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Chu Tianjiao snorted coldly and mocked, “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t care about the Chu family’s affairs! But now this is my mother’s matter. From now on, I, along with Big Bai and Little Bai, will take my mother’s surname. We will no longer bear the Chu name. Let these two impostors be the eldest sons of the Chu family! We don’t want it anymore.”
“Grandmother, you must be getting old and confused! Treating impostors like treasures while refusing to see your own grandsons.”
Chu Tianjiao’s tone was disdainful. This was the first time she had spoken to her grandmother like this. Although it was quite rebellious, she felt a sense of satisfaction. She had wanted to confront this old woman for a long time.
Lin pulled her daughter back, disapproving of her decision to sever ties with the Chu family. As the eldest daughter of the Chu family and the daughter of a prefect, Chu Tianjiao could match with better families in marriage. But if she took the surname Lin, she would only be the daughter of a merchant, which made a significant difference in potential suitors.
“Tianjiao, you must not speak to your grandmother like that. You are a daughter of the Chu family; don’t speak nonsense.”
Chu Tianjiao understood her mother’s intention, but she didn’t like being bound by such empty titles.
“Mother, it’s fine. My cousin is much more capable than Chu Zhiyan. He’ll surely excel in next year’s imperial examination. By then, our Lin family will also be a prominent family. Besides, even if we are a merchant family, we won’t have to worry about food and clothing. We’ll have plenty of money. What’s wrong with that? Mother, if you truly want to leave, I’ll go with you.”
Lin was moved. After weighing the pros and cons, she said, “Alright, I’ll take you with me. I’ll find you a good match; don’t worry.”
Since Chu Xu and the old matriarch didn’t care for her daughter, leaving her behind might only lead to more bullying. It was better to take her away!
Chu Tianjiao nodded, unconditionally trusting her mother.
Chu Xu’s expression darkened, while the old matriarch was furious, her cane striking the ground heavily. “This is outrageous; it’s truly gone too far!”
“Lin, do you know what you are doing? A divorce? Do you wish to grow old alone in the Lin family?”
Lin smiled nonchalantly. “Old matriarch, you need not worry about that.”
Chu Xu glared coldly at Lin. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Lin nodded firmly. “Unless you drive those two out, remove them from the Chu family’s registry, and revoke their eligibility for the imperial examinations, Chu Xu, that’s all I ask. I never said I wanted them dead to replace my children. I just want this poison woman gone and for those two to return my children’s lives. I don’t think my request is excessive.”
Chu Xu remained silent for a moment, then said, “Alright, since you insist, I will grant your wish. I only hope you won’t regret it in the future.”
Seeing that he still chose to keep those two bastards, Lin smiled bleakly. She nodded, her voice more resolute than ever. “Alright, leaving the Chu family will be a decision I will never regret.”
Chu Xu’s face darkened ominously. He immediately walked into the room and soon returned with the divorce papers he had just written.
He threw the divorce papers toward her, saying coldly, “Press your fingerprint here. From now on, you are no longer a woman of the Chu family.”
Though his words were resolute, the moment he threw the papers, Chu Xu felt a pang of regret. He glanced over, hoping Lin wouldn’t actually take the divorce papers.
The old matriarch wanted to stop this, feeling it shouldn’t end this way. But looking at Lin’s determined expression, she didn’t want to lower herself to beg her not to leave. In the end, she could only watch as Lin bit her finger and pressed her bloodied thumbprint on the papers.
Big Bai and Little Bai looked on in confusion, unsure of what was happening, sensing that their mother seemed very sad.
The two little ones felt a twinge of pain in their hearts.
Chu Xu watched as she unhesitatingly bit her finger. Anger bubbled up in his chest, making him feel tight and uncomfortable.
Lin turned to Chu Xu coldly. “Lord Chu, this poison woman swapped my son, and I want to see her executed. I will personally deliver her to the prison, so please do not try to stop me.”
Chu Xu didn’t want to show his reluctance. He looked at Chu Zhiyan and then nodded indifferently. “Alright, you can take her.”
Let Lin deal with this poison woman. In the future, if there were any grievances, the children could only blame Lin, not their father, who tried to protect them.
Chu Xu was calculating in his mind. Seeing his firm agreement, Lin knew exactly what he was thinking, unable to help but smile in anger.
Chu Tianjiao spoke up, “Mother, once Master arrives to perform the soul release for my brothers, let’s leave!”
