The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 174: Xie Yunzhen’s Terrible Idea

Ji Mingzhu accepted the thick gift, but felt it wasn’t right to take Yuan Changan’s favor for free.

She thought and thought, but couldn’t come up with an appropriate return gift.

When Xie Yunzhen returned, she was troubled by this problem.

"What’s so difficult? Just give him whatever he lacks."

Ji Mingzhu really didn’t know what Yuan Changan lacked, so she asked, "Do you know what he’s lacking?"

The man had a mischievous look, "He’s not that young anymore, and the Yuan Family has always been anxious about his marriage. We can help by finding out which family’s girl is the most virtuous, and set them up to marry a good wife."

Ji Mingzhu was speechless.

She rolled her eyes, "I shouldn’t have asked you."

Xie Yunzhen thought the idea was great, "I already have a wife, so I find it pitiful for some people to be single."

Once he gets married, he won’t be thinking about the one at my house, right?

If he wasn’t afraid of being scolded by Mingzhu, Xie Yunzhen would have sent Yuan Changan to a woman’s bed by now!

Ji Mingzhu glared at him, "Don’t mess around."

Being exposed in his thoughts, Xie Yunzhen feigned seriousness, "Why would I compete with him, a weak scholar who can’t even shoulder or lift?"

Ji Mingzhu sneered, "Can’t even hide your fox tail properly!"

Xie Yunzhen bit his tongue.

It’s not that he intentionally wanted to provoke Mingzhu, but Yuan Changan was his rival in love.

Was he supposed to speak well of his rival?

He hooked Ji Mingzhu’s fingers, "Where’s the fox tail? I don’t see it, maybe you should feel it to see if you’re seeing things."

Saying this, he wrapped Ji Mingzhu’s hand around his waist.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted; even through the fabric, his muscles could be felt.

The distance between the two was already close, but Xie Yunzhen still felt it wasn’t enough.

He pressed Ji Mingzhu’s back, as if trying to fit her into his chest.

Ji Mingzhu knew how much of a torment he could be.

She resisted against his chest.

"Quit fooling around."

"You’re not yearning for me?"

"No."

Xie Yunzhen: "..."

Taking advantage of the man’s distraction, Ji Mingzhu withdrew from his embrace.

She got up intending to go to the second room to seek advice.

The matter couldn’t be resolved in a day, and it hung over her heart daily, preventing her from doing anything else.

Xie Yunzhen stretched his long arm, holding her at the waist.

He complained, "I’ve hardly come home for a day, and you’re neglecting me like this?"

"It’s not neglect."

"Then why don’t you keep me company?"

Ji Mingzhu felt a headache, "Aren’t you busy with official affairs? Go, busy yourself."

Recently, there’s been a lot on his plate.

The Emperor’s health hasn’t improved. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Ninth Prince and Imperial Concubine are about to set off for their domain.

Yuan Changan discovered officials secretly mining iron, along with the Xu and Xiao families’ conspiracy...

All urgent matters collided at once, Xie Yunzhen needed to work and attend meetings at the Eastern Palace.

Once busy, he wouldn’t be home for several days.

Yet he knew everything happening in the mansion, including the matter of Lady Du coming to demand justice, only to be chased away by his mother.

Later, Lady Du even went to the palace to lodge a complaint, but was turned away by the Empress.

Xie Yunzhen suddenly kissed Ji Mingzhu’s face, "Thank you for your hard work."

Mingzhu didn’t need to run around, but there were plenty of matters in the mansion.

Just dealing with her own mother required tremendous energy.

As for Crane Dance Hall, the elder had grown older and had fallen ill at the beginning of the year, her spirit was much diminished.

Otherwise, who knows what chaos the mansion would be in.

Xie Yunzhen truly felt Mingzhu was hardworking.

He forcefully trapped her in his arms, "When this busy period is over, let’s move out."

He thought about it and felt it was inappropriate, as if he were making empty promises.

Xie Yunzhen corrected himself, "We can also move during this period, depending on your mood."

