"What did you say? She's pregnant?" Fu Zhen stared at Bi Yu in astonishment.
She had returned by carriage right after speaking to Mrs. Fang. She could more or less guess what would happen next. Given Mrs. Fang's personality, there was no way she would allow Chen Huanyun to enter the Fang family.
But she never expected that Chen Huanyun was actually pregnant.
This was far more dramatic than what had happened in her previous life.
Bi Yu nodded gravely. "That's not all. I don't know where she got the nerve, but now, while pregnant, she's actually begging our mistress to go to the Fang family to propose marriage on her behalf!"
"Mrs. Fang has always looked down on our mistress. Whenever they meet at banquets, she always finds fault with her. Miss Huanyun's move is clearly an attempt to force our mistress to swallow her pride and plead with the other side," Cui Huan frowned.
Fu Zhen's face darkened. "She really has the nerve to ask Auntie for help. Bi Yu, help me change my clothes. Let's go to the front yard and take a look."
She still felt deeply remorseful about the disgraceful things she had done in her previous life, which had brought shame to Mrs. Bai. But who did Chen Huanyun think she was, daring to ask Auntie to clean up her mess!
In the front yard.
Chen Huanyun was kneeling on the ground, wiping away her tears. Mrs. Bai was sitting on the high seat, looking at her coldly with a hint of anger in her eyes. "Do you even know what the word 'shame' means? How could you do such a thing!"
"I used to think that although your parents were unreliable, at least you, their daughter, were a decent girl. But now, it seems..." Mrs. Bai snorted disdainfully, mercilessly stripping away Chen Huanyun's dignity.
Since giving birth, her temper had improved day by day, and it had been a long time since she had lost her temper. But today, Chen Huanyun had really pushed her buttons!
It wasn't that she was too concerned about her reputation to visit the Fang family. What really angered her was Chen Huanyun's shamelessness!
She was living in the Marquis's Mansion, and her actions were also associated with the honor of the mansion. But the Marquis's Mansion wasn't just about her alone! Chen Tingfeng was a man, so his actions wouldn't have much of an impact. But if Chen Huanyun's disgraceful deeds were exposed, how could Fu Zhen continue to live in society?
Had she ever thought about these things? Or did she simply not care?
Mrs. Bai watched her cry coldly, without a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "I won't interfere in this matter. I've already sent someone to call your parents. You'd better think carefully about how to explain this to them!"
"Auntie!" Chen Huanyun suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Mrs. Bai's leg. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Auntie, I was just deceived by him for a moment. That's why I did such a stupid thing in a moment of confusion. I beg you, Auntie, please help me. Just for the sake of our family ties, please help me this once. I'll be your servant for the rest of my life to repay you!"
"I don't need you to be my servant," Mrs. Bai remained unmoved. "You've grown up in the capital, so you must be well-informed. Don't you know that I have a feud with Mrs. Fang?"
Chen Huanyun sniffled and remained silent. Of course, she knew. But so what? It was just a matter of pleading with the other side. It was such a simple thing. Why didn't she want to help her?
Mrs. Bai saw through her hypocrisy and selfishness and sneered. "It seems you do know. You're really your father's daughter, just as selfish as he is."
Seeing Mrs. Bai sitting there, aloof and cold, and the maids around her looking at her with disdainful eyes, Chen Huanyun felt extremely uncomfortable. Hearing Mrs. Bai's words, a sudden surge of resentment welled up in her heart.
She just wanted to secure a good marriage for herself. So what if her methods were a bit extreme? If she married into the Fang family, she was confident that she could reconcile the Fang family and the Marquis's Mansion. By then, the two families would be on good terms. Why should they care about other people's opinions?
Why, why didn't they want to help her!
"If, if Auntie is unwilling to help me today, then I might as well just die!" She stared at Mrs. Bai with red eyes, a hint of cruelty in her eyes. She turned to look at the pillar beside her and was about to rush towards it!
"Miss!" The maids around her quickly rushed to stop her, and the scene instantly became chaotic.
This was the scene that Fu Zhen saw when she arrived.
Her eyes sharpened, and she quickly ran forward. She grabbed Chen Huanyun and slapped her hard!
Chen Huanyun was stunned by the sudden slap. The cruelty in her eyes hadn't even had time to fade away, and she just stood there, dazed.
Nanny Li heaved a sigh of relief when she saw her stop. She looked at Fu Zhen, whose face was cold and stern, and waved her hand to signal the little maids to retreat.
Mrs. Bai had been sitting firmly on the chair all along. Even when Chen Huanyun tried to commit suicide, her expression remained unchanged. Now, seeing Fu Zhen come, she got up from the chair, softened her expression, and walked towards her. "Why did you come?"
As she spoke, she gently touched Fu Zhen's slightly red palm. "Did it hurt?"
Fu Zhen shook her head. Her face wasn't looking good. She first helped Mrs. Bai sit back down, and then she turned her gaze to Chen Huanyun, who was sitting on the ground, covering her face with a strange expression.
"Sister, why are you trying to kill yourself for no reason? Do you think that if you spill your blood in the Marquis's Mansion today, you can force Auntie to step in and solve your problems?"
Chen Huanyun suddenly looked up at her with hatred in her eyes. "Of course, you can say such things! It's not you who's going to die now!"
"Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me, or with the Marquis's Mansion!" Fu Zhen rarely shed her usual gentle disguise and showed her strong side. "Don't forget, you're the daughter of the Chen family. You have your father Chen Yi's blood in your veins! You're just temporarily living in the Marquis's Mansion. Do you really think you're a young miss of the Marquis's Mansion?"
These words were extremely blunt, and Chen Huanyun's face flushed red with anger. She even forgot to cry.
Mrs. Bai smiled faintly, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip. She didn't say anything to stop them. She just watched as Fu Zhen dealt with Chen Huanyun.
Then she heard Fu Zhen say, "You're in this situation because of your own disgraceful deeds. It's not something Auntie owes you! I really want to know where you got the nerve to threaten to kill yourself, forcing a kind auntie to clean up your mess!"
Chen Huanyun covered her face, and her chest heaved violently twice. "So you're just going to watch me die? You're so heartless!"
"I've already said that whether you die or not has nothing to do with me. If your death can preserve the reputation of the Marquis's Mansion, then you'll have died a worthy death," Fu Zhen sneered. Her words were as poisonous as venom.
"You little bitch, what did you say? I'll tear your mouth apart!" Just as the atmosphere was tense, a scolding voice suddenly came from the door. Fu Zhen looked up and saw Mrs. Chen rushing in from the door. She was scolding as she quickly ran to Chen Huanyun's side and hugged her lovingly.
When Chen Huanyun saw her, she seemed to have found her backbone. Real tears finally streamed down her face. She choked with sobs and called out, "Mother..."
"My poor Yun'er, you've suffered so much," Mrs. Chen lovingly stroked her face, exclaiming that she had lost weight.
Fu Zhen walked to Mrs. Bai's side and watched this farce coldly.
"I wonder what our Huanyun has done to make you, Sister-in-law, show her no mercy at all and allow an orphan girl to humiliate her in public!" Mrs. Chen looked up angrily.
Mrs. Bai held Fu Zhen's hand and sneered. "Humiliate? You might as well ask your daughter what disgraceful things she has done that have brought shame to the Marquis's Mansion and your family!"
Chen Huanyun's face instantly froze.