West Street
As soon as Xiao Jue entered the main hall, he started to throw a tantrum.
"Father, Mother, how could you agree to this? If Third isn’t my real brother, then what will we do in the future?"
Xiao Jue was truly angry. After he found out about this, he was furious, and with Mrs. Zhao stirring things up in front of him, he couldn’t hold back and ca to vent his anger on the Old Master.
The Old Master and Old Madam already felt quite bad, and now, being scolded by the son they valued most, they felt even more upset.
"Do you think we wanted this?"
The Old Master couldn’t help but scold Xiao Jue: "If it weren’t for the shaful things you brothers did, would this have happened to Third? I am his father, and no matter what, it doesn’t matter to , but as for you..."
Xiao Jue laughed angrily: "Father, don’t bla . Who was it that wanted to take in Qingping at first? Failing to get Qingping and then wanting to get Liu Li, without considering your age, almost having grandchildren getting married and still acting shalessly."
He turned to reproach the Old Madam: "Mother, you are really sothing. Couldn’t you keep an eye on my father? Do you let him do whatever he wants? Look at the ss now. His foolishness disgusted Third so much that Third no longer acknowledges us and took all the servants away. What’s next for us? Are you going to cook, or is it Father?"
The selfish words of Xiao Jue left the Old Madam feeling cold-hearted.
The Old Madam was always biased, always favoring Xiao Jue, but in the end, this son whom she favored so much spoke such words, even blaming her.
The Old Madam couldn’t help but bury her head and wipe her tears: "Eldest, you..."
Xiao Jue looked coldly at the Old Madam: "Hasn’t Third Son’s Wife already said it? From now on, everyone takes care of themselves. You both should take care of yourselves. I can’t help."
After speaking, he flung his sleeves and left.
Not long after, Mrs. Zhao ca in with her several adopted sons, moving quite a lot of things from the Old Madam’s room.
Afterward, Mrs. Wei ca over, sweet-talking the Old Master, expressing how difficult and hurt Xiao Su was, coaxing the Old Master to open his hands and give her so things.
Over at the fifth household, Ms. Jin held Xiao Kai, watching Xiao Fang pacing in the room, she wasn’t anxious at all, even her gaze grew colder.
"What to do?"
Xiao Fang was particularly worried: "Ms. Lan’s belly is so big, what if there’s no girl to serve her?"
He turned around and happened to see Ms. Jin; Xiao Fang’s eyes lit up, and he pointed at Ms. Jin and said: "From now on, you will serve Ms. Lan."
Ms. Jin’s face was cold, she didn’t say she was unwilling, just held Xiao Kai tighter.
Xiao Fang, thinking he had solved a big issue, humd a little tune and left the room.
As soon as he left, Ms. Jin couldn’t help but let her tears fall.
This period was really tough for her, not having any freedom here, and being picked on, especially by Lan Siniang, who always caused trouble every day because she was pregnant. Xiao Fang, that scumbag, always sided with Ms. Lan, having long ago left no place for Ms. Jin and her son in his heart.
Ms. Jin felt abandoned by so, looked down upon by others, and Xiao Kai was also not valued, making life extrely difficult for the mother and son.
Ms. Jin understood that if Lan Siniang gave birth to a son, she would have even less status in their ho in the future.
Even now, before the child was born, they wanted her to serve; once the child was truly born, she and Xiao Kai might beco servants.
Thinking back to the recent events, Ms. Jin recalled how Anning decisively cut off relations with the Old Master that day. She gritted her teeth and whispered to Xiao Kai: "Son, how about leaving with mother? Follow , and we won’t need your father."
Xiao Kai was mostly taken care of by Ms. Jin since he was young, having barely seen Xiao Fang.
Xiao Fang was never attentive to the child, and always acted like a stern father with Xiao Kai, hitting and scolding with no warmth, which left Xiao Kai with no attachnt to him at all.
Xiao Kai leaned against Ms. Jin: "I’ll follow mother, wherever you go, I’ll go."
Ms. Jin smiled.
She wasn’t foolish, always keeping a backup plan; she was holding quite a bit of money in hand now.
