Cásate con un funcionario público de la dinastía Song del Norte

Capítulo 16

"Zhu Xing, you have three sons and two daughters. Today, your father has decided to adopt the eldest son, Yi Qing, to your elder brother. Regardless of whether your elder brother has his own son in the future, the Cheng family's business will be passed on to Yi Qing. Tomorrow, invite the clan chief and all the relatives to the ancestral hall to handle this matter." Cheng Zuye got straight to the point. Sitting behind his desk, his every move exuded the same authority as before. He then instructed Zhu Yue, "You help your younger brother with this matter." As soon as Cheng Zuye finished speaking, the three brothers were shocked. Zhu Yue looked at Zhu Xing's indignant expression, unsure whether to agree or not.

"Father..." Cheng Zhuri wanted to persuade him to give up the idea, but Cheng Zuye stopped him with a stern look. "Father, is it really necessary?" Zhuxing pleaded reluctantly, his face full of pain. The young man had transformed into a mature man. "She, she is the sinner who killed Mother. If it were any other woman, I would not say a word. But for my son to call the woman who killed Mother 'Mother,' I, I am unwilling, I do not want to." "What do you mean 'call her'? She is your sister-in-law. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. You are the junior. Can a younger brother-in-law call his sister-in-law like that? You are a father yourself. How can you still be so disrespectful?" Cheng Zuye said in a deep voice. "Your mother's death is not her fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was the one who arranged this marriage." "Father, I will, I will..." Cheng Zhuri hurriedly spoke up, but his eyes flickered, and he could not bring himself to say the word "son."

Cheng Zuye raised an eyebrow at Cheng Zhuri, "What? You'll have a son? If I believed you, it would snow in Bianjing in June."

The room fell silent. Cheng Zuye looked at Zhu Xing's furrowed brows and sighed softly, "Zhu Xing, I have no choice but to do this. Look at your elder brother, he'll be thirty-five after the New Year, and he doesn't have a son or daughter. Look at you and Zhu Yue, you already have a large family. Can you bear to do this? Just remember, this is for your elder brother, for Chengjia, not for anyone else, understand? Just do this to fulfill my wish. I know my own body; I don't have many days left to live. Let me see your brother have an heir before I go, so that I can give an account to our ancestors and your mother when I'm gone. Is that alright?" Faced with Cheng Zuye's request and remembering Doctor Lan's words, Zhu Xing, despite her thousand unwillingnesses, could only nod in agreement.

Cheng Zuye breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction, “This is a major event for our Cheng family. Time is tight, so you must consider the proper etiquette and the people to be invited. You should all go down and make preparations. Your elder brother and I have something to discuss.”

Zhu Xing and Zhu Yue responded and left the room. "Zhu Ri, come, help me to bed, I'm a little tired." Cheng Zuye felt somewhat weak and beckoned to Cheng Zhu Ri, "Let's have a good talk, father and son. I have something to tell you." Cheng Zhu Ri helped Cheng Zuye to bed as instructed. Cheng Zuye said calmly, "Zhu Ri, there's a bright yellow brocade box on the second shelf of the fifth shelf on the right side of the bookcase. Could you get it for me?" Cheng Zhu Ri did as instructed, retrieved the brocade box, and handed it to Cheng Zuye. Cheng Zuye slowly pulled a key from under his pillow, unlocked the brocade box, and took out two yellowed and wrinkled pieces of paper. "Take a look." Cheng Zhu Ri took the paper, looked down, and examined it carefully. His expression changed drastically, and he asked urgently, "Father... what... what is this?"

“Both of them have minor destinies. It’s a lie that they are destined to be childless, but it’s true that they will bring prosperity to their husbands and children.” Cheng Zhuri stared at Cheng Zuye with wide eyes as if struck by lightning. “No, that’s not what you said back then. You said…”

"Today, your father will tell you everything in detail." Cheng Zuye's eyes were distant as he recalled a scene from many years ago. "Your aunt was delicate from a young age. Before giving birth to Xiaoxiao, she had been pregnant twice, but both pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Seven years after her marriage, she finally welcomed Xiaoxiao. Your mother was overjoyed when she found out and thought of arranging a marriage between you two as a way to strengthen family ties. At that time, she had just given birth to Zhuqin and her health was not yet fully recovered. She was always frowning. Seeing her so happy and much more energetic, I agreed without much consideration. It was your grandfather who scolded me and woke me up. How could the eldest son of the Cheng family marry the daughter of a poor scholar? I have been following your grandfather in the business world since I was 15. I have seen many people and experienced many hardships. I know the ways of the world. A woman who is worthy of being the head of the Cheng family must either be wealthy or powerful and must be able to help her husband's family. Xiaoxiao has nothing. She is not worthy of this position. If you have to blame someone, you can only blame her for being born into the wrong family." The truth was too cruel. Cheng Zhuri was so shocked that he couldn't recover for a long time. It turned out that the culprit who separated him and Xiaoxiao was his most respected father. Cheng Zuye's matter-of-fact attitude deeply disgusted Cheng Zhuri. But what could he do now? His father was a dying man. After a long silence, he asked bitterly, "Father, even now you still say this. Don't you feel any remorse?"

"There was absolutely nothing like that before Yuwei came into the family," Cheng Zuye shook his head. "Originally, I thought that as long as I raised and doted on Xiaoxiao as my own daughter, I could take her as your second wife in the future, and you could take care of her for the rest of your life. That would be a way to compensate her. That's exactly what I did. I planned to take this secret to my grave after I passed away, but I never expected what would happen later..." "Later, later, in order to achieve your goal, you spent money to bribe Master Mingxin? To make him lie for you?"

