35 Deep Sisterly Bonds: Eleven

If she denied it, the Fu family would eventually discover the truth and accuse Zhang Huiniang of being dishonest. Yet, to make her admit it herself—she simply could not bring herself to speak the words.

Seeing Zhang Huiniang sobbing uncontrollably, the Old Madam lost her patience and ordered the steward beside her: "Go and bring Madam Zhang back. If she is willing to tell me the truth, there will be a generous reward waiting for her."

Thus, Madam Zhang, who had only just reached the gate, was invited back. Or perhaps, Madam Zhang was more than happy to stay and watch Zhang Huiniang unable to justify herself.

"When I heard she was pregnant back then, the child was already four months along. She only told Zhang Hui because she couldn't hide it any longer!" Madam Zhang’s face was filled with indignation as she spoke of the past. Back then, she was young and focused entirely on preserving her marriage; even after being wronged by Zhang Huiniang, she had let it go for the sake of Zhang Hui. Looking back, she realized she had been a fool, letting others ride roughshod over her.

"I was also four months pregnant at the time..." Madam Zhang recounted the events of that year. "In any other family, even if they didn't drive such a shameless girl out, they would have forced an abortion and sent her away to recuperate before arranging a marriage. Furthermore, given her status, she should have married someone of lower standing. But Zhang Hui was different. He was the 'best brother in the world,' unable to bear seeing his sister suffer or be sad. When Zhang Huiniang insisted on keeping the child, he refused to force medicine on her and instead tried to find a suitable family to adopt the baby. But Zhang Huiniang wouldn't have it; she insisted that she could only be at ease if the child were kept by her brother's side..."

As she spoke, Madam Zhang was seething. "I was a fool to believe that man’s sweet talk. I bit my tongue and endured it all... Later, I couldn't save my own child. The twins I was carrying were reduced to just one daughter—Qingxue."

It was no secret that Madam Zhang had been pregnant with twins and had suffered a difficult labor, during which Master Zhang had chosen to save the mother. The Fu family had heard whispers of it.

"If you don't believe me, you can summon the midwife from those days to testify."

Once the midwife was brought in, everything became clear. Zhang Huiniang looked as though she were about to collapse, wishing she could simply faint away.

The Old Madam didn't even need to hear the midwife's testimony; seeing the expression on her daughter-in-law's face was enough to confirm the truth. Calling the midwife was merely inviting further mockery. If the townspeople caught wind of this, it would become fodder for gossip. In truth, such a scandal would inevitably reach the ears of outsiders, regardless. This time, the Fu family’s reputation was well and truly ruined.

Filled with the fury of having been played for a fool, she swept her hand across the table, sending the small side table, teapot, and teacups crashing to the floor. The room fell into a deathly silence. Even Master Zhang dared not offer any consolation. When a person is in a towering rage, interjecting only adds fuel to the fire. He looked toward Master Fu: "Brother-in-law..."

"Do not call me that!" Master Fu retreated a few steps. He was a gentle man who had never raised a hand against anyone, but now, he kicked the shards on the floor in frustration. Still feeling unsatisfied, he shouted, "Prepare the brush and ink for me!"

Hearing this, the Old Madam looked at him. Mother and son locked eyes. Master Fu spoke with stern gravity: "Mother, such a person is not fit to be the matriarch of the Fu family. Bearing a child out of wedlock is one thing, but she is riddled with lies. The matriarch of the Fu family might be a peasant, she might lack virtue, but she absolutely cannot be a liar."

The Old Madam nodded, signaling her agreement with her son.

Zhang Huiniang had been considering faking a faint to muddle through, but upon hearing these words and seeing the expression on the Old Madam's face, she could no longer remain seated. She lunged toward Master Fu: "Father of my children, we have so many years of affection between us. I risked my life to bear you children, you cannot..."

Master Fu had always treated her well over the years; the women around him were arranged by her. Even so, there were maids he favored whom she couldn't tolerate, and Master Fu had never argued with her, allowing her to send away or bring in whomever she pleased. Having been so pampered, yet deceived so deeply, his former patience had curdled into profound hatred. He shoved her aside: "Zhang Huiniang, stay away from me. Don't force me to hit a woman!"

Zhang Huiniang was flung back, stumbling a few steps before catching herself on the table. Seeing this, Master Zhang hurried forward to steady his sister. Seeing her pained expression, he turned back and scolded: "Brother-in-law, even if my sister was wrong, even if you are no longer husband and wife, she is still the mother of your children, isn't she? Is this how you treat the woman who bore your children?"

Master Fu was already grinding the ink. He paused at these words and turned back to ask: "Zhang Huiniang hid such a massive secret from me; she deserves to be divorced. If you aren't satisfied, shall we go outside and let others judge who is in the right?"

