Favoring a concubine and destroying the wife? I'll abandon my husband and children and wipe out

Zhao Huaiyu immediately said, "Grandmother, Mother did all this for our own good! No matter how Mother treats us, we are happy with it. You can't say that about Mother!"

Madam Zhao could hardly believe that her beloved grandson, whom she had doted on since childhood, would say such a thing!

She was clearly the one who wanted what was best for them!

Cheng Nanzhi's lips curled into a cold smile. When she looked up, her expression hardened, and she said lightly, "You mustn't treat your grandmother like that! Quickly apologize to your grandmother. If you get sick from anger, you'll be severely punished!"

The two were frightened upon hearing this and then apologized.

From Madam Zhao's perspective, however, there was still a hint of resentment in their expressions!

Seeing that they had only softened their stance because of Cheng Nanzhi's words, Old Madam Zhao became even angrier.

Why is it that after three years of not seeing Cheng Nanzhi, they are now even more protective of her?

“Mother-in-law, please sit down.” Cheng Nanzhi stood up and helped her sit down. “Please don’t be angry, and don’t punish Ze’er and Yu’er. They are still young and it’s normal for them not to understand. Once they start learning from the teacher, they will become more sensible and filial.”

Zhao Shize and Zhao Huaiyu had strong objections upon hearing this.

How could they be so insensible! It turns out that Grandma, despite saying how much she liked them, actually thought this way about them!

Old Madam Zhao lowered her face and said, "When did I say I wanted to punish them? The way you're talking makes it sound like I, as their grandmother, am so heartless!"

Cheng Nanzhi immediately said, "It's my fault, Mother-in-law, please calm down."

Zhao Shize couldn't help but ask, "Grandmother, why are you always making trouble for Mother today?"

Zhao Huaiyu muttered to herself, "It's wrong for Mother to listen to you, but it's even more wrong for her not to listen to you."

Old Madam Zhao almost choked on her breath.

Cheng Nanzhi didn't give her a chance to speak at all. She first scolded them for their lack of manners and told them not to make a sound while eating. Then she turned to Old Madam Zhao and gently persuaded her not to be angry.

Not only was Madam Zhao not appeased, but her eyes were practically spitting fire.

It must have been Cheng Nanzhi who stirred up trouble between her and her grandson while she was away! Otherwise, why would her grandson suddenly talk back to her!

I never knew Cheng Nanzhi was this kind of person!

But considering the purpose of her visit, Old Madam Zhao had no choice but to endure it. "I'm so glad you're good at being a good person! But since you care so much about the child, why did you still not decide on the private room for Ze-ge'er when I sent Zhang Mama to Xiangchun Tower today?"

Zhang Mama chimed in, "Yes, Madam! I thought I misheard! Also, I've inquired around, and Xiangchun Pavilion is full. You'll have to exchange seats with someone else, but that will cost nearly a hundred taels of silver!"

“If you hadn’t been negligent, you wouldn’t have needed to spend this money,” said Madam Zhao, displeased. “It is indeed a large sum, but compared to Ze’er’s future, it is nothing.”

She glanced at the two children, and an idea came to her.

“Nanzhi, your mother-in-law has to apologize to you.” She said apologetically, “Before I came here, I suspected that you hadn’t seen Ze’er for three years and that your feelings for him had faded, which is why you didn’t care about him. But now that I see that you treat Ze’er the same as before and that the two of you have a good relationship, I know that I was just being petty.”

"Then don't delay any longer. Quickly send someone to get the money to go to Xiangchun Tower. If you wait any longer, there might not even be anyone left to replace him! Then Ze-ge'er will miss the chance to meet Mr. Zhou!"

"Hmph, let's see how she refuses now!" Old Madam Zhao thought to herself.

Zhao Shize panicked upon hearing this.

"Mother, how could you be so negligent! Quickly tell Qingdai to send the money! I've prepared for the poetry gathering for so long, it can't all be for nothing!"

Cheng Nanzhi could clearly hear his inner resentment.

