Chapter 95
Chapter 96
The eldest lady of the Wei family went over to ask the old lady of the Xie family how she was, and Wen Shuse said, "I heard that the old lady has arrived. Is she doing well?"
Wen Shuse nodded, "Thank you Madam Wei for your concern. The old lady is fine."
This was just a polite remark. The eldest branch of the Xie family had suffered a disaster. Although Mr. Xie was killed by his own fault, for the old lady, it was a case of seeing a young person die before her. She had experienced one of the most tragic events in life and was much more haggard than before.
The eldest branch of the Xie family lives in Fengcheng, which is also a source of worry for Old Madam Xie.
Madam Xie went crazy, and all the things fell on the head of the second son. The second son had always been an unreliable person who only knew how to spend his money on wine and women. Now that something happened at home, he was unable to do anything. Not only did he not take responsibility, but he also had a bad temper. When he saw the second grandmother and the baby crying and making a fuss, he slapped her butt and didn't go home for several days. The second grandmother was holding a baby, and at first she also cried, made a fuss, and even threatened to hang herself, but what was the use? She had already married and had a child, and he wanted to jump into the river and end it all, but he couldn't bear to leave the baby, so he forced himself to cheer up and support the family.
There are two young sisters-in-law waiting to get married in the room. In the past, they chose others, but after Mr. Xie died, it was their turn to be chosen. Fortunately, the eldest lady had already been engaged before and was just waiting to get married. The second lady was not satisfied with this or that, and until now, no one cares about her at all.
Before the Second Master and Second Madam of the Xie family took the old lady away from Fengcheng, they had thought about taking the Second Madam to Dongdu to find a husband, but the Second Madam shut the door tightly with a wooden bolt and screamed, "Even if I can't get married in this life, I don't want ungrateful relatives like you to pretend to be affectionate with me."
The Second Lady had been spoiled by Madam Xie since she was a child, and she had a bad temper. She had always resented the Second House for standing idly by and watching Master Xie's death. Seeing her like this, the Second Master and the Second Lady did not force her and left Fengcheng with the Old Lady.
There was chaos in the court, and the Second Master and the Second Mistress were in a hurry to travel, so they rode on horseback through the official road. The old lady's body could not withstand the torment, so the Second Master and the Second Mistress asked Aunt Cao and several maids to accompany them and took the water route.
When Wen Shuse left the restaurant the day before, the Second Madam had already taken him to the newly purchased house. When she saw Old Madam Xie for the first time, she almost couldn't recognize her. Not only did she look much more haggard, but she was also thinner. Only when she saw Wen Shuse and Xie Shao did her face show some life.
Perhaps due to the fatigue from the journey, he has not been in a good mood these past two days. The Second Madam has been serving him and never left his side.
Madam Wei didn't know the truth, so she said, "Wait a couple of days, I'll go visit her again."
"The Madam is thoughtful."
Madam Wei smiled and said, "Young Madam, why are you being so polite to me?"
The last time Xie Shao was injured, Madam Wei brought Wei Yun to visit him, and the two of them had become familiar with each other.
His son received the favor of the young lady of the Xie family in Fengcheng, and finally they all escaped from Nancheng together. This friendship brought the two families closer.
Madam Wei did not hide the matter from her and found a deserted place and said to her, "Although the capital of the emperor is prosperous and bustling, there are many people with many gossips and everyone has a delicate heart. Even if you treat others sincerely, they may not appreciate it." No matter how powerful the Wen family's eldest branch is, they are still surnamed Wen and are Madam Xie's maiden family. The marriage cannot be completed, but they have to be reminded.
"I sent someone to the Wen family to propose marriage the other day. I originally planned to ask for the eldest lady to marry Yun'er, but the eldest lady didn't give me a reply. Marriage is a matter of mutual consent. I can understand that. I think the eldest lady must have other plans. But yesterday, Madam Zhu from the Earl's Mansion suddenly sent someone to my Wei family to propose marriage. I don't know if my guess is right, but I heard from the matchmaker that the Earl's Mansion's wife was also there when I went to the Wen family the day before yesterday."
Wen Shu was stunned.
She was surprised that Madam Wei fell in love with the eldest lady, and she was also surprised that Madam Wen actually rejected her.
The head of the Wei family is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The Wei family has a strict family tradition. Madam Yang is the biological daughter of General Yang and is quite liked by General Yang. The young master Wei in front of him is considered a good family in Dongdu in terms of family background, character and ability.
She doesn't even like Wei Yun, so who is she going to marry?
The king of heaven.
"If I guessed wrong, Madam, please pretend you didn't hear me." Madam Wei finally understood why her son wanted to find such a young lady. After looking at the smile on her face for a long time, her mood became brighter. "Don't worry, Madam. My Wei family is not a wealthy family, but we only have this one son. We don't seek power and nobility, but only want to find a girl with good character. I have already rejected the marriage proposal from the Earl's Mansion. As for the eldest lady, my Wei family and the Wen family have no chance to marry."
Wen Shuse understood and thanked Madam Wei, "Thank you for your appreciation, Madam. My Wen family doesn't have this blessing."
