Brother Yang rebuked him, saying, "Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper. Gossiping behind someone's back will damage her reputation. Brother Cui, please be careful with your words."
Some people said uncertainly, "It seems to be the widowed daughter-in-law of the Duke of Wei's family who was divorced and sent back to her parents' home. She is a person with a tragic fate."
Su Wanwan's kneeling at the gate of the Duke of Wei's mansion left a deep impression on many people.
Brother Yang bid farewell to everyone in a generous manner, glancing in the direction of the departing carriage.
...
Yan Rong has received a considerable amount of monthly allowance and rewards from Su Wanwan over the years, and has bought a house near Tonghua Gate.
My family has settled there.
A fat woman with a fierce expression was reclining on a deck chair in the courtyard.
She had her hair styled in a woman's bun and was scolding the little maid for being lazy, calling her a little whore and a slut.
Su Wanwan stared at it for a long time before exclaiming in disbelief, "Diexin?"
The fat woman froze, and after a long while, she turned her head, her round face flashing with a variety of complex emotions.
Finally, he sneered and threw the half-eaten sugarcane at Su Wanwan.
"Are you here to laugh at me?"
Are you happy?
Are you satisfied?
Su Wanwan stepped aside to avoid the half-eaten sugarcane, her eyes still filled with shock:
"Diexin, what happened to you?"
Diexin was a palace maid who served her in Qingning Palace. She was four years older than her, but about the same age as Prince Rong, Lu Youting.
The sachet and fan cover she gave to Prince Rong were all prepared by Diexin.
Diexin also frequently reminded her to deliver it to Prince Rong in a timely manner.
Because she was too busy, she had a lot to learn every day and also had to serve Zhou Shi.
I wish I could divide the day in half; I have absolutely no free time except for sleeping.
When Diexin turned eighteen, her heart was no longer in the palace.
Su Wanwan advised her to leave the palace and marry a good man.
But Diexin was unwilling and kept talking about wanting to work at the Rong Prince's Mansion.
Su Wanwan naturally granted her wish, using her connections in the Imperial Household Department to transfer Diexin there, and giving her almost all of her savings.
Later, when she got married, she took her younger sister Yanrong out of the palace with her.
They planned to find Yan Rong a good family in the future to fulfill their master-servant relationship.
Yan Rong lived up to expectations and became her head maid last year.
She'll be eighteen next year, old enough to get married.
Yan Rong rarely mentioned Die Xin. When Su Wanwan asked, she simply said that Die Xin was doing well.
She never imagined that Diexin, who was once so pure and beautiful, would turn out like this.
Diexin's eyes were red and swollen. She pounded her numb legs with all her might, crying out in hatred:
"It's all your fault, it's all your fault!"
"You can't marry Prince Rong, but you've offended Princess Rong, and now I'm the one suffering!"
"You're the one who made me look like this!"
Su Wanwan watched her hysterical state quietly without making any move.
Diexin's eyes reddened even more, but she laughed, a laugh that was extremely stubborn.
“He said he would make me a concubine once he became successful, and I’ve been waiting, until today…”
Su Wanwan still didn't make any move.
He just silently watched her crippled legs.
Diexin's voice gradually lowered, and she murmured to herself with her head down.
"I was so stupid to believe his nonsense."
After a while, Diexin wiped her face and said, "Yanrong is also a fool, thinking she can win his heart."
"Her behavior today is simply following in my footsteps."
Su Wanwan was not surprised by her words.
She was somewhat absent-minded and only left after Diexin returned to her room.
Su Wanwan leaned weakly against the carriage seat and instructed Heying to go back again.
"Go and leave her some money."
He Ying complained unhappily, "Such an ungrateful person, and you still take care of her family, girl, you are too kind-hearted."
"We were master and servant after all, so please help me fulfill this bond."
When Su Wanwan returned to the Su family home, it was almost dark. Han Xiufen, along with Aunt Luo and Xu Bangrui, had been waiting for a long time in the carriage outside the door.
Seeing Xu Bangrui's tear-streaked face, Su Wanwan couldn't bear it and let them into the house.
The kitchen had already prepared pastries, and Su Wanwan had Xu Bangrui sit on her lap to eat them while she chatted with Han Xiufen.
After not seeing each other for a while, Xu Bangrui did not become distant with her. Instead, he snuggled into her arms affectionately.
She was holding back tears, but in the end, her attention was diverted by a piece of pastry that Su Wanwan handed her.
"Is there anything I can do for the Lady of Wei's visit?"
Han Xiufen only sat on one side of her bottom, leaning slightly forward, and replied awkwardly:
"Miss Su, I apologize for disturbing you."
Back then, when Su Wanwan called her "mother," she never gave her a friendly look.
Nowadays, she calls herself "Lady of the Duke of Wei," which makes people uneasy.
Xu Chengbi had told her that Su Wanwan was a favorite of the emperor, and that she even accompanied him in the imperial study while in a wheelchair.
If she were to say a few bad things to the emperor, the Xu family would face annihilation at any moment.
The Empress's younger sister, Xia Xueting, whom they had painstakingly married, returned to the Xia family with her dowry on the second or third day of their marriage.
To this day, they have remained completely indifferent to the affairs of the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Not long ago, news came that the Empress was pregnant.
The ancestors of the Earl of Qingyang were posthumously honored for three generations.
They enjoyed unparalleled glory for a time, yet they didn't utter a single good word for the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Li Han, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, was exonerated and given an important position after being given guidance by Su Wanwan.
Han Xiufen had no choice but to bite the bullet and beg Su Wanwan for help.
"Wanwan, we are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law after all. Please, for the sake of Peng'an and Bangrui, save the Duke's mansion."
Su Wanwan, however, thought of the long list of officials' names that Lu Xingjian had read out in the Imperial Study.
It's rare to see a case involving so many officials.
"Lady of the Duke of Wei, the Emperor has already made a decision on this matter, and the Duke of Wei himself is aware of it, so please don't make things difficult for me."
"Besides, I have already left the palace, and it is very difficult for me to see the Emperor. Instead of coming to find me, you should go to the Marquis of Qingyang's residence."
This means they have absolutely no intention of helping.
Han Xiufen's hair has turned quite white recently. Looking at Su Wanwan's still youthful and beautiful face, a hint of jealousy and resentment flashed through her heart.
The widowed daughter-in-law, who used to bow to her every day and let her rub her hands and feet, now has this arrogant, cold, and distant attitude.
I simply can't swallow this insult.
But Xu Chengbi spoke up.
She must never again treat Su Wanwan with such disrespect.
Instead, one should sincerely repent and improve relationships.
She had to suppress her emotions and pour out her grievances:
"Wanwan, you should go back to the Duke's mansion. Life has become increasingly difficult in the mansion while you've been gone."
"We still don't have the money to arrange winter clothes, and people are coming to our door every day to collect the debt from Pengju's wedding."
“We’ve been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for a while now. You have so much dowry, you can’t just stand by and watch us live a hard life.”
Su Wanwan never expected Han Xiufen to say such shameless things.
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