I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 68: Priceless

In Madam Zhao’s private pavilion:

“Did you say Senior Zhang gave Zheng Fa an Immortal Token?” Madam Zhao asked the Seventh Young Master.

Her son saw the stunned expressions on both his mother’s and sister’s faces.

“Yes, that’s what Zheng Fa told me… He also mentioned he doesn’t have any plans for marriage right now.”

The Seventh Young Master watched his mother nervously, fearing she might be angered by Zheng Fa’s implied rejection.

To his surprise, instead of showing anger, his mother’s expression turned wistful.

After a long pause, she finally said, “I thought I had time. Turns out I was wrong.”

“Wrong about what?” the Seventh Young Master asked, even more confused.

The Seventh Young Master followed her gaze and saw his sister’s expression, which was even more complex than their mother’s.

The Eldest Young Lady, noticing their stares, quickly composed herself and spoke after a moment of thought. “It must have been two days ago, when he went to Senior Zhang’s courtyard.”

Madam Zhao nodded, her tone still tinged with regret. “I thought I had already overestimated Zheng Fa, but I didn’t expect Senior Zhang to value him so highly.”

With that, she stood up and began heading downstairs.

“Mother? Where are you going?”

“I need some fresh air,” she replied.

“…Mother, do you think I’m three?”

“Getting older has made you harder to fool,” Madam Zhao said with a hint of amusement.

The Seventh Young Master pouted. What a lame excuse.

From as far back as he could remember, his mother had rarely left her pavilion. Even when his sister returned, she had only waited for her downstairs, never stepping outside.

And now, she was suddenly going out?

“You’re going to see Zheng Fa, aren’t you?” he guessed.

“So what if I am?”

“Why?”

Madam Zhao turned back to look at him, her gaze filled with bemusement, as though his question was ridiculous. “Senior Zhang gave him an Immortal Token. Shouldn’t I congratulate him? He grew up in our Zhao family. If he succeeds in the Immortal Sect, he’ll still be considered a connection of ours. Should I, as the head of the Zhao family, just ignore this?”

The Seventh Young Master looked at his mother suspiciously, unconvinced.

An Immortal Token was a big deal, but was it big enough to make his mother, who hadn’t left her pavilion in twenty years, break her own rule?

“Mother… are you going to apologize to Zheng Fa?”

Madam Zhao paused mid-step, her expression a mix of disdain and embarrassment as she turned to him. “You always manage to be clever at the most inconvenient times.”

“Why would you go so far, Mother?”

“I’m scared, of course,” Madam Zhao said with exaggerated fear. “What if he rises to power in the Immortal Sect and comes back to settle old scores with me?”

“You know Zheng Fa isn’t that kind of person.”

“Can you guarantee that? You trust him; I don’t,” she replied bluntly.

The Seventh Young Master grabbed her sleeve, trying to stop her. “Mother, everything you did was for me. If anyone should apologize, it’s me!”

He knew his mother’s pride all too well.

Ever since his father had indulged in wine and women, Madam Zhao had retreated to her pavilion, refusing to visit the front courtyard. After fulfilling her duty by giving birth to him and his sister, she had severed ties with her husband entirely.

She was proud, too proud to compete for affection or involve herself in petty squabbles. She only did what she thought was necessary and avoided everything else.

“You did nothing wrong. You’re just lucky to have valued someone with such talent, and I’m happy for you,” Madam Zhao said, shaking her head. Seeing that he still wouldn’t let go, she sighed and added sternly, “I was the one who made mistakes and offended him. Can’t I admit I was wrong?”

The Seventh Young Master remained silent, still gripping her sleeve tightly.

Her tone softened.

“If you go and apologize for me, it’ll cost you the bond between you and Zheng Fa. The more talented he becomes, the more valuable that bond is—it’s not worth it.”

“But if I go, it only costs me my pride. My pride isn’t worth much.”

“Let go.”

He didn’t let go.

His mother gently pulled her sleeve free from his grasp and smiled faintly at him.

“No matter how much I care about my pride, it’s not worth as much as that Immortal Token in Senior Zhang’s hand,” she said, her voice tinged with self-mockery. “If my pride were worth that much, I wouldn’t have let my son wait ten years for an Immortal Token.”

Watching her leave, the Seventh Young Master turned to his sister.

“Sis, why didn’t you stop her?” Even though he and Zheng Fa were close, he couldn’t bear to see his mother lower herself like this.

“Don’t stop her. But remember this moment.”

“Remember what?”

“What use is an Immortal Token to her?”

The Seventh Young Master was stunned.

“And what about Senior Zhang’s favor? Will Zheng Fa make her an immortal ancestor?”

“…”

“No matter what grievances Zheng Fa might have, he wouldn’t harm her on your account. But Mother isn’t apologizing because her pride is worthless. She’s doing it because, compared to your future, her pride is worthless. She doesn’t want anything she’s done to harm your relationship with Zheng Fa—not even the smallest possibility.”

The Eldest Young Lady looked at her brother with an earnest expression. “When you enter the Immortal Sect, and you find it harsh, exhausting, or hopeless, think of today.”

The Seventh Young Master stared at his sister, suddenly realizing how much she had changed in her ten years at Qingmu Sect.

…

Downstairs, Steward Wu watched Madam Zhao step outside, his expression as if the sky had fallen.

“Madam?”

His voice was filled with disbelief, as though he didn’t recognize the woman before him.

“Do you know where Zheng Fa’s courtyard is?”

“Zheng Fa’s?” Steward Wu thought for a moment. “Yes, I do.”

“Lead the way.”

“I’ll have the carriage prepared.”

“No need. We’ll walk. Let’s take a lap around the Zhao estate first.”

“Huh?”

…

“Zheng Fa! Big news!”

Outside the Zheng family’s small courtyard, Gao Yuan was shouting excitedly.

“What is it?”

Hearing the urgency, Zheng Fa stepped out of the gate.

“You don’t know? Madam Zhao actually left her pavilion today!”

“That’s it?” Zheng Fa felt Gao Yuan was making a big deal out of nothing.

“You don’t get it. Madam Zhao hasn’t left her pavilion in twenty years… Think about it. If she’s coming out, something major must have happened!”

Zheng Fa considered this. It did seem unusual.

“What could have happened?”

“How should I know? Maybe some bigshot is visiting the Zhao estate, or maybe she’s dealing with those concubines in the front courtyard.” Gao Yuan smirked. “All I know is, the entire estate is on edge. Every servant is busy working, terrified of being caught slacking. My dad is so scared he kicked me out, told me to go act busy in the Seventh Young Master’s study.”

“So why are you here?”

“The Seventh Young Master wasn’t in his courtyard,” Gao Yuan explained. “But I did see Madam Zhao on the way. She looks really young.”

“Mm…”

“We younger servants have never seen her before. When I did, I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, she looks more like the Seventh Young Master’s sister.”

“Mm…”

“She didn’t seem to be heading to the front courtyard. Probably off to see some bigshot. Who do you think it could be?” Gao Yuan asked, his face full of curiosity.

“Me.”

“?”

“Yes, she’s right behind you.”

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