The middle-aged woman led Zhu Tangwen into the front hall, and the man beside her was none other than Chen Jiannan, whom Jing Zhe knew very well.

If this were a game, Chen Jiannan's passive skill would definitely be "You'll get slapped in the face every time you meet Jing Zhe," and it couldn't be dodged, nor could it be lost in any way.

Hearing that Jing Zhe was being ignored, he glanced at Jing Zhe with a smug look, then swaggered into the front hall, as if he had already forgotten how he was slapped in the face in the first place.

Zhu Xinning looked somewhat dejected.

She had encountered this scene many times before, and she was so used to it that she had even forgotten how sad it was.

But now she is very sad because her younger brother saw her most embarrassing and helpless side, and her heart suddenly ached.

I clenched my fists, bit my lip, and tilted my head back slightly to keep the tears from falling.

She stood there for a moment, and after she calmed down, she went back to Jing Zhe and smiled, "Zhe'er, let's... go in too. Actually, she's always been like this. Even if she says something later, don't take it to heart!"

Jing Zhe didn't leave, but instead grabbed her and stared into her eyes.

Zhu Xinning couldn't stand his burning gaze, so she lowered her head, her eyes flickering, lost in thought.

"Second sister, you've suffered so much."

The word "suffering" completely broke Zhu Xinning's defenses, and tears streamed down her face. However, she remained strong and did not utter a single cry, which made people feel even more sorry for her.

"Actually, my second sister is used to it. Whether she treats me well or not, I have to stay in this house, and she can't interfere with me. If Zhe'er hadn't come over, even if she said something to me, I wouldn't have taken it to heart, or I would have simply stayed in my own yard and not come over, out of sight, out of mind."

Zhu Xinning said calmly.

The maid Xiangru beside her was equally angry.

"Madam has gone too far! She always treats Miss with sarcasm and never gives her a kind look. She's always thinking about marrying Miss off, regardless of whether Miss agrees or not!"

She even deliberately brought Chen Jiannan into the house, isn't it all so she can get her young mistress to marry her? Today, in front of Young Master Jing, she deliberately humiliated her young mistress—it's too much!

Zhu Xinning tugged at Xiangru, but the little maid seemed to have been holding back her anger for too long, and continued, "If you ask me, we should tell the master all of this, and he will definitely help the young lady! But the young lady refuses to agree no matter what, and is suffering for no reason!"

"Alright, stop talking! We've gotten through all these years, haven't we? Why hold a grudge against her anymore?"

Zhu Xinning glared at her and shook her head.

Xiangru was still unconvinced, but she stopped talking and her mouth was bulging.

Jing Zhe squinted and asked, "Second Sister, even if I offend her, it won't cause you much additional harm, right?"

Zhu Xinning shook her head, then suddenly looked up as if she had realized something. "Zhe'er, you can't do anything out of line! You've offended her. Although I won't think anything of it, how will you live here in the future?"

The reason Zhu Xinning summoned Jing Zhe to the Prime Minister's residence today was probably to have him stay here. But whether Jing Zhe stays at the Jing family's or the Zhang family's residence, wouldn't it be much better than staying here and seeing that mean woman? Why would he want to suffer for no reason? Is he sick in the head?

But he couldn't say it out loud, for fear of hurting Zhu Xinning's good intentions. After all, she had lived here for so many years, and she let him move in to take care of him.

Therefore, he now has a good way to refuse without offending Zhu Xinning.

"Second sister, does that mean she'll like me if I don't offend her?"

Jing Zhe sneered, then said seriously, "Besides, she bullied me—no, and she bullied my sister even more!"

"..."

Seeing Jing Zhe's determination to fight Madam Zhu, Zhu Xinning felt she should say something to stop him, but for some reason, she couldn't say anything; that phrase kept echoing in her mind…

You absolutely cannot bully my sister!

It turns out that her Zhe'er has really grown up and can now stand by her side, supporting her and sheltering her from the wind and rain.

This feeling is wonderful!

...

Madam Zhu is the mistress of the Zhu family. No matter how bad her attitude is, once you enter the Zhu family, you should at least inform her. That's the proper etiquette.

Zhu Xinning led Jing Zhe into the main hall. Inside, Madam Zhu sat upright in the main seat, while Chen Jiannan sat to one side, holding a teacup and chatting with Madam Zhu.

The chubby boy, Zhu Tangwen, was sitting on the steps below Madam Zhu's chair, playing with something. When he saw Jing Zhe enter the room, he couldn't help but sneer at him.

Jing Zhe immediately made a face at him and pointed at Zhu Xinning, as if warning him that if he didn't behave, he would take his sister away. The little fat boy was so scared that he turned his head to the side, out of sight, out of mind.

"mother…"

Zhu Xinning called out, but Madam Zhu still ignored her. Instead, she smiled and said to Chen Jiannan, "Jiannan, how is the tea?"

“Aunt, if I’m not mistaken, this tea should be Qingshui tea from Jiangling. It’s named after its proximity to Qingyun Sect and is extremely rare; ordinary people simply can’t afford it. It’s a great honor to be able to drink this tea here with you today!”

Chen Jiannan put down his teacup and began to speak eloquently, quite pleased with his answer, his face beaming with pride.

"That's right, it's clear water tea!"

Madam Zhu clapped her hands and said admiringly, "As expected of someone from a scholarly family, and who even came in first place in the imperial examination, Jiannan's knowledge is far superior to that of those uncouth scoundrels from small places!"

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Jing Zhe, making his use of the term "vulgar scoundrel" all the more obvious.

Zhu Xinning's face turned cold. She even felt that calling Jing Zhe back was a mistake. He shouldn't have to endure the ridicule and hurt she had suffered before!

"Zhe'er, sit down!"

Others wouldn't let him sit, but as the older sister, she couldn't just stand there and watch her younger brother stand there doing nothing.

Jing Zhe smiled, sat down on a chair near the door, and deliberately crossed his legs.

"Slap! What an ill-mannered rude fellow! He has no manners at all, whether he's standing or sitting!"

Madam Zhu slammed her teacup down on the table and said coldly.

"Bang!"

To her surprise, just as she finished speaking, Jing Zhe slammed his fist hard on the table, startling her so much that she almost screamed. If she had a strong heart, she might have died on the spot.

Not to mention her, even Zhu Xinning was taken aback by Jing Zhe's sudden move.

"Zhu Tangwen, get up!"

Next, it was Jing Zhe's turn to perform. He stood up, pointed at Zhu Tangwen who was sitting on the ground looking completely bewildered, and roared.

Meanwhile, the unlucky Zhu Tangwen was having a good time when he was suddenly called out for something he didn't know he had done, and he was hesitating whether or not to get up.

————