Old Madam Cao charged in first, with Cao Yang following closely behind, looking extremely embarrassed. "Mother, please don't speak nonsense. All of your sons except me are already married..."
"What about you? Move aside, don’t delay your mother from handling important matters!" With that, she walked up to Chu Jing with a kindly expression. "Jing’er, don’t worry. Our Cao family isn’t like some others—we don’t keep mistresses or raise illegitimate children. Apart from my second son marrying a princess, none of the others have taken concubines. This eldest son of mine may be a bit older, but his official rank is high too. He’s barely worthy of you..."
Chu Jing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Over on the other side, Old Madam Xue was fuming. "Well, well! So you two really have an illicit affair!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? They’ve met less than twice in total. Are you Xue family members a bit slow in the head? Should I introduce you to a few physicians for a check-up?"
Old Madam Xue clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
Xue Gui, standing beside her, angrily shouted, "Old Madam Cao, watch your words! And Lord Cao, what are you doing here? This is a private matter of the Xue family!"
Cao Yang’s brow darkened.
He had originally come today to discuss personnel appointments in the Ministry of Revenue with Duke Chu, only to stumble upon the Chu family’s troubles and decide to leave. But then his mother, upon hearing it involved Chu Jing, had thrown a fit and insisted on coming along—leading to this mess...
He had intended to persuade his mother to leave, but hearing Xue Gui insult her, he immediately retorted, "Marquis Chengen, I am here on official business. Do you recall informing me some time ago about rumors of a flower thief in Pingkang Lane? Today, I came specifically to report the findings."
Xue Gui was taken aback. "And what did you uncover?"
"Nothing."
Cao Yang uttered these two words with utmost righteousness, nearly choking Xue Gui with fury.
Xue Gui glanced between Cao Yang and Chu Huaishan—one a duke, the other a minister—and realized today’s situation would not end peacefully.
"Fine! This marquis agrees to sever ties! Fetch my brush and ink—"
"No need for such trouble. This old woman has already drafted the document for you. Just press your seal!" Old Madam Cao magically produced a written agreement. Cao Yang was dumbfounded. "Mother! What is this?!"
"Why the fuss? You oversee the Ministry of Revenue—your desk is littered with such templates. I just had a few copies made..." She motioned for someone to present it to Xue Gui, who, still in a daze, pressed his seal onto it.
Old Madam Cao beamed. "Excellent! Eldest, tomorrow—no, today—take this to the Ministry of Revenue for official record!"
Cao Yang lowered his voice. "Mother, I can deliver the document, but this marriage matter..."
"Stop dawdling! Handle the important matters first!"
Cao Yang had no choice but to comply.
This rapid series of actions left not only the Xue family but everyone present stunned.
Just like that, the Xue and Chu families had severed ties?
Chu Ruoyan smiled faintly and stepped forward, offering Old Madam Cao a graceful bow. "Thank you, Madam, for your righteous intervention."
Then she turned to Chu Jing and curtsied. "Congratulations, Aunt, on regaining your freedom."
Chu Jing stood frozen for a long moment.
Today—no, all these recent events—felt like a bizarre dream. Now that she had awakened, it was time to cut ties.
She exhaled deeply. "Xue Gui, today it is you who wronged me, not the other way around. Baiqing, since you acknowledge me as your mother, though our bond was brief due to today’s events, if you are willing, I, Chu Jing, will support you wholeheartedly in the future."
The Xue family’s second branch quickly pushed their child forward.
They couldn’t care less about the main branch’s opinions—with Chu Jing backed by both the Chu and Cao families, only a fool would refuse such an opportunity!
Xue Baiqing knelt respectfully. "Thank you, Mother!"
Chu Jing then turned to Xue Ling. Before she could speak, Xue Ling gave a bitter smile. "Mother, as things stand, if I don’t follow you, where else can I go?"
Chu Jing nodded. Gazing at the estate she had painstakingly managed for over a decade, she steeled herself. "Elder Brother, let’s go. Zhu’er, take some servants and pack my belongings..."
