After the evening meal that day, Madam Xiao caught Shaoshang who was planning to go find her elder brothers to continue chatting about Imperial Academy matters, saying she needed to pay respects to the Ge family members. Shaoshang knew whether she stuck her head out or pulled it back, it was still one strike, so she simply agreed. Who knew that upon reaching the guest quarters, Old Master Ge and Uncle Ge were both absent – only Cheng Yang lay prostrate on Aunt Ge’s knee, weeping quietly.

“…Aunt, take me back with you. I want to go home, I want to go home!”

“Alas, foolish Yangyang, this is your home – you have your parents and family here…”

Who knew Cheng Yang would cry even harder: “Since childhood Aunt taught me filial piety. Father is dejected – I can still serve him somewhat. But Mother, Mother she… The second day I came to the Cheng family, she drove Niaoniao away. I heard later Niaoniao nearly lost her life! These days since, she hasn’t spoken even two sentences with me. Every day she only dotes excessively on Ou, criticizes Father, speaks ill of Aunt to Grand Mother’s face, schemes base and despicable matters. I, I’m truly ashamed beyond measure… I can’t stay here anymore. Aunt, take me home…”

Aunt Ge’s heart also hurt hearing this. Cheng Yang had been carried before her while still in swaddling clothes. At that time she didn’t yet have grandchildren, and her other children were all grown. This tiny little girl was raised flesh-to-flesh by her, pulled up bit by bit from learning to babble. Obedient and sensible from childhood, honest and sincere – she truly loved her more than life.

She said tearfully: “Yangyang, listen to Aunt – in the Cheng family you have prospects…”  Before she could finish, Cheng Yang cried: “I don’t want prospects, I want Aunt and Uncle!”

Madam Xiao sighed and quickly had the maidservant announce them.

Shaoshang at the side thought: Hmm, it seems Cheng Yang isn’t familiar with the previous Cheng Shaoshang either. This is actually quite good.

Entering the room, Shaoshang saw Aunt Ge and Cheng Yang both desperately wiping tears while arranging their clothing and appearance. Madam Xiao sat down as if seeing nothing, smiling and greeting them. Both sides sat facing each other, exchanging pleasantries. Only then did Shaoshang learn that Old Master Ge, aged and weak in constitution, had already retired early to rest. Uncle Ge however had been pulled away by Father Cheng to drink and reminisce about old times.

– Pulling a former in-law who had just agreed to divorce to drink – only her husband could do this kind of thing. Madam Xiao secretly criticized, keeping a smile on her face while urging her daughter to pay respects. Shaoshang quickly produced the results of these days’ training – both arms bent sideways and raised level, bowing down in one breath, respectfully performing the bowing salutation. Thinking of the New Year gifts the Ge family had specially brought for her, performing this bow wasn’t a loss either.

After receiving the bow, Aunt Ge naturally praised profusely. However, the focus of praise was Shaoshang’s appearance and bowing posture. As for other traditional refined lady talents like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, household management, servant supervision – she very considerately didn’t mention any of these.

“My younger sister-in-law…”

Originally Aunt Ge wanted to apologize once or twice more for Ge Shi. Who knew as soon as she began, Madam Xiao very decisively interrupted, saying: “Elder Sister, don’t speak of it. Our two families live as neighbors – what isn’t clear? Hasn’t Elder Sister also eaten her bitter suffering? Eldest sister-in-law serves as mother, yet cannot beat when beating is due or punish when punishment is due like a true mother. Elder Sister, you’ve suffered grievances with nowhere to speak of them!”

Aunt Ge sighed: “My suffering is finished. Later she married into your family – it became your turn to suffer.” Madam Xiao shook her head smiling: “Now Old Master has taken her back home – it’s your turn to suffer again. Speaking of it, I’m the one who wronged you.”

Aunt Ge waved her hand, smiling: “I’m already this age – would I still let her bully me? Before departing, your uncle already instructed people to prepare the neighboring manor. After returning we’ll have her live there to properly cultivate her character and temperament!” Ge Shi thought she was still that treasured maiden of her boudoir years, the precious Ge family daughter.

Madam Xiao recalled that furious slap from Uncle Ge during the day and nodded: “That’s good then.”

The two discussed Ge Shi while observing the two girls beside them. They saw that hearing her birth mother being discussed, Cheng Yang’s expression was uncomfortable, her hands braced on her knees, her head nearly lowered to the floor. Cheng Shaoshang however appeared composed – neither angry nor gleeful at others’ misfortune. She only turned her head examining the guest quarters furnishings, even rolling up her sleeves to help the maidservant bringing in food trays place fermented milk before each person.

Aunt Ge secretly thought this remarkable. She thought after all this was Madam Xiao and General Cheng’s daughter – though delayed by Ge Shi for ten years, she still had extraordinary bearing, neither arrogant nor timid, not a trace of shrinking back.

