I fought back after reselling my engagement

When Old Lady Zhen heard this, she forgot that this was given to Zhen Su and that the land in the county belonged to their family. She thought of it as her own family. "Is our family going to receive the decree?"

Zhen Zhu's eyes were excited.

Tong couldn't help but pour cold water on her, saying, "If the second young lady was in the Zhen family, then our family would have received the imperial decree. But now the whole capital is saying that the first wife forced the second young lady away, and that the second young lady wanted to go to Yueyang Prefecture to seek refuge with Old Master Su. My cousin said that according to the news from the Ministry of Rites, the palace sent eunuchs to Yueyang Prefecture to deliver the imperial decree."

The old lady thought that the whole county belonged to the Zhen family. As long as Zhen Su was alive, it would belong to her until the day she died. "Why go to Yueyang Prefecture? The second young lady is from the Zhen family. Her last name is Zhen."

No, go to Yueyang Prefecture to convey the imperial edict. This is a slap in the face of the Zhen family.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment, the old lady was so anxious that her face was sometimes angry and sometimes irritated. Today, since Yu was not here, she would glance at Zhen Zhu angrily from time to time. Zhen Zhu felt uncomfortable all over, but she was really curious, why the second daughter Zhen Su was given the title of county lord and the title of Mu food fief. There were many county lords and county lords among the royal relatives, but only a few had the title of Mu food fief.

Princess Changle was awarded the title when she was three years old, because she was the daughter of the emperor's eldest brother, Prince Gong, and the only legitimate princess. Prince Gong submitted a petition for a title for his beloved daughter, and it came down within a few days. The title was given to her in the rich and superior county of the Central Plains, which was comparable to that of a favored princess.

Prince Gong broke his leg while riding a horse when he was young and was a cripple, but he was very kind to the emperor and had a deep brotherly love. He had no interest in the throne, but pushed his brother to the throne. After his brother ascended the throne, he respected him even more and assisted him with all his strength.

If one were to ask who the emperor valued most among his brothers and sisters, Prince Gong would be the only one, the one the emperor regarded as a relative. Prince Gong's eldest son was given the title of Crown Prince, his second son was given the title of Prince of a County, and even the illegitimate sons of his two concubines were given the title of Marquis.

Tong said, "Mother, the things that the first wife did have spread all over the place. Old Master Su and the old marquis originally arranged for the second young lady to marry Prince Rong Wei, but how come it became the third young lady Su? It's because the first wife was mean to the second young lady and made her a softie. It's said that when the decree of Mu Shiyi was sent to the Zhen family, it was definitely snatched away by the first wife. The ninth princess and Princess Changle regarded the second young lady as their close friends, so how could they be happy..."

Therefore, the decree was sent to Yueyang Prefecture because the Ninth Princess spoke to the Emperor, saying that the Yu family was not virtuous, and was mean to Zhen Er, the son of the original wife, and tried to snatch everything.

Zhen Zhu came to her senses and said immediately, "How can this be my mother's fault? It was clearly my second sister who spread rumors and slandered my mother's reputation."

When the old lady heard this, she clapped her hands and shouted, "Shut up!"

She had no right to interrupt when the elders were talking.

Tong said with a painful look on her face: "Mother, there has been a lot of rumors in the capital recently. Everyone says that the second girl ran away from home because she couldn't stand the harshness and persecution of the first wife.

In order to choose a daughter-in-law, Lady Le Dahou had been watching the mansion for more than two years. She knew exactly how the first wife treated the second daughter, such as not making new clothes for her, letting her own daughter snatch jewelry, and giving the leftovers of the mother and daughter to the second daughter...

Mother, you can’t let the eldest wife act recklessly anymore, otherwise the reputation of the Zhen family will be ruined.”

Zhen Su didn't know that she ran away from home, and no one said she was bold, but she actually gained sympathy and pity in the noble ladies' calligraphy and painting club. Because of the protection of the Ninth Princess and Princess Changle, the rumors were all one-sided, all scolding the youngest daughter of the mean Yu family, forcing this soft-hearted girl like a little white rabbit to run away from home and travel thousands of miles to seek refuge with her grandfather.

