After Qiao Zhen left, she naturally became more demanding. Since the Regent had given her internal authority, she took it. She used the pretext of preparing things for Cheng Yao'er to enter the mansion, and then openly and unscrupulously lined her own pockets.
Although the Regent was fully aware of the situation, he turned a blind eye, wanting to see what tricks Qiao Zhen could pull. No matter what she did, it wouldn't shake his resolve to marry Cheng Yao'er in the slightest.
Shen Zhao knew that Cheng Yao'er had laid a hand on Shen Xiaobao, but that was also proof that Cheng Yao'er liked him.
Since ancient times, women have been valued for their virtue, but he happens to like women who are jealous, and his jealousy is quite obvious.
If Qiao Zhen knew what Shen Zhao was thinking, she would definitely crack open Shen Zhao's skull to see if it was filled with shit. Such a thought is truly bizarre.
The money she embezzled from the manor and put into the brocade pouch was enough for an ordinary family to live on for several years. After all, it was the Regent's manor; even a single item there could support an ordinary person for a lifetime.
Shen Zhao sent someone to find Qiao Zhen and Shen Xiaobao, to go with him to the Cheng residence to apologize. Qiao Zhen, of course, properly accompanied Shen Xiaobao. In the carriage, she didn't forget to lecture Shen Xiaobao in front of Shen Zhao, "You need to properly apologize to Miss Cheng later, do you understand?"
Shen Xiaobao nodded as if he understood, though he didn't know why his mother wanted him to apologize to that bad person.
Qiao Zhen was very pleased; her adopted son was very obedient. "Good boy, today I'm going to teach you a lesson: you must boldly express what you need to express. If you talk about it behind people's backs, they'll think you're up to something. Do you understand?"
Shen Xiaobao shouted, "I love Mommy! I love her so much!"
Qiao Zhen smiled, her eyes crinkling, "You're such a good girl. It wasn't for nothing that your mother risked half her life to give birth to you."
Shen Zhao thought Qiao Zhen and Shen Xiaobao got along very well, it was very warm and cozy, and he longed for that kind of relationship. It would be even better if Qiao Zhen wasn't so sarcastic and eccentric. Unfortunately, he liked Cheng Yao'er, which was truly a source of distress.
When the carriage stopped in front of the Cheng residence, Qiao Zhen smelled smoke. "What's that smell?!"
The servant lifted the carriage curtain. "Your Highness, the inner courtyard of the Cheng residence is on fire! It seems to be Miss Cheng's courtyard!"
Shen Zhao hurriedly got out of the carriage, brushed aside the servants blocking his way, and Qiao Zhen, carrying Shen Xiaobao, stumbled after him. She said anxiously, "There's a fire inside! What are you doing going in?!"
Shen Xiaobao was so frightened that her eyes welled up with tears.
Shen Zhao made a move to rush in.
Qiao Zhen immediately grabbed Shen Zhao's arm. She didn't care about being disrespectful; she just wanted to wake this man up. "Do you really think you have three heads and six arms, and can get into anything? Did you even consider my child and me when you went in?"
Shen Zhao forcefully brushed Qiao Zhen's hand away, glanced at her coldly, and then rushed into the sea of fire.
Qiao Zhen was so angry that she jumped up and down on the spot, "What are you looking at?! If anything happens to the Regent, the lives of more than a hundred people in your Cheng family can't atone for it! Go in and save them!"
Xiao Ling: [Calm down, host.]
Qiao Zhen: [Damn! How am I supposed to stay calm?! This bastard actually rushed into the fire for another woman! Wow—how romantic! Bullshit! I'd twist his head off and use it as a football!]
Chu Chu: [Calm down, Zhenzhen.]
Qiao Zhen: [Shut up!]
Xiao Ling/Chu Chu: Shut up.
Qiao Zhen made them go in to rescue people while covered with blankets that had been soaked in water, which perfectly demonstrated her mean-spirited nature. She ruined her image whenever she was unhappy, and in the end, Shen Zhao was also embarrassed because of her.
The longer it went on, the more anxious the servants in the Cheng family became. If something really happened to the Regent, they would all be buried with him.
Qiao Zhen told the servant to take good care of Shen Xiaobao, and she rushed in, covered with a damp blanket. The scorching heat hit her, but she still had to muster her courage to go in and save him.
Cheng Yao'er ran outside, and the two of them came face to face. Qiao Zhen grabbed her and stared at Cheng Yao'er with sharp eyes, "Where is Chen Zhao?!"
"I...how would I know?" Cheng Yao'er's eyes were somewhat unfocused. After all, she was a young lady who had never experienced great things, and a fire alone revealed her disheveled state.
Qiao Zhen tightened her grip on Cheng Yao'er's arm. "I'm asking you, where is Shen Zhao?!"
Cheng Yao'er shook off her hand and went out.
Qiao Zhen looked at Cheng Yao'er's blurry figure and could only follow the direction Cheng Yao'er had just gone to find her way back. Burning wood fell down and blocked Qiao Zhen's path, so Qiao Zhen simply covered the wood with the wet blanket and rolled over.
When she found Shen Zhao, he was lying on the ground, half-dead, with blood and gore on his left cheek and burn marks on his arm.
That bastard.
My beloved face is ruined!
Don't blame me for cheating!
Qiao Zhen carried Shen Zhao on her back. Amidst the raging flames, she jumped out of the window. Below was a lotus pond. It was November, and only she knew how cold it was in the pond; she felt her bones shivering. "Pah! What a trashy regent!"
She dragged the half-dead Shen Zhao ashore and shouted, "Help! Someone help!"
The servants of the Cheng family swarmed towards Shen Zhao, while no one cared about the disheveled Qiao Zhen.
Oh, there is one, Shen Xiaobao.
Shen Xiaobao finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, crying out in anguish, "Mother!"
Qiao Zhen told Shen Xiaobao to stay away from her, "Be good, Mommy is wet, let's go back first."
"Mmm." Shen Xiaobao followed behind Qiao Zhen, sobbing. His legs were short, so it was a bit difficult for him to keep up.
Qiao Zhen could only slow down to accommodate him; if she fell into the water in this weather, she would probably lose half her life.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
