Chapter 684 Let Xingxing talk to the old lady of Duke Xin

This news also shocked Jiao Yulou to the point of being terrified.

"Ah? Cousin Mingzhu is not my aunt's biological daughter?" Jiao Yulou asked in shock.

When Aunt Jiao San heard this, she knew that her son didn't know about this yet.

The mother and son looked at each other for a long while. Then Jiao Yulou's throat moved, and he thought of Princess Fusui whom he met today.

"...Wait a minute, mother, you said that the princess looks like Sister Yuan, and Sister Yuan is the one that grandmother has said many times is the one who looks most like aunt. Could it be that..."

Jiao Yulou guessed with some horror.

Aunt Jiao shook her head and said, "How could that be possible? Princess Fusui is the apple of the Yu family's eye. Besides, Princess Fusui often writes to the Duke's Mansion to ask for the old lady's pulse. If she is really your aunt's biological daughter, how could your aunt be so cold to her? They must have checked and proved that it is not the case. I also asked your aunt, and she said it was just a coincidence."

That makes sense.

Jiao Yulou nodded in conviction: "Mother has thought it through thoroughly."

Aunt Jiao sighed again: "Son, I came to your aunt this time because I was thinking that, first, you would live in the capital for a while with the teacher, and second, I wanted to see if your relationship with your cousin Mingzhu could work out..."

Jiao Yulou took a deep breath and said, "Mom, what are you talking about? My cousin Mingzhu is very proud. How could she be interested in someone like me? I was shopping with my cousin Mingzhu today and ran into the Fourth Prince. My cousin Mingzhu was much closer to the Fourth Prince than to me."

When Jiao San's aunt heard this, she became angry.

"She is not the daughter of Duke Xin, so why does she look down on my son?" Aunt Jiao's heart towards Yu Mingzhu also turned cold, and she said angrily, "If you really think about it, my son is much more noble than her! And she wants to marry the Fourth Prince?!"

The more Aunt Jiao thought about it, the angrier she became.

Jiao Yulou, however, remained calm.

He had always treated Yu Mingzhu as his younger sister and did not have any other thoughts about her, so naturally he would not be as angry as his mother.

"Okay, mother, I don't have the heart to think about these matters between men and women right now," Jiao Yulou persuaded Aunt Jiao San, "Wait until I pass the imperial examination in two years, and then you can help me find a husband. Won't there be more choices for me than now?"

Seeing her son sober, Aunt Jiao San also sighed, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

He had completely given up the idea of ​​marrying Yu Mingzhu.

Back in that room, the old lady of Duke Xin asked someone to call Jiao over.

After Jiao knew that Yu Mingzhu had a "good relationship" with the Fourth Prince, she was in a good mood. When she arrived at the Xin Guogong Madam's place, she kept smiling and asked, "Mother, you're looking for me?"

The old lady of Duke Xin asked directly, "I see that Mingzhu is getting better. When do you plan to move Mingzhu out of the house?"

The color quickly drained from Jiao's face and her lips trembled for a long time.

The old lady of Duke Xin looked at her with cold eyes.

Seeing that the old lady of the Duke of Xin was serious, Jiao hesitated for a long time before saying, "...Mother, Zhuzhu is on good terms with the Fourth Prince. I want to..."

Jiao hesitated.

But the old lady of Duke Xin immediately understood what Jiao meant. She sneered and asked bluntly, "Do you want Mingzhu to marry the Fourth Prince? Let me ask you, Your Highness, do you know Mingzhu's true background? Usually, a wealthy family would hesitate to marry someone with unknown bloodline. Do you think the royal family would be so careless?"

These words made Jiao's face turn pale and blue.

Jiao bit her lip and struggled, "Mother, even if Zhuzhu is not of our Xinguo Mansion's bloodline, we have raised her for so many years, and we can say that Zhuzhu is a child adopted by Yu's distant relatives. At the very least, we can give Zhuzhu a clean family background..."

The old lady of Duke Xin did not waver at all: "Then what? Can this erase Mingzhu's true origin? We in Duke Xin's Mansion have raised her for so many years, and everyone treats her as a treasure. We have not let her down at all, right? How has she treated the people in the mansion? Her elder brother is now emaciated and in a daze every day. How much of this is due to her? As for the rest, I don't want to say more. Just one thing, we have raised Mingzhu for so many years, and we have a clear conscience. We have not let her down at all."

Jiao was speechless.

The old lady of Duke Xin looked at Jiao with increasingly cold eyes.

