Pingkang Lane.
The sky had darkened, and the servants brought by Chu Jing held torches, illuminating the area brightly.
Xue Ling pointed and said, "Mother, it's this one!"
Chu Jing waved her hand commandingly, "Surround it! Don't let even a fly escape!"
Inside the house, Xue Gui was sharing an intimate moment with Widow Li.
He had only come to check on her out of concern, but her seductive charm had led him straight to her bed.
Suddenly, Xue Yan burst in, "Master, hurry! The mistress is here!"
Xue Gui shuddered in fright, scrambling to flee toward the door.
"It's too late, Master! Hide under the bed!"
Xue Gui quickly ducked under the bed just as—BANG!—the door was kicked open, and bright torchlight flooded the room.
"You wretched Xue Yan! As the marquis’ attendant, you dare dally with a widow? Seize him!"
The servants rushed forward, pinning Xue Yan to the ground. His eyes met Xue Gui’s under the bed, but he could say nothing.
How could he admit he was covering for the marquis’ affair?
The mistress would surely beat him to death!
Meanwhile, Widow Li huddled under a thin quilt, trembling. Chu Jing frowned at her silhouette, finding it familiar. "You—"
Before she could finish, Xue Ling interrupted, "Mother, look—Xue Yan’s clothes are untouched, while the widow is in such a state. There must be someone else here."
Chu Jing stiffened, then snapped, "What are you, an unmarried girl, doing here? Get out! Must you dirty your eyes with such filth?"
Xue Ling reluctantly obeyed but pressed her ear to the door once outside.
Inside, the sound of frantic searching followed—her mother had taken her advice!
A moment later, someone shrieked, "There's a man hiding under the bed!"
"It must be the adulterer! Watch out—he might be armed!"
"Break his hands first!"
A flurry of kicks and punches ensued before another cry rang out, "Wait—isn’t that the marquis?"
"It is the marquis! Stop, stop!"
Xue Ling’s eyes turned icy. She stormed back inside.
The servants knelt in a circle around Xue Gui, who sat bruised and groaning on the bed, hastily covering himself.
Chu Jing stood frozen, as if unable to believe her eyes. "You said you were dining with colleagues from the Ministry of Works… Is this how you dine?!" Her voice rose to a shrill pitch.
Xue Gui shrank back. "Th-This is a misunderstanding..."
"What kind of misunderstanding leaves you half-dressed in a widow’s bed?" At the word "widow," Chu Jing seemed to recall something. She lunged forward, yanking the woman down.
The torchlight fell on the woman’s face. Chu Jing stiffened completely. "You… Yinghong?"
Xue Ling’s heart sank.
Her mother had once mentioned that her father had a favored maid named Yinghong.
But to secure the marriage alliance with the Duke of Chu’s Mansion, Yinghong—then pregnant—had been forced to abort the child and sent away…
Yet here she was, secretly brought back as his mistress, even bearing him a child!
Yinghong sobbed, "The fault is all mine! Please, my lady, don’t blame the marquis. He’s just loyal—"
"Loyal?" Chu Jing nearly choked on blood.
Xue Ling barked, "Who gave you the right to speak? Gag her!"
The servants hesitated, glancing at Xue Gui. But Chan snatched a rag and stuffed it into Yinghong’s mouth.
Xue Gui frowned. "Enough, wife. Must you make a scene in front of our child?"
"I’m making a scene?" Chu Jing stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.
Xue Gui sighed. "Ling’er, take the servants out. I need to speak with your mother alone."
Normally, Xue Ling would obey. But this time, she only said, "All of you, leave." Once the servants exited, she remained rooted in place.
Xue Gui bit back his irritation. "Wife, I won’t hide it anymore. Guanglin is my son. My mother suggested adopting him into the family, but I never meant to hurt you..."
"Not hurt me? Then what would you call hurt?" Chu Jing trembled with fury. "Have I ever neglected my duties as your wife since marrying into your household? Have I failed in managing your estate, raising our child, or serving your mother? And this is how you repay me?"
Xue Gui fell silent. She had been an impeccable lady of the house.
"I wronged you. But since things have come to this, why not bring them into the mansion? I can have Yuanlin recognized under your name..."
Chu Jing gaped at his shamelessness.
Xue Ling couldn’t stay silent. "Father! You’d let your bastard son enter the family?"
"Don’t call him that! Yuanlin is your brother—"
Xue Ling laughed coldly. "A child born from a lowly maid—how dare he claim to be my brother?"
Yinghong whimpered, tears streaming as she looked pleadingly at Xue Gui.
Xue Gui rubbed his temples. "Then what do you propose?"
"Send them away!" Xue Ling blurted, steadying her swaying mother.
Xue Gui snapped, "No!" Then, softening, "Yuanlin is my flesh and blood. How can I cast out a child of the Xue family?"
Xue Ling was stunned by his defiance.
Then, a weak but resolute voice spoke: "Xue Gui… let us divorce."
"Mother?" Xue Ling turned to see Chu Jing’s exhausted face. "If you cannot forget her, then I’ll step aside. May you two grow old together in bliss."
She turned to leave. Xue Gui panicked. "Jing’er, wait!"
Chu Jing was Chu Huaishan’s sister—his mediocre career had thrived only through his brother-in-law’s influence!
Gritting his teeth, he relented. "Fine! I’ll send them away!"
Yinghong thrashed in protest, but Chu Jing only sighed. "No need. You’ve hidden a mistress for five years. Your mother schemed to pass your bastard son as heir. All these years, I’ve been an outsider in my own home. What’s the point of continuing this farce?"
Though Xue Ling hated to see her parents part, she squeezed her mother’s hand. "Whatever you decide, I stand with you."
Xue Gui’s heart sank as he saw her resolve.
Divorce was impossible—he couldn’t let the Duke of Chu find out!
"Wife, if you leave, have you considered Ling’er? Your family already has one divorced woman. If you return, how will Ling’er marry? She’s currently being courted by my protégé, Zhang Ji!"
Chu Jing swayed, collapsing into Xue Ling’s arms.
"Mother, I don’t need—" Before Xue Ling could finish, Chu Jing fainted. "Mother! MOTHER!"
The night passed without rest.
By noon the next day, when Chan recounted the events at the Bodhi Courtyard, Chu Ruoyan sighed softly. "I’ve brought shame upon Aunt."
Two divorced women in one family? Not only would Chu Ruoyin and Chu Ruolan’s marriages suffer—even her cousin Xue Ling would face the consequences.
Chan shook her head. "Our young lady said there’s no reason to blame you, Miss. The Madam only endured it all for her sake. But that mother and son have already been sent away—our lady personally arranged for them to be sold off through a broker, so they’ll certainly never return. Moreover, the Marquis has agreed to adopt Young Master Baiqing from the second branch. There shouldn’t be any further trouble."
No further trouble?
Perhaps not.
Chu Ruoyan recalled her dream—after her aunt lost her mind, her father had tried to visit several times, only to be turned away by her cousin…
If it were truly because of Yinghong and her son, her cousin shouldn’t have reacted that way. There must be more to this storm.
"Chan, go back and tell my cousin that when the Marquis of Chengen's Mansion holds its ancestral ceremony, they should send an invitation to the Duke of Chu's Mansion as well. I’d like to attend and observe the rites."
"Understood."
