Xu Shi: “Then start practicing. I’ll teach you.”
Chen Jiao: “…”
Xu Shi became serious, imparting her wisdom about men, “Women must rely on men to survive. I never want to go back to those days of suffering.
Now that we’ve finally found a place to settle, we must do everything to keep your father’s heart. One day, you will marry, and if I can keep his favor, I can ensure you marry well and live comfortably.”
Chen Jiao stayed silent.
Xu Shi gently cupped her daughter’s face, her voice full of love.
“When I was young, I suffered endlessly in the courtesan house. You are my daughter—I will do everything I can to secure your future.”
“Mother…”
Xu Shi sighed, “Listen to me. Soften your temperament. Learn when to bow your head. Some battles aren’t worth fighting.”
Saying this, she pulled Chen Jiao into her embrace.
Chen Jiao nestled against her mother’s warmth, feeling an unspoken bond growing deeper between them.
As someone who had reincarnated into this world, in these two years, she had come to truly see Xu Shi as her mother.
After finishing a bowl of rice, sharing a bed, committing murder and burial together, and escaping death— They had lived and survived together.
Meanwhile, at the Huai’an Prince’s Residence…
The palace was in an uproar as Chen En and his primary wife, Lady Zheng, had another heated argument.
Zheng Yuezhi, at forty-five years old, had a full, round face, arched brows, and phoenix eyes.
Even in middle age, she still carried an air of refinement and retained much of her former beauty.
Coming from a scholarly family, she had always looked down on Chen En—a mere horse trader turned warlord.
Even after bearing him three daughters and two sons, her disdain never faded.
As soon as Chen En left, Zheng Shi covered her face and wept, while her trusted maid, Madam Cao, hurried to console her.
Wiping her tears, Zheng Shi gritted her teeth and cursed, “That heartless bastard! How dare he treat Wuniang like this? I won’t let this slide!”
Madam Cao gently patted her back, offering advice, “Madam, as they say—mothers hold great influence. If you cannot control him yourself, then let the Zheng family step in and persuade him.
No matter what, Wuniang is only eighteen. Sending her off to Jiaozhou to marry a fifty-year-old man is outrageous! If your family intervenes, Lord Chen will have to reconsider.”
Zheng Shi, already furious, cursed again, “Damn that old lunatic! Always working against me! I regret this marriage so much!”
Her anger only grew as she gripped Madam Cao’s hand tightly, “If my father hadn’t forced me into this marriage, would I have ended up like this?!”
Madam Cao, full of sympathy, sighed, “Madam, I have witnessed your suffering over the years. But now is not the time to give up—you still need to secure a future for your sons, Saburo and Gorō. We cannot allow the second branch to gain the upper hand!”
Hearing this, Zheng Shi’s headache worsened.
After all, the Zheng clan of Xingyang was one of the Seven Great Clans of the Ten Noble Houses.
Although her own family was distantly related to the main Xingyang Zhengs, it was still a prestigious bloodline.
When Chen En was still a mere horse trader, she had married him with a lavish dowry.
With her family’s support, Chen En bought his way into office, expanded his connections, built his private army, and eventually rose to power as Huizhou’s governor.
Last year, Cui Jue advised him to trace his ancestry and forge ties with the imperial bloodline, successfully obtaining the title of Prince of Huai’an.
Now, people called him “Uncle Chen of the Imperial Family,” and he was officially connected to the royal house.
Zheng Shi had gone from being the wife of a mere governor to becoming the Princess of Huai’an—outsiders thought she lived a glamorous life.
But no one knew the misery behind the title.
She had married into the Chen family at eighteen, only to find two concubines and two illegitimate sons waiting for her.
She had endured it.
But now, this heartless man was planning to marry off their daughter, Chen Xianle, to a fifty-year-old Jiaozhou governor—all for a political alliance!
By tradition, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers, and Chen Xianle was already of marriageable age.
It would have been reasonable for her to marry.
But Zhang Changwei was already fifty!
He was old enough to be her father!
Chen Xianle had attempted suicide multiple times, hanging herself, starving herself—Zheng Shi was heartbroken.
She had fought with Chen En over this repeatedly, but every argument ended in disaster.
Just when she thought there was no room for negotiation, something unexpected happened— On the afternoon of the next day, Concubine Yue from the third household paid her a visit.
Yue Hongyan was usually on good terms with the main wife, but this time, she was even more anxious than Zheng Shi—because she also had an unmarried daughter.
Chen En had over ten daughters, but many were already married, and the younger ones were too young.
Right now, only Chen Xianle (Zheng Shi’s daughter) and Chen Lianjun (Concubine Yue’s daughter) were of marriageable age.
As the primary wife’s daughter, Chen Xianle was the ideal candidate for the political alliance.
But if she refused to marry, then the responsibility would shift to Chen Lianjun instead.
Yue Shi had no intention of pushing her own daughter into that pit, so as soon as she heard about Chen En bringing a woman and her daughter from Longtai Temple to a separate residence, she immediately rushed to Jinyu Courtyard with a plan.
Zheng Shi, exhausted from dealing with her daughter’s marriage, had no interest in seeing Yue Shi.
