Chapter 148 I have Mao Mao!
This New Year was especially difficult for the Zhao family.
It all started the day Zhao Qi'an went to the Marshal's Mansion to pay his respects to his aunt.
Apart from their daughter who married Lou Dashuai as a concubine, the rest of the Zhao family were not very successful. Even though they benefited from the Lou family and had no worries about food and drink, there was no room for further advancement.
Zhao Qi'an, on the other hand, was the hope that his entire family had nurtured.
Qi'an from their family was very promising. He studied abroad and got a job in the military and political department as soon as he returned after graduation. His future looked bright, and he was expected to bring his whole family to high positions. But then... he went to pay New Year's respects to his aunt and was arrested as a spy!
A spy?!
Are you kidding me?!
But the man was arrested personally by Marshal Lou, right in the Marshal's mansion. Later, even Zhao Qi'an confessed to the crime. Even though the Zhao family was unwilling to accept this reality, they had no choice but to accept it.
But just because they acknowledged it doesn't mean they can accept the outcome.
So today, they came looking for the daughter who was going to be a concubine of General Lou.
They wanted to ask their daughter for help, to plead with the warlord to get Zhao Qi'an out of prison.
This is the hope of the entire Zhao family!
Originally, Zhao's father did not want to come.
What kind of place is that Marshal's mansion? A nobody like him wouldn't even know which foot to step into. Since the concubine isn't the legal wife, he has no standing in the Lou family.
Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, which is the day when married daughters return to visit their parents. Early in the morning, Zhao's parents were waiting, full of things to say. But after waiting and waiting, almost half a day had passed, and they still hadn't seen their daughter, who usually arrived early. So they started looking for her.
Upon seeing the first concubine, Zhao's father got straight to the point and stated his purpose directly.
The first concubine hadn't finished pouring the tea when she heard this, and she immediately put down the teapot.
"You want me to plead with the Marshal to release Qi'an?" The first concubine exclaimed in surprise, "Dad, brother, are you kidding me? Don't you know what crime Qi'an committed?"
Mr. Zhao waited for a while, and seeing that she had no intention of bringing him tea, his face darkened.
Two people came to the Zhao family today: the eldest concubine's father and her eldest brother. The eldest brother took the teapot and poured tea for them, first offering the cup to his father.
Then he said to his sister, "We know that Qi'an was a spy, but hasn't anything bad happened yet?"
The first concubine opened her mouth, then abruptly closed it again.
Startled, she couldn't utter a single word.
“Those spies who were arrested were all traitors for leaking secrets! But Qi’an is not. He has only been back in the country for a short time and just started working in the military and political department. He has no opportunity to access secrets. The matter is not that serious, and he has not reached the point of being a traitor,” Brother Zhao said.
The first wife murmured, "If you don't betray secrets, you're not a spy?"
Brother Zhao: "At most, he was just... temporarily deluded and went astray!"
First wife: "..."
"Qi'an is still young, still a child. You must give Qi'an a chance to make amends. You can't just kill him with one blow."
Brother Zhao poured a cup of tea for the eldest concubine and earnestly advised her, "Don't forget, you are Qi'an's own aunt!"
First wife: "..."
The first wife dared not accept the cup of tea and avoided his movements.
“No.” She composed herself before refusing, “There is no room for negotiation on this matter. Qi’an was convicted before the New Year. He confessed to his crimes, admitting to taking money from foreigners and selling information. If it weren’t for the New Year, he would have been executed long ago.”
Brother Zhao said anxiously, "Why not? The matter in Haicheng is decided by the Marshal. Why don't you go and plead with him to let Qi'an go?"
The first wife was shocked: "Me, plead for him? Brother, you need to understand, Qi'an is a spy, selling information to foreigners. From the moment he took the money, he decided to betray the country. He is already a traitor!"
Does that mean he didn't betray any secrets, so it doesn't count?
It wasn't that he didn't want to, but rather that he was suddenly arrested and hadn't had a chance to carry it out.
If it weren't for the unexpected incident during the New Year's greetings, he would still be trying to secure his position and work for the Marshal or Young Marshal. At that point, obtaining classified information would be much easier.
