"Sister!" Chen Zhixiu called out at the right moment, her face full of grief and indignation. "My husband is the top scholar in the imperial examination. He was able to establish himself in the capital through his own efforts. How can you say it's all thanks to your family? My husband didn't rely on his wife's family; he relied on himself!"
Hearing Chen Zhixiu's defense, Xiao Guangyuan was deeply moved: "Xiu'er, there's no need to say more."
Chen Zhixiu said aggrievedly, "I just can't stand people saying bad things about my husband..."
"Chen Zhixiu, you're a complete idiot!" Zheng Fangyu looked at Chen Zhixiu with sarcasm. "Do you really think Xiao Guangyuan likes you? He..."
Zheng Fangyu's voice abruptly stopped.
Chen Zhixiu silently shed tears: "My husband had no choice but to do it. I couldn't help him before, but I don't blame him. As long as I can be with my husband, I'm content."
As she spoke, Chen Zhixiu looked up at Xiao Guangyuan, her eyes filled with adoration: "Husband, let's never be apart, okay?"
It would be a lie to say Xiao Guangyuan wasn't moved. He quickly stepped forward and hugged Chen Zhixiu, saying, "Okay, we'll never be apart again."
"Oh... I'm really putting Mother in a difficult position." Bai Tuantuan tugged at Ruotang's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go to Grandma's."
Ruotang glanced at Xiao Ruyan, who was still angry not far away: "Then she..."
"Who cares about her?" Bai Tuantuan waved her hand. "Her scenes have been completed, and I can't control what she wants to do."
Inside the room, Chen Zhixiu suppressed her nausea and stared at Xiao Guangyuan's hand as he stroked her. In her mind, she had already imagined countless scenarios of breaking his hand.
Zheng Fangyu stared at Chen Zhixu for a long time before saying, "Okay, we'll do as you say."
Chen Zhixiu raised an eyebrow in surprise at Zheng Fangyu's sudden softening.
Xiao Guangyuan, however, thought it was normal. After all, Zheng Fangyu was deeply in love with him, so why would she want a divorce?
Zheng Fangyu took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, a hint of helplessness appeared on her face: "Master, you know my feelings, and you know how I feel about you, but I am, after all, the Imperial Concubine's cousin..."
“No concubine is greater than the Emperor.” Xiao Guangyuan sighed and reached out to hold Zheng Fangyu’s hand. “Yu’er, we’ve been together for so many years, and I don’t want to divorce you. Whether you are my principal wife or a concubine, I, Xiao Guangyuan, will be impartial. You can rest assured.”
“Master…” Zheng Fangyu burst into tears, “You have no idea how I’ve been these past few days, I’m not reconciled! But I also know that Chen Zhixiu did nothing wrong… but I… fifty-five…”
"Alright, alright, things have already come to this, let's resolve it according to Xiu'er's wishes."
Chen Zhixiu stood behind Xiao Guangyuan, watching the two of them being so affectionate, a faint smile on her lips.
Zheng Fangyu slightly raised her eyes, looked at Chen Zhixiu's smile, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Has Chen Zhixiu lost her mind? How can she not be angry when she sees her husband being intimate with another woman?
Does Chen Zhixiu really love Xiao Guangyuan that much? Is it so much that she loves all of Xiao Guangyuan's other women as well?
"Alright." Xiao Guangyuan gently pushed Zheng Fangyu away and pulled Chen Zhixiu to his side. "From now on, you two will take good care of the backyard for me. When I rise to prominence, I will definitely ask for an imperial decree for you!"
Chen Zhixiu, with tears welling up in her eyes, said, "My husband is so good."
Zheng Fangyu's lips twitched, and she forced a smile, saying, "Thank you, sir."
"By the way, my husband," Chen Zhixiu smiled gently, "let my younger sister manage the affairs of the inner quarters. I trust her."
"Then I'll have to trouble Yu'er."
Zheng Fangyu thought to herself with a sneer, "She really is a country bumpkin who doesn't know anything. Little does she know that only by taking control of the household can she become the mistress of the house."
“It’s what I should do,” Zheng Fangyu smiled. “If there’s anything you want, sister, just tell me. By the way, sister’s courtyard…”
"Oh, my courtyard is near the back gate. Four rooms are enough. One for me and Tuantuan, one for the servants, and one for storage."
