Third Master Xie and Madam Qu also left Rongfu Pavilion and headed toward their own courtyard. On the way, they got into an argument and parted on bad terms.
Madam Qu’s steps faltered, and she nearly fell.
“Madam!”
Nanny Qi hurriedly supported her. “Madam, you must hold on! Our Qing Ge’er is still counting on you!”
Madam Qu murmured numbly, “Useless… utterly useless…”
Was she truly fated to remain childless? Even with a false son, was she ultimately destined to be driven from the family?
Madam Qu raised her head and gazed at the dark, profound night sky. Heavens, why were you so cruel to me?
She clenched her hands, a shadow settling over her eyes.
“Come. We’re going to the ancestral hall!”
Someone was already standing guard at the Xie family ancestral hall. Madam Qu pleaded and argued with them, and even parted with a considerable sum of money before she was finally allowed inside to speak with Xie Zhaoqing.
“Mother, have you found a way to save me? I thought about it just now. That slut Shang Lingjun must explain everything to everyone.”
Xie Zhaoqing was overjoyed to see Madam Qu return.
Madam Qu strode over and raised her hand, delivering a vicious slap.
Xie Zhaoqing touched her burning cheek in disbelief. “Mother, you hit me?”
Madam Qu’s face was filled with the disappointment of someone despairing over a child who refused to live up to expectations. Lowering her voice, she reprimanded her furiously, “Are you really that desperate for a man? Did you have to cause this whole scene on your wedding night? I told you to conceal your identity, but you treated my words as wind passing your ears! How could you let Xiao Jing find out who you are?”
“Do you know that old woman has already decided to remove you from the Xie family genealogy and send you to Yizhou?”
Xie Zhaoqing’s face changed drastically. “What? Remove me from the genealogy?”
It had been wrong for her to have an affair with Xiao Jing, but everything had been arranged so carefully. Who could have expected such a mishap?
How could Grandmother be so ruthless…
Xie Zhaoqing collapsed onto the floor, despair spilling from her eyes. There was clearly a way to save her—all Shang Lingjun had to do was explain everything. Why?
Why did that damned old woman insist on removing her from the Xie family?
“Mother! Go and beg Father to save me…”
Crying, Xie Zhaoqing seized the hem of Madam Qu’s skirt.
Madam Qu let out a cold laugh. “Your father is most afraid of that old woman. Does he dare plead with her?”
Xie Zhaoqing felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Even Father could do nothing?
Madam Qu was utterly disappointed in her.
“You could have had a fine future. Now it’s all gone. You ruined yourself, and you ruined me!”
Madam Qu’s chest heaved violently. She was furious. All the glory she had spent half her life scheming to obtain was gone.
And it had ended in such an absurd manner?
Not only had their future been destroyed, but they had also lost all face. Most importantly, they could only suffer in silence. They knew perfectly well that Xie Zhaoqing was not homosexual, yet they could not explain the truth.
That was what made it all the more stifling.
A bloody taste rose in Xie Zhaoqing’s mouth. No—this could not be!
She grabbed Madam Qu’s sleeve, and a trace of madness appeared in her eyes.
“Then expose the fact that I disguised myself as a man! Go and tell that damned old woman that if the entire family wants to stay alive, they must find a way to cover this up for me!”
Madam Qu was horrified. “Stop this nonsense!”
Her hands clenched and then loosened. Enduring her impatience, she said, “Zhaoqing, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans. If anything goes wrong, you’ll lose your life—do you understand? Not only you; the entire family will die. You absolutely must not do this!”
Madam Qu’s eyes filled with tears as her gaze lingered over Xie Zhaoqing’s face. In the end, she ruthlessly turned away.
“Listen to me. From now on, Mother will make all the arrangements for you in Yizhou. I’ll make sure you have enough food and clothing for the rest of your life.”
Xie Zhaoqing’s expression stiffened, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.
Madam Qu came quietly and left in great haste.
