Cheng Kai said, "I'm just letting my mother know. I'll also arrange for someone to move my and Xu's things back to our original courtyard in the next few days. It will be more convenient for us to live in our original courtyard from now on. If my mother has any questions, I'll ask my father to come back and help her figure things out in a while, okay?"
When Lady Qingping heard Cheng Kai mention the Earl of Qingping, her face turned pale with anger. She gritted her teeth and glared at Cheng Kai. Cheng Kai said, "Mother, it's all been so many years ago. Is it worth it for you to be so hung up on it? Look at what you've raised my second brother into. I'm so glad that my grandparents insisted on taking me in to raise him. Otherwise, let alone my current position as deputy commander, we might not even have our Earl's mansion anymore. If you need money, just tell me or Father. Some things are better left unsaid, lest you end up losing everything."
Lady Qingping was at a loss for words when she heard her son's words. Her feelings for her eldest son were quite complicated. The child was taken away by her father-in-law, who was then called Marquis Qingping, to raise him personally. When she missed her child, she would secretly go to see him. Fortunately, she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son not long after. Lady Qingping then poured all her love into her second son.
When the children grew up, Cheng Kai could no longer make his own decisions about his marriage. The marriage between Cheng Kai and Xu Gao was arranged by the Earl of Qingping and the Marquis of Yongning. The Earl of Qingping originally wanted her sister's daughter to marry into the family. One of the Earl of Qingping's sisters was married into a wealthy family in Jiangnan and was the head of the household. The daughter of the Earl of Qingping would have plenty of money, and the Earl of Qingping had everything but money. However, when it came time for Cheng Kai to get engaged, the Earl of Qingping, who usually didn't care about the affairs of the household, didn't even inform her and just arranged the marriage.
It could be said that Lady Qingping vented all her resentment about these matters on Xu Gao, but Xu Gao didn't understand, and even if he did, what could he do?
Being filial to one's mother-in-law is something a daughter-in-law should do.
Cheng Kai has always been aloof, but what he says cannot be ignored by his mother, Lady Qingping. Lady Qingping knows very well that her son has the same temperament as her father-in-law and is also capable. If she offends him, he will not come after her but will come after her most beloved children.
Lady Qingping gritted her teeth, glaring hatefully at Cheng Kai. Cheng Kai sighed and said, "Mother, you are now the one who has the final say in this household. Why take your anger out on Madam Xu? Madam Xu is gentle by nature, but the people of the Yongning Marquis's mansion are not to be trifled with. Take, for example, the seventh young master of the Yongning Marquis's mansion who made my cousin come back crying just now. Even I can't speak up for him, let alone my cousin. For the sake of our mansion's reputation, we should back down when necessary, so as not to delay the marriages of my second and third brothers. Don't you think so?"
Even after Cheng Kai bowed and left, Lady Qingping remained seated in the rose chair in the same position. It wasn't until Cheng Kai reached the courtyard gate that he heard the sound of porcelain shattering from inside the house. He shook his head and sighed before continuing to walk out.
His mother might be confused about these things, but he couldn't be. Cheng Kai knew very well that the future of the Qingping Marquis's Mansion was tied to that of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion. The Yongning Marquis's Mansion might not seem very prominent now, but the Third Master of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion in the Northwest was an object of admiration for many people.
Although Cheng Kai, who walks within the Forbidden City, is aloof in nature, he is not lacking in intelligence. Having been personally taught by the Marquis of Qingping since childhood, he can see the essence of things.
What he valued about his wife was not Xu Gao herself, but the Yongning Marquis's mansion behind Xu Gao. Before Xu Bai approached him, Cheng Kai always thought that other people's wives were just like his wife, and would be tormented by their mothers-in-law. Otherwise, why would there be a saying that a daughter-in-law eventually becomes a mother-in-law after many years?
However, after listening to Xu Bai's words, Cheng Kai began to reflect on his actions. He had to admit that he had made a mistake. If he continued to treat his wife the same way, she might really divorce him and leave. If that happened, he and the Yongning Marquis's Mansion would be enemies. The Yongning Marquis's Mansion was his support now. Without this support, it would be very difficult for him to move forward.
Men are all ambitious, and sometimes they will do things out of necessity to achieve their ambitions. Cheng Kai didn't think there was anything wrong with that. But now, Cheng Kai feels that his outlook on life has changed.
After Cheng Kai returned, Xu Gao's personal nanny had already packed Xu Gao's things. Xu Gao looked sickly, and the clothes she was wearing looked a bit too big and were hanging loosely. When she saw Cheng Kai return, she quickly stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Husband, are we alright going back to my parents' home like this?"
When Cheng Kai saw the dress, he remembered that it was one that his wife often wore. However, he had never thought that the dress was so big on her before. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that it wasn't that the dress was too big, but that he had lost weight.
Thinking of Xu Gao returning to her parents' home so thin, Cheng Kai felt a little uneasy. He thought it best to let his wife stay at home for a few more days to recover her complexion and gain some weight before going back. But when he saw Xu Bai staring at him with his big, fierce eyes, Cheng Kai couldn't help but swallow hard and said, "It's alright, I'll go back with you. It's rare for Seventh Brother and Ninth Sister to come back. I'll go back with you and stay for a few more days so you can relax and clear your mind."
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