Chapter 19: Pursuit

  Wu Changge heard Zheng Suhui's words and was inexplicably moved, tightly hugging her from behind and saying in a low voice: "Then you're not angry with me anymore?"

  Zheng Suxin lost her smile and turned around to gently stroke Wu Changge's handsome face, murmuring: "...... How could that be? Don't you trust me?"

  Wu Changge excitedly picked her up and walked towards the bedside.

  ……

  The next morning, Zheng Suhui woke up early and pushed Wu Changge to get up, saying: "You should go back quickly. Zhang's wife is going into labor, it's not good if you're not at home."

  Wu Changge wanted Zheng Suhuan to go back with her, "Let's go back together. That is also your child."

  Zheng Suxin's hands, which were dressing, paused for a moment almost imperceptibly. However, she quickly turned her head and smiled at Wu Changge, saying: "Of course, it's also my child, no matter if it's a boy or a girl, they all have to call me mother. I just..." Zheng Suxin silently lowered her head, fiddling with the sash, looking like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

  "What's wrong? What happened?" Wu Changge became serious, got up and put on the clothes by the bed, and carefully asked, "Su Xian, I know you're not that kind of person who is jealous. I really don't think you came to the villa because you couldn't bear Zhang Shi having a child."

  Zheng Suxin sighed, looked up at Wu Changge with a bitter smile, and said softly: "Only you understand me."

  Wu Changge's blood was boiling with excitement as he pulled Zheng Suhui into his arms and asked, "Is Zhang's family making trouble again?"

  Zheng Suxin bowed her head, her forehead pressed against Wu Changge's chest, and after a moment of silence, she said in a low voice: "It can't be blamed on her either. She is ten months pregnant and about to give birth, so it's only right that she should be careful."

  Wu Changge understood, it was still Zhangshi and Zheng Suhui who had a falling out, otherwise Zheng Suhui wouldn't have hidden. He didn't ask any further because he knew that Suhui was a very kind-hearted person who never spoke ill of others behind their backs. Even when others wronged her or slandered her, she never defended herself.

  The two sentences she often says are in Zheng Wantong's collection: The clear is self-clear, the turbid is self-turbid. Peach and plum do not speak, but paths are formed below them naturally.

  Wu Changge thus decided to go back and ask Zhangshi. Zhangshi, whether it was clever words or pouring dirty water on her eyes, could always get something out of her. Unlike Su Xiang, who would silently swallow the bitter water, really making people's hearts ache.

  He looked at Zheng Suhui with increasingly pitying eyes.

  "...I came to Zhuangzi, first to rest and secondly to avoid suspicion. Once Zhang's child is born safely, I will return." Zheng Suhui seemed not to notice Wu Changge's gaze, her voice calm and elegant, listening to Wu Changge's earlier agitation slowly calming down.

  Two people went out for breakfast together.

  Wu Chanjuan had been waiting outside for some time.

  Seeing her parents come out hand in hand, she smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, have you had breakfast?"

  Wu Changge smiled and patted her head, then sat down with Zheng Suhui.

  Zheng Suxin said, "Let's eat quickly. After we finish eating, I want to take Juan'er to Wangjia Village nearby to take a look at the Zhirong Girls' School. It's not easy for us to come here, and there is already a Zhirong Girls' School here. If we don't go take a look, I will feel uneasy."

  Wu Changge smiled and said: "You're not only giving out silver, but also lending a hand. These girls must have accumulated good fortune in their past lives to have such a great benefactor like you helping them."

  "What's wrong with that? The capable one works harder, and it's what I should do." Zheng Suhui smiled and gave Wu Changge a crystal jade dumpling, "Crab filling, see if it tastes good."

  Wu Chanjuan held a bowl of Job's tears and red bean porridge, frowning: "This stuff is too sticky, who wants to eat it?"

  "Your dad loves to eat." Zheng Su Xian gave Wu Yan Juan a sideways glance.

