Xiao Ye was sent back lying in a carriage. He had been flogged thirty times. Though the executioner had held back slightly, it was impossible for him to be completely unscathed. At this moment, his face was devoid of color, his lips were pale, and his gaze… had remained unfocused ever since the emperor had spoken his decree.
Zhou An, seeing his condition and fearing something might happen to him, hurriedly had someone fetch a physician as soon as he helped him down from the carriage.
The two young servants at the entrance turned pale at the sight of Xiao Ye’s state. They rushed off in a panic, so frantic that they even forgot to inform him that the Old Madam had returned.
Zhou An also noticed something was amiss only after entering the manor. The courtyard, which was usually filled with servants, was now eerily empty. He furrowed his brows, pondering what might have happened, but now was not the time to dwell on it.
Supporting Xiao Ye, he spoke continuously, “Shizi, we’re almost there, hold on,” while stepping through the moon gate and heading toward the room where Xiao Ye resided.
However, as he arrived, he saw servants kneeling throughout the courtyard. Under the corridor, a woman sat in a grand master’s chair, dressed in a dark chestnut long-sleeved short jacket embroidered with gold patterns.
Her hair was coiled into a bun, adorned with golden hairpins shaped like green leaves. This woman was none other than Xiao Ye’s mother, the Old Madam of the Chengbo Manor—Sun Yurong.
Sun Yurong was over forty years old. She came from a distinguished background, possessed both cunning and intelligence, and had lived a life of luxury for many years. Although she had long since withdrawn from household affairs, her imposing presence remained undiminished. She had not yet noticed Xiao Ye’s return. Holding a teacup in her hand, she did not lift her eyes as she scraped the tea leaves with the lid. Below her, a group of people knelt in submission, led by Concubine Xu.
Gu Qing was absent.
She had initially planned to pay her respects after hearing that Xiao Ye’s mother had arrived. However, the maid beside Xiao Ye’s mother had spoken with veiled barbs: “The Old Madam is currently handling household affairs and has no time to receive outside guests. Lady Fang, please rest for a while. If the Old Madam is available after her matters are settled, she may meet you.”
At this moment, Jinglan, who stood beside Sun Yurong, noticed Zhou An helping Xiao Ye inside. She quickly bent down and informed Sun Yurong, “Madam, the Shizi has returned.”
Only then did Sun Yurong lift her gaze.
Outside the doorway, Zhou An had already frozen in place. It was only belatedly that he remembered to pay his respects, but Xiao Ye was entirely relying on his support to stand. If he were to kneel, Xiao Ye would likely collapse as well. Thus, he could only support Xiao Ye and hesitantly call out, “…Old Madam.”
“What has happened?”
Seeing Xiao Ye’s condition, Sun Yurong immediately sensed that something was wrong. After all, he was her own flesh and blood. Even though she disapproved of his actions lately, she would not publicly disgrace him before the servants. She set down her teacup and walked toward Xiao Ye. As she drew closer, she caught a strong scent of blood. The previously composed woman’s expression changed at once, and her voice instinctively sharpened. “What happened?!”
As she spoke, she reached out to support him and ordered people to prepare hot water.
The servants Sun Yurong had brought immediately set to work. Meanwhile, those who remained kneeling in the courtyard dared neither to move nor to turn their heads without her command. They were all guessing what could have happened to make the Old Madam react so strongly. It wasn’t until Xiao Ye was helped past them and the intense smell of blood reached them that their faces also turned pale.
Concubine Xu remained kneeling. Watching Xiao Ye, whose vacant eyes were being led inside, her expression subtly shifted.
There were very few people in all of Great Zhou who could punish Xiao Ye like this. Seeing his current state, she surmised it must be related to the He Li matter.
As Xiao Ye was helped into the room, Concubine Xu pursed her red lips slightly, contemplating the implications. Inside, Sun Yurong grew more anxious as she saw that Xiao Ye showed no reaction whatsoever. She had him carefully laid face-down on the bed. Uncertain of the severity of his injuries, she dared not move him recklessly. Instead, she remained by his side, using a damp handkerchief to wipe his face.
It was only when Physician Du arrived, examined him, and confirmed that his muscles and bones were unharmed—that he merely needed a period of rest—that Sun Yurong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She ordered someone to follow Physician Du to retrieve medicine, left attendants to help Xiao Ye change his clothes, and then walked out of the inner room. Seeing Zhou An still kneeling outside, she heard someone call out, “Old Madam.” However, she did not react much. It was only after sitting down in the chair that she finally spoke:
“What happened at this morning’s court session?”
