Heaven wants her back!

  The old lady grasped the armrests of her chair and stood up, "Get up and help me over there."

  Shuang Zhi's heart tightened and she quickly stepped forward to support Old Madam as they walked out.

  She thinks.

  It's going to be a complete reversal of heaven and earth.

  The big wife is in trouble.

  But does she know what kind of consequences will be triggered by opening all this?

  The more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat.

  At this moment, she made up her mind.

  She is going to rely on her younger aunt.

  She wants to pave her own way and doesn't want to be someone else's substitute wife.

  I would rather be a spinster for life than be someone's disposable concubine.

  The old lady rarely leaves her main courtyard, and it's been a long time since she went to her son and daughter-in-law's courtyard.

  The gatekeeper saw the old lady leading a group of people coming over in a mighty manner, first startled, then smiled and went up to say "ten thousand blessings".

  The old lady went to which room, isn't it just giving face to which room.

  "Take her down, shut her up."

  The old lady's smile stiffened on her face, and her heart began to panic. The old lady was looking for trouble.

  The old lady didn't even look at her and walked straight inside.

  They walked all the way in and quickly restrained the people they met inside the house, not letting them make a sound, startling those inside.

  Both of them were trembling with fear, hoping that the two people in the house would lose their voices. Some words, if heard by the old lady, would cause a stir.

  "What are you crying about? You only know how to cry. I'm doing this for your own good, whether you like it or not, you have to learn and remember it firmly in your mind."

  Qī Zhēn was still sobbing quietly, and people outside the house could hear the resentment in her voice.

  Qī Wǔ shì let out a long sigh, softened his tone, "Once married, if you're unlucky, as soon as you enter the door, you'll have to become a mother. A mother is noble because of her son, if you don't have some tricks up your sleeve, how can you control them?"

  The old lady's expression was no longer so cold and stern, these words were all reasonable, a woman in the boudoir should not only have a good reputation for being virtuous and skilled in needlework, but also be knowledgeable about things she ought to know.

  Those common tricks learned in the back house won't lead you astray.

  "But... Mother, this is going too far. One can have a mind to defend oneself, but not a mind to harm others. If I do as you say, I would be losing my virtue, Mother. I don't want to do it, and I cannot bring shame to my future children."

  "Qī Wǔ's voice was stern as he interrupted, 'You want face but don't have it. A young lady who hasn't even married yet keeps talking about future children, what kind of behavior is that.'"

  The room fell silent for a while, and just as the old lady was about to turn around and leave, there was finally some movement inside.

  "What are you doing? Get up."

  "Mother, I beg of you, don't teach me those things anymore. I don't want to become such a bad person. There are many ways to vie for favor. No need to take it that far, I don't want to become ruthless and have nightmares. Please, mother, please."

  "Black-hearted? I taught you to read and write just so you could point at my nose and scold me? Qi Zhen. I've been thinking of your well-being with all my heart, is this how you treat me? Ah, do you still have a conscience?"

  Qī Zhēn began to sob softly, stuttering: "Mother, mother, I know you're good to me, I know, but what you've taught me I just can't learn, from the bottom of my heart I resist these things, how could I possibly learn them? Mother, spare me, isn't that taking someone's life, is it not taking your daughter's life?"

  "You're so kind and gentle, you've pitied them, but who will pity you? The prescriptions your mother taught you are secret methods, even the imperial physicians in the palace wouldn't be able to find any flaws, what are you afraid of?"

  "People are doing, heaven is watching, they are living people, how can you take their lives so easily? Mother, I really can't hold on anymore. If you keep forcing me like this, I'll shave my head and become a nun, I won't get married, not for the rest of my life. That way, no one will be able to bully me, no one will be able to oppress me, and I won't have to bear the weight of taking someone's life, all for that fleeting and elusive favoritism. Mother, please spare me, please spare me!"

  "You fool, do you think being a mistress is that easy? A lifetime of loneliness and emptiness, can you bear it? Listen to me, a man can have many women by his side, but the one who gets his long-term favor must not be kept, and the children she bears even more so cannot be kept. A man's heart will stray, and in the end, what will be left for you except the position of first wife? What can you provide for your child? Only when you have a legitimate son by your side will your husband's children be precious, and only then will your status be secure. Do you understand?"

  "There are many ways to win favor, mother, it doesn't have to be at the cost of someone's life."

  "Bang!"

  Inside and outside were both oppressive silences. The old lady grasped Shuang Ji's hand tightly, Shuang Ji bit her lip to endure the pain, not daring to make a sound.

  "Are you deliberately trying to drive me mad? I'll die first, for all the trouble you've caused me, and now it's become my fault that I'm sinister and venomous? You're that spotless white lotus flower, so noble and kind-hearted, even in death you'd smile and yield to your husband, is that right?"

  Qī Wǔ's face turned red as he panted heavily, his body trembling with rage.

  "Get back to your room and don't take a step out of the door without my permission. If you dare to exchange another glance with Hua Ru, I won't let you take a single step out before getting married."

  "Mother..."

  "Don't call me, I don't want to see you, disappear from my sight immediately."

