Xie Jingyu turned around and walked down from the platform.

The servants in the courtyard stole a glance at him, then quickly lowered their heads.

His face was red and swollen, extremely conspicuous.

He walked up to He Shi and said: “Have two people send He Shi back to the small temple.”

The two old servants looked at each other but made no move.

They had already thoroughly understood—although this was the Xie manor, the power to speak was held in the madam’s hands.

Even though the madam had not borne a single son or daughter for the Xie family, even though the madam had raised her hand and slapped the lord, from the Xie family’s attitude toward the madam, they knew that the madam was the true person in power of the entire Xie family.

Without the madam’s word, they dared not send He Shi away.

Tingshuang walked over: “You two send He Shi back.”

Only after she said this did the two old servants dare to go lift up the unconscious He Shi.

Xie Jingyu’s expression was extremely unpleasant.

He walked ahead, personally leading them with He Shi to the small temple. He Shi was thrown by the old servants onto the hard bed.

Having been dragged all this way back, she had regained some consciousness. Opening her eyes to see Xie Jingyu standing beside the bed, her hot tears rolled down as she said in a hoarse voice: “My lord, it hurts…”

Xie Jingyu took a bottle of medicinal ointment from his sleeve and handed it over: “This is a rare good medicine from the palace. Have a maid apply it for you later.”

He Shi raised her hand and tremblingly touched Xie Jingyu’s face: “How dare the madam hit you? Only a shrew would do such a thing… My lord, divorce her, divorce her…”

Xie Jingyu avoided her touch and said: “She deeply misses the children—it’s understandable.”

He Shi said through gritted teeth: “Haven’t you noticed that the madam is completely different from before? She’s no longer that Madam Xie who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Xie family. She acts as if she has a grudge against the Xie family. Who hasn’t been dealt with by her? Even you suffered a slap from her. What else won’t she do in the future? No matter how high her status, she’s no longer suitable to be the mistress of the household. My lord, when it’s time to cut ties, cut them…”

Xie Jingyu looked toward the window.

Of course he had noticed Yun Chu’s abnormality. Before, he hadn’t understood why Yun Chu seemed like a different person, but now he finally knew the reason.

Yun Chu must have suspected the children’s whereabouts long ago. After investigating privately for a long time without finding where the children were buried, only then did she suddenly explode like this…

“Today she interrogated you so forcefully, yet you still didn’t tell the truth. Let that matter from four years ago rot in your belly—never mention it again.” Xie Jingyu turned around. “Rest and recover from your injuries well. Don’t think wild thoughts anymore, and don’t cause trouble again. I’ll arrange for people to look after you. I won’t let you live too harsh a life.”

He Shi lay on the bed, tightly gripping the medicine bottle in her hand.

Xie Jingyu walked out of the small temple and returned to his own study.

The five-finger mark on his face became increasingly obvious. Almost every servant who passed by saw it.

Thus, the matter of Xie Jingyu receiving a slap from his wife at Sheng Residence spread to every corner of the Xie manor, and naturally also reached Anshou Hall.

“What?!” Old Lady Xie smashed the teacup in her hand. “Yun Chu actually dared to slap Jingyu? How dare she? Where did she get such audacity?”

Yuan Shi advised: “Quarrels between husband and wife are common occurrences.”

“Quarrels are one thing, but who permitted her to lay hands on him? To actually strike a man’s face—how can Jingyu go to court tomorrow?” The old lady was so angry her chest nearly exploded. “She can’t bear children, which already violates one of the seven grounds for divorce. To lay hands on her husband—calling her a shrew, a wicked woman wouldn’t be going too far, would it? This kind of woman doesn’t deserve to be the mistress of the household anymore. In any other family, they would have divorced her long ago. Where would she get the qualifications to be so arrogant!”

“Old Lady, this kind of talk shouldn’t be said—be careful someone hears it.” Yuan Shi said. “Chu’er is a blessed child. After she entered our doors, my illness suddenly recovered. Jingyu’s official career has also been smooth sailing. She carries blessings in her fate and can make our Xie family rise with the tide. If we divorce her, where could we marry such a good daughter-in-law again?”

