Chapter 275: Mother, You’ve Ruined Me Terribly

Chapter 275: Mother, You've Ruined Me Terribly

After venting her anger, Lady Zheng was overwhelmed by sorrow once again.

She couldn't stop crying when she returned to her chambers.

"Jinyu grew up in such a family where daughters are treated like weeds and sons like treasures. Daughters are made to work from the age of three and are still considered a liability, while sons, even if they're wronged at nine, are comforted and coddled. They continuously drain their sisters' vitality to raise their precious sons into useless beings. Ah Luo, how much suffering do you think Jinyu has endured?"

Lady Luo didn't know what to say. Her mistress had been a noble lady before marriage and a wealthy matron after. When had she ever lost her composure like this—personally striking someone and yelling in rage?

It was all because that couple's favoritism towards their son had deeply offended Lady Zheng.

"Lady, it's often like this in poor families. Even in wealthier households, daughters aren't valued as much as sons."

Lady Zheng said, "Even if daughters aren't as valuable as sons, in families with decent morals, they would educate their sons more strictly than their daughters since they want them to be the pillars of the family. It's true that the poorer one is, the less sense they make. These people deserve their poverty."

Lady Luo replied, "That may be the truth, but those who practice extreme favoritism towards sons don't see it that way. Poor families sell their daughters to marry off their sons, while rich families use their daughters for advantageous marriages to benefit the clan. It's essentially the same thing."

Such families' educational views on their children were worlds apart from Lady Zheng's.

Thus, they couldn't see eye to eye.

Lady Zheng didn't say anything else, only sighing deeply.

She lay on the couch, gazing at the sky outside the window.

After a long while, she said, "I love Jinyu very much, right?"

Lady Luo nodded.

Her mistress felt heartache for Second Miss, but sometimes she was muddled.

"But... she must hate me too, right?"

Lady Luo remained silent.

"Why is that? I clearly wanted to make it up to her, yet I always mess things up. Like on the second day of the New Year, why did I blurt out that Jinxiu's birth brought good luck to our family? I gave birth to Jinyu that day."

Lady Luo still didn't speak.

After a long silence, Lady Zheng said, "I just forgot for a moment. Jinyu will understand me, won't she?"

Would she? Only an extremely obedient child would understand.

Obedient children often suffered, while those who caused trouble received more attention.

Lady Luo felt that Second Miss wasn't the type to obediently bear all the losses.

...

The swollen-faced Fang Dachuan and his wife were utterly disheartened.

They understood that Lady Zheng, while publicly punishing their son and humiliating them, was actually avenging Zheng Jinyu.

Thinking about this, they couldn't sleep at night. In the dark, they began to discuss vaguely.

"We really can't stay in the Zheng household anymore. Today, she had people slap us, tomorrow she might have us killed."

"Why hasn't she killed us already? What's she waiting for?"

"You're being foolish. This is the capital, under the emperor's nose. No matter how powerful the Zhengs are, they still have to abide by the law. They can't act recklessly, or they'll be reported. But once we leave the capital and something happens to us, it won't concern them anymore."

"Head of the family, are you saying they plan to take action against us halfway home?"

"Of course. Look at how ferocious Lady Zheng was today; she looked like she wanted to tear us apart alive."

Zhao Zhaodi wailed, "We saved her life!"

"Oh, please, don't mention saving her life again. Didn't you see that it was those words that made her turn against us?"

Zhao Zhaodi shrank back.

"What should we do now? What if she really sends us back to our hometown?"

"We absolutely cannot return, nor can we leave the capital. Once we leave the capital, we'll be in danger."

They wanted to contact their two daughters for help, but after Lady Zheng had them beaten, the surveillance on their family became stricter, and their meals worsened.

Now they were back to eating porridge and steamed buns, occasionally getting some pickles.

With no hope for rescue, they gradually calmed down and made up their minds not to leave the capital no matter what.

...

One day, the Zheng family was having lunch when the gatekeeper suddenly reported that Zheng Jinxiu had returned, heavily pregnant.

It was lunchtime, an unusual time for her to come back.

Lady Zheng immediately said, "Quickly escort her in."

Zheng Jinxiu had already entered, supported by two servants, carefully protecting her belly.

None of the men were home for lunch. Lord Zheng had work to do and had a work meal provided.

Zheng Hongqi, Zheng Hongxu, and Cui Yongnian all ate at the Imperial Academy and would only return in the evening. Thus, only Lady Zheng, Xiao Xuan, and Zheng Jinyu were present in the dining hall.

Zheng Jinyu was taking small bites of her food when she saw Zheng Jinxiu being led in by the servants, who immediately started crying upon seeing Lady Zheng.

"Mother, you've really put me in a tight spot."

Such was her opening line that Lady Zheng was left utterly perplexed, rooted to the spot.

Jinyu Zheng and Xuan Xiao both put down their chopsticks, looking at her with curiosity.

"Jinxiu, speak properly. How has your mother wronged you? Don't speak nonsense," Xuan Xiao reprimanded her, assuming the authority of an elder sister-in-law.

Jinxiu Zheng sniffled, addressing them, "Lu Shen, Lu Shen has taken up with Fang Erya, that little wench."

Lady Zheng and Xuan Xiao were stupefied.

Jinyu Zheng smiled as if confirming what she had already known.

"How could this be?" Lady Zheng was astounded.

Jinxiu Zheng sobbed, "It was Fang Erya who seduced Lu Shen."

Lady Zheng exclaimed, "But Fang Erya is your own flesh and blood, your younger sister! She's relying on you for a good marriage in the future. Why would she seduce Lu Shen? Could it be that Lu Shen took advantage of her? He's a scoundrel indeed."

Before Jinxiu Zheng could say anything, she continued, "It must be so. Tsk, how could Lu Shen act so improperly? Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow. How could he make a move on his sister-in-law?"

Tears streamed down Jinxiu Zheng's face.

Her maid, Xia Lian, chimed in, "It was indeed Fang Erya who seduced Master. I saw it myself. When Madam wasn't around, she lured him into her room to do that thing."

"Ahh?" Lady Zheng could hardly believe it.

Recalling Fang Erya's face, which bore a striking resemblance to the former Jinxiu Zheng, the image of her most obedient daughter, how could such a girl possibly engage in seduction?

Thinking of that innocent face from memory, she seemed more like a victim than a perpetrator.

After her tears subsided, Jinxiu Zheng said to Lady Zheng, "Mother, you once said that Fang Erya also had a hard life. Fang Dachuan and his wife favored boys over girls, and Fang Erya suffered under their care. You suggested that I take her away, have her serve by my side first, and then find her a suitable match among the esteemed servants of the Lu family, saving her life in the process. But?"

Lady Zheng nodded, "That's right."

"But... but according to Fang Erya and Lu Shen, it wasn't like that. Fang Erya claims that Fang Dachuan and his wife made her serve Lu Shen. Lu Shen says that on the second day of the New Year, he met with Fang Dachuan and his wife, and they did indeed say so."

"What did they say? That Fang Erya should also follow Lu Shen?"