Chapter 212: Dispute

It was very rowdy inside and going in right now would not be good for her. From the two or three indistinct sentences she caught, it sounded like it had something to do with Second Young Mistress Shi, Zhou Jingyi. Sang Wan remained outside, at a corner of the main courtyard, and ordered Zhide to find out more first.

Under her order, Zhide returned in a hurry and said, “No wonder Second Young Mistress did not return! Old Mistress Zhou and Young Mistress Zhou are here to request a separation between Second Young Mistress Shi and Second Young Master Shi!”

“What!” Sang Wan was shocked and sighed to herself.

Zhou Jingyi was blessed. Even though her husband was unreliable, she had a good mother who would stand up for her! Sang Wan had never seen Second Young Master Shi, not even a few times, and had no impression of him, but from the way he had treated his wife, she could already tell that he was not a reliable man. For Old Mistress Zhou to be decisive enough to seek a separation, she must be quite bold and foresighted, and really loved her daughter! It was indeed very admirable.

Standing in her shoes, it would be better for Zhou Jingyi to separate from her husband than to delay things further. Otherwise, when would this end? Sang Wan thought about how she might never be able to see her again in the future and felt a little disappointed.

However, this was a difficult matter to resolve when it came to the Shi family.

Second Young Master Shi had done something so disgraceful. If their daughter-in-law were to call for a separation, the Shi family’s face would be thrown! Wang Shi and Second Old Mistress Shi would never allow such a thing to happen!

No wonder it was so noisy inside! Since Old Mistress Zhou had already decided to have a separation between the young couple, there was no way she would bother to be polite.

“Young Mistress, the situation inside is as noisy as a boiling porridge! Who knew that Old Mistress Zhou had quite a sharp tongue? That Young Mistress Zhou is also not an easy person to deal with as well. Old Mistress and Second Old Mistress are at a disadvantage in this conflict! Young Mistress, it’s best that you don’t go in. How about we return first!” Zhide held onto Sang Wan and smiled.

Sang Wan thought about it and nodded with a smile, “I don’t think I will be of much help anyway. Nevermind, let’s go back first! Ask someone to monitor the situation and inform me if there is any news!”

Zhide nodded and ordered a young servant to observe the situation. The young servant was excited to gather more insider news, and accepted with a smile.

After taking a few steps, Sang Wan heard someone call out to her from behind and she stopped in her steps.

Sang Wan turned and saw a young woman wearing a light yellow top embroidered with flowers, paired with a white skirt, as she hurried towards her along with a servant. Other than Zhou Jingyi, who else could it be?

“Sister Jingyi!” Sang Wan was both elated and surprised, and went up to her, “Why are you here!”

“I…” Zhou Jingyi was feeling nervous and staggered, “I heard my mother and my sister-in-law came over, so I hurried here! Are my sister-in-law and mother at Aunt-in-law’s place? What could they have said!”

Sang Wan saw how anxious Zhou Jingyi was, and felt somewhat certain of her conjecture. Holding Zhou Jingyi’s hands, she pulled her to the back of the flower bushes, away from the servants, and whispered, “Your mother, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law are at my mother-in-law’s place! Don’t worry, from the looks of it, they won’t be arriving at any conclusion… you should know why your mother is here, right?”

Zhou Jingyi lowered her gaze and sighed, before nodding softly, “Of course I do. I…”

She nibbled her lips and said, “I’ve never thought of asking for a separation, but my mother…”

As a young woman, Zhou Jingyi’s face blushed a little as she said softly, “Sister Sang Wan, I’ve really never thought of a separation… Regardless of how long he takes to come back, as long as he does, I’m willing to wait for him!”

On the wedding night when he lifted her red veil, his handsome face came into her sight and imprinted itself deeply in her heart. From that moment, her nervous heart and mind calmed down miraculously. Her heart was gradually filled with sweetness and gentleness. She was very grateful to the heavens for blessing her with a perfect husband, and she would never forget him in this lifetime.

Even though what came after left her devastated, she never lost hope. Largely because she knew that this was his home; his father, mother and siblings were here, and he would come back one day! What she had to do was to patiently wait for him. Otherwise, he would not see her when he returns! As for the girl, Su Qing’er, who he ran off with, Zhou Jingyi did not see her on the same level as herself and she was sure he would eventually grow tired of such a lowly woman. Even if they got together because of novelty, their relationship would not last long as they were not people from the same class.

“Sister Jingyi!” Sang Wan sighed softly. She did not know what to say as she held onto Zhou Jingyi’s hand. Divorce and separation were never encouraged, even more so when she did not seem to have any intention to do so. “Since you’ve already decided, then let’s go in and have a look. If the conflict between your family and my second aunt is huge, the one to receive the blame will be you.”

Zhou Jingyi’s expression changed immediately, “Sister Sang Wan, please go in with me!” She knew her mother’s temper very well, and her mother-in-law was already unhappy with her, if they really had a huge fight, then her life in the future would be a very difficult one.

Sang Wan nodded, and went into the main courtyard with Zhou Jingyi.

Right after they stepped into the main courtyard, the sound of conflict between Old Mistress Zhou and Second Old Mistress Shi could be heard.

“Don’t think that just because the Shi family has formidable wealth, you can go trampling over others. My daughter is at such a young and delicate age but she has to be a living widow in your household. You could not make your son stay, yet you do not allow for a separation. This completely makes no sense!”

