Chapter 2: Cutting Ties

Ning Yumo spoke of severing ties as if it were a trivial matter, while Su Shi’s heart ached deeply.

However, she suppressed the urge to confront Ning Yumo and calmly said, “Fine. But over the years, I’ve given so much to the Ning family. As a responsible official, Master Ning surely wouldn’t be so stingy as to not provide even a bit of travel money.”

Ning Yumo’s expression remained unchanged. “I can give it, but remember, Su Shi, it wasn’t my family that abandoned you. You insisted on severing ties yourself. The words my mother said were merely a temporary measure. Once I achieve success and recognition, everything will be better, including your status.”

“But you haven’t considered the Ning family at all. You can’t even endure this small issue. You’re not worthy of being the daughter-in-law of the Ning family.”

Truly, after reading a few books, he could dress up such shameless actions with such righteous and dignified words.

Su Shi was furious, never expecting Ning Yumo to be so brazen. “You, Ning Yumo, are utterly shameless. Instead of striving on your own, all you think about is climbing the social ladder. All those years of studying have been for nothing—like feeding knowledge to a dog.”

Slap!

Ning Yumo strode forward and slapped Su Shi hard across the face. The calm, falsely dignified expression he had maintained instantly twisted into something ugly.

He shouted angrily, “Climbing the social ladder? Su Shi, don’t speak nonsense! The Ping Le County Lord appreciates talent and loves poetry. As a subordinate, it’s my duty to ease her troubles. What would a mere woman like you know?”

The slap made Su Shi stagger back three steps. She forced herself to stay upright to avoid falling and hurting Ning Buwan.

Ning Buwan was furious, but having lost her powers in this life, she couldn’t fight back. All she could do was gently cup Su Shi’s swollen face with her small hands, crying in pain.

“Mother, does it hurt? Father, please don’t hit Mother, okay?” Ning Buwan sobbed as she tried to soothe Su Shi’s injury.

In her past life, she was too young to understand why Ning Yumo hit her mother. Now, having been reborn, she finally understood how much her mother had endured.

She was determined to settle this score.

Ning Buwan’s cry of “father” made Ning Yumo suddenly realize that she had gotten used to calling him that. It would be hard to change. If the Ping Le County Lord came to the mansion and she slipped up, it could ruin everything.

With this thought, he became even more convinced that he needed to get rid of the mother and daughter quickly.

“Mother, bring me two hundred taels of silver.” After speaking, Ning Yumo turned and went to Su Shi’s room.

When he returned, he held a document of severance and a divorce letter, both stamped with his handprint to make them appear legitimate.

“Take these and leave the imperial city tomorrow. As for the official stamps, you don’t need to worry about them.” As long as the mother and daughter left the city, he would have someone take care of them—no need for any official seals.

Su Shi knew that once the seals were stamped, the matter would escalate, and the Ning family would never let that happen.

She had just arrived in the capital not long ago, and the Ning family had not yet submitted the marriage certificate between her and Ning Yu Mo.

This worked out perfectly—it both fulfilled the Ning family’s intentions and supported her wish to sever ties.

Ning Yu Mo’s ruthless decision left Su Shi heartbroken, but she did not want to show weakness in front of the Ning family. She took the divorce letter and the document severing family ties from his hands.

Seeing the fingerprints on the document, Ning Bu Wan finally felt at ease. She hugged Su Shi’s neck and said in a soft, childlike voice, “Mother, let’s go back and pack our things.”

She could sense Su Shi’s sadness. Over the years, Su Shi had given so much to the Ning family and sincerely loved Ning Yu Mo. In the end, she was left in such a miserable situation—how could she not feel resentful?

On the way back, Su Shi couldn’t hold back her grievances any longer and started to cry.

Back when Ning Yu Mo had not yet achieved academic success, the Ning family was not well off. Since the marriage between the two families had been arranged early on, and the Su family saw Ning Yu Mo as someone trustworthy, they often helped the Ning family financially.

Who would have thought that everything would change once Princess Ping Le took an interest in him?

“Mother, don’t be sad. I will protect you and Grandpa’s family. One day, the Ning family will pay for this.”

