day

Yu Yuelan gritted her teeth and said, "I believe it."

Tai Shi Zheng actually believed it and put down his arms.

But Yu Yuelan turned her face against him as soon as she finished speaking, pointing at Zheng's nose and cursing, "I don't believe a ghost. Taishi Zheng, don't you see what my son has done? Call him and see if he will agree? And you say he treated you like this first? How can you bear it? I think you are a liar——"

A single word can determine life or death.

Tai Shi Zheng raised his hand obediently again.

She looked at the scene in the room and was at a loss for words. The more she explained, the worse it would get. She could only hope that Cui Zhijun would wake up soon.

Fu Qile observed the woman's expression and, after finding the right moment, led the doctor to speak: "Madam, this is not the time to be anxious or angry. Let's take a look at Erlang first. Don't delay and let anything happen. Besides, it's getting cold out now, and it's not a good idea for our Erlang to be naked like this..."

Everyone then turned their attention to Cui Zhijun. Seeing that something was not right, Taishi Zheng hurried forward to cover for him.

Yu Yuelan shouted, "No one is allowed to look. Taishi Zheng, get away from my son."

Zheng was so frightened that she stopped what she was doing. Yu Yuelan quickly came to Cui Zhijun's side, shielding him. Then, several servants stepped forward to straighten the man. The doctor arrived at the bedside, and Zheng was completely pushed aside.

After several consultations, the doctor's explanation mirrored Taishi Zheng's. Yu Yuelan was speechless and ordered her men to go back and boil the medicine.

Only she, her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and Cui Zhijun lying on the bed were left in the room.

Yu Yuelan finally had time to pay attention to Taishi Zheng. She grabbed her son's hand and dismissed him, saying, "I'm staying here to take care of my son today. Get out of here and don't get in the way. I don't want to see you."

"Mother-in-law, I'll stay and take care of him. After all, Erlang's like this is all because of me." Zheng took the blame on herself, and she intended to make amends.

But Yu Yuelan refused to give her a chance. "You also know it's because of you? Then how can you still have the nerve to stay here? Get out—"

Yu Yuelan was already angry, and Tai Shi Zheng couldn't disobey her anymore.

They all need some quiet time.

Zheng left silently, only to find her lingering before pushing the door open. After a final glance at Cui Zhijun, she said, "Grandma, I'm in the west room. If you need anything, call me. I'm always here."

Yu Yuelan remained silent.

When I came outside, Fu Yuanzi was standing at the door with great concern.

She went to Taishi Zheng and asked, "Madam, why did you come out? I saw Yu Shuren was still in there. Is my husband okay?"

"Yuan Zi...I was kicked out." Zheng shook her head feeling a little aggrieved.

Fu Yuanzi was heartbroken when he saw her like that, "Ah? What do you mean by kicked you out? How could they treat you like this!"

"Our husband's matter was an unintentional mistake. We didn't really mean to harm anyone. We saw him and sent him back safely. Why are you still holding on to him? What should I do next? If not, we should go home—we won't be bullied by them."

Fu Yuanzi was filled with righteous indignation.

What she had seen and heard in Yu Bo's mansion in the past few days had made her feel resentful for a long time.

Fu Yuanzi felt that if Cui Zhijun was not a good husband, who would be willing to marry their daughter into this family to suffer?

Ke Zheng sighed. She was still worried about him and didn't have the energy to struggle anymore. "Oh, forget it. Whether it was intentional or not, the problem was caused by us. It would be too unfair to just run away home. Mother-in-law said she would take care of us here today, so let's go to the west room and wait. When mother-in-law's anger subsides and my husband wakes up, I will go and admit my mistake. Then you can kill me or cut me up, it's all up to mother-in-law..."

After saying this, Tai Shi Zheng walked towards the west room dejectedly. Fu Yuanzi had no choice but to respect her choice and followed her.

Arriving at the west room, Zheng brought a stool and placed it inside the door. After she sat down, she leaned her head against the doorpost and stared at the door of the east room.

Fu Yuanzi followed suit and sat on the other side opposite him.

But look inside the west room, the master and servant are leaning against the door, one on each side, sighing one after another.

