Chapter 196: The Successor Wife – 18

The affairs of the Zhang Family finally reached a resolution. Father Zhang was restored to his original post, but he no longer held any real power. He could only drift through his days, waiting to grow old in a position where he achieved nothing and offended no one.

Zhang Bojian entered another academy, one that wasn’t particularly famous. However, due to his own arrogance, he found fault with everything and had no heart for his studies. Instead, he spent every day drinking and carousing with his classmates, claiming he was “making lifelong friends across the world.”

He spent money like water, yet there wasn’t a cent left in the family accounts. Unwilling to lower his head to Feng Qingyue but still wanting to go out and play, Zhang Bojian resorted to running up debts. Every time he finished eating and drinking, he would simply leave a single sentence: “Go to Feng Qingyue to settle the bill.”

The shopkeepers all knew who he was, but they didn’t trust Zhang Bojian’s character in the slightest. The moment he owed money, the shopkeepers would send a waiter to collect the debt. If the money wasn’t handed over, the waiter would stand at the door and shout at the top of their lungs.

Feng Qingyue was so frustrated she wanted to kill someone. Mother Zhang offered no counsel to her son, instead using moral kidnapping to pressure Feng Qingyue.

“It is necessary for a man to socialize outside. You know our family’s current situation isn’t great. If you lend a helping hand, the whole family will remember your kindness. Once you conceive a child, Bojian will naturally settle down.”

Feng Qingyue had a mouth full of bitterness but nowhere to vent. She was unwilling to give up; she felt that if she quit now, wouldn’t everything she had done before become a joke?

This was the marriage she had snatched from her cousin, the man she had fought desperately to marry, only for him to turn out to be an utter waste.

This was something she refused to admit.

That day, she had seen the Lord Duke’s devotion to her cousin—something she had never witnessed in her previous life. In her memory, the Lord Duke was always cold, never looking her in the eye. Even if there was something to be said, he would have the housekeeper relay the message.

Yet the Lord Duke she saw that day would buy pastries for her cousin just to make her happy, and even the child was very fond of her…

How could Ren Xin have such good luck!

She believed she wasn’t inferior to Ren Xin in any way. Why was it that whoever Ren Xin married would suddenly rise to greatness?

For this ridiculous reason, she insisted she hadn’t made a mistake. She told herself Zhang Bojian would eventually have high office and a noble salary. Zhang Bojian was just frustrated and had lost his way for a moment. Things would get better; life would get better…

But would life truly get better?

On Ren Xin’s side, she had no intention of having more children. She spoke frankly to Qiao Ce, “We already have children, and I don’t want to give birth again, so don’t pressure me!”

Qiao Ce didn’t particularly mind; he only felt a slight regret that there were so few children in the manor. However, he respected Ren Xin’s wishes.

Ren Xin gestured wildly, shifting the blame onto him. “Look, who am I doing this for by not having more children? It’s for you! Any child I give birth to would surely be exceptionally brilliant. What if the brothers don’t get along in the future? What if he turns out to be unfilial and bullies Wen Ci? If Jiaojiao becomes a poor little thing unloved by her father and mother, how tragic would that be!”

Qiao Ce couldn’t help but retort, “I am not a muddled or foolish man!”

Ren Xin said triumphantly, “But you have to believe me, my ‘pillow talk¹‘ is incredibly persuasive.”

Qiao Ce: “…” Thinking about it that way, her “sacrifice” was truly enough to move heaven and earth!

“So, what do you want?”

Ren Xin smiled and said, “I want to go out and play. The autumn hunt doesn’t count.”

Qiao Ce nodded in agreement. After all, she had “sacrificed” so much for him.

After thinking it through, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

Ren Xin became annoyed again. What the hell was this man laughing at!

Ren Xin always insisted on organizing the storehouse personally, but she discovered that every single item was registered in the ledgers. She couldn’t skim anything off the top at all.

Ren Xin lamented, “As expected of a second marriage, he’s already keeping secrets. This burning heart of mine has been given in vain after all~”

Book Spirit Number One: “…” Isn’t this standard procedure for every prominent household? What is she whining about?

Translator’s Notes