Wu Baozhang has never been one to sit and wait for death.
After much thought, she decided to take two steps.
The first step was to write a letter to Zheng, the second wife's grandmother who had always been on good terms with her and acted as a matchmaker for her, to tell her what had happened and ask her to help make a decision. Her father-in-law and father did not understand her, thinking that she had been married for four or five years and had not given birth to a child, so she should have been "virtuous" and arranged a concubine for her husband. However, the Cheng family had an ancestral precept that only those who were over 40 and childless could take concubines. Even though the eldest house and Jiuru Lane had split up, the ancestral precept was still the same. Although she was wrong, it was not unreasonable. As for the grandmother, she was also a daughter-in-law of the Cheng family. As long as she insisted that she had not sought medical treatment, it was just God's will. The grandmother would definitely sympathize with her and stand by her side. She only needed a buffer time, even if she pinched her nose, she would find a way to have sex with Cheng Nuo and give birth to a child. By then, Cheng Nuo would not be able to turn over her palm and make that lowly servant regret not entering the Cheng family today.
Then she had to win over Cheng Nuo. In the end, it was because she underestimated the enemy before and didn't expect to have a son and then have a falling out with Cheng Nuo. Now she has reported Cheng Nuo's affair to the eldest house. With the eldest house's temper, it is impossible for Cheng Nuo to take a concubine. That woman can't enter the Cheng family, so she can only be a concubine, just like her father-in-law's concubine. Even if she gave birth to four boys and three girls, she is still a concubine and can't enter the house. Even if the eldest house lets that woman in, one is a wife and the other is a concubine, the woman will fall into her hands, and she can do whatever she wants... It coincides with her previous plan.
However, she had previously proposed to let the woman in, but Cheng Nuo did not agree. Was he afraid that she would be disadvantageous to the woman if she had a name? I wonder if this was Cheng Nuo's idea or the woman's
Wu Baozhang thought of this and pinched his handkerchief.
I think this must have been Kang Liuniang's idea.
Based on her understanding of Cheng Nuo, he is not that smart.
Only that business woman could calculate so clearly.
It seems that woman is not an easy person to deal with.
Wu Baozhang became motivated just thinking about it.
She just didn't believe that she couldn't control the merchant girl.
Wu Baozhang called his personal maid to come in and said, "Get some water and help me wash up."
She was going to the teahouse to find Cheng Nuo.
The maid responded and left.
She deliberately changed into a pomegranate red jacket with gold all over it, put on a light layer of powder and lip balm, looked in the mirror and felt that she looked radiant, then got into the sedan chair.
Who knew that Cheng Nuo was no longer in the tea shop.
She frowned and asked someone to look for it from Kang Liuniang.
The old woman came back covered in water, looking embarrassed, and whispered: "Sister Kang Liu said that the master is not with her... She also said that the eldest lady has nothing to do with the master and has nothing to do with her... She splashed water all over me..."
Wu Baozhang was so angry that his face turned red.
It wasn't just because of Kang Liuniang's aggressiveness, but also because the old woman was so outspoken that she said such humiliating words to her in front of so many people: "The eldest lady has none of my business and the master has nothing to do with her."
She waved her hand and asked the old woman to leave.
The old woman said aggrievedly, "Grandma, Kang Liuniang is so shameless, why are you still talking to her about propriety, righteousness, and integrity? Even if you talk to her, she probably doesn't even know how to read, and I'm afraid she won't understand. I think it's better to call a few of the female sedan bearers, rush to Kang Liuniang's house and beat her up, so that she will lose face, and the Cui family will lose face. Do you think the Kang family will keep her? By then, she will have no one to rely on, and she will have to enter the Cheng family obediently, and you can do whatever you want to her..."
Wu Baozhang's heart skipped a beat.
What this old woman said coincides with what I said.
Doesn't it mean that everyone knows what I'm thinking
Her face suddenly turned ugly.
The old woman looked at it and then stood up and left.
Wu Baozhang's heart moved.
When they came to the capital, they originally intended to attend Cheng Chi's wedding and then go back after having some fun. They never thought of staying in the capital to do business. Except for two or three personal maids and servants, they did not bring many people with them. Later, Cheng Wen decided to stay in the capital. Except for calling two close friends to help, he did not bring many people with him. The servants in the house now are all newly hired or newly bought, and this old woman is one of them.
Wu Baoyi has never looked down upon these people and doesn't know them very well.
Seeing the old woman acting like this today, she couldn't help but have some thoughts, so she called the old woman back, asked the maid to make her a cup of tea, and moved a small stool for the old woman to sit on.
The old woman was extremely terrified.
Wu Baozhang did not say much to the old woman, and said, "I see that you are also a person with ideas. I don't know how you think I should deal with this matter."
The old woman was timid and didn't dare to speak.
Wu Baozhang rewarded the old woman with two silver ingots.
The old woman's eyes lit up, and she didn't care about anything else. She said, "I used to be a wet nurse of a wealthy family, but later I was implicated and was driven out. I have to do odd jobs to support myself. If the eldest lady trusts me, I think your family is an official and they are civilians. It's better to put something in the home of Mrs. Kang, and then report to the government and let the government look for her. Whether they can find her or not, the reputation of Mrs. Kang will be ruined... If she goes to beg you, you have already given the elders a clear way, so take this opportunity to carry Mrs. Kang back home. If she doesn't go to beg you, take the opportunity to say hello to the government and throw her in jail. If you want to save her, the elders will definitely not leave your face to save Mrs. Kang. Then you will have to come to you for help, and you will have to say what you should do."
