Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 103 Running and Chasing
Ah Zi's words almost made Gan Baobao furious.

In particular, she remembered what Jiang Mingzhe had said before, that Azi had an older sister named Azhu.

Unless the two sisters are twins, it proves that Duan Zhengchun spent far more time with Azi's mother than he did.

She and Duan Zhengchun had only been together for a total of two months!

"You! You! You brat..."

Gan Baobao, who was usually quick-witted, was so angry at A Zi that she couldn't speak. She turned to Duan Zhengchun, as if to say, "Your devilish daughter is cursing me like this, aren't you going to do anything about it?"
Duan Zhengchun coughed, intending to teach Jiang Mingzhe a lesson, but when he turned his gaze, he saw Jiang Mingzhe's ambiguous smile and suddenly felt a chill.

Thinking that Ah Zi had suffered hardship since childhood, she probably harbored deep prejudice against me. If I scolded her, she might lose her daughter and even her son-in-law would disown me.

Looking at A Zi's animated expression, she was just like Ruan Xingzhu in her youth. She immediately recalled Ruan Xingzhu's playful gentleness with her starry eyes and bamboo waist, as well as her deep affection for her.

My heart was filled with tenderness. I thought to myself: I abandoned Zhu Mei back then, and she was forced to send her daughter away. I don't know how sad she must have been. If she knew that I would scold her as soon as I found her daughter, she would hate me even more.

His mind raced, and he smiled apologetically at Gan Baobao, "I'll apologize for this. Please be magnanimous and don't hold a grudge against a child. I'll teach her patiently later."

Seeing that he didn't care, Gan Baobao was so angry that she was about to collapse. She thought to herself, with so many people here, Zhong Wanchou said that if you can't give me the princess, you can give me a concubine. You didn't say a word. This brat asked me to wash her mother's feet, and you took her side. Chun-ge, Chun-ge, all these years I have been thinking of you day and night, but where do you put me?

Seeing that she was so angry that her face turned pale, making the two slap marks even more conspicuous, Azi was very pleased. She stuck out her tongue at her and shifted her attention to Zhong Ling: "As for that brat Zhong Ling, she'll be my little maid and wash my feet! Hmph, if you behave and listen to me, I'll wash even Big Ginger's feet for you!"

Zhong Ling was both angry and ashamed, and immediately cried out, "I don't want to go to the Prince's mansion, and I don't want to wash your feet! Father, Father, please don't divorce my mother!"

A hidden thought lingered in her mind: washing Brother Jiang's feet was fine, but that stinky Azi shouldn't even think about it!
At this moment, Zhong Wanchou seemed to have suddenly realized something. With tears in his eyes, he stroked Zhong Ling's head and said, "Daughter, I'm afraid your mother would rather be a foot-washing maid in the Prince's mansion than be my wife. Forced marriages are never sweet. She and Prince Duan are in love. Your father is poor and ugly. How can he compare to Prince Duan? Why don't you just go with your mother and be a young lady in the Prince's mansion? Wouldn't that be better than following a poor father like me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling felt sorry for her father. What had started as a soft sob turned into a full-blown wail: "Father, Father, don't say such things. I won't leave. If Mother really leaves, I'll take care of you in your old age..."

Zhong Wanchou was overjoyed. Although the date of his daughter's birth was not quite right, since she was so filial, she must be his own daughter without a doubt.

Moved, he nodded repeatedly: "Good, good. Although your father is poor, he still has this Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities and my palm and sword skills, which are quite well-known. I will use them as your dowry. I will definitely find you a good son-in-law."

He was used to being attentive to his wife and vaguely sensed his daughter's feelings for Jiang Mingzhe. At this moment, when emotions ran high, he didn't care about anything else and said directly, "Mr. Jiang, you and I hit it off immediately. My daughter is not only well-behaved and filial, but also beautiful. Why don't we become even closer and become brothers and father-in-law and son-in-law at the same time?"

Azi immediately bristled, her eyebrows raised as she was about to lash out, when she saw Duan Zhengchun struggling to his feet, shouting, "You surnamed Zhong, how dare you steal my son-in-law, Duan Er's son-in-law? Do you think I can't use my One-Finger Divine Skill anymore?"

Zhong Wanchou said in grief and indignation, "Heavens above, is this how you bully people after becoming a prince? You stole my wife, and now you want to steal my son-in-law too?"

Ah Zi let out a "ha," and looking at her father, whom she had secretly resented for more than ten years, she found him somewhat pleasing to the eye. She said smugly, "That's right, if he didn't bully people, why would he be a prince? A prince is only interesting if he bullies men and women. We'll not only steal your wife, but we'll also steal your maid to wash my feet!"

Duan Zhengchun was horrified and quickly said, "Azi, don't talk nonsense. Our Zhennan Prince's Mansion never oppresses the people."

Azi laughed and said, "I'm just afraid that Father says one thing and does another. He says he loves the people like his own children, but secretly he steals other people's wives!"

Jiang Mingzhe burst into laughter.

Duan Zhengchun was greatly embarrassed. He was a man of temperament, frivolous and unrestrained, always doing whatever he wanted. You could say he was responsible, but he was far from being responsible. You could say he was heartless, but he was actually quite sentimental.

Now that I have finally found my daughter who has been missing for many years, I can't help but feel sorry for her and want to make it up to her when I think about how she grew up in the environment of the Xingxiu Sect. How could I possibly tarnish my image as a father?

