Zhao Jin Yu looked at Xiao Zhen Shan like an idiot, she thought the young and old of this whole family, had more or less an issue with their brain, especially the one in front of her…, does he have a delusional disorder? She cleared her throat saying, “Older cousin Zhen Shan, I really do not know what you mean, please can you explain clearly.”
“These past days, you used your position as blood related granddaughter to not allow younger sister Rui Zhi from serving the madam,” The more Xiao Zhen Shan spoke the angrier he got, if his eyes could shoot flames, Zhao Jin Yu would already be ash by now, “Could that not be true? Also younger sister Rui Zhi made white fungus soup yesterday, you however didn"t allow the madam to eat it! I don"t care what you"re planning, but younger sister Rui Zhi has always served the madam for the last few years, doing your filial duty, this is a very rare matter, you came after, you only have the superiority of blood, and you"re an illegitimate woman, what right do you have to humiliate her? If you dare to bully her by paying lip service, I would be the first to deal with you.”
Zhao Jin Yu pushed down on her temples, to the maid at the side she asked, “Isn"t this the Zhao residence?”
The maid somewhat confused with Zhao Jin Yu"s meaning, somewhat blankly said, “Eldest young lady…, this is the Zhao residence.”
Zhao Jin Yu"s expression became cold, with a chilling tone she said, “Then how can a man of another surname intrude into the inner courtyard? Are there actually any rules in this residence? Who is on duty?” Zhao Jin Yu"s adoptive mother was a woman of an influential family through and through, she had been influenced since young, and to some extent knew the rules of the inner courtyard, that"s why when she flared up in anger she was extremely confident.
Zhao Jin Yu sudden burst of anger shocked everyone, the young maid with a lifeless look in her eyes hurriedly replied in a moment, “Eldest young lady, I"ll call for the people on duty to come.”
Xiao Zhen Shan also knew he was rather rude, but being humiliated in front of so many servants by Zhao Jin Yu, he blushed immediately, yelling, “What outsider! I"m your…uncle.”
“Isn"t your surname Xiao? Could it be I"m wrong?” Zhao Jin Yu asked giving him a sidelong glance.
“You…” Xiao Zhen Shan couldn"t choked unable to say a single word, he only recalled his refusal to return to the family over these days and felt his confidence slip, he gritted his teeth saying, “Don"t pretend to not understand the situation like this, who am I, who are you, everyone is well aware.”
Zhao Jin Yu smiled, that smile however didn"t reach the her eyes, she said, “Even if you are my uncle, right now you ran to your niece"s door in the dead of night to interrogate her, and calling younger sister Rui Zhi again and again, calling her so affectionately, those who don"t know would a.s.sume younger sister Rui Zhi is your sweetheart, you came here to vent for your sweetheart.”
“What rubbish are you saying? Do you not know your words would harm younger sister Rui Zhi"s reputation?”
“Oh.” Zhao Jin Yu showed an expression as if she suddenly realised, saying, “So uncle you know what a woman"s reputation is? Then I"m asking you uncle, you interrogated me today in front of so many servants, putting me in an awkward position, even saying I"m not considerate, could it be you"re not afraid my reputation would be damaged? If younger sister Rui Zhi is your niece, could it be I"m not? Or are you looking down on my status as an illegitimate daughter, you think because you"re the only son of the main branch of the Zhao family, you can do whatever you please?”
“I didn"t.”
Zhao Jin Yu continued with strength, she looked at Xiao Zhan Shen whose complexion was swelling like a pig"s liver and continued saying, “Fine, let"s not talk about that, I only want to ask you, why are you so certain I stopped younger sister Rui Zhi from serving grandmother? Did you personally see it?” Zhao Jin Yu believed even if Zhao Rui Zhi was daring she would never directly tell Xiao Zhen
Shan about this.
“I didn"t see it.” Xiao Zhen Shan"s imposing manner weakened.
“Then how did me supposedly bullying younger sister Rui Zhi come about?” Zhao Jin Yu asked and stared hostilely.
“I…”
“I really don"t understand, what grievance does younger sister Rui Zhi have? She treats the madam with all of her heart, but don"t tell me the Zhao family did not give her a life of luxury, did not give her the honour appropriate for a young lady? The Zhao family unfairly treated her? Let"s not talk about the issue of whether or not I stopped her from serving grandmother, even if it was true…, isn"t that very common in a large family? Who hasn"t been wronged before? Who hasn"t had to silently endure being pushed to the side? Is your life in the Xiao family plain sailing?” Zhao Jin Yu"s gaze was sharp, like it could penetrate Xiao Zhen Shan"s body, see into the depths of his heart, “What exactly is she expecting? Go tell her, some things, if it belongs to you it belongs to you, other people cannot take it away, you can"t be too greedy!”
When Xiao Zhen Shan returned to his senses Zhao Jin Yu had already left, his young servant who had come with him secretly glanced at his expression while blocking the draft for him, but a burst of wind came blowing over, nevertheless making him feel a deep chilliness.