Cheng Zuye smiled bitterly, “Zhu Ri, you’re good at everything, but you turn into an ordinary man when it comes to the smallest things. Da Xiangguo Temple enjoys royal patronage and is very prosperous. Master Mingxin is a highly virtuous monk; how could I possibly bribe him? Your aunt lives far away in Dan County. Your grandfather has never approved of their marriage and doesn’t like your uncle either, so they haven’t returned to Bianjing since the wedding. I wrote to her asking her to send me your little birth date and time, saying I wanted to give it to Master Mingxin to analyze your compatibility, to express my concern. Then, I used the excuse that your mother was weak after childbirth and shouldn’t move around too much to leave her at home, while I went to Da Xiangguo Temple alone with a fake birth date and time that I had prepared beforehand. Master Mingxin naturally gave the result that you were destined to be childless.” The paper in his hand was crumpled into a ball by his clenched fist. Cheng Zhu Ri’s eyebrows furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice, “Is it really that simple? Based on your own words?” “It’s that simple.” Cheng Zuye nodded. “Your mother trusts me completely, and with Master Mingxin’s personal endorsement, no one doubts me.” Thinking back to his father’s words back then, about how his little one was destined to be childless and unable to shoulder the family business, spoken with righteous indignation and lofty ideals, Cheng Zhuri said with disdain, “You old man are truly skilled. You think one thing and say another. Back then, when you told me to accept the Rong family’s engagement, you reasoned with me, appealed to my emotions, and were full of morality and ethics. I couldn’t see the slightest flaw in your words.” “Compared to me, you’re still too green!” Cheng Zuye wasn’t angry at all; instead, there was a hint of smugness in his eyes. “I’ve been in the business world for decades. If I couldn’t even fool you, I wouldn’t be your father, and I wouldn’t be able to support this family business. Yes, I’m not a good person. I regret agreeing to your mother’s engagement to you two, but I can’t tell her the truth. I can’t let her know that her husband is a heartless, profit-driven, and hypocritical man. That’s something I absolutely cannot bear. That’s why I came up with this plan. As a man, I need my woman to trust and respect me wholeheartedly. So I deceived everyone, but I truly love Xiaoxiao. After your aunt’s family had their accident, I brought her here, found doctors to treat her illness and help her recover, and asked Taoist priests to pray for her. She’s no different from my own daughter. You should be able to see that.” "Truly love her?" Cheng Zhuri sneered. "A life destined to bring good fortune to her husband and children—that's the real reason Xiaoxiao was adopted into our family! A little switcheroo trick, and you've fooled everyone, both satisfying Mother and making Xiaoxiao willingly become a concubine to repay your kindness in raising her. You get the life destined to bring good fortune to her husband and children you desire, gain a reputation for being loyal and righteous, and then you can marry her off to anyone you deem suitable. You get all three benefits; I never do anything that doesn't benefit me." Faced with his son's blatant and merciless exposure, Cheng Zuye's lips curled into a strange smile, a smile tinged with bitterness and a hint of satisfaction. "That's the good son I've raised. Yes, I'm a businessman, so naturally I won't adopt her for nothing, but my love for her is genuine; there's no contradiction between the two." Cheng Zhuri's phoenix eyes darkened, and he raised his voice to question, "You've taken in Xiaoxiao, intending to marry her to me. If she gives birth to a son, aren't you worried we'll become suspicious? Aren't you afraid the truth will be revealed?" "Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. Xiao Xiao's ability to survive the flood is the best proof of that. If Xiao Xiao really gives birth to a son, everyone will be overjoyed and take it as a blessing from Buddha and ancestors. Who will remember that fate?"

"You're truly shrewd and calculating, making thorough preparations. But as the old saying goes, 'You can't have your cake and eat it too.'"

