Cheng Chi pinched her nose and said, “What do you mean ‘does your father-in-law look like me’? Shouldn’t it be ‘do I look like my father’?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled sheepishly.

Cheng Chi said with a laugh, “My mother and father look somewhat alike. We three brothers can’t really say whether we resemble Mother more or Father more. When they say Yun Ge’er resembles my father, they’re probably referring to his temperament, right? My father was said to have quite a temper—everyone in the family feared him. Though perhaps it was related to my grandfather—back then my grandfather didn’t manage affairs much. But strangely, in my memory, his temper was always very good. No matter what I did, he would just threaten me huffily, and when he said he’d beat me, it was only threatening with a cane or stick.”

Zhou Shaojin knew that Cheng Chi’s grandfather had suffered during childbirth and his mind didn’t work well. The fact that the First Branch could later establish itself was largely thanks to Cheng Xun, who was capable of managing household affairs.

She couldn’t help but hug Cheng Chi’s arm and said with great interest, “Will our Yun Ge’er also be like your father-in-law and grow up to be someone who can support the family?”

Parents looking at their own children see only the good. They feel that when they grow up, even becoming prime minister and entering the cabinet wouldn’t be difficult.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily and indulgently embraced Zhou Shaojin.

※※※

Far away at West Straight Gate, Wu Baozhang leaned against the headboard listening to the third watch being struck, without a bit of sleepiness.

She hadn’t expected Cheng Nuo to be so stubborn. No matter who came to persuade him, he only had one phrase: “I want to divorce my wife.”

Because of this matter, her father-in-law had even taken a cane and beaten him. But he had the audacity to respond to his father with “The Cheng family rules say men can only take concubines at forty if they have no sons. You also keep a mistress outside—what right do you have to criticize me?” This left his father choking, unable to speak.

This matter was truly troublesome!

Wu Baozhang thought about it and called loudly for a maid to pour her a glass of water.

After drinking the water, she felt much better.

She had sent a letter back to Jinling by six-hundred-mile express. Logically, the reply from Elder Madam Zheng’s side should have arrived by now. Could something have delayed them?

Wu Baozhang never dreamed that Miss Kang the Sixth, who looked ordinarily dressed and whose appearance could only be called pleasant, was actually a wealthy merchant.

She vaguely felt that the reason Cheng Nuo insisted on divorcing her was related to that Miss Kang the Sixth.

Before, Cheng Nuo had been someone who just got by.

Wu Baozhang thought it over and decided to go talk with Cheng Nuo.

Having been beaten, Cheng Nuo’s back was covered in wounds and he could only lie face down on the bed.

Seeing Wu Baozhang come in, he didn’t even give her an extra glance.

Wu Baozhang sat down by the bed, lowered her eyelids, and said in a low voice, “Husband, the matter with Miss Kang the Sixth was my fault. But I was only afraid you’d be seduced by her, which is why I acted that way! Please forgive me this once. From now on, we’ll live a good life together, have children, and be filial to our parents-in-law…”

Cheng Nuo didn’t want to see Wu Baozhang.

When they first married, he had really liked Wu Baozhang.

She was pretty and gentle with people.

But these were all superficial. Deep down, she looked down on him, her disdain evident at every unguarded moment. Unlike Miss Kang the Sixth, whose gaze toward him was gentle and tolerant. When he did something poorly, she would patiently explain it to him. If he improved, she would genuinely be happy for him… That day she had even said in anger that she would become his mistress, and in front of her cousin and his wife, and in front of the Kang family’s managers and workers… She was so good—how could he let her suffer such humiliation?

He thought again of that day when he went to the prison to carry her out.

Her body was clean without any visible injuries, yet she couldn’t even walk. When she saw him, her dull gaze took a long time to recognize him…

Thinking about it made him want to kill Wu Baozhang.

That day he had almost strangled Wu Baozhang by the neck.

It was Miss Kang the Sixth who said it wasn’t worth it.

He wasn’t worth losing his life over a Wu Baozhang.

Only Miss Kang the Sixth was good to him.

Cherished him…

He couldn’t let Miss Kang the Sixth suffer grievances because of him for nothing.

He must divorce Wu Baozhang.

Only this way could he avenge Miss Kang the Sixth.

Cheng Nuo pressed his lips tightly together, with only one phrase: “I want to divorce my wife.”

This left not only Wu Baozhang at her wit’s end, but even Cheng Xu, who had been invited to dissuade Cheng Nuo, didn’t know what to do.

He apologetically said to Cheng Wen, who had invited him, “He won’t listen to anything anyone says. Nothing works. When pressed too hard, he tells us to remove him from the family registry. Anyway, he’s determined to separate from Wu Baozhang.”

Cheng Wen just kept sighing. “That Miss Kang the Sixth isn’t bad either, but given her status and wealth, she’s not lacking in food or clothing. How could she become a concubine for Brother Nuo? That path is completely blocked. But if we divorce Lady Wu, how will we explain it to Lord Wu then! This really is a no-win situation.”

Cheng Xu didn’t speak.

When everyone has their reasons, some matters aren’t his to interfere with.

But he could understand Cheng Nuo.

Living with someone you don’t like truly feels like each day is a year.

He said, “Why don’t you have someone persuade Lady Wu? On Lord Wu’s side, you should also send someone to explain. Just in case… at least we won’t make an enemy.”

Cheng Wen nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. I’ve been so confused by his anger these days!”

