Chapter 19 The Zhu Sisters Conspire
"What's the point of telling me how you can confidently ask for a favor? Go tell Mr. Jiang to divorce Mrs. Xu immediately, and then we'll take you home as our wife in a sedan chair carried by eight people!"
Zhu Mingfu was so angry that she said a few sarcastic words to her cousin, which made her so angry that she immediately fell into tears at her desk.
"I'm already in such a mess, and you still want to bully me like this! Woohoo, are you still my sister? Why are you so biased towards outsiders?"
After all, these were the sisters she had grown up with. Seeing them crying so miserably, the depression in Zhu Mingfu's heart gradually dissipated.
He walked over to his cousin, patted her shoulder comfortingly and persuaded her.
"Okay, what's the big deal that's worth crying about? If one plan doesn't work, we can think of another. Stop crying now."
"That's easy for you to say! Now you've safely climbed up the social ladder, and you'll be a proper imperial concubine in the future. But what about me? What should I do?"
The Zhu family had many male heirs, but the only legitimate daughters who grew up were the two sisters.
Even though they weren't from the same family, their friendship from childhood was genuine. They had always been close, so there was no need to hide some of their conversation.
“Sister, grandfather has issued a clear order.
If I don't want to be sent away as a concubine and never have a chance to make a name for myself, I must marry into the Jiang family and help the family get through this change of power safely.
I, I really have no way out!
Jiang Huailiang and the King of Huai were sworn brothers, and he had achievements to his credit, so he had a promising future ahead of him. If she married him, she would surely be able to live a stable life for the rest of her life.
What I'm asking for isn't too demanding, so why does God make things so difficult for me? Woo woo woo..."
Zhu Mingzhi really felt wronged.
Although both her parents were born out of wedlock, she was at least a legitimate daughter of a concubine's family! Her father's family was the Zhu family, the most powerful family in Maocheng, and her mother's family, the Qian family, also had some status in the capital.
She was raised in luxury since she was a child. Not to mention her stunning appearance and unparalleled talent, but she is definitely capable of surpassing that disfigured old woman from the Xu family!
Why would Jiang Huailiang rather disobey the order of King Huai than marry?
She was a young noble girl, eager to become the second wife of an old man of peasant origin, and yet she was treated so coldly. How could she not be humiliated and angry?
Hearing her cousin crying like this and thinking about her grandfather's methods, Zhu Mingfu patted her shoulder again with empathy.
"Zhi'er, it's not that I don't want to help you. It's just that I can't do anything!"
She sighed, walked to the opposite side and slowly sat down.
"Two days ago, I specifically asked General Song's wife, Min, to go to the Jiang family to lobby, but she was shamelessly chased out by Xu.
This matter was actually discovered by Zhao, and she reported it to the prince, causing me to be punished and forced to reflect on my mistakes in the courtyard for three days.
Sister, I really can’t help you.”
Zhu Mingzhi's eyes lost their luster in an instant.
"It was Prince Huai who promised the marriage that day..."
"But the prince originally said that my second brother and I could act as matchmakers, and you could take the second daughter of the Zhu family as your equal wife. This was just a lip service, right? You can't force a marriage without the Jiang family's consent, right?"
"……I,"
The tears that flowed now were truly filled with bitter sorrow.
"Why do I have such a miserable life? Wuwuwu..."
"well!"
Zhu Mingfu couldn't help but raise her hand and pinch her eyebrows again.
"You idiot, can't you think of a way around it? If Xu's company doesn't work, can't you think of a way to deal with men?
The key to this matter lies in Jiang Huailiang. As long as you have the ability to control him, whether it's a concubine or a legitimate daughter, you will be able to deal with anyone in the future. Why bother to fight for the short term?"
"How do you know I haven't put in any effort? I've really tried my best to show him my concern and affection. But he just won't respond. What else can I do? I can't just find an opportunity to get naked and crawl into bed with him, can I? If I really use that kind of despicable trick, how can I still have the face to stay in the Jiang family in the future?"
"Pfft! Did I mean that?"
Zhu Mingfu tapped her cousin's head twice.
"You're so proud of being the legitimate daughter all day long, but didn't Third Aunt teach you any proper methods?"
"What do you mean?"
Zhu Mingzhi looked as if she didn't understand.
"How stupid! Come closer."
The two women lowered their heads and whispered for a long time. It was almost noon when Zhu Mingzhi left with her maid.
As soon as the gate of Qingfuyuan was closed, the main courtyard received the news.
Li Changhuai's wife, Zhao Yu'e, was busy using an abacus to manage the military finances, while distractedly listening to the servants' reports on matters in the rear quarters.
"I understand. You can go down now."
"Yes, I'll take my leave!"
After the maid left, Zhao Shi didn't even raise her head. Her hands continued to work non-stop. She just chatted a few interesting words with her confidant.
"The Jiang family is quite interesting. This Jiang Xu sounds alright, she seems to be a clear-headed person who can handle things clearly. The eldest daughter of the Jiang family also seems to be a good person, right?"
Jinse and Jinxiu, who were helping to sort out the accounts, both smiled and agreed with their master's words.
"Master, you said he's okay, so he must be right!"
"That's right. To have caught the eye of our master, the Jiang family mother and daughter must be quite lucky!"
"Haha, you two are becoming more and more flattering. I haven't even met them in person, how can I really know whether they are good or bad?
I was just listening in on it and blindly gossiping. But it's rare for a big, rough man like Jiang Huailiang to be so loyal to his wife.
Zhao thought about how her husband was taking in women one after another. Although she had agreed to all of this, a hint of sadness still appeared in her eyes.
If it were possible, which woman would be willing to share her husband with someone else? Qiao Shi might not have been willing at the time, but how could she really remain indifferent now?
But it was out of helplessness that I gritted my teeth and forced myself to make the compromise.
Fortunately, Li Changhuai still had some conscience and did not abandon his wife, giving her the minimum decency.
Alas, forget it, people are born with different destinies.
Since ancient times, there has always been gain and loss. If you want to be the mother of the country, want your son to reach the top in the future, and want to protect your family one day, you must give up something.
If Qiao is like this, then so should Zhao be. Reason is reason, regardless of fairness or injustice. Why torture yourself with so much overthinking?
As Zhao's closest confidants, Jinse and Jinxiu naturally couldn't be completely unaware of their master's grief. But they were just maids, and it was good enough that they could control themselves and not rebel against their master. How could they dare to interfere with her other matters?
He quickly tried to change the subject.
"Master, I've heard that Xu treats her stepdaughter as her own, and that she's willing to sacrifice her appearance for her husband's chastity. It's truly admirable! But I'm a little curious: are there really such virtuous women in the world?"
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