Chapter 396: Start with Prince Zhong’s Mansion?

Chapter 396: Start with Prince Zhong's Mansion?

"No, I have another matter I'd like to ask for your help with."

"What is it? Go ahead and say it."

The two of them sat back down.

Lady Zheng, thinking of Fang Jinxiu in the room, said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's like this. Jinxiu is having a hard time now, as you probably know."

"Mm, what about it?"

"She is being discriminated against by her husband's family. It's not that she herself is bad; the main issue lies with her background. That bastard Zheng Ji wrote to the family in Xingyang, asking them to remove Jinxiu from the family register. She is no longer considered part of the Zheng family. The Lu family dislikes this, but even if Zheng Ji doesn't recognize her, I do. So I hope she can take my surname."

After saying this, she winked at Cui Yongnian, hoping he would speak up for her, which was something he had promised before.

Cui Yongnian coughed twice and pretended not to notice, turning his face away.

Cui Huai and Cui Tai drew in a breath, thinking that she could no longer be described as merely confused but rather foolish.

If they didn't have important matters to attend to and needed to stay in the capital for some time, they would have turned around and left immediately.

"Qingqing, the Cui family genealogy isn't something one can easily add names to."

"I know, so I'm asking Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother for help."

The two of them looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

"She can only take your surname if you divorce or are sent back home. Any daughters you bring back can follow your surname."

"But..." She didn't want to divorce.

"You see, since you don't want to, it's very difficult."

What she really hoped was that Fang Jinxiu could be adopted under the name of one of her two brothers, even as an adopted daughter.

But she felt a bit embarrassed to ask.

"Is there no other way?" she asked cautiously.

Cui Tai thought for a moment and said, "Right now, Eldest Brother is in charge of the family. Let's write a letter to him and see what he says."

Lady Zheng nodded eagerly, "Good, good. Thank you, both of you."

She knew it wouldn't be easy, but as long as they were willing to help, that was enough.

Cui Tai sighed, "If there's nothing else, we'll leave now. Yongnian, let's go."

Cui Yongnian put down his teacup and hurriedly followed.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu exchanged glances and also wanted to leave.

Just as they were about to excuse themselves, Lady Zheng said, "You two have always cared for Jinxiu the most. Today, she almost died, going through a near-death experience. It's pitiful. Aren't you going to see her? In the past, you would feel heartbroken if she got bitten by a mosquito."

Some things change once they're in your heart.

They could no longer find the affection they once had for Jinxiu.

But since their mother had spoken, they still felt they should visit.

"Alright, we'll go see her."

The two walked into the inner room.

Fang Jinxiu lay on the bed, her forehead bandaged, her face pale.

Seeing them enter, tears streamed down her face.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, you finally came to see me. I knew you couldn't bear to leave me."

The two felt extremely awkward.

...

In Cui Yongnian's room.

"My aunt is becoming more and more confused. Staying here makes me uncomfortable, and I have to listen to her cry every few days, caught between her and my uncle. How much longer will it take to arrange things on your end? I want to go back."

Cui Yongnian smiled at his uncles.

"The Xiao family and the Xie family have been contacted, but only the Wang family... They are still observing. I'm anxious too, but what can I do if they aren't? Why don't you go, Sixth Uncle?"

"How can I go? Gao Zhi has people watching me, and I don't have Fifth Uncle's skill in evading them."

"Then Fifth Uncle should go."

Cui Huai waved his hand, "I'm just a brute, not good with words. No, no."

Cui Tai: "..."

"It still has to be Yongnian. Yongnian is both literate and martial, handsome and capable. If it doesn't work, why don't you marry their daughter and sacrifice a bit of your charm?"

Cui Yongnian: "..."

"Their eldest daughter from the main branch married into Prince Zhong's Mansion, which is Gao Zhi's family. Sacrificing my charm isn't impossible, but who among them would betray Gao Zhi if I marry them?"

Cui Tai smiled and said, "Of course it's the daughter of the second branch. The first and second branches of their family have been at odds for years, fighting for power and profit."

"The eldest daughter of the second branch is only thirteen, and they haven't even started to arrange a marriage for her yet. Even if they have such intentions, they'd have to wait another two years. Can Uncle Liuyi wait that long?"

Cui Tai's smile froze, and he pursed his lips.

Two years? Two months seemed too long to him.

"What should we do then?"

Cui Yongnian stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Perhaps we can start with Prince Zhong's Mansion."

Cui Tai was taken aback. "Start with Prince Zhong's Mansion? What do you mean? Could it be that you want to ally with Prince Zhong's Mansion?"

"It's not impossible."

"What? Are you crazy? The old prince of Prince Zhong's Mansion is Gao Zhi's biological father."

"Is that so? Hmm, that's not necessarily true."

Both Cui Tai and Cui Huai looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean? Is Gao Zhi not the biological son of the old prince of Prince Zhong's Mansion?"

Cui Yongnian shook his head. "I don't know. It's still uncertain."

The two men drew a sharp breath.

Not knowing, being uncertain—it could only mean there was no evidence yet.

But where there's smoke, there's fire. Since he said it, it was likely true.

"If he's not the biological son of the old prince, then where did he come from? Was he born to the old princess and someone else?"

Cui Yongnian lowered his head and remained silent.

Cui Tai said, "What are you thinking? Gao Zhi wasn't born to the old princess; he's a concubine's son. He only elevated his birth mother to the status of co-wife of Prince Zhong after he became emperor."

"Ah? Then was he born to a concubine and someone else?"

"Cui Yongnian said it's still uncertain. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Yes, yes, I'm just impatient."

Cui Yongnian said, "Uncle Wuyi, why don't you go out with me tonight?"

"Where to?"

"Prince Zhong's Mansion."

Hiss, going to Prince Zhong's Mansion tonight? Exciting.

"Alright."

"We need to meet someone else," Cui Yongnian added.

"Hmm? Who?"

"Someone familiar with Prince Zhong's Mansion."

"Who is it?"

"Prince Chen Xie Peiyu."

Cui Huai frowned. "That's not good, right? He just got married..."

"Cough, cough."

"Fine, I think he might not be willing to come out."

...

Xie Peiyu was indeed annoyed by the peculiar sounds, as he was busy.

Zheng Jinyu also heard them. "What's that noise?"

Xie Peiyu said, "It sounds like a rat. I'll go check."

He got up to put on his clothes.

Zheng Jinyu sat up, wrapped in the quilt. "There are rats here?"

"I don't know. I'll go check. You go back to sleep."

"How can I sleep with rats around? I'm scared."

Xie Peiyu, who was dressing with his back to her, paused.

She grew up in the countryside until she was fourteen. She was afraid of rats?

Zheng Jinyu suddenly realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly explained, "When I was little, I slept alone in the woodshed and was bitten by a rat, so I'm particularly afraid of them. Later, I secretly raised a cat and was able to sleep."

Xie Peiyu breathed a sigh of relief and turned to hug her, saying, "I'll be back soon. Don't worry."

Zheng Jinyu didn't say anything more and nodded lightly.

She thought she needed to get a cat someday.