Seeing Concubine Wu collapse to the ground without saying a word, Yu Jingxiu felt even more furious.

He shouted at Madam Fan, “Why are you just standing there? Go find someone for me right now!”

Even if Madam Fan were confused, she wouldn’t possibly do such a thing. Given Concubine Wu’s status and the Yu family’s reputation, if she truly followed Yu Jingxiu’s orders to call for a slave trader, once this matter got out, people would only say it was her jealousy that led to such an outrageous and improper act, rather than blame Yu Jingxiu for his humiliated rage.

But she had always appeared gentle and obedient before Yu Jingxiu. How could she disobey Yu Jingxiu’s orders in front of a concubine and servants?

Madam Fan quickly responded respectfully, “This concubine will go find someone immediately,” then gave Mo Zhuan a meaningful look before turning to leave the inner chamber.

Mo Zhuan followed Madam Fan out the door. Seeing Madam Fan stop, she quickly approached and whispered, “What are your instructions, Madam?”

“Quickly go tell this matter to the Madam. Ask her to make a decision!” Madam Fan said urgently.

Mo Zhuan was quite surprised and said, “You, you’re trying to save Concubine Wu?”

“Fool!” Madam Fan couldn’t help scolding. “If the Master wants to sell Concubine Wu, even if the Yu family agreed, the Wu family wouldn’t let him succeed. Rather than later being blamed by my mother-in-law for not stopping the Master due to my poor judgment, and also earning the hatred of the Wu family, it’s better to ask her to make a decision now… As a daughter-in-law, I must follow the elders’ instructions and help with matters, but I cannot take both the responsibility and the blame.”

Mo Zhuan understood and ran to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu was helping Grand Scholar Yu change his clothes when she heard this news, and nearly collapsed from anger. Struggling to contain her fury, she exclaimed loudly, “What trouble are those two causing now? Can’t they let people live in peace? Selling Concubine Wu to a brothel—how could he say such a thing? I don’t understand how my perfectly good son married a wife and suddenly turned into a beast…”

Though she was cursing Yu Jingxiu, her words were directed at Madam Fan.

Mo Zhuan secretly felt relieved.

It was fortunate she had followed the First Madam’s words to bring Madam Yu as a rescuer; otherwise, wouldn’t this mess have been blamed on the First Madam?

Grand Scholar Yu couldn’t say a word, his face ashen as he waved a hand at Madam Yu, saying solemnly, “Come, let’s go see what drama they’re performing!”

The maids and old women both inside and outside the room fell into complete silence.

Matron Shu personally carried a lantern to escort Grand Scholar Yu and Madam Yu to Yu Jingxiu’s courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard Yu Jingxiu’s voice suppressing anger as he berated, “…Have I deprived you of food or clothes? Or have I made you serve the First Madam like a little maid? I’ve kept you well, with seasonal clothing never lacking, and servants at your disposal—even young ladies from great households don’t have it better than this. Yet you still can’t behave yourself, running outside to gossip! Tell me, how has our Yu family wronged you?”

Not behaving properly?

How could this be?

Initially, she had allowed Concubine Wu into the family precisely because she saw her as somewhat timid. During these years in the Yu family, although Concubine Wu had suffered quite a bit, she remained honest, obedient, and good-natured. How could her son say she wasn’t behaving properly? Had she misjudged her?

The thought flashed through her mind, but Madam Yu immediately rejected it.

Concubine Wu had rarely gone out in these years, and each time she did, she was accompanied by maids and servants. Even if she wanted to do something scandalous, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity!

Madam Yu secretly regretted not asking more carefully about what had happened when she was angry earlier.

She looked toward Mo Zhuan.

Mo Zhuan shook her head in confusion.

Grand Scholar Yu, walking ahead, had already strode toward the main hall with a gloomy expression.

The maids nervously standing under the eaves of the main room, listening to what was happening, only now sensed something unusual. Some shrank to one side, while others forced themselves to announce loudly, “The Master has arrived,” helping to lift the curtain for Grand Scholar Yu.

Seeing this, Madam Yu couldn’t say anything more and silently followed Grand Scholar Yu into the hall.

Hearing the announcement, Yu Jingxiu had already led Madam Fan and others out of the inner chamber, just in time to see Grand Scholar Yu enter.

As a man in his thirties, to have a domestic matter disturb his parents made Yu Jingxiu both ashamed and annoyed. Suppressing his embarrassment, he stepped forward to pay his respects to Grand Scholar Yu and Madam Yu.

Grand Scholar Yu didn’t even look at Yu Jingxiu and went straight to sit in the large armchair in the middle of the hall.

Madam Yu also didn’t speak to Yu Jingxiu and followed to sit beside Grand Scholar Yu.

The maids and old women who had come along silently spread out and stood beside Grand Scholar Yu and Madam Yu.

The atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense, with the feel of a formal court hearing.

Yu Jingxiu felt increasingly awkward and couldn’t help glancing at Madam Fan.

Madam Fan kept her eyes lowered, twisting her fingers as she stood beside him, looking like an innocent victim of misfortune.

Inexplicably, Yu Jingxiu felt a surge of displeasure, and his brows involuntarily furrowed.

Grand Scholar Yu, seeing that only Madam Fan and Concubine Fei had come out with Yu Jingxiu to welcome him, raised his eyelids and asked, “Where is Wu Shi?”

Any reasonable person would disagree with Yu Jingxiu’s idea. When Grand Scholar Yu immediately asked about Wu Shi, it was clear he was displeased with Yu Jingxiu. Concubine Fei quickly said, “This concubine will bring Concubine Wu here immediately.” With that, not caring what Yu Jingxiu and Madam Fan might think, she turned to support the weakened Concubine Wu.

