CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: EVERYTHING IS TRUE

"Madam, why not bring this matter to Mrs. Zhao? The Zhao family surely doesn’t know about this yet."

"This Zhao Minghua is small in stature but big-hearted and bold." Mrs. Xiao thought for a moment and nodded, "Go find a way."

"Yes, Madam."

Finding a way wasn’t too difficult; Nanny Chen went straight to Sister-in-law Hu.

"Is it true? The third young master of the Zhao family keeps a mistress, and she’s about to give birth?"

Sister-in-law Hu felt something was off. She was always well-informed in her wanderings, so why would she be behind on news that needed Nanny Chen to tell her?

"It’s absolutely true." Nanny Chen sighed, "Previously, the Zhao family wouldn’t even discuss my eldest miss’s marriage. If they knew Zhao Minghua was such a playboy, let’s see where he’ll find a respectable girl to marry in the future."

"This matter..." Thinking of the 2 Liang of Silver from Mrs. Xiao, well, here comes another job to earn money: "What if it’s just baseless gossip? Sister Chen, you shouldn’t ruin Mr. Zhao’s reputation lightly."

"Heh, what do you mean by ruining his reputation? If he’s really innocent, just go to the small courtyard under the Huang Jue Tree, and you’ll know."

Nanny Chen dropped this bombshell of a message and turned to leave.

Sister-in-law Hu watched her back, thinking: something feels very wrong.

The eldest Miss Xiao was disgruntled that the marriage didn’t happen, turning around to slander, perhaps?

Well, regardless, it’s a matter worth bringing to Mrs. Zhao.

"Sister-in-law Hu, are you joking?"

This time, Mrs. Zhao was genuinely shocked. Did her carefree third son cause her to gain a grandson?

"Madam, initially I didn’t quite believe it, but an insider provided such detailed descriptions, saying Mr. Zhao goes there two or three times a day and dotes on that little lady."

"It sounds quite plausible." Mrs. Zhao frowned. Who was so unkind to ruin her third son’s reputation? What’s the benefit to them? "Did she say where my son is keeping her?"

"In the small courtyard under the Huang Jue Tree. If Madam doesn’t believe it, you can go see."

"The small courtyard under the Huang Jue Tree, isn’t that Old Master Zhang’s property?" Mrs. Zhao laughed angrily, "My son’s mistress is kept in Old Master Zhang’s courtyard?"

"But, our third young master goes there two to three times a day?"

Mrs. Zhao... it seemed hard to refute.

"I understand, thank you for coming out, Sister-in-law Hu." Mrs. Zhao was never stingy, handing over 2 Liang of Silver again, "Sister-in-law Hu, you’ve worked hard. Please take this tea money. Once I’ve questioned my wayward son, if any trouble arises, I hope you won’t mind."

"I understand, I’ll inform you immediately if there’s any rumor outside."

Sister-in-law Hu thought she might as well change professions because earning money by spreading a few words was much easier than being a matchmaker.

Hoping for more such opportunities to come.

Joyfully, Sister-in-law Hu left.

Mrs. Zhao was so angry she called for someone.

"Come, find my third son."

"Madam, the third young master is not at home." A servant quickly responded.

"Where did he go?"

"Seems he went to Changzhou."

"That careless child." Suddenly, Mrs. Zhao remembered, the small courtyard next to the Huang Jue Tree was her dowry, mostly unoccupied for years, "Nanny Zhong, take out the key to the small courtyard. We’re going to have a look."

"Yes, Madam."

Nanny Zhong accompanied the furious Madam to open the door to the small courtyard.

"Madam, this courtyard isn’t occupied..." Wait, if it’s not occupied, why are there clothes hanging here? Upon closer inspection, alright, if those clothes aren’t the third young master’s, whose are they?

"Madam..."

"Indeed, there’s no fire without smoke, no waves without wind." Mrs. Zhao laughed angrily, "That rascal placed her in Old Master Zhang’s courtyard, sneaking to this courtyard for secret meetings occasionally..."

Then, what did she see?

Leaning against the wall was a wooden ladder.

So, everything was true.

"Madam, be careful."

Despite being so old, she still had to climb the ladder. Nanny Zhong was terribly worried.

"It’s fine. I must see what kind of woman caught his attention!"

She’s even pregnant, how outrageous!

Sometimes, she just couldn’t understand, it’s not like they required a grand family’s daughter; they’d even accept a family of modest means. If the third son likes her, he just needs to say so, and she could marry openly. Why sneak around?

The only possibility was: this woman’s background was questionable, perhaps from someplace disreputable.

The thought spurred Mrs. Zhao’s blood to rush to her head!

Infuriating, it was infuriating.

"Madam..."

"Hush, I must see for myself today."

Just then, she saw a pregnant woman walking in the courtyard next door.

What a figure, though utterly changed due to pregnancy, but that face... Indeed, without some charm, how could she have attracted her carefree third son.

"Madam, how was it?"

Watching Madam descend from the ladder, a worried Nanny Zhong asked, "Did you see anything?"

"I saw her." Mrs. Zhao closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Something’s amiss, very amiss."

"What’s wrong, Madam?"

"Nanny Zhong, you wouldn’t know, the woman’s strikingly beautiful, possessing an appealing aura, not resembling one from that sort of place." Mrs. Zhao contemplated, "For a moment, I felt my third son is unworthy of her."

Nanny Zhong... So, the little lady next door has a chance to be legitimized?

It’s rare for Madam to take an immediate liking to someone.

"Madam, what should we do?"

"What else? Until that wayward son returns to explain, there’s nothing to be done." Mrs. Zhao held no expectations, "As long as her background is decent and she’s from a good family, then marry her properly. Our Zhao family doesn’t engage in immoral deeds."

"Madam is wise."

Wise indeed, but what else can she do!

After all, she gave birth to such a trouble-making son.

Telling the master this might lead to the boy’s legs being broken—should she intervene then?

"Achoo."

At the Six-sided Fate Tea House in the county, Zhao Minghua sneezed heavily.

"Master, the wind is picking up; don’t catch a cold."

"Nonsense, how’ll I catch a cold in this heat?" Zhao Minghua pushed Qingsheng aside, "Don’t block my view of the customers across the street."

Miss Xiao promised to help devise ways to improve the business of the Six-sided Fate Tea House, so he had to observe the number of customers entering Fate Tea House within half an hour. This kid had no sense at all and even blocked his sight—what a nuisance!