  Wu Chanjuan smiled and shook her head, lowering her head to drink porridge without mentioning it.

  Just after finishing breakfast, Zheng Suhui's maid came in from outside to report: "Master and mistress, the Wu Xing family has arrived."

  She was the old lady's personal maid from her youth, growing up with the old lady and following her to the Wu family after marriage. She married a small steward named Wu Xing in the Wu household and was known as Mrs. Wu Xing. After giving birth to children, she returned to serve under Old Lady Wu again, working for over 30 years. She was a straightforward and honest person who never took advantage of her relationship with the old lady to ask for things from the masters below, so everyone in the Wu household respected her greatly.

  It's said that Wu Xingjia's family has arrived, Zheng Suhui hurriedly went out to welcome them.

  Wu Xing's family had just entered the courtyard when they saw Zheng Su Huan personally come out to greet them. She hurriedly said, "Madam is really too polite to me, how can I be worthy of Madam's personal welcome?"

  "Wu Danni was being polite." Zheng Suhui hurriedly said, "You are someone by Madam's side, your status is much higher than ours. You come to our place, of course we must personally welcome you."

  "It's too kind of you, it's too kind of you." Although Wu Xingjia said he didn't dare to accept the compliment, his face was beaming with joy.

  Everyone loves to listen to nice words, but people who can say nice words so sincerely are rare.

  "What brings Aunt Wu here?" Wu Changge walked out with his hands behind his back, accompanied by Wu Yanyan.

  "Wu Dàniáng." Wu Yujuan also followed suit and paid her respects.

  Wu Xing's family hastily bowed and said: "Master, young lady, you're really embarrassing me."

  A few people exchanged pleasantries and then went inside to sit down.

  Zheng Suxin asked her if she had eaten breakfast and whether she wanted to eat breakfast before talking.

  Wu Xing waved his hand, "No need. I'll just pass on a few words for Old Lady and then I'm leaving."

  It turned out to be Mrs. Wu's elderly lady passing on a message.

  Zheng Suxin and Wu Changge stood up together, clasped their hands and said: "Please speak."

  Wu Chanjuan bit her lip and stood up, standing at attention with her hands hanging down.

  The Wu family has been hereditary dukes since the founding of the Great Xia Empire, and the rules in their household are even stricter.

  Servants who have served the elderly, like Wu Xing's family, are more dignified than young masters like Zheng Suxin, let alone younger ones like Wu Yujuan.

  However, Wu Chanjuan holds a special position in the Wu family, and Wu Xingjia is more respectful to her than to Zheng Suhui.

  Wu Cuijuan also stood up, Wu Xing's family smiled at her with a hint of apology, then turned to Zheng Suheng and said: "The old lady said that someone in the house is about to give birth, your medical skills are excellent, this is not a time to be stubborn, so go back and help Zhang Shi with the delivery." Then he didn't look at Zheng Suheng's suddenly changed face, turned his head to Wu Changge and said: "Zhang Niangniang is about to give birth, you're still running around outside, don't you calm down? Several midwives have taken a look, they say it's a boy. If he's born, he'll be your first son, the eldest grandson of our Wu family, not just anyone. Hurry back home, if Old Master finds out, you won't even get away with a broken leg!"

  Wu Xing's family naturally quoted Mrs. Wu's original words, so they were very rude.

  Zheng Suxin lowered her head, then raised it again and said with a smile: "Auntie Wu, would you please go back and tell my mother that I didn't refuse to help Zhang Yiniang give birth..."

  Zheng Suxin hadn't finished speaking, when Wu Zhujuan clenched her fists and loudly interrupted: "That woman always thought my mother wanted to harm her! If my mother goes back, and something happens to her, won't she blame it on my mother? If grandmother doesn't believe me, I'll go tell grandmother! —— I saw with my own eyes that woman pretending to be obedient, pouring all the medicine my mother had brewed for her into the ditch outside the door!"

  ……