As night fell, Madam Wu learned that Concubine Ning had absconded with a large sum of money and was now gone, leaving behind a mess.
She sat in front of the delicious food, but had absolutely no appetite. The sight of the braised pork knuckle in front of her made her feel extremely nauseous.
She was punished with a beating last time, but when the general returned, he didn't seem to care at all!
When Aunt Ning became a pariah, she was initially happy, but when she learned that Aunt Ning had absconded with the family's money, she lost her appetite and felt extremely distressed.
The old nanny who had served Madam Wu since childhood, seeing her like this, hunched over and walked behind her. "Madam, please eat something first. Don't let others harm your health!"
These words made Madam Wu feel even more distressed. She put down her chopsticks and turned to look at the increasingly elderly nanny. "I really can't eat. The general used to put me first in everything, but now he seems like a completely different person."
Aunt Ning absconded with the family's money, and the general didn't even issue an order for severe punishment. He might even harbor some affection for that slut!
The old woman felt distressed when she saw Madam Wu in this state. She had watched Madam Wu grow up and get married, and she really didn't want to see Madam Wu sinking into the mire and unable to extricate herself.
The old woman opened her mouth several times, but finally mustered up her courage and said, "Madam, there is something I have kept in my heart for a long time. Now that you are not happy, I will dare to speak out."
Madam Wu glanced at the nanny, sighed, and said, "Nanny watched me grow up, and you are someone I brought from my maternal family."
Let's not hold back what we have to say; just speak.
The old woman said, "Madam, now that you have both a son and a daughter, you really shouldn't put your heart only on the general."
Normally, Madam Wu would not have let the nanny continue.
But now, her love for Wu Guangping has gradually faded as he repeatedly handed over the management of the household to Aunt Ning and as he turned a blind eye to her being beaten.
Madam Wu, unusually, listened to the old woman's words and asked, "What do you think I should do, old woman?"
The old nanny glanced at her face, noticing signs of anger, and thought it was a good opportunity, so she said, "Madam should make more plans for the young master and young lady. Forgive this old servant for speaking disrespectfully."
After his master passed away, the general felt that his wife's family had lost power and could no longer help him, so he changed his attitude towards her.
"If we let any respectable family in the border town allow their concubines to overstep the role of the matriarch, wouldn't that create chaos?"
Madam Wu knew what the old woman was saying. She wasn't stupid; she just didn't want to believe it. But now that things had come to this, it wasn't up to her to disbelieve it.
She seemed to have matured a lot suddenly, and looked at the old woman, saying, "You're right, I won't put him first from now on."
Her children must be her top priority, followed by herself.
As dinner was being served, Madam Wu was preparing to wash up and remove her hairpins when a servant came to report.
"The general requests that the First Madam come over."
Madam Wu didn't ask anything in the end. She took her personal maid and followed the servants to the small study that Wu Guangping had set aside in the east courtyard.
......
"General, do you know what you're saying?"
As soon as Madam Wu entered the study and heard Wu Guangping's words, she instantly lost her composure.
Her eyes were wide open, like copper bells, as she stared at him in disbelief.
Ye Lin stood aside and whispered a reminder, "The general said that the First Madam should use her dowry to make up for the deficit and get through this crisis first."
Madam Wu never expected that such shameless words would come from Wu Guangping's mouth.
She also felt that the young man she once admired had gradually changed.
Madam Wu shouted hoarsely, "Did I tell you to speak? Get out! Get out!"
Ye Lin was suddenly yelled at by a woman, and he lost face for a moment, but he wouldn't go out without Wu Guangping's orders.
Therefore, he nodded to Wu Guangping, bowed to Madam Wu, and quickly left the study.
Seeing that all the servants had left, Madam Wu could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears streamed down her face. "General, do you know what a woman's dowry means?"
That's the money her family prepared for her; it's money for her entire life, money for her old age and funeral arrangements!
Even if a woman dies, her family can still claim the money back!
Even if I take this to the authorities, the general won't be able to stand up to them!
Wu Guangping didn't listen to what she was saying at all. He looked at her as if she were a dead object. He said in a low voice, "I am only informing you, not discussing this with you. If you still want to be the general's wife, then do as I say. Otherwise, just carry her out."
Carry it out?
This is going to kill her!
Madam Wu shouted, "Wu Guangping, how cruel you are! Have you forgotten the days when you couldn't even afford food and had to beg at my doorstep, fighting with dogs for food?"
If it weren't for my dad saving you, you would have died long ago!
"You ungrateful wretch, I'll fight you to the death!"
As Madam Wu spoke, she grew angrier and angrier. She was so enraged that she lost her mind. Even though she knew that she was no match for Wu Guangping in strength, she still couldn't help but pounce on him.
The lady of the house loved to maintain her nails; her long nails looked beautiful when painted with henna.
Wu Guangping's face was scratched by Madam Wu's fingernails. He grabbed her hands with both hands and pushed her to the ground.
Blood beads welled up on his cheek. He touched his aching face, saw the red blood, frowned, and cursed, "Crazy woman!"
Madam Wu seemed quite pleased with her handiwork. With her hair disheveled, she fell to the ground, propped herself up with her hands, and said, "You even covet a woman's dowry. Who's crazier here!"
Wu Guangping, not wanting to get entangled with her any longer, threatened, "There's no need to discuss the dowry anymore. If you hand over the dowry, you'll still be Mrs. Wu. If you don't, then it will be your inheritance for your children."
Madam Wu never expected that after being husband and wife, Wu Guangping would be so ruthless as to actually intend to kill her.
She regretted not listening to the old woman's advice sooner, and instead blindly believing this hypocrite in front of her!
But now, there's no room for regret.
She closed her eyes as if resigned to her fate, tears streaming down her cheeks to her collar, leaving a damp mark.
She choked back tears as she said, "I'll give it to you."
Upon hearing this, Wu Guangping didn't even glance at her, as if he were extremely disgusted.
Then he shouted towards the door.
Soon Ye Lin led the steward into the house, and the steward followed Madam Wu out the door, while Ye Lin stayed behind.
Ye Lin asked, puzzled, "General, didn't you hide a lot of gold? Why didn't you take it out now?"
Wu Guangping glanced at him, his words sharp as ice, "Fool! You've followed me for so long, and you're still so stupid!"
After finishing his rant, Wu Guangping said, "Using the dowry to cover it up will prevent anyone from finding fault with me and suspecting me."
As for the gold he hid in the shadows, it was naturally for recruiting soldiers and buying horses after he overthrew the Great Jin Dynasty and became a vassal king!
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