Chapter 3: Acting

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Only after the Crown Prince’s carriage disappeared into the distance did Zhuang Xian finally breathe a sigh of relief. He turned and looked at Zhuang Xiaoyu.

“Father, you’re such a coward. You totally embarrassed me.”

Fuming, Zhuang Xian took off his shoe, ready to hit her. Zhuang Xiaoyu darted away, shouting as she ran, “Help! Zhuang Xian is trying to murder his own daughter!”

Zhuang Xian chased after her, shoe in hand, while Madam Zhang tried to hold him back, but she couldn’t. Today, he was determined to beat this rebellious girl to death.

Once the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence closed behind them, father and daughter sat breathlessly at the table.

“You old man, you can really run.”

“Who are you calling an old man?” He was only in his forties—how did he become an old man already?

“Fine, you’re not an old man. You’re an old lady. Happy now?”

“…Who gave you that idea?”

“What idea?”

“Who told you to play dumb?”

“I played dumb? But I am dumb, aren’t I? Don’t you say all the time that I don’t act smart?”

Zhuang Xian was so furious he could barely breathe. But anger aside, his daughter’s safety was still the most important thing.

“Well, we dodged the bullet this time. The Crown Prince probably won’t be interested in you anymore.”

“But if he sets his sights on Wan’er instead, that’s even scarier. Wan’er can’t act like I can.”

“Wan’er is still young. She should be safe for now. As her elder sister, you should take responsibility for her safety.”

Zhuang Xian suddenly realized he had underestimated Zhuang Xiaoyu. She wasn’t as simple as she appeared. She must’ve learned some shrewdness while living outside all these years.

What had happened at the gates of the prime minister’s residence spread quickly—everyone was saying the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family was such a fool she made the Crown Prince leave in a huff, and the Prime Minister had chased her around with a shoe in hand.

Madam Zhang was worried too. If word got out that her stepdaughter was a fool, which respectable family’s son would still want to marry her?

Zhuang Wan’er was in complete awe of her sister. “Sister, you’re so brave! Weren’t you afraid the Crown Prince would realize you were faking it?”

“How would he know? Are you going to tell him?”

“Of course not!”

“Exactly. As long as we don’t say anything, this is just who I’ve always been. Nobody knows what I used to be like before these eighteen years anyway.”

“But sister, doesn’t this mean you won’t be able to marry into a good family in the future?”

“Then I just won’t get married. Let Old Zhuang support me. When he’s too old to take care of me, I’ll have Little Zhuang do it. And when he’s too old, well, I’ll be dead by then anyway. Hahaha… Am I clever or what?”

Wan’er thought her sister was brilliant—she had even planned out her entire life in one go.

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At the Xuan Prince’s Manor

Murong Xuan stood in the courtyard surrounded by fallen leaves. He kept tossing them into the air, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t replicate the imposing presence of that woman.

Either the leaves missed their mark or floated weakly to the ground. He had even used his inner strength!

“My lord, take a break.”

Ever since that day, the prince had been acting obsessed. All he wanted to do was find that girl. But with only a glimpse of her back, where could they even start looking? The Emperor was already getting impatient with him—shouldn’t he be focusing on dealing with that instead?

“Still no leads on that martial arts woman in the capital?”

“There are a few women who know some martial arts, but none of them match the skills you described. Definitely not her.”

“Keep searching. We must find her. She’s my savior.”

And a life-saving grace ought to be repaid with a lifelong commitment. He’d already fantasized about marrying her.

“My lord, I’m worried the Emperor will continue to target you. And the Crown Prince is already planning to choose his consort—it’s clearly an effort to gain more allies. Shouldn’t you also—”

“I’ve already made my choice. I’m going to ally with my savior. If I can pull her to my side, I won’t have to fear another assassination attempt.”

“…Seriously, my lord?”

Everyone else was fighting for power, and you’re just trying to survive? When did our prince become so… unambitious?

“Miss Wei came again. Maybe you should meet with her, just once?”

“If you like her so much, you go meet her. I already have someone in my heart.”

Someone in your heart? Just from seeing her back?

“My lord, you don’t even know her identity, and she’s already in your heart? What if she doesn’t like you?”

“Why wouldn’t she? I’m so handsome and elegant—how could she not fall for me?”

“That’s not what I meant… What if, just what if, she’s already married?”

“Jian Yi, you’re getting more and more talkative. Go find her. If you fail, I’ll hold you responsible.”

The prince had fallen. He wasn’t acting normal anymore. Maybe it was time to send him back to the border—riding horses and shooting arrows with the soldiers. At least that was a sane life.

Zhang Shi brought her two daughters to attend the flower appreciation banquet—this was the first time Zhuang Xiaoyu appeared in public.

Zhang Shi had already reminded Zhuang Xiaoyu in advance: talk less, be polite.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve got it.”

She had lived two lifetimes, for decades altogether—dealing with a bunch of old-timey people like this was child’s play.

Zhuang Xiaowan was still young, her body hadn’t filled out yet, and she stood half a head shorter than Zhuang Xiaoyu. The two sisters held hands, dressed in matching outfits, looking like the perfect pair of big and little sisters. It made people take a second look at Madam Zhuang—perhaps this stepmother wasn’t so bad to her newly returned daughter after all.

