Chapter 1108 I am your mother-in-law
Xu Da sat to the side, and the more he listened, the more uneasy he felt. He had a feeling that there was something more to Zi Yuan's words.
Putting aside the fact that Bai Cha doesn't care about money, Zi Yuan gives away this and that, casually mentioning that tens of thousands of taels of silver without batting an eye.
It's undeniable that Ziyuan is wealthy, but there's no need to make it so obvious or deliberate.
"The money isn't for you, so what's there to be so sour about?"
After being separated for a long time, Ziyuan wanted to have a few words with Lin Yuesha alone, but Xu Da sat there like a door god, so oblivious to her presence that he couldn't be driven away no matter what.
Ziyuan took the initiative to provoke them, using a goading tactic: "If you're willing to work for the Zi family, how about a monthly salary of ten thousand taels?"
"So what if you're rich?"
Xu Da patted his chest. Ten thousand taels of silver sounded like a lot, but he was living under someone else's roof as a servant. Now, he was a highly sought-after, dashing young master in the capital, talented, of high rank, and with a promising future.
Ziyuan is just a pretty idle person who thinks she can buy Xu Da's dignity with ten thousand or eight thousand taels of silver. Dream on!
“Sister Yue Sha, we have known each other for a while. Now that you are getting married, as your older brother, I must give you something. You can choose any jewelry shop in Cangzhou City as part of my dowry.”
Ziyuan's purpose was not to be angry with Xu Da; he only needed to express his thoughts in a tactful way.
"Thank you, but I don't really need it."
After Bai Cha's marriage proposal was finalized, Lin Yuesha, not wanting to linger, left with Xu Da.
Ziyuan stood under the lantern, watching the two leave, a slight smile curving her lips.
Three years have passed. Ziyuan thought Qi Heng had already taken care of the matter, but unexpectedly Qi Heng was so slow, and Lin Yuesha still doesn't know the truth.
Seeing such a good opportunity, Ziyuan, always eager for excitement, added fuel to the fire, waiting for Qi Heng to retaliate.
In the following days, Xu Da took Lin Yuesha to visit all the jewelry shops in Cangzhou, and Ziyuan arrived on time every day, following her around like a little shadow.
The mere sight of Ziyuan would cause a commotion, so much so that Lin Yuesha lost all interest in shopping and simply stayed in the inn without going out.
"Miss, the wedding dress from Jinxiufang is ready. The manager invites you to try it on. If no alterations are needed, you can set off for the capital tomorrow."
Qingxing brings news that the young lady is setting off back to the capital, and the day when the master's secret will be exposed is drawing ever closer.
"Okay, let's go out the back door."
Lin Yuesha changed her clothes and, being careful, went straight to Jinxiufang with only Qingxing in her arms.
"Young Madam, this is the wedding dress that our Jinxiufang made for your wedding with the Young General."
The shopkeeper, with utmost respect, invited Lin Yuesha upstairs.
The wedding dress has been carefully hung up. The embroidery on it is lifelike, with many gold threads used for outlining, making it simple and elegant.
Lin Yuesha was even more satisfied when she saw the actual item. She went into the inner room to change into it, and the custom-made size fit perfectly.
"No need to wait until tomorrow. There will be an official ship heading to the capital this evening. I'll leave tonight."
Lin Yuesha missed her family and didn't want to wait any longer. Back in the capital, she had many trivial matters to attend to.
Without consulting anyone, Lin Yuesha made the decision and immediately instructed her maid to inform Xu Da.
At this moment, in the capital, Qi Heng was at home, being scolded by Xiao Chenggui and Madam Chen.
"Tingyun, you and Yuesha have been away for three years, and you didn't even tell him about such an important matter?"
Xiao Chenggui frowned. Qi Heng himself didn't say anything, but it was obvious that he wanted to drag everyone down with him. They worked together to hide the truth from Lin Yuesha.
"It's hard to say."
Qi Heng was also very troubled. He had countless opportunities to be honest, but he had missed them all by himself.
With his return to the capital drawing ever closer, Qi Heng thought it best to use this opportunity.
"You can't hide it anymore. Are you going to wear a mask for the rest of your life?"
Madam Chen was troubled. Ever since Qi Heng returned to the capital and left his daughter in Cangzhou, Madam Chen had been very dissatisfied. She had been thinking about her daughter day and night, but she still hadn't seen her little girl.
Every time she wanted to go back to the north to see her daughter, Qi Heng would write to dissuade her, informing them that the group would be setting off soon, so two more years passed in a row.
"Mother, I have my reasons."
Qi Heng smiled bitterly. Facing his upcoming wedding, he felt both joy and apprehension.
"Don't call me 'Mom,' I'm not your mom anymore, I'm your mother-in-law."
Madam Chen glared at Qi Heng, regretting that she should never have agreed to their marriage in the first place.
Now, things are really messed up; if their daughter doesn't marry Qi Heng, they have no other choice.
"Let me make this clear from the start: if Yue Sha is unhappy with the truth, I, as her mother, will respect her choice."
Ms. Chen supports both divorce and amicable separation.
Back then, she was a widow. She endured more than ten years of hardship, but she made it through. It was tough, but she never gave up.
Chen regretted it; she shouldn't have remarried. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have had so many troubles in her life.
"Madam, you can't say that. If I hadn't met you, wouldn't I have been all alone for the rest of my life?"
Xiao Chenggui is innocent! It was all Qi Heng's own idea; he had no control over it at all.
He resolutely refused to take the blame for Qi Heng's actions; he was merely Qi Heng's godfather, in name only, not his biological father.
"Xiao Chenggui, I haven't even said anything to you yet, and you think you're completely innocent?"
Having lived a comfortable and carefree life for the past few years, Chen Shi was no longer the timid and submissive person she used to be. She grabbed Xiao Chenggui's ear and said angrily, "Are you saying that because I, as his mother, didn't expose Tingyun, I'm guilty of a big mistake?"
Isn't that so?
"Of course not, it's just that Tingyun is too ambitious. Madam is certainly not wrong. You've put a lot of thought into Yue Sha."
Xiao Chenggui, always quick to change his tune, gave Qi Heng a meaningful look. He was in dire straits himself and couldn't offer any help; Qi Heng should just fend for himself.
At this critical juncture, anyone who speaks up for Qi Heng will inevitably get themselves into trouble.
The issue now is not about pursuing responsibility, but about how to solve this thorny problem.
“Mother-in-law, if Yue Sha goes back to her parents’ home in a huff, please try to comfort her and say a few good words for your son-in-law.”
Qi Heng wanted to slap himself. It was his arrogance, his scheming, and his belief that he was in control of everything that was his fault.
"Little girl always has her own ideas, how could I possibly control her?"
Ms. Chen declined, saying that the family's current situation was entirely due to her daughter's success.
If given a choice, Madam Chen would only wish for her daughter to marry into a harmonious family, where husband and wife would live in harmony and a peaceful life, rather than entering the deep palace and being cut off from the world.
"Madam, let's not kick someone when they're down."
Xiao Chenggui had no choice but to step forward. He said this for his daughter's sake, not wanting Lin Yuesha to be conflicted.
Regardless of Qi Heng's status, he always held a sincere heart for Lin Yuesha and endured three years for their wedding night, something most men could not do.
"Hehe, that sounds nice. Most men wouldn't have feelings for their stepsisters."
Chen immediately retorted, asking Xiao Chenggui, this opportunist, whose side is he really on?
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