Chapter 370: Chapter 369: Do I Have to Bash My Head Against the Wall to Prove My Integrity?
The atmosphere in the Jinluan Hall was solemn and strict.
However, early in the morning, the Governor Mansion had received the letter of divorce personally sent from Duchess Wei.
Because of this, Dowager Yan finally felt a significant relief.
During breakfast, she showed an unusually pleasant expression to Qu Xi.
Second Old Lady, being very shrewd, immediately took charge of the meal herself and spoke sweet words.
"Mother-in-law, just for once, our Mi has finally escaped from the bitter sea. Though there were some twists and turns, the result is still positive. You accidentally harmed the Princess, but there was a reason for it. The official family is the most empathetic and wise monarch, he will not blame our Governor Mansion."
While speaking, she glanced towards Qu Xi, but her words turned sarcastic and provocative.
"From now on, elder sister-in-law, you should be careful in choosing Mi’s husband. Don’t harm the girl again."
Qu Xi had been confined these few days and was only released today to handle the divorce matter.
She was on the verge of sharply rebuking them.
At that moment, the old woman from the main courtyard happily approached: "Dowager, your daughter-in-law has arrived."
Dowager Yan hurriedly put down her silver chopsticks and looked towards the entrance, seeing the girl slowly approaching.
"Have you eaten?"
"Look how thin you’ve become these days, I need to ask the kitchen to stew more nourishing dishes for you."
Dowager Yan wanted to say something else but then saw Yan Mi’s cold and detached demeanor, her eyes lifeless, like a living dead.
She felt a sudden panic for no reason.
Qu Xi, with a stern face, vented her malice on Yan Mi: "You see an elder and don’t even bow, what kind of manners are these! You are becoming more and more inappropriate."
She maintained her poise, seemingly considering Yan Mi’s future: "The divorce ultimately hinders your future marriage prospects. Though it’s a good thing, your reputation is still damaged. The public’s words are fearsome and bring shame to our ancestors. In the end, it was your inability to retain the young man, and something like this happened right under your watch. I think you should not go out these days; it’s proper for you to reflect. Yet yesterday, you dared to return late?"
Upon hearing this, Dowager Yan immediately threw the dishes in front of her to the ground.
The servants inside the room were so frightened that they knelt down.
However, Qu Xi just smiled, showing no gesture of rushing forward to admit her wrongs and curry favor.
"Mother-in-law, controlling my daughter is my righteous duty, you should not intervene."
"Moving forward, I respected you. But I’ve also realized, in this entire family, I have done wrong to no one, mother-in-law, don’t you think?"
With just a few words, Dowager Yan was choked up. She was trembling all over. How dare she mention such shameless things?
Second Old Lady, baffled by the conversation, was about to speak out but Yan Mi swiftly moved in front of Qu Xi.
Qu Xi was sitting while she stood, towering over the former by a notch.
"The marriage was arranged by the Yan Family; the divorce was initiated by the Wei Family. Yesterday’s incident involved Wei Xiheng and the Fifth Princess acting indecently in broad daylight, and I was unaware. Was this whole matter really forced by me?"
Her tone of speaking was still mild, but every sentence was irrefutable.
"Or should I just smash my head to death to appear heroic and leave no regrets?"
Qu Xi had never thought that the usually submissive Yan Mi would dare to talk back!
How could she not be angry?
"You—"
"Absolutely presumptuous!"
Yan Mi stood there, her expression indiscernible.
She whispered softly.
"In a few days, it will be my birthday."
She stared directly at Qu Xi who had never shown her any warmth: "But thinking over and over, I don’t know if I should even celebrate my birthday."
Dowager Yan felt an inexplicable terror. For some reason, she always felt that she might lose this granddaughter.
Inside the house, the most carefree one was none other than the Second Old Lady.
She looked at Yan Mi in disbelief, inexplicably thrilled.
Yan Mi dared to confront Qu Xi!
This was a good thing!
But her words did not match her heart: "Oh dear, this shows how wronged you have been. Come, sit down. Though your Mama is not decent, a mother and daughter should not—"
Before she could finish, Yan Mi softly said, "After all, my birthday should have been the day before."
"I personally asked the midwife, the child born that year was stillborn."
At that time, Qu Xi had just returned to the Governor Mansion for a year, but her situation was not good.
As Mrs. Zhu for those years, she was raised in luxury and showered with love; Lord Zhu too had deep affections for her.
Even though Yan Kun’s official position was not as high as Lord Zhu’s. She always thought of returning to Yan Kun, especially after learning that Yan Kun was to marry Xie Fu. Her obsession thus turned into a demon.
This was Yan Kun’s first child, naturally, he was concerned. But it turned out to be a stillborn.
Therefore, she ordered her confidant to buy a newborn baby girl from outside for ten taels.
Second Old Lady: ???
Qu Xi paused, looked into Yan Mi’s eyes, but couldn’t utter a single word.
Dowager Yan’s pupils contracted, and with a heavy heart, she closed her eyes and moved her prayer beads, but couldn’t calm herself down.
Until she heard the following words.
"I am leaving Shengjing. I will not take anything given by the Yan Family, I’m setting off in two hours."
"No!"
Dowager Yan abruptly stood up.
"You are a daughter of the Yan Family! Who is that rumormonger daring to concoct such nonsense? You believe those words?"
"Leaving? Where are you going? You are not allowed to go anywhere!"
"I am here, not to seek my grandmother’s approval."
Second Old Lady also frowned and persuaded, "Child, are you delusional? What are you talking about? Auntie can’t understand a word you’re saying. How can there be overnight grudges between a mother and daughter? You can’t just disown your Mama just because you’re upset, right? Even if you disown your Mama, would you disown your grandmother too?"
Yan Mi: "Mama?"
Her gaze turned cold.
"My mother is good in every way, but she is not comparable to her."
She knew about her origins now.
Her biological father had long passed away, her grandmother, with shallow concerns, sold her for Silver to keep for her younger son to take a wife.
Her biological mother endured hardship to give birth to her; having given birth just yesterday, she was weak. When she woke up, she did not see the baby by her side, but she looked up to see her harsh mother-in-law with a full-faced smile holding Silver.
— Looking for what? Sold it.
— Daughters are just a loss, what are you shouting at me for? It’s all for your elder brother, for you. If the elder brother died, wouldn’t you want to end the family line? Once your uncle marries and has children, they will be adopted under your name, that’s the way things should be.
She stumbled out in pursuit, but the carriage was already far away. Only the wheel tracks in the mud proved that her newborn daughter had just been lost.
"My birth mother was just an ordinary woman, without connections or power, fell out with her husband’s family, struggling along the way with no one knowing her hardships. She dared not speak up against the powerful, and when she found me, she was helpless and mediocre and dared not secretly take me away, she just swallowed her tears."
Yan Mi said, and softly laughed.
"Later on, she finally had the chance to enter the household and become a wet nurse."
Her biological mother was truly good to her.
She took care of all aspects, fearing she might be cold, fearing she might be hungry. She generously spent all her monthly salary on her, buying sweets and various toys for girls.
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