The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 78: Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Here

Xu Zhizhi was utterly speechless at her younger brother’s serious tone. Was he looking down on her for being old?!

At seventeen, she would still be a high school student in the modern era, in the prime of her youth. How had she become an “old maid” here?

And now she was being urged to have children by a little brat?!

“Heavens! Strike me with lightning!” Xu Zhizhi wailed.

Xiao Jingheng immediately stepped forward, picked her up, and knelt down toward the sky, saying, “She’s still young and doesn’t know any better. If you must strike someone, strike me.”

Xiao Jingheng’s fearful expression and the loud *thud* of his knees hitting the ground startled Xu Zhizhi.

She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, frozen in Xiao Jingheng’s arms.

In all honesty, she had forgotten this was ancient times. She had just been casually complaining, using a modern figure of speech.

Xu Zhizhi hung her head, unsure how to explain her behavior…

Xiao Jingheng kowtowed three times to the sky, then looked at his dispirited little wife in his arms. Knowing she was frightened, he kissed her forehead and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

His deep voice was filled with utmost tenderness.

Xu Zhizhi was indeed frightened—not by the fear of being struck by lightning, but by Xiao Jingheng’s reaction…

Seeing how protective he was of her, she realized that playing the innocent, weak card really worked. She decided to use this tactic more often in the future when she made mistakes…

By the time Xu Zhizhi and the others returned home, it was time for dinner.

Soon, the news spread throughout the village that Jin Zijun had failed the exams and had returned home as a beggar.

Jin Zijun’s mother refused to believe it at first. When Jin Zijun arrived home, he found his mother sitting in the main hall, the house in complete disarray, and the stove cold. There wasn’t even a drop of hot water to drink!

Jin Zijun asked, “Mother, have you just been sitting here eating dust and drinking air for the past month while I was away for the exams?”

Hearing this, Jin Zijun’s mother nearly fainted from anger. She squinted at her son, who indeed looked like a beggar, just as his third aunt had said…

She began to believe that her son had truly failed the exams, but she still couldn’t accept it. She shouted at Jin Zijun, “Zijun, did you really not pass the provincial exams?”

Jin Zijun felt as if all the skin on his face had been ripped off. Embarrassment, shame, and a flood of negative emotions overwhelmed him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he tried to hold back his anger.

He had returned home in this state, and his mother didn’t even ask if he was hungry, thirsty, or needed food!

Jin Zijun’s mother stared at him intently. “Did you pass or not? Speak! Zijun, why have you come back from the prefecture as a mute…”

Before she could finish, Jin Zijun said with a dark expression, “Mother, stop. I really did fail this time.”

“No! How could you not pass? There must be some mistake! That wretched girl Xu Zhizhi’s family eats meat every day! They’ve even built four large courtyards combined into one, so big! They invited the whole village to a feast, but not me! I was waiting for you to pass the exams and come back to teach that wretched girl a lesson!”

Jin Zijun’s mother shook her head frantically, utterly unable to accept that her son had failed.

She slapped her thigh and wailed, “What sin have I committed to raise you like this? How could you come back without passing the exams? How am I supposed to live now?”

Jin Zijun, already frustrated by his failure, had expected his mother to say something like, “Zijun, you’re still young. Passing the scholar exams is already an achievement. Failing the provincial exams this time is nothing. You’re still young…”

Instead, she not only failed to comfort him but also blamed him relentlessly.

Jin Zijun suddenly stepped forward, his eyes wide like copper bells, his teeth clenched, and the veins on his forehead bulging. His face twisted into a ferocious expression:

“I failed because of you! I must have been cursed for eight lifetimes to be born from your womb. You’re a jinx who brings misfortune to your husband and son!”

Jin Zijun’s mother was momentarily unsure whether to grieve over her son calling her a jinx or to faint from anger over his failure.

Jin Zijun saw his mother lying motionless but didn’t care. He went to the kitchen to boil some water to drink and wash off the stench. But when he entered the kitchen, he was dumbfounded—he didn’t know how to light the stove!

Jin Zijun thought back to when Xu Zhizhi was still his fiancée. Whenever he returned from the academy, hot meals, hot water—everything would be ready and waiting for him…

Back then, Xu Zhizhi was thin and small, always looking like she hadn’t grown up. Her clothes were old and faded, patched over and over, but she still managed to make him a few new sets every year.

Jin Zijun frowned, desperately recalling the Xu Zhizhi from his memories. She had been capable, managing the household in an orderly manner and taking care of him and his mother with meticulous care.

She was also sharp-tongued, reducing any girl who got too close to him to tears.

Every time he saw Xu Zhizhi, he had thought her ugly and crude…

He had even considered giving her some silver to leave him once he achieved success.

Marrying her had never crossed his mind. If it hadn’t been for Wang Shishi, he wouldn’t have broken off the engagement so early.

After the engagement was broken, Xu Zhizhi not only started earning money but also became gentler, or so he had heard. He hadn’t believed it at the time.

But what had he seen today? In just over two months, she had grown taller, her skin glowing with a healthy flush. She could even be described as stunningly beautiful!

This Xu Zhizhi—he would have been more than willing to marry her!

Why hadn’t she been so capable when they were engaged? Why did she change so much after the engagement was broken?

Not only could she grow sweet potatoes, but she also found ginseng, built a large courtyard, and became beautiful!

He couldn’t figure it out, no matter how hard he tried.

Jin Zijun’s head ached from thinking, but he still couldn’t find an answer.

He thought, if only the engagement hadn’t been broken…

Then he wouldn’t be struggling to even get a drink of hot water now.

Would he have already passed the provincial exams by now?

It was all that wretched Wang Shishi’s fault! That promiscuous woman had ruined him!

As Jin Zijun cursed Wang Shishi in his heart, he fumbled around trying to figure out how to boil water…

Meanwhile, Wang Shishi wasn’t doing well either!

Previously, she had been traveling everywhere with Nangong Yunhao, spending money freely on whatever she wanted.

Back then, Nangong Yunhao had been hers alone. They would shop for clothes and jewelry during the day and be intimate at night, lost in each other’s embrace.

But now that they had returned to the Nangong family, she had to greet the elderly Madame Nangong morning and evening, endure Nangong Yunhao’s mother’s constant nagging, and face the oppression of Nangong Yunhao’s wife…

Nangong Yunhao’s harem was filled with countless beauties, each more captivating than the last…

When she tried to complain to Nangong Yunhao about her grievances, he only cared about her body. On the rare occasion when it was her turn to be with him, he would rush to her in a frenzy…

She had to report even if she wanted to step out of the main courtyard, let alone go shopping.

Although it was similar to her life in the Minister’s residence, she had never had any freedom back then either…

People find it easy to adapt to luxury, but going from luxury back to simplicity is unbearable!

(End of Chapter)