That’s a good idea!
Wu Baozhang pondered secretly, and he also knew that this old woman was vicious and cruel. If she stayed, it would be a source of trouble. He had to think of a way to get rid of her.
She gave the old woman two more coins to calm her down, and said, "I haven't made up my mind about this matter yet. Madam, you have worked hard. Let me think about it for a while."
The old woman laughed and said, "This woman is just like the man. She threw the matchmaker over the wall as soon as she entered the bridal chamber."
Wu Baozhang looked at her vulgar appearance without saying anything.
The old woman may have seen a lot, so she didn't say anything and was led out by the maid.
Wu Baozhang asked the kitchen to prepare a table and sat at home waiting for Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Nuo came back at dusk, looking a little tired.
Seeing Wu Baozhang sitting in the main room waiting for him, he was stunned.
Wu Baozhang walked over with a smile and asked the maid to fetch water for Cheng Nuo, and personally helped Cheng Nuo change his clothes.
Cheng Nuo was shocked and covered his collar with his hands, saying, "Just tell me what's going on. I can do it myself!"
It's really something that is not presentable!
Wu Baozhang looked at this and snorted in his heart, saying, "Didn't I help you change clothes before? Why do you feel uncomfortable now?"
Even when they were newly married, she only helped to change clothes a few times as a way of getting rid of herself... Everyone could see that she was being perfunctory.
After Cheng Nuo complained quietly in his heart, he smiled and said, "I'm used to doing everything myself, so why don't I do it?"
Insisted on changing clothes by herself.
Wu Baozhang became more and more annoyed.
What is he afraid of
They are husband and wife.
Even if they were committing adultery in broad daylight, who would dare to say a word as long as Cheng Wen didn't care
Cheng Nuo obviously didn't think so. He ran into the washroom and combing room and fastened the bolt with a "click". At night, he even slept in the shop on the pretext of having something to do.
Wu Dingzhang asked someone to keep an eye on Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Nuo sometimes slept in the shop and sometimes disappeared.
She had no choice but to run to the long room and cry again.
Yuan comforted her: "I've asked your uncle to talk to him. He said he has something to do these two days, so he will invite your father-in-law to come over on the holiday."
Wu Baozhang returned disappointed.
It was discovered that most of Cheng Nuo's clothes and utensils were missing.
She was so angry that she immediately called the housekeeper to ask.
The manager said in embarrassment, "Master said that he had made it clear with the caravan from the west a few days ago and joined the caravan. It will take three or two months for them to come back."
By the time he comes back, the day lily will be cold.
It was clear that Yuan didn't want to care.
Wu Baozhang gnashed his teeth, went back to the room and called the maid over to talk. He took out two red gold phoenix hairpins, a pair of solid red gold bracelets with a hint of oil, and a Hetian jade pendant with the pattern of plum blossoms from his dowry and handed them to the maid: "I need you to help me with this matter. After the matter is done, there will be a generous reward."
The old woman happily agreed, and somehow or other she stuffed all the jewelry into Kang Liuniang's dowry. She then went to report to the authorities and ordered people to take the jewelry back. She then took the government officials to compare the dowry list of Wu Baozhang and arrested Mrs. Kang.
This has really stirred up a hornet's nest.
Cheng Nuo immediately stepped forward to close the case, and when he came back he beat Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang's two personal maids loyally protected their master and hugged Cheng Nuo around the waist. Wu Baoling was able to escape. She decided to go all out and went to Xinglin Hutong with a bruise on her face.
Cheng Wen had just returned from a trip to Tongzhou, having done a not-so-small deal. He was feeling very happy when Cheng Jing called him over.
The two cousins were drinking and chatting when the steward of the tea shop came in breathlessly, led by the Cheng family's servant, saying, "Master, Fifth Master, something bad has happened. Master and Madam had a fight, and the Sixth Lady of the Kang family was thrown into jail, but was rescued by our Master."
Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen were both stunned. They let the manager take a breath and speak slowly. Only then did they know what had happened.
But before they could react, a little maid walked in quickly and said, "Mrs. Nuo is here. Madam, please go back to the inner courtyard to talk to the master."
Now Cheng Wen was a little fed up.
You can let a couple fight or be jealous of each other, but what is going on when the matter spreads to the house of my uncle, the eldest son of the family and a minister in the cabinet
He put down his wine cup and stood up, saying, "It's not someone else, I'll go take a look too."
Cheng Jing originally called Cheng Wen here just to warn Cheng Wen not to mess around. As for how to deal with this matter, he was not prepared to intervene. Since Cheng Wen wanted to go and take a look, he would handle this matter. After all, he was just a cousin, and Cheng Nuo's parents were both in the family, so it was not his turn to make decisions. It was a good opportunity to make things clear with Cheng Wen, so as to avoid making such a fuss over a trivial matter. In Beijing, everyone is listening to everything and watching everything. If other Jiangnan families knew about it, they would be laughed at.
The two of them went to the inner house together.
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An extra chapter for Kinka.
PS: Sorry, sisters, I was going to finish writing this chapter, but it ended up being a little off...
The evening update is around ten o'clock.
※(To be continued)