Chapter 382: Taking Out Frustration on the Concubine After Being Scolded by His Daughter

Chapter 382: Taking Out Frustration on the Concubine After Being Scolded by His Daughter

Lord Zheng was suddenly at a loss for words, silenced by her rebuke, his face flushing with anger.

"You're incorrigible. I see there's no hope for you. Fine, fine, fine. Your things are still in the courtyard; they haven't been collected yet. Go ahead and take them if you want."

"Hmph, of course I will take them."

Lady Zheng left with a harsh parting remark, flicking her sleeves as she walked away.

Lord Zheng was so angry he couldn’t even eat.

Cui Yongnian poured him a cup of wine and said, "Uncle, don’t be angry. Come, have a drink."

Lord Zheng drank it down in one gulp, then looked up at Jinyu with an apologetic tone, "Jinyu, do you think your father is useless? That I can’t even manage a woman?"

Jinyu thought to herself that Lady Zheng had lost her mind, and Zheng Ji really couldn’t control her when she wanted to get close to Fang Jinxiu.

So she gently shook her head at Lord Zheng, "Everyone is an independent individual. If Father can’t control her, it means Father is a gentleman."

Zheng Ji was a scholar, and his moral standards were intact. He truly couldn’t bring himself to do anything malicious to Lady Zheng.

He couldn’t divorce or separate from her, couldn’t reason with her, couldn’t argue or fight with her... he was just a weak scholar, unsure if he could even win a physical fight.

More importantly, his moral standards wouldn’t allow him to hit his wife.

Now, with two uncles in the capital, Cui Yongnian had to call her aunt, and her family background was strong. Zheng Ji really couldn’t do much to her.

"Sigh!" Zheng Ji let out a long sigh and finished another cup of wine poured by Cui Yongnian.

At this moment, Lady Zheng returned.

She glanced at Lord Zheng but didn’t wait for him to speak before hurrying over to Jinyu.

"Jinyu, it’s not that Mother doesn’t care about you; it’s just that I feel sorry for your sister."

Jinyu: "... Why do you need to come back and make me feel sick? If you want to take those dowry items, just take them."

"Now your father cares about you, your brothers treat you better, and Prince Chen loves you too. Mother has nothing to worry about. But your sister is so pitiful. Her natal family doesn’t want her anymore. Without a natal family, how can a woman live well in her husband’s home?

Lu Shen, that bastard, has changed his heart. Now her dowry is gone. How can she live like that? She’s truly pitiful. Mother can’t bear to see your sister suffer so much. Good child, be magnanimous and understand Mother."

Jinyu was speechless. What should I say? It’s like I’m trying to drive someone to their death.

She looked at Lady Zheng calmly and said, "I haven’t said anything. If you want to take those dowry items, just take them. I’m about to get married, and you haven’t helped me prepare, but I’ve never complained, have I?"

"But you..."

Hmm?

Jinyu smiled, "But what?"

Lady Zheng couldn’t find the words.

Indeed, she hadn’t helped with Jinyu’s wedding preparations, and indeed, Jinyu hadn’t said a word.

When she said she would take her share of the dowry, Jinyu didn’t protest either.

Lady Zheng felt like she had a wad of cotton stuck in her chest—no pain, but discomfort.

"Mother, go ahead and take them. It’ll be dark soon, and you won’t be able to see clearly." Jinyu spoke calmly.

Lady Zheng opened her mouth, "Don’t worry, Mother won’t neglect you. I won’t take everything; I’ll leave half for you. Mother loves both of you equally."

Hearing these words, Jinyu was exasperated. She was really good at self-indulgence.

"Mother didn’t mean to neglect your marriage arrangements. There were too many things happening recently, and Mother fell ill several times. Every time I tried to help, I felt too tired. I asked the servants, and they said you prepared very well. You’re much stronger than Jinxiu. If she were in your place, she couldn’t handle it."

Jinyu laughed sarcastically, "Oh, because I handle things better, I should do more work?"

Lady Zheng looked sad, "That’s not what Mother meant."

Jinyu said calmly, "But have you ever thought why I handle things better?"

Lady Zheng looked at her sadly without speaking.

Jinyu continued, "I handle marriage arrangements well because I can’t sit quietly in my room like other brides-to-be, with everything taken care of by the family. I dig wild vegetables well because I’m hungry. If I don’t dig, I’ll starve.

If you left Fang Jinxiu in the countryside, do you think she wouldn’t learn to dig wild vegetables? If you ignored her marriage, would she handle it herself?"

She had finished eating and left without looking back after saying this.

"Jinyu." Lady Zheng watched her leave, feeling deeply saddened.

Cui Yongnian also put down his chopsticks and said, "Uncle, Aunt, I’m done eating. I’ll leave now."

Lord Zheng snorted coldly, "Look at the mess you’ve made."

He also put down his chopsticks and left.

Only Concubine He and the two serving maids were left, unsure what to do.

Lady Zheng was torn between sadness over her daughter’s words and anger towards the men.

She thought, if it weren’t for him insisting on severing ties and causing all this trouble, making her fall ill, and insisting on separating households, how could she not have managed Jinyu’s marriage?

Yes, it’s all Zheng Ji’s fault, that bastard.

Zheng Ji left, and she took out her anger on Lady He.

Madam Zheng slapped Lady He across the face and angrily said, "Wench, what are you? Do you dare to try replacing this lady?"

Lady He covered her face and took two steps back. "Madam, this servant maid doesn't dare."

"Hmph, you don't dare? You've monopolized Master for months now, and you still say you don't dare?"

"I..."

"I see you're just asking for it." Another slap came, and the other side of Lady He's face turned red as well.

She was so frightened that she immediately knelt down.

Madam Zheng looked down at her from above and coldly said, "What is my status? And what is yours? Let me tell you, this lady marrying Zheng Ji was already a step down. Even if Old Madam were still alive, she would have to give me some respect. You are nothing but a lowly servant who gained some merit by bearing a son, which helped you escape your lowly status. What do you have to compare with this lady?"

Lady He kept kowtowing as she said, "I don't dare. This servant maid has never dared to compare herself to Madam. I also don't dare to monopolize Master; it was because Master and Madam had a falling out. Please, Madam, don't... Ah..."

Before she could finish, Madam Zheng stomped on her hand.

"Are you saying this lady deserves it?"

Her hand ached terribly, and Lady He held back her tears as she pleaded, "It's this servant maid's fault. Please spare me, Madam."

Madam Zheng withdrew her foot, gave her a cold glare, and then turned to leave.

Once she was far enough away, two maidservants dared to come forward and help Lady He up.

"Lady He, are you alright?"

Lady He gritted her teeth and endured the pain. "I'm fine."

"How can you be fine like this? Lady He, why don't we tell Master? Let him handle this for you."

"No, we can't tell Master," Lady He hurriedly said.

"But you..."

Lady He shook her head. "It's fine. It's normal for us servants to be beaten and scolded by our masters."