Back in the Capital, although Ms. Jin’s family didn’t give her any silver notes, they outwardly only claid to have found her a rchant team, but in reality, it was only an arrangent made by her father. Her mother secretly gave her so things behind her father’s back.
Ms. Jin’s maternal family was a rchant family from Jiangnan, her maternal grandfather had worked hard for half his life, amassing a fortune of gold and silver. He had only one son and one daughter, and when her mother was married off, she was naturally given a lavish dowry.
Ms. Jin’s father ca from a poor family but passed the Imperial Examination to beco an official. At that ti, he was in urgent need of money, which is why he sweet-talked Ms. Jin’s mother into marrying him, and after marrying her, he took in many concubines.
Ms. Jin’s mother wasn’t soone who couldn’t live without a man. Ever since her father took concubines, her mother beca cold-hearted toward him, focusing only on raising her children in the inner residence, keeping her dowry tight.
When the Xiao family was exiled, Ms. Jin’s mother was worried about her and secretly sent a trusted aide mixed in with the team sent by Ms. Jin’s father to see her off, giving her so valuable items and gold notes.
Ms. Jin was soone who never spent more than she gained. She was reluctant to use her things when moving south, and after reaching Southern Yi, just followed the big household for food and lodging.
It can be said that she now had more money in hand than the big household.
Ms. Jin squinted her eyes, pondering for a while, finally making up her mind.
She took a small silver hairpin and went to the back door.
There were still many people guarding this house, to prevent them from causing trouble.
There were also guards at the back door, so Ms. Jin went to the guards and handed over the silver hairpin: "Officer, please do a favor and deliver this letter to the Third Madam."
She handed a prepared letter to the guard: "I have no other intentions, just seeking a way to live, so I ask for your help."
The guard froze for a mont and then accepted the items.
Only then did Ms. Jin smile and quietly went back to her room.
Anning received the letter Ms. Jin wrote not long after.
Upon opening it, Anning couldn’t help but smile: "Ms. Jin is quite clever."
Just then, Xiao Yin ca over to chat with Anning and also leaned over to read the letter: "Mother, what is Fifth Aunt up to?"
After letting Xiao Yin finish reading the letter, Anning explained: "She doesn’t want to sink with the big household’s ship. Also, she wants to find a way out."
Huh?
Xiao Yin still didn’t quite understand.
Anning explained in detail: "Your father now controls the three Southern Yi Prefectures. He hasn’t declared a rebellion but the circumstances are like a rebellion. If we fail, your Fifth Uncle’s whole family will undoubtedly be implicated and beheaded. Even if we succeed, considering our attitude towards the big household, your Fifth Aunt knows there is no benefit for them, only disadvantages. Your Fifth Aunt isn’t willing to engage in such a detrintal situation."
Xiao Yin nodded: "Indeed, Fifth Aunt sees things quite clearly."
Anning smiled: "Also, your Fifth Uncle treats her poorly now. What is there for her to wait for? She now seeks to request our aid, hoping that for the sake of the child, we would help her, allowing her to leave West Street with the child, change nas, and start afresh."
Anning handed the letter to Xiao Yin: "Burn it later."
"Then will you help?"
Xiao Yin asked.
Anning nodded: "It’s rare to find soone sensible, and there’s no harm for us. We should extend a helping hand if possible."
Anning called Chun Xing over, asking her to pass a ssage for the steward of the outer courtyard to co in.
Xiao Yin took the letter, left, and upon returning to her room, threw the letter into the charcoal stove to burn it.
Anning instructed the steward of the outer courtyard about so matters.
The next morning at West Street, Ms. Jin, with Xiao Kai, went to the back door again.
As she arrived, the back door opened, with a carriage waiting outside, and a guard smiled: "Madam, please get in."
Ms. Jin got on the carriage holding Xiao Kai.
The carriage rolled along, and Ms. Jin wasn’t sure where they were going.
Although she had lived in Prefecture City for so long, she knew nothing about it.
Since arriving, she was confined to this courtyard on West Street, never stepping out, completely oblivious to the layout of Prefecture City.
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