  Qī Zhēn's tears fell plop plop onto the ground as she knelt there motionless.

  If it were in the past, she would reluctantly listen, at most because her mother would scold and hit her legs for not studying well.

  But now she can't bear it anymore, every time she hears her mother say those things, she feels a bloody atmosphere rushing towards her, and at night, her dreams are also full of bloody scenes.

  She was afraid, so afraid that she didn't dare sleep at night.

  Still dare not tell anyone, can only hold on.

  Every night must be held until it can't hold on before sleeping for a while, but that's the case, and sometimes even being woken up by nightmares.

  As if being haunted by an evil spirit.

  It's already like this now, she doesn't dare imagine what would happen if she really dared to do so in the future.

  It's possible even if it means risking one's life.

  She also knew she was too softhearted, but this wasn't a disease that could be cured with some medicine.

  She stayed with her sister-in-law for over ten days and learned a lot.

  Sister-in-law didn't speak with her in a gentle and detailed manner like mother did, but every sentence made her think of many things.

  Sister-in-law is guiding her own thoughts, rather than like mother, forcing her own ideas into her brain in a domineering way.

  So she couldn't help it.

  She wants to fight back.

  She despises women in operas who sacrifice everything for love.

  Also look down on those who scheme and plot just for a man's woman.

  She will have children. She wants her children to have a clean and tidy mother.

  She wants her children and she herself to learn all good qualities, rather than those despicable and vicious means.

  She wanted to be like her sister-in-law, a soft and weak obedient daughter-in-law in front of the elders, but inside she lived freely.

  Sometimes she also wants to ask: Mother, since you understand all these things, why don't you use them yourself? Father has four concubines. Now the fifth aunt is favored, and father's youngest child is only seven years old. How come I've never seen you make it difficult for father to have offspring?

  She didn't ask, because she knew if she did, it would be no different from stabbing her mother in the heart with a knife.

  She didn't understand. But an old lady who had been listening outside for a long time at the foot of the wall suddenly understood.

  In the past, the eldest son had a spoiled auntie by his side, who had a son and was also of good character. For seven or eight years, the eldest son basically lived in her house, not to mention that he rarely went to the Qi Wu family's place, and other concubines almost became decorations.

  She also advised him at that time, but he agreed in person, and turned his back on her afterwards.

  Her heart is no longer there, and it's not something that can be persuaded back with just a few words. She understands this principle, so she can only let go and stop paying attention to it.

  It was about ten years ago. First, a six-year-old child died of acute illness, and then the aunt surnamed Fang also didn't last long before she passed away.

  At that time she thought it was because of excessive sadness, but now she is no longer sure.

  The Qi Fu was defeated again, but his descendants were absolutely invulnerable.

  She glanced at the robust woman beside her.

  The old woman understood, and went forward to push open the door with a creak.

  The two people inside looked up in unison, one sitting and one kneeling. When they saw the person at the door clearly, they were both suddenly frightened pale.

  The old lady... how much has she heard?

  Qī Wǔ rushed forward and secretly kicked Qī Zhēn in the foot as he passed by her.

  "Mother, it's been a long time since you came to my place. What wind blew you here today? Quick, Ah Zhen, what are you still dazing about, go brew some tea!"

  Qī Zhēn hastily stood up, his movements too quick, and his body stumbled, almost falling over.

  Liu's mother hurried forward to support her, and her palms were all wet.

  "It's all right." The old lady sat down in the main seat, not looking at Qi Wu Shi, and instructed directly: "A Zhen go to my room and wait, others retreat."

  The Qi Wu family's heart was trembling with fear, but they still had to pretend to be calm and composed.

  Qī Zhēn looked at her worriedly, caught a glimpse of her grandmother's stern gaze, lowered her head and retreated.

  Shuang Zhi led everyone out with good fortune and closed the door on their way out.

  Only two people were left in the house.

  The old lady looked at her and remained silent for a long time.

  Qī Wǔ felt his back was all wet, he wanted to speak up, but feared that his voice would reveal his weakness.

  Bite the bullet and hold on.

  It wasn't until much later that the old lady sneered and opened her mouth, "I just realized that our Qi Manor has buried its talents. I'm curious, since you have such skills, why do you still pretend to be foolish, letting the second house take advantage of the first house, and even quarreling with the third house? What good can come of it?"

  "Mother..."

  "Don't call me, answer my question first."

  Qī Wǔ's heart was racing and trembling, she desperately called herself to calm down in her mind. As long as the old lady didn't know the truth from the beginning, she wouldn't have to worry, at most she would just be scolded a few times and grounded, these were nothing.

  Don't be afraid.

  With this self-consolation, Qi Wu's anxiety was somewhat alleviated.

  She raised a peaceful and ordinary smile, saying: "Having been your daughter-in-law for over 20 years, don't you know what kind of person I am? If I really had that ability, I would have used it long ago. Why would I be suppressed by the second and third wives like this now? Mother, you're overestimating me."

  "Oh? Did I hear it wrong? Did I misunderstand?"

  PS: So you guys really need reminding before giving out pink tickets, I've remembered, shouting loudly: Bring me the pink tickets!

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