He hurriedly said, "Azi, you have misunderstood your father too deeply. Although Madam Zhong and I were friends when we were young, now that I have married her, the past is gone. When we meet, we are just reminiscing. How could I have any other thoughts? You are talking nonsense. It is fine for me as a man, but Madam Zhong's reputation cannot be ruined." He then clasped his hands in a fist and said to Zhong Wanchou, "Brother Zhong, I am naturally frivolous. I have been repeatedly admonished by my elder brother, but I would never dare to abuse my power. Now that Madam Zhong has married into the Zhong family, I only have respect for her and no romantic thoughts. Your family of three was originally harmonious, but because of me, a misunderstanding has arisen. This is all my fault. I am extremely ashamed at this moment and dare not stay any longer. I will take my leave now. In this life, I will never set foot in your esteemed valley again. As for the letter of divorce, please do not mention it again."

Zhong Wanchou was overjoyed upon hearing this, his nostrils flaring, still somewhat incredulous: "You... are you telling the truth?"

Before Duan Zhengchun could speak, Gan Baobao interjected, "The Duan Prince of Dali is of course a man of his word! Besides, am I, Gan Baobao, some kind of shameless woman who sleeps with anyone? What princess or concubine? Humph, with Duan's character, even if you carried me in a sedan chair, I wouldn't go! Zhong Wanchou, if you suspect me of being unchaste and disgracing your Zhong family, you can simply give me a letter of divorce. In this vast world, I don't believe I have no place to stand."

After saying this, two lines of tears that she had held back for so long finally flowed down her cheeks.

Zhong Wanchou had been a devoted sycophant for half his life. Although Jiang Mingzhe had given him some guidance and he had regained some of his authority as a husband, Gan Baobao's words at this moment had already made him completely weak in the knees.

With a broad smile, he said repeatedly, "It's my fault for being so narrow-minded. I was just jealous of how affectionate you were with Prince Duan. Baby, if you're willing to wholeheartedly live with me, I'd gladly be torn to pieces by the Zhong family."

Gan Baobao retorted angrily, "Pah! What nonsense are you spouting in front of so many outsiders and children? Spit it out now! You can cut me into a thousand pieces, but do you think I'm happy being a widow?"

Zhong Wanchou was overjoyed and spat twice: "I misspoke. I want to grow old with you. Hmm, our girl is all grown up now. After we marry her off, I'll accompany you to travel the world, see the sights and rivers, and live happily every day. What do you say?"

Gan Baobao smiled slightly, glanced at Azi, and then looked at Jiang Mingzhe and said, "If we're talking about choosing a son-in-law, isn't this one right here? He's good-looking, and even more capable. He can defeat the Four Evils with his martial arts and make you talk back to him with your words. A son-in-law like this is hard to come by again if you miss him."

Azi was shocked, thinking to herself, "This woman is so wicked! I asked her to wash my mother's feet, and she actually tried to steal my family's ginger!"

One Zhong Ling is already giving me a headache, and now his wife, mother, and daughter are all working together to snatch Da Shengjiang as their son-in-law. This Wanjie Valley is full of hardships, and I can't stay here any longer!

She tugged at Jiang Mingzhe, saying nervously, "They're trying to steal the bride! You better run with me!"

She kicked open the window, grabbed Jiang Mingzhe's hand, and jumped out, not forgetting to leave a harsh threat: "You brat, just you wait! Your whole family plotted against Big Ginger, so you better not fall into my hands!"

Gan Baobao laughed loudly, pushed her daughter aside, and said sternly, "Stupid girl, if you don't go and snatch good men, do you think they'll fall into your hands? If you like these men, go after them. Is my daughter, Gan Baobao's daughter, inferior to a golden branch and jade leaf?"

Zhong Ling was already panicked when she saw them leave, but after being encouraged haphazardly by her mother, she was like a shot of adrenaline, and with a determined effort, she actually chased after them.

Zhong Wanchou said urgently, "Oh dear, Duan Zhengchun has opened up the meridians for that little girl. I'm afraid Ling'er is no match for her. Wait for me to go and give her some instructions and a few magical weapons for fighting!"

After saying that, he chased after them.

Gan Baobao's smile vanished, and she looked coldly at Duan Zhengchun, her voice chillingly icy: "I see that young man surnamed Jiang has deep feelings for your little devil. If Ling'er cannot have her wish, you must find her a good husband..."

Duan Zhengchun blinked, thinking to himself, "Zhong Wanchou and your daughter, you want me to find a son-in-law? Are you upset that I and your husband haven't fought yet?"

Just as she was about to politely decline, Gan Baobao said emotionlessly, "Remember Ling'er's birth date and time: the fifth day of the twelfth month of the year Yi Mao, at the hour of Chou. Hmph, you're very clever. Go and calculate it yourself."

Having said that, he turned and left, leaving Duan Zhengchun with a look of utter shock, muttering, "The fifth day of the twelfth month of the year Yimao..."

He suddenly looked at Zhu Danchen and whispered, "Quickly, go and find an older servant to find out when Master Zhong and his wife got married!"

　Four chapters, 11,000 words each. Old Gun (a popular writer) is asking for monthly votes and recommendations!
　　I feel like I'm getting used to this pace! And I don't think the quality has dropped either. If I adapt a little more and increase the output, maybe one day I can even update 600,000 words a month. Hehe.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)