The servants who had followed from Zheng Fu were anxiously scurrying about like headless flies. Suddenly seeing a large group of people escorting a young woman approaching in a grand procession, they hurriedly pulled themselves together.
When they clearly saw the young woman’s beautiful face, they were all stunned.
Was this the delicate and frail Cousin Miss from the second branch?
Yuzhi stood at the entrance, took a deep breath, and loudly announced, “The eldest young mistress has arrived.”
The door was pushed open. Su Tanghuan straightened her back, assumed an imposing air, and stepped inside.
The door closed behind her. Yuzhi remained guarding the entrance, casting a cold glance at the group of servants from Zheng Fu.
“The womenfolk of the Grand Tutor’s residence are here. Unrelated persons, step aside.”
The maids and matrons from Ji Residence swarmed forward, driving the Zheng Fu servants to the side, frightening them into huddling together like quails.
Before Zheng Butler could speak, Su Tanghuan, with full authority, snapped, “You’ve come at just the right time.”
Zheng Butler, shouted at by the usually gentle and obedient Su Tanghuan, felt his mind go blank from her icy expression.
Who was this?
The people sent to pursue Su Tanghuan had seen her impersonate Ji Shizi’s widow and be invited into the residence, never to come out again.
Upon hearing this, Second Madam Zheng Su-shi flew into a rage and ordered him to personally go to Ji Residence. Whether dead or alive, he was to bring her back to keep vigil for the Second Young Master.
He dared not rashly and forcefully demand her return, anxiously pacing like an ant on a hot pan.
With no other choice, he spent a little money to gather some information, hearing that Lady Ji was particularly fond of the eldest young mistress…
He couldn’t understand—how had Cousin Miss suddenly become Grand Tutor Ji’s sister-in-law?
Could he still take her back to keep vigil for the Second Young Master?
Su Tanghuan paid no mind to what was going through his head. She walked straight to the armchair in the room and sat upright.
Imitating Ji Yan’s manner, she put on an icy expression that kept strangers at bay, making Zheng Butler too afraid to even breathe loudly.
If not for Su Tanghuan’s familiar face, he would never have believed this was Cousin Miss.
Seeing that her intimidation had taken effect, Su Tanghuan quickly spoke up.
“Steward Zheng, do you intend to drag me back to perform a Posthumous Marriage and keep vigil for my recently deceased Cousin?”
Zheng Butler had just opened his mouth when Su Tanghuan cut him off.
“I presume you already know—I am carrying General Ji’s posthumous child. I must keep vigil for my husband and bear the Ji Family’s first grandson.”
“Huh?”
Zheng Butler was dumbfounded.
She was really pregnant?
When did that happen?
Seeing she had stunned him, Su Tanghuan softened her tone.
“The butler also knows that when Aunt brought me to Chang’an, she temporarily settled me at the Zheng Fu farmstead in the suburbs. It was only over ten days ago that she brought me to stay at Zheng Fu. Coincidentally, that created the opportunity for my fate with Ji Dalang.”
Also coincidentally, on the very night she met Ji Dalang, Aunt had led her to stay overnight there.
Afterward, she was left alone at the farmstead for six months. It wasn’t until a month ago that Aunt came to the farmstead, tearfully telling her she needed her for a marriage to ward off bad luck. After Su Tanghuan agreed, she was brought back to Zheng Fu ten days early.
Su Tanghuan sighed. “Because of this hidden circumstance, I never dared to tell Aunt the truth. That was my fault. Please convey my apologies to Aunt on my behalf.”
This was the best lie Su Tanghuan had thought of after entering Ji Residence.
Aunt was single-mindedly eager to climb the social ladder, with Grand Tutor Ji being her first target.
She didn’t know whether Aunt later sent women to Grand Tutor Ji, but judging by Grand Tutor Ji’s icy demeanor now, his bed was probably not easy to get into.
If Aunt knew she had successfully entered Ji Residence, she would likely be somewhat apprehensive.
If Aunt was smart, she would cooperate and help cover up this lie.
Naturally, Zheng Butler didn’t believe it.
Although Cousin Miss had indeed lived in the detached residence for half a year and only moved into Zheng Fu ten days ago, there was no news from the farmstead about any outsiders staying there.
She was clearly lying through her teeth.
Su Tanghuan noticed Zheng Butler’s disbelief and her expression turned cold.
