Shangguan Ruoxue knelt on the ground and sobbed, "I won't make things difficult for the old lady. I will leave early tomorrow morning. The old lady, please don't damage the harmony between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law because of me. It's all Xue'er's fault, sob..."
The old lady helped Shangguan Ruoxue up. "It's none of your business. I'm old and can't control the evil spirits in this mansion. It's such a big mansion, but I treated an orphan so harshly. If it gets out, I'll lose face."
"Has the master returned yet? Go and ask him to come over! I want to ask him if he still sees me as his mother. Does he have to wait until I die of anger at my daughter-in-law before he can fulfill his wish?"
As soon as Prime Minister Ji returned home, he received the news that there was a commotion in Linlang Garden again. He rushed over in a hurry without even having time to change his clothes.
Seeing that his wife was safe and sound, Prime Minister Ji felt relieved. He smiled at his wife, but she turned her head away and ignored him.
Prime Minister Ji touched his beard awkwardly. The old lady kept yelling at him to divorce his wife, saying this every now and then. He was very annoyed, but filial piety was the most important thing, so he could only persuade the old lady kindly.
"Mother, you're joking. If I divorced my wife, who had shared my hardships with me, what kind of person would I become? If the censors report me again, my position as Prime Minister would be over. Wei'er is just being straightforward. In her heart, she still respects you. Every table, chair, blade of grass, and tree in your yard was carefully arranged by Wei'er, which shows how filial she is."
"Wei'er, come here and apologize to your mother. I'll calm down and go back to rest early."
Prime Minister Ji tried his best to wink at Zhuo Wei. In the past, when the old lady was being unreasonable, they always dealt with it this way. He would compensate Wei'er well later.
But this time, Wei'er seemed not to notice his hint and stood at the door without moving.
Zhuo Wei had a cold face. All the resentment and grievances accumulated over the years burst out at this moment. The more turbulent her heart was, the calmer her face became, even with a hint of sarcasm.
"What's wrong with me protecting my own daughter? Huan'er is seriously ill and unconscious, shouldn't I call a doctor for her? Or, do I have to watch the old lady beat her to death before I can be considered filial?"
"Ji! If anything happens to Huan'er, I will never forgive you! When Huan'er recovers, I will take her back to Suzhou. You all don't like her, so I will take care of my own daughter!"
Prime Minister Ji was surprised and asked, "Huan'er is sick? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
The one who went to report the news was the nanny beside the old lady. Naturally, she only said things that were favorable to the old lady, saying that Miss Ji had made a mistake and refused to admit her punishment, and that the lady had disobeyed the old lady, so there was a fuss.
The old lady said confidently, "Who knows if she's truly ill or just pretending? This is just a small matter. The most important thing right now is that Zhuo has violated the seven grounds for divorce and disobeyed her parents. Divorcing her immediately is the serious matter."
Prime Minister Ji immediately understood the whole story. In his heart, he loved his daughter, but she was so naughty that he had to act like a strict father.
Now that his only precious daughter was ill, he was extremely anxious and even more dissatisfied with the old lady, and his words were filled with anger.
"Mother, there's no need to say more. I won't divorce my wife. Come, send the old lady back!"
Prime Minister Ji had been an official for many years and was intimidating without even getting angry. The old lady was frightened. A servant brought in a sedan chair and two maids helped the old lady into the sedan chair without saying a word. Only then did the old lady react and clung to the sedan door, roaring:
"You unfilial son! I am your mother, and you dare to force her? This is sheer treason! I won't leave! Let me go!"
Prime Minister Ji said coldly, "I have always been filial to my mother, but Linlang Garden is too noisy and unsuitable for my mother to recuperate. Listen carefully, anyone who dares to bring the old lady to Linlang Garden will be beaten to death!"
"Mother, you should go back and rest early. Wei'er will take care of the affairs of the mansion. If you tire yourself out, it will be your son's fault."
The maids and nannies around the old lady held their breath and dared not breathe. The master would not do anything to the old lady, and it would be easy to beat them to death.
"Pick up the sedan chair and send me back!"
At Prime Minister Ji's command, no one paid any attention to the old lady's scolding. The sedan chair went farther and farther away, and Linlang Garden finally became quiet.
Shangguan Ruoxue was still kneeling in the corridor, filled with despair. She didn't understand how things had turned out like this? Why did the master, contrary to his usual behavior, forcibly send the old lady away without regard for filial piety?
Now that the old lady is gone, the lady and cousin will definitely not let her go. She is an orphan, and no one will know even if she dies in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Thinking of this, Shangguan Ruoxue cried even more pitifully, "Xue'er didn't know that my cousin was sick. If she knew, she would definitely dissuade the old lady. Xue'er will pray for my cousin. Please ask the lady to forgive Xue'er. Xue'er knows she was wrong. Wuuwuwu..."
Prime Minister Ji was coaxing his wife, begging her to open the door so that he could go in to see their sick daughter. Suddenly, he saw a woman in white clothes crawling towards him crying, and she grabbed his wife's skirt, which scared him.
Zhuo Wei resisted the urge to kick him away and said impatiently, "Why don't you take my cousin away? It's so embarrassing to keep crying!"
The maids in Linlangyuan had been eager to throw Shangguan Ruoxue out. Upon hearing the lady's order, two maids immediately came forward, lifted Shangguan Ruoxue up on the left and right, and dragged her out.
Shangguan Ruoxue raised her pale little face, crying bitterly, "No! I won't leave! Madam, please don't kill me... Master! Please save Xue'er. Xue'er is still young. Xue'er is willing to do anything. Xue'er doesn't want to die..."
Prime Minister Ji knew his first wife well. Wei'er was actually the most soft-hearted person, otherwise he would not have kept an unrelated cousin in his house.
The white dress on Shangguan Ruoxue looked plain, but it was actually made of expensive floating brocade, which shone faintly with silver light in the night. However, Shangguan Ruoxue was too petty and could not wear it with elegance.
Obviously, all food, clothing and other expenses are allocated according to the share of the legitimate daughter, but Shangguan Ruoxue always looks like a punching bag, and no one knows what she is aggrieved about.
In the past, Prime Minister Ji only thought that she was an orphan living under someone else's roof and was feeling sorry for herself. But today, he sensed something strange. Sometimes, weakness can be a weapon.
"Stop it, I have something to ask her."
As soon as the two maids let go, Shangguan Ruoxue immediately ran to Prime Minister Ji and knelt down with a plop. "Xue'er thanks you so much, Master. I am so grateful for saving my life. I will definitely repay you in my next life."
Prime Minister Ji stroked his beard and said, "There's no need for the next life. You just said you were willing to do anything. Are you serious?"
A hint of humiliation flashed in Shangguan Ruoxue's eyes. She knew that no matter how careful she was or how simply she dressed, the master would discover her beauty one day.
She lived under someone else's roof, had no one to rely on, and could only submit to the tyranny of her master.
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