While talking to Madam Wei, they realized that it was almost time when they came out of the Imperial Garden and walked down the corridor, where they saw the pale-faced master of the Wen family.
After seeing the magical shrimp at the banquet, Mr. Wen was not relaxed for a moment. Mrs. Wen did not tell him the truth. After the banquet, a colleague who was usually on good terms with him pulled him aside. In a moment of anxiety, she did not care about so much and directly accused him: "Minister Wen has always been cautious in his actions. How could he be so confused this time..."
After hearing this, Mr. Wen felt dizzy and staggered a few times. He was supported by his friends before he recovered. He walked out step by step, looking for Madam Wen. However, he saw Wen Shuse first.
Mrs. Wei saw this and stopped disturbing him. She said hello to Mr. Wen, said goodbye to Wen Shuse, and returned to the banquet.
Just now at the banquet, Master Wen also saw her and Xie Shao, but he only nodded and greeted them from a distance, without talking to them.
The last time Wen Shuse came to visit, the eldest lady sent him out with a look of disdain. Master Wen has been too embarrassed to do so until now. He managed to force a smile and greeted her, "Jiaoxian."
Wen Shuse knelt down and saluted, "Uncle."
"Last time Master Xie was injured, Uncle was unable to visit him. Please apologize to Master Xie for me. I will visit him another day." He really didn't want to continue talking to her. "You go shopping first. I'll go find your aunt."
Wen Shuse saw his expression and knew that he knew everything now. She had never told this uncle about family affairs in the past, but today she couldn't help it, so she called Uncle Wen and said bluntly: "If Uncle continues to indulge in this, not only his official career, but also several younger generations in the family will be implicated. Uncle is a man who has read the books of sages, and he understands some truths better than me. A virtuous wife brings less trouble to her husband, and a filial son brings peace to his father. Whether in the officialdom or in the family, people who are greedy for small profits are taboo. As a junior, I shouldn't have said these words, but like Uncle, I also have the surname Wen and am a member of the Wen family. I don't want to see the Wen family reach a dead end."
Seeing Master Wen's increasingly pale face, even with a look of shame, Wen Shuse continued, "Just now, Madam Wei told me that she sent someone to the Wen family to propose marriage the other day, wanting to marry my elder sister, but my aunt has been reluctant to give an answer. I wonder if my uncle knows about this."
Uncle Wen's face changed and there was surprise in his eyes. It was obvious that he was unaware of the situation.
"When the Wei family sent people to the Wen family to propose marriage, Madam Zhu of the Earl's Mansion was also there. I don't know what my aunt and the Earl's Mansion lady said, but the Earl's Lady went to the Wei family yesterday to propose marriage. Madam Wei came to explain to me today that the Wei family is not the kind of people who harbor revenge and did not agree to the Earl's Mansion's marriage. The Wei family will not consider it again on my eldest sister's side."
Under the scorching sun, Uncle Wen felt dizzy again as his blood surged.
Knowing who he was looking for, Wen Shuse pointed the way for him: "Eldest Aunt has already left the palace."
Mr. Wen forced himself to stay rational, stepped into the carriage in front of the palace gate, and hurried home. Sure enough, the eldest lady had returned.
As soon as the banquet was over, Madam Wen was caught in a whirlpool, with eyes from all directions looking at her.
The Sixth Lady of the Yang Family was even more difficult to deal with. She came up to her and said, "The dishes at the Mixian Tower today are really eye-catching, especially the two magical shrimps. They are so big that even the Imperial Concubine didn't get to eat them." She stared at Madam Wen and asked, "But I heard that our Madam Wen just ate them a while ago. I wonder what they taste like."
Madam Wen knew that she had caused a big disaster. Her face turned red and pale, and she didn't say a word for a long time. The atmosphere was tense, and the imperial concubine left her seat and walked towards her.
Everyone saluted, but Madam Wen didn't even dare to raise her head.
The imperial concubine's words were gentle, "No need to be polite, today is the prince's palace banquet, everyone can feel free to have fun."
When the person walked past, Madam Wen raised her head as if possessed by a ghost, and her eyes met the imperial concubine who was looking back at her.
The imperial concubine smiled lightly, and although she didn't say a word, she cost Madam Wen her life.
How could she dare to stay in the palace? Without even having the chance to say hello to Master Wen, she fled out of the palace. Returning to her house, she sat in her room trembling with fear. No matter what the juniors asked her, she didn't say a word.
Seeing Uncle Wen at this time, he hurriedly got up from his chair and called out nervously, "Uncle..."
Master Wen didn't respond or say anything. He slowly walked over and sat on the couch beside her. The expression on his face was much calmer than when he was in the palace, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Madam Wen had never seen him like this before, and she became increasingly flustered. "Master, I didn't know that the magic shrimp was a tribute for the palace banquet. If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to eat it even if I had a hundred guts." She raised her voice, "I've long known that his second wife had bad intentions. She hid it from us earlier, saying that she was bankrupt, but secretly bought the Mixian Tower. Wasn't it because she was afraid that we would get some of their benefits? This time, her heart is even more vicious, and she actually gave the tribute to us. That damn girl wants to kill us..."
