Chapter 2: The Weak Overpowering the Strong

Tao Ye was startled: "Miss, you must be talking nonsense!"

Divorce? No way!

Zhou Zhining bullies the strong with the weak and loves to play the victim to gain sympathy. Unfortunately, her son-in-law falls for her act and protects her like a treasure.

But this shouldn't warrant a divorce.

Taoye slapped her mouth: "I was talking nonsense, Miss, please don't overthink it. That woman will leave after staying in the manor for a while. Once she leaves, the young master's heart will still be with you... Besides, Miss, you are pregnant. Once the young master finds out, his mind will only be on you and the young master, and he won't think about anyone else."

Tao Ye panicked, fearing that Yao Qingling would really divorce her, and spoke incoherently.

Yao Qingling listened, but was not comforted; her heart remained cold.

Only after Zhou Zhining and her son leave will his heart return to her.

Isn't that ridiculous?

"Okay, I was just saying."

"Miss, you scared me to death." Tao Ye patted her chest.

If they get divorced, where will they go?

Yao Qingling remained expressionless, her fingers resting on the rim of the bowl.

She thought that if her father were still alive, he would probably gently rub her head with his large, fan-like hands, saying fiercely: "My daughter, how could you be defeated? Home is a battlefield too, daughter. You must not be afraid of difficulties and bravely charge forward. But you can endure any hardship, just don't suffer injustice. Your father is here for you."

If her mother were still alive, she would probably hug her and say: "My dear daughter, if you've been wronged, come home. Your father will protect you."

But they're all gone...

Yao Qingling married the second son of the Duke's family, so a divorce would not be easy.

She thought about it carefully for a while, then took out a silver note from the dowry box and handed it to Taoye.

“I remember you have a distant relative, an honest and kind person. You used your distant relative's name to buy a house…”

Yao Qingling explained her requirements for the house.

Taoye asked in confusion, "Why buy a house?"

And they bought it secretly, without letting anyone know.

Yao Qingling said, "House prices in Beijing have risen again. Since I'm just keeping my spare money anyway, I might as well spend it."

Tao Ye's eyes darted around, and she smiled through her reddened eyes: "Yes, buying a house is good! It's better than having the son-in-law use the money on that woman!"

Yao Qingling touched her hair and lowered her voice: "Shh, be careful, don't let anyone see."

There was a knock at the door, and Minglu relayed from outside: "Madam, the master asked what you are doing. He wants you to go to the guest room to take care of Miss Zhou."

"Understood," Yao Qingling replied, taking a deep breath.

Although I was reluctant, it still happened.

Zhan Xingzhuo waited at the door of the guest room with the child in his arms. The child was still asleep and made no sound.

He looked down at the child's peaceful little face. His expression had lost its coldness and was now filled with tenderness. He gently patted the child's legs rhythmically to soothe him.

He takes care of the children with more patience than other fathers, spending time with them eating, playing, and sleeping.

When Yao Qingling first saw him, she thought he really liked children.

At that time, she thought that she also liked children, so their children would definitely be very happy in the future.

Yao Qingling stood at the entrance of the hanging flower gate, quietly watching the man for a while, but she no longer felt the same emotion she had felt when she first saw him holding the child.

At that moment, she felt only doubt and fear.

I wonder if he likes children, or... other people's children?

She was terrified that if he liked someone else's child, would he still have a place for her child in his heart?

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced up casually and immediately saw Yao Qingling behind the curtain of rain.

The two looked at each other through a curtain of rain.

He frowned slightly: "Why are you standing there? It's raining so hard, be careful not to get your clothes wet."

Now you know that heavy rain soaks your clothes?

Yao Qingling carefully avoided the low-lying areas where rainwater had accumulated and slowly walked towards the guest room.

She stopped in front of Zhan Xingzhuo, put down her umbrella and leaned against the door, peeked at the child, and said, "This child keeps walking back and forth with her mother, and the Wang family doesn't care?"

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at her and said in a low voice, "Wang Xuan has three sons, and there will be more sons in the future, not to mention the entire Wang family."

