“Give her the dowry,” Old Madam Xie said.
Madam Xie stood up abruptly, looking at Old Madam Xie in disbelief.
“This isn’t for her – it’s for Yuncheng,” Old Madam Xie continued, looking at Madam Xie.
“Mother, why should we!” Madam Xie bit her lip.
Old Madam Xie reached out to pull her down.
“Meiniang, why did you give that package of silver to the Wu family’s young master back then?” she said.
Madam Xie’s face suddenly changed. Her body stiffened as she stared at Old Madam Xie, her lips trembling slightly.
Old Madam Xie sighed and patted Madam Xie’s rigid hand.
“When you gave him that silver, did you feel better in your heart? Could you let go a little?” she continued.
Madam Xie’s body trembled. Her ears echoed with Old Madam Xie’s words, but after all those chaotic thoughts, what shone brightly were the four words “Wu family’s young master.”
Wu family’s young master…
Madam Xie touched her face. Though the skin was still delicate, it was no longer the flower of youth.
The young Miss Xie had become Madam Chang, and the Wu family’s young master had become a handful of dust.
“Mother, so you knew,” she murmured.
Old Madam Xie sighed.
“Which child’s thoughts can escape a mother’s eyes? Just like you clearly know what’s in Yuncheng’s heart, don’t you?” she said, smiling and pulling Madam Xie to sit down.
“Then Mother, why did you…” Madam Xie said quietly.
“Why didn’t I say anything?” Old Madam Xie picked up her words, smiling. “How much money did you have? For that package of silver, you didn’t buy a single thing for months, living worse than a maid.”
Madam Xie smiled. This time she smiled with pressed lips, and those usually sharp eyes actually showed some shyness.
Shyness!
Little shame, much constraint.
“I added some more to your bundle, so it would look better when sent out,” Old Madam Xie said, looking toward the door with a reminiscent expression.
Madam Xie stood up and lowered her eyes.
“Mother, I…” she said quietly, her voice hoarse.
“Mei’er, this has always weighed on my heart. All these years, it has weighed on me. Your heart must be the same,” Old Madam Xie interrupted her.
Madam Xie said nothing.
“Speaking of it, Yuncheng’s temperament is more like yours – very stubborn,” Old Madam Xie looked at her and smiled.
“I’m not as virtuous as elder sister. I didn’t teach Yuncheng well,” Madam Xie said quietly.
Old Madam Xie pulled her to sit down again.
“You’re very good, Meiniang. I’ve owed you my whole life,” she said.
“No, no, Mother. I chose to do this myself. It’s not your fault. You tried to persuade me then, but I insisted on marrying over,” Madam Xie shook her head with a firm expression.
Old Madam Xie smiled.
“Give her the dowry,” she changed the subject.
Madam Xie clenched her hands.
“Yuncheng has her in his heart – you know this very well too,” Old Madam Xie continued, looking at Madam Xie. “We can’t keep her, but letting her have an easier time outside will make Yuncheng’s heart easier too, so he can let go – just like you did back then.”