Madam Wang did not know how she left that room.
As she held onto the handrail and descended the stairs, she nearly stumbled. Behind her, a familiar voice called out, urging her to be careful, but it was not the voice she had most hoped to hear.
She dared not look back, nor even stop. Staggering, she made her way downstairs.
Since childhood, she had been proud and pampered. Her parents doted on her, her brothers yielded to her, and even after marrying into the Gu family, no one dared to criticize her… Nearly forty years of such a privileged life had nurtured her into an exceedingly arrogant and unrestrained character.
Of course, she knew she had a bad temper, but so what?
Since she had the means, why should she humble herself for others? When she heard those words from Xueya, she was furious, wishing she could reprimand Lanyin severely. But after listening to Lanyin’s words, she was left utterly disoriented, unable to utter a single sentence before stumbling out in a daze.
“Madam?”
Shopkeeper Sun was the first to see her. He was about to greet her when he noticed her pale complexion and unsteady steps. He hurried over, his voice filled with concern and surprise, “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Madam Wang did not answer.
With a pale face, she walked out, not even sparing a thought for Gu Qing, whom she had always doted on.
Gu Qing had been sitting to the side, waiting for Madam Wang to come down. When she saw her mother approaching, she immediately stood up. To her surprise, Madam Wang walked past without even glancing at her. Having never seen her mother like this before, and recalling the words she had overheard earlier… she couldn’t help but glance upstairs.
But the second-floor corridor was empty. She could see that the door to the private room was open, but it was too far away for her to make out what was happening inside.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Mama Su rushing over. Poor Mama Su, already advanced in age, had been through days of exhausting travel and constant worry over their affairs. Now, she was left panting as she chased after Madam Wang.
“Mama Su, what’s wrong with Mother?” Gu Qing could only ask her.
Mama Su didn’t know how to explain. She stopped and sighed, “Let’s talk about it after we get back.” Before leaving, she also glanced upstairs. Seeing that there was still no movement, she shook her head and sighed helplessly before hurrying after Madam Wang.
On the way back.
Madam Wang kept her eyes tightly shut and did not say a word.
Gu Qing and Mama Su wanted to speak several times, but seeing her like this, they didn’t know what to say.
When the carriage stopped, Madam Wang didn’t wait for anyone to help her before hastily lifting the curtain and stepping down. Her movements were so rushed that she nearly fell.
Everyone’s expressions changed, and they exclaimed in alarm—
“Madam!”
“Mother!”
In the past, Madam Wang would have lost her temper over such a thing. But today, it was as if she had lost her soul. She said nothing, gritting her teeth as she steadied herself against the carriage. Without waiting for anyone to assist her, she hurried into the house with quick steps.
The servants of the Gu residence had never seen Madam Wang like this and couldn’t help but look at each other in shock. They whispered to Mama Su, “Mama, what’s wrong with Madam?”
But Mama Su was in no mood to answer. She simply said, “Attend to your duties,” before following Madam Wang inside.
Gu Qing quickly followed after her.
She had deep feelings for Madam Wang. Perhaps it was the bond between mother and daughter, or perhaps it was the unreserved affection Madam Wang had showered upon her over the years. Even after being separated for so long, that innate connection remained. Seeing Madam Wang in such a state, she naturally couldn’t stand by and do nothing. She hurried after Madam Wang, but her frail health, worsened by her recent emotional turmoil, left her breathless by the time she reached Madam Wang’s room.
Leaning against the door to steady herself, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and was about to step inside when she heard voices from within.
“What are you doing, Madam?”
“Returning to Lin’an.”
“Leaving now?” Mama Su exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes,” Madam Wang replied hoarsely as she packed her things. She had only arrived in Bianjing the day before and didn’t have much with her. The newly purchased items were still piled to the side, but she didn’t even glance at them, tossing them aside instead. She stood there, looking as lifeless as a withered tree.
Noticing Gu Qing out of the corner of her eye, she said, “You came at the right time. Go pack your things. We’re returning to Lin’an now.”
She truly didn’t want to stay in this place any longer.
Just thinking about Lanyin’s words and her cold, indifferent gaze made Madam Wang want to flee. Her heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles. She had never imagined that one day she would hear such cutting words from her eldest daughter, who had always been so obedient.
Yet, she couldn’t refute them, nor could she vent her anger. All she wanted was to escape.
Her heart ached again.
She hadn’t realized how deeply Lanyin resented her. Over the years, although their mother-daughter bond had grown thin, Lanyin had always greeted her respectfully and even personally attended to her when she was ill.
She had thought that no matter what she did, Lanyin would always remain the same. But now…
The earlier panic seized her mind once more, and she didn’t know what to do.
