The Duke House's Ideal Daughter-in-law
Chapter 83
After the loud and bustling commotion settled, everyone returned to their seats.
After Qingxiang Junzhu took her seat under the adoration of the crowd, her gaze swept across the richly decorated hall. She originally intended to look for Xu Nianan, but her gaze landed on Zhao Shuxian instead.
Zhao Shuxian was also wearing a skirt made from gold-woven peacock feather zhuanghua gauze. Although the design was different from hers, the material was the same.
Who is Qingxiang Junzhu? How could she tolerate someone of lower status wearing the same outfit as her? She immediately stood up and walked over to Zhao Shuxian, asking, “Who are you?”
Seeing her displeased expression and haughty tone, Zhao Shuxian felt a bit anxious but had no choice but to respond. She stood up, performed a courtesy, and said, ‘Replying to Junzhu, ChenNü is Zhao Shuxian of Jing Guogong Residence.”
Qingxiang Junzhu asked, “Which branch of Jing Guogong Residence are you from?”
Zhao Shuxian, not understanding why she was being asked about her branch, honestly replied, “It’s the Fifth.”
Qingxiang Junzhu scrutinised her and said, “This gold-woven peacock feather zhuanghua gauze is rare and precious. As far as I know, even in the esteemed Jing Guogong Residence, the Emperor only bestowed two bolts of this fabric. Are you of the highest status in Jing Guogong Residence, or have you made some remarkable contribution at home to warrant being dressed in it?”
Zhao Shuxian’s face turned red, and she was left speechless.
“Qingxiang, that’s a private matter of Jing Guogong Residence. Why are you prying into it? Please, come back and sit down,” said Qingshou Junzhu.
“Just making idle talk, Biao Jie, why are you stopping me?” Qingxiang Junzhu replied to Qingshou Junzhu, and then urged Zhao Shuxian, “I’m asking you a question. Why aren’t you speaking?”
What could Zhao Shuxian say? She usually disliked Xu Nianan’s sharp tongue but at this moment, she wished she had the same eloquence.
Under the scrutiny of everyone, she was being pressed so much that she was almost in tears.
“Junzhu Niangniang, the fabric bestowed to our Zhao family by the Emperor was allocated for the younger generation to wear. It doesn’t seem inappropriate, does it?” Zhao Lao Taitai spoke up.
“The fabric bestowed by the Emperor can certainly be worn by the younger generation of the Zhao family. Ben Junzhu is merely curious as to why it was specifically allocated to the younger members of the Fifth Branch. Who decided on the distribution, and on what basis was it allocated?” Qingxiang Junzhu turned to look at Zhao Lao Taitai.
Zhao Lao Taitai replied with a stern face, “This is a matter of our Zhao family affairs. There is no need for Junzhu to inquire about it.”
Qingxiang Junzhu sneered, “Stop pretending. It’s only because the Fifth Branch is the only one directly related to you in the entire Jing Guogong Residence! One is shamelessly biased and partial, while the other is foolishly flaunting it, trying to deceive others as if everyone were fools. It’s truly laughable!”
“Qingxiang!” Qingshou Junzhu scolded sharply.
Zhao Shuxian, feeling embarrassed and ashamed, began to cry.
Zhao Lao Taitai, unable to maintain her composure, stood up and apologised to Zhang Lao Taijun, saying that she was feeling unwell and needed to leave.
Zhang Lao Taijun knew that, given the situation, Zhao Lao Taitai would not be able to stay, so she did not insist on keeping her.
When Zhao Lao Taitai was about to leave, the women of the Zhao family naturally followed her.
As Xu Nianan stood up, Qingxiang Junzhu noticed her and came over, grabbing her wrist. “She can leave, but why are you leaving too? Come with me, I need to speak with you.” With that, she pulled Xu Nianan away.
“Ah—Nian’an!” Yin Furen called out, concerned.
“Mom, it’s alright. Please wait here for me. I’ll just have a few words with Junzhu and then come back,” Xu Nianan replied as she looked back.
