Chapter 181: Fierce

Chapter 181: Fierce

He wanted to hold his breath and leave, but looking at the magnificent garden in front of him.

After all, this is Wan Yuan, the former imperial estate.

It was far more comfortable than his own humble estate.

After saying that, he turned cold and didn’t say anything else.

Obviously, he had accepted the situation.

Zhou Huanjiu was somewhat surprised. Was it really that easy?

She had thought he would have more backbone.

So soon he had submitted?

His pride seemed too easily bruised, then.

Zhou Huanjiu pointed to the little girl sitting next to him and asked, “What about Zhou Huanzhi?”

“Are you going to bring her here?”

Zhou Yu said matter-of-factly, “Of course.”

“As long as the parents are alive, the family shouldn't split up.”

“Zhizhi is your younger sister and isn’t married yet, how can she leave her parents to live elsewhere?”

“It would seem like we’re rejecting her, pushing her away.”

“No, that simply won’t do.”

Listening to his absurd words, Lady Zhou raised her delicate eyebrows in anger.

“How can she be my son’s sister, and who is her mother?”

“I am not her mother.”

Zhou Huanzhi shrank back, trying her best not to be too conspicuous in front of others.

Lady Zhou considered herself someone who could tolerate others. She said, “I’ve accepted your illegitimate children and have always treated them kindly.”

“But this bastard, no way!”

Whether in the past when she didn’t know the truth or now, she could accept Zhou Yu’s other children.

But this Zhou Huanzhi, her existence had almost caused her to lose her daughter.

Back then, Zhou Yu had tried to replace her with someone else, almost causing his daughter to be kidnapped.

If not for the Empress Dowager, they would have been torn apart.

She was useless, without money, without support, with no one to rely on.

Otherwise, she would have torn them apart with her bare hands.

Zhou Yu was about to shout back but glanced at the people around him and the estate.

This is not his territory, but Zhou Huanjiu's domain, with her people.

This disobedient and unfilial daughter certainly wouldn't help him.

He could only swallow his pride.

Seeing that the two were being stubborn, Zhou Yu, struggling to contain his emotions, reluctantly pulled Zhou Huanzhi aside to say goodbye: "Zhizhi, Father really has no choice."

"You'll always be the child I care about the most."

"You need to take good care of yourself over there. I will come to see you often."

Zhou Huanzhi's eyes widened in disbelief.

The sudden change in his demeanor surprised even Zhou Huanjiu.

She had expected him to resist for much longer, but it turned out that he would abandon his cherished adopted daughter just to switch to a more comfortable residence.

His callousness was startling.

After finishing his instructions, he used a tone that was typical of a doting and indulgent elder: "Jiu'er, I've fulfilled all your requests."

"You're always this willful."

"Sigh, what can I do? You're my daughter, after all."

Zhou Huanjiu felt a chill and goosebumps rise from his tone.

When she was a child, he had never spoken to her so softly.

He always put on the airs of a father, distant and serious.

Back then, Mother had said that Father loved her, but because he was a man, he was more silent and reserved.

A father's love is like a mountain—silent, unspoken, and unsure of how to show itself.

She had believed him.

Then, she was kidnapped and rescued by the eldest princess's people.

After entering the palace and meeting her imperial cousin, she finally understood what a loving father was like.

He doted on his children, and those little princes and little princesses could freely frolic in front of him without truly fearing him from the bottom of their hearts.

In fact, even the eldest sister Jingchu held more authority than he did.

Though he wasn't talkative either, how could a child not feel if their father truly loved them?

Zhou Huanjiu composed herself, hiding her disappointment, and, just as Zhou Yu was hopeful, sweetly smiled: "Father, I was just teasing you."

"How could you take it seriously?"

"Zhou Huanzhi and you have such a good relationship. Of course, I wouldn't be the villain to separate you."

"You two should stay together and be the loving father and daughter you are."

Zhou Yu was shocked and furious: "You!"

Zhou Huanjiu's mother slammed the table, "Put that finger down!"

"What are you trying to prove by pointing at Jingchu like that?"

"If you want to show off, go do it somewhere else!"

Zhou Yu changed direction and pointed at her again, "You!"

"You actually dared to trick me!"

"Tricked you? You’re already a laughingstock, so what’s the big deal?"

"You’re a laughingstock, and the whole capital has heard about it."

"Even the wildest families wouldn’t kidnap their eldest daughter just to make room for some random outsider."

"You’re already a joke, so what’s wrong with playing a trick on you?"

Zhou Huanjiu stared blankly at her mother's fierce attack.

"She’s gone crazy—this whole world’s gone crazy."

In her memory, her mother had always been a weak woman, like a clinging vine.

Faced with insults from the concubines and scolding from her father, she always endured in silence.

In corners where she thought no one could see, she would cry alone, lamenting the injustice of the world.

But this time, her mother’s fighting spirit had become incredibly fierce.

Zhou Huanjiu could hardly recognize her.

But for some reason, she found her mother’s current eloquence beautiful.

This vibrant energy was far more beautiful than the lifeless gentleness she used to show.

Unaware of the transformation in her daughter's heart, Zhou Huanjiu's mother continued settling the score, "I wouldn’t dare to leave you alone with the children."

"Being called unfilial? That’s just a minor detail—isn’t your life more important?"

"I can’t accept hearing one day, when I wake up, that the child is missing again."

Just like last time.

If it happened again, she would go insane.

Zhou Yu was driven out of Wan Yuan, and Zhou Huanzhi still followed closely behind him like a little tail.

But this time, she was even more silent.

Her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light.

She instinctively wanted to grab her adoptive father's sleeve, but halfway there, she gave up.

She couldn’t reach out.

With no one to disturb them, Zhou Huanjiu and her mother began a happy period of rest and relaxation.

But the only lucky one who could be happy was her; other children were still immersed in their tight academic schedules. For example, Bei Jingchu couldn’t be as leisurely and happy as she was.

At that moment, the overworked little princess lay sprawled out like a limp salted fish, staring blankly at the ceiling of the Imperial Study.

My resentment is bubbling up like a pot of boiling water, gurgling nonstop.

"Why is this even happening—"

"It's not fair! Is there anyone who can control him—"

"I'm just a child."

"Can't I just do my homework in my own room?"

"Why did you move my desk right next to yours?"

"Why do I have to go through the misery of having someone watch me do my homework?"

"And by the way, do you even know you're in a meeting?"

"Having all these people around me is super stressful, okay?"

Behen sitting next to her had long gotten used to the little rascal’s constant chatter in their head and could easily tune it all out.