"Oh." Tai Shi Zheng sighed softly.

"Burp." Fu Yuanzi couldn't help but burp while sighing.

Zheng turned her head away with a hostile look.

She began to question, "Stinky Yuanzi, I'm almost starving. How can you still burp? Could it be that you secretly ate something—"

"I didn't eat anything. My wife and husband had such a big thing happen. How could I have the mood to eat? It was just that I came back just in time for the kitchen to serve food. Aunt Wu secretly stuffed two pieces of taro into my mouth when she saw me come back, so I ate one." Fu Yuanzi smiled awkwardly.

As she spoke, she pulled the remaining one from her sleeve and prepared to peel it. "Aunt Wu, you're such a kind person. Unlike some servants in this family, who flatter their superiors and bully their subordinates. Their eyelids are so frivolous. Madam, wouldn't it be nice if we could just live a quiet life in Yinzhu Yatang with my husband and Aunt Wu, without having to interact with those other people?"

Fu Yuanzi was filled with emotion, but Tai Shi Zheng beside her didn't hear a word.

Fu Yuanzi turned her head and saw Zheng staring at the taro in her hand with a fierce gaze. Sensing a looming threat, she quickly put the taro behind her and said, "What are you doing? Madam, don't bother with this taro. Aunt Wu gave it to me. The kitchen won't leave food for others after a certain time. If you want to eat, tell someone to go."

"Even though the mistress has kicked you out, can she still not let you eat at noon?"

Tai Shi Zheng recalled Yu Yuelan's expression as if she wanted to skin her alive, so she began to play the victim to Fu Yuanzi, "Of course I won't care anymore. My mother-in-law is just starving me to death. Good Yuanzi, you've already eaten one. Give this one to me. You can't just watch me die..."

Fu Yuanzi hesitated as she pinched the taro. She stretched her hand forward reluctantly, then reluctantly pulled it back.

This went on and on. Zheng was afraid that she would change her mind, so she grabbed her arm.

Unexpectedly, Fu Yuanzi subconsciously shrank back again. After a long struggle, the peeled taro slipped from Fu Yuanzi's hand and fell from the steps outside the door to the open space in the yard.

Well, no one will eat it now.

"Yuanzi, you know, waste is a taboo. Go, pick it up and eat it before it falls for long." Tai Shi Zheng was very polite at this moment.

Fu Yuanzi pouted and was angry.

Both of them turned their heads away in silence.

Until someone bent down to pick up the fallen taro, came to the two of them and said timidly: "Don't eat taro if it's dirty. Wife Zhijun, this is the red date steamed cake I just made. If you don't mind these coarse foods, please have this."

Tai Shi Zheng turned around to see the person coming and called out happily, "Sister-in-law."

Zheng said, "Why are you here? And you were so kind to bring me some red date steamed cake. Sister-in-law, you are so kind! How could I dislike such a delicious thing as steamed cake? I love steamed cake. Thank you, sister-in-law."

Tai Shi Zheng naturally treated Cang Yi as an elder, and she quickly called out, "Yuanzi, quickly bring a stool over for my sister-in-law."

Fu Yuanzi received the order and turned around to add a stool between the two of them, just below the lintel of the west room's door.

Cang Yi sat down embarrassedly.

Looking at this scene from the outside, in the door frame of the west room,

The eldest sister-in-law sat stiffly in the middle with an open food box in her hand. The master and the servant on either side wolfed down the food, constantly reaching into the food box.

Taking a big bite of the soft steamed cake, Tai Shi Zheng couldn't help but praise, "Sister-in-law, the food she cooks is really good. With such skills, she can open a cake shop."

"Daughter-in-law Zhiyun, I'm glad you don't mind. I used to work in a family bakery, but I'm still a long way from opening a bakery."

Cang Yi lowered her eyes shyly, but her response was not "I like you, that's enough", but "I don't dislike you".

The humility in her words seemed to have sunk to the dust. Even if she had many shining points, they would no longer be seen by others.

Fortunately, Zheng had eyes that could see beauty. She smiled and said, "Whenever my sister-in-law wants to open a bakery, I must invest in her. That way, I can have endless steamed cakes and fried cakes to eat every day, and then I can just lie down and count the money—"

He was stunned for a moment. Before meeting Cui Zhijian, Cang Yi's biggest dream was to open a noodle shop relying on his own cooking skills.

