Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Zhenzhen gave Qin Silong a reassuring look.
How could she be bullied by Su Bin?
She was going to have a talk with Su Bin alone.
Only now did Qin Silong leave the study.
Su Bin pulled the chair and sat down, looking as if he was going to have a long talk. But he looked quite expectant and complicated.
âI think you might know something.â
Qin Zhenzhen asked him back. âHow would I know about your family?â
âBecause your grandma is from the capital too!â Qin Zhenzhen was startled. âHow did you know?â
Su Binâs face turned unnatural.
âWe will know if we want to know.â
He had harbored resentment towards Qin Zhenzhen and her family, never entertaining the idea of a genuine relationship with her. As a result, he had never bothered to inquire about her familyâs situation.
However, as time passed, he noticed a change in Qin Zhenzhen. She became more capable and rational, prompting him to wonder what had brought about this transformation. Consequently, he began to ask her about her family.
Qin Zhenzhen informed him that her grandmother was visually impaired and unable to perform farm work. Despite living in the countryside for so long, many people had heard her speak the official language of the capital.
Yet, when it came to his family, Qin Zhenzhen asserted with conviction, âI can swear to you that my grandmother knows nothing about your family.â
âYou donât think that before I forced you to marry me, my grandma already found out about your familyâs background in the capital, so she made me marry you?â
Su Bin was a little disappointed.
âSo, youâre suggesting that we have relatives in the capital?â Su Bin asked, trying to process the information.
âMy father is the one who left home?â he continued, seeking further clarification.
âAnd they donât want us to return to the capital, especially someone like me, who might excel in the imperial examination and have a promising future?â Su Bin pondered aloud.
Qin Zhenzhen admired Su Binâs intelligence as he seemed to be inching closer to the truth. However, she decided not to reveal that she already knew the reality behind it all. She kept her knowledge to herself. âYou are right. That is what is written in the script.â
Su Bin stared at Qin Zhenzhen. âYou have heard of this play before?â
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. âYeah, I heard about this from my grandma when I was little.â âCan you tell me the story?â
âSure!â
Qin Zhenzhen nodded and started to tell the story she had made up.
âMy grandma describes it as a story, an inspirational one,â Qin Zhenzhen began, recounting the tale.
âIn the capital, there is a wealthy family with the surname Zhu. Old Master Zhu has a wife and a concubine. The women in the family constantly plot against each other, trying to gain favor and attention, even at the expense of the children. â
âHis wife may not have been exceptionally beautiful, but she was highly talented. She gave birth to a son who proved to be incredibly intelligent, surpassing his siblings.â
âHowever, trouble arose when Old Master Zhu grew infatuated with his concubine and conspired to kill his wife. The concubine was exceptionally beautiful, and Old Master Zhu lavished her with affection. As a result, she began plotting to drug and harm the first wife.â
âThen she tried to hurt his wifeâs son.â
âHer son hated father for not saving his motherâs life and punishing the woman, so he ran away from home.â
âHe found something else to do, got married and had children. He swore never to return to that family, but he still wanted to vent his anger. He told his son to study hard and make it through the imperial examination.â
âAfter 10 or 20 years, his son became an adult and passed the examination from Elementary Level to Advanced Scholar. Then he went into the capital to take the final examination..