People outside said that she was forced into a desperate situation and had no other options, and that only a soft-hearted person would do such a thing. For a soft-hearted person like that to do such a thing, it was not because the stepmother was vicious or unvirtuous.

How could Zhen Zhu give in? "That's just nonsense. It's not true at all."

Zhen Rong asked, "Third sister, is it true that the first wife hasn't bought new clothes for the second sister in the past few years?"

Zhen Zhu was speechless, this was indeed true.

"You've never taken jewelry from your second sister?" Zhen Rong asked again.

Zhen Zhu remained speechless.

"You guys finished your meal before asking second sister to go to Tingyu Pavilion to get food?" Zhen Rong asked.

You guys eat it, they are the ones who are eating it, aren’t they leftovers?

Zhen Zhu lowered her head.

When Tong heard this, she immediately wiped her tears and said, "Mother, your eldest grandson is engaged, but the other day, the wife of the Niu family came to the house and asked her daughter-in-law, 'Does your Zhen family favor concubines over wives?' Mrs. Niu wants to break off the engagement. Mother, you are still strong, you have to take care of the affairs of the first house. Only families without rules would support concubines as wives. If the reputation of the Zhen family is ruined, none of the young men and women in the family can escape."

The old lady shouted again and again: "That bitch, she has ruined the reputation of my Zhen family."

Tong said, "The first house has mother around, so we have to find a way to restore our reputation. The first and second masters are both officials, so what will happen if things continue like this?"

The old lady was distressed at first, how come the county had nothing to do with the Zhen family? Now she heard that the reputation was ruined, and her heart was stabbed.

That evening, Zhen Yuan came back from the yamen with a long and sour face. He also heard from his staff that Zhen Su was conferred the title of county lord and received a generous reward of a county of Mu. Those who were on good terms with him advised him to try to restore his reputation, saying that Yu, the good concubine who was promoted to the main wife, was really not fit to be a concubine. Those who were on even better terms with him introduced him to several girls from wealthy families, including divorced women and unmarried noblewomen of advanced age, and told him to pick one of them to marry as his second wife. He felt really sad for his good friend whose reputation had been ruined.

As soon as Zhen Yuan returned home, he heard the butler come to report: "Master, the old lady is ill and keeps complaining of chest pain."

He rushed to Rongyangtang.

The old lady was lying on the couch, humming, with a maid and Zhen Rong serving her.

Zhen Rong said, "Grandma, uncle is here."

When the old lady heard that her eldest son had arrived, she groaned even louder, one after another, which made Zhen Yuan feel distressed, "Mother..."

The old lady said, "Look at the woman you married. I, an old woman, only know about the chaos outside. It is a taboo for officials to have unrest in the inner house. What kind of personality does Su'er have? Even those who are known for their soft and gentle personality were forced to flee to Yueyang by her.

My eldest brother was engaged to a girl from the Niu family last year. Yesterday, Mrs. Niu came to cancel the engagement, saying that the Zhen family's practice of 'taking concubines as wives' was not a right family tradition. Your second brother's wife came to complain about this.

How did Yu Shi manage the family? She has no shame, and the Zhen family doesn't want her anymore? Let the daughter of the first wife pick up her leftovers, what else can't she do? A concubine is a concubine. When you wanted to make her your wife, I didn't agree. You made her your wife without discussing it with the Su family. If a concubine can't do well, how can she be a wife? "

Zhen Yuan bowed and said, "Son, I always listen to you."

The old lady was lying on the couch. If she listened to her, it would be worth her illness. "Do you really listen to me?"

"When mother is at home, I listen to her."

"Okay, send Yu and Zhenzhen to the farm in the countryside, and tell the outsiders that Yu is a concubine, not a wife. I will consider it later and choose a suitable successor for you."