“Hmph, don’t you worry! Do you think a separation document is difficult to get? When my son comes back, you will get the separation paper even without you asking! For him to marry such a useless daughter-in-law who could not keep a hold of her husband, why don’t you teach your own daughter well first instead of making a ruckus in our house? How shameless of you!”

“Who’s the one actually causing a ruckus here? Your son eloped with a vixen; how dare you talk about upbringing, even daring to speak badly of my daughter? What did my daughter not do right? Tell me, tell me quickly!”

“If she was capable enough, my son would not have left home even until now, and you still dare to ask me!”

“Pah! Your son was brought up by you since young while my daughter had only come here for a few ****, how can you push all the blame onto her? Did you think our Zhou family is easy to pick on? If I had known that your son would elope with a lowly vixen, even if a mountain of gold and silver were gifted to us, we would never agree to the marriage and betroth our daughter to your family! I tell you, if I do not receive the separation papers today, we’ll settle this in court!”

“Fine, go on! If you are so capable, then go ahead!”

“Don’t think I wouldn’t dare!”

“Everyone, please calm down. We can settle this by talking!” Wang Shi was made dizzy by the heated argument and seemed as if she could not take it anymore.

Old Mistress Zhou and Second Old MIstress Shi would not relent, and their argument only became worse. Full of anger, Old Mistress Zhou was incited by Second Old Mistress Shi and ordered her daughter-in-law to follow her as she was about to head to the court.

Zhou Jingyi panicked and barged in, blocking her mother while grabbing her elbow as she teared, “Mother! Please!”

“Why are you here too?” Old Mistress Zhou creased her eyebrows. Everyone in the house was stunned by Zhou Jingyi’s sudden appearance.

“Nevermind! You’re coming with me, we’re going to the court now! I want to see whether the judge in Qingzhou is reasonable at all!” Old Mistress Zhou pulled at Zhou Jingyi to bring her along.

“Mother!” Please give some face to your daughter!” Zhou Jingyi panicked so much that tears started falling and she kneeled, tugging at Old Mistress Zhou’s robe as she sobbed and begged.

Old Mistress Zhou took in a deep breath before her eyes widened and she reprimanded, “You aren’t going? Why aren’t you going?”

Zhou Jingyi remained quiet with her head lowered as her tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

Silence was the same as acknowledgment. Old Mistress Zhou felt that her face had been thrown, and she shook Zhou Jingyi’s hand away in shame, before stomping her foot unhappily, “You unfilial girl, do you want to become the death of me! You still want to remain here even though the Shi family are out to humiliate you! The Zhou Household does not have such a weak daughter like you!”

Second Old Mistress Shi was delighted, and she laughed coldly, “Zhou in-law, you shouldn’t say that. Jingyi is just being sensible! She knows that going to court isn’t a glorious thing to do!”

“Sister-in-law!” Wang Shi creased her eyebrows and called out softly, Second Old Mistress Shi turned her head, and turned quiet.

Old Mistress Zhou glared at Second Old Mistress Shi once but could not find any words to rebut her. Her own daughter slapped her in the face in front of everyone, what could she do?

“Enough, enough! My efforts have been wasted on you! From now on, you pray for your own fortune, I’ll treat it as if I don’t have you as my daughter! My daughter-in-law, let’s go!”

“Mother!” Zhou Jingyi was not only feeling embarrassed, but also guilty. She kneeled and hugged Old Mistress Zhou’s thigh as she wept.

“What are you crying for! You still have the face to cry! If the Shi household is really that great and you want to stay, then stay! I’m afraid that you’re only going to dirty my leg! Let go of me!” Old Mistress Zhou was infuriated.

Lu Shi secretly complained to herself. On one side was her mother-in-law, and the other was her sister-in-law; she could not afford to offend either side. If she said something wrong, then it would cause trouble for herself. That was why she could only try to pull at her mother-in-law from the side. However, she did not know what she should say to console and stuttered, “Mother-in-law, please calm down.”

Wang Shi got up and Sang Wan quickly walked up to her to support her, “Zhou In-law, please let us discuss calmly. My nephew is young and does not know right from the wrong. When his mind has finally cleared up, he will eventually come back. Zhou In-law, why must you separate the couple? The Zhou household is also a large and reputable household, it would not be good for your daughter if word got out that she had a separation!”

Old Mistress Zhou said coldly, “If your nephew never comes back? Will my daughter remain a widow forever? Hmph, doesn’t the Shi Household do business everywhere? Already two to three years and nobody could find him at all, who knows how he is doing right now! The Zhou household would rather throw our face than sabotage our daughter’s entire life!”

Wang Shi was suddenly left without words. Second Old Mistress Shi was furious from being hit in her sorespot, but before she could refute, her eyes caught a glimpse of Wang Shi’s cold face. Second Old Mistress Shi immediately held her tongue.

Sang Wan went to help Zhou Jingyi up, and a tactful maidservant went forward to help her as well. Sang Wan smiled and said, “Old Mistress Zhou, my sister-in-law misses our second family’s young master very much. That must show that he had treated her well. He is only foolish now, but this is his home, he will come back eventually! Old Mistress Zhou, why don’t you wait a little more? If you separate them now, won’t it be a waste for the couple if our second family’s young master comes back?”

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