33. Deep Sisterly Affection, Part Nine

To be honest, Zhang Qingyao enjoyed the look of adoration mixed with trepidation in Yu Shanmeng’s eyes, but she was truly annoyed by her sister bringing up this matter repeatedly. She reminded her, "Aren't you worried about your husband?"

Chu Yunli glanced in the direction where the group had chased off and said nonchalantly, "If he can get away, my worry is redundant. If he can't, what use is my worrying? Besides, if Yu Shanmeng is caught, it will all be because of you, so don't you even think about slipping away!"

Zhang Qingyao was at a loss for how to respond.

As the two stood in silence, the group that had just chased after him returned, grumbling. The two men at the front were dragging someone along—wasn't it Yu Shanmeng?

Chu Yunli whispered, "You'll have to compensate for this."

Zhang Qingyao, who had already turned pale with fright, couldn't help but retort, "Is this a matter of compensation?"

"What else?" Chu Yunli countered. "Could you possibly rescue him?"

Zhang Qingyao: "..."

Both women stared intently at the approaching group.

Yu Shanmeng noticed their gazes. Being in such a disheveled state in front of his wife and the woman he adored was truly humiliating. He couldn't help but struggle, at least wanting to straighten his back.

But this movement only infuriated his captors further.

On a night this cold, everyone wanted to be asleep, yet they had been forced to run out to catch a thief—who would be happy about that?

With tempers already flaring, the fact that the captive wouldn't stay still left no room for courtesy. Two of the more hot-tempered men stepped forward and kicked Yu Shanmeng to the ground. This act seemed to ignite the collective anger of the group, and they all swarmed forward to kick him.

Yu Shanmeng curled up on the ground, protecting his head and face. He didn't want to beg for mercy in front of the woman he loved, but the pain was unbearable. He felt as though he might be beaten to death... and if he died, everything would be lost. He began to wail, intermittently pleading for mercy.

The group seemed not to hear him. They pummeled him for a full quarter of an hour before dragging him away.

From the moment the beating began, Zhang Qingyao had been terrified by their ferocity. If she hadn't covered her mouth with her hand, she would have screamed.

Chu Yunli, however, was not afraid. She watched the group disappear around the street corner and asked, "After a beating like that, can Yu Shanmeng come back? Are there any precedents for this kind of thing?"

If there were, she could use them as a reference to gauge Yu Shanmeng's fate.

Zhang Qingyao seemed not to have heard her, trembling as she asked, "Which of us is going to drive the carriage?"

The group had come here to meet Gao Mingqiao in the prison, and the contact who had arranged it had repeatedly warned them not to let too many people know. Thus, Yu Shanmeng had simply driven the carriage himself. Now that he had been dragged away, the carriage was left stranded.

Zhang Qingyao certainly didn't know how; she had been born the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family and, after marriage, had become the lady of a wealthy household, never needing to learn such things.

In fact, Zhang Qingxue didn't know how either.

Although Chu Yunli knew how, she had no desire to be a carriage driver for Zhang Qingyao. She simply said, "I don't know how. You do it."

Zhang Qingyao: "...I don't know how either."

Chu Yunli spread her hands. "Then we have no choice but to walk back."

Zhang Qingyao: "..." It was such a long way; it would probably be dawn by the time they reached home.

But there seemed to be no other way. She looked back in the direction where Yu Shanmeng had been taken. "What about my brother-in-law?"

Chu Yunli snorted softly, "He offered to suffer for you. He got what he wanted, and he’s probably quite content inside. There's no need for me to worry."

Zhang Qingyao disliked these words and defended him, "He treats me well because he sees me as your sister."

"Do you really think I believe that?" In the darkness, Chu Yunli’s tone was filled with mockery. "My attitude toward you is already crystal clear; calling it dislike is an understatement—it’s pure loathing! As for him, he doesn't care about my feelings at all and is devoted to you. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one who was his wife."

"Don't talk nonsense. Mingqiao is devoted to me, and he has never taken a concubine all these years. My feelings for him are the same. Stop trying to associate me with other men," Zhang Qingyao said hurriedly. "If these words reached his ears, it would damage our marital harmony. Sister, don't think that your own husband is the best in the world; in my eyes, Mingqiao is the best man in the world to me."

Chu Yunli scoffed, "The best man in the world to you should be Father."

Zhang Qingyao did not deny this. "Are you jealous of me?"

Chu Yunli sneered, "Father treats you well because of Aunt. It’s just 'loving the house and its crow.' If it weren't for Aunt, what would you even be?"

"In any case, you just can't stand Father spoiling me," Zhang Qingyao emphasized. "If Mother hadn't mistreated me, Father wouldn't have been biased toward me."

The two argued all the way, finally arriving at the Yu residence just as dawn was breaking. However, this was still quite a distance from both the Zhang and Gao residences. Zhang Qingyao dared not travel alone and wanted to go inside with Chu Yunli to rest for a while.

After walking all night, Zhang Qingyao was exhausted, and having not slept well for the past two days, she was aching all over and just wanted to lie down on a warm bed.

Her hopes were high, but Chu Yunli had no intention of allowing it. She waved her hand and said, "My house doesn't take in guests. Suit yourself."

Zhang Qingyao: "..."

She tried to push her way inside, but the gatekeeper blocked her firmly.

Seeing she couldn't get in, Zhang Qingyao was so angry that tears streamed down her face. She looked back toward the direction of the Zhang residence; everything was hazy, and it felt as if villains might jump out from the alleys at any moment.