But her wandering and fragile life made her further and further away from such a dream.

It seemed as if meeting Cui Zhijian, marrying into the Earl's mansion, and becoming the wife of a noble son from a poor orphan had used up all her good luck. It became her greatest honor.

But should people be defined like this?

Cang Yi turned to look at Taishi Zheng, a rare smile on her face. She wanted to say thank you, but before she opened her mouth, she boldly replied, "Okay, if there's another chance, I'll let you make the first investment."

Looking back, the courtyards on all sides trapped the daylight, and Cang Yi was ultimately a person bound by etiquette.

She knew she was just talking.

Zheng smiled.

But in her world, nothing is impossible. The only thing a person can be imprisoned by is themselves. "Then it's a deal."

The topic ended here, and Yinzhu Yatang was still dead silent.

There was still no movement in the east room. Tai Shi Zheng swallowed the steamed cake and then asked, "I forgot to ask, sister-in-law, is there anything you want to ask? Or did you get some news and come to see Erlang? My mother-in-law is guarding inside now, do you want to go in and take a look?"

"Ji Lang? What happened to Ji Lang?"

Cang Yi shook his head in confusion. "I got up early to make steamed cakes for Zhi Jian, and I wanted to give some to you and Erlang as well. I wanted to thank you for speaking up for me yesterday, but in the end, you got scolded. I felt really bad. But when I got to the door with the food, I remembered that you two had gone home today. But when I turned around, I heard you talking here, so I turned back."

"So that's how it is." Zheng took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands, then comforted Cang Yi. "Sister-in-law, don't feel bad about what happened yesterday. Those words were what I wanted to say, and what I did was what I wanted to do. It has nothing to do with you."

Cang Yi felt warm at the sight of her words. After she put away the lunch box, she casually asked, "By the way, why did you come back so early today? Did something happen?"

Zheng did not hide anything and told Cang Yi everything that happened today.

Cang Yi was filled with worry after hearing this, but Yu Yuelan was so angry at this time that she didn't even dare to go in to see her. "Such a thing has happened. I won't go into the room. Mother-in-law doesn't like me to begin with, and seeing me is even more annoying. I'd better wait until I get home and stew some tonic food, and bring it to Erlang tomorrow to nourish him."

"Okay, thank you for your kindness, sister-in-law." Zheng thought that she had been kicked out by Yu Yuelan, so Cang Yi should not go and cause trouble for herself.

This time, the three of them sat side by side, staring at the east room in silence.

The servants who came in one after another to deliver medicine and serve them would avoid them and leave as they saw them, fearing that they would be harmed by the resentment they exuded.

"Sister-in-law, why is it so difficult to be someone's daughter-in-law? It's even harder than those ancient books I read in Zishan Hall... I didn't expect my mother-in-law to like me, after all, we haven't known each other for long, but at least don't hate me so much. If I respect you and you love me, and we can live in harmony, wouldn't that be good for everyone? Why make things difficult for me?"

Zheng leaned against the door frame again, muttering to herself.

Cang Yi held the food box and lowered his eyes as he replied, "Yes, it's quite difficult. But it's not all my mother-in-law's fault. She's had a very difficult life..."

"What do you mean, sister-in-law?"

Cang Yi changed the subject, and Zheng's curious expression was about to show up. Fu Yuanzi pricked up his ears to eavesdrop.

Cang Yi didn't look up. The light and shadow in front of the corridor hit the open path leading to the outside. She asked, "Didn't Erlang tell you?"

Zheng shook her head.

Cang Yi thought about it and decided that she would know these things sooner or later, so it wouldn't matter if he told her. "I heard from Zhi Chou that when Grandma was little, her parents died in a fire caused by a servant burning charcoal. Grandma was only eleven years old that year, leaving her and her seven-year-old uncle alone at home. Imagine such a huge family fortune falling into the hands of two children at once. Who wouldn't be jealous?"

"My mother-in-law and my father-in-law haven't even made it to the seventh day since then, and the clan members from all branches have started to take notice of them, trying to separate my mother-in-law and my uncle."