“Madam Zhuang, such good fortune, to have two daughters as lovely as jade.”

Rumor had it the eldest daughter wasn’t all there in the head, but just standing there quietly, she didn’t look it.

“Yes, I feel blessed too. Xiaoyu is pure and kind, and she’s very good to her younger siblings. I brought her out today so everyone could get to know her. You two, greet Madam Guo.”

“Greetings, Madam Guo.”

“Good, good, come sit. What lovely children.”

But someone with a sharp tongue just had to stir the pot. “Madam Zhuang calls this a blessing? Picking up a daughter she didn’t even have to bear or raise? I heard she’s quite the troublemaker—didn’t Minister Zhuang chase her around with a shoe?”

Even if you knew about it, you weren’t supposed to blurt it out in front of everyone. That was clearly a show of disrespect to Madam Zhuang.

Zhuang Xiaoyu glanced at Zhang Shi. Since she’d been told to keep quiet, she wouldn’t speak just yet.

“Yes, Xiaoyu is lively and cheerful, speaks her mind—I quite like that about her. My husband is a stubborn old man, insists Xiaoyu be just as rigid as he is. If she disobeys, he wants to discipline her. Really, it was just a silly scene, nothing more.”

She pushed all the blame onto Old Zhuang.

“My sister is great! Wan’er likes her too!”

With Zhuang Xiaowan chiming in like her mother, that basically confirmed Zhuang Xian was the unreasonable one.

“Don’t believe everything people say. Father was just trying to scare me—he’s never actually hit me.”

Between the three of them, the message was clear: this family was harmonious and happy.

“Of course Xiaoyu didn’t do anything wrong—why would her father hit her? And even if he wanted to, her mother wouldn’t allow it.”

Look at that—a stepmother who’s even more loving than a birth mother.

Some admired Madam Zhuang for knowing how to handle things, while others scoffed, thinking the whole family was just putting on a show. All of their varied expressions were carefully noted by Zhuang Xiaoyu.

Zhuang Xian was the highest-ranking official present, but somehow, this stepmother of hers didn’t seem to carry much presence.

“This auntie—what rank is your husband?”

Zhuang Xiaoyu suddenly turned her sights on a woman who had earlier curled her lip at them. Time to make an example.

“My husband is a fourth-rank official—not as distinguished as Minister Zhuang, of course.”

“My mother is the wife of a first-rank Prime Minister, and she holds an official title in her own right. You, a mere fourth-rank official’s wife—shouldn’t you be bowing to my mother?”

Zhang Shi quickly realized her daughter was trying to defend her and hurried to intervene. “Xiaoyu, say less.”

“My daughter is just straightforward—don’t take it to heart, everyone.”

The woman being put on the spot was clearly uncomfortable, but with Zhang Shi’s smooth deflection, she exhaled in relief. She didn’t want to bow—Zhang Shi was easygoing and didn’t throw her weight around, and they were all used to that.

“Mother, being warm and kind is fine, but not for people who don’t appreciate it. Some folks mistake your kindness for weakness. From now on, let’s put that first-rank madam’s status to proper use—save us from being trampled by snobs who only know how to suck up and step down.”

“Xiaoyu, what did I tell you before we left the house?”

“Oh, right. Haha. Mother, I was wrong. I’ll stop talking now.”

She had said enough. Let the crowd digest it themselves. After this, who would still dare look down on Madam Zhuang?

Whoever spread the rumor that Zhuang Xiaoyu was a fool—they were the real fools.

As for the Crown Prince, who’d been labeled the fool by association… when he heard what happened, he smashed a roomful of teacups in the Eastern Palace.

“So Zhuang Xiaoyu isn’t stupid? That day, she pretended to be a fool just to mock me?”

“I’m not sure, Your Highness. All I’ve heard is that the Zhuang family’s eldest daughter was bold and domineering at the banquet, defending Madam Zhuang fiercely. It’s not something a real fool could pull off.”

“Good. Very good. Zhuang Xian, Zhuang Xiaoyu—you dared to conspire and make a fool of me? Just you wait.”

He’d been the Crown Prince since childhood. No woman he set his sights on had ever slipped through his fingers. If Zhuang Xiaoyu didn’t know what was good for her, she couldn’t blame him for being cruel.

The flower-viewing banquet continued. One invitation led to another—especially among the lower-ranking officials’ families. It was rare to get a chance to curry favor with the Prime Minister’s household. And with how the Zhuang family treated this eldest daughter from the countryside, it was clear they held her in high regard.

The Wei family’s banquet was held in their private estate. As soon as Zhuang Xiaoyu entered, she was captivated.

“Damn, this place is basically a royal garden.”

“Madam Wei’s specialty is flowers—she has the most varieties and the best displays. There’s poetry, riddles, even prizes!”

Zhuang Xiaowan was eagerly introducing everything to her sister when a cold voice sounded behind them:

“A fool like Miss Zhuang probably can’t compose poetry, right?”