Mahua Alley was located in Ruyi Ward, not far from the General’s Mansion at all.
The more the Old Madam thought about this, the angrier she became.
Calculating by time, that bastard had taken a mistress shortly after marrying Wanqing, and even installed her nearby—it was truly too much to bear!
“Do those three stay home all day?” Inside the carriage, the Old Madam asked in a heavy voice.
Wen Chan replied, “Madam Chang and her daughter spend most of their time at home. Chang Hui goes to school during the day and returns in the evening.”
The Old Madam gripped her walking stick and fell silent.
In this oppressive atmosphere, the carriage finally came to a stop.
Wen Chan and Wen Hao stepped down from the carriage and reached out to help the Old Madam.
The Old Madam jumped down directly: “Let’s go.”
Watching their grandmother stride forward vigorously, then looking at their outstretched hands, the two sisters exchanged glances, their earlier tension inexplicably easing.
“It’s the third household in that alley?”
Wen Chan confirmed it was.
“What time does your father usually come?”
“I’ve been watching for several days and only saw Father come once.”
The Old Madam’s expression turned peculiar: “If that’s the case, our luck is quite good today.”
Wen Chan looked over and couldn’t help but be startled.
Wen Rugui, dressed in ordinary scholar’s robes, was hurrying into Mahua Alley.
What a coincidence—Grandmother had arrived just as Father was coming!
The Old Madam remained quite composed, staring in that direction without moving.
After some time had passed, she spoke: “I see that wall isn’t very high. Cuixiang, go climb the wall and observe what’s happening inside, then come report to me.”
The one called Cuixiang was actually already a matron in her forties. Hearing the order, she responded affirmatively and walked over.
However, before she could climb the wall to investigate, she turned back.
“Old Madam, the son-in-law is coming out with the mother and her two children.”
“Did you see clearly what those three look like?”
“The woman appears to be in her thirties. The son looks about the same age as the eldest young miss, and the daughter is roughly the same age as the second young miss.”
The Old Madam stared fixedly at the alley entrance, her voice extremely cold: “I said our luck was good today—this family of four is all together and complete.”
If Wen Rugui had only taken a mistress in recent years, considering the daughter had chosen the man herself, and the two granddaughters were of marriageable age, there might still be room for compromise.
But confirming the mistress’s son’s age, only one path remained: separation, they must separate!
Just thinking that when that bastard married her daughter, his heart was entirely on another woman—she was about to explode with rage.
Her daughter could not suffer such grievances!
Under several watchful gazes, Wen Rugui led the mother and two children out of Mahua Alley, walking toward a carriage parked by the roadside.
The moment Wen Chan noticed that carriage, her expression changed completely.
That was actually the Wen Mansion’s carriage!
Was Father planning to bring them home today?
The Old Madam grabbed her walking stick and charged out.
“Grandmother—” Wen Chan froze for a moment, then saw her younger sister also rush out.
The Old Madam strode swiftly before Wen Rugui and raised her walking stick to strike.
“You bastard, carrying on with a mistress behind my daughter’s back—today I’ll beat you to death!”
Wen Rugui never anticipated this. Even if he had, a civil official with no strength to truss a chicken was no match for the Old Madam who had once been a bandit wife and been to battlefields.
The walking stick struck him solidly, eliciting a miserable cry.
This cry seemed to sound some kind of clarion call—people in the shops poked their heads out, and those walking on the street immediately stopped.
In just an instant, the surroundings filled with people watching the commotion.
“Who are you? Don’t hurt my father!” The young man at Wen Rugui’s side reached out to grab the Old Madam’s walking stick.
Wen Hao, standing quietly to the side, lifted her foot and kicked toward the back of the young man’s knee.
The young man’s leg gave way, and he fell to the ground.
“Hui’er!”
“Brother!”
Madam Chang and Chang Qing turned pale with shock and went to help Chang Hui up.
Wen Hao glanced at Wen Rugui, who was being grabbed by Grandmother and beaten fiercely with the walking stick, and only wanted to sneer coldly.
Father treated this mother and two children as treasures, but at the critical moment, he didn’t seem that important to them.