"In order to protect my uncle and the things left by my maternal grandfather, my mother-in-law came alone to the uncle's house to seek my grandfather's help, carrying the marriage certificate that had been agreed upon by our two ancestors. My grandfather said nothing at the time, and did not mention the marriage agreement between the two families. He only sent an old steward to accompany my mother-in-law back to the Yu family."

"The old manager gradually taught my mother-in-law how to manage the household, keep accounts, and govern the people. Grandfather completely left her fate in his hands. Unexpectedly, facing those eager and hateful relatives, my mother-in-law finally made them feel that they had no chance and retreated."

"Perhaps it was from that time that my mother-in-law transformed from a weak young lady into the strong person she is today. But if she wasn't strong, how could she deal with those who were even stronger? Although my mother-in-law is mean and unreasonable, I admire her courage to risk everything. She always protects the people she loves without any scruples."

"So Zheng, don't blame her. Grandma is just too afraid of losing. She always wants to hold everything in her hands."

She doesn't have that courage.

Cang Yi thought of himself and his past, which was very similar to Yu Yuelan's. But why did she fail miserably?

After the words were spoken, no one spoke in the west room.

Cang Yi glanced at Taishi Zheng, who was beside him and looked troubled at the moment, and hurriedly said to ease the atmosphere, "But everything is fine now. The Yu family has saved its property, and my mother-in-law married the father-in-law and became Yu Shuren. My uncle also received a promotion and became the Palace Censor. Although it is a minor official of the seventh rank, it is finally stable. Now, Erlang has married such a good wife like you, so my mother-in-law's life is finally over."

Persevere, persevere...and finally succeed?

But the atmosphere was becoming increasingly heavy, and Zheng's expression was becoming increasingly grim...

"Sister-in-law, my mother-in-law is so miserable..." Zheng lowered her head and began to think over and over again about her actions yesterday and today. She was afraid that she would curse herself in her dreams at midnight.

I really deserve to die——

Afterwards, after an unknown amount of time, probably an hour or two, a voice finally came from the east room: "Erlang, my son. You finally woke up. I was so worried about you. Go and see if that villain is still there?" Zheng jumped up and ran towards the east room.

Before Cang Yi and Fu Yuanzi could react, someone burst through the door. They exchanged glances, but neither pursued. Cang Yi then said goodbye to Fu Yuanzi, saying, "I'll come back tomorrow."

-

In the east room, Cui Zhijun wasn't seriously poisoned, and being young and strong, he took the medicine and woke up soon after. He opened his eyes and saw Yu Yuelan, feeling somewhat puzzled, but he still called out, "Mother."

Yu Yuelan sighed and just as she asked someone to help Cui Zhijun sit up, the door was broken open with a bang. "Is my husband awake?"

The people in the room looked in the direction of the sound and saw Tai Shi Zheng's eyes full of tears, as if she was anxiously concerned about the person on the bed.

Yu Yuelan cursed inwardly that it was outrageous.

Cui Zhijun turned his gaze, his eyes returning to their usual gentleness. The unruly Cui Zhijun had vanished like smoke. Seeing no one answering him, he called out, "Madam."

It looked like he had no recollection of what had happened before.

Upon hearing this, Zheng walked towards the bedside in front of everyone, tears in her eyes, arms outstretched, as if wanting to embrace Cui Zhijun. Although the two had only been together for a few days, Cui Zhijun felt as if every day was a year, and he had long been accustomed to Taishi Zheng's physical advances.

He raised his arms slightly as a conditioned reflex, ready to accept the hug from the person who came.

After all, it's not good to appear distant in front of so many people.

Who would have thought that when Zheng arrived, she actually ignored Cui Zhijun and hugged Yu Yuelan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and apologized, "Mother-in-law, I was wrong. I was really wrong. I shouldn't have talked back to you, and I shouldn't have let Erlang be poisoned and made you sad."

"Mother-in-law, please forgive me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Zhijun's arm froze, as if he was neither raising it nor not raising it, and Fu Qile also stood there in a daze.

Yu Yuelan was even more panicked. In her life, not only Cui Zhijun, but even Cui Yu had never hugged her like this.