She dared not leave, so she simply sat down on the steps, thinking she would wait until daybreak to leave. Too many things had happened over the past few days, and she was so drained that she leaned against the gate pillar and fell asleep without realizing it.

Chu Yunli returned and caught up on some sleep. After daybreak, she went to have breakfast with Madam Zhang.

It should have been a pleasant time, but the maid serving the meal was hesitant to speak. She was one of Zhang Qingxue’s dowry maids, personally selected by Madam Zhang.

Seeing the maid’s hesitation, Madam Zhang scolded, "If you have something to say, say it. Hemming and hawing is off-putting."

The maid knelt on the ground and whispered, "This servant went to see my brother last night and heard some news from outside that is very unfavorable to you and the Madam."

Madam Zhang set down her chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."

The maid tentatively said, "People in the city are saying that Madam Gao is not your biological daughter, but the illegitimate child of the paternal aunt, conceived out of wedlock."

Madam Zhang nodded. "That is the truth. It seems there are no secrets in this world..."

Speaking of this, she noticed the maid’s troubled expression. Madam Zhang suddenly realized why the maid said it was unfavorable to her. She tapped the table. "Continue."

The maid's voice grew lower, like the humming of a mosquito: "They are all saying that you are the one who spread this rumor to ruin Madam Gao's reputation because you are biased toward your own daughter."

The maid was a clever girl; she knew the mother and daughter didn't like Zhang Qingyao, so she was particularly detached when referring to her.

Madam Zhang was stunned at first, and after processing it, she slammed her hand on the table. "How preposterous!"

She stood up abruptly. "Someone, get me changed! I am going out!"

Her explosive temper was easily triggered. Fearing she might get so angry it would affect her health, Chu Yunli hurriedly rose to follow, intending to ask where she was going, but she had no chance and could only chase after her to get into the carriage.

After the carriage turned two corners, Chu Yunli knew Madam Zhang’s destination. She was going to the marital home of Zhang Hui’s sister, Zhang Huiniang.

Zhang Huiniang’s husband’s family was surnamed Fu. They were a large, wealthy family in the city, considered a match for the Zhang family. Zhang Huiniang had married the eldest son of the main branch. If her mother-in-law weren't still alive, she would be the matriarch of the Fu family.

Compared to other wives, she was much more prestigious.

In the past, Madam Zhang had various concerns and hadn't wanted to have an open falling out. But the things Master Zhang had done this time were truly nauseating.

It was clearly a case of Zhang Qingyao’s paternity being unknown, and she herself hadn't deliberately spread the news. Yet, in order to clear Zhang Qingyao’s status, Master Zhang had actually thrown such filth onto her.

With truths and lies mixed together, if it really blew up that Zhang Qingyao was born to Zhang Huiniang, outsiders wouldn't believe it entirely; instead, they would think Madam Zhang, the sister-in-law, was so vicious that she had deliberately ruined the younger sister-in-law's reputation.

Madam Zhang couldn't bear this grievance. Since Master Zhang said she was vicious, she would be vicious today!

Arriving at the Fu residence, Madam Zhang told the gatekeeper with a stern face, "I have a very important matter to discuss with your master and your old mistress."

The two families were in-laws and quite close. They usually had a lot of contact—though, usually, it was Master Zhang who came over. After Madam Zhang saw her husband's true colors, and since Zhang Huiniang had been sowing discord between the couple for years, she had stopped visiting.

To the gatekeeper, even if Madam Zhang hadn't come in a while, she was still a legitimate, honored guest who could not be neglected. He led her inside while sending a young boy ahead to report.

Madam Zhang whispered, "The servants don't dare neglect us; it's all because Zhang Huiniang is valued by her husband's family. But she only has this honor because of your father's influence."

Chu Yunli listened in silence. Before long, they reached the front courtyard where guests were received.

Master Fu and Mistress Fu were already there.

Seeing Madam Zhang, Mistress Fu stood up and smiled, walking forward two steps. "Sister-in-law, you should have sent word if you were coming. We would have gone to the gate to greet you."

Madam Zhang supported the old mistress and helped her back to her chair before sighing. "I came in such a hurry, and that is my fault, but there is something I must get off my chest."

Just then, Zhang Huiniang, dressed in red, stepped in. "Sister-in-law, why didn't you send word before you came?"

Madam Zhang didn't hide her disgust for her and rolled her eyes ungraciously. "I didn't come to see you." She turned back to the old mistress. "There have been rumors outside for the past two days, saying that I am biased toward my younger daughter and deliberately saying that the elder daughter was born to Huiniang before she was married..."

"Oh, that matter? I've heard of it." The old mistress waved her hand with a smile. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I didn't think much of it. How could I believe such an absurd thing?"

Zhang Huiniang’s expression shifted slightly.

She always felt that her sister-in-law hadn't come to do her any favors... The two had disliked each other for a long time.

Just as she was about to say something to change the subject, Madam Zhang had already said, "It is absurd, but it is the truth."

As soon as these words were spoken, a "crash" was heard.

It turned out that the tea tray in the hands of the maid serving tea had fallen, and shards of porcelain and tea splashed everywhere. The maid knelt down in a hurry to clean it up, and Master Fu’s face had already changed. He scolded, "All of you, get out!"

Zhang Huiniang’s face turned pale and then blue. She was quick to react, turning to question her: "Sister-in-law, I know you don't like me, but how can you say such things? Why are you destroying my reputation like this? Are you trying to force me to die?"

Madam Zhang emphasized again, "It is the truth." She stared at Zhang Huiniang and sneered, "Your brother insists that I was the one who spread the rumor. Since that is the case, how could I let his expectations go to waste?"