Madam Xiao frowned as usual, feeling that Shaoshang and Ge Shi had after all spent ten years together. Being this indifferent, showing neither resentment nor reluctance – truly heartless and lungless.

Aunt Ge turned around, pulling Cheng Yang out, saying earnestly: “You mustn’t feel uncomfortable as soon as you hear these things. The more you shrink back, the more people will come to needle you. Don’t lower your head. Since ancient times, birth mothers divorcing or even remarrying is not rare – this is not your fault. You are a daughter of the Cheng family – just remember this. How did I teach you before? What you receive from your parents is not only your skin and hair, but also your character. If your parents’ character is appropriate, you study and follow well. If your parents have deficiencies, you take warning from them. Remember, your words and actions are the best adornments on your person. Now, raise your head!”

Cheng Yang struggled to raise her head, eyes full of tears, but still desperately braced her shoulders to sit up straight.

Madam Xiao showed admiring expression toward Aunt Ge. Shaoshang also put away the contempt in her heart. Originally she thought a family that could raise goods like Ge Shi couldn’t be much good either. Now she realized her own short-sightedness.

Aunt Ge continued: “Everyone says sons have ambitions in all directions – can daughters forever live in dependence on parents? When young children grow up, they must eventually establish their own households. Elders cannot be your support for a whole lifetime. When Aunt was young, I never imagined the later great chaos under heaven. Previously learned poetry and songs became completely useless. I had no choice but to toil with your uncle planning grain provisions and protecting masses, fearing in dread daily. Your aunt need not even be mentioned – who could imagine such overwhelming disaster would descend? Yet she gritted her teeth and made it through!”

Madam Xiao’s eyes brimmed with tears, weeping: “When my family was destroyed and people perished, Elder Sister and the Xiao family gave much assistance.”

Aunt Ge patted her hand, turning back to continue: “Yangyang, if your whole life goes smoothly, that’s divine spirits’ protection. But life is very long with many unimaginable events. Only if your own mind and will are resolute, your limbs strong, will you not fear mountains collapsing or seas drying up. No matter where you go, you can be like a great tree – not only able to stand yourself, but also shelter the young, weak flowers, grasses and vines beneath the tree. You say, isn’t that so? Now the world is about to become peaceful. As long as you learn three or four parts of your aunt, the future will be without worry.”

Shaoshang’s heart held solemn respect for Aunt Ge. Looking at Cheng Yang beside her, unable to stop crying, trembling shoulders nodding repeatedly, she felt both toothache and anger welling up from all directions. Madam Xiao smiled wiping tears, saying: “What is Elder Sister saying? Yangyang now being so honest and dignified – all learned from Elder Sister. Who doesn’t praise her?” Then the two went back and forth, a round of commercial mutual praise. Shaoshang secretly rolled her eyes.

After all this talk, Aunt Ge finally drew out the main point, tearfully entrusting Cheng Yang to Madam Xiao, repeatedly saying: “A small country place, hasn’t seen the world, doesn’t understand capital city rules either. Just teach her well. Though Yangyang is clumsy, she excels in being honest and obedient – don’t disdain her.” She even placed Cheng Yang’s hand in Madam Xiao’s hand. Madam Xiao solemnly and seriously accepted.

Watching these two perform, Shaoshang’s eyes rolled hugely inside: Even the Baidicheng entrustment of orphan wasn’t more than this.

Fearing future meetings wouldn’t be easy, Cheng Yang stayed that night to accompany Aunt Ge in conversation. Madam Xiao led Shaoshang back. Along the way she constantly told her to firmly remember Aunt Ge’s golden and jade wise words. Actually Shaoshang had originally completely agreed with what Aunt Ge just said. Now having been nagged at length, annoyance arose instead. She quickly spoke to interrupt: “…How about we go find Father instead – we should pay respects to Elder Uncle Ge too. But what about Old Master? I still haven’t paid respects to him. How did he retire to rest so early?”

The corners of Madam Xiao’s mouth curved, saying “forget it” – old people sleep less and lightly. What rest? Right now he was definitely scolding his daughter.

Shaoshang successfully stopped Madam Xiao’s instruction. Stepping out of the guest quarters entrance, she looked back and saw that in a room three or four partitions east of Aunt Ge’s quarters, lamplight faintly glowed.

– Old Master Ge was indeed scolding his daughter at this moment.

Ge Shi cried until her face was full of snot and tears, almost washing away the medicinal paste just applied to her cheeks. She only kowtowed repeatedly, begging her old father: “…Father, is there truly no way? I, I don’t want to divorce Zirong! I truly didn’t know it was you who didn’t let the nephews enter the Imperial Academy, that you’d separately hire masters. I thought it was that cheap… oh no, it was sister-in-law obstructing from within…”

Old Master Ge’s expression was cold: “You know regret now? Too late for regret. Don’t blame Madam Xiao for bribing your foster mother either. Thinking carefully, it was a good thing. If you had truly done something irreversible, how could Madam Xiao let you go, let the Ge family go? Tonight I came to tell you – tomorrow early morning we depart. At that time don’t cry and make a scene, properly get on the road.”

