The next day, Zhou Xu returned to the Zhou Family alone.
Old Madam Zhou naturally summoned her for questioning.
The content was something Zhou Xu had already planned out; it was simply about why the Princess Consort treated her differently.
Zhou Xu said, "Her Highness the Princess said that it was the Prince who was entrusted by Wu Zhenhai."
"Impossible!" Old Madam Zhou. "Do you think I won't ask Wu Zhenhai?"
"Then I have no idea," Zhou Xu said. "That's what they told me anyway. There's more I can't figure out, after all, I'm so stupid."
Zhou Fu stood to the side, remaining silent the entire time.
Zhou Xu vaguely guessed that her younger sister, who had always had a smooth life and was popular with everyone, was probably blamed for this incident.
Great, she's having a great time.
Old Madam Zhou frowned, showing great disdain for her.
However, perhaps considering that her marriage to Wu Zhenhai was already arranged and that Wu Zhenhai valued her, Old Madam Zhou didn't make things difficult for her, saying, "Go back and rest. Remember to visit the Prince's Mansion often in the future."
Does the Prince's Mansion want to win over Wu Zhenhai?
She could also turn the tables and have Zhou Xu act as an inside agent.
Zhou Xu is a bit difficult to handle.
But it doesn't matter. Now that she's lost her virginity and is going to marry Wu Zhenhai, Wu Zhenhai should be able to control her.
Governor-General Zhou has tested Wu Zhenhai's loyalty repeatedly, and it seems there are no problems so far.
Zhou Xu returned to her courtyard.
Just as I sat down, Zhou Fu came in.
Without knocking, he pushed the door open and entered, as arrogant as ever.
Zhou Xu Zidu eyelids, and instructed the maid, "Have someone prepare some food; I'm hungry."
Zhou Fu asked, "Could it be that the Prince's mansion didn't feed you?"
"What, you even want to meddle in the affairs of the Prince's mansion? Wait until you become a concubine before you do," Zhou Xu sneered.
Zhou Fu wanted to marry the Prince of Jin; she really wanted to.
She felt she could win over the Prince of Jin to the Zhou Family's camp.
This idea is ridiculously naive.
Zhou Fu, however, thought that everyone was waiting for her to change the situation; she was truly a foolish and self-righteous pig.
Zhou Xu never considered her a rival.
Aside from her status, Zhou Fu was utterly vulnerable.
Everyone flattered her, and she began to believe she was the chosen one.
Little did she know that in just a few years, with the emperor far away and Governor-General Zhou acting as a local tyrant, she was like a princess.
Even if someone is full of nonsense and acts pretentiously, they'll still be praised to the skies.
But a pig is a pig; if the wind stops, the pig will fall and die.
"Don't pretend with me!" Zhou Fu said fiercely, "Don't think that just because you've stayed at the Prince's mansion for a few days, you can give me attitude."
"Not only did I stay at the Prince's residence for several days, but I also dined at the same table as the Prince, and he even served me food..."
"You!" Zhou Fu raised his hand to hit her.
Zhou Xu smiled provocatively, "Looks like you haven't learned your manners well lately either."
Zhou Fu forced herself to calm down.
No, she just got scolded; she can't afford to be disliked by her grandmother again.
Otherwise, if she were truly rejected, her fate wouldn't be good.
Besides, that vile woman Zhou Xu, I don't know what means she used to catch the eye of the Prince of Jin, and she still has some use to her.
Zhou Xu said, "Get out of here. I need to rest. Prince of Ding might summon me!"
Zhou Fu's face turned bright red with anger.
But she restrained herself.
She needs to go back and discuss a plan with her mother!
Watching Zhou Fu leave, Zhou Xu felt a sense of relief for the first time.
very good.
All the bait that needed to be thrown out has been thrown out.
Zhou Fu will definitely take the bait.
She instructed her maid to hang lanterns under the eaves, then picked up a round fan and gently waved it, gazing at the newly blooming crabapple blossoms outside.
--This crabapple tree has been transplanted here for many years, yet she has never really taken a good look at it.
When your state of mind and mood change, the scenery you see also changes significantly.
A smile appeared on Zhou Xu's lips.
