Chapter 19: The Zhu Sisters’ Plot

Chapter 19: The Zhu Sisters Conspire

"What's the point of coming to me, all self-righteous and demanding repayment for a favor? Go tell that Jiang fellow yourself! Tell him to divorce that Xu woman at once and then, with an eight-bearer sedan, welcome you into his home as his rightful wife!"

Zhu Mingfu's sarcastic retort stung her cousin, who immediately buried her face in her arms and burst into tears.

"I'm already in such a wretched state, and you still have to mock me like this! *Boo hoo hoo*, are you even my sister anymore? How can you side with outsiders like this?"

After all, this was the sister she had grown up with. Seeing her cry so piteously, Zhu Mingfu's irritation gradually subsided.

She walked over to her cousin's side, patted her shoulder comfortingly, and advised, "Alright, what's the big deal that you're crying like this? If one plan fails, just come up with another. Stop crying already."

"You make it sound so easy! You've successfully climbed to a high branch now, and sooner or later, you'll be a proper palace consort. But what about me? What am I going to do?"

The Zhu family had many sons, but among the legitimate daughters who had truly come of age, there were only the two of them.

Even though they weren't from the same branch of the family, their childhood bond held a genuine affection. They had always been relatively close, so there was no need to mince words between them.

"Sister, Grandfather has issued a clear decree.

If I don't want to be married off as someone's concubine, with no hope of ever rising in status, I must marry into the Jiang family. This is to secure support for our clan and safely navigate this shift in court power.

I... I truly have no way out!

Jiang Huailiang and the Prince of Huai are sworn brothers, and with his accomplishments, he's bound to have a promising future. If I become his wife, at least I can live a stable life in my later years.

What I'm asking for isn't even demanding, so why must Heaven be so difficult with me? *Boo hoo hoo*..."

Zhu Mingzhi truly felt wronged.

Although both her parents were born of concubines, she was still a legitimate daughter of a secondary branch! Her paternal family was the prestigious Zhu clan, the foremost family in Maocheng, and her maternal Qian family also held a modest position in the capital.

She had been raised in luxury, pampered with fine clothes and exquisite food since childhood. While she wouldn't claim to possess peerless beauty or unparalleled talent, she could certainly outshine that disfigured old woman, Xu Shi!

Why would Jiang Huailiang rather defy the Prince of Huai's order than marry her?

To think that a young noblewoman like her would eagerly pursue becoming a stepmother to that old man from humble origins, only to be so disdainfully rejected. How could she not feel utterly humiliated and deeply resentful?

Hearing her cousin's tearful complaints and reflecting on their grandfather's methods, Zhu Mingfu, empathizing, patted her shoulder again.

"Zhi'er, it's truly not that I don't want to help you. It's just that I'm powerless to do anything!"

She sighed and slowly sat down across from her. "Two days ago, I specifically sought out Min Shi, General Song's wife, to act as a matchmaker at the Jiang family. Unexpectedly, that Xu Shi shamelessly drove her out.

Somehow, Zhao Shi found out about it and reported it to the prince, resulting in me being punished with three days of reflection confined to my quarters.

Little sister, I truly cannot help you."

The light in Zhu Mingzhi's eyes instantly dimmed.

"But that day, the Prince of Huai personally promised the marriage..."

"However, what the prince said was, 'How about I and the second young master serve as matchmakers? You may marry the second daughter of the Zhu family as an equal wife.' That was just a casual remark, wasn't it? If the Jiang family doesn't agree, you can't exactly force your way into marriage, can you?"

"...I,"

The tears that flowed now were truly bitter with heartache.

"Why is my fate so bitter? *Boo hoo hoo*..."

"Sigh!"

Zhu Mingfu couldn't help but rub her temples again.

"You fool, can't you think outside the box? If Xu Shi's side isn't working, why not focus more on the man himself?

The key to this matter still lies with Jiang Huailiang. As long as you have the ability to wrap him around your finger, who cares about that stepmother or his first daughter? In the future, who couldn't you handle? Why must you get hung up on who's winning right now?"

"How do you know I haven't tried? I've truly exhausted every means to show him care and warmth, making my feelings obvious at every turn. But he just doesn't respond. What else can I do? I can't just find an opportunity to strip naked and climb into his bed, can I? If I resorted to such a vulgar tactic, how could I ever hold my head high in the Jiang family again?"

"Pah! Is that what I meant?"

Zhu Mingfu sharply flicked her cousin's forehead twice.

"And here you pride yourself all day on being a legitimate daughter—has Third Aunt not taught you any proper strategies?"

"What exactly do you mean?"

Zhu Mingzhi looked utterly confused.

"You're impossible! Lean in closer."

The two women whispered back and forth for a long while, and it was nearly noon by the time Zhu Mingzhi left with her maid.

As soon as the gate of Qingfu Yard closed, news reached the main residence.

Zhao Yue, Li Zhanghuai's main wife, was busy managing the army's accounts with an abacus while distractedly listening to servants report on the affairs of the inner household.

"Understood, you may leave."

"Yes, this servant is dismissed!"

After the maid who came to report had left, Zhao Shi didn't even lift her head, her hands still busy with work. But she casually chatted with her confidantes, finding the whole thing quite amusing.

"The Jiang family is quite interesting. This Jiang Xu Shi seems alright, like someone with a clear mind who knows what's what. And Jiang's legitimate eldest daughter also seems to have a good character, doesn't she?"

Jin Se and Jin Xiu, who were helping sort the accounts nearby, smiled lightly and readily agreed with their mistress.

"If you say they're alright, Mistress, then they surely can't be bad!"

"Exactly. To have caught your eye, the Jiang mother and daughter must have some good fortune!"

"Hehehe, you two are getting better and better at flattery. I haven't even met them face to face—how could I truly know if they're good or not?

I'm just idly listening and casually remarking. But it's quite remarkable that a big, rough guy like Jiang Huailiang could be so devoted to his wife."

Zhao Shi thought about how her own husband kept adding women one after another. Although she had agreed to it all, a trace of gloom inevitably clouded her eyes.

If given the choice, what woman would willingly share her husband? Lady Qiao back then might not have been willing, and how could she now truly remain indifferent?

It was all just compromises forced by helplessness, gritting her teeth and enduring.

Fortunately, Li Zhanghuai still had some conscience—he hadn't cast his wife aside and had given her some respect, at least.

Ah, never mind, never mind. People are born with different fates.

Since ancient times, gains come with losses. If one wishes to become empress, see her son claim the throne someday, and protect her family in the future, she must inevitably sacrifice certain things.

This was true for Lady Qiao, and it should be the same for her, Lady Zhao. Principles are what they are—fairness doesn't enter into it. Why torment oneself with overthinking?

As Zhao Shi's most trusted confidantes, Jin Se and Jin Xiu were naturally aware of their mistress's sorrow. But they were merely maids; it was already commendable if they could remain loyal without betraying their mistress—who were they to speak up about anything else?

They quickly tried to steer the conversation in another direction.

"Mistress, I heard that Xu Shi treats her stepdaughter as her own and even scarred her own face to preserve her chastity for her husband—it's truly admirable! But I'm a bit curious—could there really be such a virtuous and kind-hearted woman in this world?"