Chapter 7 – Return to the Capital, Encounter with the Ex-Husband

Letting her son witness the affectionate scene between Fei Yan and Dong Xinrui, Tang Chaoyang’s heart suddenly sank.

She hadn’t expected to run into them here. Holding Fei An’an’s hand, she prepared to leave.

Just then, Fei Yan’s gaze lifted.

Their eyes met.

His gaze remained as cold and indifferent as ever.
And hers was equally detached.

It seemed as though all the tenderness in Fei Yan had been reserved solely for Dong Xinrui.

Tang Chaoyang deeply regretted her naivety back then—falling for a man she should never have desired.

Fei Yan slowly finished placing the hairpin in Dong Xinrui’s hair.

Tang Chaoyang, expression frosty, led her son toward the carriage.

Dong Xinrui’s lips curled into a smile, but when she saw Tang Chaoyang and Fei An’an, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes.

Especially when she noticed the worn and tattered clothes the mother and son were wearing, her brows lifted slightly in faint contempt.

How pitiful.

Once vibrant and willful, Tang Chaoyang had now fallen to such a state.

Dong Xinrui lightly tugged at Fei Yan’s sleeve with her delicate fingers and said gently, “Husband, look—Miss Tang and An’an are over there.”

Recently, Guard Cheng had already relayed the news that Tang Chaoyang was unwilling to let Fei An’an return to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Dong Xinrui would never let her get her way.

“Husband, are you really not going to bring An’an back to the Prime Minister’s estate? The life he’s living with Miss Tang… it doesn’t seem too good,” she said, her voice laced with hidden probing.

Fei Yan’s voice was calm, “Since she doesn’t want me to bring An’an back, let her have her way.”

His tone was indifferent—as if An’an meant nothing to him.

Dong Xinrui was secretly pleased. She no longer worried that bringing Fei An’an back to the estate would threaten her own child’s position in the future.

Having him close, under her nose, would give her peace of mind.

Since her husband had no intention of retrieving Fei An’an, she planned to approach her mother-in-law instead.

No matter what, Fei An’an was the legitimate eldest grandson of the Fei family. How could the old madam bear to see her grandson remain adrift outside?

Dong Xinrui quietly plotted her next steps.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Tang Chaoyang and Fei An’an sat side by side as the wheels rolled steadily toward the General’s Estate.

Fei An’an happily nibbled on the candied hawthorn in his hand, the sweetness quickly washing away his earlier unhappiness.

He looked up at Tang Chaoyang with delight. “Mommy, this candied hawthorn is so yummy! Do you want a bite?”

Seeing her son smile again, the knot in Tang Chaoyang’s heart loosened.

“No need, Mommy’s good. You eat it,” she said with a gentle smile.

“Mommy, when you smile, you’re really, really pretty.”

Fei An’an nodded seriously. Way prettier than that woman next to Daddy.

*

At the General’s Estate, West Courtyard.

Before they even entered the hall, Su Miao and Su Ling heard the faint sound of a woman weeping inside.

They exchanged a glance. The crying sounded like Tang Chaoyang.

The sisters had no fondness for her.

Recently, whenever they attended gatherings, they were often mocked because of the scandal involving Tang Chaoyang.

“Sister, she’s so annoying. Do you think she’s planning to live here permanently now?” Su Ling whispered, lowering her voice.

Su Miao shot her a warning glare—this was their grandmother’s courtyard. “Don’t speak.”

Su Ling covered her mouth with a mischievous smile.

The two entered the hall.

Tang Chaoyang had just broken into tears upon seeing her grandmother. She couldn’t help it—after all, in her previous life, once her grandmother passed away, no one had cared about her anymore.

She had since wiped away her tears and stopped crying.

Old Madam Su personally held a handkerchief and gently wiped her granddaughter’s tears. “You… if you cry, An’an will cry too. As a mother, you have to set an example for your child.”

Fei An’an’s tears were still silently falling. He looked so pitiful.

