Han Liao couldn’t possibly gamble with Zhou Huizhen’s life. If Zhou Huizhen died, with Shou’an Jun and Consort Noble stirring up trouble before Emperor Yuanjia, Han Liao would find it very difficult to escape the charge of murder. Moreover, Han Liao didn’t want Zhou Huizhen’s life—after all, she was a beauty who had shared his bed for so long, and he still had some feelings for Zhou Huizhen.
Since Zhou Huizhen wanted to protect Nanny Liu, Han Liao could no longer touch Nanny Liu. He vented his full rage on Lian Niang, the maid he had just obtained from his mother.
Poor Lian Niang couldn’t even get out of bed the next day.
Han Liao went to the Longxiang Army barracks with a stern face.
Nanny Liu had been watching Han Liao’s movements. Learning that Han Liao had left, Nanny Liu accompanied Zhou Huizhen to see Marchioness Xiting.
Zhou Huizhen kept her head down as she complained to Marchioness Xiting about Han Liao, grumbling that Han Liao was drunk and refused to accompany her back, grumbling that Han Liao had added another bed warmer while she was away.
Because Han Liao cared about face and covered things up tightly, Marchioness Xiting truly didn’t know her son had been beaten by Lu Zhuo. But that her son had left Zhou Huizhen behind and returned alone, Marchioness Xiting knew very clearly.
In Marchioness Xiting’s view, Zhou Huizhen had brought this all on herself. Who told Zhou Huizhen to eagerly run back to her maternal home, not even knowing how to look after her man during the banquet?
Therefore, Marchioness Xiting not only didn’t comfort Zhou Huizhen but also gave her a thorough scolding.
Zhou Huizhen left in tears.
Before long, a servant came to report to Marchioness Xiting that the young madam had ordered a carriage prepared to return to the leisure estate.
Marchioness Xiting laughed coldly three times. Let her go back—wouldn’t she have to slink back here in the end anyway? In any case, don’t expect her son to go fetch her.
Outside the marquis’ mansion’s gate, only after the carriage had truly departed and no one had chased out from inside did Nanny Liu breathe a sigh of relief.
Now that Miss had come to her senses, what Nanny Liu feared most was that the Han family wouldn’t let her go. Han Liao was such a fierce demon—the longer Miss stayed by his side, the more danger she faced. Even if her life wasn’t at risk, as long as she could leave, why suffer needlessly?
Zhou Huizhen stared blankly at the walls of the marquis’ mansion. These past two years, she had truly become a laughingstock. Initially, she had begged her grandmother to agree to Han Liao’s proposal, and now she had to trouble her grandmother to make decisions for her and arrange a divorce from Han Liao.
Nanny Liu lowered the curtain and turned back to meet Zhou Huizhen’s lost and dispirited appearance.
Nanny Liu comforted her: “Miss, don’t think too much. You’re still young, and you have Consort Noble backing you up. First, go home and properly sort out your feelings. When you’ve forgotten all the mess here, Old Madam will certainly be able to find you a good gentleman who’s excellent in every way.”
Zhou Huizhen hadn’t thought that far ahead at all. She only hoped the divorce would go smoothly without any complications.
Shou’an Jun completely approved of Zhou Huizhen’s return home. She comforted her granddaughter, and the next day, Shou’an Jun brought Nanny Liu and a team of guards, proceeding into the capital grandly and heading straight for Marquis Xiting Mansion.
Today happened to be a rest day, so Marquis Xiting and his wife, as well as Han Liao, were all at home.
Han Liao was teaching martial arts to several of his sons. Though he loved beauty, he also valued the young men of his family. The Han family had commanded the Longxiang Army for so long—the martial skills of their sons absolutely could not be neglected. Of his six sons, the eldest legitimate son, Han Chengsi, was already sixteen, while the youngest concubine-born son was only seven. However, talent for martial arts had nothing to do with legitimate or concubine birth, and Han Liao showed no particular favoritism toward his legitimate son Han Chengsi.
While he was displaying his strict father demeanor, a servant suddenly came to ask him to meet guests in the main hall.
Han Liao frowned. Did beating Nanny Liu warrant Shou’an Jun personally coming to the door?
Han Liao had no respect for Shou’an Jun, but he had to be wary of the relationship between Shou’an Jun and Emperor Yuanjia.
