Chapter 551: Madam Zheng Is Acting Insane

Chapter 551: Madam Zheng Is Acting Insane

Elder Lady Wang scolded her daughter who had returned home after being divorced, deeming her disgraceful. On the very day Wang Fuzhen returned, Lady Wang sent her away.

Swiftly, Elder Lady Wang removed Wang Fuzhen's name from the family register and publicly declared her disassociation from her.

Wang Fuzhen, with her substantial dowry, moved into her matrimonial estate, becoming a homeless, solitary woman.

Upon hearing this news, Madam Lu was overjoyed, constantly saying it was karma.

Even Fang Jinxiu felt privately pleased.

Initially, Lu Shen joined in cursing, saying she got what she deserved, but upon further thought, he realized something was off. This was clearly a calculated move by Lady Wang to distance herself from Wang Fuzhen before the case was fully investigated, so that the Wang family's troubles wouldn't implicate her.

"What a cunning old fox."

However, to outsiders, even if the intention was to protect Wang Fuzhen by sending her away, it still seemed pitiful.

A woman, abandoned by both her in-laws and her natal family, with no children, what was she supposed to do with her life?

Could she manage to keep her dowry? A wealthy woman without protection was in danger.

Many were eagerly awaiting the outcome. Once Lord Wang was truly disgraced, they planned to try and seize Wang Fuzhen's dowry.

Even Lu Shen had this idea.

Of course, for now, it was just thoughts. No one dared to act, as Lord Wang hadn't been convicted yet. What if there was a turnaround?

At this time, people shunned Wang Fuzhen as if she were a plague, afraid of the bad luck she might bring.

Ironically, in a divorce, the man did not face such hostility.

Of course, there were exceptions.

Immediately after completing this year's autumn examination, Zheng Hongxu went straight to Wang Fuzhen's current residence.

He sent in a visiting card, wanting to see Wang Fuzhen, but she refused.

Zheng Hongxu was undeterred and lingered outside Wang Fuzhen's door for the next few days.

This news reached Madam Zheng, who was furious and sent people to bring him back.

"Let me go, let me go!"

Madam Zheng gestured to two burly servants, who then let him go.

"What are you doing?" Zheng Hongxu asked.

Madam Zheng snorted, "I was about to ask you the same. What are you doing hanging around the doorstep of a woman who's been divorced?"

"I... humph, what does it matter to you? Don't you usually not care about me?"

"Ha, how can you speak to me like that? When have I ever said I don’t care about you?"

"Hah, you care about me? Then tell me, where do I live?"

"You have a point. You're grown up, and it's indeed unreasonable to have you squeezed together with Little Wu. So, recently I've had the servants prepare the North Courtyard..."

"North Courtyard? I'm the legitimate son of the Zheng family, and you want me to live in a courtyard used for storing miscellaneous items?"

Madam Zheng remained silent.

She spoke to him patiently, "This is just temporary. You should move back from the Yongnian household first and stay in the North Court. I’ve already had the servants clean up the Jinxiu Residence. It’s the finest courtyard in the entire estate, and you’ll live there as your bridal chamber in the future."

Zheng Hongxu looked utterly astonished; they finally decided to prepare the Jinxiu Residence for him.

But... he felt no joy. He didn’t want it at all.

It was like when a person was young and really wanted a toy, but their parents wouldn’t give it to them.

When he grew up, even if all the toys were laid out before him, he no longer wanted to play with them.

Zheng Hongxu slowly backed away, shook his head with a bitter smile, "I don't need it anymore. I don't want it."

Madam Zheng was taken aback, "What did you say?"

Zheng Hongxu laughed, but even though he was smiling, his eyes were filled with tears, "I don’t want it anymore, Mother. I don’t need it."

With that, he fled, as if escaping from something.

Madam Zheng stood frozen in place, watching his figure disappear through the door.

Her heart felt like a tangerine, one segment taken away today, another tomorrow. With Zheng Hongxu leaving like this, for some reason, she felt as if another segment of her heart had been taken away.

It felt painfully empty and unbearably heavy.

"Ah Luo, what does he mean?" she asked. "Tell me, what does he mean? I don’t understand."

Lady Luo also felt her heart ache, and seeing the pallor of Madam Zheng's face and her bloodshot, tearful eyes, she knelt beside her, feeling equally distressed.

"Madam, if you're feeling upset, just let it out and cry."

Madam Zheng replied, dazed, "What am I upset about? What am I crying about? And where is the Third Young Master going? Didn't Yongnian say he was staying at his place to focus on his studies for the exams? He's finished with the exams, hasn't he? He should be coming back, no?"

Lady Luo began to cry, "Madam, Third Young Master... I'm afraid he doesn't intend to return."

"What? He's not coming back? Why?"

"If he's not returning, where does he plan to live? Does he intend to stay at his cousin's home forever? This isn't proper!"

"No, no, he can't stay at his cousin's home forever. He still has to marry. We can't have him marry and bring his wife into his cousin's home. Someone, go fetch the Third Young Master."

"No, don't." Lady Luo cried, pressing down her hand. "That will only make him even more reluctant to return."

"Then what should we do? He still has to marry. He still has to marry..." Madam Zheng finally broke down in tears, her face wet as she repeated over and over that he still had to marry.

Lady Luo said painfully, "Madam, have you forgotten that the Song family has already come to cancel the engagement three times, and you refused each time? A forced marriage won't be a joyful one. I can see Third Young Master doesn't want it, so please, just agree to the breakup."

How could a forced marriage work? It wouldn't be a marriage; it would be creating enmity.

Madam Zheng fell ill again, and this time, she finally relented and agreed to cancel the engagement.

Upon hearing this, Cui Yongnian brought some gifts to visit her and casually mentioned Third Young Master Zheng Hongxu's situation.

"After the autumn exams, it’s not over. After the new year, there's another spring exam. If he performs well, there’s still the imperial exam. He might as well stay at my place for now and focus on his studies."

"Oh, that’s good."

"Yes, so, Aunt, don’t worry."

"But he went to visit Wang Fuzhen. Wang Fuzhen wouldn't see him, yet he waited outside her door."

Cui Yongnian nodded in agreement.

"You agree it's not right, don't you? He should focus on his studies. His reputation mustn't be affected. We don't know the severity of Wang Fuzhen's crime yet. What if he gets implicated? No, I need to send someone to bring him back."

Cui Yongnian: "He’s staying with me. Don’t worry. I’ll help reason with him."

"How did he end up at your place? He went to visit Wang Fuzhen."

Cui Yongnian: "..."

"He visited her during the day but is staying with me at night. Moreover, she didn’t meet with him."

"I see."

"By the way, where exactly is he staying?"

Cui Yongnian: "..."