APSIL -Chapter 6 Acting Like She Belonged Here

After watching Zhu Ying take Zhang Shou away by force, Madam Wu finally could not bear it any longer. She violently shook off Zhu Gongquan’s hand from her shoulder, only to find that two burly guards had suddenly blocked the entrance to the main room.

Her face immediately flushed with anger.

“For all these years, the Duke of Zhao has ignored my son and me. Today you brought the Young Miss here, and I treated you as honored guests from afar. Yet you filled A-Shou’s ears with nonsense and then allowed the Young Miss to take him away by force. What exactly are you trying to do?”

An ignorant village woman, Zhu Gongquan thought inwardly. She knows nothing of the affairs of the court. Even ordinary people in the capital know that the Duke of Zhao and his son are in a dangerous situation now.

Though he thought this, his expression remained refined and courteous. The words he spoke, however, were exceptionally sharp.

“Madam, do not forget that even if Young Master Shou marries in the future, you would not be his proper mother-in-law.”

The moment she heard this, Madam Wu’s face turned deathly pale. She staggered backward and collapsed into a chair.

Having spent a large sum bribing people around the Dowager Madam and gathering only fragments of information, Zhu Gongquan had struck directly at the mark. Seeing the effect, he pressed forward mercilessly.

“The Young Miss is of extraordinarily noble status. She comes and goes freely in the palace. The Empress Dowager dotes on her so much that she is even more favored than the princesses. You complain that the Duke of Zhao has ignored you and your son, but think about it carefully. What future father-in-law in the world treats his future son-in-law this way?”

“If it were not for the Duke of Zhao, would you and your son have lived so peacefully and comfortably all these years? What more do you want? Are you still not satisfied?”

Each sentence struck Madam Wu like a hammer.

It felt as though her heart had been smashed to pieces, as though all the strength had drained from her body. She bit her lip hard, desperately trying to find words to refute him, only to discover that her mind had gone completely blank.

Zhu Gongquan knew very well that he could command the two guards blocking the doorway. But the other two guards behind him had been sent by the Dowager Madam herself. He absolutely could not openly mention breaking off the engagement. If the old matriarch of the Zhu family became angry afterward, not even the Second Young Master would be able to protect him.

So he merely hoped that those guards would report back that the Zhang mother and son were crude country people unworthy of notice.

Seeing that Madam Wu had already been thrown into complete confusion, he added fuel to the fire.

“As for what you said about the Young Miss abducting Young Master Shou, that is rather exaggerated. The Young Miss merely heard of this engagement suddenly and could not accept it for the moment, so she took Young Master Shou outside to ask him a few questions. How has that become abduction when it reaches your lips?”

“Even if she truly acted improperly, Young Master Shou is a man and her future husband. Shouldn’t he be tolerant and accommodating?”

Any man who was taken hostage by a woman would naturally feel humiliated. It would be strange if the two of them did not quarrel fiercely.

If that happened, Zhu Ying would surely not continue acknowledging this ridiculous engagement just because of the boy’s handsome face.

At this point, Zhu Gongquan signaled to the two guards, indicating that they should step aside from the doorway they had been blocking.

As expected, Madam Wu rose and stumbled toward the door. He had hoped she would rush outside recklessly like a village shrew and make an enormous scene.

Instead, she stopped at the doorway, leaning against it, her face filled only with confusion and bewilderment.

Zhu Gongquan secretly cursed in annoyance. She cannot even make a proper scene. As expected, she is just a useless village woman.

Madam Wu stood there, gazing into the distance.

She waited for what felt like an eternity before finally seeing Zhang Shou calmly walk back through the front gate.

The emptiness in her heart instantly settled.

Lifting her skirts, she hurried out.

“A-Shou!”

Hearing the familiar cry and seeing the familiar figure running toward him in panic, Zhang Shou immediately understood that Madam Wu had truly been frightened half to death and worried sick.

He quickly stepped forward to meet her.

Seeing that her eyes were red from crying, he held her shoulders gently and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. I’m fine. Mother, rest assured. I’ll handle everything.”

Over the past two years, Madam Wu had gradually grown accustomed to her son becoming more independent. At first he had often run outside the village, only to be brought back. Later he had begun making his own decisions within the village, and she had learned to turn a blind eye.

But hearing his calm, steady voice now, she unconsciously felt her heart settle.

That feeling lasted only until she saw Zhu Ying walking through the gate behind him.

Remembering how domineering the Young Miss had looked when she had taken Zhang Shou away, and recalling Zhu Gongquan’s cutting words, Madam Wu could not help feeling deeply uneasy.

Zhu Ying immediately noticed the mixture of fear and wariness in Madam Wu’s eyes.

She did not regret taking Zhang Shou away earlier. If she had not done so, she would never have learned that Zhang Shou himself knew nothing about the engagement.

