“Mhmm, I know. The Su Family has never liked Mother or Qing Bao. To protect Qing Bao, Mother told others she was taking me back to our ancestral home to pray for Father’s blessings, right?”
As Qing Bao spoke, her small face was filled with emotion, her sparkling eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Qing Bao understands everything now. Qing Bao has changed.”
Si He had never cried—not when she and General Su, childhood sweethearts, were separated by the Si Family only to be forced into a marriage where she had to accept a co-wife; not when the Su Family humiliated her; not when she was violated by a man; not even when she fought back violently.
Yet when her daughter voiced the truth she had kept hidden, Si He nearly broke down sobbing.
When her daughter was just one year old, her husband had taken his co-wife to the borderlands. By chance, Si He overheard Old Madam Su speculating that Qing Bao was a Star of Calamity.
Old Madam Su revealed her intention to harm Qing Bao.
Thus, Si He used praying for her husband’s safety as an excuse to take her daughter back to their ancestral home in Su Family Village.
This courtyard was where Si He’s adoptive parents had once lived. She settled here with her daughter, the two relying on each other through their impoverished days.
Never did she expect that on the very night of her husband’s triumphant return, she and her daughter would face such calamity.
Her heart wrenching with pain, afraid her daughter would feel heartbroken and inferior, Si He had kept the truth hidden these two years, weaving beautiful dreams for Qing Bao, never letting her know the Su Family didn’t love her.
Now, Qing Bao could see through it all—without a trace of sadness, her eyes filled only with heartache for her mother.
Si He held her tightly, pressing her cheek against her daughter’s soft, pudgy face.
Mother and daughter seemed to draw strength and solace from each other once more.
Outside the courtyard.
Old Madam Su had spent a long time coaxing Su Mengmeng, even praising her for being sensible.
“Mengmeng is so understanding. Even with such serious injuries, you stopped crying after just a while—unlike that one…”
The “that one” she referred to was Qing Bao.
Last time, when she merely disciplined Si He until she fainted, Qing Bao cried all day—simply too noisy.
“Grandmother, when Father and Mother return, remember to tell them Mengmeng hurt herself by accident. It has nothing to do with Qing Bao.”Su Mengmeng spoke softly and obediently to Old Madam Su, her eyes still brimming with grievance, enough to melt anyone’s heart.”
“How can I not speak up? I saw with my own eyes how she pressed you down and smashed you against the ground. How is that wronging her?” The more Old Madam Su thought about it, the angrier she became.
Two years in the countryside have made them wild.
Just like her country-bred mother—utterly useless!
“When your father returns, both mother and daughter will be driven out of the Su Family. Qing Bao will no longer be your sister. You needn’t worry about saving face for her.”
After doing such things, what face is left to save?
Once her son returns, he can directly abandon Si He and her adulterer here.
It will be hard for this mother and daughter not to be divorced.
Old Madam Su calculated carefully, estimating the timing was about right.
Just then.
Sounds of gongs and drums came from outside the village. The night watch villager rushed over, shouting joyfully:
“General Su has returned to Su Family Village! General Su has returned in triumph!!!”
Instantly, countless red flags waved, lanterns lit up, and Su Family Village was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, as vibrant as New Year’s Eve.
Old Madam Su trembled as she stood up, her aged eyes welling with tears. She had her maid support her, crying out excitedly:
“Quick, quick! Take me to welcome my son!”
“Mother!” Su Xiao dismounted and strode over, kneeling before his mother.
Old Madam Su helped him up, tears glistening in her eyes. “Rise quickly, my son. You’ve grown thinner.”
After two years of weathering hardships, Su Xiao’s originally handsome face had gained maturity and resoluteness.
He scooped up Su Mengmeng and kissed her, his face radiant with happiness.
“By the way, where is Si Yao? Why isn’t she here?” Old Madam Su inquired about Si Yao.
Si Yao was Su Mengmeng’s birth mother, the treasured darling cherished by both the Si and Su families.
Yet she was not delicate in the slightest—instead, she was highly skilled in martial arts, straightforward and cheerful, beloved by all.
Whenever Su Xiao mentioned Si Yao, his eyes softened with adoration. “She’s filial—she went to deliver the good news to the Si family first.”
“Oh, mother, where are Si He and the others?”
Before him, his mother and many clansmen had gathered, even three-year-old Mengmeng was there.
Only Si He and her daughter were missing.
At the mention of Si He and her daughter, Old Madam Su’s expression stiffened. “Xiao’er, you must prepare yourself.”
At these words.
Su Xiao’s face fell. “What do you mean?”
Old Madam Su hesitated, unable to speak.
Su Xiao then looked toward the matronly woman and the villagers nearby.
Unable to bear it, the matron spoke up, “The General’s Wife hasn’t been in the village all day today.”
“Some say they saw her return with a man and head up the back hill—she hasn’t come back yet…”
“The Clan Leader has taken people to apprehend them. Whether they were committing adultery or not remains unknown…”
As soon as this was said.
Su Xiao’s eyes filled with disbelief.
“You’re saying she left her daughter alone at home and went up the back hill with a man to commit adultery?” a villager asked indignantly.
The matron quickly waved her hands. “I didn’t mean that.”
It seemed the misdirection had worked.
The villager immediately cursed, “That shameless woman! While her husband is out fighting, protecting our home and country, risking his life, she goes and cuckolds the General!”
“Exactly! Enjoying the status of General’s Wife, living a life of luxury earned by her husband’s efforts—how could she be so shameless!”
“General Su, if this is true, you must drown her in a pig cage!”
“Yes, drown her in a pig cage!”
The villagers were already furious just hearing about it.
Because Si He’s husband was General Su, she had lived in Su Family Village for two years, and everyone had treated her quite well.
Who would have thought she could do such a thing?
It was an outrage to both gods and men!
“The truth hasn’t come out yet. Everyone, refrain from speculation. After all, Si He is my Su family’s daughter-in-law—don’t ruin her reputation,” Old Madam Su hypocritically spoke up for Si He.
Her gaze inadvertently caught several clusters of torchlight descending the mountain path, and she knew the Clan Leader must have caught the adulterous couple and was bringing them down.
“What is there to guess? Going up the back hill with a man late at night—if it’s not adultery, what is it?”
“Exactly, Old Madam, you have a kind heart, but you can’t let this daughter-in-law tarnish the General’s reputation on the very day of his triumphant return.”
“Right, drown her in a pig cage—that will preserve General Su’s prestige.”
“I’ll go home and get my pig cage right now. Our Su Family Village has no place for a woman like this.” Aunt Ba immediately declared she would fetch her pig cage.
But at that moment.
A voice sounded from the courtyard.
“What’s all the noise about so late at night?”
Si He emerged from the house, her hair still disheveled, clearly having just woken up.
Old Madam Su’s pupils trembled violently, and the cane in her hand actually clattered to the ground.