Telling his sons to continue practicing, Han Liao went to the main hall with a cold face.
Both Marquis Xiting and Marchioness Xiting were there. Out of courtesy, Marquis Xiting invited Shou’an Jun to take the seat of honor, and Shou’an Jun didn’t stand on ceremony with him.
“Now that Hongyuan has arrived, what exactly does Old Madam want with him?”
After Han Liao entered, Marquis Xiting asked loudly. Hongyuan was Han Liao’s courtesy name.
Shou’an Jun signaled to Nanny Liu with her eyes.
Nanny Liu took out a divorce agreement from her bosom and handed it to Marquis Xiting.
The divorce agreement was written in formulaic language, generally meaning that a married couple couldn’t get along and would henceforth divorce and live separate lives.
Marquis Xiting frowned deeply, passing the divorce agreement to his wife sitting beside him while asking Shou’an Jun: “The couple has been getting along fine. Why does Old Madam suddenly want a divorce?”
Shou’an Jun glanced at Han Liao and said mockingly, “Getting along fine? Last night, the Young Master nearly took my granddaughter’s life, frightening her into fleeing home early this morning and having nightmares all night. Didn’t the Marchioness tell the Marquis?”
Marquis Xiting’s expression changed drastically as he sternly asked Han Liao: “Do you have anything to say?”
Han Liao didn’t deny it. Without even looking at the divorce agreement, he only said one sentence to Shou’an Jun: “If she doesn’t want to live with me, fine. I’ll send her a divorce letter. Don’t even think about a mutual divorce.”
He knew the Zhou family women weren’t afraid of remarrying, but he, Han Liao, wasn’t like those low-born or short-lived Zhou family sons-in-law. He could cast Zhou Huizhen aside first, but Zhou Huizhen shouldn’t think of easily shaking him off.
Marchioness Xiting stood by her son’s side, throwing the divorce agreement onto the table and ruthlessly listing Zhou Huizhen’s various faults.
Shou’an Jun listened with calm indifference. After Marchioness Xiting finished speaking, Shou’an Jun smiled and said: “No matter what shortcomings my granddaughter has, she was still eagerly sought in marriage by your Han family through two proposals. If the Marchioness insists on blame, you should reflect on your judgment rather than arguing with me. Moreover, I’m old—some inadequacy in teaching my granddaughter is understandable. The Marchioness is still young, so how did you raise a legitimate granddaughter with such a venomous heart?”
Marquis Xiting: “What does Old Madam mean?”
Marchioness Xiting and Han Liao also looked at her with confusion.
Shou’an Jun said regretfully, “I heard that the Young Master had a concubine-born son who showed the might of hunting wolves at age seven. Unfortunately, being young and playful, he accidentally fell while crawling through an artificial mountain and died that very day.”
That was Han Liao’s son, his most beloved son, a martial arts genius who might have surpassed Lu Zhuo if he had grown up smoothly. Every time Han Liao taught his other sons, he would think of his beloved son who died in an accident. But from Shou’an Jun’s meaning, his beloved son hadn’t died by accident but was related to his legitimate daughter, Han Ying?
Shou’an Jun didn’t wait for Han Liao to ask, directly stating her conditions: “As long as the Young Master signs and seals the divorce agreement, I’ll hand over the clues I possess to the Young Master. Whatever the Young Master investigates, I’ll act as if I know nothing.”
Han Liao’s gaze was ice-cold: “If I don’t sign, what does Old Madam intend to do?”
Shou’an Jun gripped her walking stick with both hands and smiled: “Then I’ll help my grandson-in-law find the real culprit and give that child justice.”
Marchioness Xiting signaled to her son with her eyes. When that child died accidentally back then, she and her son had both investigated carefully, proving it was indeed an accident. Six years had passed—what could Shou’an Jun, someone who had long lived at the leisure estate, possibly investigate?
She had many grandsons and didn’t care about losing one.
Han Liao was different. He understood better than his mother how regrettable his deceased son’s death was. It didn’t matter how the women in the family fought, but if someone was truly plotting to harm his sons, they could have struck years ago and could continue to strike when he produced even better sons, continuing to break the Han family’s hope of surpassing the Shenwu Army.
Even if Shou’an Jun was bluffing, Han Liao was willing to gamble.