So when Zhu Gongquan emerged from the hall with a smile and called out, “Young Miss,” she ignored him completely.

Instead, she walked directly up to Madam Wu, bent her knees slightly, and said, “I’m sorry. I acted impulsively earlier. Please accept my apology.”

Zhang Shou looked up and saw Zhu Gongquan’s stiff expression. It was obvious that the man had never expected this beautiful noble young lady to apologize.

Zhang Shou could not help giving him a meaningful little smile.

Madam Wu was even more caught off guard.

Instinctively, she released Zhang Shou and reached out as if to help Zhu Ying up. But halfway through the motion, she withdrew her hand again. Just as she hesitantly prepared to bow in return, Zhang Shou spoke first.

With completely natural ease, he smiled at Zhu Ying and said, “It’s only a small matter. Don’t worry. Mother isn’t someone who bears grudges.”

Seeing Madam Wu hurriedly wipe away her tears and nod, Zhu Ying finally relaxed.

Then, without even glancing at Zhu Gongquan, she lifted her chin and walked into the hall as though no one else existed.

Zhang Shou, meanwhile, slowly supported Madam Wu and strolled in after her at an unhurried pace.

As Zhang Shou passed by him without saying a word, Zhu Gongquan’s expression grew even uglier. He had waited for over an hour and was now starving, yet he had received not a single word of acknowledgment.

Inside the hall, Zhang Shou helped Madam Wu sit down, then calmly sat down himself as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Once Zhu Ying had also taken her seat and Zhu Gongquan entered with a dark expression, repeatedly glancing between Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying, Zhang Shou merely smiled calmly.

Zhu Gongquan had expected the country youth, who relied only on his handsome face to charm others, to mock him again.

Instead, Zhu Ying spoke first.

Her words were simple, but utterly shocking.

“I’m not going back.”

Before Zhu Gongquan could stop her, she continued in an unquestionable tone.

“Didn’t Mr. Zhu say earlier that all the land around here belongs to our Duke of Zhao’s estate? In that case, I will stay here for a few days and inspect it on Father’s behalf. Zhu Hong, Zhu Yu, return and inform Grandmother that I have made up my mind.”

The two guards were just as shocked as Zhu Gongquan.

Seeing the Young Miss wearing an expression that clearly said she would not change her mind, they exchanged glances and finally answered, “Yes.”

But immediately afterward, both of them looked toward Zhang Shou, who appeared completely unconcerned.

The Young Miss’s stubborn temper has flared up again, they thought. If the Dowager Madam had not secretly warned them beforehand, they would never have believed it. But what exactly are the Dowager Madam and the Duke thinking? Zhang Shou may be handsome, but he has lived in the countryside all his life. He is far beneath her station.

Feeling the strange looks from the two guards, Zhang Shou felt utterly helpless.

I already said the engagement could be canceled. Your Young Miss is the one insisting on staying here. Besides, if you have the ability, stop your own Young Miss. Why are you looking at me? If she refuses to return, you can tie her up and take her back yourselves.

Then he heard what Zhu Ying said next, and his head began to ache even more.

Even though she had casually sat down on a pile of straw earlier, she was still a noble young lady after all.

“After you return, pack all the books from the third, fourth, and fifth shelves from the top on the east side of my study and send them here. Also send my little red horse properly prepared. I remember there are two gentle horses in the stable that Father gave me; bring those as well.”

“And have my two senior maids, Zhanjin and Liuyin, pack my usual bedding, my summer clothes, autumn clothes, and winter clothes. The entire jewelry case does not need to be sent; just choose a dozen or so simple pieces for daily wear and have them bring those too. And Father’s sword, my bow and arrows…”

Autumn clothes and winter clothes? How long are you planning to stay?

Listening to the endless list of requests, Zhang Shou could not help lamenting inwardly. A noble young lady and a country landlord’s son were truly completely mismatched.

Moreover, his status as a small landlord was fake. In reality, he was practically penniless.

Zhu Gongquan was already shocked and furious that Zhu Ying was giving orders only to Zhu Hong and Zhu Yu while completely ignoring him.

But when he heard the final name she mentioned, his heart nearly leapt into his throat.

“And also, ask Grandmother to give the order to transfer Uncle Hua here.”

Zhu Gongquan cried out involuntarily, “Young Miss, have you gone mad? Hua Qi is a madman!”

“If you say I’m mad, then wouldn’t Uncle Hua coming here be perfect?” Zhu Ying raised an eyebrow coldly.

Then, as though she were the master of the house, she directly issued an order for him to leave.

“All right. It’s getting late. Mr. Zhu, you may leave now. This place is too small to accommodate such a great Buddha.”

Zhang Shou was completely torn between laughter and tears.

Young Miss, you really do not treat yourself as an outsider. This is my house. And if we’re talking about a great Buddha, aren’t you the biggest one here?