CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 115: FAVORITISM

After an incense stick burned out.

County Magistrate Chen and Mrs. Yao bid farewell and returned to their courtyard.

Mrs. Yao, who had been forcing a smile all along, took out a handkerchief to dab her tears as soon as she entered the room: "Why did you agree to such a matter without even thinking, sir?"

"This girl Jinyu, she is so wild by nature. I’ve spent so much effort somewhat taming her wildness."

"Letting her accompany the Commandery Princess on a tour is like letting a wild monkey loose in the forest. How will I ever control her afterward?"

"And you, sir, knowing well that I used you as an excuse, you so readily agreed in front of the Commandery Princess. Aren’t you intentionally trying to make me embarrassed?"

His wife cried sorrowfully with tear-streaked cheeks, and County Magistrate Chen had no choice but to hug her and console her: "Don’t cry. You shouldn’t blame the Commandery Princess for this. Jinyu must have wanted to go out and sought the Commandery Princess’s intervention."

"As a subject, I certainly cannot lack discernment."

"You should ease your heart for a while, let Jinyu go out and have some fun for a few days before coming back."

Mrs. Yao, while wiping her tears, choked up: "This girl grew up with her grandparents and isn’t the least bit close to me, her own mother. I consider everything for her sake, but she just thinks I’m being nagging."

"If we don’t correct her temperament soon, in a few years, it will be time to discuss marriage. By then, what good gentleman would want to marry her?"

County Magistrate Chen didn’t like hearing this: "I think Jinyu is just fine."

Mrs. Yao sighed: "Sir, do you think I don’t care about our daughter? Of course she’s good at home. But marrying into her husband’s family won’t allow for such willfulness. I think back to my own carefulness and caution, yet my mother-in-law was always picky and harsh. With Jinyu’s temper, who knows how much she’ll suffer in the future?"

"I am her real mother. For her to have a better life in the future, I must discipline her well."

From Mrs. Yao’s perspective, her actions stem from a mother’s love.

Unfortunately, mother and daughter have completely different views, and neither can accept the other.

County Magistrate Chen found it troublesome too.

Throughout the year, the couple had countless disputes over the upbringing of their daughter. Deep down, he cherishes his daughter, but he is always busy with county government affairs and the iron and silver mines, leaving no time to stay within the inner chambers. Ultimately, the responsibility for raising the daughter falls on Mrs. Yao.

After comforting his wife for a while, County Magistrate Chen sent someone to call Chen Jinyu over.

Chen Jinyu entered the room with a light spring in her step, her eyes and brows dancing with a smile, like a fledgling swallow about to return to the woods.

Seeing Mrs. Yao’s red eyes, Chen Jinyu slowed her steps, and her smile retreated considerably, approaching to greet respectfully.

The etiquette was adequate, but the mother and daughter seemed distant and not intimate. In contrast, she seemed livelier when meeting her father: "Did father call me for any reason?"

County Magistrate Chen’s somewhat weathered face revealed a tender smile: "Jinyu, the Commandery Princess wants you to accompany her on patrol through various counties. Your mother and I have agreed. Pack your things soon, and you’ll depart with the Commandery Princess in a few days."

Chen Jinyu was overjoyed, her pretty face radiant, her voice as chirpy as a lark: "Yes."

Mrs. Yao couldn’t hold back and admonished with a stern face: "Don’t act willfully just because you have the Commandery Princess’s support. Remember to practice your needlework and cooking daily. Practice the dishes and snacks I taught you, and bring back an embroidered fan when you return."

Chen Jinyu’s mouth twitched slightly, and after biting her tongue, she replied: "I remember everything you said, Mother."

Seeing her expression, Mrs. Yao was annoyed and her voice turned harsh: "I’ve only agreed for you to accompany the Commandery Princess on patrol through various counties. Don’t think you can sneak away and not come back."

Sneak out first, whether she returns or not isn’t up to her.

Chen Jinyu muttered to herself, continuing to maintain her compliant appearance: "Understood."

County Magistrate Chen coughed once, stopping Mrs. Yao’s constant nagging with a glance, then smiled at his daughter and said: "You’ve been playmates with the Commandery Princess since childhood, so you may address her intimately as ’Sister Shaohua’ in private, but in public, you must respectfully call her ’Commandery Princess.’"

Chen Jinyu’s smile was bright and cheerful: "I know, Father!"

County Magistrate Chen continued with a laugh: "Also, whatever you see or hear around the Commandery Princess, you must not randomly disclose. Even if your grandfather asks, you cannot speak of what shouldn’t be said."

Chen Jinyu nodded, her curiosity piqued: "What should be said, and what shouldn’t?"

County Magistrate Chen glanced at his daughter: "If you don’t understand, just remember one thing: silence is golden."

In other words, saying nothing is the safest bet.

Chen Jinyu understood, and solemnly agreed.

Seeing his daughter’s cleverness, County Magistrate Chen felt quite gratified. In terms of talent, Chen Jinyu was actually three points stronger than her brother. Such an intelligent daughter confined within the inner chambers is truly a pity.

With the Commandery Princess’s high regard, this opportunity shouldn’t be missed. The Commandery Princess being a lady is surrounded mostly by men, which is somewhat inconvenient. Perhaps with her daughter working by the Commandery Princess’s side, her future might even surpass her brother’s...

These calculations were better left unsaid, lest his wife start weeping and nagging again.

Father and daughter exchanged a knowing look, understanding each other without detailed words.

Mrs. Yao still thought her daughter was only leaving for two months, completely unaware that Chen Jinyu had decided not to return once she left. After a round of nagging, she couldn’t change things, and was left feeling downcast.

Chen Zhuo soon learned of the matter, understanding it at once, and laughed it off.

...

Jiang Shaohua, full of youthful vigor, was brimming with energy, and after settling down at the county government, went to the iron mine the next day.

Chen Zhuo and his son accompanied her, and Chen Jinyu also nonchalantly followed them.

A large group left the county government in a whirlwind, leaving behind only Chen Haoran, who was studying hard in preparation for the autumn examination, and Mrs. Yao.

Mrs. Yao, feeling gloomy, brought a pot of tea into the study, and then started to complain. She talked about things like "a girl’s public appearance being against propriety," "it’s all because your grandmother and grandfather pampered your sister too much," with hints of blaming the Commandery Princess for meddling.

Chen Haoran rolled his eyes and put down his book: "Mother, why don’t you say these things in front of the Commandery Princess?"

Mrs. Yao was flustered and stared: "I... that’s the Commandery Princess, how dare I say anything?"

"Isn’t that the point," Chen Haoran shrugged, "Sister has already gone to the iron mine with the Commandery Princess, and she’ll join her on a patrol to Ye County in a few days. It’s all set in stone. Saying anything now is pointless, so why bother?"

Mrs. Yao was annoyed, giving her son a slap on the hand: "Always making me angry."

"The Commandery Princess is inspecting the iron mine, and instead of going along to show your face, you’ve let Jinyu take the lead. Jinyu is a girl, and in the future, she will marry and have children. Her public appearances do her no good, but you need to take the exams and become an official. You should be the one to show your face."

Chen Haoran glanced at his puzzled mother: "I am a scholar right now, and I need to pass the autumn exam to plan my future. What’s the point of rushing to show my face in front of the Commandery Princess?"

"And you always talk about the differences between men and women. If I were my sister, I wouldn’t like it either, favoritism."

Mrs. Yao: "..."