preventing any further pregnancies. Back then, we thought she would be our youngest daughter and the only girl in the family. Not just us, but the entire household doted on her excessively."

"To treat her so kindly, yet she doesn't know gratitude. She blames me whenever something goes wrong. I've truly wasted my affection on her."

Master Zheng looked at her with astonishment.

Madam Zheng said, "Why are you looking at me? You didn't see her state—crying and blaming everything on me. If you were there, you'd be angry too."

Master Zheng let out a long sigh and said calmly, "Take a rest first. I'll go see her."

"Why are you still going to see her? Husband, let me tell you, we've raised an ungrateful child. It angers me so much. I'm not going to bother with her matters anymore."

Master Zheng replied, "I'll still go and check on her. After such a major incident, it's possible that she might act out due to the shock."

"She could have endured it without hurting my feelings so recklessly," Madam Zheng said, fuming.

Master Zheng comforted her briefly before putting on his coat and heading to Jinxiu's residence.

At that moment, Jinxiu's quarters were bustling with activity. Upon learning of the incident, Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu put their studies aside and came over to console her.

The more they consoled her, the harder she cried.

Both of them were utterly distraught.

"Jinxiu, regardless of what others might say, you are our sister, the eldest daughter of the Zheng family. As long as we acknowledge you, and our parents do, no one would dare look down on you."

"But the Lu family wants to call off the engagement."

"If that Lu Shen dares to back out, we'll break his legs."

"Indeed, all of you have... ahem, don't worry, it won't come to that. Doesn't the Lu family fear being ostracized for such an act?"

"Still, Mother went to their residence today, and Lady Lu seems intent on canceling the betrothal."

Zheng Hongqi replied, "This isn't something Lady Lu can decide alone. The Lu family must take responsibility for you, or else Father will impeach the Grand Tutor in court."

Tears still glistened on Zheng Jinxiu's face, but a spark of hope flickered in her eyes. "Really? Father would truly impeach Lord Lu for me?"

This...

Zheng Hongqi was at a loss for words.

Zheng Jinxiu began to wipe away her tears again. "Second Brother, Third Brother, why does heaven close its eyes? How wonderful it would be if I were your true sister. If I were, wouldn't I have my pick of the best men in the capital? Neither Prince Chen nor Young Master Xie would reject me."

"Ai," sighed Zheng Hongxu, "That's true, but..."

He was no longer as resistant to Zheng Jinyu as he had been when she first returned. Gradually, he accepted her as their sister, and the two of them no longer spoke of needing only Zheng Jinxiu as their sister.

Zheng Hongxu consoled Zheng Jinxiu, "Jinxiu, what's done is done. We need to look forward."

Zheng Hongqi agreed, "Yes, the issue has arisen. What matters now is finding a solution. Speculating about what could have been serves no purpose."

Looking at them, Zheng Jinxiu felt an inexplicable fear rise within her.

Her brothers were no longer blindly indulging her as they once did; instead, they were lecturing her.

Their ineffective mother was already showing signs of dissatisfaction with her. She couldn't afford to let her brothers grow disenchanted with her too. Thus, she remained silent, lowering her head to weep quietly.

Just then, Master Zheng arrived.

"Cough, cough, what's going on here? Why are you crying so much?"

"Daddy," Zheng Jinxiu immediately rushed into his arms.

Master Zheng gently supported her, "Don't cry anymore, I've heard about everything that's happened to you. Don't let your imagination run wild. No matter what people say outside, our family acknowledges you as the eldest Miss of the Zheng family, and no one can affect your status."

"But the Lu family wants to break off the engagement. In my current situation, if they call it off, I'll never be able to marry."

"Stop talking nonsense, they wouldn't dare."

Hearing this, Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu exchanged glances.

"How wouldn't they dare? They agreed to marry into the real daughter of the Zheng family, but now she's an adopted daughter. They can use this as a reason to back out. What can we do?"

Zheng Hongqi played the role of the stern one, while Zheng Hongxu immediately took on the aggressive stance, "Hmph, just because their Lu Shen has defiled our Jinxiu, they still have the audacity to break off the engagement? Don't they fear that Father will report them to the Emperor?"

"That's right, Father, if they go too far, you should report them."

Master Zheng's brows twitched.

Well done, he thought, assigning him such a tricky problem.

The logic was sound, but if he were to impeach Grand Minister Lu, causing the Emperor to reprimand him, he would utterly offend the powerful minister.

With Jinxiu remarrying into the Lu family, wouldn't she be subjected to their relentless torment?

All three of them looked at him expectantly.

He had no choice but to steel himself and say, "It won't escalate to the point of involving the Emperor. Our two families should still discuss this amicably and try our best not to damage the harmony."

"But what if they insist on oppressing her?"