“Yes,” Cheng Zuye said with a self-deprecating laugh, “I calculated everything, but in the end, it all came to nothing.” Listening to his father’s dying confession, Cheng Zhuri, though filled with intense hatred, could not vent it. He cried out in a low, painful voice, “Why did you tell me? I would rather never have known! Why didn’t you keep it from me forever!” Cheng Zuye lowered his eyes, lost in thought for a long time, his aged voice filled with a deep sense of powerlessness. “I…I am guilty. I never expected Yuwei to be such a narrow-minded and jealous woman, unable to even tolerate a pitiful orphan like Xiaoxiao. She caused your mother to die in childbirth, caused Hua’er to be born without a mother, caused Xiaoxiao to remain missing to this day, and caused my own son to die without an heir. For so many years, no matter how hard we searched, there was no news of Xiaoxiao, and we didn’t know if she was alive or dead. I am sorry to your mother, sorry to your aunt, sorry…” "I'm not going to paint, and I'm even more sorry to Xiaoxiao and you. But all of this is my fault, I'm the one who started it all." Mentioning his deceased wife, Cheng Zuye pounded his chest in anger, tears of regret streaming down his face, choking back sobs several times. "This secret has been buried in my heart for far too long, keeping me up at night. If I don't tell you now, I'm afraid I won't be able to rest in peace even in death. Wealth and status are fleeting. If I had known it would end like this, I would have let you marry Xiaoxiao back then, so the whole family could have lived in harmony. That would have been better than anything else; two..." Come, although I'm giving Yi Qing to you as an adopted son, I still hope you and Yu Wei can have your own son. Later, bring him to my grave to pay your respects, so I can rest in peace. Don't blame Yu Wei entirely; she has made mistakes and committed sins, but the one who is most wrong is me. This is God's retribution for me. You've neglected Yu Wei for so many years, and the Rong family has long held grudges. Yu Wei has covered for us; she's atoning for her sins. Please be kind to her; she hasn't had it easy either. Besides, this is the last time I'll teach you, Zhu Ri. You're too... Being sentimental isn't always a good thing. Remember, always be cautious. Never completely trust anyone, not even your closest relatives. Family fortunes have always been passed down from the legitimate son to the illegitimate son. No matter how capable Zhu Yue is, he's still an illegitimate son. You've spent too much time searching for Xiao Xiao these past years; letting him take full charge of the Hangzhou business is inappropriate. We must find Xiao Xiao, and we absolutely must bring her back to atone for my sins, but you can't be careless about the business. You must personally oversee everything that's your responsibility.” “A woman should be as gentle and tender as your mother and Xiaoxiao to hold a man’s heart. Yuwei is too strong-willed. In the end, she got nothing and even lost her child. You are really ruthless to yourself. Fortunately, I still have Zhuxing, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to face our ancestors. Zhuri, don’t blame me. I did all this for you and for the good of the Cheng family. I just didn’t expect it, I really didn’t expect it…” Cheng Zuye murmured to himself, blaming himself. “Zuri, I’m sorry. This matter is between heaven and earth. You must not tell a third person. I know it’s hard on you. Who told you to be your eldest son? It’s not easy being a man in the Cheng family.” “Father, you’re tired. Rest well. Let me, Hua’er, come in and keep you company.” Cheng Zhuri’s shoulders slumped weakly, and he drifted out of the room, lost in thought. Hua'er, who had been waiting outside for a long time, saw her older brother leave and called him several times without getting a response. She quickly ran inside. "Dad, why are you crying?" she asked Cheng Zuye in a clear voice, kneeling by the bed with red eyes. She took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped away his tears. "No, Dad is happy. Come, sit next to Dad and let Dad take a good look at you." Seeing his youngest daughter, Cheng Zuye perked up and sat on the edge of the bed. He looked at Hua'er and smiled sincerely with happiness. "Hua'er is growing more and more like her mother. She's getting prettier and prettier."

"Father... Hua'er can't bear to part with you." Hua'er buried her head and sobbed softly. Since her grandmother passed away, she had come to understand the meaning of death.

“Silly child, your father wants to see your mother. She has been waiting for me for so long. You should be happy for your father,” Cheng Zuye lovingly stroked her face. “Don’t cry. Play me a piece of ‘Three Variations on Plum Blossom.’ I want to hear it.” “Yes, Father, wait for Hua’er. Hua’er will bring the zither.” Soon, Hua’er’s sorrowful zither music filled the study. Father and daughter enjoyed their last moments of tranquility. Two days later, in the morning, amidst the tearful farewells of his children and grandchildren, and in his own repentance, Cheng Zuye closed his eyes forever at the age of fifty-six.

First Version: Falling in Love is Easy, Staying Together is Hard - Chapter 46: Finale

It was another sunny afternoon. Cheng Zhuri was engrossed in meticulously checking accounts when suddenly a pair of soft, white hands covered his eyes. A barely perceptible smile appeared on Cheng Zhuri's sharp, thin lips. "Guess who I am?" A sweet, coquettish voice rang in Cheng Zhuri's ear. This was a trick that Xiao Hongye never tired of playing every time she saw him.

Cheng Zhuri lowered his head slightly, pretending to think. "Uncle can't guess?" "It's Xiao Hongye." Xiao Hongye smiled sweetly, revealing two adorable dimples on her cheeks. She withdrew her hands, walked to Cheng Zhuri's side, blinked her bright black and white eyes, and said in a clear voice, "This morning, my aunt brought me back several puppets. They're made of sheepskin, and the colors are so bright and beautiful. Uncle, will you play a shadow puppet show with Xiao Hongye for a while?" Cheng Zhuri glanced at the account books on the desk that he hadn't finished checking, nodded, and took Xiao Hongye's hand, walking towards the east wing.

Xiao Hongye is Zhu Yue's fifth daughter. She just turned seven this year. Her face is fair with a rosy glow, like a big red apple picked from a tree with dew on it. She is very pleasing to the eye. Although Zhu Yue has many children, she is the only one who dares to barge into Zhu Yue's study at this time.

"Little Red Leaf, which play do you want to play today?" Cheng Zhuri asked softly as they walked. Little Red Leaf rolled her round eyes, tilted her head, and answered, "Of course, it's 'The Mulberry Picker Girl,' Little Red Leaf loves it the most." Although Little Red Leaf was still young, she was clever and quick-witted, with a thoughtful mind. Her uncle was not fond of smiling, but he was very fond of "The Mulberry Picker Girl." Every time he played it, he would smile more often. She secretly remembered this and would ask him to play with her every few days, just to make her uncle happy, since he was the only one in the family who loved her the most. "Uncle, here you go. You play the male role, and I'll play the female one." Xiao Hongye smiled and led Cheng Zhuri to sit down behind the white curtain. She handed him a male puppet, then picked up a female puppet herself, skillfully manipulating the bamboo sticks on the puppet, and began to recite, "Wildflowers sway in the wind, as if pouring out their hearts; green grass trembles gently, like endless tender affection; newly green willow branches brush the flowing blue water, stirring up tender feelings in my heart. Why does spring arrive on schedule every year, but my husband who went far away is nowhere to be found year after year?" Cheng Zhuri: "...Look at this river of spring water, look at this stream full of peach blossoms, look at this verdant green mountain, nothing has changed. I wonder if my cousin, whom I haven't seen for many years, is still as beautiful as ever..." "Uncle, you're wrong again! It's not my cousin whom I haven't seen for many years, but my wife who left me after only one month of marriage." Xiao Hongye pouted and muttered softly, "Uncle is so clumsy, he always gets the words wrong in this part." Cheng Zhuri casually rubbed her head and continued what he was doing. "Who is that young lady coming from ahead? She is so beautiful and radiant. Young lady, please stop your beautiful steps. Do you know what mistake you have made?"

