Chapter 28

“If she really wanted to mess around with men, why stay in the Xiao family? Wouldn’t it be better to live a peaceful life out there with the one she loves instead of dragging us all along to our doom?”

Qi Lanzhi, who had married into the Xiao family three years ago, had enjoyed every bit of its favor and honor—but when disaster struck, she only looked out for herself.

And Su Jinyuan—a woman who had already run off and abandoned her marriage—if she hadn’t been prepared to face death, why would she return now?

Seeing that her eldest daughter-in-law’s face was ashen, Old Madam Xiao drew a deep breath and said, “You’re heartbroken over Xi’er’s departure, but now that things have come to this, what good is blaming Ah Yuan?”

“Little Sixth is still in prison, and Little Seven is barely even grown up. In this mansion, only a few of us frail, old women and children are left. Do you really want us all to die along with Xi’er, to let the Xiao family’s bloodline be cut off—so that our entire family, young and old, will have to reunite with them in the afterlife?”

“Just think about it for yourself!”

Eldest Madam Xiao slumped into a chair. When Old Madam Xiao finished her scolding and turned to leave, she clutched her face and suddenly burst into tears.

“It wasn’t on purpose… but Xi’er… my Xi’er…” she sobbed.

Just over a month ago, the whole family had been in high spirits. She had even helped Xi’er with his wedding, and the other children in the mansion played and laughed around her. But in a short time, her husband died—and none of the mansion’s children ever returned. Tears streamed down her face in heavy, unending drops.

“I have never done anything despicable, and the Xiao family has never wronged anyone. Why must they treat me this way… why…?”

“I would rather sacrifice my life for them… I only want them to come back…”

Eldest Madam Xiao’s voice broke as she cried, her whole body trembling.
When she finally sank from the chair to the ground, she clutched herself tightly and curled into a ball—seemingly immersed in endless agony, with nothing but the images of Xiao Jin and her three sons filling her vision. They had even said when they left that she should wait in the mansion for their victorious return.

But now… it’s all gone…
Everything is gone!!

“Why are they doing this to me… why?!” she cried.

Her face was awash with tears as she clutched her chest in such heart-wrenching pain that she longed nothing more than to join them in death.

Second Madam Xiao, remembering her son who had died on the battlefield, couldn’t help but shed tears as well. She stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and said, “I know, I know it all… Sister-in-law, Xi’er and Yao’er have left, along with A Yan, Xuan’er, and Wan Yung—everyone…”

Madam Xiao burst into uncontrollable, wailing sobs, clinging to Second Madam Xiao’s hand like a drowning child.

Half-kneeling beside her, Wei Wanyun also let her tears flow in heavy drops, saying, “Mother, you still have me. I will always be by your side—please, don’t be sad…”

“Wah, wah—”

Eldest Madam Xiao wept her heart out.

Old Madam Xiao stood outside the door, listening to the cries of the three people inside, her eyes red.

“Old Madam…”

“I’m fine.” Old Madam Xiao reached out and wiped her eyes, her expression resolute. She could not collapse; now was not the time for sorrow.

Even though the Xiao family had lost its men, she should remain. She couldn’t allow her son and grandchildren to leave while carrying a stain of disgrace—she had to avenge her son and fight for justice for her four grandchildren!

“Tell the others not to disturb them—let them vent for a while.”

Ever since the news from Linchuan arrived, misfortunes had befallen the mansion one after another. Madam Xiao and the others had been holding everything in, and sooner or later, all that pent-up emotion would burst forth.

Old Madam Xiao regained her composure. “Go get some wound medicine. I’m going to check on Ah Yuan—I don’t know how badly that child is hurt.”

Nanny Chen nodded. After instructing someone to keep watch by the door, she went to fetch the medicine and then followed Old Madam Xiao to Yuqing Hall.

At the sound of knocking, Su Jinyuan was busy applying medicine to herself. She gathered her clothes and sent Xing’er to open the door.

“Old Madam.”

