"Sister, you seem to be living quite comfortably at Yangyuan Marquis Manor." Xu Lian'er looked at her flushed face, noting how much plumper—and thus healthier—she appeared compared to her days at Minister's Mansion. Back then, Xu Wan had been thin and sallow, but now her skin was glowing with vitality.
Earlier, Xu Lian'er had even seen Xu Wan and Zong Jincheng chatting and laughing, bickering playfully. The atmosphere between them was completely different from the antagonistic relationship they had shared more than half a year ago.
Yangyuan Marquis Manor was famously wealthy, and it was no secret that they lavished Xu Wan with money. When Xu Wan had chosen this marriage, both Xu Lian'er and her mother had ridiculed her for being so foolish, picking the worst possible match—a rchant-born mother-in-law, a husband who might as well be dead for all anyone knew, and a notorious troublemaker son.
But sohow, this thoroughly hopeless situation had turned around.
Xu Lian'er scrutinized her elder sister's luxurious attire, comparing it to her own, and the sense of injustice within her grew. Why? Why did she, who had always had better prospects than Xu Wan, end up living such a lesser life?
The jealousy gnawed at her until she felt she might go mad.
Xu Wan gulped, trying to defuse the tension and reduce the hatred Xu Lian'er seed to hold for her. With a worried expression, she said, "Sister, you're overthinking. I’m just putting on a brave face. There's no husband to handle the household, the kids are unruly, and even the children from the second branch are left for to manage. Plus, there's that spoiled brat from He Minister's Family who insisted on staying with us. Just the other day, he nearly burned down Yangyuan Marquis Manor! Every day is a cacophony that gives a headache."
Zong Jincheng, hearing her bluster with an air of innocence, rolled his eyes heavenward. His courtyard was far from the main study, so who was she talking about disturbing her peace?
People always feel better when they contrast themselves with others who seem worse off. Xu Lian'er felt sowhat relieved after hearing Xu Wan’s complaints, but that relief didn’t last long.
Because Chen Yunyu had co over to fetch her, but his eyes kept straying toward Xu Wan.
Xu Lian'er clenched her handkerchief, the flas of jealousy burning hotter. She had thought she had married well, only to find out that Chen Yunyu was all charm on the outside but a ss within. Not only did he secretly consort with courtesans, but he was also always pining after Xu Wan. Her own husband found her charms inferior to those of Xu Wan, soone she had always looked down upon!
Xu Lian'er hated Xu Wan so much at that mont that she wanted to strangle her, to ensure Chen Yunyu would never cast another glance her way.
"Ah, Sister-in-law Xu, it's been a long ti. How have you been?" Chen Yunyu approached to greet her.
Xu Wan stood up, replied perfunctorily, then grabbed Zong Jincheng to give him sothing to do.
The little boy, still in a daze, upon seeing Chen Yunyu, instinctively let out a loud huff.
It was him—the stingy man who had once gotten so angry he refused to feed them, forcing Zong Jincheng and Xu Wan to eat out at noon.
As Chen Yunyu attempted to engage in more conversation, Zong Jincheng stepped in front of him, his face clearly displaying displeasure.
Chen Yunyu’s mouth twitched. Amused, he said, "You little rascal, why so hostile toward ? By seniority, you should be calling Uncle."
"I won't call you that. You're just so guy who runs around with his pants down." Zong Jincheng, mulling it over later, realized that among the people Chen Yunyu had once dragged out of a brothel with firecrackers, Chen Yunyu himself had been one of them.
He had just been bluffing back then, teasing Chen Yunyu to get a rise out of him, but he had accidentally hit the nail on the head.
Hearing this, Chen Yunyu's face turned dark: "You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Who runs around..."
"Who are you calling a brat?" Zong Jincheng, suddenly scolded, lost his temper imdiately, rolling up his sleeves to throw down.
Xu Wan pulled him back and scolded, "Brother-in-law, that’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? Even if Jincheng is a child and his words are thoughtless, you can't just curse at him like that."
"I..." Chen Yunyu was stumped by Xu Wan’s words. It had been months since he had last seen her, and he had been eager to have a few words with her, but this little brat kept trying to expose his secrets.
Chen Yunyu took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "Yes, yes, Sister-in-law Xu is right. It’s my fault. Jincheng, Uncle apologizes to you. Will you forgive ?"
Zong Jincheng glumly replied, "Hypocrite."
"You!" Chen Yunyu was so angry he almost wanted to strike him.
Zong Jincheng raised his fists, defiant. "What, about to lose your temper? You think I’d be scared of you? I’ve got Buyan on my side!"
Buyan was thankfully not around at that mont, or he would have been utterly dumbfounded.
Chen Yunyu didn't know who Buyan was, but with Xu Wan present, he didn't want to expose his uglier side. He cast one last glance at Zong Jincheng, then reluctantly said his goodbyes to Xu Wan, leading Xu Lian'er away.
Only then did Xu Wan breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing the two of them always gave her a headache. Enough was enough.
Zong Jincheng, catching on, suddenly realized, "You summoned just to drive them away, didn't you?"
Xu Wan sighed. "Yes. As an adult, it's awkward for to confront them directly, but as a child, you can get away with a lot. They wouldn't dare lower themselves to bicker with you."
Zong Jincheng laughed, teasing her. "Who would have thought there's soone you're afraid of? I always figured you were invincible."
Xu Wan chuckled. "Thanks for the high praise. I'm just an ordinary person who happens to have read a lot of books. I'm a complete novice when it cos to the art of household politics."
"Hahaha, you called yourself a novice! You admitted it—you're terrible at household politics... Hahaha." Zong Jincheng laughed at her rcilessly.
Xu Wan didn't mind. Instead, she said, "Luckily for , your father doesn't have a single concubine in his harem, and your grandmother adores . So, as a household politics novice, I've never been put to the test."
"Well, I know your weakness now." Zong Jincheng gloated.
Xu Wan dismissed his words. "So what if you know? Are you going to bring in a harem of concubines when you grow up and make , as your mother-in-law, battle it out with them?"
Zong Jincheng rolled his eyes. "Nonsense! I'm still a child; why would I want concubines?"
Xu Wan looked him up and down, making Zong Jincheng instinctively cover his chest, as if being ogled by a scoundrel. His face reddened as he exclaid, "What are you looking at? Isn't that embarrassing?"
Xu Wan teased, "Well, you're not bad looking, your studies aren't terrible... Aside from a bit of a bad temper, a sharp tongue, and a knack for mischief, you're an acceptable young nobleman. By the ti you grow up, what kind of wife should I find for you?"
Hearing this, Zong Jincheng's brain instantly overheated, and with a loud pop, he exploded in frustration.
He shouted in protest, "What’s with the 'not bad looking'? What do you an 'not terrible' studies? I’m the handsost, most talented, and kindest young genius in all of the capital! Marriage? Don’t make laugh! In the future, every girl in the capital will be vying for my hand, and the matchmakers will trample down the threshold of Yangyuan Marquis Manor! I’d advise you to replace our threshold with solid iron now!"
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