Chapter 22 Support
In the evening, Chen Zhi came back a little late.

Xu Shuhe had previously asked him to help manage the rouge shop, so today after he finished the Chen family's business, he took the time to take a look.

He originally thought that since he came back late today, he could just rest in the front yard and not disturb Xu Shuhe. However, he did not expect that Xu Shuhe had sent Meixiang to wait for him, so he followed him to the backyard.

"You're back." Xu Shuhe raised the corners of his lips slightly when he saw him. "Please sit down. I'll make you some tea. You haven't had your meal yet. I've asked someone to prepare it."

Chen Zhi sat down and asked, "Why haven't you eaten yet? Is there something you want me to do?"

"I was thinking of having dinner with you when you come back. I ate a little more snacks this afternoon, so I'm not very hungry." Xu Shuhe handed over the teacup, then looked at him and said directly, "Mother-in-law asked me to speak to her today and asked me to promote Chunliu as my aunt."

Hearing this, Chen Zhi paused with the teacup in his hand, put it back on the table, frowned and said, "Why are you talking about this suddenly? She broke the rules and is being punished. What's the point of talking about raising her status now?"

"It seems that my husband has not heard the gossip in the mansion yet." Xu Shuhe looked at him with a hint of teasing in her tone.

Chen Zhi really didn't know.

He goes out early and comes back late, so he has no time to listen to gossip in the mansion.

So he immediately turned his gaze to Xinyue who was standing next to him.

Xinyue was not vague and quickly told Chen Zhi all the rumors that had spread in the mansion today. After hearing them, Chen Zhi's face immediately turned black.

"It was probably done by the guy from Wan Shuang Zhai."

She didn't expect him to be so direct. Xu Shuhe glanced at him and guessed in her heart that Chen Zhi's dislike for his stepmother might be more than she thought.

But now was not the time to speculate on whether their relationship was good or not. Xu Shuhe just acted helpless and asked him, "What should we do now? I think I should discuss it with you."

"Don't pay attention to it." Chen Zhi said directly.

"But if this matter gets out and we don't take any action, and it gets spread around, I'm afraid both you and I will have a bad reputation. People will say that you, my husband, are heartless and ungrateful, and I am jealous and cruel. Rumors are more ferocious than tigers. We should at least think of a compromise and a suitable way to deal with it." Xu Shuhe said.

Chen Zhi frowned, "Do you have an idea in mind? The guy from Wan Shuang Zhai had previously avoided suspicion and ignored Chun Liu's affairs, but now he has taken the initiative to talk to you and raise Chun Liu's status. He must have some ulterior motive."

Hearing him say this, Xu Shuhe silently gave him a thumbs up in his heart.

The child is not stupid.

Then he said, "If Chunliu's status is raised, she will have a firm foothold in our courtyard. She may be more useful than other spies. I have also been thinking recently that if I find a suitable opportunity, there are some people around me with impure intentions who should be driven out."

Chen Zhi lowered his eyes after hearing this, "Then let's lift Chunliu's house arrest first."

"That's fine." Xu Shuhe nodded.

"Even if you haven't achieved that person's goal, I'm afraid she will make further moves. You might not be happy in the mansion." Chen Zhi said again.

Xu Shuhe just smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a way to deal with it."

"I specially invited my husband to come here today, in addition to this, there is another matter." Xu Shuhe continued to talk about the important things, "My husband just said that Wan Shuangzhai suddenly made some moves, I am afraid something is wrong. I have been in the mansion for a short time, and I am under her nose, I am afraid it will be difficult to investigate. My husband usually works with my father-in-law, so I can get some information from him."

Chen Zhi nodded after hearing this, "Okay, I'll keep an eye out for it."

The two communicated with each other and made plans for the future, so they went to have dinner together.

That night, the news that Chunliu was released from house arrest spread, and Feng was still somewhat dissatisfied when she heard about it. However, for her plan, Chunliu's release from house arrest was enough for the time being, and as for raising her status, as long as the plan went smoothly, she could do it in the future.

It was just that Feng's thoughts were beautiful, but how could she have all the things that went her way? Xu Shuhe, who felt annoyed, would not be able to swallow this anger.

So, my mother Zheng came to Chen’s house at noon the next day.

When we arrived, it was almost time for lunch.

He came at this hour, even though he hadn't sent any notice before. It was a sudden visit, and anyone could tell that something was up.

Feng's heart was beating fast, but she didn't dare to delay and hurried to the flower hall to meet the guest.

"Mother-in-law, why didn't you inform me in advance that you were coming? I didn't make any preparations and I was really sorry!" Feng smiled and started greeting as soon as she entered the flower hall.

However, facing her enthusiasm, Zheng sneered, "If I had given you time to prepare in advance, I would never have realized how my daughter was wronged in your Chen family!"

Her impoliteness made Feng's face stiffen for a moment, but she smiled again immediately.

"Oh, mother-in-law, what are you talking about? I don't have a daughter, and now I have a daughter-in-law, who I love as my own daughter. How could she be wronged? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstand?"

Zheng asked back in a cold voice, then showed annoyance and slammed the table with her hand.

"Before, when Shu He came back, he told me about the maid in my son-in-law's room. I wanted to come and ask for an explanation, but Shu He stopped me and spoke well of you. I knew my son-in-law was sensible, so I endured it. But now, my daughter has taken this step back, but you are getting even more aggressive and are forcing her to make the maid a proper concubine. Do you think there is no one left in my Xu family? Why are you bullying my daughter like this?!"

Although Feng had met Zheng several times before for the marriage between the two families, Zheng was always gentle and easy to talk to at that time. But today she came in a rage, and Feng was unable to respond with her scolding.

After calming down, he suppressed his unhappiness and continued to put on a smile.

"Mother-in-law, I really didn't force you to have a concubine. I asked the third son's wife to raise the status of that woman for the sake of their relationship and reputation."

"Bah!" Zheng interrupted her directly, without any courtesy, "You can use this to fool my daughter, but you dare to use it to deceive me. If the son-in-law wants to create a rift between my daughter and me because of that maid, then he is favoring the concubine and ignoring the wife. If this is the case, then bring me a divorce letter as soon as possible, and I will take my daughter home and support her at home for the rest of her life."

Having said that, he sneered again and glanced at Feng.

"If it was for reputation, then the unruly concubine should be beaten to death, sold, or driven to the farm and never seen again. Your Chen family is very strict, but it is unreasonable to ask two masters to give in for a slave. Or is it really as the rumors say, that you and my son-in-law are not biological mother and son, and the concubine came from your room, so for this reason, you are planning for a maid and treating my daughter harshly?"

After this speech, Feng Shi could no longer even fake a smile, and her face turned pale and blue.

She secretly cursed Xu in her heart, calling her a little bitch and tricking her again.

The fact that he had talked Chen Zhi into releasing Chun Liu from her house arrest last night was definitely a deliberate trick to deceive her. In fact, he did not want to elevate Chun Liu's status at all, so he secretly sent a message to her parents' home and asked them to support him.

But it's useless to figure it out now. Zheng came to her house with reasons and evidence, and she is now completely wrong and can only be scolded.

Moreover, what are the rumors outside?
Just when Feng was feeling helpless, hurried footsteps were heard at the door.

Following the voice, they saw that the people coming were Chen Huaiqian and his son Chen Zhi.

(End of this chapter)