Chapter 13

After Xu Baoyin and Zhu Mingqing's affair in the meditation room of Baoguang Temple was exposed, the Zhang and Xu families could not do anything to Zhu Mingqing, the prince.

After Xu Baoyin was brought back to the mansion by Xiao Jiang, it was said that she was locked up in the Xu family ancestral hall and placed under strict surveillance.

The Xu family naturally would not spread this scandal.

And for Zhang Shining's sake, the Zhang family will not spread this matter.

Mrs. Jiang was sulking and felt very upset. Not long after she returned to Chonghua Courtyard, she saw Zhang Shining running towards her crying with red and swollen cheeks.

Zhang Shining wept, "I was enjoying the lanterns with the prince at Xingyuefang tonight, but he said he had urgent matters to attend to and told me to stay at my mother's house after the lantern viewing. He then hurried back to the barracks. But over an hour later, as I was about to take my carriage back to my mother's house, I saw the prince coming out of the temple gate with a sullen face as we passed Baoguang Temple. I got off the carriage and questioned him, but he slapped me multiple times, called me a whore, and threatened to divorce me. I questioned him about the reason for the divorce, but he said one sentence in a sullen tone, telling me to go home and ask my mother."

Mrs. Jiang was so angry that she covered her chest and hurriedly asked Mother Xue to get some ice to apply to Zhang Shining's red and swollen cheeks.

Before leaving, Mother Xue called away all the maids and servants in the house.

Mrs. Jiang then told Zhang Shining everything that had happened in Baohua Temple tonight.

Zhang Shining sneered a few times and said bitterly, "Zhu Mingqing was caught in adultery and took his anger out on me. I'm going back to the palace right now and kill this lecherous bastard with a single blow of my sword."

Madam Jiang grabbed Zhang Shining who was about to run out and said, "Sister Shi, if you kill someone, you must pay with your life. Moreover, he is a prince. If you kill him, it will be a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of all nine generations of your clan."

Zhang Shining stamped his feet and gritted his teeth, "Could it be that Mother wants me to swallow this bitter pill?"

Mother Xue came back with an ice pack and applied it to Zhang Shining's cheek.

Entering the house with Mother Xue was Zhang Xihua, who had just learned from Mother Xue what had happened in Baoguang Temple tonight.

Madam Jiang couldn't help wiping her tears with her handkerchief and spoke from the bottom of her heart: "We are an orphan and a widow. Sister Shi, you have encountered such a bad thing, and you don't have any brothers to support you."

Mother Xue coughed twice and reminded Madam Jiang, "Grandma, you're so angry that you've forgotten the Second Young Master sitting right next to you. He's Miss Shi's biological brother."

Mrs. Jiang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat and quickly tried to make up for her gaffe.

"I was so angry that I forgot about Xihua, a living person, right here."

Zhang Xihua then spoke, "Third sister, I just want you to ask me one question: are you still willing to continue living with Prince Jing?"

Zhang Shining: "That's all! If he dares to hit me tonight, he might find a reason to kill me when I return to the palace."

Madam Jiang thought of something else, "But Sister Shi, if Prince Jing really divorces you and sends you home, it will be extremely difficult for you to get married in the future."

"The worst that can happen is that I will never marry again. If my family dislikes me, I will shave my head and become a nun. It may not be a bad way to survive." Zhang Shining had made up her mind.

Zhang Xihua: "Don't worry, Third Sister. If my family refuses to support you for life, I will. Besides, Third Sister has done nothing wrong. The worst that can happen is that Third Sister and Prince Jing can divorce."

A voice came from outside the door. It was a maid standing outside, saying, "Mrs. Xu is here to ask our eldest mistress if the second young master has returned. Miss Xu wants to see our second young master."

Madam Jiang and Zhang Shining were both filled with anger.

Mrs. Jiang was about to reject Xiao Jiang's request.

Zhang Xihua thought for a moment and said, "This matter concerns the reputation of the royal family, the Xu family, and the Zhang family. The most urgent thing is to prevent any word of this matter from getting out. Mother, please come with me to the Xu Mansion across the street. My second sister is marrying into their Xu family, and mother can't let her have a hard time in their family, right?"

"It's hard for you, child, to still be so thoughtful about everything for everyone at this point." Madam Jiang was a kind person. "I didn't expect Sister Song to be in such a difficult situation in the Xu family right now. After all, it was Baoyin who made the mistake. We can't let her hurt the long-standing relationship between the Xu and Zhang families."

Mrs. Jiang changed her clothes and put on her makeup, and Zhang Xihua also went back to her own courtyard to change her clothes. The mother and daughter went to the Xu Mansion opposite.

Mrs. Jiang was drinking good tea with little Jiang in the upper room. The two sisters pretended that there was no grudge between them. Zhang Songning, as the eldest lady of the Xu family, was serving in the upper room.

Zhang Xihua was brought into the Xu family ancestral hall by a maid.

Xu Baoyin knelt in front of the tablets of Xu family ancestors.

It was obvious that the Xu family still loved their only daughter. There were seven or eight charcoal basins burning in the ancestral hall, and the cushion under Xu Baoyin's knees seemed to be stuffed with thick cotton.

The maid went out and closed the door, leaving only Zhang Xihua and Xu Baoyin in the ancestral hall.

Xu Baoyin was still kneeling, her face was completely without any makeup, and even without a face she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Xu Baoyin said confidently, "What happened tonight is not just my fault, it's also your Zhang family's fault. My parents and brothers need to find a solution for me, and your Zhang family also needs to find a solution for me."

