Pleased to Start Over

When Crossing Over 4.2

Pleasing Start-Over Chapter 40: Arc 4 Part 2

Author: 橘子

Thanks Ari for the note about the waiter

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In the afternoon, Qiao Chen's father, the Marquis of Guangde, returned to the home and Qiao Chen went to see him. The father and son pair hadn't seen each other for years, but they still weren't very intimate or friendly with each other. Cheng Su only spoke a few words of warnings and advice. Qiao Chen just answered and replied as needed. There were no extra words between them.

On the other side of the picture, Madame Shu noticed that her son's temperament had gone through some huge changes. She couldn't help but have doubts or suspicions grow. After she had put all the things they brought back with her and settled down, she made her way to Qiao Chen's courtyard.

"Are you feeling better yet? Or are you still unwell?" Madame Shu concernedly asked Qiao Chen.

"I feel much better after drinking the medicine. You don't have to worry anymore, mother." Qiao Chen replied.

Madame Shu dismissed the servants in the room and had them wait outside. Then she quietly whispered to Qiao Chen, "What's the matter with you today? As soon as we returned, you started laying down the law and managing Concubine Xu. You've never done that before."

"Nothing's going on. I was just tired of pretending to be weak in front the old madam. It was hard to act like the grandson she wanted me to be. It's been ten years already. I don't want to put up a façade, and I'm not going pretend to be her grandson anymore."

"What do you mean pretending to be her grandson? Of course you're her grandchild." Madame Shu lectured with a reprimanding look in her eyes.

"Mother, you no longer have to endure it anymore. Just take out your head wife's allowance and use it as you please. You have a son to support you from now on." Qiao Chen knew the kinds of days his mother had to suffer through while she lived with the old madam. He would never let his mother suffer again.

Madame Shu's heart was immensely moved because of Qiao Chen's words. Even if her little Jingyun was only speaking empty words, she still felt that all those years she suffered were worth it. Since she married into the family, the old madam had always been unhappy with her. The old madam had always made things very difficult for her. She even treated the concubines better than her, the first and rightful wife. Her husband was also an inflexible person with an unfaltering filial piety, so she couldn't rely on him to help defend her. He couldn't even spare a couple of heartwarming and thoughtful words for her to comfort her. There was no way he'd speak up for her.

Since her parents' deaths, Madame Shu's older brother had gone to a remote region to be an official. She didn't have a single person from her side of the family to speak up for her. The old madam never paid her any attention or took her seriously because of this either. She had nothing. It sounded like her identity was that of the head wife, but she was consistently and constantly oppressed by mere concubines. Who could understand her heartache and experiences?

However, if people wanted to continue to live, then they needed someone to support or help them as well. Madame Shu's only hope for survival was Cheng Jingyun. She didn't ask much of Jingyun. She didn't ask the current Qiao Chen to become more capable either. She only wanted him to be in good health as he lived his life.

Usually, when Madame Shu was tormented by her husband, she would complain a bit to her son. Cheng Jingyun would follow filial piety and would only calm her down and persuade her to be more patient. He had never said such supportive words like now. With Qiao Chen's words of support, whether he could really do it or not, Madame Shu was content. This was her own child's support.