Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: The Xie Family Intends to Divorce the Wife 

Xie Jingyu turned around and walked down the terrace.

The servants in the courtyard cast a stealthy glance at his direction and then hastily lowered their heads.

His face was an unmistakable shade of red and swollen, making it stand out conspicuously.

He walked up to He Shi and instructed, "Two of you, come here and escort He Shi back to the small temple."

The two maidservants exchanged glances, making no move to comply.

They had by now completely understood that although this was the Xie estate, the true authority rested in the hands of the Madam.

Even though the Madam had not borne a single child for the Xie family, and even though the Madam had raised her hand and slapped the Master across the face without hesitation, anyone could tell from the household's attitude toward her that the Madam was the true master of the entire Xie estate.

Since the Madam had given no such order, they certainly dared not remove He Shi.

Ting Shuang walked over and said, "The two of you, escort He Shi back."

Only at her prompting did the two maidservants dare to step forward, hoisting the unconscious He Shi up by her arms.

Xie Jingyu's expression was exceedingly grim.

Walking ahead, he personally accompanied He Shi back to the small temple, where she was unceremoniously dumped onto the hard wooden bed by the maidservants.

Drag-hauled all the way back, she had regained a sliver of consciousness. Opening her eyes to see Xie Jingyu standing by the bedside, hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she rasped, "Master, it hurts..."

Xie Jingyu retrieved a small jar of ointment from his sleeve and handed it over. "This is fine medicine rarely found even within the imperial palace. Have a maid apply it for you shortly."

He Shi raised a trembling hand and lightly stroked Xie Jingyu's face. "How could the Madam dare to strike you? Only a shrew would do such a thing... Master, divorce her. You must divorce her..."

Xie Jingyu evaded her touch and said, "She is consumed by the yearning for her children; her actions are somewhat understandable."

He Shi gritted her teeth. "Do you not realize that the Madam has completely changed from before? She is no longer that devoted Xie wife who was whole-heartedly dedicated to this household. It is as if she bears a grudge against the Xie family. Is there anyone she hasn't punished? Even you have suffered a blow to the face from her! What won't she be capable of doing in the future? No matter how high her lineage may be, she is no longer fit to serve as the mistress of the house. Master, when it is time to sever ties, you must make a decisive break..."

Xie Jingyu gazed out the window.

Of course he had noticed Yun Chu's transformation. Earlier, he had been baffled as to why she seemed like an entirely different person, but now he finally understood the reason.

Yun Chu must have harbored suspicions about the children's whereabouts for a long time, searched in secret for ages without finding where they were buried, and thus finally erupted in such a sudden outburst...

"She pressured you like that today, yet you still did not reveal the truth. Let the events of four years ago rot in your stomach; you are never to speak of them again." Xie Jingyu turned back around. "Heal your injuries properly, banish these wild thoughts from your mind, and stop stirring up trouble. I will arrange for someone to look after you so that your days are not too harsh."

He Shi lay prone on the bed, clutching the medicine bottle in her hand with a tight grip.

Xie Jingyu stepped out of the small temple and returned to his study.

The handprint on his face grew increasingly distinct, easily visible to any passing servant.

Thus, the news that Xie Jingyu had been slapped across the face by the Madam at the Sheng Residence spread to every corner of the Xie estate, naturally reaching the Hall of Longevity as well.

"What?!" Old Madam Xie smashed the teacup in her hand onto the floor. "Yun Chu actually dared to slap Jingyu across the face? How could she dare? Where on earth did she get the audacity?"

Lady Yuan advised, "Spouses quarreling is a common occurrence after all."

"Quarreling is one thing, but who permitted her to resort to violence? To strike a man across the face—how is Jingyu supposed to attend court tomorrow?" The Old Madam felt a rage so intense her chest nearly felt fit to burst. "She cannot bear children and has long since violated the seven grounds for divorce. To call her a shrew and a wicked woman for striking her husband is no exaggeration! A woman like her is no longer worthy of being the mistress of the household. In any other family, she would have been divorced long ago; where does she get the qualification to act so unbridled?"

"Old Madam, such words should not be spoken casually. Be careful lest someone overhears," Lady Yuan remarked. "Chu'er is a blessed child. Ever since she entered our doors, my illness suddenly vanished, and Jingyu's official career has enjoyed smooth sailing. Her destiny brings good fortune, and she elevates our Xie family's standing. If we divorce her, where on earth could we ever find such a wonderful daughter-in-law?"

