Chapter 132: A Humble Plea
Wen Mingqian comforted Liu Cuiyi for a few more sentences before getting up to take her leave.
Liu Cuiyi said, “Sister, please stay for lunch before you go! You’ve been troubled to come here, and you haven’t even had a sip of water.”
“I’ve already eaten with the guests in the main house. Even if you prepared delicacies now, I wouldn’t be able to eat,” Wen Mingqian hadn’t actually eaten, but seeing Liu Cuiyi’s desolate state, she had no appetite.
So she made an excuse that she had already eaten, to avoid making Liu Cuiyi feel guilty.
“Granny Zhao, please see my sister out for me. I’m not feeling well, so I won’t be able to see her off properly,” Liu Cuiyi said reluctantly.
“Why be so formal between us? As long as you take good care of your body, that’s all that matters,” Wen Mingqian said. “Rest easy, and I’ll come back in a few days.”
After walking out, she didn’t even see any of the Zhou Family Members. It was clear that they completely disregarded Liu Cuiyi now.
Wen Mingqian instructed Granny Zhao, “Our young lady has a soft nature, so please advise her more. Try to keep her from seeing the Zhou Family Members to avoid upsetting her. Don’t listen to any gossip, and don’t take it to heart even if you hear it.”
“They don’t even come around, as if they want our young lady to fend for herself,” Granny Zhao said resentfully. “What heartless people!”
Wen Mingqian returned home, and it was already late.
Zhang Ma also returned from the East Courtyard after eating, and Wen Mingqian began to tell her about Liu Cuiyi’s situation.
Zhang Ma listened and said, “This Zhou Family is a bunch of scoundrels. They don’t have any virtue in their own household, yet they’re still dreaming of success! If I were there, I’d take them all down! Stew them all into a pot of turtle soup!”
“I love hearing Zhang Ma curse. It’s so satisfying!” Sang Er said, clapping her hands with a smile. “I was so angry listening to it there. Such scoundrels should really be made to taste hardship!”
“It’s a pity Cuiyi doesn’t have a fierce general like you by her side. I’ve already spoken with her and arranged to invite a few influential people to discuss with her parents and the Zhou Family. We must prevent the divorce for now,” Wen Mingqian said. “Cuiyi can’t bear to part with her two daughters. If such young children are left in the Zhou Family, they’ll only be tormented.”
“This is the hardship of being a mother. Even if one can escape the fiery pit, looking back at the children there, one has to jump back in,” Zhang Ma sighed. “Otherwise, if it were up to her own heart, she’d rather become a nun than suffer in the Zhou Family.”
“Yes, everyone has their own unavoidable circumstances in life, especially women,” Wen Mingqian said, having suffered herself, she understood even better.
“It’s a shame I was busy in the East Courtyard earlier, otherwise I could have gone with you, Miss, and left Granny Zhao with a couple of medicinal cuisine recipes to help your young lady recuperate.” Zhang Ma said.
“It’s not too late to do it another day,” Wen Mingqian said. “I plan to go and mediate for her in two or three days, to avoid any further complications.”
“Let her parents know first. The Zhou Family has to make the first move before we can approach them,” Zhang Ma said.
“I told Cuiyi to inform her parents. This matter ultimately needs their knowledge. Even if they don’t help, it’s good for them to show their face. Otherwise, what’s the point of others going?” Wen Mingqian said. “Old Madam is free right now, why don’t I go see her!”
“First, speak with Old Madam. This matter cannot bypass her, otherwise it would seem disrespectful,” Zhang Ma said. “Who else does the young lady want to invite?”
“I want to invite Marchioness Jiangxia and Duchess Feng,” Wen Mingqian said, having already made her plans. “Along with our Old Madam, I think that should be sufficient.”
“That’s about right,” Zhang Ma thought for a moment. “That’s enough influence.”
Wen Mingqian then went to Old Madam Gong’s residence. Old Madam had just woken up from her nap and was sitting there drinking tea.
Seeing Wen Mingqian, she said, “Where were you at lunchtime? I couldn’t find you. Have you eaten yet?”
“Thank you for your concern, Old Madam. I haven’t eaten yet,” Wen Mingqian said as she sat down. “Cuiyi had something come up, so I rushed over to see her.”
“That child is so pitiful. I heard she lost the baby again,” Old Madam Gong was also very sympathetic towards Liu Cuiyi. “You two have always been close, so it’s only right for you to visit her.”
She added, “You haven’t eaten? I’ll have the kitchen make you something. I have some dim sum here, you can have a little to tide you over.”
“Your daughter-in-law is not hungry, and besides, I’m not in the mood to eat,” Wen Mingqian sighed. “Cuiyi is about to be kicked out by the Zhou Family. I find her truly pitiful and worry for her.”
“Where did that come from?” Old Madam Gong was very surprised to hear this. “Why would they drive her away now instead of letting her rest and recover?”
Wen Mingqian then explained the whole story to Old Madam Gong and followed up with a request, “Cuiyi is truly innocent, and her maternal home is unwilling to stand up for her. Your daughter-in-law is at her wit’s end and thought to beg for Old Madam’s grace, to see if you could intervene and persuade the Zhou Family?”
“This Zhou Family is indeed going too far. Since you are close to her and wish to help her, how could I refuse?” Old Madam Gong did not decline. “Moreover, this is an act of accumulating virtue and doing good deeds. However, if I go alone, I fear it might not be enough. We need to find a few more people who can speak with their family.”
“Then, Old Madam, do you think Duchess Feng and Marchioness Changrong would be suitable?” Wen Mingqian proposed the people she had in mind.
“Excellent, very appropriate. If the two of us, along with her maternal relatives, go to mediate, I believe it will surely succeed,” Old Madam Gong nodded. “Besides, these two are also close to you, so they should agree.”
“It’s not certain yet. We have to ask for their opinions first. I will do my best, and I only hope to help her,” Wen Mingqian said. “I will visit their mansions in a couple of days.”
Old Madam Gong remained silent, simply looking at Wen Mingqian, and after a long while, she sighed.
“Why is Old Madam sighing? Do you think I’ve done something inappropriate?” Wen Mingqian asked quickly.
“No, it’s not that. I was thinking that you are truly a good child. It’s just that I thought your temper was too strong back then, and I always felt you might not be able to manage the household well. Now I realize that Old Master’s judgment was good. He said you were an uncarved jade, needing only a little polishing to become useful.
That’s true. When you entered our family, you were only in your teens and hadn’t experienced any hardships, so how could you know everything?
If I, as an elder, had been more patient and trusting with you back then, you wouldn’t have suffered for seven years in your hometown.”
Regarding this matter, Old Madam Gong had been blaming herself ever since she learned the truth.
Even if Consort Song had intended to harm her, it was also because she hadn’t trusted Wen Mingqian enough before, which led her to send Wen Mingqian back to her hometown in haste.
“Old Madam, please don’t blame yourself. That was a tribulation I was destined to face. I don’t resent anyone now, including Consort Song,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “I have already overcome my misfortunes, and it’s time to let go of the past.”