Zhao Rui Zhi felt ever since Zhao Jin Yu arrived everything had changed, before she was the one of the greatest presence in the Zhao family, whoever saw her would respectfully call her eldest young lady…, now she was addressed as Lady Rui Zhi from eldest young lady, all those pandering and fawning servants rushed to Zhao Jin Yu, even though she didn"t care about those opportunistic people, but that feeling of neglect made her truly uncomfortable.
Especially with the madam suddenly being ill this time, usually she was the one who served her, even the old master would praise her filial piety, but this time, the madam didn"t even mention her, even stopping her from entering the sick room, this gave her a frightened feeling of becoming forgotten.
That"s why when she saw Xiao Zhen Shan she couldn"t help grumble a few words of grievance, of course she knew Xiao Zhen Shan"s temperament, he couldn"t hold himself back, maybe he would immediately go find Zhao Jin Yu to argue, this might enrage Zhao Jin Yu…, but she couldn"t bear it.
When Zhao Rui Zhi came out from the madam"s sick room she just saw Zhao Jin Yu head over surrounded by a group of maids and old women, what she wore was extremely simple, she only had a jasper hairpin in her hair, a very plain cyan wide sleeve little jacket, however it set off her indescribable elegance and dignity, it was like she was naturally not from an ordinary family, she belonged here.
Zhao Rui Zhi ruthlessly kneaded the handkerchief in her sleeve and lowered her head in greeting, pushing down the acidic feeling in her heart with great difficulty before she could make the smile on her face less rigid, “Older sister.”
Zhao Jin Yu glanced at Zhao Rui Zhi, and did not reply, aloof she nodded her head and walked in like an opulent peac.o.c.k.
After Zhao Jin Yu walked away, the maid at Zhao Rui Zhi"s side rather furiously said, “In just a few days she acts like the eldest young lady? Pah, she"s only just taken off her outer layer of humbleness and think she"s a golden phoenix?”
Zhao Rui Zhi held back her anger, saying, “Don"t talk rubbish, older sister is truly the young lady of the Zhao residence, I"m merely an adopted daughter nothing more.” Afterwards she tearfully walked away, making that maid feel pitiful not knowing what to do, she closely followed behind, saying,
“Young lady, don"t be discouraged, I can tell the madam really cares about you, besides…, in the
future the third master of the Xiao family will be in charge of the Zhao residence, and the third Xiao master cares about the young lady so much, naturally you will not be wronged.” The maid recalled the situation where Zhao Xing Kun admitting in front of everyone Xiao Zhen Shan was his son, thinking even if Zhao Zhen Shan did not concede now, could it be he would never return to the family? Sooner or later the property of the Zhao family"s main branch would belong to Xao Zhen Shan, also Xiao Zhen Shan actually cared for Zhao Rui Zhi the most, with such thoughts she couldn"t help say with great confidence.
Hearing these words did Zhao Rui Zhi then force a smile, saying, “Don"t say such things, I haven"t been wronged, everything was given to me by the Zhao family.”
“But young lady what about everything you"ve done for the madam?” The maid was outraged at the injustice for Zhao Rui Zhi, “Even if she is a blood-related granddaughter she hasn"t made as much effort as you.”
The two people returned to her courtyard as they spoke, Zhao Rui Zhi freshened up and ate, waiting until bedtime she still hadn"t seen Xiao Zhen Shan"s Xiao Shi come to send word, she couldn"t help be concerned, just now she had heard Xiao Zhen Shan had rushed over to Zhao Jin Yu"s courtyard in a rage.
Could it be…, Xiao Zhen Shan was held up by something?
In the Ministry of Justice prison of the capital city, the cell which had originally held Zhao Chang Chun was empty, an acquaintance came to visit him, walking to the door, holding a silver coin they threw it at the jailer, asking, “Could that Lord Zhao…” Their face showed panic.
That jailor smiled, showing a mouthful of yellow and black teeth, his smile made the person nervous, saying, “That lord has great luck.”
“What great luck?”
“Several days ago someone moved him to the east room.” The so-called east room was actually also a prison cell, but as very different from this west side, there were small individual rooms, inside a bed, cotton-padded mattress, bookshelf, desk, pen and ink, everything needed was available, similar to a common bedroom, they imprisoned those completely precious prisoners.
“Under who"s order?”
“Our government minister.” That jailor said somewhat at a lost, “I"m more bewildered than you, anyway this matter was personally ordered by our government minister, it seemed to be because of someone, I"m not sure.”
That person showed an astonished expression, everyone knew Zhao Chang Chun had been heavily involved in the high official corruption case, because the emperor had attached importance to this, requesting it to be investigated thoroughly, many people had already been placed in prison, even Ningguo princess"s adopted son had not escaped, supposedly the emperor directly beheaded him in the palace.
That"s why simply no one dared to intervene with this matter, who knew the government minister of the Ministry of Justice actually so rashly moved him to the east rooms.
He had never heard about Zhao Chang Chun and the Ministry of Justice official having any
relationship…, the two people even fought because of the difference in their political parties, it was more fitting to call them enemies.
In the end what was the reason?