CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: INDIRECT APPROACH TO SAVING THE COUNTRY

"You really are my good son!"

Mrs. Zhao sighed when she realized Zhao Minghua had taken on a big project for her.

If it were someone else’s matter, she would have directly refused.

But, the request was precisely from Chun Nuan’s family.

She had already quietly categorized Chun Nuan as her "daughter-in-law," and when a daughter-in-law is in need, a mother-in-law must step up, no matter how difficult it is. When push comes to shove, what else is a mother-in-law for?

"Mother, Master Zhou Qi is your cousin, he definitely respects you."

"Stop trying to flatter me." Mrs. Zhao felt a headache coming on: "You know what kind of person Zhou Qi is, don’t you?"

Could it be that he’s still thinking about his cousin, so even my mother doesn’t dare approach him?

"Five years ago, I offended him thoroughly." Mrs. Zhao sighed: "Do you still remember Bai Shao, who used to serve by my side back then?"

"Sister Bai Shao, I remember her. Didn’t she return to her hometown to recuperate later?"

Could this matter be related to Zhou Qi?

"It was the seventieth birthday of the Zhou family’s patriarch. I took Bai Shao and Bai Ju back to the Zhou family with me." Speaking of the past, Mrs. Zhao still felt a lingering fear: "Bai Shao needed to use the restroom urgently and went to the washroom, but she didn’t return for a long time. I was afraid she might have left, so I sent one of the Zhou family’s maids to check, and then..."

Mrs. Zhao was too embarrassed to voice these matters, fearing it would tarnish her son’s eyes and purity of mind.

But remembering that her son had also picked a pretty maid, he would understand this matter.

"The maid was frightened and came running to inform me. I arrived just in time to prevent anything from happening. Zhou Qi immediately asked me for Bai Shao’s contract, saying he wanted to elevate her to a concubine. I inquired Bai Shao’s opinion, and she was unwilling, so I refused Zhou Qi on the spot."

The Zhou family’s patriarch’s seventieth birthday banquet was in full swing with guests, and the whole Zhou family attended. Then, my mother decisively refused Zhou Qi’s request. And Zhou Qi, being so vengeful, how could he possibly dismiss it with a smile? He must have held a significant grudge against my mother.

Zhao Minghua thought: His own mother was remarkable, respecting Bai Shao’s wishes. If it were some other head lady of the family, they would likely have immediately handed over the maid’s contract and said: Being noticed by the Seventh Young Master is your good fortune.

However, his own mother, Mrs. Zhao, did not do this.

Outstanding, truly outstanding!

"I knew Zhou Qi would be uneasy if he didn’t get what he wanted, so I sent Bai Shao away that very day. Zhou Qi could not get over this hurdle; whenever we meet, he speaks coldly to me. There’s long been no kinship between cousins. Now, you’re asking me to rush and beg him. Do you think you’re giving me a tough task?"

"Indeed, it was wrong of me."

Zhao Minghua instantly wanted to slap himself for making a promise to Chun Nuan without first asking his mother, causing trouble now. What to do?

"Forget it, I’ll make a trip to Changzhou tomorrow."

Mrs. Zhao said, "Remember, I’m not doing it for your sake, but for Chun Nuan’s filial piety. Also, whether it can be accomplished depends on the result. Have you told her about the results?"

"I have, I said we’ll do our best."

Alas, a man should stick to his word, but Zhao Minghua felt that in the future, he would be a bit shorter in front of Chun Nuan.

"Alright, you go to Changzhou tomorrow."

"Then I’ll await your good news."

"You can await my good news, but when can I expect good news from you?"

"What? What good news would I have?"

Mrs. Zhao... Get lost, this son has a completely unopened mind and doesn’t know what his mother desires.

For Chun Nuan, Mrs. Zhao was willing to go all out.

"Nanny Zhong, prepare some gifts, bring along that jade Guanyin from the storeroom."

"Is the madam planning to ask the Third Madam?"

The Third Madam was the birth mother of Master Zhou Qi.

"We have no choice but to take a detour. Otherwise, Zhou Qi won’t give me any face no matter how much I talk. My face is worthless in front of him."

"The madam is really sacrificing a lot."

One must know that the jade Guanyin was of great value.

"It’s alright, I’ll bleed a bit for Chun Nuan." Mrs. Zhao said: "I wonder how it is that the Third Madam, someone who eats vegetarian and chants Buddha, gave birth to a son like Zhou Qi?"

"For her son, the Third Madam must indulge more in Buddhist practices." Nanny Zhong shook her head: "As a mother, one always hopes the good deeds and merits accumulated will benefit their descendants."

"That’s true." Mrs. Zhao said: "Alright, get ready, we’ll go to Changzhou first thing tomorrow."

When Mrs. Zhao arrived at the Zhou family, the servants said the elderly lady was worshipping Buddha and asked her to wait.

"Okay, no rush, I’ll wait here until the lady finishes praying, it’s okay."

In reality, her heart was howling: Everyone in the Zhou family knows, once the Third Madam starts her prayers, she’ll be in there for one or two hours at a time, destined to make her sit on a cold bench for an hour or two.

For Chun Nuan, for Chun Nuan, I will endure, I will endure!

Mrs. Zhao was not the type to sit still, but this time she could only endure in silence.

If she dared to take a step, the servants beside her would say: You are welcome to leave slowly!

Since she’s already here, there must be an outcome.

Sure enough, after an hour and a half, the white-haired Third Madam was escorted out by the servants.

"Is this the Sixth Lady visiting?"

Mrs. Zhao ranked sixth in her maternal family, so the Third Madam followed the children and called her Sixth Lady.

"Niece greets the Madam."

"Good, good, thank you for your kindness."

"Knowing the Madam is worshipping Buddha, I brought a jade Guanyin that suits the Madam tremendously."

Here, Nanny Zhong hurriedly presented the jade Guanyin with both hands.

"This..." The Third Madam looked with amazement but shook her head in the end: "It’s too precious, I cannot accept it."

"Madam, the jade Guanyin is most suitable for you to venerate. We juniors can’t even properly manage our vegetarian diets, let alone venerate a Bodhisattva."

"So you’re here for something related to Zhou Qi?"

Mrs. Zhao... Indeed, the Madam wasn’t confused at all; see, not one bit muddled.

"Since the Madam asked, I won’t hide it. The matter is like this..." Zhou Qi isn’t easily swayed, so clarifying whose goods they are is necessary: "Madam knows, a few years ago, my niece’s reckless actions offended the Seventh Young Master, naturally making it difficult to face him now."

The crucial point is, even if faced, it might be ineffective.

Zhou Qi might lack in other areas, but one thing is certain: he is truly filial to his mother, who has been widowed for many years—what she says goes, and he never argues.

"The Xiao family from Northern Desert? Is that the same Xiao family, the Imperial Physician family punished in the Capital?"

"Exactly."

"What is your relationship with the Xiao family, that you come so eagerly to find me?"