Tang Chaoyang turned to look at her son. Seeing that his tears hadn’t stopped yet made him look… a bit comical.

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Old Madam Su, seeing her smile, finally relaxed. She waved to An’an, “Come here, An’an. Let Great-Grandmother hold you.”

Fei An’an stepped forward and knelt politely, his little voice soft and respectful. “An’an greets Great-Grandmother.”

Old Madam Su’s face lit up with joy. Her heart melted at the sight.

She beckoned lovingly. “Good child, come over and let Great-Grandmother take a good look at you.”

Obediently, Fei An’an stood and took small steps toward her.

Granny Zhou lifted Fei An’an and placed him beside Old Madam Su.

The old lady hugged him with affection written all over her face. But inwardly, she worried for his future.

With a heartless father like Fei Yan, what would become of this poor child?

While she and her husband were still alive, they could shield mother and son. But once they were gone, who would protect them?

At that moment, Su Miao and Su Ling entered the room.

They greeted Old Madam Su, then politely greeted Tang Chaoyang.

Old Madam Su’s expression was warm as she looked at her lovely granddaughters. “You two should visit Chaoyang when you have time. There are only three young ladies in the Su household—you should be close, as sisters should be.”

Su Miao and Su Ling replied respectfully, “Yes, Grandmother.”

Su Ling couldn’t help but curiously glance at Tang Chaoyang’s shabby appearance. Tang Chaoyang noticed but remained calm under her scrutiny.

She knew that because of her, her cousins’ reputations had also suffered.

Sitting on the side, Su Madam Li, the first wife, smiled and said, “Mother, Chaoyang and An’an have had a long journey. They should rest. Why don’t we let them retire for now?”

Old Madam Su nodded. “You’ve returned home now, Chaoyang. Rest well and don’t think too much. With us here, if the servants don’t treat you well, just tell your Aunt.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded.

Li-shi could tell her mother-in-law was issuing a veiled warning. She felt displeased but still replied gently, “Chaoyang, if anything comes up, come see your Aunt. Go rest with An’an—he looks very tired.”

Tang Chaoyang slightly bowed and thanked her. Then, with Fei An’an, she followed the maid assigned by Li-shi to their room.

She knew her aunt disliked her living in the Su Estate.

But she couldn’t mention leaving just yet—it would sadden her grandmother.

She planned to use this time to nurse her grandparents’ health before leaving.

After Su Miao and Su Ling also left, Old Madam Su turned a sharp gaze to Li-shi.

“Li-shi, during the half-month journey back from Hancheng, you had Chaoyang and her son wear nothing but worn clothes?”

Granny Zhao, standing beside Li-shi, quickly knelt. “Old Madam, it was this old servant’s fault. I was negligent.”

Old Madam Su knew this was Li-shi’s doing but couldn’t punish her too severely.

Once she and her husband were gone, Chaoyang would still need to live under Su family’s roof.

Still, she issued a warning. “Any servant who can’t even handle something this simple, Li-shi, may be dismissed from the household.”

Li-shi hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to humiliate her like this.

She couldn’t afford to lose her old nanny.

She pleaded for Granny Zhao and docked her wages for three months, repeatedly promising not to let Tang Chaoyang suffer again.

“I hope so.” Old Madam Su waved her hand, signaling them to leave.

**

At that very moment, inside the Rong’en Hall of the Prime Minister’s residence—

Old Madam Fei’s face turned extremely grim after hearing Dong Xinrui’s report. “Foolish! An’an is the blood of the Fei family—how can he be left to live with that hussy Tang Chaoyang?”

Dong Xinrui flinched at the crude word “hussy” and lowered her eyes to hide her flash of disgust.

She found her mother-in-law vulgar and uneducated—like a shrew.

Her husband was so dignified and refined, yet he had such a crude mother.

Dong Xinrui said softly, “Mother, Husband has already decided to let the child stay with Miss Tang.”

Old Madam Fei’s expression grew even more severe. “I’ll handle this. The blood of the Fei family must not remain outside. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the General’s Estate and bring An’an back myself.”