Xiao Hongye: "My lord, it was clearly your horse's hoof that overturned my bamboo basket. Look at this wide road leading straight to the blue sky, yet you let this wretched beast splatter mud all over me. How can you blame me for this?" Cheng Zhuri: "Your mistake is that you are as beautiful as a fairy. Your graceful figure makes my hands disobey my will, and your fluffy black hair fills my eyes. I can't see the roads and mountains, only darkness..." Rong Yuwei gently pushed open the door and entered the side room. She saw Cheng Zhuri and Xiao Hongye playing their roles. She waved to Cheng Shun to be quiet and went to the corner to become a quiet and faithful audience. It's "The Mulberry Picker" again, that woman's favorite piece. Years of practice have honed his singing and performance skills to a level that rivals even the most seasoned street performers. From Cheng Zhuri's youth, it accompanied them through the most beautiful years of their lives, a testament to their deep and unforgettable love. She has long since left, but her shadow remains, omnipresent, always between them, an insurmountable chasm. Behind the curtain, Cheng Zhuri speaks with deep emotion, his gentle voice like a tranquil autumn lake, as if the puppet in Xiao Hongye's hands is the woman he so deeply loves. At this moment, he is devoid of his usual coldness and arrogance. Though his expression is unseen, one can strongly feel his overflowing tenderness, like the warm breeze of early spring brushing against your cheek, gently and warmly caressing your heart. After Xiaohe got married, Cheng Zhuri brought her back. She did nothing but tidy up the bamboo garden, the place where that woman had once lived, leaving it exactly as it was. The bamboo garden has remained empty since she left, and no one except him and Hua'er is allowed to enter. That woman kept her promise and left cleanly. Although he has never given up searching for her all these years, her whereabouts have vanished without a trace.

The sound of a flute drifted through the bamboo grove late at night, plaintive and sorrowful, seemingly expressing endless tenderness and love. It was the tune of the lover she first met, but now it was no longer as melodious and romantic as it once was, but rather tinged with sadness and loneliness. Especially when it played in the late autumn when the frost-covered leaves were falling, it was like a lone goose waiting for its lover's resonance and comfort, filled with endless melancholy and sighs, making the listener's eyes blur with tears.

Cheng Zhuri was stern, cold, and unsmiling. Only in this moment, in this setting, would a man's tenderness ignite—a burning passion between a man and a woman she desperately longed for but had never experienced. Tragically, it only appeared when her husband was with another woman, the woman she hated with a passion that fueled her deep jealousy. Though she felt a pang of sympathy for that woman, it was her husband's lingering affection for her that forced her to hate and loathe her. If only she could be his shadow puppet, the flute he played, the woman he cherished and protected, how wonderful that would be, even for just a moment. She would have lived a life without regret. Listening to his gentle, spring-like voice, and thinking of his usual indifference and coldness towards her, she felt a bitter bitterness, yet she clung to this illusory and fleeting sweetness. Cheng Zhuri seemed to be tormenting her relentlessly in this way, and she both suffered and enjoyed this torment. She often hid in a corner, fantasizing that perhaps one day she could replace that woman. Who was she? She was Rong Yuwei, born into a prestigious family, a woman of exceptional talent, the Rong Yuwei to whom countless scions of noble families once sought her hand in marriage. She humbled herself, marrying him willingly, asking for nothing more than for this man to be devoted to her for life. So she used some underhanded tactics to eliminate rivals—was that greed? Wasn't that fair? Isn't life about gains and losses? From childhood, she had never failed to get what she wanted, never failed to accomplish what she set out to do. With enough effort, she was certain she would eventually win this man, making him completely, inside and out, belong solely to her. But she miscalculated. His goddess-like beauty concealed a heart as unyielding as stone; no matter what she did, she could never warm it. As time slowly passed, her heart grew increasingly uncertain. Looking at Xiao Hongye, she felt her hope dwindling. Perhaps, perhaps love wasn't like other things, where every effort yielded a reward. Zhu Yue had many wives, concubines, and children. Xiao Hongye was the daughter of his third concubine, Hongxing. She died on the day she gave birth. Zhu Yue was always busy traveling and was careless, so he couldn't take care of her at all. Xiao Hongye was also born out of wedlock, and apart from her wet nurse, no one truly cared for her. She always kept her head down in public, and no one could remember what she looked like. When she was four years old, she was wronged and hid in the rockery in the garden to cry. Cheng Zhu Ri happened to find her there. For some reason, from then on, Cheng Zhu Ri personally took care of her food, clothing, and shelter, and doted on her in every way. Even Zhu Xing's three daughters did not have the same place in Cheng Zhu Ri's heart as she did. Whatever they had, Xiao Hongye had too. Naturally, Xiao Hongye's status in the Cheng family rose accordingly. The servants whispered amongst themselves, saying that Xiao Hongye must have been incredibly lucky in her past life to have such captivating eyes, so similar to that woman's. Especially the little mole at the corner of her right eye—it was such a coincidence, growing in the same spot! Everyone knew that he was constantly thinking of that woman through Xiao Hongye's eyes. "Uncle, Uncle, why are you staring at me like that again?" Xiao Hongye's clear voice rang out from behind the curtain. "Uncle… the old women at home all say Xiao Hongye looks like my aunt, but why has Xiao Hongye never seen her? Where is she?" "Uncle…" There was no reply from Cheng Zhuri for a long time, and Rong Yuwei, lost in thought, fled again. ===================================================================================

