Cheng Lu said indignantly: “How could this be a good thing? Do I think I’m not dirty enough already? Deceive you?!”

Min Jia gasped sharply.

Although she already knew about this matter, she hadn’t expected that Yuan Shi would actually deceive Cheng Xu and the Min family like this!

Min Jia felt as if a fire were burning in her heart.

Her expression also turned very ugly.

Cheng Lu’s objective achieved, a trace of a smile flashed across his expression as he bowed to Min Jia again: “It’s getting late. I imagine the Cheng family people will also be coming to find you soon. I’ll leave first!”

Min Jia looked confused, saying: “You came to find me just to tell me this?”

What meaning could this have?

Cheng Lu laughed loudly, his expression savage, carrying hatred as if to destroy heaven and earth, saying: “As long as I can make Cheng Xu unhappy, I feel delighted!”

Min Jia was astonished, yet had to admit that Cheng Lu’s words made sense.

Cheng Lu left in high spirits.

The guard called out “First Young Madam,” indicating what should she do?

At this moment, Min Jia’s mind was in complete turmoil, not knowing what to do at all. Seeing the guard’s signal, the first thought that floated into her mind was to quickly let this Cheng Lu leave, lest he go crazy and start shouting in front of people from the Yuan and He families—that would be troublesome.

She couldn’t help but wave at the guard.

The guard withdrew.

Min Jia felt chilled.

If what Cheng Lu said was true, what should she do?

She had already married Cheng Xu. The Min family had no remarrying daughters—she had to live with Cheng Xu no matter what. But given Cheng Lu’s crazed behavior, today he told her, who knows who he would tell tomorrow? Yuan Shi and Cheng Chi were both the chief culprits—who could she find to stop Cheng Lu?

She couldn’t tell her natal family. Once married out, she was part of the Cheng family. Telling her natal family about the Cheng family’s scandals—her parents and brothers might feel sorry for her, but her sisters-in-law married in from outside would only mock her and look down on her.

The people of her husband’s family… Min Jia suddenly thought of Cheng Shao.

He was currently the highest in seniority in the Cheng family, and was both uncle and great-uncle to Cheng Chi and Cheng Xu. His relationship with both was close yet also distant. It would be most appropriate for the old gentleman to come forward.

She made up her mind. Looking up, she saw Nanny Shang leading several rough-work servants hurrying over.

Min Jia couldn’t help but snort coldly in her heart.

This Cheng Chi—he came so quickly!

She smiled and nodded to Nanny Shang, saying with a smile: “Nanny has come late. That Cheng Xiangqing has already left.”

Seeing her half-smiling expression, Nanny Shang’s heart sank.

This Cheng Lu—whenever he appeared, nothing good came of it!

However, Cheng Lu’s audacity was truly excessive.

The Old Madam had originally planned for the whole family to go to Zhetan Temple, but then the Wu family came to invite them to go to Hongluo Temple together, specifically mentioning it was to seek children for the newly married young madam. Second Madam Qiu Shi was moved upon hearing this. Later, hearing that the Yuan and He families had decided on Hongluo Temple for offering incense, they all came together.

It was a last-minute decision. Who could have expected to encounter Cheng Lu?

It seemed they had been careless.

Fortunately, he found Xu’s First Young Madam. If he had made his way to Zhou Shaojin’s side…

Nanny Shang didn’t dare think further.

She quickly said to Min Jia with a smile: “We’ve frightened the First Young Madam!”

Min Jia said meaningfully: “He saw many people surrounding me on this side, spoke a few words to me, and ran off in a flash.”

Nanny Shang quickly asked with concern if she was frightened and whether they should call a physician.

Min Jia hastily dismissed Nanny Shang: “The newly married young madam from the Wu family will be coming over soon. Whatever needs to be said can be said when we return.”

After all, they weren’t from the same branch anymore.

Nanny Shang smiled and withdrew, rather dismissive of her.

If Xu’s First Young Madam truly believed Cheng Lu’s words, then there was no saving her. She could make whatever trouble she wanted, as long as she didn’t make trouble in front of Zhou Shaojin.

The Fourth Master was still formidable—dividing the household early on. Otherwise, living together with Yuan Shi and the others, with this one saying this today and that one saying that tomorrow, even with Zhou Shaojin’s gentle temperament, she probably couldn’t bear it.

When she saw Cheng Chi, she couldn’t help but suggest: “Why not find an opportunity to lure him to a brothel and beat him half to death?”

Otherwise, with him jumping around like this with no one managing him, he’d think the Cheng family had no way to deal with him!

“No need,” Cheng Chi’s expression was somewhat cold as he said, “He has no way to deal with the Cheng family now. Seeing Jiashan achieve the jinshi degree, he’s just jealous and resentful. Since he’s sought out Jiashan, let Jiashan handle it—isn’t he requesting an external posting? If he can’t handle even this matter well, I think it’s better he stay in the capital. If something happens in the capital, we can still help him clean up the mess. Once he’s outside, who knows what trouble he might cause.”

Moreover, if his speculation was correct, regarding the events of the previous life, the great eunuch Chen Li of the Qianqing Palace was probably not clean either. He had originally allowed Cheng Lu to smoothly become an adopted son-in-law of the Chen family precisely because he valued Cheng Lu’s ability to stir up trouble, right? Now that he had already made contact with the Fourth Prince’s household, let their relationship become even closer.

Cheng Chi smiled and instructed Nanny Shang: “Threaten and bluster all you want, but absolutely don’t actually injure anyone.”

Nanny Shang smiled knowingly and responded “Yes.”

Chen Li was as cunning as a fox, but this time he would probably fall into Cheng Lu’s hands.