She was trying to push the person away, but she couldn't. "Taishi Zheng, what's your conspiracy?"

Yu Yuelan said this after a long effort, and finally pushed Tai Shi Zheng away from her neck.

She was really frightened by the movement of her own wife, and then she looked up at the pitiful look of the person in front of her.

Yu Yuelan opened her mouth, frowned, and after a while she stood up from the bedside, took a few steps back, and then dared to say to Taishi Zheng, "Daughter-in-law Zhijun, don't think that you can let this go by admitting your mistakes and trying to please her."

Zheng replied sincerely, "Of course I know. After all, it was I who made the mistake. I will listen to you on how to deal with it."

Is she taking a step forward to retreat?

Tai Shi Zheng behaved out of character, which caught Yu Yuelan off guard.

Cui Zhijun sat on the bed, looking at his wife in confusion. When had she become so obedient? Could it be that she had also drunk the mushroom soup?

Yu Yuelan didn't say anything at this moment. No matter how unforgiving she was, there should be a limit.

But someone had to break the silence. Cui Zhijun looked around and spoke softly, "Zhijun, I'm sorry to have worried you. I'm fine now. Please go back and rest. I'll come and pay my respects to you when I'm well again."

Yu Yuelan looked at her son with heartache, "My dear son, are you really okay? Why don't you let your mother stay and take care of you today?"

"Don't worry, mother."

Cui Zhijun was still as respectful as ever, so respectful that he seemed a little distant. "I have servants here to serve, and my wife to take care of me. I'm truly fine, please don't worry. And regarding my son's poisoning, please don't alarm Grandmother, or she'll worry."

Cui Zhijun had said this, so Yu Yuelan had no more to say. Now that her son had married, it would be against the rules for her to stay and not leave.

"Well, have a good rest, my son. I'll come to see you again when I'm free."

Yu Yuelan turned around and glanced at Zheng again, her tone no longer as strong as before. "Serve your husband well and don't cause any more trouble. Fu Qile, go to the historian's house and tell my father-in-law that my son has woken up and ask him not to worry."

Yu Yuelan finally left after saying this.

Everyone followed.

Taishi Zheng nodded and said goodbye, "Goodbye, grandma."

After everyone left the room, Zheng turned and ran towards Cui Zhijun. Seeing that she didn't wait for anyone to react, she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Following his gaze, Zheng looked forward and said with a puzzled look on her face, "My dear, you look so unhappy. Are you feeling unwell?"

Cui Zhijun stared at the man in front of him with a hint of anger in his eyes. He said in a deep voice: "Stand up right there."

Zheng was confused, "Why?"

"You're putting pressure on me." Cui Zhijun thought to himself, "How could this be a wife? It's clearly an enemy." And in a past life, he must have owed her a hundred or so taels of silver. There was no way he could repay it.

Zheng quickly moved her butt when she heard that. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was wondering why it felt so uncomfortable..."

Cui Zhijun removed his hand and said that he was fine. He looked at Taishi Zheng and finally asked, "When did I faint?"

"My dear, don't you remember?" Zheng sat back carefully.

Cui Zhijun shook his head. "Except for the way my father-in-law smiled at me at the end, I have no other recollection. How I came back, when I came back, and what happened in between, I can't remember anything at all."

Tai Shi Zheng felt relieved when he heard him say this.

It was a blessing for him not to remember. If he knew the series of embarrassing things that had just happened, would Cui Zhijun, this unparalleled gentleman, still have the face to live in this Tokyo city?

Zheng looked at Cui Zhijun and felt a little guilty.

As she watched, she inexplicably reached into Cui Zhijun's arms and silently pressed her face against his warm chest.

Thinking of Cui Zhijun's domineering look just now, Zheng blushed and muttered sullenly, "My dear, I'm sorry. It was my recklessness that caused you to be like this. But I didn't mean to do it, and neither did Dad."

Cui Zhijun was at a loss for a moment. Zheng's words sounded distant and near in his ears. He only felt the person in front of him breathing out bursts of hot air on his chest.

The heat makes people itchy.

He pretended to be calm and said, "I know... I don't blame you."