She did not ask who had flogged Xiao Ye but directly inquired about what had happened.
Seeing Zhou An hesitating, Madam Sun became furious. She grabbed the teacup beside her and hurled it straight at him. Zhou An did not dare to dodge, allowing the bottom of the cup to strike his forehead. Enduring the pain, he remained kneeling steadily, not daring to let out even the slightest cry of pain.
The celadon teacup shattered upon hitting the ground, producing a crisp breaking sound, followed immediately by Madam Sun’s thunderous rage. “At this point, what else are you still trying to hide?!”
“Speak!”
“What exactly happened? Why was Ye’er punished? What else did His Majesty say?”
Zhou An dared not conceal the matter any longer and reported everything he had found out to Madam Sun in detail: “During this morning’s court session, a Censor from the Metropolitan Court impeached the Shizi and Minister Lu for acting out of personal interest, forbidding the Shizi’s wife from dissolving the marriage. His Majesty was enraged and punished Minister Lu by docking his salary for a year, while the Shizi was flogged thirty times. Additionally…”
He dared not continue.
“What else?” Madam Sun gripped the armrest of the grand teacher’s chair with one hand, her entire expression tense, and even her voice unconsciously sank.
“…The Shizi has been demoted to a Training Officer by His Majesty.”
That short sentence made Madam Sun feel dizzy. Though she was seated in the chair, she nearly collapsed and had to be supported by Jinglan, who was attending to her at her side. After regaining her balance, her face remained deathly pale. Her lips moved slightly, murmuring in a low voice, “Training Officer…”
Although a Training Officer was superior to an ordinary Imperial Guard, their duties mainly involved training new recruits entering the camp. It was not an important position. Most critically, this post was far from the Emperor’s side, making future promotion extremely difficult.
Now that the world was at peace, military officials already had few opportunities for advancement. Previously, Xiao Ye had served by the Emperor’s side, which at least provided a chance for promotion. But now…
The family had finally regained its footing, yet in one stroke, they had fallen back to where they started. Worse still, they had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure. Madam Sun was both furious and anxious. She slammed her hand onto the table in a fit of rage and roared, “That unfilial son…!”
Zhou An dared not speak.
Jinglan also did not know how to offer counsel.
Just then, someone outside the door announced that an official from the Ministry of Revenue had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun swiftly composed herself. The Emperor’s rewards and punishments were all expressions of imperial favor. If she dared show even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction, it would be seen as defying the imperial decree. Her son had just been punished by the Emperor—if any displeasing words reached the palace, their Marquisate might even lose its noble title. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out her robes and exchanged a glance with Jinglan. Once the mess on the floor was cleared away, she finally allowed the visitor to enter.
The visitor was an official from the Ministry of Revenue, specifically in charge of household registration.
His rank was neither high nor low, but compared to the clerks they had sent in the past, today’s visit clearly showed the Ministry was taking this matter seriously.
Madam Sun understood that because of her family’s involvement, Lu Boting had also been punished by the Emperor. So, before the official could state his purpose, she took the initiative to speak. “Sir, you have come at the perfect time. I was just planning to make a trip to the Ministry of Revenue. Since you are here, I can now spare myself the trouble.”
After all, the Marquisate’s title still remained.
Moreover, as Madam Sun spoke with gentle courtesy, the official’s previously tense demeanor eased slightly. He cupped his hands and said, “In that case, I must trouble the Madam to hand over the divorce document. This matter has been delayed for too long. Now that even His Majesty is aware, any further delay could stir up more trouble.”
“Of course,” Madam Sun replied with a smile before turning to Zhou An. Though her expression remained unchanged, her voice carried an unmistakable sternness. “What are you waiting for? Go and fetch the document.”
As Xiao Ye’s trusted aide, Zhou An naturally knew where the document was kept.
Zhou An responded with an acknowledgment and stepped inside, but not only did he fail to retrieve the document, he also startled Xiao Ye, who had been lying motionless on the bed in a daze. Soon, sounds of a scuffle erupted from the room, followed by Xiao Ye’s furious roar, “Who gave you permission to take that?!”
Separated by a curtain, the scene inside was not visible, but the sounds carried through without obstruction.
The smile that had been on Madam Sun’s face disappeared entirely. Her expression grew increasingly grim, especially when her peripheral vision caught sight of the Ministry of Revenue official seated in the guest area. The thought of an outsider witnessing such a disgraceful scene in her household only deepened her shame and fury. Struggling to suppress her anger, she cast a glance at Jinglan.
