Zhao Ruyu's Plan
The First Madam and Matron Jin helped the Old Madam into the inner room to rest. After giving Matron Jin and Daimao a few more instructions, she went out with Zhao Yuanxun to the east wing and summoned Liuli to ask her questions.
Even though they knew the old lady was faking illness, when they heard that Lady Wei wanted to search the old lady's courtyard for the sake of a concubine, not only the First Madam but also Zhao Yuanxun were trembling with anger.
"Go, fetch the Second Master. I want to ask him how he disciplines the people in the house," Zhao Yuanxun shouted.
The First Madam also instructed, "Go and send a message to all the young ladies, saying that the Old Madam is ill."
Seeing that Matron Ruan was about to leave after agreeing, she added, "Just give the orders. You and Matron Jin, along with Old Woman Liu and the others, take the Second Madam back to the Wei Family. Explain today's events to her in-laws, saying that their daughter is so arrogant that our Wei Family's mansion can't tolerate her. Please ask them to keep their daughter in the mansion and discipline her properly."
This is the most severe punishment a wealthy family can impose on its daughter-in-law.
After all, wealthy and powerful families always arranged marriages between people of equal social standing, and the daughters-in-law they married also came from powerful and influential families. So, if a daughter-in-law made a mistake, in order not to offend her in-laws, she couldn't be punished like a child in the family by being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall. For minor mistakes, she would be punished by copying Buddhist scriptures or being confined to reflect on her actions; for major mistakes, she could only be sent back to her parents' home.
If a married daughter is sent back to her parents' home in this way, her parents will lose face. If outsiders find out, they will think that the girl is of bad character and will not want to marry into this family, making it difficult for the girl in the family to get married.
This punishment is not just for the daughter-in-law herself, but for the entire family. In order not to implicate her family, the married daughter naturally has to be careful with her words and actions and dare not make mistakes.
Of course, this is only true when both sides are of similar social standing and power. If one side is of higher social standing and greater power, the other side can only swallow its anger.
The First Madam sent Lady Wei away, but this was only on the surface; she wanted to damage the Wei Family's reputation first. Behind the scenes, a power struggle was naturally brewing.
Since marrying into the family, Lady Su has not been mistreated by her mother-in-law or bullied by her elder sister-in-law, but she has been bullied quite badly by Lady Wei.
Upon hearing that Lady Wei's search of the Rongxi Hall had angered the Old Madam so much that she fell ill, Lady Su was overjoyed. She couldn't help but sneer, "Second Sister-in-law, you're really something! You've even managed to investigate the Old Madam's courtyard while searching your own concubines. Maybe your Concubine Wang has hidden in the palace. Second Sister-in-law, you'd better go and check on her quickly, lest she escape."
Lady Wei was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end, and she put her hands on her hips, ready to curse.
The First Madam knew Lady Wei's temper well and was worried that if she made a scene without thinking, she might really make the Old Madam sick.
She immediately snapped, "Shut up, all of you! If you want to argue, go outside. The old lady has fallen ill from anger; the doctor told her to rest and not to get upset at all. And here you are, arguing in the Rongxi Hall again."
Then she said to Lady Su, "Lady Su, you're something else. Your mother-in-law is angry, but you don't seem anxious at all, and you even have the nerve to mock your second sister-in-law. It seems the Su Family's upbringing is nothing special. Why don't you go back to your parents' home like your second sister-in-law?"
Lady Su quickly shrank back like a quail, daring not to utter another sound.
Lady Su was also reprimanded, which made Lady Wei feel a little better. Normally, regardless of whether the First Madam was present or not, she would have had a good argument with Lady Su.
But today she felt guilty. The old lady had fallen ill from anger because of her. As long as it wasn't too serious, with the Wei Family protecting her, the Marquis and the First Madam would at most send her back to her parents' home to vent their anger. Due to the power of the Wei Residence, Zhao Yuanliang would soon bring her back. She would just consider it a trip back to her parents' home to keep them company, and it wouldn't be a big deal.
Now that the Marquis and his wife still have the energy to investigate the matter, it seems that the old lady's illness is not too serious.
But if she angers the old lady again, worsening her condition and ultimately causing her death, the very filial Marquis and his wife will certainly not let her off easily.
So now she can only keep a low profile.
She gave Lady Su a snort, sending her a look that said, "You just wait, I'll deal with you later." Then she turned to the First Madam and said, "I don't need you to see me off, I'll go back by myself." With that, she turned and left.
The First Madam didn't even bother to glance at her, and instructed Matron Ruan and Old Woman Liu, "Follow her until you reach the Wei Residence."
Matron Ruan, Old Woman Liu, and the others agreed and followed Lady Wei out of the courtyard.
Naturally, Lady Wei couldn't go back empty-handed. She went straight back to the second house to pack her things.
She might never return after this trip. So Matron Ruan let her pack. At least she was allowed to take her valuables with her, so as not to cause trouble with the Marquis's mansion over these things later.
Every day after school, Zhao Ruyu would first come to the Rongxi Hall to pay her respects to the old lady.
As soon as she returned to the manor today, she saw the servants running around in a panic. She grabbed one of them and asked him what had happened. She learned that the old lady had suffered a stroke. She rushed to the Rongxi Hall and witnessed everything that had just happened.
Knowing that the old lady's stroke was caused by Lady Wei, and hearing that the first lady was going to send Lady Wei back to her parents' home, Zhao Ruyu's heart sank.
Such a thing never happened in my past life.
Although Lady Wei had a bad temper and acted arrogantly, the old lady and the first lady had always tolerated her because of the power of the Old Master Wei and for the sake of peace in the household.
Back then, Concubine Wang also secretly became pregnant without Lady Wei's knowledge and came to the old lady for help, but the old lady ignored her. In the end, Lady Wei had someone give Concubine Wang an abortion drug, and the child was lost. Concubine Wang was bedridden for half a month before she also died.
As a result, Zhao Yuanliang had a fierce argument with Lady Wei and didn't return to the main house for half a year, but he still couldn't do anything about Lady Wei.
Lady Wei didn't need a husband. She cared for her son, scolded her concubine's daughter, and beat the servants. She lived a contented life.
In the end, Zhao Yuanliang wanted to take a new concubine, so he had no choice but to humble himself and beg Lady Wei for help.
As long as he didn't produce any illegitimate children, Lady Wei didn't care and even agreed. After that, no matter how much Zhao Yuanliang favored his concubines, he never dared to let them get pregnant again. Learning from Concubine Wang's example, Zhao Yuanliang's concubines were all extremely obedient and dared not harbor any further thoughts.
Therefore, their second branch of the family didn't change much until the downfall of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence. The biggest change was that she and Zhao Rurui got married, and Zhao Jing'an got a wife and had children.
So she really didn't expect things to turn out like this today.
She had no feelings for Lady Wei. If Lady Wei really went home, her life and Zhao Rurui's life would be much better.
But if Lady Wei was sent back, and the news got out, her marriage to Zhao Rurui would be in jeopardy.
Who would want to marry a girl raised by a woman like Lady Wei, who is disobedient to her mother-in-law and so domineering that she even dares to search her mother-in-law's yard?
Even if she gets into the Capital Women's Academy, she probably still won't be able to marry into the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence. Moreover, the Women's Academy places the highest importance on moral character. Once this matter becomes known, she might be forced to withdraw from the Women's Academy and return home.
Thinking about all the consequences, Zhao Ruyu felt a chill run down her spine.
She absolutely would not allow Lady Wei to be sent back.