"Madam?" Xiaoyue gently reminded her. Rong Yuwei frowned, having stood frozen at the door of Cheng Zhuri's study for a while, lost in thought. Rong Yuwei snapped out of her reverie, tidied her hair, took the tea from Xiaoyue, and said, "There's nothing more for you here, you may leave." Xiaoyue acknowledged and withdrew. Rong Yuwei composed herself, her previous dejected and solemn expression vanishing. She pushed open the door and entered the room, smiling brightly, "Master, this is some new Biluochun tea, I brewed it myself." Rong Yuwei's pride was reserved for others; but with Cheng Zhuri, she was simply an ordinary woman yearning for the nourishment of love.

Cheng Zhuri was so engrossed in wiping the jade hairpin in his hand that he didn't even look up, and he made a faint snort: "Hmm."

After dinner, he liked to spend time alone in his study practicing calligraphy and enjoying tea. Finally, he would polish his precious jade hairpin before washing up and going to bed. Years of this habit, and the years of polishing, had made the hairpin shine brightly. "Try it first. It's made with snow water saved from last year. See how it tastes?" Cheng Zhuri said expressionlessly and indifferently, "Just leave it for now." "Master, in three days it will be my second brother's youngest son's one-month celebration. My brother and sister-in-law invited us to go back and join in the festivities."

A moment later, Cheng Zhuri replied, "I won't be going this time. Please prepare the gifts carefully, Madam." His voice already betrayed a hint of impatience. Rong Yuwei's forced smile crumbled again. He was still the same, unchanged. He answered only when she asked, never speaking to her unless she asked. Although she actively tried to improve their relationship, emotional connection and a fulfilling married life couldn't be achieved through one-sided effort alone. "Twenty-seven years, my lord, I've been married to you for twenty-seven years," Rong Yuwei said, her face filled with sorrow and bitterness. "No matter what I say or do, you remain unmoved. Are you truly heartless?" After being coldly rejected time and again, she would repeatedly analyze the reasons and muster her courage, only to have her hopes dashed each time. This cycle repeated itself, and she grew increasingly less confident. Cheng Zhuri continued his work with his head down, and after a long while, he casually replied, "You can go now." His tone was polite and courteous, but still devoid of warmth and filled with distance. Yet, his eyes, gazing at the jade hairpin, were warm, and his movements were gentle. The scene was strangely harmonious. Rong Yuwei was filled with grief and indignation. In their twenty-seven years of marriage, everyone said she had good taste, choosing a kind and righteous man. Even though they hadn't had any children, her position as the mistress of the house remained unshaken. Moreover, Cheng Zhuri had refused to take a concubine for her sake, a deep affection that moved heaven and earth. But deep down she knew it was just a beautiful legend. They were truly as cold as ice. She worked tirelessly to manage the household chores and arrange the wedding, which involved chasing stars and paintings. She tried her best to atone for the mistakes she had unintentionally made, but she never received any tenderness or care from her husband. All she got were verbal perfunctory words and indifference. She had never experienced the love and pity that women crave most, let alone any deep affection. The cold relationship between husband and wife often made her feel unbearably suffocated and desperate. She tried to enter this man's heart, but failed time and again. He had no feelings for her; only for that woman named Wen Xiaoxiao, who had left years ago. She remained the biggest obstacle between them. Her husband would call out that name she loathed in her dreams from time to time. Jealousy and resentment gnawed at her heart night after night. For twenty-seven years, she had willingly transformed from a pampered young lady into an ordinary woman, while her husband had never uttered a single tender word to her in bed. She had never experienced the intimacy between husband and wife, nor had she ever seen her husband ignite any passion for her. And all of this began with that mistaken but beautiful encounter at the Chrysanthemum Festival. Now, she often asked herself, was it worth it? Rong Yuwei grew angrier the more she thought about it, feeling a surge of blood rushing to her head. Years of unrequited love, resentment, and coldness had completely driven her to madness. With lightning speed, she snatched the jade hairpin and smashed it to the ground with a bang. The hairpin shattered into pieces on the floor. Still not satisfied, she stomped on it several times. Cheng Zhuri, caught off guard, could only stare at the broken jade on the ground, his face turning pale. He staggered off the desk. Rong Yuwei gritted her teeth and muttered, "I'll make you look at it every day, I'll make you wipe it every day! Do you think I don't know who this is meant for? It's a pity she'll never receive it!" Her face, twisted with anger, was hideous, her eyes burning with resentment and rage.

