Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After returning home, Grandmother blamed my eldest aunt for being impulsive.

“If they really don’t come to pick her up, is our Second Girl never going back?”

My aunt wept, “She’s flesh of my flesh! How could I have the heart to let her go back and suffer!”

Second Sister’s mother-in-law wouldn’t even let her recover properly after her miscarriage; she couldn’t even get a bowl of chicken soup when she wanted one.

Hearing this, Grandmother couldn’t help but shed tears as well.

In these times, having a good husband is secondary; whether the mother-in-law is good is the primary concern.

No one expected Second Sister’s mother-in-law to be so shrewish and rascally, acting like a common hoodlum.

I had been busy for half the day but hadn’t been of much help.

I simply gave some high-quality ginseng to my aunt so she could help Second Sister nourish her body.

Wiping her tears, my aunt said to me, “Good child, thank you. You have it hard too…”

After returning to Marquis Jing’an’s Mansion, I felt unsettled, sitting on the daybed for a long time without being able to recover my spirits.

Life is not easy for women in this world.

Someone like me simply hasn’t won her husband’s heart, but at least the Dowager Marchioness hasn’t mistreated me.

By enduring and persevering, the days go by.

But what kind of reputation do I have outside?

I’m nothing more than a useless, spineless coward.

What should my second sister do?

My second brother-in-law is filial and doesn’t dare to disobey his mother.

Could it be that they will be torn apart just like this?

Deep in thought, I didn’t notice the sun was already setting.

It wasn’t until the maidservants announced the Marquis’s arrival that I realized today was the fifteenth.

I hurriedly called the servants to set the table for dinner.

Wu Zhiyu asked, “What were you thinking about so intently? I called you several times before you heard me.”

I replied, “It’s nothing, just thinking about my sister’s affairs back at my natal home.”

To avoid having to make idle small talk, I briefly recounted the day’s events.

Wu Zhiyu said, “Why didn’t you come to me for help with such a matter?”

I froze for a moment. “?”

Wu Zhiyu smiled and said:

“Madame Lin and General Lin knew each other back when they were of humble status. I heard she came from a family of butchers and is exceptionally shrewish and difficult. She acts this way because she dotes on her eldest son and is biased. Her resentment for one extends to the other; because of that, she looks down on her younger daughter-in-law as well.”

So that was it.

Truly, every family has its own set of troubles.

Wu Zhiyu said leisurely, “Madame Lin’s eldest son works directly under me. If his mother dares to bully my wife’s sister, she is showing no respect for me. Once I go back and give him a hard time, he’ll know what to do.”

Hearing the word “wife,” I felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Marquis, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”

I knew in my heart that I was only the Marchioness in name.

I wasn’t Concubine Bai; I didn’t have the confidence to ask him for favors.

Wu Zhiyu’s expression shifted slightly. “…You are certainly polite with me.”

He cleared his throat, placing a hand against his lips, and said:

“Rest assured, you are the Marchioness of Jing’an regardless. The Lin Family’s disrespect toward you is disrespect toward me. Since you married me, I will not let you be wronged.”

Not let me be wronged?

But wasn’t the one who gave me the greatest grievance he himself?

I opened my mouth, but in the end, I didn’t respond.

Two days later, news came from my family.

They said Madame Lin had a complete change of heart and went to the Gao Family with great fanfare to pick up my second sister.

She even promised to treat her younger daughter-in-law well in the future, only asking me to say a few good words for her eldest son in front of the Marquis.

Did Wu Zhiyu really help?

I was stunned.

Indeed, a higher official’s rank can crush those beneath them.

Seeing my second sister’s domestic troubles resolved, my heart felt much lighter.

I originally wanted to thank Wu Zhiyu by making him some needlework or food.

But his clothes, shoes, socks, and all his daily necessities were handled by Concubine Bai; he never needed me to interfere.

Thinking it over, I decided not to look for trouble where there was none.

Instead, I made a forehead warmer and knee pads for the Dowager Marchioness.

To show my sincerity, I specifically used some fine jade from my dowry to inlay upon them.

As soon as the Dowager Marchioness saw my handiwork, she knew I had put my heart into it.

She liked them very much and took my hand, saying, “The strength of the wind reveals the resilience of the grass; in times of turmoil, the loyal subjects are seen.”

“Before… I was worried you were only honest on the surface, but I didn’t expect you to truly be so sincere and exceptionally sensible. Rest assured, the Marquis will not treat you poorly in the future.”

I said, “Thank you for the praise, Mother. I have always been a simple person. I just do whatever my elders tell me to do; I know my elders would never harm me.”

The Dowager Marchioness looked at me quietly for a moment and said with a sigh:

“Zhiyu… he will discover your virtues.”

My heart trembled. I didn’t need him to see my virtues.

After this incident, I don’t know what the Dowager Marchioness said to Wu Zhiyu, but he began to visit more frequently than before.

It increased from twice a month to three or five times.

Two months later, I discovered I was pregnant.