Zhang Xihua: "I'd like to hear what mistakes the Zhang family has made. Please enlighten me, cousin."

Xu Baoyin turned around and stared at Zhang Xihua who was standing behind her.

"The other day I went to pay my respects to your old lady and overheard her talking to your aunt. She was also trying to match you up with Cui Susu. They were colluding with each other and wanted to make you and Cui Susu a fait accompli tonight in Baoguang Temple. If I hadn't sent you away, you, the second young master of the Zhang family disguised as a man, would have been the one making a fool of yourself tonight."

Zhang Xihua was stunned.

Xu Baoyin smiled like a ghost and said, "I know my aunt has always loved me, and I don't want to hurt her feelings. But I will do what I did tonight sooner or later. I know that even if my aunt agrees to our marriage in the future, you will definitely not marry me. But I am going to force you to marry me. I am pregnant with Prince Jing's child. If you care about your Zhang family and your third sister, you should marry me and claim the child in my belly as your own. I just want a status, and you also need a wife like me."

Zhang Xihua shook her head. "My third sister no longer wants to be Prince Jing's consort. This is exactly what you want. You can let Prince Jing marry you."

"Aren't you afraid that I will tell your secret?" Xu Baoyin was a little panicked.

"Just tell it to others. At worst, I will die. I will always find a way to protect my family." Zhang Xihua hated being threatened the most.

Xu Baoyin knelt dejectedly on the futon, fell to the ground and burst into tears, crying as she said, "I don't want you to die, I just want you to marry me, don't you hate me so much?"

"Yes, I hate that you don't take care of yourself. I hate that you schemed so hard but ended up hurting yourself. I hate that you completely disregarded my mother's true feelings for you." Zhang Xihua sighed silently, "Baoyin, if you had known I was a woman, you would have known there would be no future for us. Why force it? We've ended up in this situation where both of us are hurt."

"It's true that you are a woman, but as long as you don't wear red makeup and silk skirts, you are still the second son of the Zhang family in the eyes of the world. Why can't we be husband and wife? How many men in the world can surpass you? If I can do it, I will be the happiest lady in the world." Xu Baoyin's eyes were filled with tears.

Zhang Xihua knew that it was useless to continue talking to Xu Baoyin.

"You only have two options right now. One is to wait for my third sister and Prince Jing to divorce, and then have Prince Jing marry you. The other is for you to drink the abortion pill and pretend that what happened tonight never happened. As for your other plans, especially those against me, none of them will succeed."

After saying that, Zhang Xihua turned around and walked out to leave.

Xu Baoyin choked up behind her and said, "Erlang, you're so heartless to me. You'll regret it."

*

After leaving the Xu family ancestral hall, Zhang Xihua went to the upper room.

Mrs. Jiang and Little Jiang were both eager to know what Xu Baoyin and Zhang Xihua had said.

Zhang Xihua didn't tell them, but said to Xiao Jiang: "Aunt, you should ask Baoyin whether she wants to marry Prince Jing."

Xiao Jiang looked embarrassed, "But if Baoyin marries into Prince Jing's Mansion, not only will it be a slap in the face to Shi Ning, but she will also be a concubine." She didn't dare to say anything that would be unfair to her daughter.

Madam Jiang said coldly, "When Baoyin gets pregnant, it won't just be my Shi Ning who will be humiliated, it will be your Xu family who will lose face. By then, will you still care whether Baoyin is a concubine or not?"

Little Jiang was about to retort to Madam Jiang, but after realizing that her daughter was at fault first, she could only speak gently and discuss the matter with Madam Jiang, "Sister, I think it would be better if we could strengthen the relationship between the Xu and Zhang families and have Erlang marry Baoyin. When Baoyin gives birth, we can announce to the public that the child was born dead. We can then send the child to Prince Jing's Mansion. Shi Ning can adopt the child as his biological son or as a bastard. At least Shi Ning will have someone to rely on in the future, and this way, both our families and the reputation of Prince Jing's Mansion will be preserved."

Zhang Songning said anxiously, "Mother-in-law, you can't let Erlang suffer this loss."

Xiao Jiang glared at Zhang Songning. "My mother-in-law is talking here, why are you interrupting as a daughter-in-law? If it weren't for your two half-brothers Baoyin looking down on me, I wouldn't have to be so shameless as to beg my sister to agree to Erlang and Baoyin's marriage."

Once this person's own interests are touched, his ugly face will be revealed.

They were originally sisters, but now they are using the name of sisters to hurt their loved ones.

Mrs. Jiang was completely disappointed with little Jiang, and she was also worried about Zhang Songning. She couldn't make up her mind for a while, and she stammered but couldn't utter a single word.

Zhang Xihua said, "Don't worry, Auntie. If Baoyin is willing to follow Prince Jing, then Baoyin will be the Prince Jing's Consort. My third sister will divorce Prince Jing."

Xiao Jiang was happy that her daughter would become the Princess of Jing, but at the same time she was dissatisfied with Zhang Xihua's overt and covert disdain for Baoyin.

In an attempt to save face, Xiao Jiang said, "My Baoyin is still honored to be the Consort of Prince Jing. Although you have passed the provincial examination and become the top scholar, it is still uncertain whether you can pass the metropolitan examination or even have the fate to participate in the palace examination. Even if you pass the imperial examination, even if you are lucky enough to become the Prime Minister, you will only be a servant of the royal family."