Chapter 25: The Daughter-in-Law Is Short on Cash Lately

So soon?

Chen Xingmiao had long anticipated that after she smashed the ancestral hall and sent Xiao Yinsheng into a fit of rage, they would not let her off easily. She just hadn't expected them to strike so quickly.

"Chuntao, go home and tell Father that I have a show I would like him to see."

With that, she took Xiao Ziyu's hand and pushed open the door to walk out.

Xiao Zilin sat in his wheelchair with a sullen face, a row of burly men standing behind him.

She swallowed instinctively. It would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid; these men were so thick-limbed that she felt any one of them could wipe her out with a single move.

"Xiao Zilin, what are you doing again?" she asked, standing in front of Xiao Ziyu, summoning all her courage. Despite her fear, for the sake of her favorability rating, she had to push through.

"Hmph." Xiao Zilin let out a cold laugh and looked up at Xiao Ziyu. "I see the Second Young Master has put on some weight recently. Someone, take the Second Young Master to the woodshed to slim down!"

At Xiao Zilin's command, two of the burly men stepped forward and dragged Xiao Ziyu away.

"What are you doing? Husband!"

She tried to reach for him, but her body was held fast by the others.

"Xiao Zilin, what exactly are you trying to do? I’m warning you, if you dare to touch my husband, I won't forgive you!"

Dammit, she had worked so hard to build up his favorability; it couldn't drop now!

"Don't be so anxious. Mother has invited you to the main hall for tea." He finished with a dark, inscrutable look in his eyes.

Chen Xingmiao was dragged to the front hall and thrown roughly to the ground. The door slammed shut behind her.

Hua Liyin sat in a chair, holding a teacup with measured grace, looking down at her leisurely.

"Miss Chen, I trust you’ve been well?"

She sipped her tea, her face a map of wrinkles.

Chen Xingmiao stood up, dusted off her clothes, and sat down to the side. "Speak. What is it?"

"Didn't we agree that you would teach Xiao Ziyu a lesson? I didn't blame you for jumping into the water to try and break our deal, but now that you've married into this family, our agreement should still stand, right?"

Chen Xingmiao was stunned. *What? What agreement?* She had no memory of making any deal with this old woman.

"Is Miss Chen planning to play dumb?" Hua Liyin arched an eyebrow, her crimson lips curling slightly. Seeing no reaction, she suddenly chuckled. "It seems I guessed right. You..." She paused deliberately, her eyes fixed intently on Chen Xingmiao.

*Have I been exposed? That shouldn't be possible.* Chen Xingmiao felt a jolt of anxiety, but she maintained a composed expression under her gaze.

"You're just intentionally breaking our deal!"

She let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried they’d discovered she wasn't the original owner.

"Yes," she said dismissively. "I have no interest in being in cahoots with someone like you!"

Still, she had no idea what the original owner had actually agreed to. If it were something terrible, wouldn't she be the one taking the fall? The thought was terrifying.

Hua Liyin smiled silently, blowing on her teacup.

"Where is my husband? What have you done to him?" Her eyes darkened, and her fists, hidden within her sleeves, tightened.

Hua Liyin smiled lightly. "Zilin will surely take good care of his younger brother."

*Damn it!* If he was in Xiao Zilin's hands, could the little villain possibly be okay?

She stood up to head for the door, but found it locked. Chen Xingmiao took a deep breath. Calculating the time, they should be here soon. *Fine. You want to play? Then I’ll play along with this old hag.*

When she turned back around, two trails of tears hung on Chen Xingmiao's face. Her pathetic expression, combined with her aggrieved little face, would surely make anyone’s heart ache.

Hua Liyin frowned, setting her teacup down with a look of confusion. "What are you doing?"

Before she could finish, Chen Xingmiao dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

"What are you doing!" Hua Liyin slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

Chen Xingmiao wiped her tears, sniffled, and said with a choked voice, "Your daughter-in-law was wrong. I never imagined I would make Mother so angry." As she spoke, she listened intently for any movement outside.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Hua Liyin looked at her, eyes wide with fury.

She cried even harder, her voice sobbing. "Mother, I have only just entered the family. Even if I have committed a great wrong, you shouldn't keep my husband and me apart."

"Open the door!"

A roar came from outside, and immediately, the door was shoved open by Chuntao.

Chen Jinzhou appeared in the doorway with a stern face. Seeing his daughter kneeling on the ground, his expression darkened further.

"Xiaomiao, what are you doing? The floor is cold, get up."

As soon as Hua Liyin saw Chen Jinzhou, she forced a smile and rushed forward to help her up. Chen Xingmiao remained motionless on the floor, her weeping growing louder.

"Mother told me to kneel, and I dare not disobey."

Chen Jinzhou shot a sharp, icy glare at Hua Liyin. "In-law, my precious daughter has never suffered a day in her life. I didn't realize that upon entering the Xiao household, she would be reduced to kneeling!"

Panic flashed across Hua Liyin's face, and she forcefully pulled Chen Xingmiao to her feet. "How could that be, in-law? We cherish Xiaomiao dearly." She apologized hurriedly, her posture dropping a notch.

Chen Jinzhou glanced at her coldly, pulled Chen Xingmiao to the side, and wiped her tears with a pained expression.

Hearing that Chen Jinzhou had arrived, Xiao Yinsheng, having just woken up, had someone support him as he made his way to the front hall.

"In-law, she is just a woman who doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her. We truly dote on Xiaomiao." As he spoke, Xiao Yinsheng coughed violently.

"That's right. They wouldn't even provide a carriage, and they bullied and scolded the young mistress for no reason. This is clearly a show of power," Chuntao muttered from the side. Though her voice was soft, it reached everyone's ears.

Chen Xingmiao mentally gave her a thumbs-up, then sobbed a few more times. "It's not like that, Chuntao, don't talk nonsense."

Chen Jinzhou sat in his chair, scanned the room, and asked coldly, "Where is Ziyu?"

Xiao Yinsheng gave Hua Liyin a resentful look and walked forward with a smile. "Zilin returned a few days ago, and the two brothers are catching up." He turned to a servant and barked, "Go and invite the Second Young Master at once!"

The maid acknowledged the order and hurried away.

"In-law, have some tea and calm your anger." Supported by Hua Liyin, Xiao Yinsheng took a seat.

Soon, Xiao Ziyu followed the servant into the hall.

"Greetings, Father, Mother, Father-in-law." He bowed slightly, a flicker of repressed emotion on his face.

*Why is he wearing different clothes?* Chen Xingmiao watched him. The clothes were oversized and clearly not his; they looked rather like Xiao Zilin's. He kept his head bowed, and the bruises on his face and the corners of his mouth were faintly visible.

"Ziyu, your injuries..." Chen Jinzhou had clearly noticed as well.

Xiao Ziyu quickly lowered his head further, whispering, "It is nothing. I just bumped into something. Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law."

Chen Jinzhou was no fool; he looked sternly at Xiao Yinsheng.

Xiao Yinsheng forced a smile. "How are you people working? Hurry and get the best ointment for the Second Young Master!"

"Father, please don't be angry. My parents-in-law truly dote on me." Chen Xingmiao smiled brightly and held out her hands, looking at Xiao Yinsheng. "Father-in-law, my wedding expenses have been high and I am a bit short on funds. Perhaps..."