Yin Furen, unsure of what had happened but seeing that Qingxiang Junzhu was both domineering and high-ranking, was worried that Xu Nian’an might be at a disadvantage.
“Yin Furen, please stay for another cup of tea,” Qingshou Junzhu said apologetically, giving Yin Furen a warm smile.
Seeing that Qingshou Junzhu was not rushing her, she assumed Qingxiang Junzhu would not be too harsh with Xu Nian’an. Yin Furen took a seat again.
Qingxiang Junzhu dragged Xu Nian’an out of the Flower Hall, not caring that this was someone else’s residence. She kept pulling her until they reached a secluded spot with few people around before letting go.
“Xu Nian’an, I like Zhao Huanxi. You should go back and divorce him, and give him to me.” As soon as they stood still, Qingxiang Junzhu spoke directly.
Xu Nian’an was rubbing her wrist when she heard this and looked up in surprise at Qingxiang Junzhu, saying, “Junzhu, after all, this is about taking someone else’s husband. Can’t you be a bit less brazen about it?”
Qingxiang Junzhu responded confidently, “Why shouldn’t I be brazen? I’m not taking him for nothing. As long as you give him to me, our Prince Su Residence will take care of your sisters’ future marriages and your brother’s career.”
Xu Nian’an realised that this person had come prepared after some investigation.
She pretended to ponder for a moment and then said, “It sounds good, but what if I give him to you, and you gain his body but not his heart? I fear that in the end, you’ll still come to trouble me. By then, I would have lost the support of Jing Guogong Residence and gained an enemy like you. Wouldn’t that leave me with no one to turn to for help?”
“Why wouldn’t I win his heart? Compared to you, what am I lacking?” Qingxiang Junzhu sized up Xu Nian’an, recalling the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival when she saw Zhao Huanxi being tender and affectionate towards her on the street. She couldn’t hide her jealousy.
Xu Nian’an smiled and said, “Since Junzhu has such confidence, I naturally have no reason to refuse. However, I am but a humble person, not like Junzhu who can decide such matters for herself. Whether or not I can divorce him is not up to me. For Junzhu to come to me about this matter is like mistaking a branch for a root.”
Qingxiang Junzhu frowned, “How is me asking you to divorce be like mistaking a branch for a root?”
Xu Nian’an explained, “Even if I wanted to divorce, and even if Sanlang agreed, if his parents or Guogong Yé didn’t agree, we still wouldn’t be able to separate. If Junzhu truly wishes to marry him, why not return and inform your parents, and have Wang Yé and Wang Fei discuss the matter with Guogong Yé? As long as both families agree, the matter will be settled.”
Qingxiang Junzhu hesitated. Noticing her expression, Xu Nian’an said, “What’s the matter? Does Junzhu plan to marry without informing your parents?”
“Of course not,” Qingxiang Junzhu quickly responded, unwilling to let Xu Nian’an know that she feared her parents might object, considering she was trying to take someone else’s husband.
She lifted her chin and said, “Then it’s settled. If both of our elders agree, you’d better not cause any trouble.”
Xu Nian’an replied, “Junzhu, rest assured. I may not have many virtues, but I do know how to adapt to the situation.”
Hearing this, Qingxiang *Junzhu& looked at her inquisitively and asked, “Zhao Huanxi is so handsome. I’m asking you to give him up, don’t you feel any attachment?”
Xu Nian’an smiled and said, “I mentioned earlier that I know how to adapt to the situation. When things reach a point where there’s no room for manoeuvre, what good does it do to hold on? It would only bring me unnecessary trouble.”
Qingxiang Junzhu hummed in satisfaction, “Glad you know your place.”
Seeing that the princess was in a good mood, Xu Nian’an asked, “May I ask Junzhu, why did you make things difficult for my family’s Lao Taitai and Fifth Branch’s Tangmei in the hall earlier?”
