After it was decided to move the whole family to the capital, everyone got busy. They sold what needed to be sold, and what couldn’t be sold was stored away. You never know, they might co back to live here soday!
Not long after arriving in the capital, Yang Yuzhen received a letter and excitedly said to her husband Zhou Qi, "Mother, elder brother and sister-in-law, third brother and third sister-in-law are all coming to the capital."
"Really?" Zhou Qi also looked pleased.
"Mm, mother said we should help them rent a bigger house, preferably with a yard. If we find any suitable ones, we should keep an eye on them."
"Why go through so much trouble? Why don’t they just stay in our ho?"
Yang Yuzhen laughed at him, "You must be muddled again. Our house isn’t that big; it’s fine for a few days, but not for long-term stay. Besides, Shuchen is here for the imperial examination, and he needs a quiet place to study."
"You’re right. I’ll have soone inquire tomorrow."
"I wonder what Xiutong and Xiuli look like now. When I first married you, they had just been born."
"When mother and the others arrive, you should spend so ti with them and show them around the capital."
"Mm, our family can finally reunite. The letter also said that third brother got a recomndation to join the Ministry of Justice."
"That’s another great event that deserves a celebration."
"Dad, mom, what are you talking about?" asked a cute little dumpling-like Nuonuo.
Zhou Qi picked him up, "It’s your grandmother and uncles, aunts, and cousins; they are coming to see Yi An. Are you happy, Yi An?"
Though he hadn’t t them, since his parents often talked about them, Zhou Yi’an still had an impression. He had no siblings and was quite envious, so hearing that his cousins were coming to see him, how could he not be happy?
"I’m happy. When they co, Yi An will play with the cousins."
"Good, our Yi An will no longer be lonely." Yang Yuzhen kissed his little cheek.
Zhou Qi watched this scene with a smile. A few years ago, how could he have imagined living such a life? He broke the curse of fate, and not only had a virtuous wife but also a smart and adorable child. Yet Yi An was still sowhat lonely being the only child; he needed to work harder. With mother-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law coming over, Yu Zhen could be well taken care of, and he could be at ease.
anwhile, the atmosphere was tense in Yang Yuqin’s family living in the west of the city. Yao Xue i looked in disbelief at the woman Yang Yuqin had brought ho, her hands trembling, face pale.
"Ruirui is pregnant, arrange a courtyard and two maidservants for her," Yang Yuqin said, seemingly unable to face Yao Xue i, then walked away.
Ruirui didn’t have a surna; she was from that place. Having painstakingly seduced Yang Yuqin, she never planned to let go even if the circumstances were awkward.
She seed unaware of being left behind and sincerely greeted with a salute, "Hello, sister."
"Who is your sister?" Yao Xue i glared at her, eyes suddenly red.
But despite looking fierce, Ruirui, being from that place, could see through Yao Xue i’s bluff and simplicity, smiling mockingly, not taking this legitimate wife seriously at all, intending to replace her sooner or later.
What she didn’t know was that it wasn’t Yang Yuqin or Yao Xue i who were the formidable ones in this family, nor were they the decision-makers. But as she had developed this ambition and was pregnant with Yang Yuqin’s child, it ant the family was destined to lack peace in the future.
Yang Xiudan listened to her mother’s weeping, feeling both impatient and angry.
Impatient with her mother’s weakness, after all, wasn’t it easy enough to sell off a woman from a filthy place? Surely her father wouldn’t divorce her mother over it, correct? If not on her mother’s account, he would maintain the marriage for the sake of her and her brother’s reputation.
She didn’t understand. Since the couple had no affection anymore, couldn’t they simply respect each other? Why tornt each other?
Her father was also at fault; with her and her brother grown, he still couldn’t control himself from attracting won outside. Speaking of it was unpleasant. Ironically, she earned the family money, she was willing to support her parents and brother but not outsiders, especially not one with a forbidden child.
Imdiately, Yang Xiudan adopted decisive asures. Her father wanted two maidservants arranged? She arranged two of the capable ones.
However, that Ruirui wasn’t easy to deal with either. She put up with the surface appearances, carefully protecting her pregnancy, but seized every opportunity to poison Yang Yuqin’s ear.
Nowadays, Yang Yuqin was no longer the Yang Yuqin of the past. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought a woman ho from outside. His daughter was strong-willed, his wife was estranged, and his son was often at the academy. Despite being the head of the household, he couldn’t utter a word.
Thus, when Ruirui once ntioned the cold als others sent her, he exploded. He didn’t argue with his daughter Yang Xiuzhen but instead had a major argunt with Yao Xue i, even calling her vicious and jealous.
Yao Xue i couldn’t believe her eyes, unable to recognize the harshly glaring man, who once would have done anything to marry her.
She murmured, "How can you treat like this? Yang Yuqin, you cannot treat like this."
Yang Yuqin felt a hint of pity but, thinking about Ruirui’s tears and the child in her belly, steeled himself not to speak.
The cold indifference in him thoroughly provoked Yao Xue i, leading her to cry out, "Yang Yuqin, how have I wronged you? I bore children for you, managed this household, respected your parents, and treated your brothers and nephews well. I used to wake up to work at 3 a.m. for this family and severed ties with my own family for you..."
"Enough!" Yang Yuqin’s initial guilt transford into erupting anger.
"I lost my father for your dowry while you colluded with Xiudan to divide the family; is this respecting my parents? During the division, we received the most; do you call this treating my siblings and nephews well? You broke with your family, not because of our marriage but because they were too greedy. Wasn’t it so?" Yang Yuqin retorted.
Yao Xue i’s complexion turned even paler, unable to believe that the man she once intimately loved harbored such resentnts.
Furthermore, she learned for the first ti that he blad her all along. But what did family division have to do with her? The division was at the mother-in-law’s decision, not her imposition. And wasn’t her father-in-law’s death an accident? How was she supposed to know he would fish in the winter for dowry money?
Despite her efforts over the years, the mother-in-law remained ungrateful, leaving her helpless. Yao Xue i never knew her husband had been silently resenting her for so many years.
User Comments
0 comments from readers