Ji Mingzhu hadn’t gone to the General Mansion to assess the situation yet; after so many years uninhabited, it surely needed repairs.

"Let’s wait until the house is repaired before we decide."

Knowing Xie Yunzhen was busy, and the outside world was unstable, Ji Mingzhu really wasn’t in a hurry to move out.

Though the Duke Mansion had many distressing matters, if viewed from another angle, her aunt and Yun Ling were still there.

Her second brother would occasionally return home.

These were her family.

With them around, life wasn’t so tough.

Xie Yunzhen leaned his chin on Ji Mingzhu’s shoulder, doing nothing, just holding her quietly.

"I need to go see my aunt."

"Call her Second Aunt." He tightened his grip on Ji Mingzhu’s waist, insisting she change her wording.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t argue with him, "I’m going to see Second Aunt."

Xie Yunzhen came home to accompany Ji Mingzhu.

Doing anything was fine, as long as she was by his side.

He then held Ji Mingzhu’s hand, "I’ll go with you."

Ji Mingzhu understood how stubborn Xie Yunzhen could be.

Although talking about Yuan Changan in front of him felt awkward.

She agreed to save her breath.

Upon hearing Xie Yunzhen’s return to the mansion, Princess An He personally came to find him.

Firstly, she missed her son.

Secondly, she wanted to inquire about the situation in court.

Having some understanding, she knew which direction to exert her efforts.

The two groups met halfway.

Upon seeing Xie Yunzhen holding Ji Mingzhu’s hand tightly, Princess An He felt a surge of jealousy.

He had just returned to the mansion and went straight to the eastern courtyard, without paying respects to the elders!

"Where are you going?"

Xie Yunzhen replied, "To see Second Aunt."

Originally, Princess An He could suppress her emotions, but upon hearing this, she instantly didn’t like it.

"You rarely come back, why don’t you come to the main courtyard to see your real mother, yet go running to the second house? Anyone who doesn’t know might think she’s your real mother!"

She then scolded Ji Mingzhu, "Look at you, being a wife, you’ve forgotten who your real mother-in-law is!"

Xie Yunzhen’s brows furrowed slightly.

Whenever he thought about how, over two lifetimes, Mingzhu experienced countless similar scenes, he couldn’t stop feeling sad.

This lifetime he was there to support her, but his mother still showed her an unfriendly face.

He couldn’t even imagine what the previous lifetime’s scene might have been like.

"I’m not a child; I know what I’m doing, and my legs belong to me. Where I go is my decision. Why scold Mingzhu?"

Princess An He was even angrier, "Always protecting her, I’ve truly raised you in vain!"

Xie Yunzhen rarely had the chance to stay home and accompany Ji Mingzhu, he didn’t want to ruin her mood.

He let go of Ji Mingzhu’s hand, patting her on the back of the head, "You go first, I’ll come get you later."

This was exactly what Ji Mingzhu wanted.

She never intended to reconcile the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relationship, and naturally didn’t intend to stay and be scolded.

She bowed and left without a backward glance.

Princess An He fumed, "Look at her, is that how one acts as a daughter-in-law?"

Xie Yunzhen had no intention of arguing with his mother.

Even after what happened in the past life, he only hurt himself.

Not a single harsh word was spoken to his mother.

At this moment, he didn’t want to endure anymore.

Mingzhu was wonderful.

She was so good that she swallowed all grievances, giving him a chance to reform.

Including the old lady, his mother...all those who hurt her, she never actively sought revenge.

She had been sufficiently tolerant, why did they want to push their luck?

Did they have to drive Mingzhu away again to feel satisfied?

Xie Yunzhen’s eyes turned red, "Since you believe Mingzhu isn’t a good daughter-in-law, then let her learn from you."

"However you treat the old lady, let her do the same to you."

"However you treat my father, let her treat me the same way."

"However you conducted yourself in the mansion, let her imitate it exactly, this surely wouldn’t be wrong, right?"