Zhao Ji’s forehead twitched slightly. After recovering his composure, he immediately shouted at his son, “What are you standing there for? Your third younger sister remembers you, yet you just stand there like a fool. Hurry up and go see your sister!”
The First Madam also snapped to attention and quickly stepped forward to support Wang Shi, who was crying uncontrollably. “Sister-in-law, this is a good thing! Earlier I was worried that Sanniang wouldn’t recognize anyone, but seeing this, she’s recovering—she can even remember her brother. Next, she should remember you.”
Wang Shi tightly embraced Zhao Hanzhang, crying, “If remembering the past causes her this much pain, I’d rather she never remembers.”
Who are you trying to fool? Does Sanniang look like she fainted because she was happy to see Zhao Dalang? Clearly, it’s because Zhao Dalang bullied her before.
Although she couldn’t remember exactly how Zhao Dalang had bullied Sanniang, since Sanniang said it happened, then it happened.
After all, Sanniang wasn’t truly suffering from memory loss.
That’s right—Wang Shi also didn’t believe her daughter had lost her memory. After all, she could remember both her and Erlang, and recognized Ting He and Qinggu by her side. Her reactions were just a bit slower than before.
But she had hit her head and injured her leg. Given her grief and pain, slower reactions were perfectly normal.
Memory loss could be faked, but vomiting and a pale complexion could not. Wang Shi stroked Zhao Hanzhang’s hair, her heart aching so much that tears fell drop by drop. “Child, I only wish for you and Erlang to be safe and sound, healthy and happy. Everything else, I don’t insist upon.”
Though Wang Shi didn’t understand her daughter’s intentions, before fainting, she had pointed at Zhao Yi and said those things, clearly expressing her dissatisfaction with the second branch.
Speaking of dissatisfaction, Wang Shi had accumulated a bellyful of it long ago. She had only held back because of her father-in-law’s presence and refrained from acting out. Moreover, her daughter had always counseled her to endure, so she had tolerated it again and again.
This time, because the second branch had encouraged Erlang to leave the city, nearly causing both her children to lose their lives, she already hated them to the core.
However, since her father-in-law wouldn’t change his original intention and still wanted to pass the title to the second branch, meaning their household would have to live under the second branch’s thumb in the future, she had forcibly suppressed her feelings.
Now even her daughter was resisting. Wang Shi could no longer contain the resentment in her heart. She turned directly and grabbed Zhao Yi, who had been pushed forward by Zhao Ji.
“Dalang, your third younger sister is a year younger than you. If she does anything improper, tell your aunt, and I’ll discipline her. Please don’t frighten her.” Wang Shi cried, “In the future, this entire estate will be yours. We orphans and widows only ask for a bowl of soup to drink, to live in peace. We absolutely wouldn’t dare争 anything with you.”
Zhao Ji and Wu Shi’s faces turned ashen at Wang Shi’s sarcastic words. Zhao Ji couldn’t restrain himself and shouted loudly, “Sister-in-law, what do you mean by this?”
Wang Shi shrank back entirely, pulling both Zhao Erlang and Zhao Hanzhang into her arms. The mother and two children huddled together, not even daring to cry loudly anymore. “Elder Brother… I, I, I said something wrong…”
Zhao Ji’s entire face darkened, but in the servants’ eyes, the First Master appeared even more terrifying.
The First Madam Wu Shi saw the frightened looks in the servants’ eyes and reacted quickly, hurrying forward to comfort Wang Shi. “Sister-in-law, what are you saying? They are brothers and sisters, of one bloodline. In the future, they will naturally help each other and love one another.”
Wang Shi lowered her eyes, her voice dejected. “Elder Sister is right. I ask for nothing else, only that my two children remain safe.”
She hugged her two children tightly. Thinking of how Sanniang had been covered in blood when brought back, her breathing weak, once near death, she straightened her back slightly and raised her eyes to look at Wu Shi, her gaze fierce. “Sanniang and Erlang are my heart and flesh. For them, I could even give up my life. Elder Sister had better remember today’s words, or else, even if I go to hell, I’ll break free of my chains and return.”