The night wind poured in, cold enough to pierce the bones.
Xie Zhaoqing knelt on the icy floor for an unknown length of time before suddenly letting out a bitter laugh.
“Heh…”
It was true that deceiving the emperor was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans. But what if she used this to bargain with that damned old woman?
Xie Zhaoqing lifted her hand and wiped away her tears.
“Mother won’t let me tell them, but I insist on telling them. Shang Lingjun, don’t think you’ll get off easily either…”
She stared at the spirit tablets above the ancestral hall, her eyes as unfathomable as a frigid pool.
…
The next day, at Qixia Pavilion.
It was still dark when Shang Lingjun woke early, but Huo Chuan was still asleep.
She lay on the bed, staring blankly at the lotus-colored satin canopy. Her mind was filled with thoughts, and she felt not the slightest bit sleepy.
Rebirth, retaliation, remarriage—all accomplished in a single breath.
If she had not pinched herself hard to verify it, she would have suspected that this was all a dream.
But this battle could only be considered an initial victory. It was not over yet.
If she wanted to successfully exchange marriages today and punish Xie Zhaoqing severely, she would probably have to weather quite a few twists and turns.
If a vicious battle had to be fought, then she would fight it. She was someone who had already died once—what was there left to fear?
From the first glimmer of light on the horizon until the room brightened completely, Shang Lingjun had unknowingly spent a long time making plans. But why was there still no movement from Huo Chuan?
Could he have already left her body?
【Huo Chuan, Huo Chuan?】Shang Lingjun called out tentatively.
Huo Chuan gave a huge yawn. 【Calling my soul back?】
【I thought you’d left.】
He was still there after all.
【What? You can’t bear to part with me?】Huo Chuan’s tone was languid.
【Get lost!】
Shang Lingjun had no choice but to continue accepting the reality of sharing a body with this unfamiliar male ghost. Could it be that her rebirth had come with a free extra passenger?
Shang Lingjun rose from the bed. Just then, the door creaked open, and Qingzhi entered with several people.
“Madam, this is Nanny Liang. She used to be one of Old Madam’s most capable attendants and has come especially to serve you.”
Sitting on the bed, Shang Lingjun put on a serene smile and looked toward Nanny Liang.
“My mother-in-law has truly thought of everything. I’m young, and Nanny has long been accustomed to serving Old Madam. If I do anything wrong in the future, please feel free to guide me.”
Nanny Liang smiled. “Madam is too kind.”
At that moment, a commotion arose outside.
“Move! Let me in! What gives you the nerve to stop even me?!”
It was Madam Qu’s voice.
“Third Madam, you truly cannot enter. Please allow this servant to announce you first. Third Madam, please wait…” The maids of Qixia Pavilion were completely unable to hold her back, their faces filled with panic.
Madam Qu turned and slapped one of them across the face. “Get out of my way, you lowly servant!”
Shang Lingjun stood beneath the corridor, a faint smile on her lips, though it did not reach her eyes.
“It’s so early in the morning. Why isn’t Third Sister-in-law keeping Qing Ge’er company? What brings you here?”
At the same time, she signaled to Qingzhi with her eyes. Qingzhi stepped forward and helped the maid who had been struck to her feet.
When Madam Qu heard Shang Lingjun deliberately call her “Third Sister-in-law” again, her face turned cold. But remembering the purpose of her visit, she forcibly suppressed her anger and squeezed the words out through clenched teeth.
“Lingjun, whatever else may be said, we nearly became family once. I’d like to speak with you in private.”
The corners of Shang Lingjun’s lips still held a mocking curve.
“Third Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? We’re family now as well. You’re my Third Sister-in-law, after all. Although Qing Ge’er’s depraved and immoral behavior is rather disgraceful, he is still my nephew. If you have something to say, go ahead. We’re all family here.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Qu was so furious that her whole body trembled. She could barely maintain her composure.
“You!”
Anger burned in her eyes. “You don’t want to speak with me?”