She sneered inwardly; the old woman was quick-witted. But it all depended on whether she was willing to play along!

“Mother-in-law, don’t you know?” Cheng Nanzhi suddenly grabbed Old Madam Zhao’s hand, her voice rising abruptly, startling everyone.

Madam Zhao's imposing manner vanished instantly, and she asked, puzzled, "Know what?"

Cheng Nanzhi said, "My husband already told me about this during the day. He said that it was not my responsibility to manage the household, but yours, Mother-in-law, so this matter should be taken care of by you! He never expected that you would rush to deal with it after neglecting it."

"It seems that my husband has not informed you yet. How can this be? It's not that I can't ask you to do it, but I'm really worried that if my husband has already done it, and I go to do it, wouldn't that be making the Zhao family spend extra money?"

“Mother-in-law, please wait. Your daughter-in-law will send someone to fetch my husband and ask what the result is.”

"Lian Ruo!"

Ha, Zhao Ye didn't come, but this old woman did. She just wants to pretend she doesn't know anything and set a trap for him.

She insisted on calling Zhao Ye over to expose this secret!

Lianruo sighed and turned to leave, quickly taking a few steps to get out.

Madam Zhao could no longer sit still and blurted out that she should tell Zhang Mama to stop Lianruo.

Lianruo stumbled from the push and said, "Granny Zhang, what are you doing! I'm going to find the master on important business, and you're stopping me. Do you not want the master to come? Is there some hidden reason?!"

Zhang Mama couldn't think of an excuse for a moment, so she looked at Old Madam Zhao for help.

Zhao Ye can't come. Not only will he not be able to get Cheng Nanzhi to pay, but he might also expose their words, which would make them lose face!

Madam Zhao hurriedly said, "Ye'er is busy with official business, there's no need to bother him with this matter. It would be terrible to delay his official business! Here's what we'll do, Nanzhi, you go and have someone reserve the seats first. Even if Ye'er reserves them first, one of you can simply withdraw later."

Zhao Shize agreed, and then urged Cheng Nanzhi on.

Cheng Nanzhi replied, “Mother-in-law, I can’t disobey my husband. Besides, what’s the harm in sending someone to ask? If it does cause a delay, we can just report that it was my fault! Even if the Emperor hears this, he will be magnanimous and forgive me because of my love for my son.”

Madam Zhao did not doubt what Cheng Nanzhi said. She came from the Cheng family, and the imperial family would naturally be more lenient with her because of that.

Just as she was about to find another excuse, she saw Cheng Nanzhi pause, then hesitate and said, "Mother-in-law, you're not letting your husband come, is it because... you and your husband have actually talked about it and know about Xiangchun Tower? But the Zhao family doesn't have the money to change locations, and they don't want to lose face, so they're just pretending they don't know anything about coming to find their daughter-in-law?"

She gasped, covered her mouth, and looked apologetic.

"Mother-in-law, don't worry, your daughter-in-law will pretend not to know that the Zhao family has no money."

“We are family. If you had just said it directly, would your daughter-in-law have hesitated to spend a few dollars?”

"But the Zhao family is quite wealthy, how could they be short of money? Could it be that my husband is more interested in pursuing an official career and doesn't think Ze-ge'er is so important..."

"Oh, I understand. I can't compare to my husband. In my heart, Ze'er is the most important person. Even if I don't have money, I'll find a way to help him..."

Madam Zhao tried to stop Cheng Nanzhi, but she couldn't stop Cheng Nanzhi from talking so fast.

In an instant, her mind was filled with thoughts of her son who was "poor".

Meanwhile, Zhao Shize and Zhao Huaiyu stared at her with wide eyes, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and hurt.

Madam Zhao's face flushed red, and she couldn't listen any longer. She shouted, "Shut up! How could the Zhao family be poor! And how could Ye'er not care about Ze'er? Ze'er is the apple of his eye!"

Cheng Nanzhi followed up, saying, "I knew my husband wasn't that kind of person. So it seems he'll definitely be able to handle it, and I won't need to do anything?"