"It can never be given away, it can never be given away." Cheng Zhuri muttered to himself as he bent down to pick up the broken jade pieces, his desolate tone revealing his despair. The way Xiaoxiao looked at the white hairpin years ago had touched his heart, so after their marriage, he immediately selected the finest mutton-fat jade and had it crafted by a skilled artisan. He wanted to personally put it on her on their wedding night; he wanted to tell Xiaoxiao that the white hairpin was a gift from the Cheng family to Rong Yuwei, and that this was the one he was giving to his own woman; he also wanted to tell her that the character "Xi" on the hairpin was their daughter's name, Cheng Yixi, a name born of their love and tenderness for Xiaoxiao. But in the end, it all came to nothing. Seeing Cheng Zhuri's grief-stricken expression and thinking of her own sacrifice, Rong Yuwei felt as if her heart was being boiled in hot oil and pricked by needles. Enraged, she unleashed a torrent of resentment and grievances that had been suppressed for years, her sharp and sarcastic words flowing uncontrollably, her aggressive tone like that of a shrew throwing a tantrum. "That little bitch, that vixen, dares to steal my man? She's not worthy! She'd better know her place and get lost, or I'll make sure she doesn't get away with it!" "Shut up!" Cheng Zhuri roared, abruptly standing up, his eyes flashing with a chilling light as he glared at Rong Yuwei, his expression sinister. He raised his hand as if to slap her. Rong Yuwei opened her mouth in disbelief, her beautiful eyes widening. "You're actually going to hit me?" Cheng Zhuri's clenched fists cracked, but he didn't strike. His eyes were full of contempt as he said, each word deliberate and deliberate, "You jealous woman, if you hadn't forced her to make that poisonous oath back then, how could she have left? You bullied her, an orphan with no one to rely on. Do you really think I don't know anything?" Rong Yuwei's heart skipped a beat, her face turning deathly pale, her lips trembling uncontrollably. "She...she told you everything. She promised she wouldn't tell." "You told me yourself!" Cheng Zhuri glared angrily, veins bulging on his forehead. His clenched right fist was pricked by the edge of a broken jade, drawing blood. Years of pent-up resentment finally burst forth. "I was injured and couldn't wake up, but every time she spoke, I could hear her. It was her voice that led me back. It turns out there really is such a thing as telepathy. At first, I thought it was just a dream, but then I learned that you agreed to let her take care of me personally while I was sick, and I immediately became suspicious. Then she refused to marry me even at the cost of her life... all of this..." "Think about it, and it all makes sense. 'If you give birth to a daughter, she will be a prostitute for generations; if you give birth to a son, he will be a slave for generations.' How could you even think of such a thing? How could the Rong family have given birth to such a vicious daughter? She is suffering, and I dare not force her any further. I thought there would always be a way in the future. If I could have her by my side in this life, I wouldn't care about having children. As long as I could personally put this hairpin in her hair, that would be enough. Now even that hairpin is broken. You didn't even leave me a memento. Back then, you forced her to make a poisonous oath, killed her mother, and forced her to leave, thus cutting off your own lineage." Rong Yuwei's heart pounded. Sensing a hidden meaning in Cheng Zhuri's words, she held her breath and asked softly, "What do you mean by that?" Cheng Zhuri slowly walked up to Rong Yuwei, his eyes slightly upturned, seemingly in high spirits. He leaned close to her ear and chuckled sinisterly, "I promised Xiaoxiao that you would have a child, but only after her. So you will never be a mother in this life. If you have anyone to blame, blame yourself." His voice trailed off, his smile becoming increasingly alluring and seductive, filled with a vengeful pleasure. Today was the first time Cheng Zhuri had taken the initiative to get close to her. Rong Yuwei had longed for this moment for half her life, and today she finally got her wish. But instead of the sweetness and joy she had imagined, she felt as if she were in the deepest hell of despair. "You actually willingly cut off your own offspring for her?" Rong Yuwei screamed hoarsely, her whole body convulsing with trembling, even her fingertips were shaking slightly. "...How could you be so cruel to me? Is she really that good? Am I really that inferior to her?! Didn't she do something wrong? If she had been smart and left earlier, things wouldn't have ended like this today. How could you be so cold and heartless to me!" She vaguely knew that something was wrong, but she didn't want to think too much about it. When she heard the truth from Cheng Zhuri's mouth, it was like a bucket of ice water being poured over her head, chilling her to the bone. "Apart from your surname, I really can't see what makes you better than her." Cheng Zhuri's cold, star-like phoenix eyes swept over Rong Yuwei. Looking at the woman before him, whom he loathed to the bone but was powerless to get rid of, he felt unbearable pain. The resentment, bitterness, and bitterness that had been building up for years seemed to find an outlet today. "If Xiaoxiao made a mistake, it was that she was born into the wrong family. If her aunt and uncle hadn't died young, she wouldn't be in this situation where she can't go home. I'm doing this not only for her, but also for my mother. Childbirth is extremely dangerous for a woman. You knew that my mother's health was not good, but for your own selfish reasons, you disregarded her safety and caused her to die from excessive bleeding during childbirth in July. With my mother dead, our marriage is over."

When Liu Yuehua, who died young, was mentioned, Rong Yuwei was speechless and could only lower her head and weep. The deepest guilt and regret in her heart surged up again. It really was true to the old saying, "I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me." If she could choose again, she would never do this.