No matter how beautifully the flowers bloom, she will not feel any attachment; she will consider this the only beautiful thing in the Zhou Residence.
She was going to a place bursting with flowers.
In the middle of the night, the door was pushed open, and Zhou Xu, leaning against the bed railing, glanced at the Old Cabbage Stalk who had come in, then lowered her gaze and continued reading.
"Stop pretending!" Wu Zhenhai came over, snatched her book, threw it aside, and started kissing her while hugging her. "I missed your dad so much!"
"I miss my dad. You've come to the wrong courtyard."
Wu Zhenhai: "... You need to be taught a lesson!"
He picked up Zhou Xu and rolled onto the bed.
Zhou Xu was very cooperative today, even unusually uninhibited.
Wu Zhenhai was very happy and thoroughly satisfied.
Little did he know that Zhou Xu felt this was the last time, and she wanted to enjoy herself to the fullest.
--In bed, she found the Old Cabbage Stalk quite remarkable.
There will be no more.
And who knows, maybe this person will be gone too.
Let her bid farewell to the past with midnight pleasure.
The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.
Zhou Xu rested on the bed for a while, then surprisingly got up.
Wu Zhenhai: "What's wrong with you?"
Didn't she always expect me to serve her?
Did I do something wrong?
Just as Wu Zhenhai was about to sternly rebuke her, Zhou Xu said, "Back at the Prince's residence, the Princess Consort asked about you several times. It seems you're quite important."
Wu Zhenhai immediately became smug. "What did you think! Your man isn't someone to be trifled with!"
Zhou Xu was naked, her bare feet resting on the blanket. Her hair, as black as ink, cascaded naturally down her back, and her long, straight, beautiful legs were enough to ignite all sorts of fantasies...
Wu Zhenhai hugged her again.
Zhou Xu pushed him away. "Stop fooling around, don't you have anything important to do tomorrow?"
Wu Zhenhai cursed and released her.
"What do you mean there's nothing important? Tomorrow is your stepmother's birthday. Although it's not as grand as the old lady's birthday, I definitely have to come."
The mansion still needs to have a dozen or so tables set up, and then a theatrical troupe will be invited to perform.
This was after extremely careful selection; there were just too many people wanting to send congratulatory gifts.
"Here." Wu Zhenhai picked up the clothes from the ground, and from somewhere pulled out a jade hairpin, which he handed to Zhou Xu.
"No," Zhou Xu said, "I don't like green jade."
"It's not for you, it's for you to prepare a gift for your stepmother," Wu Zhenhai said irritably.
"I still don't want it," Zhou Xu refused. "She knows I don't have any money. How did she even get this hairpin? She might even accuse me of theft."
"Are you stupid? Can you be the same as before? You are my betrothed wife now!"
The point is to let that woman, Lady Wang, know that she's his woman, and to show her some decency!
Zhou Xu sneered, "She'll give you face? You're dreaming. She's from a branch of the Wang Family of Langya, she's very noble! Someone like you, a peasant, wouldn't even get a chance to shine her shoes, she'd think your hands were dirty."
She was absolutely not exaggerating when she said that.
Wu Zhenhai said, "I think she's vicious! Don't talk nonsense. I told you to deliver it, so just deliver it. You talk too much."
Zhou Xu accepted the hairpin.
Wu Zhenhai was in a hurry to leave, and while putting on his clothes, he reminded her, "You absolutely mustn't make any more mistakes tomorrow. Chanjuan will be coming too, don't forget to ask her about her family..."
"Are you coming again tomorrow night?" Zhou Xu hugged him from behind, deliberately rubbing against his back. "I want you more."
"Shameless bastard!" Wu Zhenhai cursed smugly. "You might not even have the skills. Just you wait and see."
"No, I don't care. If you don't come tomorrow night, I'll find someone else."
"You dare!" Wu Zhenhai glared, then said, "Alright, alright, stop fooling around, I have to go."
Zhou Xu clung to him for a while before letting him go, a cold smile appearing on her lips as she watched his retreating figure.
Tomorrow is Lady Wang's birthday, and she will give the Zhou Family a very generous gift!
And Wu Zhenhai.
The groundwork has been laid; dig the pits where you need to, jump into the pits where you need to, and we'll see tomorrow!