"Let's not think about that now," Wu Zhenhai said. "Our marriage will soon be officially announced. While you're at the Prince's residence, please help me gather information and serve the Princess well..."
Zhou Xu sneered inwardly and said lazily, "You know the Zhou Family and the Prince are at odds, so why are you trying so hard to please the Prince's Mansion? Aren't you afraid of angering my grandfather?"
"We can keep it from the Zhou Family," Wu Zhenhai said. "When you get back, you'll have to come up with a reason to extricate yourself from the situation. You don't understand; you have to be prepared for anything."
In other words, if the Zhou Family falls out of favor, would Old Cabbage Stalk still want to switch allegiance to the Prince of Jin?
In that case, he does have some value.
Zhou Xu decided to be a little "soft-hearted" towards him, since he was still useful.
"There's something you should mention to the Princess, if possible."
"What is it?" Zhou Xu asked calmly.
"Regarding Zhang Qian, which I mentioned last time," Wu Zhenhai said, "Did you relay the message? Why hasn't the Prince taken action against him yet?"
"The message has been conveyed, but I can't control what the Prince does," Zhou Xu said. "The Prince's actions are beyond your comprehension."
Although her words were harsh, Wu Zhenhai didn't refute them; instead, he agreed with her.
"Yes. Just like that day when I stumbled upon you and me together, I originally thought the Prince would use it to blackmail me, but... as expected, this is a grand scheme... I understand!"
Did the Prince of Jin treat Zhang Qian in the same way?
Holding onto a weakness without making a sound, then subtly influencing the opponent?
Very likely.
Wu Zhenhai felt he needed to keep an eye on Zhang Qian's movements, after all, he was a sworn enemy, and it would be best if he were to fall.
"Go back and keep a close eye on things. For your man's future, prove him wrong! Serve the Princess Consort well!"
"I understand," Zhou Xu said with a forced smile.
"But you're not allowed to make a move on the Prince!" Wu Zhenhai warned her, his eyes wide.
"Selling one's wife for personal gain isn't unheard of," Zhou Xu said. "If I please the Prince of Jin, he won't abandon me after using me. I'm a man of old friendships; I might give you a helping hand in the future."
"Bullshit! I would never sell my wife for personal gain."
"Yeah?"
"Yes!" Wu Zhenhai glared at her fiercely.
"You can ask me to do something for you, but you have to do something for me in return."
"You're trying to negotiate with me?" Wu Zhenhai was surprisingly angry.
That heartless wretch! I've worked so hard for her, and when I ask her to do something, she either can't do it well or makes demands. What use is she?!
"If the relationship isn't good, it's all about conditions; if the relationship is good, it's about standing up for me. You decide what that means."
"Speak," Wu Zhenhai said irritably.
She has a silver tongue; her small mouth chatters away, and the words she utters are like thin, sharp blades, each one cutting to the bone.
"Zhou Fu bullied me like this, I can't let it go," Zhou Xu said. "She slapped me several times, you have to find a way to get revenge for me."
"That won't be easy," Wu Zhenhai said. "At least not now. You'll have to wait a little longer..."
"Wait until Zhou Fu dies of old age, then I'll whip his corpse?"
Wu Zhenhai: "... I'll wait, I'll get my revenge eventually."
"Why don't you take her in too, make me your wife and her your concubine, and have her kneel before me and serve me tea every day?" Zhou Xu joked.
Wu Zhenhai retorted irritably, "Nonsense. She's the legitimate daughter, you're an illegitimate daughter, who's going to be the concubine?"
Zhou Xu sneered.
Wu Zhenhai hates seeing her with that fake smile, always ready to argue.
His eyes lit up, and an idea came to him.
"I already have someone who will kneel and serve you tea every day."
"Oh?"
"The Lu Family gave me a daughter..."
"You're a dad again? Congratulations!" Zhou Xu said. "But you're not that old, and you're already a father. Aren't you going to struggle a bit more?"
Wu Zhenhai was so angry his Zidu bulged out. "To be my concubine!"
"Oh, congratulations then. So, how about it? Who's better at kung fu, me or you?"
They were in high spirits, all smiles and peaceful, but not jealous at all!
Wu Zhenhai tried to provoke her jealousy, but ended up almost having a heart attack from it.
"She's still a virgin," Wu Zhenhai said. "I'm afraid you'll be too jealous of her, so I'll wait until you're married and pregnant before she's formally married."
"There's no need for that," Zhou Xu said. "Anyway, we already have the eldest son. As for the rest, what difference does it make who has the other sons?"
Anyway, she's not having children.
Wu Zhenhai gritted his teeth and said, "Who are you calling a nobody?"
Is it going to kill her to be jealous? She's so stubborn!
Zhou Xu thought to herself, "Your son-in-law took a concubine, and you were so angry you wanted to storm his door; now you're showing off to me that someone else gave you a concubine. Isn't that just bullying me because I don't have anyone to back me up?"
If we're going to get serious, my brother will crush you like an ant!
There was no longer no one behind her.
She has many family members... and cats, dogs, tigers, geckos, parrots...
Thinking this way, she felt much better.
"Whatever," Zhou Xu said.
She originally felt a little bit guilty towards Wu Zhenhai.
After all, the bowl of noodles he made for her truly touched her heart.
But after talking to him that day, that trace of guilt vanished completely.
--From beginning to end, it was nothing more than a relationship of mutual exploitation.
Any other feelings would be a waste.
He never cared about her at all. All he cared about was the benefits he could gain, and his family...
very good.
It's really good.
She didn't need to be soft-hearted towards him either.
He wanted to use her; and she, too, wanted to use him.
"I can't be bothered arguing with you. Hurry up and take off your clothes. I haven't had you for days. That day outside, it was actually quite exciting..." Wu Zhenhai started to grope her.
Zhou Xu: "So, you know your butt has become a laughing stock in the Prince of Prince of Jin's Residence? It must have scared you half to death that day!"
Wu Zhenhai's expression changed. "Many people in the Prince's Mansion are talking about this?"
He was terrified that time, but after listening to Zhou Xu's words today, he seems to be heading in that direction.
If many people spread this rumor, and it reaches the governor's ears, he's finished.
"No, just a few people, punished by the Prince." Zhou Xu sneered, "Dare to do it but not dare to admit it?"
"You heartless little thing." Wu Zhenhai breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to pinch her cheek hard. "Who was I doing that for?"
"For your own sake, you can marry a powerful woman to avenge your children, and also make the Zhou Family owe you something."
When Wu Zhenhai was exposed, he wasn't ashamed at all; instead, he was smug. "You don't need to be stubborn. We're a match made in heaven. If I marry you, you won't have to suffer anymore."
His hand roamed over her waist.
"Go back to find your maid," Zhou Xu pushed him away, "I can't bring the scent of another man into the Prince's mansion. I'm leaving."
"Stop!"
"What? You don't care about your future, you don't care about news from the Prince's Mansion?" Zhou Xu leaned against the door and smiled, her beauty captivating. "I'll return to the Zhou Family tomorrow. Come find me tomorrow night, and I'll hang a lantern and leave the door open for you."