At this, Old Madam Xue immediately shrieked, "You may leave, but the belongings stay!"
Over the years, most of the Xue family’s wealth had been spent on Xue Gui’s official pursuits, and with Consort Xue frequently visiting, expenses were high—often relying on Chu Jing’s dowry to make ends meet.
Chu Jing replied calmly, "Rest assured, I’ll only take what’s mine."
"Absolutely not! This is a severance—since when does a divorced woman take anything from her husband’s family? Lord Cao, Great Xia has no precedent for this, does it?"
"Well..." Cao Yang hesitated. Previous cases of severance involved one party being convicted of a crime—this situation was unprecedented.
Chu Jing frowned.
She knew exactly what Old Madam Xue was scheming.
Not only was the downey rightfully hers, but the wealth she had accumulated managing the Xue household—why should they profit from it?
"Old Madam Xue, are you truly unwilling to part with even a single coin?"
Old Madam Xue lifted her chin. "Not a single coin! You won’t take a thing from this house!"
This was outright shamelessness.
Chu Jing said, "Lord Cao, since I have yet to step out of this household, does the severance document not yet take effect?"
Cao Yang nodded hesitantly. Xue Gui sneered, "Hah! Regretting it now? Too late!"
Chu Jing didn’t even glance at him. Instead, she turned to Chu Huaishan. "Elder Brother, lend me some men."
Chu Huaishan nodded. "Chu Zhong, take some men and follow the elder lady’s orders."
Several servants stepped forward. Chu Jing pointed. "Smash everything in these rooms."
Chu Zhong obeyed without hesitation, leading the men inside. The sounds of shattering objects soon echoed through the halls.
Xue Gui was stunned for a moment before bellowing, "Stop! This is destruction of an official residence!"
Chu Jing remained composed. "Since I haven’t left, I am still a member of the Xue family. Destroying my own property is hardly a crime." She then pointed to several more rooms—all filled with furnishings she had meticulously acquired over the years.
Including Old Madam Xue’s chambers.
The old woman hobbled inside. "Stop! Stop smashing!"
"My Han-dynasty white jade Guanyin statue—!"
"My beloved white-glazed twin-dragon vase—!"
Heart-wrenching wails came from within. Xue Gui, eyes bulging with rage, lunged forward, but Cao Yang subtly shifted to shield Chu Jing. "Marquis Chengen, restrain yourself."
Xue Gui glared at the two of them, blood rushing to his head.
Before he could speak, a searing pain tore through his backside.
"My lord! Blood—blood!"
He looked down numbly—his legs were drenched in blood. With a groan, he collapsed unconscious.
Chaos erupted in the Xue household, but Old Madam Cao couldn’t stop grinning.
That’s more like it!
In the end, the Chu and Cao families departed triumphantly, while the Xue relatives scrambled to make excuses and leave.
After exiting the Marquis Chengen residence, Chu Ruoyan sought Cao Yang privately. "Lord Cao, Zhang Ji mentioned earlier that the Yan family’s weapons might be linked to Xue Gui..."
She recounted the details of the banquet. Cao Yang’s expression turned grave. "If true, then the Grand General’s assassination wasn’t solely the Marquis of Pingjing’s doing! Madam—ahem, Lady Chu, rest assured. I will personally investigate this matter."
"Thank you, Lord Cao. And regarding my aunt..."
She had intended to thank him for today’s incident, but Cao Yang’s expression abruptly changed. Muttering something about urgent business at the Ministry of Revenue, he swiftly dashed off to the left.
"Lord Cao! The Ministry of Revenue is to the right!"
Without a word, Cao Yang turned on his heel.
Old Madam Cao stepped out just in time to witness the scene and scolded, "Useless fool!" She then took Chu Jing’s hand and said, "Jing'er, you and that girl Chu must be careful. The Xue family still has Consort Xue backing them—and she’s far from a meek candle!"
