The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 81: A Malicious Scheme

Xu Zhizhi and Xiao Jingheng brought the furniture designs they had created to Father Xu and Third Uncle Xu for review.

“Brother, your son-in-law truly lives up to being a nobleman from a big city! I’ve never seen furniture like this before! If we can make these, the wealthy families in the county and the prefecture will surely be fighting to buy them,” Third Uncle Xu said excitedly.

Father Xu, looking at the drawings, was equally thrilled and agreed with his brother’s assessment.

“Dad, Third Uncle, if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask Brother Xiao or me. Do you think you can make these?” Xu Zhizhi asked, seeing the excitement on their faces. She was confident they could pull it off.

“Zhizhi, we understand the drawings and can make them. I’m just not sure if they’ll look as good as the pictures,” Father Xu said, confident in his craftsmanship.

“Take your time with the first set. We’ll need four sets for our house. By the time we’re done, they’ll look just as good as the drawings,” Xu Zhizhi reassured him.

This boosted Father Xu’s confidence. “Right, right. The first set will be for me. Once we perfect it, we’ll make the next set for Zhizhi’s room.”

Xu Zhizhi smiled and agreed. Of course, she preferred perfection!

“Father-in-law, Third Uncle, you can start preparing to make the furniture tomorrow. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me,” Xiao Jingheng said.

Xiao Jingheng was worried that his little wife might attract too much attention. He didn’t want her to get caught up in unnecessary conflicts. Why would a farm girl know so many skills? It might lead to unwanted suspicions.

Was there really such a thing as immortals? Was his little wife a celestial being who had descended from the heavens?

Xiao Jingheng noticed that Xu Zhizhi deliberately attributed many of her achievements to him, as if she didn’t want people to know they were her ideas.

Moreover, after spending time with her, Xiao Jingheng realized that Xu Zhizhi wasn’t someone who worshipped gods or believed in immortals.

But none of that mattered. What mattered was that Xiao Jingheng wanted to protect Xu Zhizhi and ensure she wasn’t harmed by anyone.

That’s why he silently accepted the credit.

Father Xu and Third Uncle were engrossed in the exploded diagrams, only putting them down when Xu Xiaowu came in to call them for dinner. They reluctantly left the drawings and went out to eat.

In the courtyard, they saw Xu Honghua entering with Xie Jiaqi.

“Uncle, Third Uncle,” Xie Jiaqi greeted respectfully.

“Jiaqi, what brings you here? Come, sit down and eat,” Father Xu warmly invited.

Xie Jiaqi looked up and saw a tall, handsome man with an aloof and unapproachable demeanor standing behind his uncle. Next to him was a stunning beauty, like a snow lotus on a high mountain.

Xie Jiaqi didn’t know whether to stare at the handsome man or the beautiful woman, his mouth watering.

Every time Xu Honghua saw Xiao Jingheng, her eyes would cling to him, unable to get enough.

Xu Zhizhi ignored Xu Honghua’s infatuated gaze and asked, “Honghua, who is this?”

“You’re Cousin Zhizhi? I’m your cousin, Xie Jiaqi,” Xie Jiaqi said excitedly, not waiting for Xu Honghua to answer.

Xu Honghua snapped out of her daze and turned to see her cousin staring at Xu Zhizhi with a infatuated look, drooling.

She couldn’t understand what was so appealing about such an ugly woman. But when she turned to look at Xu Zhizhi, she saw her graceful figure, her impossibly beautiful face, and the lovely clothes she wore…

Xu Honghua felt a pang of inferiority looking at the radiant Xu Zhizhi.

She became even more determined to ruin Xu Zhizhi. Today, she would make sure Xu Zhizhi became a disgraced woman, scorned by everyone, and forced to marry her cousin.

Once Xu Zhizhi entered the family under such circumstances, her aunt’s family would look down on her. Her future would be miserable, and Xu Honghua didn’t need to imagine it.

Meanwhile, she would marry the incredibly handsome and wealthy Xiao Jingheng.

Just thinking about it made Xu Honghua feel exhilarated.

Seeing Xu Honghua’s face flicker between twisted and radiant smiles, Xie Jiaqi’s heart skipped a beat. It was as if he was seeing his cousin in a new light.

“So you’re Cousin Jiaqi from Auntie’s family! You’re quite handsome. Come, sit down and eat with Dad,” Xu Zhizhi said politely.

Hearing his cousin’s gentle voice, Xie Jiaqi felt somewhat comforted and nodded, following his uncle to eat.

Xu Honghua and Xu Zhizhi went outside to eat in the courtyard.

After dinner, Third Aunt Xu and Xu Lanhua cleaned up the dishes.

Xu Honghua asked her younger brother, Xu Erniu, to take her cousin Xie Jiaqi back first.

Xu Honghua approached Xu Zhizhi with a forced smile. “Cousin Zhizhi, I have something important to discuss with you. There are too many people here. Let’s go outside.”

Xu Zhizhi looked at her immature cousin. No matter how much she schemed, Xu Zhizhi couldn’t be bothered to engage. Xu Honghua hadn’t crossed her bottom line yet, so she let it slide.

Seeing the scheming look in Xu Honghua’s eyes, Xu Zhizhi readily agreed.

She was never someone to be easily manipulated.

She only hoped Xu Honghua wouldn’t regret her actions today!

Seeing her plan halfway successful, Xu Honghua breathed a sigh of relief.

“Cousin Zhizhi, you’re always so busy. We sisters haven’t had time to talk properly. Since it’s not dark yet, why don’t we go to my house? You haven’t been there in years. I’d like to learn from you. What do you think?”

Xu Zhizhi smiled. “That’s a good idea. Let’s go.”

Soon, the two arrived at Third Uncle Xu’s house and went straight to Xu Honghua’s room.

A cold glint flashed in Xu Honghua’s eyes as she smiled at Xu Zhizhi. “We’ve walked quite a bit. You must be tired, Cousin Zhizhi. Sit down, and I’ll get you some water.”

“Sure,” Xu Zhizhi said, curious to see what tricks Xu Honghua had up her sleeve.

Xu Honghua went out and told Xu Erniu to call their parents and uncles, saying that Cousin Zhizhi had something to discuss with them.

Xu Erniu, only nine years old, was confused. “If Cousin Zhizhi has something to say, why didn’t she say it in the courtyard? Everyone was there during dinner.”

“Just do as I say. Why are you asking so many questions? Didn’t you see Cousin Zhizhi is at our house?” Xu Honghua snapped impatiently.

Xu Erniu, though feeling something was off, didn’t understand what and obediently left.

“Make sure you call everyone, understand?” Xu Honghua called after him.

Xu Honghua poured three cups of water, adding a drug she had bought in town to two of them.

She handed one cup to Xie Jiaqi, saying softly, “Brother Jiaqi, have some water. I’ll take a cup to Cousin Zhizhi. If you feel tired later, you can rest in my room.”

Xie Jiaqi, looking at his gentle and beautiful cousin, thought the earlier twisted expression he saw must have been his imagination.

Especially since his cousin said he could rest in her room. The thought alone was delightful.

(End of Chapter)