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Whether he was willing or not was secondary; the most urgent matter was that Yu Shanmeng lay on the ground, unable to move. He had no idea how severely he was injured. Despite the many people around him, no one had arranged for a doctor.

With such grave wounds, were these people all blind?

Watching his wife go on endlessly, the servants stood like wooden posts. Yu Shanmeng’s patience snapped: “Doctor!”

Chu Yunli feigned surprise. “Oh dear, I forgot again. They say only the one who bears the injury truly knows the pain—it’s true.” She turned her head to give orders, “Go fetch the best doctor in town, Doctor Sun. If he’s willing to come, offer any amount of silver.”

Doctor Sun was the most renowned healer in the city, capable of saving many near death... If Yu Shanmeng hadn’t heard of Doctor Sun’s reputation, he would have thought his wife cared unusually much for him.

Doctor Sun’s skill was excellent, and his medical ethics impeccable. But his kindness meant he never discriminated between rich or poor, high or low. Whenever a patient came, he would treat them, sometimes working until midnight and even fainting from exhaustion. His methods were ruthless when necessary; once a man with a gangrenous thigh was refused by all other doctors, some even telling him to go home and wait for death. That man found Doctor Sun.

Doctor Sun amputated the thigh and saved the man’s life. His impartiality earned him much praise... but with wealthy patients, he was less accommodating. No one expected him to squeeze into a crowded, shabby place with the poor and unkempt.

Yu Shanmeng didn’t need to wait for the servant’s return to know the outcome: Doctor Sun would definitely refuse to come, making this trip a waste.

He forced himself to say, “Find Doctor Jiang.”

This was directed at his own servant who was about to cover him with a blanket and send him away.

The servant covered him and then sent someone to fetch the doctor.

It wasn’t that the other servants hadn’t heard him, but with Madam’s displeased expression, they dared not rush... Being a bit slow but obedient was safer than being too clever and risking trouble.

Chu Yunli didn’t rush to move Yu Shanmeng either. She gestured for a maid to bring a chair, sat down leisurely, and asked, “You’ll do anything for Zhang Qingyao. What do I and our children mean to you?”

Yu Shanmeng was in too much pain to speak and closed his eyes upon hearing this.

“See? Now you’re even impatient to talk to me.” Chu Yunli spoke firmly, “When a married couple can’t even exchange words, thinking about the rest of my life is chilling to my heart. Fine, let’s divorce. I’ll live with the children, and you can go after your beloved...”

Yu Shanmeng gritted his teeth, “I have no beloved!”

Then Chu Yunli questioned, “Then why don’t you talk to me?”

Yu Shanmeng: “...” He was injured!

At this moment, speaking was painful enough; even breathing caused intense agony.

Madam Zhang saw that her daughter had no feelings left for her son-in-law and said coldly, “Men are like that—they always want what they can’t have.”

Yu Shanmeng snapped, “Mother! Can you stop talking?”

When a couple argued, outsiders could only try to mediate; what was wrong with this mother and daughter?

Madam Zhang said confidently, “You’re so harsh with me because Qingyao isn’t my daughter, right?”

Yu Shanmeng: “...”

He wanted to explain but simply couldn’t muster the energy.

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Not long after, the doctor arrived. After a thorough examination, he confirmed that Yu Shanmeng’s leg was broken and the rest were external injuries... possibly internal injuries that weren’t yet apparent. He ordered him to rest properly in bed.

Bone and muscle injuries took three months to heal. Yu Shanmeng was unwilling but had no choice but to obey.

Chu Yunli had medicine prepared for him and sent the doctor away, then sat by his bedside again.

Yu Shanmeng tried several times to signal those around him that he had something to say, but Chu Yunli stood stubbornly, so he couldn’t speak. After taking the medicine, drowsiness overcame him. Clenching his teeth, he finally said without hesitation, “Go check on Madam Gao’s side. See if they need help...”

His servant glanced at Chu Yunli’s expression secretly.

Chu Yunli smiled faintly, “You deny it with your words, but when something happens there, you care more than anyone. Yu Shanmeng, I give you two choices: either I find eight or ten young men to keep me company, or we get a divorce!”

Yu Shanmeng’s face darkened, “You talk about divorce so easily. Have you considered the children? She’s your sister, and I—”

“Not anymore.” Chu Yunli interrupted, “Today at the Fu family, my mother said everything. We’re no longer sisters but enemies! If you truly care about me, you’d stand with me against our common enemy, not worry about my enemy.”

Yu Shanmeng’s wounds were dressed, and after taking the medicine, the pain lessened, and he regained some strength. “You and your mother wronged her. I’m just trying to make up for it.”

Chu Yunli laughed bitterly, “All the world’s logic is yours, and everything you do is right. But I’m not an official; I won’t argue with you—I just want you to listen. I forbid you to care about other women like this. Can you do that?”

Yu Shanmeng remained silent.

“Seems like you can’t.” Chu Yunli turned her head to order, “Tomorrow morning, summon a scribe. I want a divorce!”

Seeing her so serious, Yu Shanmeng panicked and instinctively said, “Father won’t agree.”

“He can’t control me anymore.” Chu Yunli tilted her head, “My mother already sent the divorce papers back.”

