Xu Shinong glared at the two of them and said apologetically, "Nephew, please don't mind them. These are my two good-for-nothing daughters."
Cheng Muyun stood still, shifting his gaze from Xu Zhuohua. "No wonder my mother arranged this marriage for me. It turns out the Xu family is a place of outstanding people and beautiful women. Miss Xu is truly stunning."
If this happened to any other woman in the Republic of China era, being caught eavesdropping during a fiancé's visit would surely have made her so ashamed she would have hanged herself.
However, Xu Zhuohua came from the 21st century, and Xu Minghua was a returned overseas student who firmly believed in gender equality, so neither of them blushed at all. Standing to the side, they both looked like they had done nothing wrong.
This infuriated the First Madam. If Cheng Muyun saw Xu Minghua, things might get complicated.
"You two come here, and stand behind me."
The two moved over in small steps. Xu Zhuohua's body was hidden by Xu Minghua's skirt. She lowered her head and resolutely refused to look at Cheng Muyun.
One look at it and you'll lose a year of your life.
Immediately, Cheng Muyun asked the question that Xu Zhuohua had been waiting for.
"Uncle, may I ask, don't you only have one daughter? How come you have two daughters?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Shinong's expression changed, and the First Madam gripped her handkerchief even tighter.
Xu Zhuohua stood behind the First Madam, secretly curving her lips into a smile, waiting for Xu Shinong and the First Madam to answer.
If Cheng Muyun were to admit that Xu Zhuohua was the eldest daughter at this point, he wouldn't be stupid. What kind of eldest daughter would be sent to a nunnery?
However, if Xu Minghua is acknowledged as the eldest daughter, then there would be no substitute bride.
This was a solution she had thought of all night.
I felt it was absolutely brilliant.
Xu Shinong smiled, glanced at Cheng Muyun, then lifted his robe and turned to sit in the main seat.
His smile gave Xu Zhuohua a sinister feeling.
"Nephew, since this is your engagement, let me ask you first, which one do you prefer?"
Xu Zhuohua clenched her fists. She had miscalculated! No matter how much she planned, she never expected Xu Shinong to be such a slick guy.
Since it's unclear, then let's not say anything. They're both his daughters. Let Cheng Muyun choose whichever one he likes. He won't lose out either way if he can get married into the Cheng family.
Madam swallowed hard. Xu Shinong had no feelings for her own daughter, but she cherished Xu Minghua very much and absolutely did not want her precious daughter to marry into the Cheng family.
Xu Minghua was quietly pulled to the back by Hu Niang.
Xu Zhuohua frowned secretly; she had no choice but to gamble now.
Cheng Muyun could tell that the nun was a fake, but that the woman dressed in Western clothes and being protected behind her was real.
Since it's a marriage between children, the Cheng family certainly can't send a fake child to the Cheng family, otherwise it would be a slap in the face for the Cheng family.
Cheng Muyun, hands in his pockets, strolled leisurely toward the two women, then stopped a meter or so away, half-jokingly saying, "Uncle, I can't see the two young ladies' faces clearly, how am I supposed to choose?"
Xu Shi Nong waved her hand dismissively, "Raise your heads! How have I been teaching you all to be so coy?"
There was no other way. Xu Zhuohua frowned, raised her head, and met Cheng Muyun's eyes.
Just like the day before yesterday in the meditation room, it gleamed with an air of certainty.
Xu Zhuohua's heart skipped a beat. It's over. The one he's set his sights on... seems to be him.
A slight smile appeared on Cheng Muyun's lips, but Xu Zhuohua didn't find the smile warm at all. Instead, she felt that Cheng Muyun was like a deadly grim reaper.
Cheng Muyun then turned his gaze to Xu Minghua, who was already completely captivated by his good looks.
When Hu Niang saw this, she immediately tugged at Xu Minghua's clothes, and Xu Minghua hurriedly lowered her head.
Then, Cheng Muyun looked at Xu Shinong and said, "Uncle, I like this."
His fingers, calloused from holding a gun, pointed at Xu Zhuohua, who was wearing a navy blue robe.
The First Madam breathed a sigh of relief, and Xu Shinong clapped his hands happily, "Nephew, you have such good taste! This is Xu Shuhua, the eldest daughter of my Xu family, and she is the one you are engaged to."
Cheng Muyun's smile was chilling. "Is that so?"
Everyone gasped upon hearing this, and Xu Shinong swallowed hard. "What do you mean by that, my dear nephew?"
Cheng Muyun walked over to Xu Minghua and paced around her, looking her over. "Why does this young lady look more like Mrs. Xu to me?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhuohua's eyes widened suddenly. So Cheng Muyun could see through it. Then she didn't need to get married.
The First Madam and Xu Shinong were stunned. If anyone else had dared to ask such a question, Xu Shinong would have certainly given a vague answer, but he dared not ask Cheng Muyun's question.
The Cheng family commands over 100,000 elite troops and two arsenals. In this day and age, having soldiers and guns makes you the emperor.
The Cheng family's rise to power was even more outrageous. They killed the original commander and moved all the way from Dongzhou to Xinhai City, took control of the Chamber of Commerce, and even allied themselves with the foreigners in the concession.
Betrayal and cruelty are synonymous with the Cheng family.
“Hmm…” Xu Shinong wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “This is the second young lady.”
Cheng Muyun narrowed his eyes, a slightly mocking smile playing on his lips. "Oh, I've never heard that you have a second young lady in your family."
Xu Shinong braced himself and said, "She was born to a concubine, and it wasn't made public. She was raised by the mistress, so her behavior is very similar."
Xu Minghua was shocked. She wanted to retort, but the First Madam stopped her: "Get back here right now! The young marshal has not chosen you yet, why are you still making a fool of yourself here!"
This was the first time Xu Minghua had been scolded. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt extremely wronged. She suddenly turned around and ran into the side hall.
Xu Zhuohua didn't feel happy at this moment, but only envious. She envied the Xu family couple for unconditionally standing behind Xu Minghua and openly showing her favoritism.
Cheng Muyun looked at the First Madam with a sharp gaze and sneered, "The Xu family really has strict family discipline. Judging from the Second Miss's clothes, she must have just returned from studying abroad, right?"
Before the First Madam could say anything, Cheng Muyun suddenly turned around, walked step by step to Xu Zhuohua, took her rough hand, and examined it closely.
“Your family is quite strange, sending your second daughter, who was born out of wedlock, to study abroad, while raising your eldest daughter, who was born of the principal wife, is so neglected.”
The First Madam frowned, watching Cheng Muyun's outrageous behavior, but dared not stop him.
Xu Shinong swallowed hard and said, "Shuhua likes tending to flowers and plants and doesn't like those foreign things, so... so that's why..."
"So you really are a young lady from a wealthy family?"
Cheng Muyun looked into Xu Zhuohua's eyes, he smiled, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
Xu Zhuohua looked at Xu Shinong and the First Madam's expressions. They were sweating nervously, and the First Madam's eyes carried a threatening meaning.
Compared to Cheng Muyun, the First Madam's threats were more effective, and Xu Zhuohua reluctantly said, "I am."
Cheng Muyun raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh, then I'm relieved. The Xu family sent their illegitimate daughter to study abroad, so they'll definitely treat their legitimate eldest daughter even better, and her dowry will naturally be generous as well."
A layer of goosebumps suddenly rose on the scalps of the three men.
Cheng Muyun knows everything!
A smile appeared on Xu Zhuohua's lips; she understood.
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