Finally, Jiao couldn't stand the gaze of the old lady of Duke Xin. Her eyes wandered, and she said unwillingly: "Mother, what if the Fourth Prince doesn't mind Zhuzhu's background? We must give Zhuzhu a chance... Besides, I don't want Zhuzhu to marry a rich man, I just want Zhuzhu to marry a good husband."

When the old lady of Duke Xin saw that Jiao was still stubborn and refused to repent, a trace of deep disappointment flashed across her eyes.

The old lady of Duke Xin was unwilling to waste time talking to Jiao, so she got straight to the point and said, "Your biological daughter's birthday is in two days. Mingzhu has been using that birthday for so long. Have you ever thought about how your biological daughter was doing while you were celebrating Mingzhu's birthday?"

Jiao was as if she had been hit hard by a punch. She swayed a little. She held onto the edge of the table, as if she was trying to defend herself or to convince others: "...No, the Yu family loves Xingxing very much. They will definitely celebrate her birthday."

The old lady of Duke Xin sneered, "Of course the Yu family loves Xingxing, but Xingxing was picked up by the Yu family, so who knows her birthday? It's because the Yu family is kind and doesn't want Xingxing to be sad that they regard the day when Old Lady Wei picked up Xingxing as Xingxing's birthday every year, so that someone can help Xingxing celebrate!... What about you? You, who may be Xingxing's biological mother, what are you doing! Celebrating the birthday of a fake who has been occupying the nest for more than ten years!"

The words of the old lady of Duke Xin were like a knife, piercing Jiao's heart.

Jiao covered her chest tightly, feeling so heartbroken that she could hardly breathe.

The old lady of Duke Xin was unwilling to listen to Jiao's words. She brushed her sleeves and said, "Alright, that's all I have to say. You can go back now. If Mingzhu hasn't been moved out by the 16th day of the first lunar month at the latest, don't blame me, an old woman, for not giving you and your daughter face!"

Jiao returned to the house with red eyes.

Yu Mingzhu was waiting in Jiao's yard with great joy. She was about to show Jiao the gift she had just received, but she saw Jiao was in a state of despair. Something was wrong. Her heart skipped a beat: "...Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Jiao opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, tears started flowing again.

Yu Mingzhu was extremely worried. She squatted in front of Jiao and rested her head on Jiao's knees. "Mother, what happened to you? Please tell me. I am so scared when you are like this."

Jiao looked at her daughter who was leaning her head on her knees and acting coquettishly, and her eyes became blurred with tears.

Her Zhuzhu, whom she had brought up with her since she was little...

Her Zhuzhu, who was so young, was taught by her how to speak, how to manage the household, and how to behave in etiquette. She has grown into a lady from a noble family who is impeccable in the whole capital... How can a Zhuzhu not be her daughter!

Jiao hugged Yu Mingzhu and burst into tears: "Zhuzhu, your grandmother is too cruel. She insisted that you move out of the yard after your birthday!"

Yu Mingzhu's face turned pale instantly.

She cursed the old woman in her heart, but her face showed a bit of anxiety and helplessness: "Mother, you didn't tell grandmother that the Fourth Prince and I..."

Jiao hugged Yu Mingzhu and wiped her tears: "Why didn't I tell you? Instead, your grandmother scolded me again, saying that the royal family values ​​family background more than ordinary aristocratic families. My poor Zhuzhu, your grandmother is determined this time and must cut off ties with you!"

Yu Mingzhu's face choked up, and she started crying along with Jiao: "Grandma... Grandma has disliked me since I was little, and I don't know why, but you know that I have always been very filial to Grandma and have never disobeyed her. Why does Grandma dislike me so much? Is it so important that I am not your biological child?"

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried bitterly.

After crying, Yu Mingzhu wiped her tears and said to Jiao with red eyes: "Mother, you know me. I am not greedy for the glory and wealth of the Duke's Mansion. I just can't bear to leave you, father, and brothers... If grandmother really can't tolerate me, then I will move out. Just one thing, mother, please don't have a rift with grandmother because of me."

Jiao felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife when she heard Yu Mingzhu's soothing words that showed she was considerate of her in every way.

"Zhuzhu, my Zhuzhu..." Jiao shook her hand and stroked Yu Mingzhu's face.

Yu Mingzhu cried and said, "Mother, I will not be with you anymore. You have to take care of yourself. I only hope that you can find your biological daughter soon, so that you will have someone to accompany you and I can rest assured..."

Jiao couldn't bear it any longer and burst into tears again.

She clenched her fists: "Zhuzhu, no one can take you away from me... No one can!"

Jiao's eyes flashed with madness: "Zhuzhu, tell me, the Fourth Prince is very fond of you, does he want to marry you as the Fourth Prince's consort?"

