Chapter 406: Such a Fuss, We’re All Being Overwhelmed

Chapter 406: Such a Fuss, We're All Being Overwhelmed

If he did not bow to her, he would rot next door without anyone bothering him.

Zheng Ji was furious, "The second and third sons are also my children. I don't believe they wouldn't come to collect my body if I rotted away."

"I spit on you! How dare you mention them? Didn't you assign them to me? Where do you get the nerve? Let me tell you, without my permission, even if you die and rot, they won't dare to collect your body. If you don't bow to me, just wait."

Zheng Ji was exasperated, "Why should I bow to you? You are the one who made the mistake, not me."

Madam Zheng said, "Because you owe me."

Zheng Ji laughed derisively, "I owe you? Tell me what I owe you?"

"You took advantage of me."

Zheng Ji: "..."

"What advantage did I take of you?"

Madam Zheng said, "All the children were born by me, carried in my womb for ten months, and I suffered giving birth to twins and Jinyu, nearly dying in childbirth. But you? You didn't contribute anything. Why should you enjoy the same benefits as me? You arbitrarily assigned Yaner and Jinyu to me, but have you ever thought that they were also born by me, and have nothing to do with you? You took my hard-earned children; you took advantage of me."

Zheng Ji found himself speechless, feeling she had a point.

Over the years, he had always been grateful to her for bearing his children and enduring hardships together.

They were partners in adversity, and he respected her enough that even when things got heated, he wanted to give her another chance on the day their daughter returned home, hoping the family could reconcile.

But who would have thought that the white-eyed wolf's performance of banging into the wall would confuse her again?

If she hadn't become increasingly confused over the past two years, they wouldn't have reached this point.

"Yes, you're right. Giving birth to these children is all your doing, and that's true. If you think they are yours, then take them all away. Take the eldest, the second, the third, and Jinyu, see if they want to go with you. Take the fifth too; he was born by your concubine, I don't want him, I'll keep only the fourth. Lady He was assigned to me by my mother; her son counts as mine, right?"

Madam Zheng was stunned, then cursed loudly, "Good for you, Zheng Ji, you favor your concubine over your wife. Do you mean to hand over this family to a son born by a concubine? You disown Yaner and the others but recognize the one born by that vixen, right?"

Zheng Ji: "..."

"Didn't you say I took advantage of you? Didn't you say the children were all born by you, and I contributed nothing? I'm letting you take them all away, what more do you want?"

"You... good for you, you heartless white-eyed wolf. I endured so much for you, and now you treat me like this? Zheng Ji, you have no conscience. I will sue you, I will impeach you before the Emperor."

Madam Zheng was enraged, crying and shouting.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu held her back, or she would have scratched Zheng Ji's face.

"Mama, please calm down. You know Father didn't mean it that way."

Another one tried to persuade Zheng Ji, "Father, don't provoke Mama anymore. You know she didn't mean it that way. She just wants to reconcile but can't bring herself to do it first, hoping you would bow to her first."

"Dream on." Zheng Ji gave her two words.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu felt a headache coming on.

"Father, making such a fuss within the family makes us, the second and third sons, a laughingstock. Can't you stop?"

"It's useless to persuade me. Go and persuade your confused Mama, see when she will come to her senses."

Madam Zheng was indignant, "What do you mean? Clearly, you are the heartless one, stubborn and unyielding, yet blaming me? Second and third sons, let me go. I need to see how thick-skinned he is. I must scratch his thick face."

The four of them argued fiercely in the courtyard. Meanwhile, in the Yusheng Courtyard where Zheng Jinyu used to live, Zheng Jinyu had already asked Cui Yongnian about Xie Peiyu.

"The Emperor sent Prince Chen there intentionally. It's very likely he wants to use the rioting refugees to kill someone indirectly. But you don't need to worry too much. Three days ago, Young Master Xie went there, and our Cui family has organized a relief team."

On the surface, it seemed like noble families were doing charity work, but in reality, those providing relief were there to assist Xie Peiyu.

Cui Yongnian didn't explain it clearly to Zheng Jinyu, but she guessed.

She said, "Thank you, Cousin."

Xie Peiyu had told her before that Cui Yongnian coming to the capital meant the Cui family was involved.

He knew much more than she did and had better information than the princess.

Thinking about it, she asked Cui Yongnian, "Cousin, it's inconvenient for me to go out now. If I need to find you, how should I do it?"

Cui Yongnian smiled, "Play the zither at home. Use the one Prince Chen had specially made for you."

Since he said that, it meant there were Cui family informants around the princess's residence.

"Alright, thank you, Cousin!"

"Why are you being so formal with me? After marriage, you've become even more polite."

Zheng Jinyu smiled without saying anything.

Hearing the cries outside, Cui Yongnian added, "Let's go out. They've been arguing for so long; the neighbors might complain."

"Alright."

As they left the Yusheng Courtyard, Madam Zheng, who was crying, was stunned upon seeing Zheng Jinyu.

"Jinyu, you... also came back?"

She thought Jinyu wouldn't return after marriage unless on special occasions, lest people mock her.

But unexpectedly, she returned for a small Flower Festival.

Zheng Jinyu ignored her and turned to Zheng Ji, "Father, I've been out for a while, I'll go back now."

"Sigh!" Zheng Ji sighed and said, "It's rare for you to come back, yet you still encounter such troubles. As your parents, we feel guilty towards you."

Zheng Hongqi: "…"

Zheng Hongxu: "…"

We face such incidents every now and then and even get mocked at school. Why don't you say the same to us? Why don't you feel sorry for us?

Indeed, rarity is valued. If our family had many sisters and only one son, that son would surely be Yaozu.

Zheng Jinyu did not respond to him. She simply curtsied and said, "I'll take my leave now."

She turned and left, with her maid Chunmei quickly following behind.

Cui Yongnian said, "Cousin, let me see you off."

After saying this, he also followed.

As they appeared and then left, Zheng Ji and Lady Zheng stopped arguing.

Both of them wore sorrowful expressions.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu felt a mix of emotions.

What was going on?

They had tried to persuade their parents for so long, even trying to stop their mother from scratching their father, only to be punched and kicked a few times, all to no avail.

Their little sister just showed up, and immediately, they stopped arguing and fighting.

Then they went back to their own rooms.

…