Wu Shi was frightened by her gaze and the ferocity in her words, unable to speak for a long moment.
Zhao Ji was blocked by Wu Shi and only heard the words without seeing Wang Shi’s condition. He couldn’t help but grow angry, his tone turning cold. “Sister-in-law, what do you mean by this? Are you suggesting that Sanniang’s fall from the horse was caused by our second branch?”
Wang Shi clenched the handkerchief in her hand, crying, “Elder Brother, Eldest Niece is still kneeling in the ancestral hall. You and I both know in our hearts why she’s kneeling there.”
Zhao Ji’s face turned livid. He clenched his fists, saying coldly, “Sister-in-law, why don’t you tell us why she’s kneeling?”
Wang Shi hugged Zhao Hanzhang tightly, trembling slightly with fear.
Zhao Ji said angrily, “The servants around sister-in-law should also be cleared out. It’s all these troublemaking people by your side, sowing discord, that have created so many misunderstandings between the siblings.”
He said in a deep voice, “Erlang himself couldn’t explain clearly why he went outside the city. The Eldest Niece happened to learn of this matter and naturally had to tell Sanniang. Sister-in-law, think about it—if the Eldest Niece hadn’t told Sanniang about this, could Sanniang have chased after Erlang in time? Outside the city, there are so many refugees and rebel soldiers—they would have swallowed him whole!”
Zhao Ji continued, “Not only does sister-in-law not appreciate the Eldest Niece’s kindness, you actually believe the rumors from outside, thinking the Eldest Niece enticed Erlang to leave the city. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, the situation at court is changing. Father must now stay home temporarily to recuperate and avoid the turmoil at court. In such circumstances, for sister-in-law to create internal chaos like this—isn’t this exactly what those troublemaking instigators want?”
He looked sternly at Qinggu nearby and directly ordered, “I think sister-in-law has been corrupted by the people around her. Someone, seize these troublesome servants and take them away.”
Qinggu and the others were startled and knelt on the ground, trembling.
Wang Shi was also shocked and quickly extended one arm to block them. “This has nothing to do with them…”
Zhao Hanzhang frowned slightly and opened her eyes. She pushed away Wang Shi’s other hand and leaned over the edge of the bed, pretending to vomit twice more, then raised her head and reached toward Qinggu on the floor.
Qinggu froze for a moment before reacting. She quickly crawled up, her hands trembling slightly as she held up a teacup for Sanniang.
Zhao Hanzhang rinsed her mouth and spat it out, then leaned against Wang Shi with a pale face, looking at Zhao Ji, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. “Is this First Uncle?”
The stifling atmosphere in the room suddenly loosened. The servants kneeling on the floor felt the oppressive force weighing on them weaken—they could raise their heads slightly now.
By waking and vomiting at this moment, Zhao Hanzhang had completely disrupted Zhao Ji’s rhythm.
Zhao Ji stared at Zhao Hanzhang, frowning slightly. “Sanniang, you’re becoming increasingly ill-mannered. Who taught you to speak to your elders this way?”
Zhao Hanzhang looked innocent. “I don’t remember.”
She smiled at Zhao Ji, tilting her chin up slightly. “I don’t remember you, nor do I remember… these several people behind you, except for…”
Her gaze settled on Zhao Dalang, her expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. “Him.”
Zhao Dalang: …
Although the two cousins were only a year apart and were the closest in age in the household, they really weren’t that familiar. He couldn’t remember at all when he had done anything memorable enough that even after losing her memory, she still remembered him.
“But not remembering doesn’t matter—we can introduce ourselves again,” Zhao Hanzhang said, showing she was magnanimous and didn’t mind getting to know them anew. “However, this seems to be my courtyard. This is the first branch, isn’t it?”
Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head, looking at Zhao Ji with confusion. “Can the second branch now directly bypass the first branch’s lady of the house to deal with the first branch’s servants?”