After hearing the Empress Dowager’s lament, Emperor Tai’an’s expression grew heavy as water.

“This Wen Rugui is truly excessive.”

He couldn’t concern himself with the domestic affairs of every official, but if it displeased the Empress Dowager, he needed to pay proper attention.

“Mother Empress, don’t think that way. With your son here, no one can make you angry.”

Hearing these words, the Empress Dowager felt both comforted and melancholy. “Old Madam of the Lin family—isn’t it because she has no son?”

Without a son, Old General Lin could bear to refuse the duke’s title.

If Old General Lin had left behind a son to inherit the duke’s position after his death, how would Wen Rugui dare to do such a thing?

In the end, he was bullying the Lin family for having no men.

“Mother Empress, rest assured. Your son will handle this matter properly.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with gratification. “This Empress Dowager asks nothing else, only that since matters have reached this point, the Lin and Wen families can no longer remain marriage relatives. Old Madam of the Lin family came to the palace seeking only for her daughter to sever ties with Wen Rugui and bring her two granddaughters back to the Lin family.”

“This is as it should be.” Hearing the Empress Dowager say this, Emperor Tai’an felt Old Madam wasn’t being meddlesome, and his impression of the Lin family improved somewhat.

When Old General Lin had refused the duke’s title in the past, he had been furious. At that time, having just ascended the throne and facing much criticism, he desperately needed support from all sides. Old General Lin’s refusal of even the duke’s title made it clear he had objections to his succession.

He had even contemplated killing him, but considering Old General Lin’s achievements and his own circumstances at the time, he couldn’t act rashly.

Now Old General Lin was gone, the Lin family had only women and children left, and Emperor Tai’an had long since secured his position on the dragon throne. His mindset was naturally different from those years.

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, he didn’t mind extending some care to the Lin family.

After Emperor Tai’an left Cining Palace, a nanny stood behind the Empress Dowager, massaging her shoulders.

After some unknown length of time, the Empress Dowager’s closed eyes opened, her tone reflective. “I never expected that Dou Chuncao, who always charged forward recklessly, would also cry.”

These words held some significance.

The nanny massaging the Empress Dowager’s shoulders silently made her movements even gentler.

“We’ve all grown old…” The Empress Dowager let out a sigh full of meaning.

Emperor Tai’an had just returned to his sleeping quarters when the eunuch Zhu Xi reported that Vice Minister Wen requested an audience.

Emperor Tai’an lifted his eyelids slightly, his tone calm and undisturbed. “Tell him that We are still with the Empress Dowager and have not yet returned.”

Zhu Xi left to carry out the order.

Wen Rugui was anxiously waiting outside. Upon seeing Zhu Xi, he immediately approached. “Eunuch Zhu—”

Zhu Xi raised his hand to interrupt Wen Rugui’s words while simultaneously creating distance. “Lord Wen, please return. His Majesty is still at Cining Palace with the Empress Dowager.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Rugui’s face immediately turned deathly pale.

Old Madam had entered the palace to file a complaint with the Empress Dowager, and His Majesty said he was with the Empress Dowager. What this meant, he understood all too clearly.

Wen Rugui didn’t even know how he walked back to the Wen Mansion. He had no reaction to the string of spectators following behind him. Just as he reached the main gate, he stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Master, Master!” the gatekeepers shouted.

“He didn’t catch up to Old Madam of the General’s Mansion?”

“Seems so.”

“Tsk tsk, Vice Minister Wen’s legs don’t work well.”

As the spectators gathered together discussing among themselves, several officers knocked on the Wen family’s main gate.

Facing the officers who had come to his home, Wen Rugui was distracted and had long lost his usual composure and calm.

“Lord Wen, Old Madam of the Lin family has filed a suit with the authorities, requesting a judgment for Madam Lin to sever ties with you. We must trouble you to make a trip with us.”

Wen Rugui seemed not to hear.

“Lord Wen, our superior is waiting for you.” The officer increased the weight in his tone.

