Chapter 7 Shu Mother’s Hesitation

“I dare not accept the Grandmother’s apology.” Madam Shu smiled distantly.

“It’s right for you to be angry. This matter is indeed the fault of Shaoyu. We failed to discipline him properly, allowing him to be deceived by an outsider.”

 Wei Shi nodded earnestly, saying, “Dear mother, rest assured, this is Shaoyu’s mischief. We have already locked him up, and when we return, we will definitely educate this unruly boy properly.”

“Grandmother, Madam, now, notices about Shaoyu wanting to divorce our Wanwan are posted all over the streets. How will Wanwan hold her head up high in the capital in the future! She might be criticized wherever she goes.”

“Moreover, if Shaoyu is so determined, it’s probably not just a matter of discipline to reconcile him with Wanwan. Wanwan’s future is uncertain. In this case, it might be better to divorce. Our Shu Family can also afford to raise a daughter.”

“Dear mother, we can’t divorce. Yuwan is currently pregnant with Shaoyu’s child!”  Wei Shi urgently said.

Madam Shu hesitated for a moment.

Then she replied firmly, “We can afford to raise one more child!”

“That’s our Shaoyu’s flesh and blood!”

Madam Shu sneered, “Look at Shaoyu, he probably doesn’t even want this flesh and blood.”

Seeing the conversation veering off track, the Grandmother quickly brought it back, saying, “Xiangya, don’t speak in anger. We came today to sincerely apologize.”

“As for the notices posted outside, we will explain that the merchant’s daughter bribed a servant by Shaoyu’s side, stole Shaoyu’s private seal, and wrote and distributed them without authorization.”

“As for the feelings between Shaoyu and Yuwan, the young couple used to be harmonious. Shaoyu is currently temporarily swayed by an outsider. Men, there are always times of confusion, but they will come to their senses. Shaoyu and Yuwan have affection for each other. Don’t worry, after this period, they will reconcile. We elders must downplay the situation, not join in the commotion with the younger generation. Xiangya, don’t you agree?”

The Grandmother spoke candidly, and Madam Shu also showed a hint of hesitation.

Initially, with her daughter’s desire for divorce and the notices posted all over the capital, she was willing to support her daughter’s divorce.

However, the Grandmother and Madam of the Anding Marquis Mansion came to apologize so quickly. It seemed that this was solely An Shaoyu’s decision and had nothing to do with the Anding Mansion. If the matter could be resolved smoothly, she didn’t want her daughter to divorce.

After all, life would be difficult for a divorced woman, especially with a child. Without a child, she could find a good man from a humble background to marry. But now, with the Anding Mansion’s flesh and blood, after a divorce, she might end up living a lonely life, unable to keep the child by her side.

As long as she and her husband were still alive, they could protect and accompany their daughter. But once they passed away, relying on her brother and sister-in-law, she didn’t know what kind of life her daughter would have.

Seeing Madam Shu’s softened attitude,  Wei Shi quickly continued, “Dear mother, I will definitely keep a close eye on Shaoyu in the future, ensuring he doesn’t mistreat Yuwan, treating Yuwan as my own daughter.”

After some hesitation, Madam Shu said, “In that case, I will wait for news from the Anding Mansion.”

The Grandmother and Madam of the Anding Marquis Mansion breathed a sigh of relief.

After sitting for a while, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law prepared to take their leave.

Madam Shu expressed her desire to accompany them to the Anding Marquis Mansion to visit her daughter. So the three of them set off together.

Upon arrival at the Anding Mansion, Madam Shu said, “I will have a few words with Wanwan. Madam, you don’t need to accompany me.”

“Very well.” With that,Wei Shi sent her maid to lead Madam Shu to the Begonia Courtyard. She also instructed the servant to inform Yuwan in advance.

When her mother arrived, Shu Yuwan was stunned for a moment.

Since her return, she hadn’t seen her mother yet. In her previous life, before she died, she had been bedridden for a long time and hadn’t seen her mother in a while. Her mother lived with her sister-in-law, nephews, and nieces in a small courtyard on the outskirts of the capital, facing hardships. She heard that her mother had also fallen ill during that time, but she couldn’t even bring herself to visit.

Now, she was finally going to see her mother again.

“Yuwan.” As Madam Shu entered, she held her and scolded gently, “Why are you standing in this draft? Be careful not to catch a cold!”

“Mother!” Shu Yuwan called out, and tears started flowing.

This “mother” sounded as if it had been distant for a lifetime.

Madam Shu’s heart trembled upon hearing this, feeling extreme pain. She comforted softly, “Good child, you’ve been wronged. Mother knows, you’re still pregnant, don’t cry.”

Shu Yuwan knew her mother misunderstood, but she didn’t say much. Seeing her mother healthy and full of vitality, she felt half fulfilled.

So she joyfully said, “Yes, your daughter won’t cry. I’m just so happy to see you, mother.”

“Silly girl.”

Madam Shu helped Shu Yuwan sit down and asked, “I know about the situation. I’ve read your letter. Are you really determined to divorce An Shaoyu?”

“Yes!” Shu Yuwan’s answer was resolute.

“Ah.” Seeing her daughter like this, Madam Shu continued, “Before I came today, the Grandmother and Madam of the Anding Marquis Mansion went to our house. They said this matter was solely An Shaoyu’s idea, and the notices were made by the merchant’s daughter using An Shaoyu’s private seal. But is it true?”

Shu Yuwan smiled, “Mother, do you believe that? Which servant would dare steal their master’s private seal and give it to someone else?”

“An Shaoyu wants to divorce and marry Miss Zhao. I heard him say this in the Grandmother’s courtyard. For this, he even went on a hunger strike.”

“Moreover, he has already sent me the divorce letter!”

“What!” Madam Shu was extremely surprised.

“You heard correctly.” Shu Yuwan took out the divorce letter An Shaoyu had sent and showed it to her mother.

Madam Shu opened it and saw that it stated the divorce was because An Shaoyu had met someone he truly loved and entrusted the child to Yuwan for upbringing. Apart from the child being entrusted to Yuwan, the content was similar to the notices. It was stamped with An Shaoyu’s private seal and his signature.

With this, regardless of who made the notices, An Shaoyu must have been aware and agreed to it.

Madam Shu’s face turned pale.

“Yuwan, has this divorce letter been registered with the authorities?”

“Of course not. I was waiting for you and father to come to the Anding Marquis Mansion. After discussing the divorce matters, both families will go to the authorities for the divorce. This way, there won’t be any unclear issues lingering.”

“But the people at the Anding Marquis Mansion don’t want you to divorce.”

“And have you truly prepared for life after the divorce?” Madam Shu asked her daughter.

Shu Yuwan held her mother’s hand and said, “Mother, I have thought it through.” “Good, we’ll discuss it with your father when he returns,” Madam Shu replied.