Ling Yunzhou felt very annoyed after leaving the manor and returning to the capital. How could he be expected to deal with these petty jealousies? After thinking for a while, he sent his attendants back to the General's Mansion after arriving in the capital and went directly to the Star-Picking Tower. Family matters should naturally be resolved by the children's parents together.
When Lingyunzhou arrived, the Zhaixing Tower had already closed for its midday market, but its main gate was still open.
"I'm looking for Tao Wanniang," Ling Yunzhou said to the dozing waiter as he entered.
Upon seeing Ling Yunzhou, the waiters who recognized him immediately ran to the backyard to find Tao Wanniang.
Tao Wanniang, who was taking a nap, was woken up and came to Ling Yunzhou in a very unhappy manner, her eyes filled with displeasure as she looked at him.
"You're looking for me? At this hour?" Tao Wanniang said with dissatisfaction.
"I've returned from the manor and wanted to talk to you about Ling Dapeng," Ling Yunzhou said solemnly. "Don't refuse outright. You're the child's mother. If the child goes astray, you can't just ignore it."
Tao Wanniang frowned, clearly impatient. "Let's go, let's talk somewhere else."
After entering the private room, Ling Yunzhou sat down, slammed his hand on the table, and began to berate Ling Dapeng.
"That boy is outrageous. His wife is having a miscarriage, and he claims it was the concubine's doing, yet he's speaking up for the concubine. But this Zhou woman is also something else. Since no one saw it and she can't produce any evidence that the concubine pushed her, she's still making a fuss. She even wants to go back to the capital. Isn't that ridiculous?" Ling Yunzhou recounted what happened at the estate, and he was still angry after finishing.
Tao Wan's mother found it somewhat amusing. It was nothing for Ling Dapeng to do some farm work, but could that delicate Shishi even work in the fields?
"How is Xiaoyun? She's had a miscarriage. Is it serious?" Tao Wanniang asked.
"The doctor has already examined her and prescribed medicine to prevent miscarriage. She needs to rest, and I've had a woman sent to take care of her," Ling Yunzhou replied. "Wan Niang, would you like to go to the estate to check on her?"
"What are you looking at, a drowning dog?" Tao Wanniang sneered. "If I go, some people will probably think I'm here to laugh at them."
“You are their mother, their own mother!” Ling Yunzhou frowned. “I have never raised my sons, so there are some things I can’t say. And that concubine, as a man, I can’t very well beat or scold her, can I?”
"What, in your eyes, do I look like a shrew who would grab people by the hair and beat them?" Tao Wanniang retorted. What difference would it make if she went? Her son had grown up and had his own ideas, but his temperament changed a bit quickly.
Ling Yunzhou was taken aback and immediately explained, "No, Wan Niang, it's just that you raised the child, and you know Da Peng's temperament best. He should prioritize his wife in order to live a good life. If he favors his concubine over his wife... you know that."
"I don't know. In our Lingjia Village, no one has ever taken a concubine," Tao Wanniang said. Lingjia Village is too poor.
“Well… you still have to go and take a look. I’ve already spoken to Dapeng. The harvest at the estate wasn’t good. If he can improve the harvest, then we’ll bring them back to the capital.”
Let them see. After Tao Wanniang kicked Ling Dapeng out of the restaurant, they never had a proper talk. She didn't even take a concubine. I wonder what her pipa-playing hand looks like now that she's at the estate.
"I'm off tomorrow. Find someone to guide me, and I'll go to the estate to take a look."
“I’ll take you there!” Ling Yunzhou blurted out immediately.
"No, General, do you understand the importance of avoiding suspicion? Our relationship is over. If we were seen together, it would really damage my reputation!" Tao Wanniang refused very decisively.
“If you insist on doing this, then I won’t go. Anyway, I don’t care how my son is doing.”
Ling Yunzhou felt a lump in his throat when he heard Tao Wanniang speak like that.
"Since you insist on this, then I'll have Qian Feng accompany you," Ling Yunzhou said helplessly after a moment of hesitation.
"Alright, you can leave now. We cook are also very tired. I hope you won't bother me like this next time." Tao Wanniang gave her the order to leave.
“This isn’t anything else, it’s a family matter,” Ling Yunzhou corrected. “My two children have grown up, and I’ve been too uninvolved in them…”
"General, don't get sentimental. The children are all grown up now, and the past is the past. If you're so bored, go and get on with your business." Tao Wanniang didn't stand on ceremony at all. It was the original owner of the body who raised the two children, not her. What she gave Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng was the ability to escape the famine, come to the capital, and survive.
Ling Yunzhou felt heartbroken once again; he always felt powerless in front of Tao Wanniang.
"Then, would you like to see Zhi'er?" Ling Yunzhou asked again before leaving.
“No need. A child this young doesn’t really remember anything yet. He will only be affectionate towards the people who are with him every day,” Tao Wanniang said somewhat coldly. “To avoid suspicion, it would be best if the General visited Zhaixing Tower less often in the future.”
"Avoid suspicion, avoid suspicion, are you in such a hurry to distance yourself from me? Are you so eager to get married?" Ling Yunzhou was getting angry after hearing this so many times.
"I've thought about it carefully. What could possibly make the Commander of the Overwatch Council come to Zhaixing Tower and specifically meet with me? It can't be the food at Zhaixing Tower. General, what do you think is the reason?"
Tao Wanniang remained calm and composed, looking directly at Ling Yunzhou as she spoke.
Ling Yunzhou was speechless. If that's the case, does that mean Chen Bin knew that Tao Wanniang was his first wife, so he came to see her?
“You’re probably overthinking it,” Ling Yunzhou retorted.
Tao Wanniang scoffed and gestured invitingly. Ling Yunzhou didn't know Chen Bin was planning something bad for her, but she did! So why bother cutting her tendons? If this had nothing to do with Ling Yunzhou, she wouldn't be Tao!
Ling Yunzhou gave Tao Wanniang a deep look before leaving. Chen Bin's case remained unresolved, and the Ministry of Justice, after reviewing past case files, had never seen such a hidden weapon before.
The next day, Tao Wanniang rested, and Qian Feng waited early at the Tao family's door.
When Tao Wanniang went to see her unfilial son, she didn't bring anyone else with her. The carriage traveled for nearly two hours before finally arriving at the manor where Ling Dapeng and the other two were staying.
After Qian Feng revealed his identity, Li Fu, the steward of the estate, immediately became extremely respectful to Tao Wanniang.
"Ling Dapeng went to the field to plant rice with his concubine. Zhou Shi is lying in the house, being taken care of. The doctor has already examined her and the pregnancy is stable. She just needs to lie in bed for another three to five days."
"Take me to see Zhou Xiaoyun!" Tao Wanniang said. This manor was rather deserted.
Zhou Xiaoyun was startled when she saw Tao Wanniang, and then choked up as she called her "Mother".
"I heard you had some trouble, so I came to see you," Tao Wanniang said. "You look quite well, though."
"Mother, please don't make fun of me. It's not easy for me to be pregnant. Dapeng is bewitched by a vixen. He used to massage my feet every day, but now he doesn't even come to my room!"
Zhou Xiaoyun said aggrievedly, "Mother, please help me because I gave birth to a son for Dapeng. That Shishi is always bothering Dapeng, which will harm his health."
Is this something you can say? Tao Wanniang frowned slightly. Is this because Ling Dapeng didn't treat everyone equally?
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