The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Just as Yun Jin was about to say something more, she heard footsteps coming from outside.

Chen Mengyao quickly pulled Yun Jin along and peered through the crack in the door.

Then Chen Mengyao's father, Chen Qinghe, walked in with a woman.

As Chen Qinghe entered, he bowed respectfully, his voice tinged with a cautious, ingratiating tone: "Your son-in-law, Chen Qinghe, greets my mother-in-law. Greetings to my elder sister-in-law and my second sister-in-law."

Madam Zheng hummed in agreement, but didn't offer him a seat. Her gaze passed over Chen Qinghe and landed on the woman behind him. Feigning suspicion, she asked, "Is this your concubine?"

Chen Qinghe's expression stiffened, and he awkwardly explained, "Reporting to Mother-in-law, this is... this is my wife, Ding Zisu. She is my second wife after Zhi Ning passed away. Zisu, quickly pay your respects to the old lady."

Ding Zisu quickly stepped forward, a smile plastered on her face, and curtsied.

"Zisu has met the old lady. Zisu had heard Qinghe mention the old lady before, saying that she was kind and gentle, and that she was very kind to everyone. Seeing her today, I can confirm that she is indeed a bodhisattva-like person. This is Zisu's first time in the capital, and I am not very knowledgeable. If there is anything I have done wrong, I hope the old lady will forgive me."

Madam Zheng listened to her without expression, not even lifting her eyelids. She picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said, "A second wife."

Ding Zisu's expression also changed.

What she hated most over the years was people talking about her background. She was a second wife, not the first wife, and she was often ridiculed, both openly and secretly, in the circle of officials' wives in Guangping Prefecture.

She forced a smile and said in a lukewarm tone, "Grandma, Zisu and Qinghe came to the capital this time, thinking they would settle down here in the future. It's not appropriate for Yao'er to keep bothering you at your residence, so we thought we'd bring Yao'er back to live with us. Yao'er is getting older, and it's time to start arranging her marriage. It's not good to keep troubling you, Grandma."

Hearing this from inside the room, Chen Mengyao dug her nails into her palms.

Yun Jin felt her trembling, gently took her hand, and felt that her palm was cold and covered in cold sweat.

Madam Zheng didn't look at Ding Zisu, but instead turned her gaze to Chen Qinghe, asking each word carefully, "Is that what you mean too?"

Chen Qinghe was also taken aback when he heard Ding Zisu's words. Before coming, they had clearly agreed that they were only going to pay their respects to the old lady and deliver New Year's gifts. Why did they suddenly bring up the matter of picking up Yao'er?

But the words were already out, and there was no time to take them back. He could only force a smile and say:

"It mainly depends on Yao'er's wishes. If she's willing to stay here with the old lady, I'll have no objections; if she wants to go back to her own home, I'll be happy to accept that too. I just feel that it's inevitable that outsiders will gossip if a young lady like her always stays at her uncle's house..."

Seeing that her husband didn't refute her, Ding Zisu grew bolder and stepped forward to continue, "Yes, Grandma, no matter what, Yao'er calls me Mother, and I should fulfill my duties as a mother. She's grown up now and has reached the age to get married, so we should start arranging her wedding. That's why we were thinking..."

"Whose mother are you?" Old Madam Zheng slammed her hand on the kang table in front of her, her gaze as cold as a knife as she looked at Ding Zisu.

"Yao'er's mother is Zheng Zhining! Zheng Zhining is the eldest daughter of my Zheng family! Who do you think you are, daring to call yourself Yao'er's mother in front of me?"

"A mere second wife dares to speak to me about arranging Yao'er's marriage? Yao'er's marriage is my decision, her maternal grandfather's, and her two uncles'. It's none of your business to interfere!"

Ding Zisu's face flushed red and then paled as she was scolded. Her lips trembled, and she bit her lip, not daring to speak. She lowered her head, hiding the viciousness in her eyes.

Madam Zheng stopped looking at her and turned to Chen Qinghe, saying coldly, "Chen Qinghe, do you think I really don't know why Yao'er ran away from Guangping Prefecture to the capital to seek refuge with me last time?"

You know perfectly well what kind of life she leads at home! If you had managed your second wife properly, would Yao'er have suffered any mistreatment in the mansion?

If you fail to manage your household affairs, I will have your two brothers-in-law inform His Majesty, so that you may return and manage your household affairs properly before coming back to serve His Majesty!

Chen Qinghe was terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. He quickly bowed and apologized, "Mother-in-law, please calm down! It's all my fault for failing to manage the household properly, causing Yao'er to suffer. It's all my fault!"

At this moment, he was filled with regret; he shouldn't have brought Ding Zisu along. Suppressing his anger, he grabbed Ding Zisu's sleeve and whispered, "Hurry up and apologize to the old lady!"

Ding Zisu was also frightened. Only now did she realize that the Zheng family was not someone she could afford to offend. She quickly apologized, "It was Zisu who misspoke. Please calm down, Madam."

Old Madam Zheng didn't want to say anything more to them. She picked up her teacup and said calmly, "Alright. I'm tired too. You've come, you've been greeted, you've given your gifts, and I've gotten to know your second wife. We're going to have lunch, so we won't keep you any longer."

Chen Qinghe wiped the sweat from his forehead, hesitated for a moment, and tentatively said, "Mother-in-law, I haven't seen Yao'er for a long time. I brought her some things and would like to give them to her in person, say a few words, and then leave."

Without even lifting her eyelids, Madam Zheng said indifferently, "Yao'er is not at home; she has gone out. If you have anything, I will pass it on to you."

Chen Qinghe knew that this was because they didn't want him to see them, but he couldn't force them.

He sighed, turned to Ding Zisu, and asked, "What about the things I brought for Yao'er?"

Ding Zisu was taken aback, then reluctantly took out a small brocade box from her sleeve and handed it to him.

Chen Qinghe took the box, opened the lid and glanced inside. Then he glared fiercely at Ding Zisu, and the anger in his eyes made Ding Zisu shrink back.

Chen Qinghe suppressed his anger and presented the brocade box with both hands: "Mother-in-law, this is some money that your son-in-law has prepared for Yao'er. She can buy whatever she likes. Consider it a small token of my affection as her father."

Old Madam Zheng didn't take it, but gave Wang a wink.

Wang stepped forward, took the brocade box, opened it in front of Chen Qinghe, counted the silver notes inside, and sneered:

"Brother-in-law, only five hundred taels? What can that little bit of silver do? Mengyao can easily buy two decent pieces of jewelry at home for more than that. You were just saying you cared about Yao'er and felt sorry for her, and this is all you give me?"

Chen Qinghe's face turned extremely ugly, and he turned around to glare fiercely at Ding Zisu.

Madam Zheng gave a cold laugh and suddenly asked, "You just said you were going to settle down in the capital? Have things been settled there? Have all your belongings been moved over?"

Chen Qinghe nodded quickly: "Yes, Mother-in-law, the goods have been almost transported. We've rented a three-courtyard house in the capital, not too far from here."

Madam Zheng looked at him coldly, and after a moment spoke again: "You just mentioned it yourself, Yao'er is all grown up and has reached the age for marriage. It's time to give Yao'er the dowry left by Zhi Ning back then."

Ding Zisu blurted out, "No way!"