Qingxiang Junzhu said, “Outsiders say that Jing Guogong Residence’s First Branch and Fifth Branch are at odds. Since Zhao Huanxi is the First Branch’s eldest legitimate son, being at odds with him means being at odds with me. It was a perfect opportunity to embarrass them when they foolishly crossed my path. Look, isn’t it better for Zhao Huanxi to marry me than you? If the old woman dares to be biased, I will publicly expose her to make her lose face. Would you dare to do the same?”
Xu Nian’an quickly responded, “Of course, I wouldn’t dare. Junzhu is truly formidable!”
“Good to know,” Qingxiang Junzhu said, and with that, she turned and strutted away like a proud peacock.
As Xu Nian’an and Yin Furen left the residence and got into the carriage, Yin Furen couldn’t help but ask, “When did you get to know Qingxiang Junzhu?”
Xu Nian’an replied, “Just now.”
Yin Furen: “……”
Since Zhao Huanxi had only informed Xu Nian’an about his problem with Qingxiang Junzhu and had not mentioned it to Yin Furen, she was still unclear about the details. Xu Nian’an then briefly explained the situation to her.
Yin Furen, after processing the information, suddenly snapped back to attention and stared at Xu Nian’an in disbelief. “What did you say? She wants you to divorce Huanxi so she can marry him? What kind of joke is this? I certainly don’t want such a daughter-in-law!”
Xu Nian’an replied, “I told her I can’t make that decision myself and advised her to go back and inform her parents, asking them to speak with Zufu. As long as both sides agree, I won’t oppose her request.”
Yin Furen stared in astonishment for a moment before laughing and pointing at her, “You truly are a mischievous trickster!”
If Prince Su and his wife had any sense, they would never agree to such an unreasonable request from their daughter. Not only would they refuse, but they would likely expedite finding a suitable match for Qingxiang Junzhu to marry off.
This time, Qingxiang Junzhu had been thoroughly outwitted by Xu Nian’an.
The mother and daughter-in-law chatted happily as they returned to Jing Guogong Residence.
Yin Furen had matters to attend to, so Xu Nian’an did not linger and went back to Yifang Garden to have the small kitchen prepare a simple meal.
Yin Luochen was not in the courtyard and no one knew where he was off playing.
Xu Nian’an was just about to return to her room when she saw Zhao Huanxi coming in through the gate, his expression looking a bit off.
“Sanlang, you’re back. What would you like to eat for lunch?” Xu Nian’an went to greet him.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Huanxi didn’t even look at her. He passed by with a stern face and went straight into the room.
“Get out!” he ordered the maidservants as soon as he entered.
The maidservants in the courtyard glanced at Xu Nian’an with uneasy expressions.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Just stay away from the main hall and don’t come near,” Xu Nian’an instructed the maidservants.
They complied and moved away from the main hall.
Xu Nian’an entered the room, closed the door behind her, and walked through the inner chamber to the study. There, she saw Zhao Huanxi hunched over the desk, his face buried in his arms. Upon closer inspection, she noticed his shoulders shaking and heard the sound of sobs.
He was… crying?
Xu Nian’an was taken aback. Although Zhao Huanxi had cried in front of her before, it had always been just a few tears. This time, he was crying heavily, and it was clear he was deeply upset. What had happened?
He was crying intensely, so Xu Nian’an did not disturb him and quietly stood by for a while. When his sobs began to quiet and his shoulders stopped shaking so much, she approached him gently, placing a hand on his shoulder, and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Huanxi jerked his shoulder sharply, turned away, and, wiping his tears with his sleeve, sulkily said, “You’re giving me away to someone else. Why should it matter to you how I feel?”
Xu Nian’an was stunned. The news spread so quickly?
“Who told you that?” she asked.
“Qingxiang Junzhu told me herself! Do you still want to deny it?” Zhao Huanxi turned around with red-rimmed eyes and shouted at her. Then, feeling even more upset, he pouted and started crying again, accusing her tearfully, “You’re so heartless!”
In the snippet, the term "Full-Power" comes from 火力全开 (huǒlì quánkāi): Literally "opening all firepower." This is a modern idiomatic expression used to describe someone going "all out," exerting their full strength, or launching a devastating verbal/social attack.
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