Chapter 227: Such a lowly person is not qualified to be my elder brother.
Who the nineteenth prince is is unknown to outsiders, except for those who know the inside story. However, the news that he was raised among the common people and is still alive has spread throughout the capital.
"This is probably one of his methods."
The nineteenth prince looked at Zhou Mujiao with a helpless expression. "However, I have already made it clear to him that the Chen family has raised me, and if I return to the royal family, it would be disrespectful and unjust to them. Unless..."
He stared intently at Zhou Mujiao: "I told him to give you to me, and I'll go back to the royal family."
"oh."
Aren't you curious about what he said?
"I'm not curious," Zhou Mujiao said calmly. "The Emperor has dozens of children. One more or one less makes no difference to him. But a subject and his wife like me and Zhao Yunjing are unique in the world. He feels some guilt towards you, but you are not important enough for him to give up me and Zhao Yunjing. The Nineteenth Prince should be aware of this himself."
“Gillian’s words are still so incisive. You’re right, that’s what he told me too. He said that if I had Zhao Yunjing’s talent, he would give me ten of you.”
Zhou Mujiao's lips twitched. She dared to risk her life and fortune, betting that the Emperor hadn't said anything like that he would bestow her upon him if he had Zhao Yunjing's talent. Chen Liangjin was a very cunning person; he might have been digging a pit for her from the moment he entered.
They're waiting for her to jump.
Doesn't she look like a fool? Can't she jump?
Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao can't dance, yet they still tried to trick her, tsk tsk.
Seeing this, the nineteenth prince gave a wry smile and spread his hands: "Ajiao, I'm very confused right now, but Brother Zhao is far away in Nanjiang, so I can only ask you for advice. Ajiao, what should I do?"
Uncle Zhao slammed his hand on the table: "That's easy! Someone! Bring the Nineteenth Prince the best wine and food! There's no problem that a meal can't solve. If it can't, then have two, three meals! In this world, the only things that can truly heal the heart are delicious food and good wine!"
The nineteenth prince's lips twitched. This Zhao family was really funny. He came to their door and said those rude things in front of them. Instead of kicking him out, they even treated him to good wine and food!
"Stop messing around, Uncle. I'm already annoyed." The Nineteenth Prince steered the conversation back on track, his gaze towards Zhou Mujiao becoming even more innocent and pitiful. "I'm not going back to the royal family, but these rumors about my background are still affecting my mother. She doesn't dare to see me, and Wan'er doesn't dare to see me either. Now, I'm almost no different from those orphans on the street without parents."
Zhou Mujiao rolled her eyes: "An orphan who can enjoy wealth and luxury with just a nod is nothing compared to those on the street. Someone, go find Sijiu and tell him that his young master has come to take him home."
When Si Jiu came out and saw the Nineteenth Prince, her eyes immediately turned red. She tugged at her clothes and stammered for a long time before finally managing to call out "Young Master".
The nineteenth prince handed him a handkerchief: "Alright, stop crying. I came to see you today on important business. You probably already know about your background. What are your thoughts now?"
What thoughts might Sijiu have?
Si Jiu is still completely bewildered.
He had been the son of a servant for over twenty years when one day someone told him that he was actually the master, the one who should be served and enjoy wealth and honor. However, because of the selfishness of the two people he had called "father" and "mother" for seven or eight years, he became a servant of inferior status, lacking ambition and daring not to envision his own life. Now, what he should have received slipped away from him again because of the rejection from his birth mother and sister.
If he had even the slightest impure intentions, he would have turned the Chen family upside down. But he didn't. After being kicked out of the Chen family, he subconsciously came to the Li family. At first, he didn't understand why he came to the Li family. Now that the Li family saw their young master, Si Jiu finally realized.
It turned out that he was waiting for his young master to come and pick him up. Over the years, he had been revolving around his young master, and without his young master, he had nowhere else to go.
With red eyes, Si Jiu knelt down before the Nineteenth Prince: "Young Master, Si Jiu has no intention of staying with you. Si Jiu still wants to stay with you. Young Master, please take Si Jiu with you!"
"What if I were to return to the Chen family?"
"Wherever the young master is, Si Jiu will be there."
"Then hurry up and pack your things!"
Si Jiu was overjoyed: "Young master, Si Jiu has nothing to pack. Let's go! Oh, by the way, thank you Miss Zhou for taking us in! And thank you Master Zhao and Madam Zhao! If there's anything Si Jiu needs in the future, please feel free to ask. Si Jiu will definitely do whatever it takes!"
The master and servant left the Li family's residence and headed straight for the Chen family's residence.
At this time, the atmosphere in the Chen family was extremely somber, comparable to the atmosphere when Chen Zhi passed away.
Chen Wan'er took her son from Song Cheng's arms and whispered, "Husband, you've been in the capital for so long and haven't had a proper stroll around. The weather is nice today, perfect for visiting the gardens and enjoying the flowers, why don't you—"
"When is your older brother coming back?" Song Cheng interrupted her directly. "You really don't want everyone to go home?"
Chen Wan'er remained silent.
She couldn't accept that a servant had suddenly become her elder brother. He was so useless, always speaking in a subservient manner, with no official rank, no ability to make money, and no skill in managing a household. What right did he have to be her elder brother?
Song Cheng was a scholar who had traveled extensively in his early years. Although he was from a small town, he still had a broad perspective. Seeing that his wife was silent, he knew what she was thinking.
Song Cheng said, "If Wan'er knew where my elder brother was staying, I suggest you help me bring him back as soon as possible."
Chen Wan'er naturally refused, but since her former 'eldest brother' was no longer with the Chen family, the Chen family had no one to rely on anymore, so she spoke much more politely than before: "Husband, it's not that I'm unwilling to go and fetch him, it's just that..."
As Chen Wan'er spoke, tears streamed down her face: "You have to give us some time to process this."
“By the time you fully accept it, I’ll probably have already chilled my elder brother’s heart.” Song Cheng handed his son to the old woman. “Although my elder brother is a bit timid and doesn’t show anything usually, and seems like an ordinary person, he has been by the side of the nineteenth prince since he was a child. He grew up with him and studied books and learned to read together. I believe that his knowledge and writing are much better than that of ordinary scholars.”
“Now that you’ve married into the Song family, only your mother-in-law will remain in the Chen family. After we return to our hometown, only your elder brother will be able to take care of her. Do you really want your mother-in-law to come with us to the Song family? Our Song family is a small, humble family, and our lifestyle and manners are different from the Chen family. The Song family will certainly not neglect your mother-in-law. I’m afraid she’ll feel like she’s living off the Song family and become depressed every day… That’s definitely not what I want to see.”
Chen Wan'er remained silent.
"In three years, it will be the next imperial examination. If you use these three years to study in seclusion, the Chen family may produce another third-place scholar in three years. Even if you don't become a third-place scholar, you can still be a source of support for your mother-in-law. When you talk about your uncle in the future, you can speak with pride and confidence."
Chen Wan'er remained silent, and Song Cheng's face darkened. He waved his sleeve and said, "Wan'er must have her own plans. Very well, Zhao Ge'er and I are just outsiders, and we will not interfere in your Chen family's affairs. Tomorrow morning, I will take Zhao Ge'er back to his hometown!"
Chen Wan'er was so angry that she blurted out, "Song Cheng, for such a lowly thing, you're actually going to abandon your wife and children?!"
Who are you calling a lowly thing?
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