Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 371

After enduring for a year, Mrs. Qin observed Feng Yuan gradually shifting his stance and preparing to confront Ge Zhu. She still possessed a stock of high-level secret medicines like the silencing potion, which she held onto, ready to make Ge Zhu vanish without a trace, without raising any suspicions.

Now, she watched as Ge Zhu herself initiated the divorce proceedings, saving her time and effort. Mrs. Qin couldn’t have been happier to see this development. However, she knew that once the divorce was finalized, Ge Zhu would be free, and there was no guarantee she wouldn’t malign the Feng family’s reputation outside.

To ensure that Ge Zhu remained discredited and that her claims would be dismissed, she had to become a divorced woman. It was vital to her scheme.

Fortunately, a divorce letter only required the husband’s signature, without needing Ge Zhu’s consent. The challenge was that Feng Yuan had a kind heart, and he had previously hesitated due to his mother’s influence. He regretted it afterward, saying, “She became angry when she found out that our family refused to recognize her family. She spoke without thinking. I will ask her to apologize when she cools down and understands.”

This dilemma had created the current standoff. It was Feng Yuan’s day off, and Mrs. Qin intended to speak with him about it after she was dressed. If she couldn’t persuade him, she might resort to dragging the street vendors to their home and pressure Ge Zhu into requesting the divorce herself.

However, at that moment, the servants reported that members of Duke Ying’s house had arrived at their door. Although the two families harbored deep resentment towards each other, it was their own house, and Feng Yuan was at home. Mrs. Qin was not one to back down out of fear, so she invited them into the main hall.

Mrs. Qin left them waiting for a quarter of an hour, which felt rather long. Gu Yin, on the other hand, displayed great patience. During this time, she sat in the Feng family’s main hall, engaged in conversation with Mrs. Wang, and offered comforting words to the elderly members of the Ge family.

Finally, Mrs. Qin who came remarked, “Rare guests, rare guests. I’m not sure what has brought you to our home today. What wind carries you here?”

The person was never one to mince words, and Gu Yin had no intention of engaging in pleasantries. She got straight to the point, saying, “We are not here as guests. Uncle and Aunt Ge entrusted us to discuss Sister Zhu and her husband’s Heli.”

Mrs. Qin, after a moment of thought, recognized that the Duke Ying’s house was here to intervene in their family matters.

Her feigned smile disappeared, and she responded curtly, “This is my family’s affair, and neither you nor even His Majesty can interfere.”

Gu Yin nodded and added, “It’s true that outsiders shouldn’t interfere, but I refer to the Ge elders as my uncle and aunt and their daughter as my sister. I’m not here as an outsider, but as a member of the maiden’s family.” 

Mrs. Qin was initially worried that Duke Ying’s house might invoke Emperor Zhengyuan’s intervention, as both families were currently competing for his favor. However, she soon realized that the emperor had too many responsibilities to concern himself with these matters.

With this clarification, Mrs. Qin felt more at ease. She leisurely picked up her teacup, lifted the lid, and skimmed off the foam.

As the Ge couple anxiously watched her deliberate actions, their thoughts turned to their imprisoned daughter.

Gu Yin tried to reassure them with a comforting look and continued, “I understand that you may look down on a daughter-in-law like Sister Zhu. But instead of having her here with you, why not arrange for her to be separated from Duke Lu? Wouldn’t that be better?”

Mrs. Qin took a sip of her tea and replied, “Indeed, it would be better. What I mean is to have my Ah Yuan divorce his wife and marry another. However, my son values respect and righteousness, so he won’t. Since you’ve come, why don’t you persuade Mrs. Chen to request a Qichu for her.”

Despite her resolute demeanor, Gu Yin couldn’t help feeling a sense of revulsion when Mrs. Qin referred to Feng Yuan with the words “respect and righteousness.”

Even Mrs. Wang and the Ge couple, all of them, were fuming with anger and wide-eyed in disbelief.

Gu Yin sneered and retorted, “The old lady’s words are preposterous. Sister Zhu has not committed the seven sins required for a unilateral divorce. Moreover, she satisfies two of the three Heli exceptions. The relationship is clearly disharmonious, so it naturally qualifies for Heli. Why would they seek a Qichu?”

Mrs. Qin squinted at her and countered, “How would the Ge family know how she was in her in-law’s family? The seven-sin rule doesn’t require her to prove her innocence. It’s the husband’s family who makes the final decision.”

In a society where women had low status, Mrs. Qin’s words held a grain of truth, as the final decision rested with the husband’s family. Nevertheless, Gu Yin had prepared a countermeasure since she arrived.

She chuckled and said, “Old lady, don’t speak so confidently. It’s better to see the people I’ve brought.”

Mrs. Qin sneered, saying, “We welcome them. But what can these people… “

At that moment, Xiao Feng and the young steward approached from behind. Xiao Feng appeared pale and respectfully bowed to everyone upon entering the house. On the other hand, the young steward had been gagged, bound like a pig, and was shouting.

Mrs. Qin struggled to recall the little steward’s appearance, especially in his pitiful state. Not even Zheng Mama herself would have recognized him. The young steward belonged to a lower rank and wore the standard attire provided by the mansion.

Upon recognizing her own emblem, Mrs. Qin began to piece together what was happening. Her expression shifted slightly, but she still pressed on, asking, “What do you mean?”

Gu Yin introduced them slowly, saying, “This is Xiao Feng from the Auspicious Theater. He suddenly lost his voice for an unknown reason. Ordinary doctors have examined him but couldn’t determine the cause. However, don’t forget that there is an old doctor in our household who has concluded that this poor child was poisoned. As for the one who is tied up, you may be more familiar with him. He is not the only one; the owner and the lead actor of the theater troupe are also involved. Would you like to meet them?”

Mrs. Qin was furious, standing up and exclaiming, “You are overstepping your bounds! I am the mother of the Duke, a high-ranking official appointed by His Majesty. How dare you suggest I meet with such people?”

Gu Yin acknowledged her objection and rose from her seat, saying, “If you don’t wish to discuss it, Madam, that’s fine. I will arrange for the steward, the theater owner, and the others to be investigated officially. According to the laws of the dynasty, ‘those who cause harm shall be sentenced to three years.'”

The young steward, looking as pale as ashes, was pulled up by the elderly woman behind Gu Yin. The gag was removed from his mouth, and he pleaded, “Please forgive me, Madam, save me. I did it for your sake…”

Gu Yin waved her hand, and the elderly woman quickly muffled the young steward’s mouth and placed a black hood over his head.

Gu Yin offered an apologetic smile to Mrs. Qin, saying, “Look at how terrified he is. He talks nonsense and makes unfounded accusations. Let’s take this with a grain of salt. If he continues to act this way when he’s brought to the authorities…”

Mrs. Qin was seething with anger. She despised both Gu Yin’s craftiness and Zheng Mama’s incompetence for taking in such an unreliable godson.

Indeed, what Gu Yin mentioned was the law of the dynasty. However, the young steward had not intended to kill Xiao Feng, making a death sentence unlikely. Mrs. Qin could have easily refuted the claims of an intimidated individual, but the potential trouble he might cause if he entered the authorities was another matter entirely.

Mrs. Qin clenched her teeth, suppressing her anger. “You all, stay. I have something to discuss.”