Yu Shanmeng’s eyes widened, “Impossible!”

There were two implications here. First, it was rare for a woman to argue to the point of divorce; he hadn’t expected Madam Zhang to take the initiative. Second, a woman handing over divorce papers was unheard of for decades.

Chu Yunli shrugged, “That’s how it is. Wait for the divorce papers.” She stood and looked back, “If you don’t agree, I’ll tell everyone what you did. Then, I’ll make sure everyone knows that Zhang Qingyao is a wanton woman who seduced a married man!”

Yu Shanmeng glared at her as if ready to devour her.

Chu Yunli sneered, “Your wife is leaving, yet you only care about her reputation. You say you don’t have feelings for her?”

Yu Shanmeng closed his eyes, “I just don’t want to drag innocent people into this.”

“How kind of you—to give up your wife to protect an outsider.” Chu Yunli mocked, “I’m really lucky to have chosen you among so many suitors. Just bad luck to meet a ruthless scoundrel. Luckily, I’m still young; it’s not too late to realize this.”

The sky was getting late. She turned to leave, but Yu Shanmeng called after her, “What about the children?”

“Of course, they stay with me.” Chu Yunli didn’t look back. “You’re not even forty yet; you can marry a young woman and have more children. I’m different; these three siblings are all I have in this life.”

Yu Shanmeng gritted his teeth, “The children are studying. After divorce, your reputation will suffer, and they might not be able to take the imperial exams...”

Chu Yunli immediately said, “Don’t worry. I’ll find them a father!”

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Yu Shanmeng: “...” They’re not even divorced yet, and she’s already planning to find someone else?

Hearing this, he felt particularly uneasy. “Do you already have someone?”

Chu Yunli turned and slapped him across the face, “Nonsense! You’re shameless; you think I’m like you?”

Yu Shanmeng hadn’t dodged in time. The pain spread across his face. His expression darkened. “A gentleman uses words, not hands...”

“I’m a woman, not a gentleman.” Chu Yunli retorted sharply. “You talk reason with me but why didn’t you say these things to those men who dragged you back last night?”

Yu Shanmeng had actually pleaded more than once, even promising silver to settle things, but those men wouldn’t listen. They just beat him, clearly venting their anger.

The Yu family’s front yard was far from peaceful.

After Madam Zhang returned, she sent the divorce papers. Old Master Zhang naturally refused to accept them. With the Fu family quarrel escalating, he didn’t want to argue with his wife at such a time. He was willing to lower himself to appease her.

Unfortunately, Madam Zhang was too deeply hurt to turn back.

Old Master Zhang exhausted all his good words but, seeing his wife’s resolve, sighed helplessly, “Our children have grown. Qingxue is married, and our son has a wife, but the grandchildren are still young. They will arrange marriages in the future. Now, with Huiniang divorced and back home, Qingyao’s husband injured, Qingxue quarreling with her husband, and if you leave too, what will people think of our family? Madam, we’re no longer young. Please stop being so headstrong. I promise, from now on, whatever you say goes. I’ll do whatever you ask and never oppose you.”

Madam Zhang’s heart was already riddled with wounds. She asked, “If the Fu family won’t forgive Huiniang, what will you do with her?”

Old Master Zhang was speechless. Seeing her determined look, he thought for a moment and said, “Buy another house for her? Or if you have a better idea, we can discuss it together.”

“Zhang Huiniang surely won’t want to live alone.” Madam Zhang said blankly, “Even if she agrees, she’ll cause trouble for you later. I can’t bear my husband always putting me behind other women... If it were your mother, I could grumble through it. But elders grow old and die; I might have a chance to emerge from this. But your sister... she’s half a year younger than me. Who knows, I might die before she does. I can’t endure it, and I don’t intend to.”

She waved her hand, “Leave. Don’t come back.”

Old Master Zhang frowned, “You’re not going home? Planning to live with our daughter?”

“Of course not!” Madam Zhang said sternly, “Even if I leave you, I won’t be a burden to others. That’s probably the biggest difference between Huiniang and me. She only depends on you, but I never wanted to rely on others. Years ago, I bought a small house inside the city and a twenty-acre estate in the suburbs.”

Speaking of the estate, she seemed distant. “Maybe I knew we’d end up like this. When I bought the estate, I didn’t have enough money, so I even sold two profitable shops.”

Old Master Zhang was silent.

“Madam, I never wanted to be apart from you. To me, you’ve been my wife all your life.”

Madam Zhang snapped back to reality but wasn’t moved. She sneered, “It’s rare to find a wife like me who raised your sister’s daughter and still gets blamed. Of course, you can’t bear to lose me. Go then. Take care of yourself. Just don’t let Zhang Huiniang drag you down to your death... Oh, before I leave, you must hand over all family business to our son. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t have peace even among your own dogs and chickens!”

Old Master Zhang: “...” It’s already chaotic, thank you very much!

Author’s note: See you at midnight. Thanks to the angels who voted for me or watered me with nourishment between 2022-03-10 00:13:03 and 2022-03-10 18:01:10.

Special thanks to the angels who watered me: Little Book Lover, 10 bottles.

Thank you all for your support; I will keep working hard!