When Qi Su's words reached her ears, Zhu felt her heart aching.
She stared blankly at the young man in front of her, as if she couldn't believe that this was actually her biological son.
Qi Su also realized that he had gone too far, coughed twice, looked embarrassed, and found a place for himself, "My son just hopes that his mother can change her temper. If you continue to get angry with your father, don't blame your son for not seeing you again." "
After finishing his words, he added one more sentence like a threat, "The second brother and the third brother mean the same thing. Mother is no longer a child. You can decide what is more important."
Qi Chong stood up and left without mercy, without even looking back.
Mrs. Zhu sat blankly on the stone bench, tears falling silently, breathing heavily, like a fish on the verge of death out of water, her body tilted, and her fingertips touched the letter from home that she had not had time to open.
Zhu paused, missing home so much that she quickly braced herself up and tore open the envelope with trembling fingertips.
The handwriting on the letter was scrawled, and Zhu could tell at a glance that it was his father's handwriting.
——My son Zhu Yan, seeing the letter is like seeing you face to face, showing the letter makes you happy. I haven’t seen you for many days. I miss you so much and look forward to returning home.
Zhu bit her lower lip, twirled it with her fingertips, and found two pieces of letter paper in her hand.
——San'er, my father has recently become a scholar and writes letters to Zou Zou. Don't think it's strange. Not long ago, the whole family went to give out porridge together. Although they were looked down upon, there were a lot less scoldings. Mother always kept talking about it. I dreamed of you. The plums are ripe at home. My eldest brother made you dried plums and waited for you to come home.
There were only a few words on the letter, but it made Zhu's tears unstoppable.
No matter how old she is, her family still treats her like a child.
Mrs. Zhu placed the two letters on her heart and sobbed softly. She only regretted that she was reckless and impulsive when she was young and wanted to marry in the capital.
Now that she had suffered such a great humiliation, she didn't even have anyone around her who could speak properly to her, and she didn't even dare to cry loudly in the house.
"Dad...Mom..."
Zhu was so upset that she lay on the stone table and cried non-stop.
After crying enough, Mrs. Zhu straightened up, pressed her fingertips on the table, her eyes full of unwillingness, "Since you are so ruthless to the Qi family, don't even think about having an easy time."
After saying that, Mrs. Zhu changed her previous decadent look, grabbed the refreshments on the table, wolfed them down, and stuffed the snacks into her mouth as hard as she could.
Now she is weak and isolated. If she can't take good care of herself, her life may be decided here.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Mrs. Zhu composed herself and felt that she had some strength, so she stood up unsteadily and walked out of the courtyard.
Aunt Wu stood outside and heard the quarrel between the madam and the eldest son. While she was secretly gloating about the misfortune, she saw Mrs. Zhu's figure.
Aunt Wu was startled, seeing that her body was unstable, and after thinking for a moment, she still did not move forward.
Her man is the steward of the house, so she is dissatisfied with this humiliation.
Zhu held on to the wall, stepped out of the yard step by step, and walked towards the front yard.
When he passed Aunt Wu, his feet showed no intention of stopping.
Aunt Wu panicked and quickly came over and said in a loud voice, "Madam, where are you going?"
Mrs. Zhu glanced at her, her expression indifferent, "Where am I going and why do I need to report to you?"
"Old slave, I don't dare." Aunt Wu looked frightened, but she kept complaining in her heart, "It's just that the Duke of the country has an order that Madam is not allowed to step out of the backyard."
Madam Zhu stopped and looked back at Aunt Wu with frighteningly cold eyes, "Why did I do anything wrong that I need to be put under house arrest?"
"The Duke has no intention of placing you under house arrest..." Aunt Wu looked embarrassed and responded with a smile, "It's just..."
"Go away, if you stop me again, don't even think about entering my yard to do work." Zhu said calmly, then stopped looking at her face and turned to leave.
Aunt Wu was shaking with anger, looked at her back, spat, and trotted to the study.
Mrs. Zhu came to Dongcheng alone and walked aimlessly on the streets. Everything she looked at was boring.
The streets were filled with the shouts of vendors, and men and women gathered around the stalls to buy things.
The lively sounds reached Zhu's ears, making her feel noisy.
Moving forward all the way, we actually arrived at the gate of the government office.
Mrs. Zhu looked at the plaque on the door and had an idea in her mind, but she was rejected instantly.
After all, Qi Chong is the Duke of the country and holds a high position of power. If he is sued in court for the affair between the couple, the Zhu family may suffer as well.
Besides...if I dare to file a complaint, will the prefect dare to accept it?
Mrs. Zhu stared at the government in front of her in a daze, not noticing that someone was paying attention to her not far away.
"Madam, I see that you are always looking at the government, but what difficulties have you encountered?"
A soft female voice came from behind. Zhu's body trembled, she turned around blankly and met a pair of watery deer eyes.
The woman in front of her has red lips and bright teeth. She is beautiful and fragrant. She is dressed in the best quality clothes. At first glance, she has been raised well by her family.
Seeing that Mrs. Zhu was so happy, she couldn't help but smile a little.
If I had a caring daughter, she would look like this.
"Madam?" Seeing that Mr. Zhu ignored her, the woman patiently called out again.
Mrs. Zhu came back to her senses, the smile on her lips deepened, and she said softly, "It's nothing, thank you for your trouble, Miss."
Hearing this, the woman breathed a sigh of relief and smiled gently, "As long as it's okay."
"Wanzhou!"
Just as he was talking, a voice suddenly sounded not far away. Zhu raised his eyes and looked with Xie Wanzhou, just in time to see Lian Yan's hearty smile.
Lian Yan held two oil paper bags in one hand and ran quickly to Xie Wanzhou without even breathing, "Chestnut cake, golden shortbread, cherry fried... I bought all your favorite food, why are you missing it today?" Wait for me at the entrance of the academy?"
Xie Wanzhou's face turned red and she looked even cuter, "I've told you this several times, why are you buying so many more?"
Although his tone was angry, his eyes were clearly smiling.
"There's not much food. I'll eat whatever you have left. If you lose weight, Xie Li might be looking for trouble with me." Lian Yan smiled with his eyes bent, and glanced at Zhu beside him, his eyes full of vigilance. "Who is this……"
Xie Wanzhou raised the corner of her mouth slightly and explained softly, "I just saw this lady staring at the government for a long time. I thought she was in trouble, so I came over to ask."
Zhu nodded and accepted Xie Wanzhou's words.
"That's it." Lian Yan understood and nodded politely to Mrs. Zhu. He looked back with a smile in his eyes, "Go back early. Don't worry your mother."
Xie Wanzhou responded softly and turned to look at Mr. Zhu with a gentle smile. "My wife and I have a close affinity. If you are in trouble in the future, you can come to the Yongcheng Marquis Mansion to find me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Wanzhou turned around and left the place with Lian Yan You talking and laughing.
Zhu's heart moved and she looked straight at Xie Wanzhou's back.
