Chapter 11: Madam Chu Demands a Divorce

She hadn’t expected her younger son to say such a thing, to disown her.

Zhao, the midwife, moved her lips, but ultimately couldn’t utter a sound.

Chu Zhiyan remained silent. He knew his father would protect him. In this family, his father always had the final say. As long as his father declared him the eldest son of the Chu family, that’s what he would be.

Seeing Chu Xu’s silence, Madam Chu’s heart grew cold.

She looked at Chu Xu with disappointment, her voice laced with sarcasm. “I know what you’re thinking. You can’t bear to part with Chu Zhiyan, can you? Fine, if that’s the case, then abandon me! Chu Xu, let’s get a divorce!”

Chu Xu looked at his wife in disbelief. Chu Zhiyan and Chu Zhiwei were also stunned, never imagining Madam Chu would propose a divorce.

Did she hate them that much?

Chu Xu’s voice was laced with anger. “Lin, are you crazy? Do you know what you’re saying?”

Madam Chu met his angry gaze with a cold smile. “Chu Xu, everyone says they envy me, that I have your undivided love, no backroom intrigues, no illegitimate children, that we live in harmony and respect each other. Ha! Only I know that I’m not happy at all in this house.”

“You appear gentle and courteous to outsiders, and you show me care and affection. But they don’t know that’s just an act. In reality, you’re a selfish and cold person. You never cared for me at home, never paid attention to me. You only ignored and neglected me.

When you were with me, it was as if you were only fulfilling the duty of procreation. You had no emotions of your own. I couldn’t sense any affection from you. I’ve spent half my life in this cold house, raising children alone, serving your parents alone. I thought maybe that’s how life would be. Neither good nor bad, I wouldn’t mind.”

“But now, the two children I raised for over a decade are not mine. My biological son was cruelly swapped, killed, and his soul is still imprisoned. All because of these two boys. Even if they are innocent, unaware of the truth, I can’t face them anymore. They can’t continue to be the eldest and second sons of the Chu family. Chu Xu, I only want my children. They are the rightful heirs of the Chu family. If you insist on keeping these two, then I will leave with my three children.”

Chu Xu was troubled. He knew he hadn’t shown much concern for his wife over the years, but wasn’t that the case in every household?

But seeing his wife’s anger, he didn’t dare speak those words.

He sighed helplessly. “I’ll find a solution. Give me some time. For now, let’s send our sons to be reincarnated so they can start a new life.”

Madam Chu looked at him coldly. “No, I need a solution right now! Kill this woman. As for those two, they came from unknown origins. Who can prove they are from Shiya County? They have no registered residence, which means they have no proper identity. How can they participate in the civil service exams, how can they attend the academy? The Chu surname should be stripped from them. From now on, they are no longer our concern.”

Chu Zhiyan looked at Madam Chu sharply, unable to believe she could be so ruthless.

This would destroy everything he had worked for. He had spent years studying diligently, hoping to rise above his station and achieve his ambitions.

But if he lost his identity, all his years of effort, everything he had, would be lost.

He would never allow such a thing to happen.

Zhao, the midwife, heard this and struggled to crawl over. “You can’t do this. You’ll ruin Zhiyan’s life. He’s the most suitable for studying. He’s so hardworking, so talented. He’ll definitely become an official someday. You can’t harm him like this.”

Zhao was truly anxious. Ignoring the burning pain in her body, she crawled towards Madam Chu.

The injuries on her body were inflicted by Madam Chu herself. Though Madam Chu appeared delicate and gentle, when she got angry, she was merciless. Zhao, the midwife, was covered in bloodstains, a shocking sight.

Hearing Zhao’s words, Madam Chu scoffed and retorted with sarcasm, “I can’t do this?”

“Ha! How absurd! Why can’t I? I almost wish I could kill you and your two children; such thoughts barely satisfy the hatred burning in my heart. I’ve lost everything, yet you all want to live well, to take the imperial examinations and become officials? Hmph! Dream on!”

Zhao looked at the hatred in Madam Chu’s eyes, filled with despair. If only she could delay for a few more years, by then her son would be an official, and they wouldn’t have to fear anything.

They were so close to success; just a few more years would suffice, yet it was all ruined. Zhao felt anger towards Madam Chu, and even more towards Qingli.

The old matriarch stepped out of the room and addressed Chu Xu, “What divorce? The Chu family will not allow it.”

Although tears were in her eyes, the corners of her eyes weren’t red.

She turned to Madam Chu and said, “Lin, do not mention the word ‘divorce’ again. Let the men of this family resolve this matter. You need not interfere; he will make his own decisions.”

Madam Chu stared at her mother-in-law in disbelief, unable to believe she wanted to keep the children of her enemies.

She laughed in anger, her eyes full of sarcasm. “Does Mother also want to keep them?”

The old matriarch felt uncomfortable under her gaze and said with slight anger, “Lin, our Chu family is on the verge of extinction, with no male heirs left. As a woman of the Chu family, do you not have any responsibility?”

“Zhiyan and Zhiwei have grown up in our Chu family since birth, raised according to the standards of the Chu heirs, which is why they’ve achieved what they have today. They are children of the Chu family, and that cannot be changed.”

Madam Chu looked at her mother-in-law with despair. She never expected that she alone cared for Big Bai and Little Bai; they only cared about heirs and their futures. Ha! How ridiculous, utterly laughable.

Madam Chu smiled, but her eyes were filled with tears, cold as ice.

She nodded, her heart cold. “Fine, I understand. Then let’s get a divorce!”

“Mother, I support your decision. Since there’s no place for you and my brother in this family, let’s divorce! I’ll go with you, and we’ll take my brother back to our maternal family.”

A young girl stepped out from inside, holding Big Bai and Little Bai’s hands. However, upon reaching the threshold, Big Bai and Little Bai could not follow her out.

The girl let go of her two younger brothers’ hands and walked to Madam Chu, supporting her arm. She turned to Chu Xu and the old matriarch and said, “Father, Grandmother, I know you only care about heirs and male children, but I never expected that today you would abandon the true bloodline of the Chu family and choose these two impostors. If that’s the case, then let Mother leave. She will take me and my brothers back to our maternal grandfather’s house. Since you don’t like me or my brothers, it’s just as well; we don’t like this family either.”

Chu Tianjiao had never been favored by her father or grandmother because she was a girl. Only her mother cherished her, nurturing her. She had never felt her father’s love or her grandmother’s affection. Most of her time was spent at her maternal family’s home, and she rarely returned. Thus, she could propose leaving without hesitation.

The old matriarch’s anger flared up. The wooden cane in her hand struck the ground with a loud thud, the rapid banging marking her inner fury and dissatisfaction.

“Chu Tianjiao, how dare you say such things! As a daughter, do you have the right to speak here?”

The old matriarch’s voice was filled with rage, causing her body to tremble.