Chapter 371 Her Guilt Is Just That

Chapter 371 Her Guilt Is Just That

Fang Sanbao still lives in the house that Lu Shen prepared for their family. Lu Shen took in his two sisters and treats him well.

He hired an elderly maid to take care of him and even sent him to school.

Fang Jinxiu doesn't bother with him, but Erya occasionally comes to see him.

When Erya came out of the Lu residence, she had also requested to meet Zheng Jinyu, but Zheng Jinyu did not see her.

Her goal was to send Erya into the Lu family, making Lu Shen thoroughly despise Fang Jinxiu and cause trouble for her.

The goal has been achieved, so there's no need to meet again.

Moreover, after Erya entered the Lu family, Zheng Jinyu reported Fang Da Chuan and his wife.

They were sentenced to death, and the execution is only a few days away. Given the deep enmity, it's better not to meet.

...

One day, Cui Yongnian received a letter from Qinghe, delivered by the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

After reading the letter, he happily returned to the Zheng family to find Lady Zheng.

"Aunt, we've received a letter from home. My Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle are coming. Look, these two letters are addressed to you."

Lady Zheng was thrilled after reading them, "My Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother are coming. How wonderful! I haven't seen them in over ten years."

The last time they met was when something happened at home, and the Cui family came to help them.

It's been nearly seventeen years since then.

Cui Yongnian said, "Based on the time mentioned in the letter, they should arrive in a few days."

"Good, good. When they come, I'll have someone to back me up."

She thought about Fang Jinxiu's situation and added, "Yongnian, Aunt has a favor to ask."

Cui Yongnian's smile faltered, sensing that this wouldn't be good news.

"Aunt, what is it? Please tell me."

"It's like this. You know about your cousin Jinxiu. Your Uncle, that stubborn mule, refuses to acknowledge her and wrote to the Zheng family in Zhengyang to remove Jinxiu from the family register. She no longer bears the Zheng name."

Cui Yongnian nodded, "I know."

"Can you help me? Could you speak on Jinxiu's behalf and get her into the Cui family register?"

"Ah?" Cui Yongnian was stunned.

"This... isn't that inappropriate?"

"How so? Your Uncle doesn't recognize her, but I do. She is my daughter whom I raised. Why can't she bear my name?"

"But... there's no precedent for this."

"Why not? I have a Third Sister who bears her mother's surname. And the Princess Ning'an, born to a daughter of the Xie family, bears the Xie name."

"That's different. Third Aunt's parents passed away, and her father's side fell into poverty, leaving no one to raise her. She joined the Cui family and entered the family register to marry well. As for Princess Ning'an, her situation is similar. In any case, she was adopted by the Princess Consort and Prince as their foster daughter, allowing her to bear the Xie name. Jinxiu's situation is clearly different."

"What's the difference? She's also my adopted daughter."

"Your adopted daughter should bear your husband's surname, Zheng. Even if she were your biological child, she would still bear the Zheng name."

"Oh, but your Uncle won't allow it, and I can't ask him. Yongnian, you seem like a kind-hearted boy. Please help your Aunt with this."

Cui Yongnian: "..."

At that moment, beneath his gentle demeanor, he harbored murderous thoughts.

"I'm just a junior; I can't make such decisions."

"You..."

"Alright, Aunt, don't say more. I'll discuss this with Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle."

Lady Zheng finally smiled.

...

Hearing that family members were coming, Lady Zheng felt much better.

In recent days, she frequently visited Fang Jinxiu, which reminded her of her daughter Zheng Jinyu.

Jinyu was getting married, and she hadn't helped much.

Thinking about this, she felt guilty and decided to visit her.

Zheng Jinyu didn't want to see her feigning concern and left on an excuse when she heard she was coming, leaving her empty-handed.

Chunmei looked puzzled, "Miss, Lady feels guilty towards you. This is a good opportunity to gain favor. Why didn't you see her?"

Zheng Jinyu replied indifferently, "Because I've heard too many stories of the wolf coming."

Chunmei was even more confused, "What does that mean?"

Poor thing, she hasn't even heard the story of the wolf coming.

Erya was hiding from someone, so with nothing else to do, Zheng Jinyu told her the story.

Spring Plum was clever and immediately understood after hearing it.

"Miss, you mean that although Madam always feels guilty, she only feels guilty. Since she doesn't change, you've lost hope in her."

Zheng Jinyu smiled, "That's right. When I first came back, I wanted her to know how much I suffered and feel sorry for me. But look, every time she feels guilty, yet nothing changes. In her heart, I'm different from Fang Jinxiu. Whenever something happens to Fang Jinxiu, she genuinely helps solve the problem. But when something happens to me, all she does is say she’s sorry and sigh sadly, without ever helping me get revenge."

Spring Plum said, "But she did compensate you with jewelry and shops."

Zheng Jinyu shook her head with a bitter smile, "It seems like a lot, but compared to what Fang Jinxiu has received over the years? How much jewelry has Fang Jinxiu gotten in the past decade? I returned to this family with nothing. I need some decent jewelry to have a proper appearance; otherwise, people will mock me at social gatherings."

Spring Plum thought about it and agreed.

Moreover, while Madam Zheng did compensate her with several shops, these were what a Zheng family miss should have as a matter of course.

Even if she hadn’t given them to her gradually over the years, Zheng Ji would ensure she had them upon marriage.

This was about the Zheng family's reputation and their stance towards the Princess Mansion.

As for the money she earned from the shops, that was her own skill.

Madam Zheng didn’t see Zheng Jinyu and instead got into a big argument with Lord Zheng because she trespassed into the Zheng family's 'A Courtyard.' Finally, Madam Zheng left in a huff.

However, this displeasure was quickly alleviated by a few soothing words from Fang Jinxiu.

Perhaps because Fang Jinxiu now had hope—Lady Lu had mentioned that she could be entered into the Cui family genealogy—the Lu family's attitude towards her improved somewhat.

However, after Lu Shen had a falling out with her, they now despised each other and couldn’t go back to how things were.

Lu Shen realized he couldn’t have another child and, to escape his current predicament, worked harder on his treatment, taking medicine diligently, and even followed the doctor’s advice to abstain from sexual activity, barely touching Fang Erya anymore.

Fang Erya didn’t understand this and feared losing favor, so she anxiously sought out Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu avoided her several times, but one day, while out on business, she was cornered by Fang Erya.

Being pulled around in public was embarrassing, so Zheng Jinyu had no choice but to invite her into a nearby teahouse.

She reserved a private room, ordered two pots of tea, and some tea snacks.

"Tell me, why did you come looking for me?"

Fang Erya said, "Lu Shen hasn’t touched me for over a month. I’m worried he’s tired of me. What should I do?"