Upon hearing this, Zhao's mother immediately exploded, "What? Does your Earl's family have no shame at all? What kind of grandmother would so eagerly move into the home of a divorced daughter-in-law?!"
Zhang's mother retorted without hesitation, "What daughter-in-law's residence? This is clearly the county princess's residence. What's wrong with a grandmother staying at her granddaughter's residence for a few days?"
Zhao's mother choked.
Madam Su smiled and said, "Aunt Zhang, who said this is the county princess's residence?"
Mrs. Zhang looked up and stared at the empty storefront, stunned.
This old royal residence has never had a plaque hung up, but everyone in the capital knows that this is the county princess's residence.
Zhang's mother insisted, "The former second madam's residence is known throughout the capital as the County Princess's Mansion; they're just missing the plaque."
Su clapped his hands, and several people immediately brought out a plaque.
Mother Zhao was overjoyed at the sight, "Make way, make way, everyone make way! We're going to hang up the plaque!"
For a moment, she forgot about the new plaque that Su had commissioned.
Zhang's mother had no choice but to lead the old lady back a step with her servants, watching helplessly as the plaque bearing the two large characters "Su Mansion" was hung up.
The onlookers were all astonished and exclaimed repeatedly, "Who would have thought that Su Yiren, a divorced woman, could actually establish her own household?"
"Indeed! There's not another woman in the world who would dare to open her own residence and live alone!"
Then a commoner mustered up the courage to ask, "May I ask, Lady Su, is this Su residence a separate courtyard of the Su family in Dingzhou, or a separate Su residence?"
Su smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, neighbors. Although I have divorced the Jiang family, I have not lost touch with my maternal family. This Su residence is naturally the residence of the Su family of Dingzhou in the capital. The reason why the plaque has not been hung up these days is because I need to obtain the consent of the head of the Su family of Dingzhou on this matter, which is why it has been delayed for a few days."
She turned to Zhang Mama and said, "I have to thank Zhang Mama for reminding me, otherwise the plaque would have been delayed in being hung up, and no one would have dared to covet my mansion that I spent tens of thousands of taels of silver to build."
Madam Zhao spat, "That's right! What kind of state is your own household in? How dare you even dream of benefiting from my young lady and young lady's fame?! Bah! You're dreaming! This isn't the county princess's mansion, and it has nothing to do with your Jiang family! This old servant would like to ask, as a mere Countess, do you have the face to live in the mansion of a divorced daughter-in-law?! Is the Yong'an Marquis's mansion so poor that it can't even afford to eat?!"
Zhang's mother was so ashamed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Lady Yong'an lay on the recliner, her body trembling violently, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
The onlookers laughed and said, "This is truly an extraordinary sight! We've seen shameless people, but we've never seen anyone this shameless. It's one thing to want to freeload off the granddaughter's food and lodging, but to actually try to freeload off her ex-wife?!"
The crowd could vaguely hear a dry cough coming from inside the carriage.
Upon receiving the instruction, Zhang Mama immediately turned to Xiao Youran and said, "Miss, Second Master has now returned to live with the Jiang family. You are, after all, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. Why don't you come back to live with us? Although the Jiang family is not as wealthy as the Su family, they certainly won't let you go hungry."
Xiao Youran then took a step forward with her head held high and said in a clear voice, "Oh, last time I went back to the Earl's Mansion to wish my grandfather a happy birthday, I only broke two bowls and plates, and Grandmother made me pay for them! Also, your Earl's Mansion said you reserved my boudoir, but wasn't everything in that room burned down? I heard you're still buying food on credit from the rice shop every day! Am I crazy or stupid to go back to that Earl's Mansion where we can't even afford meat and don't even have a bed to suffer? I eat well and drink well here with my mother, live in good clothes and have plenty of warmth, isn't that better?"
Madam Zhang's face twitched, and she said with great difficulty, "But... that Earl's mansion is, after all, your home. Who would abandon their family for wealth and status?"
Little Youran said "Oh," and said, "But this is my mother's house! My mother's house is also my house. And I'm only five years old. What five-year-old child in the world would not appreciate the warmth of his mother's house and instead go to his father's house to suffer hardship and poverty?"
She's only five years old, who would dare say she's greedy for wealth?
Mrs. Zhang stiffened even more. "Miss, you must be joking. How can your mother's house be your house?"
Xiao Youran opened her eyes wide and looked at Madam Su, "Mother, after you and Father divorced, am I no longer your child? How can your home not be my home?"
Madam Su hugged her tightly, "Little Youran, don't listen to her nonsense! You will always be your mother's most beloved child, and your mother's home is of course your home!"
Madam Zhang retorted angrily, "Miss, your surname is Jiang after all. The Jiang family is your root, your home!"
Xiao Youran blinked. "What's a surname? Since you put it that way, I'll change my surname to Su. If I change my surname to Su, then the Su family will be my family, right, Mother?"
Madam Su nodded. "Anyway, your grandmother said that it was a sin for you and your brother to be alive, and she also said that she would expel you from the family genealogy. Since the Jiang family doesn't like you two siblings so much, then your mother will decide to let you change your surname to Su."
The people inside the carriage coughed violently.
Madam Su understood that it must have been Jiang Mingyi who instigated Zhang Mama to cause this scene.
Zhang's mother was stunned. She never expected that Su would pull such a drastic move.
Hearing Jiang Mingyi coughing in the car, she snapped out of her reverie and scoffed, "Su Yiren is joking. Without the approval of the Jiang family elders, how could the Jiang family's children and grandchildren change their surname so easily?"
Xiao You Ran touched her chin with her fingers, seemingly lost in thought.
Can't I change my surname?
Given the current state of the Jiang family, it's unlikely they would easily allow her and her brother to change their surnames.
How to break this deadlock?
"Who says you can't?" a voice rang out.
A handsome young man in brocade robes jumped down from the carriage.
Xiao Youran waved happily to him, "Senior Brother Da Bai!"
Zhao's mother quickly bowed, "Your Highness."
Wen Yuanbai raised his arm slightly, "No need for formalities."
He rarely appears in the capital these days, and when he does, he always uses the identity of the Crown Prince of Xuan. Both the Su and Yun families are well aware of this.
Jiang Mingyi's heart skipped a beat inside the carriage.
I had heard that the Su mother and son had received protection from the Xuanwang Mansion, and now I have seen it with my own eyes.
Wen Yuanbai stood up for his junior sister with complete confidence, saying, "Junior sister, don't worry. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if a woman is promoted to an official position, her children can inherit her surname to bring glory to her mother's family. Aunt Su is a fifth-rank lady and also holds the position of guest minister in the Ministry of Revenue. She can propose to the Jingzhao Prefecture that her children take her surname."
"Senior Brother Da Bai, you've arrived just in time!" Xiao Youran laughed heartily, giving a thumbs up. "Hahaha, I didn't expect Senior Brother to be so familiar with the laws of the Great Zhou!"
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