Apart from the time when Gu Qing had gone missing, this was perhaps the first time in Madam Wang’s life that she felt utterly helpless about a situation. Her face pale, she leaned against the bed to catch her breath, intending to sit for a while. But when she noticed Gu Qing still standing at the door, she frowned. “Why aren’t you going?”
Gu Qing hesitated, remaining silent. There were things she had wanted to say to Madam Wang since last night, and now… she feared that if she didn’t speak up, they would truly have to leave Bianjing. After a long pause, she finally stepped into the room and, biting her lip, said, “Mother, I don’t want to return to Lin’an.”
The room fell silent.
Even Mama Su, who had been packing, stopped what she was doing. Madam Wang frowned. “What do you mean? If not Lin’an, where do you want to go?” Thinking Gu Qing was afraid of the Fang family, she softened her tone to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I’ve already dealt with the Fang family. As for Fang Huaiye…”
At the mention of his name, a flash of anger crossed her face.
“If you’re worried about that little beast, you can rest assured. I’ve already set a trap in Lin’an. The moment that scoundrel shows his face, I’ll make him regret it.”
Gu Qing lowered her gaze to her feet and murmured softly, “It’s not because of the Fang family, nor is it because of Fang Huaiye…”
“Then what is it?” Madam Wang’s expression suddenly changed as she recalled the shopkeeper’s earlier words. “Is it because of Xiao Ye?”
When Gu Qing didn’t respond, Madam Wang’s heart sank. Remembering her mother’s words from last night, she demanded sharply, “What exactly did you do in the Xiao family? Does your sister’s divorce have something to do with you? Why did Xiao Ye confine you?”
Madam Wang fired off question after question, her voice growing louder with each one. Gu Qing was so overwhelmed by the interrogation that she couldn’t even defend herself.
It was only when Xueya arrived and heard the commotion that she knelt on the ground and spoke up in Gu Qing’s defense. “Madam, you’ve misunderstood the young mistress. The divorce between the eldest lady and the young master has nothing to do with her. The young mistress did nothing wrong.”
“Then you tell me,” Madam Wang demanded angrily, “why did that Xiao fellow lock her in the room and refuse to let her out?”
In the past, Madam Wang would never have doubted Gu Qing. But now… thinking of Lanyin’s uncharacteristic attitude, a seed of suspicion had been planted in Madam Wang’s heart, making her unable to stop speculating.
If Qing’er really had done something, then Lanyin’s sudden change in attitude toward her would make sense.
“This…”
Xueya naturally knew the truth, but how could she possibly say it? Afraid that her mistress would be despised by Madam Wang, she could only lie. “Young Master Xiao has been out of his mind lately. Who knows what he…” She was about to continue when Gu Qing interrupted her.
“It has nothing to do with Ah Ye. It was me. I was the one who went to his room in the middle of the night to seduce him!”
“Mistress!”
Xueya cried out in shock.
But it was too late. Mama Su and Madam Wang’s faces darkened completely.
“You—!”
Madam Wang stood up, her hand raised high as if she were about to strike Gu Qing.
Yet Gu Qing showed no fear, still lifting her face defiantly. “I know I’m shameless. If you want to hit me, then hit me.”
Seeing the turmoil in Madam Wang’s expression, yet her raised hand never falling, Gu Qing knew that deep down, Madam Wang still cared for her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she finally spoke the words she had kept buried in her heart for years.
“Mother, all these years, I’ve never forgotten him for a single day. I love him. I want to be with him. I…”
“Do you even know what you’re saying?!”
Madam Wang trembled with rage, her voice shaking. “He’s your brother-in-law, your sister’s husband. How could you… how dare you?”
Gu Qing’s face also turned pale. For a moment, she was filled with shame and guilt, but her love for Xiao Ye compelled her to look at Madam Wang and say, “But he isn’t anymore, Mother. Please, help me.”
She crawled on her knees toward Madam Wang, her delicate hands clutching at Madam Wang’s hem, her tear-streaked face looking up at her pleadingly. “I’ve never asked you for anything in my life. Please, help me this once, won’t you? Didn’t you once think of letting me marry Xiao Ye?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Madam Wang’s expression changed.
But it was as if a memory from the past had been awakened in her mind. She did, indeed, have such a thought back then…
Back when Qing’er had just been found, she had learned from Xueya about the history between the two of them. At that time, she had been filled with guilt toward Qing’er and thought that if the two of them truly cared for each other, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let them be together. As for Lanyin, she could always find her a better match later.
What had she been thinking back then?
She had thought that Lanyin, raised as a proper young lady by her grandmother, was capable and accomplished. Finding a good match for her would be easy. But Qing’er was different. She had suffered so much outside, and she knew nothing.
But later, Xiao Ye had refused, and even her usually indifferent mother-in-law had strongly opposed it. Her own mother had scolded her harshly.
So she had no choice but to let it go.