Seeing Ning Bu Wan’s adorable little face filled with indignation comforted Su Shi’s heart.

“I believe in you, Wan Wan. When you grow up, you’ll accomplish something extraordinary. But for now, just focus on growing up—Mother will handle everything else.”

In her previous life, Su Shi had been constantly manipulated by Zhou Shi for the sake of Ning Bu Wan, but back then, she was too young to understand any of it.

Ning Bu Wan gently cupped Su Shi’s face and kissed her cheek, offering silent comfort.

Su Shi set Ning Bu Wan down at the entrance and told her to go inside and pack her belongings while she went to pack her own.

Recalling Zhou Shi’s earlier threat, Su Shi thought for a moment and put a pair of scissors into her bundle. She also planned to hire a group of armed escorts the next day. Once they reached Qinghe Village, everything would be easier.

When Su Shi finished packing, she went to Ning Bu Wan’s room and saw her sitting at the table, staring at her wrist and giggling to herself, looking rather silly.

“Wan Wan, what are you doing?”

Ning Bu Wan hurriedly pulled down her sleeve to cover the golden lotus pattern on her wrist and shook her head. “Nothing, Mother. Are you done packing?”

Ning Bu Wan’s heart was pounding with excitement—she hadn’t expected the life-bound spatial artifact that her master had crafted for her to have followed her through reincarnation.

She had already checked it earlier. Although the items inside hadn’t carried over, she could use the space tonight to collect treasures from the Ning family’s storeroom.

No matter how hard the Ning family racked their brains, they would never guess that the valuables had been taken away by them.

“Yes, I’m done packing. I just came to check if you have anything left to pack.”

Ning Bu Wan noticed Su Shi’s red, swollen eyes and knew that she must have cried just now.

She had cried again.

“I… I haven’t packed yet. I don’t know what to take with me,” she lied. As soon as she returned, she had been thinking about how to escape the Ning family’s pursuit along the way.

Unexpectedly, she discovered the natal space on her wrist.

She also noticed that this world did have spiritual energy, although it was quite thin. To cultivate quickly, she would need to set up a Spirit Gathering Array to concentrate the scarce spiritual energy.

However, setting up a Spirit Gathering Array required spirit stones, which she did not have.

In the cultivation world, almost every cultivator set up a Spirit Gathering Array to avoid running out of spiritual energy during breakthroughs.

Of course, cultivation without the array was possible, but the results were negligible.

Su Shi picked up Ning Buwan and placed her on the bed, suppressing the soreness in her throat. “Wanwan, from now on, you’ll take my surname, Su. You’ll be called Su Wan, okay?”

Ning Buwan was more than happy and nodded obediently, “Yes, Mother, don’t be sad. I’ve always wanted to take the surname Su.”

From now on, her name would be Su Wan.

Su Shi sniffled, relieved, “Good girl. It makes me feel better to know you think that way.” She had been worried that Su Wan might resist.

After saying a few words, Su Shi got up to pack their belongings.

Perhaps because Mrs. Zhou was confident that she could eliminate the mother and daughter halfway, no one was sent to keep watch while Su Shi packed.

During dinner, Mrs. Zhou didn’t send anyone to call them. Su Shi went to the kitchen herself and brought back two steamed buns, which served as their dinner.

While eating, Su Shi couldn’t help but shed tears again. Su Wan’s heart ached. “Mother, don’t be sad anymore. We’ve already cut ties with the Ning family. Let’s not think too much about it.”

“It’s not too late for Mother to see things clearly now,” Su Wan continued. At least they were still alive.

Remembering the scene from her previous life where Su Shi died tragically in front of her, even after so many years, Su Wan’s heart still ached.

Su Shi suddenly noticed that Su Wan spoke more clearly and logically today, with a resilience in her eyes far beyond her age.

It seemed that today’s incident had greatly impacted her—she had matured a lot in just one day.

“Then, Wanwan, go to bed early. We still have to travel tomorrow.”

“Okay, Mother, you should rest too. I’ll sleep now.”

News of the mother and daughter’s departure had already spread throughout the residence, and the maids and old servants who had once served them had all left the courtyard.