Chapter 78. After listening to Madam He's explanation...

After hearing what Madam He said, He Wenqing walked away in a daze. Madam He straightened up and did not call him back. She called a maid to bring a lamp to guide He Wenqing back, while she remained sitting at the table in deep thought. After a while, she made a decision, got up and went back to her bedroom. She took out a small book from under the pillow and went to the brazier.

She held the small book, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and looked through it for a long time before letting out a deep sigh and throwing it into the brazier.

The small book quickly burned to ashes in the fire.

Mrs. He closed her eyes completely.

-

She stood by the brazier for a long time.

The charcoal in the brazier had burned out completely, leaving only cold, lifeless ash.

Just then, someone from Old Master He came to invite her over. Madam He hesitated for a moment and asked the person what it was about. The person shook his head and said he didn't know. So Madam He had no choice but to go over there herself.

It was the old butler, Uncle He, who personally greeted her outside. Madam He asked, "Uncle He, what can Father do for you?"

He Bo smiled and said, "You'll know when you go inside, Madam."

Madam He was ushered in by Uncle He. Old Master He sat at the desk, writing. After entering, Uncle He immediately withdrew and closed the door. There were no servants in the room, only Old Master He was inside.

Madam He stood at a distance by the door and said to the inside, "Father, are you well? May I ask what brings you here?"

"Come closer and talk to me," Old Master He said without looking up.

Madam He had no choice but to go inside. Old Master He was still quietly writing his calligraphy. Seeing that he didn't speak, Madam He didn't dare to speak either. After a while, Old Master He finally spoke, "You should know about Wenqing and Wei Yin's divorce, right?"

"Yes," Madam He replied, "Wenqing mentioned it to me."

"I think he did something very wrong." Old Master He shook his head. "What would people say if word got out? But I know we can't blame him. The Wei family forced him to do it. They went too far. Once you're in the He family, do you think you can get a divorce?"

“Father, I think it’s best to just let them divorce. Wei Yin is a woman without any manners or virtues, and is not suitable to be Wenqing’s wife. It would be better to let Xuanhua…”

"No," Old Master He said firmly, "Wei Yin must be a member of the He family."

"Father?" Madam He was surprised by his unusual attitude and quickly said, "Why do you insist on having her? It's better for Wenqing to divorce her. Even if he can't support Xuanhua in the future, Wenqing can marry into a better family..."

Old Master He chuckled, put down his pen, glanced at Madam He, and suddenly said, "Don't worry, I won't harm my own son."

Upon hearing this, Madam He seemed to recall some unbearable memory. She was struck dumb and staggered back a few steps. She grabbed the bookshelf behind her to steady herself. She looked around, her lips pale and trembling.

"Father! What if Wenqing hears us!"

"Don't worry." Old Master He walked away from the table, came to Madam He, patted her shoulder, and said in a tone that was definitely not that of a father-in-law and daughter-in-law, "With Uncle He guarding outside, Wenqing won't know any of this."

Madam He was terrified and quickly backed away to avoid the other person. "Father, you, you, you, you said you wouldn't mention this. If Wenqing finds out, he will absolutely not be able to stand it."

Old Master He smiled gently, "Don't be nervous or worried. I know that Wenqing's situation isn't your fault. It's all because of the misfortune of our He family, and my son's infertility. You came to me because you were worried about our family having no heir..."

Although Madam He heard these comforting words, she felt even more uneasy. "Father, please stop. Do you know how terrifying the look in my husband's eyes was when he found out I was pregnant with Wenqing? Since then, he has never stepped into my room again. Our relationship as husband and wife is never the same as it used to be."

"You've been wronged." Old Master He patted her shoulder. "He was a kind-hearted man, but how could our He family let him die out? Fortunately, he didn't disappoint me until his death, and he revealed Wenqing's true identity."

Madam He was so nervous that she stammered, "We still have to be careful of Father. Wenqing has always respected you, and he is also proud by nature. He will never allow himself to be tainted in the slightest. Once Wenqing finds out about this, I really don't know if he can bear it..."

"Don't worry." Old Master He's brows furrowed. "I will absolutely not let Wenqing know a thing."

Madam He then asked, "But why is Father so opposed to Wenqing and Wei Yin's divorce?"

"Don't worry about this. I have my own plans." Seeing her worried expression, Old Master He added, "Just know that I'm doing this entirely for Wenqing's sake."

After leaving Old Master He's courtyard, Madam He did not let the maids follow her. She walked back alone in the dark. Her heart sank deeper and deeper. She was terrified in the dead of night, but she dared not leave anyone by her side. She always felt that at this time, people would find out about her dirty deeds.

She didn't come from a very good family; she was from a humble background. When she learned that she could marry into the He family, she couldn't believe it. But after entering the family, she found out that her husband was infertile. She felt that everything was over.

Madam He was dissatisfied with her and often made things difficult for her. She was unaware that her son was infertile and even blamed her for not being able to have children. For the sake of her husband's reputation and to avoid being pitied by outsiders, Madam He had no choice but to keep it a secret and dared not say a word.

