Chapter 926: Two Fools

"There’s nothing I can do about it; I can see it clearly," Zhen Mi said, her previously flushed face suddenly returning to its usual calmness, her tone turning cold.

"That’s why you’re a fool," Lady Zhang tapped Zhen Mi’s head gently. "The way he looks at you shows that he does care about you. No matter what position you’re in, at the very least, you bring some color to his life!"

"But..." Zhen Mi opened her mouth helplessly, "He’s doing it on purpose. He doesn’t want to take things further!"

"That’s why I say you’re a fool. He isn’t cold towards you, nor does he reject you. Whatever you want to do, he never stops you. Sometimes, when your requests conflict with his wife’s, he even sides with you!" Lady Zhang said, looking at Zhen Mi with frustration. "You’re both so smart, yet so clueless!"

"It’s useless," Zhen Mi sighed. She could sense Chen Xi’s concessions, but the feeling was completely different from how Chen Xi treated his wife.

"You still don’t believe me. A woman’s pity for a man can never turn into love, but a man’s pity for a woman can easily change into something else. Stick to him, and he’ll accommodate you. Plus, you’re kind-hearted and beautiful. If you keep being around him, he’ll start to change," Lady Zhang said, exasperated, realizing her daughter was truly a fool in this matter.

"When men choose, they look at both inner qualities and outer appearance. If both are satisfactory, and they don’t find you annoying, you’ve got a chance. Do you think he’s annoyed by you?" Lady Zhang asked with a knowing smile.

As for the relationship between Zhen Mi and Chen Xi, Lady Zhang initially thought it would naturally fade. After all, with Zhen Mi’s status, she couldn’t become a concubine unless the man was of such high status that he could be considered a ruler in his own right. In that case, she wouldn’t be a concubine but a consort, which was entirely different.

Although Chen Xi was extraordinarily brilliant and had guided the world forward without missing a step, Lady Zhang believed that even if the great strategist of old, Zhang Liang, were to return, he couldn’t surpass Chen Xi. But Chen Xi already had two wives, and even worse, Lady Zhang knew they both held formal titles. In such a situation, if Zhen Mi were to marry into that household, wouldn’t the Zhen family lose face?

For that reason, Lady Zhang gradually distanced herself from the idea of Zhen Mi being with Chen Xi. She even brushed off Liu Bei’s proposal with vague responses. Zhen Mi, after all, was her daughter, and being someone’s concubine wasn’t a good idea.

It wasn’t as if Cai Yan, who lived near Chen Xi’s home, wasn’t from a family of equal standing. But could Cai Yan become someone’s concubine? Absolutely not. Even after being captured by the nomads, she returned and married Dong Si as his wife, not as a concubine. That was the power of status.

Zhen Mi’s situation was similar. Her older brothers and sisters were only half-siblings, and Zhen Mi was the only one born to Lady Zhang, who was the proper wife. The others were born to concubines. In this era, sometimes illegitimate children were no different from servants.

This explained why Yuan Shao insisted that one of his sons marry Zhen Mi, and why, historically, Cao Pi forcibly married Zhen Mi. Zhen Mi was the only legitimate daughter of the Zhen family.

In this case, how could Zhen Mi marry someone and become a concubine? Where would the Zhen family’s honor go? Even Lady Zhang couldn’t solve this dilemma, which was why she had distanced herself from the idea of Zhen Mi and Chen Xi. It wasn’t that she didn’t think Chen Xi was good enough; it was about safeguarding the family’s interests and Zhen Mi’s dignity.

However, as time passed, and Zhen Mi’s emotions grew more evident, Lady Zhang realized this issue was beyond resolution. She decided to let things be. Dragging this on would only make Zhen Mi more melancholic, and if it went too far, it could ruin her health. Better to let her marry Chen Xi, and if things didn’t work out, they could separate later. At least Zhen Mi wouldn’t fall into despair.

This was why Lady Zhang was now teaching Zhen Mi how to win Chen Xi over. The Zhen family might lose face, but that was better than losing their only legitimate daughter. If Zhen Mi married Chen Xi and their reputation suffered, Lady Zhang would bear the shame herself. After all, at that point, the family would be connected to some of the most powerful figures in the land—who would dare speak ill of them?

Zhen Yi, who had criticized Lady Zhang for being too focused on the family’s reputation, clearly underestimated how much Lady Zhang cared for her daughter. Since the situation was now irreparable, Lady Zhang thought it best to let her daughter follow her heart. As for Chen Xi, if he could manage to secure a second marriage license, he could go ahead and try for a third!

Meanwhile, Xin Xianying returned to the Xin family. In the past, if she had snuck out and returned at this time, she would have been punished by being made to kneel in the ancestral hall. But tonight, no one seemed to care.

Xin Xianying, feeling confused, looked at her mother, Lady Chen, who gently stroked her head. Compared to the anxiety she’d felt before, Lady Chen now seemed more at ease. No matter whether Xin Pi surrendered or not, the Xin family’s safety had been secured, and the lives of the eighty or so family members were no longer in danger.

Thinking of this, Lady Chen couldn’t help but resent Xin Pi a little. At this point, why was he still holding out? Yuan Shao was dead, so who exactly was he being loyal to?

As Xin Xianying sat at the table, eating from a small bowl while sneaking glances at her mother, Lady Chen began to question her about the day’s events.

Xin Xianying carefully recounted everything that had happened. It was only then that Lady Chen realized her daughter had a photographic memory and an unusually mature thought process, almost too sharp for a child.

"You said Lord Chen gave you a gold medallion?" Lady Chen asked, frowning. Xin Xianying pulled out the medallion from her clothes—a simple gold piece engraved with the character "Chen," with little other decoration.

"Master of the house…" Lady Chen gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

Such items were not meant to be given to others. The head of the Chen family might have one, and the family matron might have another. Beyond that, only the head himself could hold one. Giving them out carelessly would cause chaos. Yet here was her daughter wearing one around her neck!

The Chen surname was a prominent one in the Yingchuan region. Even if a branch had no direct connection to the main family, after four hundred years of intermarriage, all were related. Lady Chen, as Xin Pi’s wife, would never mistake such a medallion.

"Keep this safe, and don’t let anyone else see it," Lady Chen said, trying to maintain her composure as she hurriedly tucked the medallion back into Xin Xianying’s clothes.

"Did he say anything else?" Lady Chen asked, her worry evident.

Xin Xianying tilted her head, thinking hard. Then, she suddenly recalled Chen Xi’s words and said, "He said that with this, I can visit him often. It seems like he wants to teach me something."

A lie mixed with some truth is hard to detect, especially when spoken by someone as innocent as Xin Xianying, who no one would suspect of deception.

"Then study hard with him…" Lady Chen said, her expression softening with a trace of pity. "When you go to see him, remember to take your sister Zhen with you."

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