As soon as Grand Scholar Yu saw Concubine Wu, who needed Concubine Fei’s support just to walk, he glanced at his son.

To be so frightened after just a few harsh words showed she was truly an honest person. How could such a person cause any trouble?

Looking at Concubine Wu, his expression softened slightly, and he asked her in a gentle voice, “What exactly happened? Tell me.”

Concubine Wu’s lips trembled, and after a long while, she finally said, “The Master says my brother-in-law wants to redeem me to return home… thinking I said something to my family…” At this point, recalling Yu Jingxiu’s insults and her grievances, her tears began to fall uncontrollably. She defended herself, “I don’t know… I didn’t say anything… My brother-in-law is just a small merchant; he only listens to my sister’s arrangements…” With that, she fell to her knees before Grand Scholar Yu with a thud. “Master, I beg you to be merciful and not hold my brother-in-law accountable. I am doing well here; I don’t want to leave!”

A prefect could ruin a family, a county magistrate could exterminate a clan. Let alone someone as powerful as Grand Scholar Yu—even Lord Wu had to curry favor with him. Otherwise, why would Madam Wu have gone to such lengths to send her into the Yu household?

Her sister had good intentions, but she couldn’t harm her because of this.

Concubine Wu kowtowed repeatedly to Grand Scholar Yu.

Everyone in the room except Yu Jingxiu, Madam Fan, and Concubine Fei was stunned.

In the hall, so quiet a needle could be heard dropping; only Concubine Wu’s kowtowing broke the silence.

Soon, her forehead began to bleed.

Madam Yu shuddered, coming back to her senses, and quickly said, “What are you doing? Get up. The Master will handle everything; don’t overthink.”

Matron Shu hurried forward to help Concubine Wu up, noticing blood flowing from her forehead down her temples. She took out a handkerchief and tied it for Concubine Wu.

Grand Scholar Yu’s gaze fell on his son, but he remained silent for a long time.

Yu Jingxiu also knew he had overreacted somewhat.

But thinking of that country bumpkin blocking him outside the yamen, taking out a package of silver wanting to take Concubine Wu away, he became furious again.

What did that country bumpkin take him for?

Merely a few hundred taels of silver. He casually gave away more than that as rewards, yet the man thought he could move him with such a small sum.

He then thought of Concubine Chen, who had requested to leave.

Could Concubine Wu have been influenced by her and had planned to leave the Yu family at that time?

Thinking of this, he had dropped the carriage curtain and returned directly to the Yu residence.

But back, he grew increasingly angry.

First Concubine Chen, then Concubine Wu—did they think the Yu family was a vegetable garden where they could come and go as they pleased? If he didn’t teach Concubine Wu a lesson, wouldn’t everyone in the household follow suit?

That’s why he had said he would sell Concubine Wu to a brothel.

After saying it, he knew it was inappropriate, but seeing Concubine Wu’s reaction, he thought it was good to frighten her a little to prevent her from not knowing her place and encouraging people in the family to do inappropriate things. That’s why he urged Madam Fan to call for a slave trader.

Unexpectedly, Madam Fan hadn’t stopped him at all and had even invited his parents over, turning a small matter into an absurd situation known to everyone.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help glancing at Madam Fan again.

Madam Fan had gone to look at Concubine Wu and hadn’t noticed Yu Jingxiu.

Concubine Fei, who had been secretly observing Yu Jingxiu from the corner of her eye, was muttering to herself.

If Concubine Wu stayed… thinking of the several times she had tried to use her for something but failed, it showed Concubine Wu was also a clever person, though she seemed somewhat weak-willed. So far, there had been no conflicts of interest between them. But even a cornered rabbit would bite. If one day there was a conflict between them, and everyone usually thought she was honest and kind, with no guard against her, if she were to turn and attack, she would likely suffer.

But if Concubine Wu left… thinking of Madam Fan’s warmth toward Concubine Wu in recent days… at least there would be one fewer person at Madam Fan’s side. Even if Concubine Min entered the family, she, as Yu Jingxiu’s most senior concubine, could navigate between Madam Fan and Concubine Min…

It would be better if Concubine Wu left!

With her plans in mind, after Grand Scholar Yu had comforted Concubine Wu with a few words and wanted to speak with Yu Jingxiu and Madam Fan alone, Concubine Fei took the initiative to escort Concubine Wu back to her room. She then called Lian Xin to bring hot water and personally attended to Concubine Wu’s washing. Afterward, she took Concubine Wu’s hand and, in a confidential manner, whispered, “What are your plans?”

Concubine Wu knew she should push Concubine Fei away at this moment, but thinking that her sister had sent her brother-in-law to redeem her from the Yu family, she felt a surge of excitement.

How wonderful it would be to leave the Yu family?

Even becoming a nun in a temple would be better than this half-dead existence!

But how could she dare say such things!

Seeing her silence, Concubine Fei tentatively suggested, “Does Madam Wu know about this matter? Should we report to Madam Wu? It would also prevent the Master from losing his temper again, saying things about selling you or not. Though his words are absurd, if he keeps shouting like this, we are concubines, and the long-serving old servants already don’t respect us. Wouldn’t they then not even glance at us when we pass by?”

Unfortunately, earlier Yu Jingxiu had been too busy venting his anger, and she had been too frightened to ask if the Wu family knew about this matter!

Concubine Wu couldn’t help but purse her lips.

Concubine Fei smiled and said, “Why don’t you let Lian Xin go to the Wu family and ask?”