Chapter 395 Beautiful Dream

Chapter 395 Beautiful Dream

Fang Jinxiu was indeed at fault and wronged her, but she has already atoned for her sins with her life. You shouldn't hold it against her anymore; it's time to forgive her.

Lord Zheng was so angry that he nearly fainted, staggering a few steps before being supported by Xie Peiyu and Cui Yongnian behind him, preventing him from falling.

"Uncle, please be careful."

Lord Zheng almost lost consciousness from anger.

He had been trying to let go of the past.

Today, they had a grand banquet to celebrate his daughter's return, inviting them over for dinner, deliberately delaying to give mother and daughter more time together.

They were all family, blood thicker than water, and he still hoped for their reconciliation.

But he hadn't expected her to make another mistake.

He shouldn't have been soft-hearted; he should have known she was beyond saving.

Lady Zheng instructed the servants to take Fang Jinxiu into the house. She had already sent for a doctor, who would arrive soon.

However, Lord Zheng pushed away those supporting him and blocked the entrance.

Lady Zheng sternly said, "What do you mean? Jinxiu is almost dead, and you're still holding a grudge?"

"Yes, I am. If you feel sorry for her, take her to your room, but don't bring her here. If she dies in my house, it will bring bad luck."

Lady Zheng cursed angrily but had no choice but to have the servants take Fang Jinxiu to the neighboring Zheng family's Northern Courtyard.

One estate, two courtyards? It was becoming a laughingstock.

Now, the Zheng family, like the Lu family, had become the biggest jokes in the capital, all because of the same person.

Lord and Lady Zheng quarreled again. Lady Zheng took the head-injured Fang Jinxiu back to the Northern Courtyard, while Lord Zheng forced a smile through Zheng Jinyu's return ceremony.

On the way home, Zheng Jinyu and Xie Peiyu sat silently in the carriage. When they arrived, she finally spoke, "I made you see another farce."

Xie Peiyu smiled and said, "It's not your fault. Don't worry about her."

That was true.

The Princess Consort helped settle Zheng Jinyu's dowry gifts at home.

But there was no sign of the Grand Princess.

Xie Peiyu asked, "Where is Mother?"

The Princess Consort replied, "She went back to the palace again."

Xie Peiyu frowned, "She's been going to the palace quite often lately."

"Yes."

Xie Peiyu hesitated, then ultimately said nothing, leading Zheng Jinyu back to their new residence.

"Is something bothering Mother?"

After a few days, Zheng Jinyu felt that the Grand Princess looked at them strangely.

She always smiled, especially when looking at them.

Yet, Zheng Jinyu sensed that the smile wasn't entirely genuine, as if hiding something, though she couldn't find the right words to describe it.

It was a bit like... smiling through tears?

There were no tears, yet she suddenly thought of this description.

"What do you mean?" Xie Peiyu asked, puzzled.

Zheng Jinyu saw the confusion on Xie Peiyu's face and wondered if she was overthinking.

She didn't spend much time with the Grand Princess, perhaps she was just like that, and Zheng Jinyu didn't know.

"Oh, nothing. Mother said I should manage the household myself and when I can handle things independently, she wants to travel."

Xie Peiyu scoffed, "Don't listen to her; she changes her mind all the time."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Zheng Jinyu didn't ask any more questions.

...

Today, the Zheng family was bustling with activity. Lady Zheng, seeing the wound on Fang Jinxiu's forehead, seemed to have finally made up her mind.

Stepping out of the room, she took a deep breath and announced to the gathered crowd, "I won't abandon her again. No matter what she does, I'll stand by her side."

The three members of the Cui family were shocked.

Cui Tai said, "Qingqing, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Cui Huai added, "Qingqing, are you serious?"

Lady Zheng nodded, "Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, I'm serious. I've thought a lot about it. I can't bear to watch her die. She was raised by me, the daughter I loved for so many years. I can't abandon her just because she isn't my biological child."

Everyone was speechless.

Even Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu, who used to fawn over Fang Jinxiu, could not understand this.

They were not only raised by their mother but also born from her. Why doesn't their mother treat them the same way?

Isn't it said that sons are better than daughters? They are still sons.

"Hmph, truly, rarity is valued. It's because there are too many sons in our family, as common as cabbages, worthless."

Zheng Ji's mouth twitched violently, "You're really confused. She didn't die, did she? One bump and you were fooled."

Madam Zheng coldly snorted, "What do you know, heartless man? Which mother would abandon her children? In a mother's heart, as long as the child knows they've made a mistake and is willing to change, they are still good children."

Zheng Ji: "..."

"As for you, you, as a man, have not been involved in raising the children, so naturally, you are not as close to them as the mother. You just go around sowing seeds, caring more about whether they are yours or not."

Zheng Ji was flushed with anger, stuttering for a while before he could retort, "You're talking nonsense."

He, a gentleman, was so agitated that he resorted to cursing.

"How am I not raising the children? When they were young, which day did I not take time to check their homework? Whether they went to school, joined the military, or apprenticed, wasn't every path paved by me personally with gifts? Who was I struggling in the officialdom for if not for this family?"

Madam Zheng was unyielding, "So what? You didn't put in any effort and became a father. Do you have to brag about putting in some thought for their future?"

Zheng Ji: "..." Didn't you say I didn't put in any effort, which is why I said it?

Forget it, I'm tired.

Zheng Ji angrily stood up, "You've seen it. It's not that I don't want to reconcile with her; it's that she is stubborn and beyond redemption."

With that, he turned and stormed off.

Madam Zheng continued to curse behind him, "What do you mean by saying I'm stubborn? Was I wrong? How many daughters have you raised? Aren't you just concerned about whether they are your own flesh and blood?"

Ignoring her, Zheng Ji quickened his pace to escape the scene.

The others were equally speechless.

Cui Tai said, "Qingqing, not to criticize you..."

"Then don't say anything."

Before Cui Tai could finish, Madam Zheng interrupted him.

Cui Tai touched his nose and fell silent.

At this moment, Cui Huai said, "Qingqing, it was you who asked Yongnian to write to us to intervene. Now, what do you want? Do you still want to reconcile with your brother-in-law? If you do, you must listen to us. If you don't, we will decide to separate you. After separation, whether you want to return to Qinghe with us or stay here with your sons, it's all up to you."

Madam Zheng was momentarily speechless.

She had been crying about her miserable life and how bad her husband was, but when it came to separation, she hesitated.

Cui Tai said, "If you haven't decided, think about it some more. Fifth Brother and I will wait in the capital for a while longer. Once you've made up your mind, let us know."

Madam Zheng kept her head down, silent.

Seeing them about to leave, she panicked.

"Wait."

The two stopped, "Have you decided?"