“Your illness was due to recover—what does it have to do with her?” The old lady said coldly. “Jingyu’s promotions are also Jingyu’s own capabilities. The Yun family hasn’t helped at all. This time, I’ll consider that she’s grieving over the two children who died at birth. But if in the future she stirs up everyone’s peace like today, even if it means offending the Yun family, I’ll make Jingyu divorce his wife!”

Yuan Shi quickly said: “Chu’er isn’t an unreasonable person…”

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke, the sky had completely darkened.

After experiencing great emotional ups and downs, Yun Chu felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She lay exhausted on the bed.

Originally she was supposed to practice horse stance in the evening, but she truly couldn’t get up.

Closing her eyes, her ears were always filled with the miserable crying of children from her dreams. Just like that, she fell asleep at some point.

“Mother, where are you? We miss you so much.”

“Mother, won’t you come hold us? It’s so cold.”

Yun Chu’s heart felt as if it were being twisted by knives. Clearly knowing this was a dream, she just didn’t want to wake up. She really, really wanted to find the children, really wanted to hold them, really wanted to tell them that she had never forgotten them for a single day, that she missed them so much too…

She struggled forward through the fog of her dream.

White mist enveloped everything as if there were no end. Not knowing how long she had walked, finally a glimmer of light appeared ahead.

Yun Chu quickened her pace and ran wildly toward it.

She saw the blue sky, large expanses of green grass. Flowers bloomed everywhere here. In the flower bushes sat two children about four years old, delicate as carved jade.

One boy, one girl—they were playing with something with their heads lowered.

Yun Chu’s heart instantly softened. She walked over carefully, afraid that too large a movement would wake her from this beautiful dream.

“Children, Mother is here…”

Her voice was tender to the extreme as she crouched down before the children.

The boy raised his head first. A familiar face burst into her vision. She opened her mouth in shock: “Young Lord?”

How could her son’s face have become the Young Lord of Prince Pingxi’s manor…

“Mother!”

The child dove into her embrace.

She woke up with a start.

Only then did she realize that daylight had already brightened outside.

Tingshuang heard the sound and came in, saying softly: “Madam, if you’re not feeling well, sleep a bit more. This servant will have those paying morning respects leave first.”

Yun Chu pressed her temples: “Tell them I’m ill. For the next few days, there’s no need to come pay morning respects.”

Tingshuang’s face was full of deep concern.

She gently and quietly closed the door and walked outside: “The madam is unwell. Everyone please return. For the next few days, there’s no need to come pay morning respects.”

Tingyu, holding Xie Shiyun’s hand, showed surprise on her face: “Wasn’t the madam fine yesterday? How did she suddenly fall ill? Is it serious?”

Tingfeng thought she was truly hypocritical. After such a major incident yesterday, why the madam had fallen ill—who in the manor didn’t know it in their hearts?

“The spring cold is harsh—the madam caught a chill.” Tingshuang said indifferently. “Everyone disperse.”

The others all left voluntarily. Tingyu pulled Xie Shiyun to stay behind, saying: “The madam is ill. I can stay to attend to her illness. The madam is most fond of Yun’ge—let Yun’ge cheer the madam up.”

Tingshuang’s expression was very cold: “The madam is resting and doesn’t need attendance. Concubine Yu, please withdraw.”

Tingyu lowered her eyes.

Before, she had thought the madam was clever. Now she only knew the madam was thoroughly foolish.

A woman who couldn’t bear children should grasp hold of the existing children in the manor, should grasp the man’s heart. But the madam insisted on doing the opposite.

The madam had slapped the lord in public—between the lord and madam, there was probably not even the last bit of marital affection left.

Just as Tingyu was thinking this, she saw Xie Jingyu, who had just left court, walking quickly into Sheng Residence through the gate.