However, when her maid reported that Yue Shi came with a solution, she reluctantly agreed to meet her.
Annoyed, Zheng Shi scoffed, “What kind of solution? Is she suddenly willing to send her own daughter to Jiaozhou instead?”
The maid dared not answer.
Madam Cao tried to ease the tension, “Madam, don’t be angry. It won’t hurt to hear what she has to say.”
With a nod from Zheng Shi, the maid bowed and left.
Soon after, Yue Shi lifted the door curtain and entered.
She was dressed in a pale apricot-colored robe, her oval face framed by delicate features.
Her slightly upturned brows and round eyes glowed with sharp intelligence—she looked much younger than Zheng Shi.
With a soft, lilting Jiangnan accent, she greeted cheerfully, “Elder Sister, I’ve come to bring you good news!”
Zheng Shi was in no mood for pleasantries.
She glanced at her coldly and snapped, “Don’t gloat. If you make me angry, I’ll personally arrange for Qiniang to be sent to Jiaozhou instead.”
Yue Shi immediately waved her hands, bowing quickly, “No, no! Please, that mustn’t happen!”
Zheng Shi sneered, “So it’s fine for Wuniang to be married off, but not your Qiniang?”
Yue Shi, unfazed by the sarcasm, simply smiled and winked mischievously. “Sister, don’t be upset. Your problem is about to be solved.”
Zheng Shi didn’t believe a word of it.
Madam Cao couldn’t help but interject, “Concubine Yue, what do you mean by this?”
Yue Shi mysteriously stepped forward and whispered a few words into Zheng Shi’s ear.
Zheng Shi’s rage exploded instantly.
“What did you just say?! He brought back another woman?!”
Yue Shi hurriedly confirmed, “It’s absolutely true. I heard that Vice Magistrate Cui arranged for them to be escorted from Tongzhou. She’s an old flame of our lord.”
Zheng Shi was livid—beyond furious.
As the primary wife, she had already tolerated seven concubines in the household.
And that wasn’t even counting the mistresses he kept outside!
Her forehead veins throbbed, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly, her face twisting with anger.
Yue Shi added fuel to the fire, saying, “Right now, the lord isn’t on good terms with you, so he wouldn’t dare bring Xu Shi and her daughter into the main residence and provoke your anger. But things are different now—the priority should be handling Wuniang’s marriage.
In my opinion, sister, you should swallow your anger for now, personally invite the mother and daughter into the estate, and then find a way to shift the Jiaozhou marriage onto them. Once they enter the household, won’t they be at your mercy in the inner court?”
Hearing this, Zheng Shi’s worldview shattered.
“Pah! Have you lost your mind?!”
The idea of personally inviting her husband’s mistress into the house—it was unthinkable!
Yue Shi remained unfazed, merely smiling and reminding her, “Sister, you must think about Wuniang’s future.”
This forced Zheng Shi to calm down.
Yue Shi continued coaxing, “I’ve already looked into it—the girl is already of age and can be married off. Are you really willing to let Wuniang be thrown into that Jiaozhou hellhole?”
Zheng Shi stared at her without answering.
Yue Shi pressed further, “All you need to do is adopt that girl as your own, and she can be married off as the primary wife’s daughter. That way, Wuniang can be saved, and you secure your influence—why not?”
Hearing this, Madam Cao’s mind started working.
She cautiously asked, “What’s the girl’s name? How old is she?”
Yue Shi replied, “Her name is Chen Jiao, nickname Ah Ying. She’s fifteen.”
Madam Cao looked at Zheng Shi.
Zheng Shi’s eyes flickered with calculation—she was clearly considering the idea.
Zheng Shi sent people to the separate courtyard to investigate Xu Shi and Chen Jiao’s situation.
By midday, her servants confirmed that the situation was just as Yue Shi described.
So, within two days, Zheng Shi sent Madam Cao herself to invite the mother and daughter to the main estate.
When Xu Shi and Chen Jiao heard that the Princess of Huai’an had sent someone to bring them in, they were completely stunned.
Chen Jiao, ever shrewd, tested the messenger, asking, “Did the Prince of Huai’an send for us?”
The servant girl replied, “No, young lady. It was the princess herself. She sent Madam Cao to personally escort you.”
Chen Jiao’s expression darkened.
Xu Shi dismissed the servant, then optimistically said, “It must be because your father ordered her to settle us properly.”
Chen Jiao gave her a long look. “Mother, you’re an external mistress. Why would the primary wife be the one eagerly bringing you in?”
Xu Shi froze.
Chen Jiao murmured, “This is strange. If I were the legal wife, and I heard my husband had brought another woman back, I wouldn’t make a fuss, sure—but I certainly wouldn’t slap my own face by personally sending someone to invite her in.”
Xu Shi, finally realizing the oddity of the situation, muttered, “Then what could be the reason?”
Chen Jiao stared out the window.
“Whoever comes bearing gifts unasked has an ulterior motive. This is like a weasel paying respects to a chicken—nothing good will come of it.”
Hearing this, Xu Shi immediately switched into battle mode, sensing imminent danger.