Seeing her mother’s sorrow, Chu Tianjiao tried to comfort her.
Outside, Qingli heard this and stepped inside.
Lin looked up and saw Qingli entering, quickly walking over. “Miss Qingli, you’re here.”
Qingli nodded. “Yes, it’s about time to send Big Bai and Little Bai off.”
Chu Xu and the others were surprised to see that the so-called master was such a young girl, exchanging bewildered glances toward Qingli.
The old matriarch couldn’t help but speak up, “Lin, where did you find this master? She doesn’t look like one at all; she’s probably a fraud!”
The old matriarch had a strong dislike for Lin. Her son had been promoted, yet she was willing to leave. It was truly ungrateful and a sign of bad fortune.
Lin, fearing Qingli would be upset, turned to the old matriarch with displeasure. “Old matriarch, I advise you to choose your words wisely. Recklessly defaming a master may bring punishment. It would be wise for you to refrain from speaking such nonsense.”
Qingli listened for a while and, having a poor impression of the Chu family, chose not to engage further. She walked directly into the room and said to Big Bai and Little Bai, “Say goodbye to your mother. It’s time for you to go.”
Even though she was mentally prepared, Lin still felt a deep reluctance, her eyes turning red.
“Big Bai, Little Bai, go with peace of mind! Your mother is doing well, so don’t worry. I hope in the next life, I can see you both again.”
Lin affectionately touched the heads of her two children, filled with love and reluctance.
Big Bai nodded and said, “Mother, others don’t matter. Just take good care of yourself and be happy. I hope you can live joyfully for the rest of your life, smiling every day.”
Little Bai spoke up as well, “Mother, I will miss you, but you shouldn’t think too much about us. It might make you sick. I hope you stay healthy and happy for your whole life.”
Lin looked at her sensible children and held back her tears, not wanting them to worry. She smiled as she bid them farewell.
Chu Tianjiao also said a few words to her brothers, and Big Bai and Little Bai liked their sister, wishing her well in return.
Qingli took out her bagua compass and began to perform the spell to open the ghost gate.
Everyone watched quietly until they saw a black door appear out of thin air. Chu Xu and the old matriarch widened their eyes, finally believing in Qingli’s abilities.
As the ghost gate opened, the two little spirits were drawn in. Lin anxiously tried to reach for them, but was held back by Chu Tianjiao, who was crying.
“Mother, let the brothers go! They are going to a new life. They are so kind and lovely; in their next lives, they will surely be reborn into a good family and live happily.”
Lin was heartbroken, reduced to tears.
Once Qingli saw the two little spirits enter the path of reincarnation, she closed the door with relief and retracted her magical tool.
Suddenly, the old matriarch rushed forward, fawning over Qingli. “Master, I didn’t expect you to be so young yet so capable. I have something to ask; could you please enlighten me?”
Qingli glanced at the old matriarch and replied indifferently, “Of course. What would you like to ask, old matriarch?”
A smile of flattery appeared on the wrinkled face of the old matriarch as she asked Qingli, “I want to know if my two grandsons have a chance of topping the examinations.”
Hearing his grandmother’s question, Chu Zhiyan felt a flicker of hope, though he didn’t show it on his face.
Qingli looked at the two and then said blandly, “Old matriarch, from your facial features, you have no descendants. How could you expect your grandsons to top the examinations?”
The old matriarch’s smile froze, and she was left stunned for a long time.
Chu Tianjiao couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle, finding this master quite humorous.
Once the old matriarch snapped back to reality, she forced a couple of awkward laughs and said, “That’s true! But we plan to adopt these two children, and they will be recorded in the family tree as my Chu family’s children, which means they are my grandsons.”
Qingli’s eyes held a hint of sarcasm as she spoke in a calm tone, “Old matriarch, we read faces and fortunes based on bloodlines, not family trees. If you ask me to check if your grandsons can top the exams, I can only check your blood-related grandsons, as they are the ones whose fates are intertwined with yours. From your personal features and birth chart, I can see that. However, if you want to look at two people unrelated to you, then it cannot be revealed through your features and birth chart.”
The old matriarch felt unsettled by the mention of bloodlines, but she didn’t dare say anything against it and continued to smile. “Then instead of looking through my features, let’s look at Zhiyan’s. Please, Master, take a look at his features. I have his birth date as well; I can provide it to you.”