Chapter 674: Chapter 675: Extra Showing Goodwill_1 Chapter 674: Chapter 675: Extra Showing Goodwill_1 Chun Xin quickly said, “How could that be? Although I have never met Lady Yu, I often hear the Lady speak of Lady Yu’s intelligence and cleverness as a capable and resourceful person. The Lady is so close to Lady Yu, and since there aren’t many friends in the Capital, it’s rare to have such a sister to confide in. It would be good to let Lady Yu help and give some advice.”

Tianniu laughed softly, “If I asked Mu to give me advice, she would surely tell me to cripple those little seductresses. Anyway, we’ll be going back to our hometown soon. We can talk about it then. For now, let’s just let it be.”

Chun Xin smiled and said, “I often hear the Lady mention Lady Yu, and there are always rumors about her in the Capital. I have always wanted to meet her and see what kind of extraordinary woman she is.”

Tianniu raised her head, “Isn’t that so? My sister Mu is naturally the most formidable extraordinary woman. She is incomparable to any other mundane, worldly woman.”

“Hearing you praise my second sister like that, how come you never praise me?” Zhao Jiangshui entered at some point and said with a smile.

Chun Xin quickly poured tea for Zhao Jiangshui, “Master, please have a seat.”

Tianniu’s smile faded a little, “Are you still upset with my sister?”

“How can the master not feel slighted when his own wife praises others day after day, but never her own husband?” Zhao Jiangshui was obviously here to coax her.

Tianniu was unimpressed, and Chun Xin quickly interjected, “I think our Lady is an extraordinary woman herself. In the entire Capital, which woman can compare to our Lady in talent and accomplishment? The master should also praise the Lady.”

Tianniu seemed somewhat sullen, and Zhao Jiangshui had no choice but to say, “Chun Xin, you may leave for now.”

Chun Xin looked at Tianniu with concern, but still turned and left. The two of them had been at an impasse for a few days now. It wasn’t easy for the master to come and make amends first, yet the Lady was still feeling moody. She really feared that this would lead to renewed grudges between them.

“Tianniu, I know you blame me, and I have my own difficulties that weigh on my heart. You understand me. Over the years, I…”

“I know, Jiangshui, you don’t need to blame yourself. It’s my fault, too, in this matter. I’m not angry with you. It’s just that my heart is in turmoil. I understand your ambition to rise. I know how many opportunities you’ve lost over the years because of me, and that’s why I’m even more anxious.”

Zhao Jiangshui said with heartfelt concern, “Tianniu, can you please not be anxious? I’ve said I wouldn’t accept a second woman, and I meant it. When you’re like this, it makes me feel very guilty. You used to be so joyful, but these past few years since we’ve been married, you’ve become increasingly melancholic. Sometimes I wonder how I can make you happy.”

Tianniu nodded gently, “Being by your side makes me very happy. Don’t think too much about it.”

Zhao Jiangshui was helpless. Tianniu always said this, but her inner knot had never truly unraveled. Seeing her unhappy also made him feel bad.

“Well, we’ll be returning to our hometown in a few days. Haven’t you always been talking about your second sister? This trip will fulfill your wish,” Zhao Jiangshui said with a smile.

The trip was originally for Tianniu. The affairs in the court were actually very busy, but Zhao Jiangshui had insisted on taking this extended leave to accompany her home, hoping it would cheer her up.

Tianniu smiled and said, “Yeah, I heard that Mu’s two little ones are quite the handful. I just received a letter from sister Mu saying Xiaobai and Xiaohua actually cut the Master’s beard, which made her so angry that she spanked them on the spot.”

“I think those two kids take after the second sister’s temperament. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be causing such a fuss,” Zhao Jiangshui laughed.

“Yes, Mu is even complaining in her letter about which parent those two mischievous kids take after. I’m too embarrassed to tease her about it, but those children are certainly clever, with minds more nimble than teenagers even at the age of five. My brother-in-law has even started to teach them martial arts early on, and now an average person is certainly no match for the two of them.”

“With such parents, how could their children turn out badly?” Zhao Jiangshui said as he hugged Tianniu with a smile, “I wonder what our kids will be like in the future?”

Tianniu grinned and said, “Just as long as they don’t turn out to be a bookworm like you.”

Zhao Jiangshui, seeing that Tianniu could joke with him now, knew that her anger must have subsided, and he felt a lot more relief in his heart, “Whatever you say goes.”

“By the way, tomorrow is Marquis Chen’s wife’s birthday, and Mu also mentioned in her letter that she wants me to convey birthday wishes to the Marquise on her behalf. Have you prepared your gift?”

“Of course, I have been prepared for a while now, don’t worry about it.”

“Mm.”

The very next morning, the carriage was already waiting at the door, and Zhao Jiangshui, along with Tianniu, went to Marquis Chen Mansion to wish the Marquise a happy birthday.

Today the Marquis Chen Mansion was extraordinarily lively, with a continuous stream of guests, mainly because Marquis Chen deemed it important, resulting in such a spectacle.

Three years ago, the beauty from Louxi who knew how to use the Bewitching Technique had made Marquis Chen do many things to wrong Jian Yue. After the beauty was killed and Marquis Chen’s bewitchment lifted, he increasingly felt he had wronged his wife. Consequently, he paid extra attention to Jian Yue.

Because men and women were separated at the event, Zhao Jiangshui naturally went to the front hall, while Tianniu went to the inner court to join the ladies. Zhao Jiangshui was now a celebrated figure at court and inevitably had many social interactions. Worrying that he might not be able to look after Tianniu, he held onto her and gave her a lengthy set of instructions before they separated.

Such an affectionate display in everyone’s view naturally induced feelings of envy, jealousy, and resentment. Zhao Jiangshui was handsome with a promising future ahead of him, and more importantly, he was both capable and resourceful. There were many women in the Capital who were fond of him, a pity though, that he had married early and did not take concubines! Tianniu was, as a matter of course, found herself frequently pushed into the center of gossip.

“Oh, isn’t that Madame Zhao? The love between Madame Zhao and Zhao Jiangshui truly makes others envious. Look at how affectionate they are in public; it really shows how much Zhao Jiangshui cherishes Madame Zhao,” a young lady from a well-off family said with some envy.

Tianniu merely smiled and didn’t say much.

Little did anyone expect, a sharp voice rang out, “Envious? She should look at herself and weigh her own worth. A country bumpkin, lucky for a moment, that’s all. She can only rely on her husband’s affection to get by these days. Once the affection fades, she’ll inevitably be trampled underfoot! After all, a country girl is a country girl, with no power or status, as if anyone really cared!”

Eavesdropping on this, the crowd broke out in a cold sweat, and as they turned their heads, who else could it be but Mu Xinlin?

Tianniu’s eyes turned cold, “Miss Mu, you should at least understand the concept of basic respect.”

“Hmph! That depends on whom it concerns,” Mu Xinlin retorted arrogantly, “I, Mu Xinlin, never show what you call ‘respect’ to lowly people. It’s really a joke!”

“So it turns out Miss Mu is such an ungrateful person. If I had known this, I should not have rescued you when you fell into the lake. Then I could have spared myself from your biting back now.”