Madam Bai put on an air of helplessness. "You know our son well enough. He's so headstrong that even his father can't control him sometimes. Just let him be."
Zheng Yi opened her mouth, about to say something, but Madam Bai suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you've been sitting for a while. There are always many things to attend to during the New Year. I won't keep you any longer. Take your time on the way."
She had always been like this. Whenever she was displeased with someone, she would just tell them to leave. There were people who had scolded her for being arrogant, but the next day they would find Chen Xuan at their door.
Everyone knew that Chen Xuan was a hen - pecked husband. He was fearless outside, but he was afraid of his wife at home.
Zheng Yi was taken aback. She was secretly annoyed at Madam Bai's rudeness, but she didn't dare to show the slightest bit of it on her face. After a moment of stiffness, she had no choice but to stand up and bid farewell.
Madam Bai saw her off with a smile. As soon as Zheng Yi left, her smile faded. She frowned and complained, "The relatives of the Chen family are all so over - ambitious and incompetent. It's really annoying."
The collateral branches of the Chen family were closer when the old marquis was still alive. The old marquis valued family ties. Even though these relatives were troublesome, he couldn't bear to abandon them. But Chen Xuan was a rebel. When he was young, he had a worse temper than Chen Tingfeng. If an elder said something unpleasant to him, he would talk back immediately. He had been beaten and scolded by the old marquis countless times for this, but he never changed.
After the old marquis passed away and Chen Xuan inherited the title, he simply cut off all relations with those people, only allowing them to visit during the New Year.
He did this partly because he didn't like these relatives, but more because of the imperial power.
The marquis's mansion was already prosperous under the old marquis, and it was even more favored by the emperor when it came into Chen Xuan's hands. Although he was a military general, it didn't mean he was stupid. He just didn't want to engage in intrigue. So he simply isolated the marquis's mansion from the rest of the Chen family.
This was also a reassurance he gave to the emperor.
The marquis's mansion would only get better and better. Especially since his son, Chen Tingfeng, had shown extraordinary intelligence at a young age, which made him even more certain of this.
So, cutting off relations with these relatives was not a bad thing, but a good one.
He told all these things to Madam Bai. Since they were husband and wife, he believed that Madam Bai would understand.
Madam Bai naturally wouldn't disappoint him. She knew Chen Xuan better than anyone else and was also aware of his concerns. Since she had married him, they were on the same side, and she would never do anything to betray him.
Nanny Li comforted her, "It's only during the New Year that you have to interact with them more. Just bear with it, Madam."
Madam Bai was just complaining casually. With her current status, no one would dare to make her angry when she went out. "Where's Chen Tingfeng? Where has he taken Zhenzhen this time?"
Nanny Li smiled softly. "They're just in the first flush of love, all lovey - dovey. A little maid just came to say that they went to a corner. I guess they went there to avoid the crowds."
Madam Bai rubbed her temples and said in disgust, "He was so reluctant when we were trying to pick a wife for him before. Now he's like a starving man, clinging to Zhenzhen all day long. It's really an eyesore."
"Madam should be happy," Nanny Li said with a smile. "Didn't you used to worry that Miss would be bullied if she married into another family? Now you don't have to worry about that. It's a marriage between relatives. There's no better mother - in - law in the world than you."
Hearing this, Madam Bai's expression softened. "I really didn't expect them to end up together. I used to think they couldn't stand each other."
Now that she thought about it, maybe the reason why Chen Tingfeng and Zhenzhen were always at odds before was that they were trying to attract each other's attention?
Young boys were always so impulsive. They liked to use such methods to get the attention of their sweethearts. It was really laughable.
It was only after everyone had left that Fu Zhen and Chen Tingfeng slowly emerged from the corner.
Madam Bai gave them a sidelong glance but didn't say much. She just pulled Fu Zhen to sit down and said to her, "I know about the matter of moving the graves. I've discussed it with your uncle. We'll do it after the first lunar month. If there's anything you need to do, just tell Shaochuan."
Fu Zhen lowered her eyes and agreed. Then, hesitantly, she said, "I want to bring my mother's coffin back too."
When her mother was buried, Fu Mingde didn't even want to buy a coffin for her. Fu Zhen had to be tough and took the matter directly to the village head. She threatened Fu Mingde with his reputation as a scholar. If he didn't buy a coffin and hold a funeral, she would spread his "good" reputation throughout the countryside!
The village head was a man who cared about his reputation. He didn't want to lose face, so he forced Fu Mingde to buy a coffin.
Back then, they said Fu Mingde was a scholar because his parents had struggled to support his studies when they were alive, and he had passed the imperial examination to become a juren. But although he had some talent in studies, his character was poor. Before, because of his academic achievements, people didn't dare to say much about him. But later, because he had fallen into decadence and his reputation was so bad, people no longer had any scruples. Wherever he went, people would roll their eyes at him.
Fu Zhen knew what kind of person her father was. She guessed that his bad qualities had already shown signs when he was studying.
Her mother never belonged to that rural area. She wanted to bring her back.
Madam Bai was stunned for a moment and then sighed. "Silly girl, do you think I would only allow you to bring back the memorial tablet?"
Since the matter of moving the graves was proposed, she had never thought of not bringing back Chen Peizhu's body.
Chen Peizhu was Chen Xuan's younger sister, her younger sister - in - law, and also her friend when they were young. How could she bear to let her lie alone in that desolate place? She might not even be able to find her way home in her dreams at midnight.
"However..." Madam Bai pursed her lips. "If we move the grave back this time, your background will surely be exposed."
Before, she was afraid that Zhenzhen would mind. After all, Chen Peizhu's elopement was not a good reputation. If they suddenly revealed her background, it would surely stain Fu Zhen's reputation. So she had never mentioned it. She and Chen Xuan had also discussed giving her a new background to protect her reputation.
But now that Fu Zhen had brought it up herself, it seemed that she didn't mind this matter.
Fu Zhen forced a smile. "I only recognize her as my mother in this lifetime."
If it were before, she might have had some concerns. After all, she could only rely on a good reputation to marry a good husband. But not now.
She looked up at Chen Tingfeng and met his eyes.
Now, she had already made the best choice.
Madam Bai looked at her for a while. Her expression gradually relaxed, and she gently stroked Fu Zhen's face with a look of pity. "Rumors and gossips are inevitable, but your mother must be brought back to the capital. Just ignore those people."
Fu Zhen smiled and held her hand. "Don't worry, aunt."
Caring about rumors and gossips was just asking for trouble. What kind of rumors and gossips hadn't she experienced in her past life? This kind of harmless bad reputation didn't even catch her eye as much as a small flower or grass by the roadside.