Cheng Zhuri continued to press on, "Xiaoxiao is good. In front of her, I live like a respectable man. To you, I'm nothing more than an object that your Miss Rong Yuwei has taken a liking to. I have to consider the Rong family's opinion even when I take a concubine. What kind of man am I! I live a pathetic life! How many things have you done behind my back? Do you think I'm dead? When you first came into the family, I told myself that no matter what, I would respect you and value you. Even if there was no romantic love, there would be marital obligations, and that's what I did. Ask yourself honestly, in the first two years of our marriage, did I ever mistreat you in the slightest? But you killed my mother, forced Xiaoxiao to leave, forced her, a weak woman, to suffer for a living, forced me to lose the love of my life, and forced us to possibly never see each other again. The two most important women in my life have both left me because of you. Do you think I will treat you? If I could, I would definitely divorce my wife and remarry!!!" Divorce my wife and remarry!!! The resounding words "Cheng Zhuri" struck Rong Yuwei's heart like a thunderclap in a clear sky, extinguishing the last embers of her spirit. All the strength in her body was drained away, and she slowly collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Her thin shoulders trembled like withered leaves in the autumn wind. "But your Rong family is so high and mighty, I can't do anything to you." After a long silence, Cheng Zhuri continued softly, "I can only use this method to seek justice for my mother and for Xiaoxiao. Besides, I can't let the descendants of the Cheng family shed your blood. I suppose it's because of the sins I committed in my past life, and I fear I will die alone in this life. I only hope to repay all my sins in this life, so that I will have no connection with you in the next. Rong Yuwei, let me give you a piece of advice: when you choose a man in your next life, open your eyes wide. Power cannot buy true love. What is not yours, even if you seize it, will never be yours." Rong Yuwei covered her face and sobbed softly, "I don't want your respect, I want your heart. I truly love you..."

"Love me?" Cheng Zhuri scoffed. "What a joke! To love me is to grant my wishes, to think what I think, and to love what I love. Have you granted my wishes? You only want to use your love to turn me into your servant, to be subservient to you. You use the power of your Rong family to suppress me, to make the Cheng family unable to hold their heads high. At home, you disobey your father, and you look down on all the men he chooses for you—that's unfilial; after marriage, you disobey your husband—that's unvirtuous; you killed my mother—you are guilty!!" Rong Yuwei raised her head and retorted to Cheng Zhuri, "Yes, what happened to Mother was my fault. I have let her down. Not a day has passed without regret and self-reproach. Over the years, I have been constantly atoning for my sins. For this family, for you, I have worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, doing everything myself, exhausting my heart and soul. Is your heart so hard? Don't you have done anything wrong, yet you punish me like this?" Cheng Zhuri scoffed self-deprecatingly, "Of course I'm wrong, I'm guilty too. Xiaoxiao is right, I was wrong about Mother's matter, so Heaven punished me by not being able to see Mother one last time, making me forever an unfilial descendant of the Cheng family, and punishing me to face your face for the rest of my life. If I had married a girl from an ordinary family, perhaps I would already be surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying the bliss of family life. Moreover, I would have made you sit in the position of the Cheng family's wife with great honor, never taking a concubine for the rest of your life, preserving your dignity. That would be worthy of your special regard and deep affection for me!"

"Master, have you ever... have you ever truly loved me?" Rong Yuwei sobbed for a long time before finally asking the question that had been hidden in her heart for twenty-seven years.

"Never!" Cheng Zhuri answered decisively, a strange light flashing in his phoenix eyes as he looked at Rong Yuwei's bloodless lips. He slowly raised his right hand and pressed it against his chest, a beautiful curve forming on his thin lips. The words that escaped his lips, though soft, were sharp and penetrating. "I'm telling you, there has only ever been one woman here. It was before, it is now, and it will always be. Her name is Xiaoxiao, and she is my cousin." "It was me. I'm a jealous woman," Rong Yuwei made a final struggle. "If you marry her, she won't let you take a concubine either. She told me she wants only one person for life. She's a jealous woman too." Cheng Zhuri met Rong Yuwei's eyes, his gaze open and firm. "Then I'm willing!" “Even so, I have no regrets. I owe Mother, I owe everyone in the Cheng family, but I don’t owe her anything. She was the one who wanted to leave back then, I didn’t force her, and I have a clear conscience towards her.” Rong Yuwei’s red, tearful eyes shone with fierce determination. “If she really entered the family, I would be empty inside and out. If I, Rong Yuwei, can’t have her, then Wen Xiaoxiao can never have her in this lifetime. Even if I only get you, I will accept it.” “Then you have already gotten what you wanted, and what is not yours, you will never get.” Cheng Zhuri dusted off his clothes, his voice icy cold. “You wait, I will definitely find her.” “Sister-in-law, I’m back to see you.” Zhu Hua returned to her parents’ home today, and the first person she wanted to see was Rong Yuwei. Knowing that she was in Cheng Zhuri’s study, she ran over excitedly, but she didn’t expect to see this situation. Zhu Hua walked to Rong Yuwei's side, helped her up, and, her almond-shaped eyes filled with anger, questioned Cheng Zhuri in a delicate voice, "Big brother, what did sister-in-law do wrong that you're bullying her like this?" Cheng Zhuri's gaze was inscrutable, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something. "No..." Rong Yuwei's lips trembled, her eyes pleading for him to keep her secret. Hua'er was the last ray of sunshine and warmth in her heart; she had nothing left and couldn't lose her too. Cheng Zhuri gazed deeply at Zhu Hua, ultimately suppressing his words, and left the room with his hands behind his back. "Sister-in-law, don't be sad, Hua'er is with you." Zhu Hua gently wiped away Rong Yuwei's tears, but she couldn't dry them no matter what she did. Seeing Rong Yuwei's tears streaming down her face, Zhu Hua's eyes also welled up with tears, and her heart ached. "Sister-in-law, don't cry. I'll go and confront my brother later. You're such a good woman. What happened that made you so upset? If he can't give me a proper explanation today, I...I...I won't acknowledge him as my brother anymore." Zhu Hua only wanted to comfort Rong Yuwei and stop her tears. Without thinking much, she blurted out these words out of spite.

