【Host, it’s simple! Just pretend to be confused.】
The system’s voice echoed in Feng Zhaoxuan’s mind, calm as if it had already seen through all worldly affairs.
【As long as he doesn’t reveal the truth, then his “wife” will always be “Madam Cheng,” not “mother-in-law.”】
Feng Zhaoxuan immediately agreed in her thoughts: 【Exactly. If everyone pretends not to know, things can still save face.】
【As long as Cheng Ying insists on denying it, what can anyone do to him?】
The officials in the room silently laughed in their hearts: Sorry, Your Highness, we already know everything.
As for whether General Cheng would personally expose it… that was hard to say. After all, this kind of situation—where a young bride suddenly turns out to be an “old wife”—not many people could actually accept it.
Cheng Ying himself felt as if he had been stripped naked and repeatedly roasted under everyone’s gaze.
I… if I pretend I don’t know, can they really act like they didn’t hear anything?!
His eyes swept across every face in the wooden hut.
Some sympathetic, some curious, some barely holding back laughter—he suddenly wanted to wipe them all out on the spot.
【Host, as the saying goes, as long as life is manageable, a little green on the head is acceptable.】
The system struck again:
【For example, the high-ranking Prime Minister Lin Zhengyan—he found out his wife had painted over a hundred portraits of your father, yet he gritted his teeth until his molars shattered and still pretended nothing happened… and even treated his wife better afterward.】
Lin Zhengyan’s face turned crimson. He grabbed his teacup and drank furiously to hide his embarrassment.
I did that for family harmony! For the bigger picture!
He screamed internally.
The officials who had already eaten this gossip gave him an approving mental thumbs-up.
Truly, the Prime Minister’s stomach could hold a ship.
Qin Huan and her husband, hearing this for the first time, looked at Lin Zhengyan with admiration and pity.
Compared to him, their own scandal suddenly seemed… not that explosive.
Feng Zhaoxuan’s analysis continued sharply:
【Maybe Lin Zhengyan treats his wife even better because of male pride.】
【Trying to outperform my father in every way, proving he’s the ultimate winner.】
【Old men’s competitiveness, tsk tsk.】
Lin Zhengyan’s teacup almost fell.
Don’t slander me! And what do you mean “old man”? Men are forever young!
He silently roared inside, but on the surface could only maintain his dignified expression.
Chu Heng lowered his head, pretending to adjust his robes, barely suppressing his laughter.
The system pressed on:
【There are quite a few other officials too. Once they found out they were betrayed, they just endured it quietly.】
【For example, the son-in-law-born deputy minister Li Shilang—he’s already used to his wife’s affairs outside.】
In the corner, Li Shilang’s expression stiffened, then he gave a bitter smile.
Being a son-in-law… wasn’t it normal for his wife to be strong and domineering?
Other officials who had been “wronged” by their wives muttered inwardly: no choice… their in-laws’ families were too powerful… they couldn’t afford to offend them.
Feng Zhaoxuan’s thoughts shifted back to Cheng Ying:
【But pretending not to know is only surface-level.】
【Will he settle accounts later?】
【Like finding an excuse to divorce his “old wife,” or secretly take revenge and kill Qin Huan and Zhao Wu?】
Qin Huan and Zhao Wu both turned deathly pale.
Zhao Wu’s hand holding the roasted lamb leg trembled, and Qin Huan clutched his arm tightly.
The system immediately denied it:
【Host, you’re overthinking.】
【A rough general like Cheng Ying has a big heart.】
【And he truly loves his current wife.】
Feng Zhaoxuan froze: 【True love? How true?】
The system began broadcasting General Cheng’s “spoiled wife routine”:
【Every morning he personally helps her dress and put on shoes, and even lifts her up using his biceps.】
【And… he even washes her undergarments himself.】
The wooden hut fell into dead silence.
Everyone’s worldview shattered again.
This was… way too indecent!
Feng Zhaoxuan was stunned:
【Wait—he even washes underwear?! What kind of perfect husband is this?!】
Cheng Ying’s face turned completely red, from neck to hairline, like a cooked shrimp.
He wanted to rush out, but his legs felt like lead.
Feng Zhaoxuan continued:
【So General Cheng actually prefers someone more mature than himself.】
【Someone who can match his experience and temperament—that itself is maturity.】
【Much better than those old men trying to prove their charm by chasing young girls.】
Several officials who had married younger wives suddenly felt inferior.
Those who had wives of similar age or older, however, inexplicably straightened their backs.
Cheng Ying, hearing this “praise,” felt his shame slowly transform into strange pride.
He straightened his chest.
Yes… Qing’er is the best.
He would never reveal the truth. And if anyone did…
He’d make sure they regretted it.
Then he glanced at Qin Huan and sighed inwardly.
Fine… since she is Qing’er’s daughter, I’ll treat her like my own.
But that Zhao Wu kid?
Not worthy.
He shot Zhao Wu a cold glance.
Zhao Wu froze, dropping his roasted meat into the fire.
His future suddenly looked bleak.
After finishing her meal, Feng Zhaoxuan walked to the window with her brother.
Rain poured endlessly outside.
She asked the system: 【How long will this rain last?】
【We can’t have all these grown men stuck here overnight—the smell is unbearable.】
The system replied:
【Until 8 AM tomorrow morning.】
Feng Zhaoxuan immediately rejected it:
【No way. I can’t stand this. We need a solution.】
A sudden idea flashed through her mind.
【System, can I knock them all out and drag them into my space farm to help me farm land?】
【Then release them in the morning and make them think it was all a dream?】
The system surprisingly replied:
【Technically possible.】
【But you need to upgrade the space first to accommodate more people.】
【You can also unlock “collective dreaming” and “memory modification.”】
Feng Zhaoxuan became interested instantly:
【Upgrade? Go on. What else does the upgrade give?】
The system cleared its throat:
【A lot.】
【First, the space expands tenfold—from 100 acres to 1,000 acres.】
【Second, you can adjust time flow—up to 1 day outside equals 10 days inside.】
【Third, you can grow advanced crops like ganoderma, ginseng, and snow lotus.】
【Finally, you unlock “automated farming”—once programmed, crops grow, harvest, and store themselves automatically.】
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