“Let it be settled this way—A’Jiao will follow the Old Madam into exile, and A’Si will return with me to the Duke of Wei’s residence.”
Madam Zhao held her daughter’s hand as the two slowly stood up.
Looking at the Old Madam, she said firmly, “There is no such thing as yielding, nor does anyone owe anyone anything. These are simply the children’s own choices.”
The Old Madam’s expression darkened.
She had originally intended to use this opportunity to control Zhao and make Wang Si acknowledge Wang Jiao as her benefactor.
Who would have thought—
Unwilling to scold her favored granddaughter for foolishness, the Old Madam instead blamed fate for the Wang family’s downfall and their current predicament.
And Zhao and Wang Si—mother and daughter—truly were ungrateful ingrates.
It was one thing to be vain and unwilling to suffer with the Wang family, but to feel no shame at all—
The Old Madam was already displeased that she couldn’t persuade her beloved eldest granddaughter, and now, hearing Zhao and Wang Si’s words, her anger only grew.
Still, she retained a sliver of reason. She knew that in the days to come, she would still need Zhao and the Duke of Wei’s household for support. Otherwise, she would have harshly reprimanded the two of them.
Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her resentment and forced a smile. “Wan Niang is right. Sixth Girl and Seventh Girl are twin sisters. Over the years, though they’ve had their quarrels, their blood ties cannot be severed.”
“They’ve always been like this—the elder sister doting on the younger, the younger yielding to the elder.”
“Now that they must part, they may not see each other again for years. And our whole family is about to be separated…”
“Ah, just thinking about it makes this old woman unbearably sad. In my grief, I may have said things that caused misunderstanding.”
As she spoke, the well-maintained old face showed sorrow and reluctance, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
“Wan Niang, you have been married into the marquis household for eighteen years. Though we were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, we were like mother and daughter.”
“With the Wang family’s downfall, we are forced to sever our ties.”
“Though you and my son have divorced, in my heart, you will always be my good daughter-in-law, and the good mother of my grandchildren.”
“No matter the title, we are still family.”
Since coercion had failed, the Old Madam turned to emotional persuasion.
Her heartfelt words, filled with regret and sorrow, nearly shook Madam Zhao’s resolve.
Yes… she had divorced Wang Yong and cut ties with the Marquis of Wuchang’s household.
But the years of shared bonds—especially her children…
Still, Madam Zhao was not so naive as to be moved easily. More than anything, she was thinking of her children.
They all bore the surname Wang.
“Mother, I understand what you mean.” From this day forward, she was no longer a member of the Wang family.
Madam Zhao said softly, “Tomorrow, I will bring A’Si to see you off.”
…
“Wan Niang, let’s go.”
Zhao Chang had been watching silently. Seeing that Zhao had finished saying her farewells calmly, he finally spoke.
“Yes.”
Madam Zhao responded and led Wang Si out of the prison.
She walked slowly, but just before leaving, she paused.
She did not turn back.
They would meet again tomorrow—it was not their final farewell.
And besides, Wang Jiao’s words had truly hurt her. Though she felt reluctant to leave, she did not wish to see her at that moment.
Better to leave now.
“Wan Niang, you and A’Si get into the carriage first.”
After exiting the women’s prison, Zhao Chang pointed to the carriage outside the gate. “I’ll go see Wang Yong and the boys.”
“…Alright.”
Exhausted in both body and mind, Madam Zhao nodded and led Wang Si toward the carriage.
The two got in, and after the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Zhao Chang returned.
His expression unreadable, he lifted his robe and climbed into the carriage. “Let’s go.”
The carriage began to move, its wheels rolling over the stone pavement.
Half an hour later, it came to a stop.
Zhao Chang jumped down first, then stood nearby to help Madam Zhao and Wang Si out.
“You’re back, Wan Niang? And A’Si—you must have suffered these past few days.”
As soon as Wang Si stepped down, she saw a woman in a brocade ruqun approaching.
Around forty years old, with refined features and a dignified temperament.
Fine lines marked the corners of her eyes and lips, and her gentle voice carried warmth.
Wang Si recognized her—this was her eldest uncle Zhao Chang’s wife, Madam Qian, the heir’s consort of the Duke of Wei’s household.
Madam Qian came from a prominent Jiangnan family and had been known for her virtue and grace even before marriage.
She married into the Duke of Wei’s household at sixteen and, over more than twenty years, bore Zhao Chang three sons and one daughter.
She was the epitome of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Now, with her sister-in-law returning home after divorce—bringing along a child—she showed no displeasure. Instead, she had come early to welcome them.
Her expression was filled with the kindness and tolerance of an elder sister-in-law.
Madam Qian stepped forward and extended her hand to Zhao and Wang Si.
“You’ve grown thinner.”
Her eyes were filled with concern as she gently wiped the corner of her own eye with a handkerchief. “It’s all over now. Wan Niang, you’re home. Everything will get better.”
“Sister-in-law! It’s my fault—my troubles have burdened my brother and made you worry as well!”
“What are you saying? The heir is your elder brother, and I am your sister-in-law. Taking care of you is only natural.”
As she spoke, Madam Qian subtly glanced at Wang Si from the corner of her eye.
She deliberately did not mention Wang Si, wanting to see whether this niece was sensible and well-mannered.
Madam Qian had always had a good relationship with her sister-in-law. Over the years, there had never been conflict between them.
But distance preserves affection.
As the mistress of the household, Madam Qian was clear-headed.
Her sister-in-law had returned home after divorce, bringing along a daughter.
The Duke of Wei’s household was wealthy enough to support them—she did not begrudge a bit of food and clothing.
What she feared was raising an ungrateful ingrate.
Her sister-in-law would not be one—but what about the Wang family’s daughter?
Before this, Madam Qian had worried that Zhao might bring back Wang Jiao.
That Sixth Miss of the Wang family was not easy to deal with.
Though she and Wang Si were twins, their appearances and personalities were completely different.
What Madam Qian disliked most was that Wang Jiao was close to her grandmother from the Wang family, yet distant from her own mother, Madam Zhao.
“It must be that old woman from the Wang family spoiled her, making her willful, arrogant, and estranged from her own mother.”
If it were only a bad temperament, Madam Qian might not have minded so much.
What truly disgusted her was Wang Jiao’s lack of intelligence.
Foolish was one thing—but she also fancied herself clever, treating others as fools.
When her husband said he would go to the prison to bring back his sister and one of the nieces, Madam Qian had silently prayed:
Please don’t let it be Wang Jiao.