He was so angry that she almost vomited blood, but Zhen looked calm and composed, which made He even angrier.
"Are you planning to default on your debt?" He said.
Zhen said, "I don't know what my aunt is talking about."
He Shi didn't know this before she came. After He Zhen came back from Qinfang Tower and told her what happened during the day, He Shi sent the old lady of the He family to a farm outside the city the next day in the name of filial piety, saying that she was going there to escape the summer heat, but in fact she just wanted her to leave the He family temporarily.
Zhen knew that He would come to the He family to ask for an explanation, so she sent the old lady away first to prevent her from speaking for He at home. If the old lady He spoke, Zhen would not have the chance to speak.
It was precisely because Old Lady He was not around that Zhen was able to remain so calm and composed.
After arguing for a long time, He didn't see Old Madam He, and she felt strange. If her mother had come to greet her when she returned on normal days, she would not have to endure Zhen's anger.
He asked, "Where is my mother? Go and ask her to come out."
As long as Madam He is around, she can't stand being bullied.
Zhen smiled but said nothing. The maidservant beside her said, "Our wife is kind and filial. The heat in the city is very severe, so our wife sent the old lady to the farm outside the city to escape the heat."
What? Madam He wasn't home. Madam He's prestige instantly waned by more than half.
He thought that it was an inopportune time to come today, but if she turned around and left now, she would not be as enthusiastic next time.
He calmed herself down and sat down on Zhen's right without Zhen inviting her to do so.
"My mother is not at home, but Mr. He Zhen must be here, right? Call him out for me." said Mrs. He.
Zhen asked, "I wonder what the aunt wants to call Zhen'er for?"
He sneered, "Don't you know what I'm asking him about? It's naturally about He Zhen and my Jiao'er."
Zhen asked, "What's going on between Zhen'er and Jiao'er?"
Zhen's question was like rubbing salt into He's wounds. He couldn't say anything no matter what. How could she say that He Zhen slept with her daughter?
He suppressed her anger and said, "Such a serious incident happened that day. I don't believe that no news has reached the He family. You should have expressed your attitude long ago. I have been waiting for several days and you still haven't come. So I have no choice but to come and ask for an explanation myself."
Zhen took a sip of the teacup and did not respond to her.
He said, "Now that it has happened, I am here to discuss the marriage between Zhen'er and Jiao'er."
"The marriage of Zhen'er and Jiao'er? I didn't know that. Wasn't what we discussed with the Shen family before about the marriage between Zhen'er and the eldest daughter of the first house, Yue'er?" Zhen said.
Zhen specifically emphasized Chen Liyue, the eldest daughter of the first wife. She originally wanted to marry Chen Liyue. Not to mention that Chen Lijiao had already been engaged to the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, even if Chen Lijiao was not engaged, Zhen would still look down on her.
They all say that one should marry a virtuous wife, but how can Chen Lijiao be considered virtuous? Besides, Zhen's own mother-in-law is still alive, and she can't even make the final decision at home. If He Zhen marries Chen Lijiao, and her mother-in-law directly hands over the housekeeping power to Chen Lijiao, then how can she still take her mother-in-law seriously?
Besides, Chen Liyue's mother's family is so rich, and Chen Liyue can make money herself. Marrying her is like marrying a cash cow. What benefits can there be in marrying Chen Lijiao? With such a domineering and overbearing mother, whoever marries her will be unlucky.
He sneered when he heard this: "You are still thinking about Shen Liyue? Don't you consider your status? How can others look down on you?"
Zhen said, "My aunt, what you said is very strange. Who was it that day who came to the He family and swore to us that it was your arrangement and that Zhen'er would definitely marry Chen Liyue? Why are you saying something like "look down on me, look down on me" now?"
He was so angry that she wanted to rush over and tear off her face. What was she pretending for? Did she really not know what she was doing?
But now the news has spread like wildfire outside, and the only thing to do now is to quickly finalize the marriage between He Zhen and Jiao'er, and then get married quickly, otherwise her Yue'er will really have no way out.
So He had to suppress her anger and make sure this matter was done today.
Mrs. He had to slow down her tone and said, "I'm sure you've heard about what happened at Qinfang Tower a few days ago. I'm not here to argue with you, but now that things have come to this, the immediate plan is to quickly arrange Zhen'er and Jiao'er's marriage, and then choose an auspicious date to marry Jiao'er off quickly. This will give an explanation to both the He and Shen families."
Zhen was surprised and said, "But wasn't Jiao'er already engaged to the Yong'an Marquis? Why are you asking Zhen'er to marry Jiao'er?"
He's anger had really reached her head. She had already spoken to Zhen in such a humble manner, but Zhen was still pretending to be stupid, and she had to continue to deal with her in a humble manner.
He said, "Jiao'er's marriage to the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion has been cancelled. Don't ask any more questions. Just let Zhen'er go directly to the Shen Mansion to propose marriage. The Second Master and I will agree."
Zhen sneered. It was obvious that she was not satisfied with He's attitude. She just didn't believe that He had the same attitude when she went to the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion to beg them to marry Jiao'er.
The Zhen family had the capital to be proud. Her Zhen'er was a boy, and it was common for boys to have some romantic affairs outside. But her Chen Lijiao was different. When something like this happened, it was their Shen family that was anxious, not the He family.
Zhen was making plans for He Zhen, but she didn't intend to completely break off with He. She had to marry Chen Lijiao. If she didn't, Chen Lijiao would either die or become a nun. Then, let alone asking He to subsidize the He family, even her mother-in-law would not forgive her if she knew about it.
She could marry him, but she couldn't have a grand ceremony to marry him. Did she really have to spend all her savings to marry a troublemaker for her son?
Zhen put down the tea bowl in her hand, looked at He and said, "If Zhen'er wants to marry Jiao'er, that's fine, but Zhen'er's father and I still prefer the eldest daughter of the Shen family. If you can let Miss Shen marry Jiao'er together, we are willing to do so."
He didn't expect Zhen to make such a request. Doesn't she really know her place?
He's face turned cold and she said bluntly, "Impossible."
The Zhen family knew it was impossible, but this was indeed what they really thought.
Can it be another explanation? Then can't she be allowed to say it?
Besides, Zhen wanted to let He know that even if the He family married Chen Lijiao, they would not be very willing, so don't expect to ask for any betrothal gifts. They don't have the money and it is impossible for them to pay it.
She just wanted the He family to understand that now it was her Shen family that was begging their He family. With this foundation, even the daughter of their Shen family would have to be humble to them when she married into their family.
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