His tone was disdainful, but he held the child very carefully, as if he were holding a precious treasure.

Yao Qingling pursed her lips, the words buried in her heart almost slipping out, just then the door opened.

Zhou Zhining changed into dry clothes, but her face was still deathly pale, her eyes filled with unbearable sorrow, and tears still clung to them.

"I'm better now, give me the child."

She picked up the child and, as she took him, a tear fell and landed right on the child's little face.

The child was sleeping peacefully, but seemed to sense the mother's sadness. He opened his eyes and hummed twice, as if he wanted to cry along with her.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at Yao Qingling, and frowned, realizing that Zhou Zhining had overheard their conversation.

Yao Qingling felt a lump in her throat when she saw him frown.

She didn't mean anything by it; she was just curious about the Wang family's attitude towards the child. Did they think she disliked the child? Or that she was bullying them, mother and child?

Zhou Zhining stood by the table, holding the child and trying to lull him to sleep. Zhan Xingzhuo was behind her and asked, "Is your wound hurting?"

Zhou Zhining didn't speak, but her eyes grew increasingly red, and she wouldn't let anyone see them.

Yao Qingling sighed inwardly and walked over, saying, "I'll coax him to sleep. You're injured, it must hurt if you pull like this."

She was, after all, a woman. Even though she felt uncomfortable, it was hard for her to remain indifferent to seeing Zhou Zhining in such pain.

She took the child, went around the screen, and placed the child on the bed.

The child fell asleep shortly afterward.

Yao Qingling came out from behind the screen again and saw Zhan Xingzhuo carefully lifting up a section of Zhou Zhining's sleeve.

"...Let me see if there are any other injuries. Where else did he hit you?"

Her fair, jade-like arm was covered in bruises, some of which were broken and bleeding. It was unclear what had caused the injection.

"Ah!" Zhou Zhining's hand trembled with pain, a tear falling onto Zhan Xingzhuo's hand. Her voice trembled as she said, "It hurts..."

Yao Qingling clearly sensed the killing intent that Zhan Xingzhuo released at that moment.

She glanced at Zhou Zhining and then advised Zhan Xingzhuo, "Men and women should be treated differently. Let me take a look at her wound."

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at her, paused for a moment, and nodded.

"Then be gentle."

His voice was very soft, completely different from the anger he had just released, as if he were demonstrating to Yao Qingling how to speak softly.

Yao Qingling felt a pang of sadness, but on the surface she could only nod with a smile to reassure him.

Zhan Xingzhuo went out.

Incense was burning in the guest room, and a charcoal stove was lit, making the room fragrant and warm.

“It’s calming incense.” Zhou Zhining recognized it after a light sniff and smiled apologetically at Yao Qingling, “I’m sorry to trouble you again this time.”

Yao Qingling didn't reply, but instead lowered Zhou Zhining's sleeve.

Taoye prepared hot water.

Zhou Zhining took off her clothes. Even though Yao Qingling had seen her several times before, she was still horrified to see the large bruises on her body.

"What did they argue about this time?"

With tears in her eyes, Zhou Zhining said with great grievance, "He wants to marry another woman as his concubine."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

"I've tolerated all the women he has, but what about his concubines...where does he put me?"

Yao Qingling cleaned her wounds, her heart already at peace.

Wang Xuan hit her simply because of a woman.

If she had already given up on Wang Xuan, what was there to argue about if he had a few more women around him? They could just find a quiet courtyard in the manor and live their own lives.

Zhou Zhining's arguing was nothing more than asking Zhan Xingzhuo to go to the Wang family, stand up for her in the name of his brother, and then bring her to live in the mansion.

This idea didn't just pop into her head.

Zhou Zhining said last time that she had long given up hope on Wang Xuan and that she had never loved him.

With tears streaming down her face, Zhou Zhining suddenly grasped Qingling's hand and said sincerely, "...Qingling, Xingzhuo is still the best. He is upright and respectful, and only treats you well. Marrying him... you will be so happy that others will envy you."