These words sounded jumbled, but Qi Yue understood—Wang Tongye wanted to give her face. She laughed heartily.
Indeed, how could she leave in dejection? How could she be someone who would take abuse without fighting back?
“Good! ‘Laughing proudly, I go out the door—how can we be mere weeds among men!'” Qi Yue laughed, gesturing to Yuan Bao. “Yuan Bao, put the things in the carriage.”
Yuan Bao showed no hesitation and immediately complied.
Matron Zhou smiled and stepped aside to invite her in.
Watching the carriage travel down the street, the steward and the Second Madam’s maids and matrons all stood stunned in place.
Gone…
The Young Madam was gone…
“What? People from the Wang family came to take her away?”
When the news reached inside, both Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie were stunned.
“Someone from the Wang family must be ill,” Madam Xie immediately said, looking at Marquis Dingxi. “They’re asking her to treat illness, and it’s only out of respect for our family. My lord, go tell the Wang family people not to pay attention to that woman anymore…”
Marquis Dingxi nodded.
The steward on the side really couldn’t bear to listen anymore.
“Madam,” he spoke up. “Master Wang’s people personally said they knew the Young Madam was going out today, so they came specially to receive her.”
He emphasized the words “going out” and looked at Madam Xie with some sadness.
Madam Xie was stunned.
What did that mean?
“You’re saying the Wang family people know…” Marquis Dingxi suddenly stood up, feeling his head ring with a thunderous sound.
Of course they knew—this was an imperial edict the Emperor had approved. Which of these court officials wasn’t shrewd as a ghost? Nothing could escape their notice, especially since this matter was clearly the Emperor’s way of making him lose face…
“Let them know! What do I fear! Such behavior from a woman—no household would tolerate it!” he shouted angrily. What had that woman said?
Something about “Laughing proudly, I go out the door—how can we be mere weeds among men!”
What did that mean?
“Is she saying I’m like the foolish wife of Kuaiji who looked down on Zhu Maichen?” Marquis Dingxi slammed the table and shouted. “Does she think she’s entering Qin? She’s been divorced! Cast out! She’s an abandoned woman of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion! Shameless creature!”
“Making it known to everyone—I want to see how she’ll end this!” Madam Xie snorted coldly.
The steward looked at these two people, sighed again, and lowered his head, saying nothing more.
“But why is the Second Madam also getting involved?” Madam Xie thought of this problem and frowned. “Didn’t we say to ignore her, let her make trouble, leave her hanging until she knows better?”
“Madam, I just heard that the Second Madam gave the Young Madam four maids and two matrons, and they went after the Young Madam with large and small bundles,” Nanny Su came in from outside and said urgently.
Both Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie were stunned.
“What does she mean?” Marquis Dingxi asked.
“There must be someone to play the bad guy and someone to play the good guy,” Madam Xie speculated.
Her sister-in-law had always been soft-hearted—it was normal for her to do such things.
Marquis Dingxi snorted.
“Never mind her. If she dares to do such things, she must bear the consequences herself. Go tell the Second Madam not to pay attention to that woman. She climbed onto the stage herself—let her figure out how to get down!” he said.
Nanny Su responded, glanced at Madam Xie, who waved her hand, and only then did Nanny Su leave.
The Second Madam had also heard that Qi Yue was taken away by the Wang family people and was quietly contemplating.
“Madam, should we perhaps let the Young Madam…” Cai Qing said softly beside her.
The Second Madam smiled.
“Still calling her Young Madam?” she said.
Cai Qing slapped her own face.
“Look at me, I deserve to be hit,” she smiled. “Should we let Miss Qi go to our residence?”
“It’s fine. Since Master Wang has the intention, let’s accept his kindness. Besides, it’s better that he knows. In the future…” The Second Madam stirred her medicine bowl and stopped mid-sentence. “…he might be able to speak up for her.”
As they were talking, Nanny Su came over and politely conveyed the intentions of Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie.
The Second Madam drank the medicine in one gulp without even eating the candied fruit, took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and looked up at Nanny Su.
“Is that any of your business?” she said.
Nanny Su was stunned. What?
“The Marquis and Madam are doing such heartless and ungrateful things. You’re defying the Old Madam’s dying wishes, not treating the Old Madam as a mother. I still must treat the Old Madam as a mother, and I must naturally treat Yueniang well,” the Second Madam said coldly.
Nanny Su was completely dumbfounded. Was she dreaming?
How could she be hearing such absurd words?
The reason Madam could do what she did today—wasn’t it your idea? Even this imperial edict was obtained thanks to your efforts!
How, how did it become the Marquis and Madam being heartless and ungrateful?