Jinglan understood at once and smiled as she addressed the official, “My lord, the Shizi is injured, and the room has an unpleasant scent. Why don’t you move to the flower hall for a cup of tea? We will bring the document to you once everything is settled.”
How could the official not understand their intent?
But the Xiao family’s foundation remained intact. Though displeased, he refrained from saying much. After cupping his hands in a formal gesture toward Madam Sun, he rose to leave.
Almost the moment the official departed, Madam Sun could no longer restrain herself. Her face darkened as she strode into the room, only to find Zhou An sprawled on the ground. Meanwhile, Xiao Ye, who had been completely unresponsive just moments ago, was now clutching a blackwood box as if it were a treasured possession. His fingers continuously traced the surface, his expression unusually gentle.
“Give it to me.” Madam Sun’s voice was heavy with barely contained fury as she commanded.
Hearing her voice, Xiao Ye looked up.
“Mother?” He seemed to only now realize that she had returned, speaking in surprise, “When did you come back?” But upon seeing the expression on her face and recalling her words, his lips pressed together tightly. Not only did he refuse to hand over the box, but he even moved to hide it behind him.
Seeing this, Madam Sun’s temples throbbed with anger, and her voice sank completely.
“Give it to me!”
“…If I give this to you, Lanyin and I will truly be over.” After a long silence, Xiao Ye finally spoke.
At this moment, he no longer bore the brilliance of his past self. He resembled a traveler stranded in utter darkness, unable to find a path forward yet stubbornly clutching onto the only thing within his grasp. As if, by holding onto this, he and Lanyin would still be husband and wife, as if no one could separate them.
But all his stubbornness shattered beneath Madam Sun’s slap.
“Bastard!”
“Have you lost your mind? You dare defy the Emperor’s decree?!”
“Do you want me, your father, and the hundreds of lives in our Xiao family to die with you before you’re satisfied?!”
This was the first time Madam Sun had ever struck Xiao Ye.
From childhood to adulthood, she had never laid a single finger on him. She had one son and one daughter—indulgent toward her daughter but extremely strict with her son. Yet her son had never once disappointed her. Even when their marquisate faced disaster, he had relied on his own strength to regain a foothold in the court, silencing all those who had once waited to see them fall… But now, the son who had always put her mind at ease had committed such a catastrophic mistake!
She didn’t even know whether she was more disappointed or enraged. Her eyes turned red.
She had always been proud. Even when their marquisate had been in turmoil, she had not shed a single tear. But now, looking at Xiao Ye, his face turned to the side from her slap, she suddenly felt as if she had aged ten years.
She looked at him with a sorrowful gaze, her voice carrying a faint tremor, “Ye’er, your father and I are already old. We can’t afford to endure such hardships anymore.”
“Your father’s health has only just improved, and I haven’t even dared to tell him what has happened at home. Do you really want to watch him fall ill again?”
“And your sister…”
“Your sister’s standing in the Duke of Lu’s household is already precarious. Have you ever thought about what will happen to her if our family falls? Who will protect her then?”
Seeing the stubbornness in the man’s brows and eyes loosen slightly, Madam Sun grasped his arm tightly. Looking at him, she nearly pleaded, “Ye’er, let go. She will not come back.”
“Even if you force her to stay in this house, it will only lead to mutual resentment. Is that the ending you want?”
“No…”
Hit by the words mutual resentment, Xiao Ye’s face turned pale. His thin lips trembled as he said, “That’s not what I want.” What he wanted was not mutual resentment—he wanted to return to the way things were with Lanyin. He wanted to go back to the beginning. He wanted Lanyin to love him again.
His eyes reddened, and he turned to look at Madam Sun, his gaze still carrying confusion and grievance. In a hoarse voice, he asked, “Mother, how did it come to this? Why did we end up like this…”
Madam Sun did not understand either.
She could not fathom why her always obedient daughter-in-law had been so resolute this time.
Before returning, Madam Sun had thought that Lanyin was merely throwing a tantrum. She had planned to set an example, say a few good words, and coax her back. But now… she shook her head. The Emperor’s decree was as good as gold—there was no turning back from the He Li.
She also felt a sense of pity in her heart.
When Lanyin had first married into the family, she had had her complaints about her.
Perhaps mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law were natural adversaries. No matter how well Lanyin behaved, Madam Sun had never been able to treat her like her own daughter. Moreover, for some reason, Lanyin had struggled with conceiving, which had only added to her dissatisfaction… But aside from the matter of children, Lanyin had been impeccable.