"Your illness would have naturally cleared up on its own; what did that have to do with her?" the Old Madam said coldly. "Jingyu's ability to rise in rank is due to his own competence; her Yun family didn't contribute any help. This time, I will temporarily excuse her on the grounds that she is grieving her two prematurely deceased children. But if she dares to continue disrupting the peace of the household like she did today, even if it means offending the Yun family, I will force Jingyu to divorce his wife!"

Lady Yuan hurriedly added, "Chu'er is not an unreasonable person..."

By the time the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law finished talking, the sky had grown completely dark.

Having experienced such violent emotional upheavals, Yun Chu felt as though every ounce of strength had been drained from her body. Utterly exhausted, she lay down on her bed.

She had originally intended to practice her horse stance for a while in the evening, but she simply lacked the strength to get up.

Closing her eyes, she was haunted by the phantom sounds of her children's tragic crying echoing in her ears, and before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

"Mother, where are you? We miss you so much."

"Mother, won't you come and hold us? It's so cold."

Yun Chu's heart felt as though it were being pierced by daggers. Even knowing this was a dream, she stubbornly refused to wake up. She wanted so desperately to find her children, to hold them in her arms, and to tell them that there had never been a single day she forgot them, and that she missed them just as dearly...

She trudged forward laboriously through the fog of her dream.

Surrounded by thick, endless white mist, she walked for what felt like ages until, at long last, a faint gleam of light appeared ahead.

Quickening her pace, Yun Chu broke into a run.

She caught sight of a azure sky and vast stretches of green meadow. The landscape was carpeted with blooming wildflowers, amidst which sat two exquisitely sculpted children of about four years of age.

A boy and a girl, they sat with their heads lowered, playing with something.

In an instant, Yun Chu's heart softened completely. She tiptoed forward cautiously, terrified that any abrupt movement might shatter this beautiful dream.

"My babies, Mother is here..."

Her voice was saturated with infinite tenderness as she squatted down before the children.

The little boy was the first to look up, a familiar face rushing into her field of view. She gasped in utter shock: "The little prince consort?"

How could her son's face have turned into that of the little prince consort of the Prince of Pingxi's estate...

"Mother!"

The child lunged straight into her embrace.

She bolted awake with a violent start.

Only then did she realize that daylight had already broken outside.

Hearing the commotion, Ting Shuang pushed the door open and entered, speaking softly, "Madam, if you are feeling unwell, you should rest a bit longer. I will tell those who came to pay their morning respects to leave first."

Yun Chu pressed her fingers against her temples. "Tell them I have taken ill and that no one needs to come for morning greetings for the next few days."

Ting Shuang's face was etched with deep worry.

Closing the door with utmost care, she stepped outside and announced, "The Madam is feeling unwell. Everyone may return for today, and there will be no need to come for morning greetings over the next few days."

Holding Xie Xiyun's hand, Consort Ting wore a look of surprise. "Wasn't the Madam perfectly fine yesterday? Why has she suddenly fallen ill? Is it serious?"

Consort Tingfeng considered her utterly hypocritical. Given the massive turmoil of yesterday, did anyone in the estate not know why the Madam had fallen ill?

"The spring chill is biting, and the Madam has caught a cold," Ting Shuang said indifferently. "You are all dismissed."

The others consciously dispersed, but Consort Ting lingered, pulling Xie Xiyun along with her. "Since the Madam is ill, I can stay behind to tend to her. The Madam loves Yun-ge'er the most; let Yun-ge'er stay to amuse her."

Ting Shuang's expression turned icy. "The Madam is resting and does not need anyone to tend to her. Consort Ting may withdraw."

Consort Ting lowered her gaze. Ting Shuang used to think the Madam was clever, but now she could only see that the Madam was utterly foolish.

A woman incapable of bearing children ought to hold tightly onto the existing children in the household and capture her husband's heart, yet the Madam went out of her way to do the exact opposite.

Having publicly slapped the Master across the face in front of a crowd, whatever sliver of marital affection remained between the Master and the Madam was likely completely shattered now.

Just as Consort Ting was lost in thought, she spotted Xie Jingyu, having just returned from court, striding quickly through the gates of the Sheng Residence.