Master Zhang was left speechless. It was shameful enough as it was!

Master Fu wrote the divorce letter and handed it directly to Madam Zhang. "For the sake of the two children, let us part ways amicably. If you continue to harass us, we shall meet in court. You deceived me so cruelly; the magistrate will surely help me seek justice."

Zhang Huiniang had intended to plead for mercy, perhaps by bringing the two children to help or by making a scene, but upon hearing this, she had to abandon those thoughts.

Madam Zhang was exceptionally satisfied with this outcome and pulled Chu Yunli away.

Zhang Huiniang chased after them, demanding: "Sister-in-law, are you satisfied now?"

"Quite satisfied," Madam Zhang replied calmly, despite Zhang Huiniang’s furious glare. "Falling for the wrong man and getting pregnant before marriage cannot be blamed entirely on you, but you shoved the child onto me, sowed discord between me and your brother, and secretly accused me of favoritism—those things are all your fault. You brought this upon yourself!"

Mother and daughter boarded the carriage and departed. Zhang Huiniang stood where she was, her face deathly pale. Master Zhang had stayed behind to speak with the Fu family, aiming to reconcile the couple. Given his sister’s reputation, unless the Fu family took pity on her for the sake of the children, she would likely not find a decent family to marry into again.

When Master Zhang emerged and saw his sister weeping, he offered a few words of comfort and then hurriedly asked: "Where is your sister-in-law?"

Zhang Huiniang could only see a dark, lightless future ahead of her. Hearing her brother’s question, she snapped: "She has torn my family apart, and you are still worried about her? Am I even your sister? When Mother passed away, you promised to take care of me for the rest of your life. Is this how you take care of me?"

Ignoring the squabble between the siblings, Chu Yunli took Madam Zhang straight to the Yu residence. She had not forgotten that Yu Shanmeng had been beaten and dragged to jail the night before, and she still needed to inquire about his situation.

As it turned out, no sooner had they arrived at the gate than they saw a crowd of servants in a state of panic. Seeing the carriage, they were overjoyed. The steward rushed toward them: "Madam, the Master has been severely injured. Please, take a look and decide what to do."

Chu Yunli jumped off the carriage and saw Yu Shanmeng, whose face was bruised and swollen, his clothes torn in several places, revealing glimpses of flesh wounds.

That was truly miserable!

She clicked her tongue and shook her head: "Yu Shanmeng, if you had known you would end up like this, would you still have gone?" She answered her own question: "I suspect you would have gone anyway. After all, one cannot let a beautiful lady shed tears, right?"

Yu Shanmeng’s eyes were swollen to mere slits, and he glared at her fiercely.

Chu Yunli was not afraid in the slightest. She asked curiously: "By the way, how did you get out? I thought I would have to bring money to bail you out... Returning is fine, at least it saves some silver."

At this, she glared at the steward, who had been trying to speak several times, and continued to herself: "Zhang Qingyao's mother has had a falling out with her stepfather, and Zhang Huiniang has already been kicked out. By the way, don't say I didn't warn you—this is the exact moment the lady needs you most. Do you want to go? I'll prepare a carriage for you." She sighed, "There aren't many women as magnanimous as I am. You were lucky to marry me. It’s a pity you didn't know how to cherish it. I'll send over a divorce letter later, and we can go our separate ways!"

Yu Shanmeng was in such excruciating pain that he originally hadn't wanted to speak, but Zhang Qingxue’s incessant rambling was unbearable. Every breath felt like he was on the verge of fainting. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore: "Can you please call a doctor for me first?"

Chu Yunli patted her forehead: "Oh, I forgot." She looked at the steward and scolded: "Why didn't you remind me?"

The steward felt utterly wronged. Hadn't he tried? It was clearly the mistress who hadn't let him speak!

Someone was sent to fetch a doctor, and the rest carried Yu Shanmeng back to the main courtyard. Seeing her son-in-law in such a state, Madam Zhang found it amusing: "Was he caught while trying to be a thief?"

In a way, Madam Zhang had hit the truth. When Yu Shanmeng was caught the previous night, he hadn't dared to say he was there to see someone; he had only claimed he was drunk and had lost his way. The guards beat him because they took him for a thief.

Sneaking around in the dead of night looking suspicious—what else would he be but a thief? Even if he wasn't a thief, his intrusion into the jail was forbidden, and he deserved the beating.

Yu Shanmeng was filled with grief and indignation. He truly found his mother-in-law unpleasant; as a son-in-law, even if he were to argue with an elder, he had already lost the moment he opened his mouth. He could only remain silent.

"I can't figure it out, but he was beaten because of Zhang Qingyao anyway," Chu Yunli asked curiously: "Yu Shanmeng, you’ve sacrificed so much for her, yet you haven't received a shred of response. Are you content with this?"