From the moment he decided to become a spy, his conscience was extinguished, and it would not grow any greater regardless of the magnitude of his mistakes.
Brother Zhao said, "Things aren't as serious as you're making them out to be."
The first wife remained silent.
No?
How could there not be!
Seeing that she wouldn't budge an inch and wouldn't give an inch, Zhao's father, who had been standing silently with a sullen face for a long time, took a big gulp of tea and slammed the cup down on the table.
With a "bang," the porcelain clattered together.
"Don't forget, Qi'an is the most promising descendant of the younger generation of our Zhao family. The hopes of our Zhao family rest entirely on him." Father Zhao said angrily, "Your eldest brother only has him as his son. If you want Qi'an to die, you're trying to wipe out the Zhao family line. What are you up to!"
The first wife closed her eyes and remained silent, her eyelids trembling slightly.
Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and both the second and third concubines have returned to their parents' homes.
She didn't go back because she didn't want to hear these accusations.
After witnessing her nephew being arrested, she knew she would be scolded by her family.
However, some principles cannot be compromised.
The eldest concubine said in a stiff tone, "My eldest brother has two daughters."
Mr. Zhao's eyes widened: "You...!"
"Dad, calm down." Brother Zhao patted his father's back reassuringly and brought the tea back to him.
He then looked at his younger sister: "Little sister, what Dad said may not be pleasant to hear, but it is the truth. Qi'an is my only son, not just mine. Since he was little, you, his aunt, have always been the one who dotes on him the most. He often says in private that he will treat you as his own mother."
"..."
Father Zhao snorted coldly, "How could I have raised such an ungrateful daughter!"
"..."
“Little sister, you’re all alone in the Marshal’s Mansion…” Brother Zhao said, glancing at the environment in the reception room.
The Lou family's exterior is a European-style villa that resembles a castle, and every room inside is equally exquisite. In the living room, there is European-style furniture, paintings by famous artists, crystal wall lamps, and even every ornament is extremely fine, exuding luxury everywhere.
Brother Zhao said, "...Although life in the Marshal's Mansion is luxurious, you don't have a child. Although the Lou family has four young masters, they are not related to you by blood. Will they be truly sincere to you? In the end, you will still have to rely on Qi'an in the future."
Brother Zhao: "You're not young anymore. You should start thinking about your future. If you don't save Qi'an now, you're cutting off your own escape route! You'll have a miserable old age, and it will be too late to regret it!"
Brother Zhao earnestly advised her, "Your family is your true support. If the Zhao family prospers, you'll have more confidence in the Marshal's Mansion, won't you? Didn't you understand that before?"
Every word was piercing to the heart.
The first wife's lips trembled, and even her hands, which were resting on her knees, trembled.
Father Zhao scolded, "Don't think you're so great just because you've become the warlord's concubine. You're a daughter of the Zhao family. Are you going to be ungrateful and not even care about your own nephew's safety?! Are you trying to drive your father to his death?!"
"Dad, calm down, calm down."
"I think she's determined to destroy our Zhao family!"
"Dad, my little sister isn't that kind of person."
"How could it not be? Now, when I ask her to save Qi'an, she makes excuses and shows no mercy whatsoever. If something happens to me one day, she might even poison me!"
"..."
Zhao's father and elder brother pushed and shoved each other for a while, one cursing and the other trying to persuade, before finally stopping.
They raised their cups and moistened their dry throats.
"Think it through carefully yourself."
"..."
The living room suddenly fell silent.
Even the sounds of drinking water and breathing were clearly audible.
So much so that when the first concubine murmured as softly as a mosquito's buzz, the two members of the Zhao family could hear her clearly.
"...Who said I didn't?"
Brother Zhao didn't understand at first: "What?"
"I have Mao Mao!"
The eldest concubine emphasized her words, and for the first time in front of her family, she held her head high and stood tall.
She repeated, "I have Mao Mao!"
Who is Mao Mao?
"Mao Mao is...that's my daughter! She calls me Mom!"
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