Later, she couldn't take it anymore.

Without children, she had no hope of survival, and even the servants paid less and less attention to her, gossiping behind her back.

So she had no choice but to turn to Old Master He.

Even if He's father found out, he wouldn't dare to do anything to her.

that's all.

With He Wenqing by her side, Madam He finally had someone to rely on.

Early the next morning, Old Master He sent someone to summon He Wenqing. He Wenqing had no idea about the conversation between Madam He and Old Master He the night before. Old Master He beckoned to him.

"Come closer, Wenqing, Grandfather's eyesight is failing, and he can't see people very clearly anymore."

He Wenqing immediately stepped forward, and Grandpa He stroked the top of his head, "Wenqing, since you were a month old, your grandfather has personally taken you in to raise you. Have you ever blamed your grandfather for separating you from your parents since you were little?"

"Grandfather wants to teach his grandson, which is a good intention. If the grandson stays with his mother all the time, he will naturally become less motivated to study and make progress. Besides, Father has never liked his grandson and has never taught him. If it weren't for Grandfather's painstaking teaching, the grandson might have become a dissolute like his father."

"He is, after all, your father. Don't say such things."

“Yes.” He Wenqing nodded in deep agreement. “Grandfather’s teachings are right. No matter how bad Father is, as his son, I should not speak of him in such a way.”

"What a good child." Grandpa He smiled with great satisfaction. "You are much more promising than your father."

He Wenqing felt that his grandfather seemed particularly warm today. Seeing that the old man was dressed neatly and about to go out, he hesitated and asked, "Grandfather, why did you call me here?"

"I was thinking about your relationship with Wei Yin. It's such a pity. After all, she was your grandmother's chosen granddaughter-in-law. It's gotten to this point, and it's making your grandmother uneasy in the afterlife. Today, I want to go to Elder Pei's place and see her father in person to see if we can reconcile them. As the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage." Old Master He explained, "You can come with me."

He Wenqing was taken aback. Old Master He asked, "What's wrong, Wenqing? Don't you want to go?"

He Wenqing hurriedly replied, "No, Grandfather instructed me to prepare a carriage and horses for you immediately."

When He Wenqing went to have the car prepared, Old Master He called over Uncle He, who was outside the door, and asked, "Is everything arranged?"

“It’s already been arranged.” Uncle He took out a small yellow talisman shaped like a woman from his sleeve. He replied in a low voice, “Originally, this wasn’t needed, but it’s said that the young mistress has a precious jade bestowed by the Emperor. So, it’s best if the old master put this in her room to be on the safe side.”

"Okay, go downstairs, but don't let Wenqing find out," Old Master He gave one last instruction.

On their way to the Wen family's old house, Grandpa He and He Wenqing were in Lu Hun's room, watching Lu Hun pack sachets.

Lu Hun somehow obtained some dried locust flowers, which were more fragrant than fresh ones. The boy carefully put them into a sachet, while Wei Yin rested her chin on her hand, watching him with a bored expression.

Even more free than her was Po Jun, who also flew in to take a look for a while. Sometimes, the child would come with Po Jun, but he didn't dare to come in. He would just carefully peek inside from the doorway, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Seeing that Lu Hun was staring at the sachets, Po Jun took advantage of Lu Hun's inattention after Lu Hun finished making one, and quickly used the tip of his sword to pick it up and ran to give it to the child.

They completely took Lu Hun's things and treated them as their own.

The child held the sachet and happily sniffed it.

Fearing that Lu Hun would be unhappy, Po Jun quickly took the child and went back.

Wei Yin nudged Lu Hun, "Your sachet was stolen by Po Jun again and given to that child."

"It's alright." Lu Hun smiled gently. "If Po Jun likes that child, let them go. I'll make another one."

He quickly finished assembling another one and beckoned to Wei Yin, "Sister, come here and let me try it on."

Wei Yin was too lazy to move and refused to go over. Lu Hun had no choice but to patiently walk to Wei Yin's side, squat down, and tie the sachet around her waist. Wei Yin picked up the sachet and pondered it for a while, then said, "It smells quite nice, but the stitching on this sachet is so ugly. Where did you buy it?"

Lu Hun blushed, tugged at Wei Yin's sleeve, and explained in a low voice, "Sister, I sewed it myself."

Wei Yin paused for a moment, then said, "Upon closer inspection, it's not that ugly."

Lu Hun was about to say something when Ji Jiayu suddenly rushed over, interrupting their conversation and calling out to Lu Hun. Seeing Ji Jiayu's solemn expression, Lu Hun immediately said to Wei Yin, "Sister, I'll leave with Young Master Ji for a bit."

Once outside, Ji Jiayu didn't dare delay and immediately told the story, "This morning I received a tip that last night, one of the experts on Old Master He's side made a move, mysteriously heading to a rather remote place. Our people wanted to chase after him, but strangely, they seemed to be trapped in a maze and couldn't catch up with that person no matter what they did. They almost didn't even get out themselves, so they only came back to tell me this morning."

Lu Hun frowned.