Chapter 168: Conceal Your Thoughts

Not only did the remarks cause embarrassment for those present, even Chen Ming blushed.

Madam Chen, angered, sternly scolded, “Impudent! How can a young girl speak so recklessly? Truly…” She struggled to suppress her urge to scold further and continued in a calmer tone, “Rest assured, I have everything planned. I will ensure you have a good status and won’t suffer any injustice. This is Mrs. Tang, a concubine. Although she isn’t your father’s legal wife, she is a favored concubine, with a status just below that of the lawful wife. Publicly, we’ll say you are her biological daughter, born alongside little Hui, but due to poor health, you were sent to a temple to be raised. Now that you’re well, we’ve brought you home. In the future, you must get along well with little Hui, sisters should be close.”

Chen Feng saw through the old lady’s scheme and felt increasingly indignant. This wily old woman was truly cunning. She sneered, “Do you think I’m stupid? I look nothing like her. Even someone with poor eyesight wouldn’t mistake us for twins. Oh, I know, you’re afraid of the Chu family and want to deceive me with wealth and status. Considering my vast difference in appearance from the eldest daughter, you won’t take me to the mansion but confine me to a separate courtyard. Then, you can manipulate me as you please. Leave this great home to suffer with you? Only if I’ve lost my mind.”

It turned out that Madam Chen did indeed have a plan. She wanted to use this excuse to move Chen Feng to a separate courtyard.

Initially, she had not expected Tangyuan to be so protective of Chen Feng, which led Zhao Lizheng to do what he did. After Zhao Lizheng returned and reported what Mr. Luo, the county magistrate, and the county lieutenant had said, she realized that neither she nor her son could contend with Tangyuan within her son’s jurisdiction. Thus, she abandoned her previous plans.

However, she was still unwilling to let Mrs. Wang’s daughter get too close to the Chu family, fearing that her past actions would be exposed. Moreover, she had the thought that if Chen Feng were to cause trouble there, her plans would be ruined.

Especially after hearing that Chen Feng greatly resembled her son, she was even more reluctant to have Chen Feng displaying that face everywhere. It would be a living testament, and she didn’t know how others might manipulate her son and herself.

She thought, “Can’t force her, right?” So, she would have Chen Feng willingly leave Tangyuan and go with her to her “home.” Then, Tangyuan wouldn’t have any say. She believed that a poor girl from the countryside, upon hearing about her father’s wealth, would eagerly follow her.

Of course, she had no intention of actually taking the girl to her home. As Chen Feng had pointed out, the difference in appearance between her and Chen Yuhui was too great. She only wanted to place Chen Feng in a separate courtyard…

Madam Chen hadn’t dreamt that she would be caught in this wretched girl’s trap, revealing all her plans step by step. She also hadn’t expected that this wretched girl was so sharp, not swayed by wealth, and her words were sharper than a knife, enough to infuriate anyone.

This wretched girl, even if my son wanted to acknowledge her and bring her to the mansion in the future, I would be tormented by seeing her every day.

Mrs. Tang and Chen Yuhui shared the same thought. If Chen Feng entered the Chen mansion, their lives would become miserable.

Madam Chen had her plans laid out but still said, “Feng, don’t ruin your future out of impulse. Come back with me and be the daughter of a magistrate, and you will have a good marriage and live a prosperous life.” She then waved her hand, and a servant set a box filled with neatly arranged silver ingots in front of Chen Ming.

Madam Chen continued, “Chen Ming, thank you for raising my granddaughter. This hundred taels of silver is our token of gratitude. Use it to buy some land. Then, your family won’t have to worry about food and clothing.”

Chen Ming shook his head and said, “I don’t want your silver. Feng is my daughter. I love her, and raising her is what I should do. No matter who she lives with in the future, she will always be my daughter. No amount of silver can replace my own daughter.” His voice choked as he spoke the latter part.

Chen Feng tugged at his sleeve and said, “Dad, of course, I’m your real daughter. In this world, I only have one father, and that’s you.” Then she looked up at Madam Chen and said, “Madam Chen, put away your scheming. If I really go with you, whether I enter the mansion or live in a separate courtyard, even if you don’t kill me, these two will. Look at them, they’re now so eager to kill me, let alone when under your control. With three people in one household wanting me dead, can I return?”

She paused and continued, “Oh, my mistake. You won’t kill me. You’ll sell me to someone who can help your son rise in rank or make you rich, to let me suffer… You’ve thought through everything. Just like when you bought my mother to work and raise your son, then kicked her out when she was no longer useful. You clung to the Tang family, gained wealth, then crushed them, and climbed up to the official Jiang family. Madam Chen, despite your rural background, you have laid out a good plan. But I won’t be your pawn. Let me tell you, with your narrow-mindedness, you won’t be able to manipulate me.”

Madam Chen was fuming and terrified. She was furious at the wretched girl’s sharp tongue and her inability to control her. She was also afraid that if someone brought these matters to her son, he would distance hisself from her. She felt a wave of dizziness, her face turned pale, and she staggered.

Trembling, she pointed at Chen Feng and cursed, “Utterly rebellious, utterly rebellious, you wretched girl, for being so rebellious and unfilial. Heaven will punish you sooner or later.”