The steward following Wen Rugui’s side was another one. Seeing Wen Rugui unmoving, he anxiously called out, “Master—”

Wen Rugui rose with a numb expression and followed the officers to the authorities in a daze.

Outside the yamen, people were already packed three layers deep inside and out. Someone shouted “He’s here,” and the crowd immediately grew excited.

“Don’t push, don’t push.” With great difficulty, they managed to create a path to lead Wen Rugui inside. The officers’ swords nearly got knocked off.

In the courtroom, the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate sat upright and proper, expressionless at Wen Rugui’s arrival.

Ordinarily, he would naturally be more courteous to a colleague of equal rank. But having received instructions from above today, there was no need.

“Vice Minister Wen, Old Madam of the General’s Mansion accuses you of slandering your father-in-law and wants her daughter to sever ties with you. Do you have any objections?”

“I—” Wen Rugui’s numb expression changed. “I don’t!”

The Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate was somewhat surprised by Wen Rugui’s cooperation. He had thought there would be at least some struggle.

This made things easier for him.

“In that case, the judgment is that you and Madam Lin shall sever ties—”

“I said I did not slander my father-in-law.” Wen Rugui spoke loudly.

Old Madam laughed coldly. “Wen Rugui, even now you continue to argue speciously, refusing to repent until death!”

Wen Rugui made a last desperate struggle. “Lord Taishui is dissatisfied with this son-in-law. Having Wanqing sever ties with me is acceptable, but this son-in-law will never admit to things he didn’t do.”

If he admitted it in court, he would be completely finished.

“Vice Minister Wen, your cousin and steward didn’t say the same thing.” The Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate said indifferently.

Wen Rugui focused his eyes and saw that both Wen Rusheng and Wen Ping were present.

Meeting his gaze, both men lowered their eyes.

Wen Rugui’s fury ignited instantly. He shouted sternly, “Whose benefits did you two receive to frame me like this!”

“Your illegitimate son is older than Chan’er—is that also someone framing you?” Old Madam asked coldly.

Wen Rugui froze.

Madam Lin, who had been silent all along, suddenly began to laugh.

The laughter grew louder and louder, the desolate sound echoing throughout the courtroom.

“Mother—” Wen Hao supported Madam Lin’s arm, unable to help but panic.

Could it be that she had only changed Grandmother’s outcome, and Mother, unable to withstand the blow, would still meet the same fate as in her previous life?

Thinking of this possibility, Wen Hao’s tears streamed down.

Whether she had laughed enough or saw her daughter’s tears, Madam Lin stopped laughing. Staring at Wen Rugui, her eyes surged with madness. “Wen Rugui, I thought you were a wolf in human skin. I didn’t expect you were just a rat in the gutter. I was truly blind, elevating you time and again!”

These words were like a resounding slap across Wen Rugui’s face, making him both furious and humiliated.

Old Madam didn’t want her daughter to be entangled with Wen Rugui any further and urged the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate. “My lord, just now Wen Rugui also agreed to the severance. Please render your judgment.”

With Wen Ping and Wen Rusheng as witnesses, no matter how much Wen Rugui denied it, he couldn’t change public opinion.

His testimony held no significance for the Lin family.

“In that case, the judgment is that Wen Rugui and Lin Wanqing shall sever ties, and the two daughters born to them shall follow Madam Lin and return to the Lin family—”

“Wait!” Wen Rugui interrupted the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate’s words. “Even if we sever ties, why should the daughters return to the wife’s family? There is no such precedent in all the realm.”

Keeping the two daughters in his grasp, even if the General’s Mansion wanted to deal with him, they would have to act cautiously for fear of harming innocents.

The Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate cast a sympathetic look at Wen Rugui and reminded him, “Vice Minister Wen, Heaven has its justice.”

Wen Rugui’s face instantly turned ashen.

“Heaven has its justice”—this “Heaven” clearly referred to the Son of Heaven!

Soon the judgment documents for the severance were handed to both parties.

Old Madam took the judgment document and put it away for her daughter, then with bold spirit waved her hand magnificently. “Let’s go. We’re going home.”