Chapter 19

Young master, after you marry the young lady, you will live in Jingcheng.

translation

Xie Lu felt that his young master was worrying unnecessarily.

Xie Zian glanced at the other person, sighed, and said, "Uncle Lu, he who does not plan for the far future will find trouble near at hand!"

"My mother-in-law looks like she's overly protective of her own."

"Even if she doesn't like someone, she doesn't allow others to bully them!"

"Young master, you haven't even married the girl yet, and you're already thinking of bullying people?"

"How could that be?"

Xie Zian was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, saying, "The wife chosen by the young master will surely be pampered to the utmost—no one dare bully her."

"Then what are you worried about?"

Xie Lu chuckled.

Xie Zian didn't even know what he was worried about; he just felt that having such a mother-in-law was probably not a good thing.

But that girl is truly a fairy!

Of course, most importantly, that girl is a bit different from ordinary girls.

These days, whenever he recalls the day they met, he can be absolutely certain that he heard something.

Unfortunately, that girl is now in the Shen Family, never leaving the inner gates, making a chance encounter impossible.

Although he could sneak into the Shen Family silently, doing so would inevitably seem a bit imprudent.

While Xie Zian and Xie Lu were chatting, Lady Lu of the Zheng Family, together with Shen Zhengun and Shen Zhengyi, saw the gatekeeper leave and not return, and immediately ordered the guards to keep smashing the gate.

Paying debts is natural and proper, even before the emperor.

"Put some strength into it—smash the door for me!"

Lady Lu is fierce.

And as she gave the order, the Zheng Family's main gate erupted with a thunderous roar.

The gatekeeper hiding behind the door, seeing this, hurriedly ran again to report the news.

"Mother, let me go take a look!"

Upon hearing from the gatekeeper that Lady Lu had people smashing the gate, Zheng Si Que knew he could no longer turn a blind eye.

If Lady Lu really managed to smash the gate open, the Zheng Family's reputation would be ruined, and Zheng Si Que's honor as the top scholar would vanish completely.

"Son, don't you have guards sent by the Xie Family by your side?"

"Please ask them to help and get rid of that jealous woman's people, okay?"

"Is that not possible?"

The answer is naturally yes!

As the future son-in-law of the Xie Family, we should still give the guards this face.

But Zheng Si Que didn't really want the Xie Family's people to help him settle these private troubles.

However, Zheng Wangshi is his mother; now that she has spoken, can he refuse?

No!

Even among guards, there are ranks and distinctions!

The Xie Family's guards are undoubtedly masters among masters.

Meanwhile, the Shen Family guards on Lady Lu's side are merely stronger than average folks, knowing a bit of superficial martial arts.

When a true master steps forward, even without lifting a hand, just releasing a bit of aura easily overawes the Shen Family's guards.

"Uncle Lu, it's your turn to take the stage!"

Although he had been away from home for three years, Xie Zian still recognized those guards at a glance and turned his head toward Xie Lu.

What could Xie Lu say?

He just couldn't figure out what this little ancestor was up to.

No matter what, Zheng Si Que is his niece's husband, thus considered family.

Xie Lu stepped forward, said a few simple words, and the Xie Family's guards withdrew.

They really withdrew!

They completely left Liu Cheng, merely letting the Zheng Family gatekeeper greet Zheng Si Que.

As Xie Family guards, they knew all too well the troublemaking nature of this little ancestor, Xie Zian. Xie Lu had been following Xie Zian, and now that Xie Lu appeared, Xie Zian was surely there too.

For the sake of their own future peace, they could only hurry away.

As for what will happen to Zheng Si Que,

no matter what, it's something he ought to experience.

After all, Xie Zian is an elder.

Seniority must be respected!

Even if Zheng Si Que is the top scholar, what of it?

Xie Zian is still a prince consort!

"I don't know how this top scholar ended up catching the eye of our family's little ancestor, tsk tsk..."

"Stop the tsk-tsking already!"

"This time's task, explaining it to the young lady, won't be easy."

"What's hard to explain? The young lady can still hold her own against the young master."

"Will there be any trouble with the marriage between this top scholar and our young lady?"

"Enough talk—hurry back to the capital to report!"

Several guards' faces drastically changed.

In their view, any matter, as long as Xie Zian this ancestor gets involved, will definitely become quite splendid.

……

Without the Xie family's guards blocking them, Zheng Wangshi and Zheng Si Que finally had to step out of the Zheng household and confront Lady Lu.

"Pay back the money!"

Lady Lu didn't bother arguing with them about calling off the engagement; she directly stated her purpose.

Arguing about calling off the engagement would involve the reputation of the Shen family's young lady; although Lady Lu didn't care, the Shen family young lady's reputation equals the Shen family's reputation.

So, no beating around the bush—straight to the point!

"Madam Shen Third, you say my family owes you money—do you have an IOU?"

Zheng Wangshi knew what Lady Lu wanted them to repay, but she felt Lady Lu wouldn't argue about it in front of so many people.

So this time, they are in an invincible position.

"Liushang, show her!"

Lady Lu raised her hand and beckoned.

Standing behind Lady Lu, a middle-aged granny beside the carriage carried the small box in her hands forward and took out a stack of hairpin paper from it.

"Madam Zheng, have a look!"

On the hairpin paper were lists of gifts, also bearing the signatures of Zheng Wangshi or Zheng Si Que.

These are the holiday gift lists!

To ensure the servants didn't lose anything during the period, such gift lists need to be signed for.

Usually, the steward signs them.

But after the Zheng family's fortunes declined, they dismissed most of the servants, keeping only two maids.

The gatekeeper who previously guarded the Zheng family's main gate was rehired after Zheng Si Que became the top scholar.

Seeing these gift lists signed by her hand or her son's hand, Zheng Wangshi's face turned grim.

She knew this time they had lost face badly.

"Madam Zheng Wangshi, speak up—when do you plan to repay the money?"

"If you have no money, you can only use your house and land as collateral—coincidentally, I heard your son became top scholar, will go to the capital to take office, and even arranged a high-profile marriage there; surely you won't abandon this mother who bore hardship to raise him, leaving her to grow old alone in this rural backwater?"

Lady Lu's mouth is truly sharp.

She didn't scold anyone, nor use foul language.

But her words were like knives, each stabbing into Zheng Wangshi's heart.

"Within three days, my family will repay the money!"

Zheng Wangshi was angry, but she also understood that at this point, besides adjusting her attitude and honestly repaying the money, there was no other way out.

Because, the one she faces is also a woman, just like her.

When Shen Shen came to cause that scene, it was indeed moving, but when Zheng Si Que stepped forward, Zheng Wangshi's frail woman's identity was highlighted.

That time, the Zheng family could turn the game around, precisely because of this.

But this time is completely different.

Both being women, the one who owes money becomes the weaker party.

Moreover, lately the Zheng family has been the talk of Liu Cheng, and many people have harbored rebellious thoughts, wanting to see the Zheng family suffer misfortune.

The people's hearts are not with them, and it's hard to quickly win them back.

This confrontation, the Zheng family suffered a complete defeat!

(End of chapter)