Hearing Xing’er’s voice, Su Jinyuan immediately put down the warm towel in her hand. “Grandmother.”

“Don’t get up; sit down quickly.”

Old Madam Xiao strode in and immediately saw the marks on Su Jinyuan’s neck. Her expression darkened. “Are the injuries serious?”

Su Jinyuan, realizing that the old lady must have known about her meeting with Qi Sheng, no longer held anything back.

“They’re not serious. Qi Sheng is nothing more than a feeble little scion; even in a fit of anger, he couldn’t hurt me too badly. I only exaggerated the severity a bit. Grandmother, don’t worry—it doesn’t hurt at all…”

Argh!

Old Madam Xiao reached out and poked her, and Su Jinyuan immediately gasped, her face turning pale from the pain.

“Didn’t you say it didn’t hurt?”

“It… just a little hurt…” The girl, her face as white as paper, gasped audibly yet still talked back stubbornly.

Old Madam Xiao reached out, taking a handkerchief to apply a warm compress on her, and said, “Still talking back—have you even looked at your face? Look at how much it hurts! How on earth were you raised that at such a young age, you don’t even cry out in pain?”

“Why wouldn’t I cry if it hurts, or weep when I’m in discomfort, or fuss when I don’t like something? A girl is meant to be a little delicate so that she can be cared for.”

Kids who are too headstrong always end up suffering.

Su Jinyuan stretched her neck as she listened to the old lady’s rambling, and offhand replied, “Only those who are spoiled can afford to be delicate.”

“If you aren’t pampered, then you’re just being affected.”

Old Madam Xiao was taken aback by those words. She knew all about the matters concerning the Su family—and she recalled how Madam Yu, during the wedding procession, didn’t bother to cover up anything for her niece. In fact, she behaved as if she couldn’t wait to have everyone know about Su Jinyuan’s elopement. It seems that the people of the Su family are not exactly easy to get along with.

Su Jinyuan’s mother died young, and her father passed away early as well. As an only daughter living in her uncle’s household, always having to watch others’ moods and act accordingly, her life was probably far less splendid than it appeared from the outside.

Nanny Chen, standing by, pitied her and said, “Isn’t the young madam doing alright at the Su residence?”

“Not bad, really.” Speaking truthfully, Su Jinyuan added, “My cousin and my uncle have treated me quite well.”

Her uncle wasn’t particularly kind or unkind—he had the common flaws of man: greedy for wealth and overly concerned with appearances. Still, he wasn’t bold enough to do anything outrageously wicked, and he retained a measure of brotherly loyalty. So, although he could be rather aloof toward me, he never intentionally treated me harshly.

Cousin Su Heng, an upright gentleman, had cared for her with extra tenderness ever since childhood because he pitied that she had lost both her parents.

“And what about your aunt…?”

Su Jinyuan fell silent for a moment, then managed a slight smirk, “She’s not very easy to get along with.”

Old Madam Xiao’s face darkened. “Does she treat you harshly?”

“Not exactly harshly—she just doesn’t like me much. She always feels that I don’t match the Xiao family and that this marriage should have gone to my cousin instead. After trying to dissuade me several times without success, she even found a man to seduce me and ingratiate herself with me.”

Nanny Chen, tightening her grip on the teacup, nearly crushed it.

Old Madam Xiao’s eyes hardened even more.

Some things can’t be kept secret for long, and besides, since Su Jinyuan admires someone from the Xiao family, she doesn’t want to deceive anyone.

After she led Old Madam Xiao and had her sit up straight, Su Jinyuan finally began, “Actually, I lied to you before. Before I married the eldest son, I did indeed develop mixed feelings—I fell in love with that Lu Zhuo whom my aunt found for me.”

“On the day of the wedding, my aunt, carrying a personal belonging of my long-lost younger brother, claimed she had discovered his whereabouts. After she tricked me into leaving the city, I met Lu Zhuo, and he later coaxed me into going to Qu’an.”

“Madam’s scolding me for eloping isn’t without reason—it is I who have wronged the eldest son and the Xiao family…”