Chapter 28: The Xie Family Wants to Divorce the Wife
Xie Jingyu turned around and descended the steps.
The servants in the courtyard stole a glance at him before quickly lowering their heads.
His face was swollen and red, particularly conspicuous.
He walked up to He Shi and said, "Send two people to escort He Shi back to the small temple."
Two matrons exchanged glances but made no move.
They had already fully realized that although this was the Xie residence, the authority lay in the hands of the mistress.
Even though the mistress had not borne a single child for the Xie family, and even though she had slapped the master without hesitation, the Xie family's attitude toward her made it clear that she was the true power holder in the entire household.
Without the mistress's command, they dared not send He Shi away.
Ting Shuang approached and said, "You two, take He Shi back."
Only after she spoke did the two matrons dare to step forward and lift the unconscious He Shi.
Xie Jingyu's expression was extremely grim.
He walked ahead, personally leading the way as He Shi was taken to the small temple, where the matrons tossed her onto the hard bed.
Having been dragged all the way back, she had regained some consciousness. Opening her eyes and seeing Xie Jingyu standing by the bed, hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she said hoarsely, "Master, it hurts..."
Xie Jingyu took a jar of ointment from his sleeve and handed it to her. "This is a rare and excellent medicine from the palace. Have the maid apply it for you later."
He Shi raised her hand, trembling as she touched Xie Jingyu's face. "How dare the mistress hit you? Only a shrew would do such a thing... Master, divorce her, you must divorce her..."
Xie Jingyu avoided her touch and said, "She is overwhelmed with longing for her child, which is understandable."
He Shi gritted her teeth. "Haven't you noticed that the mistress is completely different from before? She is no longer the devoted Lady Xie who cared only for the Xie family. It seems as if she holds a grudge against the Xies. Who hasn't she punished? Even you have suffered a slap from her. What else won't she do in the future? No matter how high her status, she is no longer fit to be the matriarch of the household. Master, you must make a clean break..."
Xie Jingyu looked out the window.
Of course, he had noticed Yun Chu's strangeness. Previously, he hadn't understood why Yun Chu seemed like a different person, but now he finally knew the reason.
Yun Chu must have long suspected the whereabouts of the children. After investigating privately for a long time without finding where they were buried, she finally erupted...
"Even under such intense interrogation today, you did not reveal the truth. Keep the events of four years ago buried in your stomach and never mention them again," Xie Jingyu turned around. "Focus on recovering and stop overthinking or causing trouble. I will arrange for someone to look after you so you won't live too harshly."
He Shi lay on the bed, tightly clutching the medicine jar in her hand.
Xie Jingyu left the small temple and returned to his study.
The handprint on his face grew increasingly distinct, and nearly every servant who passed by saw it.
Thus, the news that Xie Jingyu had been slapped by his wife in Shengju spread to every corner of the Xie residence, naturally reaching Anshou Hall as well.
"What?!" Xie Laotaitai slammed the teacup in her hand. "Yun Chu actually dared to slap Jingyu? How dare she? Where did she get the nerve?"
Yuan Shi tried to console her, "Arguments between husband and wife are common.""Quarreling is one thing, but who allowed her to lay hands? She actually dared strike a man's face—how is Jingyu supposed to attend court tomorrow?" The Old Madam was so furious her chest felt ready to explode. "Her failure to bear children already violates the seven grounds for divorce. To raise hands against her husband—calling her a shrew or vicious woman isn't excessive! A woman like her doesn't deserve to remain as mistress of the household. In any other family, she'd have been divorced long ago. How dare she act so arrogantly!"
"Old Madam, we shouldn't speak like this—be careful someone might hear," Yuan Shi interjected. "Chu'er is a blessed child. Since she entered our household, my illness suddenly improved, and Jingyu's official career has been smooth sailing. She carries fortune in her destiny, capable of elevating our Xie family's status. Where could we find such a good daughter-in-law if we divorce her?"
"Your recovery was simply meant to be—what does it have to do with her?" The Old Madam said coldly. "Jingyu's promotion was due to his own capabilities—the Yun family contributed nothing. This time, I'll reluctantly consider her actions driven by grief for our two prematurely deceased children. But if she continues disturbing the household peace like today, even at the cost of offending the Yun family, I'll make Jingyu divorce her!"
Yuan Shi hurriedly responded, "Chu'er isn't an unreasonable person..."
As the mother and daughter-in-law conversed, darkness had completely fallen outside.
Yun Chu's emotions had swung between extremes, leaving her drained as if all strength had been sucked from her body. Exhausted, she lay collapsed on the bed.
She normally practiced horse-stance exercises in the evening, but now she simply couldn't muster the energy to rise.
Closing her eyes, the heart-wrenching cries of children from her dreams persistently echoed in her ears. Thus, she eventually drifted into sleep at some unknown hour.
"Mother, where are you? We miss you so much."
"Mother, won't you come hold us? It's so cold."
Yun Chu's heart felt as if being shredded by knives. Though knowing this was merely a dream, she refused to wake up. She desperately wanted to find her children, to hold them, to tell them she had never forgotten them for even a single day, that she missed them terribly too...
She trudged through the dream's dense mist.
Shrouded in white fog that seemed endless, she walked for what felt like an eternity until finally, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.
Yun Chu quickened her pace, breaking into a run toward it.
She saw blue skies and vast green meadows blanketed with blooming flowers. Among the blossoms sat two exquisitely beautiful children around four years old.
One boy, one girl, they sat with their heads down playing with something.
Yun Chu's heart instantly softened. She approached cautiously, afraid that sudden movement might shatter this beautiful dream.
"My children, mother is here..."
Her voice reached its utmost tenderness as she knelt before them.
The boy looked up first, and a familiar face filled her vision. She gasped in astonishment, "Young Son?"
Why did her son's face resemble that of Prince Pingxi's Young Son...
"Mother!"
The child threw himself into her embrace.
She jolted awake abruptly.
Realizing daylight had already brightened outside.
Ting Shuang entered upon hearing movement, softly saying, "Madam, if you're unwell, rest longer. This servant will have the morning well-wishers leave first."
Yun Chu rubbed her temples. "Tell them I've fallen ill. No morning greetings are needed for the next few days."
Deep concern etched Ting Shuang's face.
She quietly closed the door and addressed those outside: "The Madam is indisposed. Everyone may return. Morning greetings won't be required for the coming days."Ting Yu held Xie Shiyun's hand, her face showing surprise. "Wasn't Madam perfectly fine yesterday? How did she suddenly fall ill? Is it serious?"
Ting Feng thought she was utterly hypocritical. After yesterday's major incident, who in the mansion didn't understand perfectly well why Madam had fallen ill?
"The spring chill is sharp—Madam has caught a cold," Ting Shuang said calmly. "Everyone may disperse now."
The others left of their own accord, but Ting Yu remained holding Xie Shiyun's hand. She spoke up, "Since Madam is ill, I can stay to attend to her. Madam dotes most on Yun Ge'er—let Yun Ge'er stay to amuse her."
Ting Shuang's expression turned cold. "Madam is resting and requires no attendance. Concubine Yu may withdraw."
Ting Yu lowered her eyes.
She used to think Madam was clever, but now she realized Madam was utterly foolish.
A woman who couldn't bear children should hold onto the existing children in the household and secure the man's affection, yet Madam insisted on doing the opposite.
By slapping the Master in public, Madam had likely severed the last thread of marital affection between them.
As Ting Yu was lost in these thoughts, she saw Xie Jingyu, who had just returned from court, striding quickly through the entrance of Sheng Residence.
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