Reasonable.

Cui Zhijun's good temper is impeccable.

Zheng suddenly poked her head out of his arms and complained unintentionally: "Then why did you take off your clothes, press me under you, and bite my palm——"

All these words were stuffed into Cui Zhijun's mind at once, making his cheeks hot and he almost fainted.

Tai Shi Zheng then realized she had said too much and awkwardly left Cui Zhijun's hot embrace. She looked into Cui Zhijun's empty eyes and asked tentatively, "My dear, are you... okay?"

Cui Zhijun numbly pulled up the quilt, turned his back to Tai Shi Zheng, and slowly lay down on the bed.

He was too embarrassed to face the person behind him, so he just said, "I still feel a little uncomfortable and need to rest for a while. Please help me close the door when you leave."

Tai Shi Zheng sensed the subtle awkwardness in the atmosphere. She tactfully exited the room, saying before closing the door, "Call me whenever you need me. I'm always here, no matter what."

Cui Zhijun heard it, but didn't say anything else.

-

When Cui Zhiyun woke up again, it was already the next morning.

He has been sleeping since yesterday afternoon until now. Tai Shi Zheng called him several times during this period, but he did not wake up. I don’t know if he tried to escape on purpose, or if the mushrooms were harmful to his body and it was difficult for him to wake up.

In short, Cui Zhijun felt that although this sleep was long, it made him feel refreshed.

He slowly opened his eyes and was startled by the face in front of him. He didn't know when Taishi Zheng came here.

During this time, Zheng bent over and rested beside Cui Zhijun, feeling quiet and beautiful.

It seemed that ever since she started sleeping in the same bed with him, she no longer stretched out her body as freely as before, but instead always curled up close to Cui Zhijun, trying to find a sense of security.

Cui Zhijun turned his head to look at the person beside him, without saying a word and without disturbing her. In a trance, seeing Tai Shizheng like this, he thought that if she married him, it would be like leaving her hometown, leaving behind the familiar home where he had lived for many years, the home called "hometown".

She was just a stranger in a familiar place. Everything else remained unchanged. He continued to live his life as usual, while she was forced to adapt to this life.

So why be too harsh?

Cui Zhijun convinced himself and reached out to cover the corner of the quilt for the person beside him, warming her. But before he could put away the quilt, Taishi Zheng woke up from his dream. He looked up at Cui Zhijun in a daze. Zheng asked softly in a hoarse voice, "Good morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?"

I can't tell if it's a clear sky,

Or the light that emanated from Zheng when she spoke.

Cui Zhijun only felt a slight tremor, and his eyes were filled with light. Could he have such a truly bright, brilliant and extremely warm day?

Isn’t it normal to live a noisy life with no recognition, neglect and indifference?

Cui Zhiyun was a little hesitant.

"Yeah." But he still responded. He seemed to no longer resist, so much so that he actually asked Taishi Zheng, "What about you?"

Seeing the response, Zheng smiled through her sleepy eyes. Even though her hair was messy and piled on her cheeks, it couldn't hide her happy face. "I am the same as my husband."

There was silence between them, and Cui Zhijun stood up when he heard it.

Zheng rolled over and lay flat on her back, stretching vigorously before turning to ask him curiously, "My dear, don't you have to go on duty these days? Won't you be delayed at the Imperial Academy?"

Cui Zhijun was about to push the door open and leave, but he stopped when he heard this. "I have nine days of wedding leave, and someone is supervising my classes."

"Jiuri!" Zheng suddenly lifted her legs and sat up. "Will my dear still keep his promise and take me to the Sang family's tile house? I was actually looking forward to going there with you, but I didn't expect it to be ruined..."

Why look forward to following him?

Taishi Zheng's disappointment fell on her ears. Cui Zhijun held the door, his brows lowered. Zheng couldn't see the curve of his lips. "Since I promised you, I will keep my promise. In two days, we will go to my father-in-law's house together to apologize for yesterday's rudeness. Then I will go to the Sang family's tile house with you."

After saying this, Cui Zhijun closed the door and left.

Tai Shi Zheng turned her head and looked at his vague figure from the window. Zheng felt that the days were getting more and more hopeful.