"By the way, since the room was really too plain, I thought the things in my sister's room were quite nice, so I used them to decorate it. After all, I'll be receiving guests in the courtyard in the future, and if it's too shabby, it might be bad for my husband."
“Sleeve is right,” Xiao Guangyuan quickly said. “The courtyard is indeed a bit small. I remember there was a pond behind the courtyard. Why don’t we just fill it in and expand the courtyard?”
"As for ornaments and such, feel free to pick them out from the storeroom."
Xiao Guangyuan spoke first, and Zheng Fangyu could only swallow her rebuttal: "Master, that pond is Yan'er's favorite place. She keeps her little carp there, this..."
“Yan’er has her own courtyard, where she can raise fish,” Chen Zhixiu said calmly.
“Xiu’er is right.” Xiao Guangyuan nodded. “Let’s do it that way. Tell the steward to find someone right away.”
“Alright, I will tell the steward. Master, I still need to go back to the manor today. I’m going to find Yan’er.” Zheng Fangyu said slowly.
"Yan'er should be with Mother. Let's go there together."
Xiao Guangyuan said this and walked out.
Zheng Fangyu took a step back and stood side by side with Chen Zhixiu: "I will not compromise."
His deep voice was filled with intense anger.
"I will never give it to you, sir!"
Chen Zhixiu raised an eyebrow and smiled gently: "Yes, they're all yours."
After saying that, he took two quick steps forward, putting some distance between himself and Zheng Fangyu.
Watching Chen Zhixiu's retreating figure, Zheng Fangyu clenched her fist tightly.
When the three arrived at the entrance of the Longevity Courtyard, they heard Xiao Ruyan's heart-wrenching voice: "You're just a peasant! Bai Tuantuan is a peasant too! You're all peasants! You're all country bumpkins!"
Zheng Fangyu's heart skipped a beat. Not daring to look at Xiao Guangyuan's expression, she quickly lifted the curtain.
Then they saw Xiao Ruyuan crying loudly on the ground, while Bai Tuantuan stood aside with her head down.
Grandma Xiao glared angrily at Xiao Ruyan: "Who taught you to say such things? How disrespectful to your elders! Today I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Mother!" Zheng Fangyu rushed over, helped Xiao Ruyan up, and held her in her arms. "Yan'er is the most sensible child. How could she say such a thing? Someone must be trying to sow discord!"
Zheng Fangyu glared fiercely at Bai Tuantuan, who took a step back in fear and went to Grandma Xiao's side: "Grandma, why did Second Aunt scold me... I didn't do anything..."
“Mother, please calm down.” Chen Zhixiu also walked over and said softly, “Children are just ignorant and need to be taught. If Tuantuan does something wrong, please discipline her. After all, Tuantuan is your granddaughter, and you only want the best for her.”
Comparing the two, Old Madam Xiao snorted coldly and said sarcastically, "Yes, I am a peasant, a country bumpkin. How can I teach the granddaughter of a Grand Secretary? Fine, you look down on me, then don't bother hanging around in front of me!"
At this point, Old Mrs. Xiao suddenly burst into tears: "I'm so miserable! Other people have daughters-in-law to take care of them, but I have to take care of my daughter-in-law!"
“Mother, I will serve you from now on,” Chen Zhixiu said quickly.
Grandma Xiao patted Chen Zhixiu's hand: "Good child, you're still the most sincere to me. Never mind, let them leave..."
Zheng Fangyu's face flushed red and then turned pale. In the past, she would have left immediately, after all, she was the mistress of the Xiao family!
But now...
She can't leave; if she does, Chen Zhixiu will probably speak ill of her to the old lady and the master again!
Zheng Fangyu took a deep breath and a smile appeared on her face: "Yan'er is your granddaughter. You can teach her however you want. I have no objection."
"Mother!" Xiao Ruyan looked at Zheng Fangyu in disbelief. "I don't want to!"
Chen Zhixiu and Bai Tuantuan exchanged a glance, both seeing a smile in each other's eyes.
"So this is what it feels like to be both a pure white lotus and a green tea b*tch, it's amazing!" Bai Tuantuan couldn't help but exclaim.
The sound of the ladle was light and cheerful. [This is called taking the path of the green tea, leaving the green tea nowhere to go! Crossing the bridge of the white lotus, letting the white lotus sink to the bottom of the water!]
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