Lin Shutang followed the Second Branch family as they boarded the carriage, preparing to depart.
There were three carriages in total. She shared one with Duan Yanzhou, Third Sister, and the eldest sister-in-law. The Second Master, Madam Jiang, the servant boy A Dong, and the maidservant Chunxiang rode in another.
The remaining carriage carried their luggage and provisions.
Before their departure, Lin Shutang made a special trip to the clothing store in the Shopping Mall Space to pick up lightweight down jacket liners, giving one to each of them.
They were to wear them underneath their plain padded jackets—not only would it be unnoticeable, but it would also keep them warm.
A Dong and Chunxiang received theirs as well, and the two marveled at them for quite a while before putting them on.
The Second Master took the down jacket and examined it repeatedly. “Shutang, what is this?”
Lin Shutang smiled. “Father, Yanzhou and I went to the tailor’s shop overnight to buy these. They’re windproof jackets. If you wear it underneath, you’ll be both warm and light.”
The Second Master pinched the jacket. “It is quite soft.” But he immediately handed it to Madam Jiang. “Your mother should wear it. I’m strong and healthy—I don’t fear the cold.”
Lin Shutang replied, “Father, Mother has one too. You should wear yours—the wind and snow will be heavy on the road.”
But the Second Master wouldn’t listen and insisted on draping the down jacket over Madam Jiang’s shoulders. “Your mother’s health is frail. She can’t afford to catch a chill. She should wear more.”
Madam Jiang, however, reached out and took Lin Shutang’s hand. “Shutang, are you cold?”
Lin Shutang shook her head. “Mother, I’m not cold.”
With that, she pulled out a stack of warming patches and distributed several to each of them. “Father, Mother, stick these on your body. They’re both convenient and warm.”
They took them in their hands, examining them with curiosity.
Duan Yanzhou came over to teach them how to use them. Once applied, both of them warmed up, their cheeks flushing pink.
The Second Master and Madam Jiang exchanged a glance, both wearing gentle smiles.
Unlike the First Master next door, who had taken four concubines, the Second Master had only ever had Madam Jiang as his wife. The two had always treated each other with respect and deep affection.
Soon the group was fully prepared and ready to set off.
A Dong and Third Sister sat at the front of the carriage, responsible for driving.
Lin Shutang then pulled several plush hats from the space that could wrap around the face completely, giving one to each of them. She deliberately chose plain gray styles.
They were still within the capital, so they needed to keep a low profile.
Lin Shutang sat inside the carriage, warm and cozy. Soon the carriage began to sway gently as it slowly made its way out of the residence.
By the time they reached the gates of Chongguo Fu, the First Branch family had already finished receiving their beating. Dressed only in their undergarments, they stood in a row with iron chains binding their hands, sobbing one after another.
Madam Zhou, sharp-eyed, spotted their carriage. “The Second Branch! The Second Branch is leaving!”
Everyone looked up in unison, their eyes filled with envy. How could people from the same Duke’s Residence be so different?
Lin Wanwan trembled, her shoulders purple from the cold, snot running from her nose as tears streamed down her face. The regret in her eyes could not be hidden.
She had thought that by seducing her brother-in-law and marrying the heir of the Duke’s Residence, she could rise to the top in one step, eventually becoming the Duchess and outshining Lin Shutang.
Who would have thought that one moment of misguided thinking would bring her to such a state?
Duan Qingyang noticed and his face filled with defiance. He shouted loudly toward their carriage, “It’s only a minor Xiancheng post in Qinan! How much better can that be than us? We’ll see who comes out on top in the future!”
Inside the carriage, Lin Shutang heard this. She pulled open the curtain and cast a glance at them.
Her face was small beneath her cloak, and in the wind and snow, she looked especially luminous, like a delicate porcelain doll.
Duan Qingyang wanted to say something more, but perhaps sensing how unsightly he looked at this moment, he gritted his teeth and stopped looking at her.
Just then, the carriage suddenly came to a halt. Madam Jiang, wearing a cloak and hood, holding a hand warmer, walked slowly with Duan Feng’s support to where Madam Zhou and First Master stood.
Madam Zhou, her hair disheveled, glared at her fiercely. “Hmph, you’ve come to laugh at us, haven’t you?!”
Madam Jiang looked at her calmly and replied, “That’s right, I’ve come to laugh at you.”
Madam Zhou turned her face away, wishing she could crawl into a hole. The two families had been feuding for so many years, and she never dreamed it would come to this.
Behind her, her three daughters spoke up, each looking aggrieved: “Second Aunt, we’re all one family. Please help us—even just asking Lord Xu for a set of clothes would do.”
The heavy snow fell in goose-feather flakes, and their lips had long since turned purple from the cold.
Madam Zhou glanced at her three daughters and scolded them, “Don’t go begging them! You spineless things!”
At that moment, Madam Jiang raised her hand and struck Madam Zhou hard across her bruised and purple face.
A sharp crack rang out. Madam Zhou’s head snapped to the side, and she nearly fell.
She froze for a moment, then stared at her swollen red face and glared at Madam Jiang. “How dare you hit me! I am your elder sister-in-law!”
Madam Jiang let out a cold laugh. “Elder sister-in-law? We have no elder sister-in-law like you. Today may be the day we part ways, but we are all headed to Qinan, and we’re bound to cross paths again. So there is something we must make clear.”
First Master, supporting Old Duke, cut in, “What do you want to say?!”
Madam Jiang took a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to Duan Feng beside her. “Husband, you read it.”
Duan Feng took it in hand and read aloud from the paper: “I, Duan Feng, from this day forth sever all ties of father and son with Duan Chengyuan. Henceforth, I have no further connection with Chongguo Fu. Whether the Duan family lives or dies, it has nothing to do with us!”