Yu Mingzhu lowered her eyes shyly: "Mom, what are you talking about..."

She thought of something and took out the jade ring in her hand. "I almost forgot, mother, I was waiting for you here because I wanted to show you this. This is the birthday gift that the Fourth Prince just sent. He originally said that he would come to celebrate my birthday, but his princess sisters wanted to go out to watch the lanterns this year. As the fourth brother, he was afraid that he would have to accompany the princesses and could not come to celebrate my birthday, so he gave me the birthday gift in advance."

Jiao looked at the jade ring carefully, it was definitely an ordinary product, she was delighted, and even had the urge to take a risk: "...it seems that the Fourth Prince is really interested in you. Zhuzhu, if the Fourth Prince is willing to ask His Majesty to marry you, maybe your grandmother can keep you in the mansion for the sake of the royal family."

Yu Mingzhu's face flushed a little: "Mother, the Fourth Prince hinted that I was still young and he was willing to wait for me. He is so anxious, I am afraid..."

Jiao also sighed.

How could she not know that this was too hasty?

But she never expected that her mother-in-law could be so heartless!

Jiao walked around the room and a crazy idea came to her mind.

She clenched her fists and said, "...My words cannot change your grandmother's decision, but if someone else speaks, your grandmother will definitely be willing to listen!"

Yu Mingzhu looked at Jiao, who clenched her hands, as if she had given up everything, with determination in her eyes.

Yu Mingzhu realized who Jiao was talking about almost instantly.

——Yu Xingxing!

What her mother meant was that she would go find Yu Xingxing and ask her to talk to her grandmother and ask her to let her stay?

Yu Mingzhu almost wanted to laugh out loud!

She knew that she hated Yu Xingxing very much and Yu Xingxing didn't like her either, so Yu Xingxing would definitely not agree to Jiao's request.

But, Yu Mingzhu didn't know why, she had a vague premonition that the fact that Jiao went to find Yu Xingxing would hurt Yu Xingxing.

Yu Mingzhu's heart was beating like a drum. She heard her own voice as if she was gently persuading Jiao: "Mother, I have never had a good relationship with Princess Fusui. If you go to find her, will she agree?"

Jiao was a little nervous, but more than that, she had a confidence that came from nowhere.

She seemed to be answering Yu Mingzhu, but also seemed to be saying to herself: "Yes, Xingxing is a good child and will listen to me."

Yu Mingzhu couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth.

Although since Yu Xingxing came, many people and things around her have changed because of Yu Xingxing.

She is no longer the person her elder and second brothers love the most.

But only her mother Jiao loved her as always!

As always, I chose her!

…

Jiao acted as a man of action this time and went directly to Yu's house in Zhenxi General's Mansion the next day.

Jiao delivered the note, and the concierge did not dare to neglect it and reported it immediately. The housekeeper Bai Xiaofeng was quite puzzled.

Bai Xiaofeng went to Mrs. Wei first and reported the matter.

When Mrs. Wei heard that the wife of the Crown Prince of the Duke of Xin was looking for Xingxing, she said she had something important to discuss.

Mrs. Wei attached great importance to her. She sent someone to invite Jiao in, and at the same time sent someone to go to Xingxing's yard to find Xingxing.

It was just unfortunate that Xingxing went out to play.

Despite this, the Yu family politely invited Jiao in and served her good tea and snacks.

Mrs. Wei looked serious and asked, "Madam, is there anything urgent?"

She thought, the old lady of the Duke of Xin was very good to their daughter Xingxing, and now the wife of the Duke of Xin's son came to visit in person, so maybe something happened to the old lady of the Duke of Xin.

If there really was something urgent that needed her daughter Xingxing to handle, she would mobilize the servants in her house to go find Xingxing.

Jiao naturally didn't want to say in front of others that she wanted Xingxing to write to the Duke's old lady to speak well of Yu Mingzhu.

Jiao could only smile and say, "It's nothing serious. I just have some personal matters to attend to. I need to find Xingxing... Xingxing is not at home. When will she be back?"

Jiao was determined and planned to wait for Xingxing to come back at Yu's house.

When Mrs. Wei heard that it was nothing serious, she breathed a sigh of relief: "...I don't know when Xingxing will be back. She went shopping with her little sister today, maybe she will be back after lunch."

Jiao frowned slightly.

The Yu family's discipline of Xingxing is too sparse!

Xingxing is not young anymore, she will soon be old enough to get married, how can you let her go out like this every day? At least you should tell them when you will be back home, and tell them before you leave!