Chapter 012: Husband and wife fall out
Although she knew it was unlikely, she still couldn't help but pray secretly in her heart that her grandfather would only take away the second branch's family, and all these illegitimate sons and daughters would be exiled with the remaining branches.
In this way, she no longer had to squeeze into a small courtyard with this group of people, nor would she have to be restricted when buying clothes or jewelry.
Yang Xue bowed first, "Fifth Aunt has suffered. As soon as our master heard about the Xu family's situation, he immediately asked someone to make arrangements, fearing that Aunt would suffer in prison. However...Uncle Zhu was furious, so Master didn't dare to be too blatant, and he also implicated the Lian family, so it delayed us for several days. I hope Fifth Aunt will forgive me!"
Lian Qiuzhi wiped away her tears repeatedly, "It's my fault for being unfilial. I made Dad and Big Brother run around for me. Dad is always thinking about me, how dare I, an unfilial daughter, complain?"
"Thank you, Fifth Aunt, for your understanding." The old nanny responded indifferently. Second Aunt seemed to have just seen her and recognized her as the housekeeper who served with her stepmother. She was usually quite dignified. Although Lian was reluctant, she still had to do her best to be polite. "Nanny Chen, please make this trip as well."
"Fifth Aunt, I'm not tired, it's the Madam who's been working hard. She's been thinking about you every day these past few days, worried that you'd suffer in prison. As soon as the imperial edict came down, the Madam went to ask the nobles in the palace for leniency. Come with me now, before daybreak."
When Xu Zhenying heard what the old woman said, the corners of his lips raised slightly.
Xu Huiming secretly tugged at her and whispered, "Sister, what are you laughing at?"
"I'm going to have a good show."
"What's the show?"
Xu Zhenying pointed at Lian and said, "Let's see whether our second aunt wants to divorce or go into exile with us."
Miao gave her a resentful look, seeming to disapprove and said, "Ying'er, don't talk nonsense. How can you casually comment on the right and wrong of your elders?"
Xu Zhenying just smiled and said nothing.
Miao looked at him, her brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt.
"Now?" Lian Qiuzhi felt something was wrong. She turned around and looked back at the Xu family and asked, "What about my mother-in-law and husband? When are they leaving?"
The old woman sneered, as if she didn't take Lian Qiuzhi, a concubine's daughter, seriously. In a trance, Lian Qiuzhi seemed to have returned to decades ago, when this old woman Chen was hitting her palm with a rattan stick.
She remembered that she had the same expression at that time. Although she was a servant, she was even more arrogant than a young lady like her.
Lian Qiuzhi was no longer the little girl she had been many years ago. As if she had thought of something, her expression changed slightly. "Mammy, what do you mean?"
"Fifth Aunt, do you think the Lian family is some kind of royal family? Madam has already risked her dignity and begged everyone to save you. You alone are not enough, and you want to take the entire Xu family with you?"
This time, the aunt understood, "Old hag, what do you mean?!"
Yang Xue looked at Lian Qiuzhi and stammered, "Fifth Aunt, the old lady has ordered you to divorce the Second Master. You can take one child with you, and from now on you are no longer a member of the Xu family. I have just gone to see the Second Master, and he has agreed to sign the divorce agreement. But he said...he said..."
Lian's mind went blank for a few seconds before he asked fiercely, "What did he say?"
Nanny Chen said slowly, "Second Master Xu said that the divorce is fine, but the girl can't carry on the family line. He'll only sign the divorce if you promise to take a bastard child with you. I've made the decision and agreed. Anyway, when you return to the Lian family, you can settle the child however you want, which will be considered as fulfilling the love between you two. Fifth Aunt, please make a decision quickly."
Lian was stunned.
This time, even Xu Zhenying, who was watching the fun from the side, was stunned.
Then she couldn't help but sneer. Second Uncle really lived up to the saying that those who are loyal are mostly butchers, while those who are unfaithful are mostly scholars. She had always thought that Second Uncle was a bit pedantic and old-fashioned, but she had never expected that he would use so much of his mind on the person next to him.
"Impossible, impossible!!!" The first one to scream was Xu Lezhi. Her face was distorted, veins bulged on her forehead, and she reached out to grab the corner of Nanny Chen's clothes. "You must be mistaken. Daddy loves me the most. How could he let Mom take away the son born by those two slaves! I am connected to the Lian family by blood. I am the granddaughter of the Lian family. They are just relying on my mother to call me grandma. Who do they think they are——"
Nanny Chen's expression remained unchanged. She didn't even glance at Xu Lezhi from beginning to end. Her voice was neither salty nor cold. "Fifth Aunt is old. Even if she divorces and returns to her parents' home, she will probably not marry and have children again. Leaving a son by her side will provide her with someone to take care of her in the future. It's better than leaving a girl by her side. Girls, after all, will eventually get married. If Fifth Aunt really has any grievances, she might as well blame herself for not being able to give birth to a son! Time is running out. Please make a decision quickly. Otherwise, after tonight, even if the old lady wants to save her, it will be powerless."
"Second sister-in-law!" Fourth Aunt suddenly shouted, and everyone realized that Lian Qiuzhi's face was pale and she fell headfirst. Fortunately, Xu Yinxi had been by Lian's side and grabbed Lian almost instantly.
"Mom!" Xu Yinxi shouted, tears streaming down her face.
Xu Lezhi also knelt and rushed over, saying heartbreakingly: "Mom! You can't be in trouble. Daddy doesn't want us, do you not want us too?!"
The youngest, Xu Fuwei, just grabbed her two sisters and cried loudly.
The two concubines who had given birth to sons were terrified. One retreated to a corner, while the other, upon regaining her composure, immediately hugged Lian's thighs, begging with tears in her eyes, "Please, Madam, have mercy! Our Huirong is only eleven years old, and has been weak since childhood. You held him in your arms and raised him for years. He calls you mother and has long since sincerely considered you his mother. Just take him away. I swear, he will take care of you like his own son, and will take care of you until the end of your life. Please... just give him a chance to live!"
Xu Lezhi was so angry that he laughed. He wanted to reach out and break Aunt Mei's fingers. He roared, "Shut up, bitch! You have no right to speak here! If you say another word, I will beat you to death!"
Xu Yinxi cried out, "Aunt Mei, please let go quickly! Do you want to piss my mother off to death?"
Seeing her two sisters tangling with Aunt Mei, Xu Fuwei, being small, simply bit Aunt Mei's hand and said, "I told you not to bully my mother! I told you not to bully my mother!"
Aunt Mei screamed and let go.
Everyone quickly gathered around him. Lian's eyes were tearless as she caressed him and just laughed, a pathetic laugh. "Xu Deyuan, you're so good... so good... You'd rather let your son live... than let my daughter stay. In your heart, I've been a slave for decades, taking care of your household, being filial to your parents, and even paving the way for you to get an official position. And in the end... nothing is as important as your son—"
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