Zhu Hua only knew that her mother died in childbirth shortly after she was born. Two women treated her very well: her cousin and her sister-in-law. However, her cousin left when she was very young. As time went by, her memories of her cousin became increasingly vague. She could no longer remember what her cousin looked like. She only vaguely knew that her cousin was a gentle and kind woman, a woman whose smile was as beautiful as a fairy. At night, her cousin would whisper sweet nothings to her and tell her stories. She especially remembered the song "The Little Insects Fly" very clearly. Every night, she could only fall asleep peacefully by touching her cousin's long braid. After her cousin suddenly disappeared, she cried for a long time and asked her family members many times about her whereabouts. They all seemed hesitant and unable to speak freely; her cousin seemed to have become a taboo subject in the family. Whenever she asked her eldest brother, his face was heavy and he looked heartbroken; when she asked her sister-in-law, she would bite her lip, tears welling up; when she asked Aunt Qin, Aunt Qin would always remind her with a sorrowful face that besides her own parents, she couldn't forget her cousin, that she would be alone without her, and that her cousin was a woman with a tragic fate. Gradually, she stopped asking, burying her cousin deep in her memory. But one thing she knew very well: her cousin was her family, and she would never forget her. After her cousin left, her eldest brother took care of her daily needs, but he was too busy, spending most of his time away from home. Sometimes he was in Luoyang and Hangzhou for business, and sometimes he was searching for her. Gradually, apart from her father and Qin's mother, her sister-in-law became the most familiar person in her life. She took meticulous care of her. Her sister-in-law did not have her own children, and Yi Qing had not yet been adopted by her. She gave all her maternal love to her. The older she got, the closer she became to her sister-in-law, and she secretly told her sister-in-law some of her girlish thoughts.

Looking back, she was quite naive at the beginning, often throwing tantrums at her sister-in-law, embarrassing her in public several times, but her sister-in-law never blamed her. When she was eight, she fell seriously ill, and her eldest and third brothers went to Luoyang, the capital of the Western Regions. It was her sister-in-law who stayed with her night after night, carrying her to the doctor's house to seek treatment. She also remembered being anxious, scared, and ashamed when she first started menstruating, and it was her sister-in-law who held her in her arms, comforted her gently, and taught her what it meant to be a woman. On the eve of her wedding, it was her sister-in-law who taught her about bedroom matters. To be honest, her sister-in-law was a capable and virtuous woman, and the person she was most reluctant to part with when she got married was her sister-in-law. She couldn't understand why her brothers and sisters disliked her, especially her eldest brother, who was unusually cold towards her. Now that she was a mother herself, having experienced the sweetness and happiness of marriage, she felt even more sorry for her sister-in-law and deeply felt sorry for her. She had argued with her brother several times for her sake, but her brother always remained silent and unmoved by her words. She couldn't change her brother, so whenever she had time, she would often go back to her parents' home to talk to her sister-in-law and try to make her smile more. Rong Yuwei couldn't utter a word; she just hugged Zhu Hua tightly and cried loudly. Seeing her heartbroken, Zhu Hua also wept with her.

Cheng Zhuri wanted to go to the bamboo garden to sit and calm his mind, but he was intercepted by Zhuxing on the way, who said that he had news of Wen Xiaoxiao.

"Is it really true?" Cheng Zhuri was so excited his voice changed. "No mistake," Zhuxing had just dismounted, travel-worn but radiant, "I saw it with my own eyes, it's my cousin. She lives by Daming Lake. She changed her name to Cheng, and she always keeps us in her heart." Zhuxing had studied hard for years and finally achieved his goal of becoming a minor official, but he was upright and disdained associating with the Rong family faction in officialdom. He was often ostracized by Lord Fan's faction, and after three years of frustration, he resigned from his post and returned home to help Cheng Zhuri manage his business and search for Wen Xiaoxiao. Cheng Zhuri didn't let go of any clues about Wen Xiaoxiao, including Bai Shungen, the only outsider Wen Xiaoxiao knew. Bai Shungen came from a humble background, but suddenly opened a small shop, and the business flourished. In less than three years, he became wealthy. Cheng Zhuri used his connections to quickly find out that the real boss behind him was Xiaoxiao. Persistence pays off. After more than ten years of tracking Bai Shungen, they finally made progress half a month ago. Learning from past experiences, Zhu Xing didn't dare tell Cheng Zhu Ri immediately upon receiving the news. This time, he went to Jinan first to confirm before bringing back the good news. He couldn't bear to see his elder brother go out full of hope only to return disappointed; his brother had suffered too much. "Is she doing well?" Cheng Zhu Ri's voice was faint. "Is she...is she married?" "No, my cousin is still single. I secretly followed her for three days. Judging from her house and clothes, she's living very well," Zhu Xing said, looking at Cheng Zhu Ri's bright eyes with slight worry. "But I'm afraid my cousin won't want to come back with us. What should we do then?"

“Now I’m half-buried in the ground. If I can see her again, it would be a great act of mercy from the Bodhisattva. Just seeing her alive and well will satisfy me. I have no other desires in this life,” Cheng Zhuri’s voice was filled with a sorrowful resignation. “I will give her whatever she wants and will never force her again.” “Then what are we waiting for?” Zhuxing’s tone was urgent, unable to suppress his excitement. “Brother, I’ve prepared a fast horse. Let’s set off immediately.” The two brothers quickly walked out of the mansion, mounted their horses, and galloped towards Jinan. Five days later, on the beautiful shores of West Lake, Cheng Zhuri finally saw the white figure that had haunted his thoughts and dreams again. The thick, dark hair in his memory was just as it had always been. He slowly stepped forward, his lips moving slightly, and said in a trembling voice, “Xiao Xiao…”

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