Wu Xiu still relied on the Cheng family to advance, so he definitely wouldn’t want his daughter to return home in disgrace. Without her natal family’s support, Lady Wu would have to do whatever he said—after all these years of marriage without bearing even half a child for the Cheng family, and not seeking medical help either, this time he would definitely press Lady Wu to find a way to give Brother Nuo a son.

Wu Baozhang, who had heard that her father-in-law had invited Cheng Xu to persuade Cheng Nuo, took the tray from the maid’s hands and was preparing to go in to serve tea. Hearing these words, her face turned dark as a pot. She shoved the tray back into the maid’s arms and angrily turned to enter her own side room.

Her father-in-law had never been reliable. He kept a mistress outside himself, and that Miss Kang the Sixth had even promised him eight hundred taels annually for retirement… Her father-in-law had been desperately short of silver all these years!

What should she do?

Her father wouldn’t care about her. Once the Cheng family’s letter arrived, wouldn’t she be at their mercy, to be molded however they wished?

Wu Baozhang bit her teeth and instructed her personal maid in a low voice, “Go find Elder Master Lu. Tell him I need to see him. If he avoids me, I’ll go directly to find Lady Chen. Anyway, now that the Cheng family wants to divorce me, I have nothing left to fear!”

The maid was also worried about her own future. Hearing this, she immediately agreed and went to Fucheng Gate.

When Cheng Lu heard this, he didn’t refuse but immediately arranged to meet at the Great State Temple the next day.

Wu Baozhang breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that at critical moments, Cheng Lu was more reliable.

She went to the Great State Temple early in the morning.

The two met at the back mountain of the temple.

Cheng Lu’s expression was gentle as he said, “How did you let your life come to this?”

With one sentence, Wu Baozhang’s tears fell like rain.

Cheng Lu thought for a moment, then took out a handkerchief and handed it to Wu Baozhang.

Wu Baozhang took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, greatly reassured. She said to Cheng Lu, “That weakling Cheng Nuo—if he didn’t have backing, he definitely wouldn’t dare treat me this way. You’re now Lord Chen’s son-in-law. I know that everyone in the capital, from top to bottom, gives Lord Chen some face, not to mention the government offices. Can you think of a way to help me hire some idlers?” Her expression became ferocious. “Have them get rid of that Miss Kang the Sixth for me…”

Cheng Lu was stunned, then burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard he bent forward and backward, unable to speak.

Wu Baozhang didn’t understand.

Cheng Lu pointed at her while trembling with laughter, “Who do you think you are? Asking me to help you kill someone—are you worthy?” As he spoke, his laughter gradually ceased and mockery appeared in his eyes. “Nothing but a mud-legged peasant crawled out of a mountain gully. You haven’t even washed off that smoke and fire smell from your body, yet you want to order me around. Why don’t you look in a mirror and see what you are…”

Wu Baozhang was stunned.

She never dreamed that in Cheng Lu’s heart, this was how he saw her…

“You, you…” Wu Baozhang stared at Cheng Lu in shock, her fingertips trembling. “Why did you treat me that way?”

“What way?” Cheng Lu said mockingly. “Agreeing with you and saying things to make you happy? Or buying a few handkerchiefs and silk flowers from street vendors at the gate to give you, just to ask about Shaojin… What did you think that was?”

Wu Baozhang’s mouth fell open.

But Cheng Lu continued, “What are you? Still trying to compare yourself to Shaojin! In what way do you compare to her? No matter how badly she treated me, she never bullied me. When she was good to me, she was truly good… You were just something to pass the time when I had nothing else to do… Isn’t that what you thought too? Otherwise, why would you be engaged to Cheng Nuo while flirting with me? What right do you have to ask me…”

Zhou Shaojin was a little wretch, but even so, Wu Baozhang was even more base and shameless—she wasn’t even worthy of carrying her shoes…

“Cheng Lu, you bastard!” Wu Baozhang’s head buzzed as she lunged at Cheng Lu with bared teeth and claws.

How dare he say she wasn’t even worthy of carrying Zhou Shaojin’s shoes!

Cheng Lu was a man. Relying on his height and strength, he not only easily avoided Wu Baozhang’s attack but also forcefully twisted her shoulder behind her back, pushing her forward several steps. He bent down to her ear and said with a cold laugh, “Do you think I’m Cheng Nuo? If you try to lay hands on me again, I won’t mind helping you along by telling Cheng Nuo about your borrowing money, so he can righteously divorce you…”

Wu Baozhang shrieked, “Then why did you come?”

“To see what kind of madness you were up to!” Cheng Lu said with a smile, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it made Wu Baozhang shudder. She struggled desperately, then from the corner of her eye realized she was standing in front of a steep slope. Cheng Lu only needed to push her forward and she would fall into the mountain ravine below.

“What are you trying to do?” Wu Baozhang screamed shrilly, out of control. “If you kill me, you’ll have to pay with your life too. You finally became Lord Chen’s son-in-law. You’re about to restore your scholarly credentials and wash away your former humiliation. If you kill me, you’ll have nothing left. Don’t do anything foolish…”

“Hahaha…” Cheng Lu threw back his head and laughed. If it were Zhou Shaojin, she would probably tremble and beg him for mercy, right? How could she be like Wu Baozhang, negotiating with him even at death’s door?

What a pity—he still needed to keep Wu Baozhang around to disgust the Cheng family. He couldn’t let her die just like that.

“Don’t worry, I won’t take your life!” Cheng Lu pulled Wu Baozhang back and said indifferently, “I just wanted to tell you not to come looking for me again. Looking at you is like looking at a dung beetle—utterly disgusting…”

With that, he pushed Wu Baozhang to the ground and strode away.