Zhao Ji’s temple twitched. After a moment, he snapped at his son, “What are you standing there for? Your third sister remembered you, and all you can do is stand there? Go see your sister now!”
Madam Wu also came to her senses and hurried forward to support Madam Wang, who was weeping uncontrollably. “Sister-in-law, this is good news! I was worried earlier that Third Lady wouldn’t recognize anyone. But from the looks of it, she’s recovering—she even remembered her brother. Next, she’ll surely remember you.”
Madam Wang clung tightly to Zhao Hanzhang, sobbing, “If remembering the past is this painful, I’d rather she never remembers at all.”
What nonsense! Did Third Lady faint because she remembered Zhao Dalang fondly? Clearly, it was because Zhao Dalang had bullied her in the past.
Although Madam Wang couldn’t recall how Zhao Dalang had bullied Third Lady, if Third Lady said it happened, then it must have.
After all, Third Lady wasn’t truly suffering from amnesia.
That’s right—Madam Wang didn’t believe her daughter had lost her memory either. After all, she remembered her and Erlang, recognized Ting He and Aunt Qing by her side, and only seemed a little slower in her reactions than before.
But she had hit her head and broken her leg. Wasn’t it normal to be a bit slower when in pain and distress?
Amnesia could be feigned, but vomiting and turning pale could not. Madam Wang stroked Zhao Hanzhang’s hair, her heart aching as tears fell drop by drop. “My child, I only wish for you and Erlang to be safe, healthy, and happy. I ask for nothing more.”
Though Madam Wang didn’t fully understand her daughter’s intentions, the words she had pointedly directed at Zhao Yi before pretending to faint clearly expressed her dissatisfaction with the Second Branch.
If it was about resentment, Madam Wang had long been filled with it. She had only held back out of respect for her father-in-law and because her daughter had always urged her to endure.
This time, however, the Second Branch had incited Erlang to leave the city, nearly costing both her children their lives. She loathed them deeply.
The only reason she had restrained herself was that her father-in-law remained determined to pass the title to the Second Branch, meaning their branch would have to depend on them in the future.
But now, even her daughter was resisting. Madam Wang could no longer suppress her resentment. She turned and grabbed Zhao Yi, who had been pushed forward by Zhao Ji.
“Dalang, your third sister is a year younger than you. If she has done anything wrong, tell me, your aunt, and I will punish her. Please, don’t frighten her.” Madam Wang wept. “In the future, this entire household will be yours. We widows and orphans only ask for a bowl of soup to drink and to live in peace. We dare not contend with you for anything.”
Zhao Ji and Wu Shi turned pale with anger at Madam Wang’s sarcastic remarks. Unable to hold back, Zhao Ji shouted, “What do you mean by that, sister-in-law?”
Madam Wang shrank back, pulling Zhao Erlang and Zhao Hanzhang into her arms. The three of them huddled together, not even daring to cry loudly. “Elder brother… I… I misspoke…”
Zhao Ji’s face darkened completely, but in the eyes of the servants, the elder master appeared even more terrifying.
Seeing the fearful looks of the servants, Madam Wu quickly stepped forward to soothe Madam Wang. “What are you saying, sister-in-law? They are siblings, bound by blood. In the future, they will naturally support and care for one another.”
Madam Wang lowered her eyes, her voice subdued. “You’re right, sister-in-law. I ask for nothing else—only that my children remain safe.”
She held the two children tightly, thinking of Third Lady when she was brought back, her face covered in blood, her breath faint, on the brink of death. She straightened her back slightly and raised her eyes to look at Wu Shi, her gaze fierce. "Third Lady and Erlang are the very heart of my being. For them, I would even give up my life. Eldest Sister-in-law, you'd better remember what you said today. Otherwise, even if I go to hell, I will break my chains and return."
Wu Shi was frightened by her gaze and the ferocity in her words, unable to speak for a long while.
Blocked by Wu Shi, Zhao Ji only heard the words but did not see Madam Wang's expression. He grew angry, his tone turning cold. "What do you mean by this, Sister-in-law? Are you suspecting that our Second Branch harmed Third Lady when she fell from her horse?"
Madam Wang clenched the handkerchief in her hand, weeping. "Eldest Brother-in-law, Eldest Lady is still kneeling in the Ancestral Hall. Why she is kneeling, you and I both know well."
Zhao Ji's face turned pale with anger, his fists clenched tightly as he said coldly, "Why don't you tell me, Sister-in-law, why she is kneeling?"
Madam Wang held Zhao Hanzhang tighter, trembling with fear.
Zhao Ji said angrily, "Sister-in-law should clean up the servants around you. It's all these troublemakers stirring up trouble that has caused so many misunderstandings among the siblings."
He said sternly, "Erlang himself couldn't explain why he went out of the city. When Eldest Lady accidentally found out about this, of course she had to tell Third Lady. Sister-in-law, why don't you think about it? If Eldest Lady hadn't told Third Lady about this, could Third Lady have gone to bring Erlang back in time? With so many refugees and rebel soldiers outside the city, wouldn't they have devoured him alive?"
Zhao Ji continued, "Not only does Sister-in-law not appreciate Eldest Lady's kindness, but she even listens to rumors outside, believing that Eldest Lady lured Erlang out of the city. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, the political situation in the court is changing. Even Uncle has to stay at home temporarily to recuperate and avoid the turmoil in the court. In such circumstances, if Sister-in-law stirs up internal strife like this, wouldn't it just play into the hands of those troublemakers?"
He glared fiercely at Aunt Qing nearby and directly ordered, "I think Sister-in-law has been corrupted by the people around her. Someone, take these wicked servants away."
Aunt Qing and the others were startled, trembling as they knelt on the ground.
Madam Wang was also frightened and quickly stretched out an arm to stop them. "This has nothing to do with them…"
Zhao Hanzhang frowned slightly and opened her eyes. She pushed away Madam Wang's other hand, leaned over the edge of the bed, and pretended to vomit twice before raising her head and reaching out to Aunt Qing on the ground.
Aunt Qing was stunned for a moment before she reacted, hurriedly getting up and handing a teacup to Third Lady with trembling hands.
Zhao Hanzhang rinsed her mouth and spat it out, then leaned weakly against Madam Wang, looking at Zhao Ji with a pale face and a slight curl at the corner of her mouth. "Is this my eldest uncle?"
The tense atmosphere in the room immediately eased. The servants kneeling on the ground felt the oppressive pressure weaken, and they could slightly raise their heads.
Zhao Hanzhang's sudden awakening and vomiting completely disrupted Zhao Ji's rhythm.
Zhao Ji stared at Zhao Hanzhang, frowning slightly. "Third Lady, you are becoming more and more disrespectful. Who taught you to speak to your elders like this?"
Zhao Hanzhang looked innocent. "I don't remember."
She smiled at Zhao Ji, lifting her chin slightly. "I don't remember you, nor… the people behind you, except—"
Her gaze fixed on Zhao Dalang, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Him."
Zhao Dalang: …
Although they were only a year apart in age, making them the closest in age among the cousins in the household, they were not particularly close. He could not recall ever doing anything that would leave such a deep impression on her, to the point where she would remember him even after losing her memory.
"But it's fine if you don't remember. We can reintroduce ourselves," Zhao Hanzhang said, showing her generosity and expressing no reluctance to get to know them again. "However, this seems to be my courtyard, and this is the main branch, isn't it?"
Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head and looked at Zhao Ji with confusion. "Can the Second Branch now bypass the mistress of the main branch to discipline the servants of the main branch?"