“Aunt once mentioned wanting to find an opportunity to meet with Grand Tutor Ji. Given my current status, I can help arrange an introduction for her. Coincidentally, I left one of my husband’s seals at Aunt’s place. Please have her return it to me immediately.”
Su Tanghuan spoke with a hint of threat, enunciating each word clearly: “Remember my words well and report them accurately. Otherwise, you’ll face consequences you can’t handle!”
Zheng Butler stood there like a dumbfounded goose.
His mind couldn’t keep up.
Su Tanghuan didn’t give him a chance to react. As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly stood up and walked out with dignified steps.
Passing by Zheng Butler, she suddenly leaned close to his ear.
In a low voice only the two of them could hear, she feigned fierceness: “If I stay in Ji Residence, I can help Aunt. But if she insists on making me accompany her dead son, then she’ll be waiting for two deaths—mine and the child’s. Ji Residence will definitely hold Aunt accountable! And you, watch your tongue, or Aunt might have it plucked out!”
Zheng Butler was stunned.
Wide-eyed, he stared at her retreating figure and instinctively mumbled, “Cousin Miss Su, is that really you?”
Oh?
This Zheng Butler had always been arrogant and looked down on others.
Now he was using respectful language toward her?
Su Tanghuan turned her head.
She gave him a gentle smile, using her usual sweet and obedient tone: “Of course, it’s Su Tanghuan, genuine as can be.”
Zheng Butler’s mind exploded with a buzz.
Cousin Miss seemed possessed by something unclean!
With a look of terror, Zheng Butler drifted out of Ji Residence, followed by a flock of bewildered geese.
Su Tanghuan glanced at the tightly closed doors and windows of the neighboring room.
Grand Tutor Ji, did you hear that clearly enough?
Eavesdropping, tsk!
Not the behavior of a gentleman.
The moment Su Tanghuan stepped out the door, her eyes reddened, and she raised her delicate, boneless hand toward Yuzhi.
Yuzhi hurriedly supported her.
Su Tanghuan pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her slightly reddened eyes: “I never expected that just now… Cousin… has also passed away.”
Yuzhi was shocked and, fearing she would be too distressed, quickly comforted her: “How unfortunate… The dead cannot be brought back to life. Please don’t grieve too much.”
Su Tanghuan walked while sobbing softly: “I just lost my parents, and Aunt took me in. But now the Shizi is gone, and Cousin is gone too. All my loved ones have left me. How can I not grieve?”
Yuzhi grew anxious: “Eldest Young Mistress, please restrain your sorrow. You must think of the young master in your womb.”
“Exactly.”
Su Tanghuan wiped away her tears and stroked her flat belly: “I must preserve Eldest Young Master’s bloodline and properly care for Mother on his behalf.”
Yuzhi, seeing her maturity, felt greatly relieved: “That’s right. Your blessings lie ahead. Everyone in Ji Residence will dote on you.”
After Su Tanghuan walked away, the tightly closed door opened.
Ji Yan stepped over the threshold, his gaze coldly fixed on the retreating figure.
“How did the people from Zheng Fu react?”
Chang Sui replied: “They looked very surprised, as if they were unaware of Eldest Young Mistress… Su Niangzi’s relationship with Eldest Young Master, and even more so of her pregnancy.”
Ji Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.
What a fine act she and Zheng Fu were putting on.
Could the surprised reactions of Zheng Fu’s servants prove she wasn’t a spy sent by Zheng Fu?
How foolish!
Su Tanghuan was escorted back to Ji Dalang’s Hemingxuan. Lady Ji, worried about her, had been waiting there all along.
Seeing her tear-swollen eyes, her heart ached unbearably: “Good child, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. From now on, Mother will stand up for you. No matter how powerful the Xingyang Zheng Clan is, they still have to reason, don’t they? Besides, the Xingyang Zheng Clan can’t even take care of their own branch.”
Yuzhi softly explained: “The eldest young mistress’s cousin just passed away.”
“Ah?”
Lady Ji was stunned, then grew even more furious: “Zheng Su-shi clearly knew her son wouldn’t survive, yet she still made you perform a wedding to ward off bad luck? Isn’t that just setting you up? Is she really your own aunt?”
Su Tanghuan cried even harder, unable to utter a single word.
She understood now.
Why her aunt insisted on making her perform the wedding—it wasn’t to find someone to keep vigil for her son, but to control her.
Once she became her aunt’s daughter-in-law, where could she possibly run?
So.
From the very beginning, Su Tanghuan was the most insignificant pawn in her aunt’s hands!