Master Wen said nothing. He waited until she finished speaking before he looked up and told his servant, "Prepare the writing brush and ink."
Madam Wen didn't know what he was going to do. In the past, when she did something wrong, he would get angry and point at her nose and scold her. This time he was so quiet that she felt uneasy.
The servant quickly brought over a pen and ink. In front of the eldest lady, Master Wen wrote a divorce letter and handed it to her. "It's best not to tear it up. If you do, I will write a second letter, but I can't guarantee that I will be so polite."
Madam Wen could read. She stared at the divorce letter with her eyes wide open. She didn't react for a long time. After a while, she looked up at Master Wen and asked in disbelief, "Master, you want to divorce me?"
"Divorce letter." Uncle Wen explained. He had already vented all the anger in his heart on the way back in the carriage, and all that was left was disappointment.
What divorce letter, what divorce letter, don't they all mean the same thing? He actually wants to divorce her.
She had been married into the Xie family for more than 20 years. She had given birth to two sons and a daughter for Uncle Wen and had taken care of the whole family for him. Now that she was old and ugly, he actually divorced her?
Madam Wen's face changed, and there was no more guilt on her face. "Why can you divorce me? Where is your conscience, Wen Zhongqiao?"
Uncle Wen said nothing and maintained a firm attitude.
Madam Wen's heart sank, her voice trembled, and she cried, "What have I done wrong? I just ate a bite of the magic shrimp. Didn't you eat it? Everyone in the Wen family ate it. Now you want to put all the responsibility on me? If you divorce me, you can regain the appreciation of His Majesty and eliminate the Concubine's prejudice against us. You, Wen Zhongqiao, have a really good plan..."
Uncle Wen's eyebrows twitched, and the anger that he had suppressed before was slowly aroused again, and his chest felt tight.
Despite this, I still held back.
The two of them tore their faces apart, not seeking to be decent, but trying to be peaceful. He said to her in a slow voice: "I miss you for taking care of the old lady for so many years, and for bearing children for me. This divorce letter is my greatest tolerance for you. As for the family property, you can take a look and take whatever you like."
Mrs. Wen saw that he was serious and lost her temper. She tore up the divorce letter and said, "Why do you want to divorce me? I have been in this family for more than 20 years. What reason do you have to divorce me?"
"Why can't I divorce you?" Wen Zhongqiao recited to her one by one, "You left your elderly wife behind and went to the capital alone, regardless of her life or death. This is unfilial. You said a lot of instigative words, causing discord between the first and second branches of my Wen family. You coveted small profits and sent my Wen family to the peak of the storm. This is unvirtuous. You listened to slander and ruined your children's good marriages. This is immoral."
She is unfilial, unvirtuous and immoral. Any of these offenses is reason enough to divorce her.
I have done my best to tolerate her until now. I think it has not been easy for her to follow me all these years. I know she likes to live a good life, and I am also working hard.
Every time she did something wrong, he would reason with her, but did she ever listen?
If she continues like this despite repeated admonitions, the Wen family will be destroyed in her hands.
He was abandoned by his biological parents when he was five years old and had to make a living by picking up rotten vegetables. Fortunately, he was taken home and raised by the master of the Wen family. A home and parental love were more important to him than anything else.
No one can destroy it.
But Madam Wen did not agree with this and retorted, "When have I ruined the marriage of my own children? Our eldest lady is going to get married soon. Madam Zhu from the Earl's Mansion said the other day that she would choose a good day and send a matchmaker to introduce our eldest lady to the young Lord. When she marries, she will be the wife of the Earl's son, how glorious..."
Master Wen looked calm and disappointed with her. He told her, "The Countess went to the Wei family yesterday to propose marriage."
Madam Wen was startled, and her expression instantly faded. She murmured, "How is that possible? She told me to reject the Wei family's marriage..."
Master Wen glanced at the pale face of the eldest lady, not wanting to look at her any more, and stood up and said to her in a gentle voice: "Since you have torn up the divorce letter, I will write it later. If you want to tear it up again, I can only give you a divorce letter. I have sent someone to the An family to inform your father and uncle's family. In a few days, they will come to Dongdu to take you back. Say goodbye to the children. They will still recognize you as their mother in the future. It is up to them to associate with you or not. I will not interfere."
The calmer he was, the more upset the eldest lady felt. He was really planning to divorce her.
She went back to her parents' home? How could she have the nerve to do that?
Her children are already this grown up, this is going to drive her to death.
She finally began to get scared. She didn't care about her face anymore. She hurriedly chased after him, grabbed Master Wen's sleeve, and begged, "Master, Master, I was wrong. Please forgive me this time. I will listen to you in the future. Please don't divorce me. I am already a parent and have grandchildren. If you divorce me and let me go back to Fengcheng, how can I have the face to go back to see my parents..."
Master Wen slowly pulled his sleeves out of her hand and looked at her calmly, "An, the love between you and me is gone. Your shame is not lost on your behalf by me, but by your own words and deeds. My greatest wish in this life is for our family to be well. Please let me go. My Wen family can no longer tolerate you."
The treasures are here, love you! (One hundred red envelopes~) Next chapter preview: Commander Xie's happy days~
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