Ge Shi was greatly shocked, shrilly saying: “Father has such a cruel heart! What will I do returning to the countryside? Divorced and returned by the Cheng family – won’t that invite ridicule! These ten years if I had no merit, I still had hard labor. I…”

“The country people already all know,” Old Master Ge said coldly. “Married into the Cheng family so many years – don’t you know how General Cheng conducts himself? Or do you think he’ll leave you face? The one who came to report the news was General Cheng’s personal attendant. No matter how major or minor, everything was said.”

Ge Shi was struck speechless, murmuring ‘everyone knows already.’ Since childhood she was strong-willed, always acting superior before relatives and friends. Now having to lose such great face, she became even more unwilling to return to the countryside.

“I won’t go back, I just won’t go back!” Ge Shi suddenly screamed madly. Old Master Ge backhanded her with a slap. The force wasn’t heavy but it awakened Ge Shi. He said: “You think General Cheng is as easy to bully as Zirong? You don’t leave? Hmph… Where are those several households that took advantage of chaos to occupy Xiao family farmland and residences? How did they leave? You don’t leave – he’ll naturally send troops to escort you away! Drive you with whips, beat you with clubs! You want to lose face that way?!”

Ge Shi covered her face, fear in her heart: “It wouldn’t go that far… If the Cheng family treats me this way, aren’t they afraid of countryside criticism…”

“Even if not the Cheng family, I would also want you to return.” Old Master Ge sighed sadly. “When oxen and sheep receive whip strikes, they know to protect young calves under their bellies. Mother beasts being hunted also know to block behind themselves telling young beasts to run quickly. But back then you, dissatisfied that Madam Xiao bore dragon-phoenix twins, used the shaman’s words as excuse, saying Yangyang hindered your offspring, forcibly sending her back home. A child just past one year old – such a far journey, you could bear it. At that time this father’s heart turned cold! Previously you didn’t understand filial piety and fraternal duty – I treated you as young and ignorant. But now I can no longer deceive myself!”

Ge Shi crawled on her knees before her father, grasping the old father’s robe hem, repeatedly saying: “It’s not so, it’s not so…”

“You’re not only callous and heartless, but vicious-hearted too!” Old Master Ge continued. “The Tian family was poor, always relying on the Cheng family’s assistance. The Tian family’s young son followed at General Cheng’s side from youth. After raising the cause, he was even more loyal and devoted. How did he die? He died giving the general rear guard protection, pierced through the heart by ten thousand arrows! In the chaos of battle, not even bones remained!”

The old man spoke with face full of tears: “General Cheng pitied that his old mother and widow were both people of gentle weak nature. Fearing giving gold, silver and wealth rewards would instead invite others’ plots, he took them under protection in his troops. Only waiting for Tian Ding’s son to reach manhood to give him inherited position. Everyone in our countryside knows these matters – all admiringly praise General Cheng’s benevolence! But you, you…”

Old Master Ge’s anger also rose: “That year when General Cheng sent people back to the capital wanting to retrieve his daughter, you obstructed from within. The Tian family woman was indignant and spoke of your wrongs. You then wanted to sell that orphan and widow – truly beast behavior! You think no one knows this matter? Several years ago Tian Ding’s widow remarried. Her later husband’s family lives nearby – what news can’t get out? The countryside all curses you as inhuman! The Cheng family divorcing you – country people only applaud!”

Ge Shi clutched her father’s robe hem refusing to release, crying: “Should I just allow those two cheap women to ruin my reputation outside?!”

Old Master Ge kicked her away, cursing: “First, you wanted to plant your own people in the manor. The Tian family woman was in the way – you long intended to remove her! Second, did they speak wrongly? Keeping the general’s daughter was fundamentally of no benefit to you. You only wanted to make Madam Xiao feel bad in her heart! Such vicious baseness – rarely seen in the world!”

Ge Shi had no rebuttal, only able to prostrate on the ground weeping bitterly.

Old Master Ge let out a long sigh: “For many years, you in everything opposed me – this is being unfilial. Toward your elder brother and sister-in-law ordering them about, toward General Cheng and his wife taking by trickery and force – this is lacking fraternal duty. In your husband’s family sowing discord, bullying your husband – this is being unvirtuous. Coveting wealth and honor, using the general’s name everywhere to accumulate wealth – this is theft! Such evil form and evil state – I’m ashamed for you! You don’t leave – tomorrow I’ll bind you and make you leave!”

Ge Shi, seeing her old father’s attitude was resolute, felt completely lost in her heart, not knowing what to do in the future.