Background

"I was understanding that it wasn't easy for you to give birth to Zhuo, so I indulged you for several years. But as soon as you returned to the Capital, you became completely lawless!"

"What, just because you have your family backing you up, you think you can disregard me, your mother-in-law?"

"If you feel you can't stay in the Xia family, I'll send you back to the Lu family!"

As soon as Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi arrived at Lu Jia's Courtyard, they heard Old Madam Xia giving a lecture.

Judging from the voice, she was scolding Lu Jia in the Courtyard.

Wei Shi complained, "There are still servants in the Courtyard!"

"Oh dear, this Old Madam Xia really doesn't give Jia'er any face."

In her haste, she wanted to rush in, but then she remembered that she was in someone else's house, and in a moment of confusion, she turned around and left.

"Mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law wouldn't dare."

Lu Jia held back her tears, lowered her head to admit her mistake, her eyes swollen like walnuts.

When her mother-in-law said she wanted to divorce her, she really meant it!

Xia Ji has always been Filial Piety, and his relationship with his wife has cooled; things might get out of hand.

Old Madam Xia snorted coldly, persisting relentlessly. "You don't dare? I think you're far too daring! You can't even tolerate bringing back a Concubine?"

"Your husband is wrong, and as his Principal Wife, you should properly advise him. That woman's status is illegitimate; you are the Principal Wife, so you should deal with her gracefully."

"Look what you've done to your husband's face! How can he ever show his face in public? He's a man, he holds an official position, not some lowly peddler!"

"I'll punish you by making you copy the book several times, and you still dare to pretend to be sick."

Lu Jia bit her lip and retorted, her voice weak. "... Mother, I... I really don't feel well."

Old Madam Xia sneered, "So you're feeling better now? I just put you under house arrest, and you dared to leave the Courtyard without permission? And you even dared to boss the head Stewardess!"

"I've really spoiled you rotten these past few years!"

Lu Jia wanted to talk back, Roujuan pulled her back.

But her gaze still angered Old Madam Xia, Old Madam said coldly, "If you still refuse, go back to the Lu family. You don't need to raise Zhuo anymore. There are plenty of women who can be his legal mother."

This struck a nerve with Lu Jia, and her face turned deathly pale; she dared not utter another word.

After scolding her eldest daughter-in-law, Old Madam Xia walked towards the courtyard gate.

Wei Shi grabbed Lin Yunwan and quickly hid.

After Old Madam Xia had walked away, she pulled Lin Yunwan out, wiped the sweat from her brow, and whispered, "How can my mother-in-law be so formidable?" She then grabbed Lin Yunwan and said, "Come on, let's go see your Eldest Sister!"

Lin Yunwan went with her.

Lu Jia smashed a tea set in the room, but she dared not smash the large vase.

If a small item breaks, it's fine; a few coins or taels of silver can easily replace it. But if it costs a lot more, Old Madam Xia won't allow it.

She started crying after she finished smashing it.

Why is my life so miserable?!

Roujuan advised, "Madam, please don't cry..." She didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but her mistress had really become somewhat reckless these past few years, so she couldn't help but say, "You know how strict the Old Madam is with rules. Even though you gave birth to Zhuo, you can't keep going against the Old Madam."

Lu Jia cried even louder, her shoulders trembling.

Roujuan hurriedly reminded her, "Madam, the Lady of the Marquis and the Heir's Wife are here!"

Lu Jia was still a little dazed. She raised her head, her face a mess, and stared blankly at Lin Yunwan.

"Eldest Aunt, we heard you were sick, so my mother-in-law and I came to see you."

Lu Jia was initially only a little embarrassed, but when Wei Shi sighed, "Jia'er, we heard everything," she became even more embarrassed!

Roujuan said, "Madam, Young Madam, please rest for a while. I'll go and help Madam wash her face before I come back."

Wei Shi pulled Lin Yunwan down to sit.

Roujuan helped the bewildered Lu Jia back to her room to redo her makeup.

After waiting for about 15 minutes, Lu Jia finally came out. She had washed her face, her eyes were very red and swollen, and her hair was very plain without any hairpins. Anyway, she didn't need to go out, so it didn't matter if she didn't dress up.

As soon as she came out, she glared at Lin Yunwan and said, "Now you're so smug!"

Wei Shi said, "Jia'er, how can you talk like that? Yun Wan and I came here to check on you."

Not wanting to vent her anger on her stepmother, Lu Jia said, "Mother, I'm really not feeling well. You should go back."

"I'll apologize to you another day. I want to rest now."

Wei Shi understood; no one is happy to be scolded by their mother-in-law, so she said, "Then we'll be going now. You should get some rest."

She added, "Your mother-in-law is right. She's just an improper mistress; you should just get rid of her. Why fight with your son-in-law? If word gets out, people will just say you're not a virtuous woman."

Lu Jia nearly spat out blood, bursting into tears as she cried, "Mother, he's keeping a mistress! How much more magnanimous can I be!"

Lin Yunwan sighed and said, "Sister, you have always been dignified and virtuous, and have never been a jealous person. Madam Old Madam Xia is getting old. Even if I, as your younger sister, don't say anything, you should take the initiative to handle this matter."

"Now the family is in turmoil, the couple's relationship is strained, and you've even embarrassed your son-in-law. As the Principal Wife, you are eight-tenths at fault."

"You! You!"

Lu Jia's eyes widened. How dare Lin Yunwan speak to her like that!

Is this even human language?!

Wei Shi found this reasonable and said, "Jia'er, remember Yun Wan's words well."

"You stay home and copy the book. Your sister-in-law and I are going back now."

She pulled Lin Yunwan away again, not forgetting to tell Lin Yunwan, "Don't spread rumors about your aunt. If the Xia family really divorces her, I'll make trouble for you!"

The two went to the banquet hall together for the meal.

By the time they returned to the Marquis of Wuding Marquis Residence, the sun had already set.

Lin Yunwan left Tao Ye to watch the Courtyard after she went out. She and Ping Ye had just returned when Tao Ye rushed out and stood under the eaves, looking like she had something to say.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Yunwan went in and poured a cup of tea.

Tao Ye whispered, "Madam, Concubine Zhu Qing came by and said that the person the Old Madam sent to annul the engagement for our Cousin Miss has returned."

"Oh? So fast."

Tao Ye said, "My Concubine says she needs to see you immediately. Should I go and call Concubine over?"

"Please invite her over."

"Yes."

Lin Yunwan had just given the order when Zhu Qing arrived on her own, a smile on her face. Her first words were cryptic. "Madam, guess how smoothly the marriage proposal for our Cousin Miss was called off?"

"Judging from your expression, things aren't going too well?"

Zhu Qing smiled and said, "Madam is right."

She explained in detail, "As soon as they returned today, I sent people to keep an eye on them—the stable boy, Nanny Yan's son, and the Matron who came with them. I personally dealt with them all."

"However, they are all people the Old Madam trusts, and they are very tight-lipped. Although they didn't say anything, I heard that the Old Madam almost fainted on the spot because of something she heard."

"It terrified Nanny Yan."

Lin Yunwan pondered, "Is there really something wrong with Ge Bao'er's background?"

This was something she hadn't expected.