Thinking of this, Cheng Chi was in a very good mood and asked Nanny Shang: “Where is Madam?”

※※※

Zhou Shaojin was coaxing Yun Ge’er to sleep.

Yun Ge’er, who would turn one year old in just over twenty days, had inexhaustible energy. Perhaps because they had risen early this morning and rushed to Hongluo Temple, disrupting his daily routine, when naptime came he refused to sleep. He could roll over and crawl, and could walk while supporting himself on things. One moment he’d crawl on all fours to the kang table, the next moment he’d cling to the window lattice looking outside—never a quiet moment.

Before long, Zhou Shaojin was gasping for breath and covered in sweat.

She only supported Yun Ge’er as he played in the covered walkway.

But he insisted on standing on the beauty’s rest to pick the azalea flowers growing in the walkway.

Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t let him. He just stared at her with his round, big eyes, constantly calling “Mother,” melting Zhou Shaojin’s heart. She was beginning to waver about whether to just let him pick a few flowers to play with when Min Jia, surrounded by several maids and elderly servants, walked in.

“You’re back!” Many people had come today, and the temple compound wasn’t as convenient as home, so all the Cheng family people were resting in one courtyard. Seeing Min Jia, Zhou Shaojin greeted her.

Min Jia couldn’t help but study Zhou Shaojin closely.

Today she wore a rose-red gold-patterned vest. Her tender, pink little face had a pair of eyes like water, more brilliant than the azaleas blooming profusely beside her. The gentleness between her brows was as carefree as spring water in mountain streams—where could one see even a trace of gloom?

Min Jia’s heart skipped a beat.

If Zhou Shaojin was truly as Cheng Lu described, how could she possibly be so relaxed and content?

The thought flashed through her mind. Min Jia couldn’t help but say to Zhou Shaojin: “I just went to the releasing pool. A man suddenly rushed in, saying he was called ‘Cheng Xiangqing’ or something. He was driven out by the guards. I was just thinking of asking Mother-in-law who this Cheng Xiangqing is. I heard that Auntie grew up in the Cheng family from childhood. Have you ever heard of this person?”

Cheng Lu.

What was he trying to do now?

Zhou Shaojin felt annoyed just hearing his name. Her brows couldn’t help but furrow as she said: “He was originally from a collateral branch of the Cheng family, later expelled from the family for improper conduct…” After speaking, she asked Min Jia, “Who else knows about this? Have the Cheng family guards been notified?”

Most of the Cheng family guards were Cheng Chi’s people. If those guards knew, Cheng Chi would know too.

She trusted that Cheng Chi wouldn’t allow Cheng Lu to act so recklessly.

Zhou Shaojin’s righteous and stern tone greatly surprised Min Jia, but it was also like a basin of clear water pouring over Min Jia’s head.

She immediately realized that Cheng Lu was lying!

If what Cheng Lu said was true, Zhou Shaojin should have concealed it for him. How could she have this tone of leaving everything to Cheng Chi to handle? Even if what Cheng Lu said was true, he probably only selected words favorable to himself to say. As for what he had done, he hadn’t mentioned a word.

This meant that Cheng Xu might not be as despicable and shameless as he described.

Min Jia suddenly felt relieved, breathing a long sigh.

“Nanny Shang rushed over,” she said with a smile, “but that Cheng Xiangqing had already run off.”

Since Nanny Shang already knew, Cheng Chi must know too.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Min Jia still standing there looking at her, her heart immediately became clear as a mirror, knowing that Cheng Lu must have said something to Min Jia.

Rumors stop with the wise, but there was also the saying that many mouths melt metal.

She thought for a moment, then said to Min Jia: “If you have doubts in your heart, you might as well ask Master Xu. No matter what, you two are husband and wife.”

If husband and wife didn’t have the most basic trust, how could they live together?

Min Jia understood the implication of her words.

She thought of Zhou Shaojin’s deference to Cheng Chi.

Was it because of this that their marriage was so loving?

But Cheng Lu liked Zhou Shaojin—even she could see that… Which of Cheng Lu’s words were true? Which were false?

Min Jia felt an enormous headache.

In the end, she still decided to go ask Cheng Xu.

At least she needed to let Cheng Xu know that she wasn’t a fool, that she wasn’t completely ignorant of his affairs.

But when she walked to Cheng Xu’s study and wanted to question him, seeing him in his blue scholar’s robe, his face full of desolation as he tidied the study, the interrogation she had prepared suddenly became somewhat unspeakable. Instead, she unconsciously switched to a consultative tone: “Yesterday when I went to Daluo Temple, I was releasing animals by the releasing pool when a person suddenly appeared…” She told Cheng Xu everything about encountering Cheng Lu in complete detail.

Cheng Xu looked at her in surprise.

No matter who encountered such a matter, shouldn’t they speak with the person closest to them, the one they trusted most?

He and Min Shi treated each other with courtesy and respect—why would she help him by saying these things?

What was her true intention in telling him these words?

Cheng Xu put down the book in his hand, faced Min Jia, and said seriously and solemnly: “What do you want to say?”

What did she want to say—hadn’t she thought it all out before coming?

Why at this moment did she feel she couldn’t speak?

Min Jia pressed her lips together, raised her head, looked seriously into Cheng Xu’s eyes, and said: “I just want to know if what Cheng Lu said is true? Did you really bully Zhou Shi? Did Uncle Chi really take advantage of the situation to marry Zhou Shi?”

Cheng Xu curled the corner of his mouth mockingly, saying: “If it’s true, what then? If it’s false, what then?”

He actually had this attitude!

Min Jia was so angry she could spit blood, but thinking that since she had already questioned Cheng Xu to his face, if she retreated now, she probably would never know the truth her entire life, and this matter would become a thorn in her heart forever.