Just as Old Madam Lu finished speaking, she turned her head and met Old Master Lu’s lifeless, unblinking eyes.

He was staring in her direction.

In that instant, Old Madam Lu realized something was wrong.

She immediately stumbled to her feet and rushed toward the bedside.

“Old man? Old man?”

Madam Lu trembled all over as she threw herself beside him.

Shen Qingwan, worried that Old Madam Lu might faint from grief, quickly held her back and asked what had happened.

Old Madam Lu clutched Old Master Lu’s hand, sobbing uncontrollably. “It was that wicked woman! She killed your father! When we first arrived, she pretended to be kind, but soon she couldn’t even be bothered to keep up the act.

She bullied the two children whenever the eldest son was not home. Their bodies were covered in bruises, and she even allowed that little bastard to ride on Xiao Chen’s back like a horse. Later, your father and I confronted her in anger, but she ordered people to hold us back and beat the two children right in front of us.

That wretched eldest son of ours! When he came home, I told him that woman had a venomous heart and was abusing the children, but he refused to believe us! He said the children should start calling her ‘mother’ and that it was only natural for her to discipline them.

Your father and I were furious but helpless. Then one day, she called Xiaoyu outside. Your father didn’t trust her, so he secretly followed. That was when he discovered that wicked woman was trying to sell Xiaoyu!

Your father was so enraged that he rushed forward and slapped her, but we never imagined she would lock us up. The fury and worry over Xiaoyu made your father collapse with a stroke the next day.

But they ignored us. They didn’t send for a doctor, nor did they give us any food or water. We’ve been locked up in this tiny room for days without anything to eat or drink. Before I fainted, your father was still holding on. But now… he couldn’t make it. If you hadn’t come in time, I wouldn’t have survived either.

And Jiaojiao! That venomous woman arranged for Jiaojiao to be married off as a concubine to an old man. Who knows what has become of her now?”

Old Madam Lu’s face was blank as she recounted their suffering.

Back when their eldest son forced them to leave, she and her husband had resisted.

They had argued with him constantly along the journey and even demanded to take the children back.

But their son had patiently explained things, and knowing how difficult life was for him, they eventually relented and decided to follow him.

Lu Wenzhao had promised them that once they reached the capital, he would send someone back to bring Shen Qingwan along.

That promise had reassured them.

But upon arrival, they discovered he had already married another woman.

In their hearts, Shen Qingwan was their only daughter-in-law.

They never liked Su Ruoyun, no matter how noble her background was.

They still preferred Shen Qingwan.

Old Master Lu had called his son heartless and ungrateful, but Lu Wenzhao insisted on staying with Su Ruoyun.

As for Shen Qingwan, he was only willing to keep her around as a concubine out of respect for his parents and children.

This enraged Old Master Lu, who scolded him harshly.

They soon realized their son’s heart had changed, and there was no point in arguing further.

However, they could never tolerate Su Ruoyun abusing the children.

Never in her wildest dreams had Old Madam Lu imagined that her own son would be so cruel. He had allowed that woman to imprison them, and in doing so, had let his own father starve to death.

Old Madam Lu felt completely hopeless.

Now, all she wanted was to take Old Master Lu and the children and leave this place—hopefully with Jiaojiao as well—and return to Dahe Village.

Shen Qingwan clenched her fists in anger as she looked at Old Madam Lu’s devastated expression.

How absurd it was that Old Master Lu, who had survived over a month of famine, had starved to death after being taken in by his own son.

If she had arrived just one day later, Old Madam Lu would have met the same fate.

Shen Qingwan pulled a steamed bun from her pocket and handed it to Old Madam Lu. “Mother, eat something first. You need strength if we’re going to leave here soon.”

The bun was still warm, taken from Shen Qingwan’s personal stash.

In her daze, Old Madam Lu didn’t even think to question how her daughter-in-law had a hot bun in her pocket.

The moment she heard they could leave, she grabbed the bun and devoured it hungrily.

But before she could finish eating, Lu Wenzhao and Su Ruoyun stormed in with a group of guards.

“Shen Qingwan, you wretched woman! How dare you hurt me? Today, I will beat you to death!”

Lu Wenzhao, supported by others, approached with a twisted expression, cursing at Shen Qingwan.

Already furious, Shen Qingwan immediately let go of Madam Lu and stood up.

Old Madam Lu, however, looked at her eldest son with nothing but hatred. In her heart, her real son had died on the battlefield years ago.

This creature in front of her was nothing but a heartless beast.

Seeing Shen Qingwan approaching, Lu Wenzhao instinctively stepped back in fear, quickly signaling his guards to surround her.

Shen Qingwan’s gaze was icy, and the killing intent in her eyes sent chills down spines. Lu Wenzhao gritted his teeth in hatred, especially after what she had done to him.

“Seize her!” he ordered.

The guards rushed forward, but Shen Qingwan fought them barehanded.

Though they had some martial training, they were no match for her. Fueled by rage, she struck hard.

Su Ruoyun was stunned by Shen Qingwan’s strength.

In her mind, this woman should have been nothing more than a crude, ugly peasant.

She had always looked down on Lu Wenzhao’s so-called wife.

Lu Wenzhao had only confessed after their marriage that he had taken a country woman as a second wife in the countryside.

But Su Ruoyun never considered that woman a real wife since they had never had a formal wedding ceremony.

Now, seeing that Shen Qingwan was not only beautiful but also incredibly skilled in combat, Su Ruoyun felt jealous.

How could a mere peasant woman look better than her?

She had gone to the military camp intending to seduce the War King, Beichen Yuan.

She had planned to have an intimate night with him, believing that he would have no choice but to marry her afterward.

But things had backfired—he had forced the drugged tea down her throat instead. In her desperation, she had ended up with Lu Wenzhao instead.

Now that Lu Wenzhao was crippled, Su Ruoyun despised him and wished she could kill Shen Qingwan.

Shen Qingwan swiftly defeated the guards and grabbed Lu Wenzhao by the collar, dragging him into the room and throwing him onto Old Master Lu’s bed.

The stench inside made Lu Wenzhao dizzy, but before he could react, Shen Qingwan tossed him to the ground.

Once, Lu Wenzhao had been a strong warrior, but his injury left him weak and defenseless.

His lower body throbbed with pain, rendering him powerless against her.