Marquis Xiting supported his son. If it were his granddaughter who killed that grandson, he would show no mercy.
Servants quickly brought writing materials. Han Liao signed with a cold face and pressed his handprint.
Shou’an Jun put away the divorce agreement, stood up, and said to Han Liao: “After I return to the leisure estate, someone will naturally deliver that witness to your mansion.”
Under the complex gazes of the three Han family members, Shou’an Jun walked out unhurriedly, while servants packed up Zhou Huizhen’s meager dowry and loaded it onto the carriage.
By the time Shou’an Jun returned to the leisure estate, it was already afternoon.
Han Liao finally waited for the witness Shou’an Jun sent—it was A’Mei, the maternal sister of a head maid, beside his only legitimate daughter, Han Ying.
Frightened by Han Liao, A’Mei confessed everything.
Six years ago, Han Ying was only twelve and discovered that a concubine-born brother was highly valued by their father. Han Ying worried that this half-brother would steal away her full brother’s future position as commander of the Longxiang Army when he grew up, so she devised a vicious plan. Han Ying first consulted with her head maid A’Zhen, then secretly brought A’Zhen’s sister A’Mei back to the marquis’ mansion while out shopping.
A’Mei was only an eight-year-old girl then, but she was more mischievous than boys, skilled at climbing trees and diving into water. With Han Ying’s cover, A’Mei hid in the marquis’s mansion’s garden, waiting for an opportunity to secretly climb up when Han Ying’s half-brother went to climb the artificial mountain and push him…
After pushing him, A’Mei climbed over the wall like a monkey and left the marquis’ mansion.
Han Ying used money to win over the A’Zhen and A’Mei sisters. After three years, when the matter was completely past, Han Ying wanted to eliminate the sisters to remove this major threat. A’Zhen was right beside her, so it was easy to act. However, when Han Ying wanted to deal with A’Mei, she discovered that A’Mei had vanished. Some said A’Mei had been kidnapped by human traffickers; others said A’Mei had eloped with a man.
Han Ying had never given up searching for A’Mei’s whereabouts. She never expected that A’Mei had been hidden away by Shou’an Jun!
Called back to her natal home by Han Liao and seeing A’Mei, Han Ying naturally wouldn’t admit anything, crying and begging her father not to let Shou’an Jun provoke their father-daughter relationship.
But when had Han Liao ever taken women seriously?
He tortured Han Ying.
The only father-daughter affection he had left for Han Ying was, after she confessed, to confine her to one of his estates under the excuse that Han Ying had suddenly developed madness. He sent word to her husband’s family, indicating that the son-in-law could remarry a virtuous wife, and the matter was settled.
Half a month later, Zhou Huizhen finally heard about Han Ying’s sudden onset of madness.
“Grandmother, did you do something?” Zhou Huizhen had suffered so much at Han Ying’s hands—she didn’t believe Han Ying would fall ill for no reason.
At this point, Shou’an Jun finally revealed the truth to her granddaughter.
When Han Liao came to propose marriage for the second time and her granddaughter insisted on marrying him, while the matchmaker was still matching their birthdates, Shou’an Jun had already investigated most of the dark secrets in the Han mansion. The most attention-grabbing was the death of that concubine-born son.
Shou’an Jun had seen too many open and covert struggles between palace consorts and palace maids. She immediately suspected Han Ying, and Han Ying’s trusted confidants could be counted on one hand. Shou’an Jun ordered an investigation and quickly identified A’Mei. Shou’an Jun hid A’Mei away, providing her with good food and drink, knowing that sooner or later she would need A’Mei.
Zhou Huizhen listened in stunned amazement. Before she had even gotten married, her grandmother had already set up the chess game.
“But what was she after? She could bring herself to harm a half-brother?”
Thinking back to Han Ying, Zhou Huizhen only felt fear. To kill at twelve years old was too ruthless.
Shou’an Jun held her granddaughter’s hand and said quietly: “She wanted to protect her full brother so he could grow up smoothly and smoothly take over the Longxiang Army. But she was overconfident in her cleverness—in reality, she was just a pitiful person.”
Those who are hateful must have something pitiable about them. Han Ying’s pitifulness lay in being taught to be her younger brother’s appendage, always putting Han Chengsi’s interests first in everything she did, never thinking about how she should live.