29 Deep Sisterly Bonds V

Madam Zhang’s words were both insolent and absolute.

Master Zhang looked at Zhang Qingyao with suspicion and unease. Seeing her weeping and shaking her head, he believed her instantly. He looked at his wife with profound disappointment: "As parents, we should have more patience with our children. Look at you—instead of mediating between the child and her father like other families, you go out of your way to sow discord. Harmony is the foundation of all prosperity; are you truly so afraid that this family might live a peaceful life?"

If he was disappointed, Madam Zhang was even more so. She shook her head and said, "You haven't heard a single word from others, yet you act as if you know everything, like a parasite in their bellies. How can you be so sure that what you believe is the truth? Or perhaps, in your eyes, I could never compare to that mother and daughter, and you will never believe a word I say. Whatever your sister says is treated like an imperial decree. Since that is the case, why did you even bother taking a wife?"

Irate to the point of trembling, Madam Zhang waved her hand: "Go and spend the rest of your life with your sister then!"

"Nonsense!" Master Zhang roared. "I am the older brother; an older brother is meant to care for his younger sister. They say a sister-in-law should be like a mother, but you have not a shred of kindness in your heart for her. I have misjudged you!"

Hearing his accusations, the last shred of reluctance in Madam Zhang’s heart vanished. She turned to Chu Yunli and said, "Qingxue, I’m afraid I’ll have to stay with you for a while."

The Zhang couple had never revealed Zhang Qingyao’s true parentage to anyone. Zhang Qingxue had never known until disaster struck later on, when she finally heard the truth.

In truth, Madam Zhang was a woman of great suffering who had endured many grievances over the years. Chu Yunli reached out and took her arm. "Of course. It’s getting late, let’s go now."

Master Zhang was stunned. "Qingxue, you..."

Chu Yunli did not look back. "Father, you have your sister to cherish you, and your eldest daughter is so attentive. But as for my mother... she only has me."

Hearing this, Madam Zhang blinked, and tears fell from her eyes.

Zhang Qingyao had returned to seek her father's help. Seeing the mother and daughter about to leave, she felt it was improper, but she had no time to stop them. Besides, trying to hold them back would only lead to more messy disputes, making it impossible to discuss serious matters.

As they reached the courtyard, Madam Zhang remembered something and returned to the room they had just left.

Fearing her mother might be bullied, Chu Yunli hurried after her.

Master Zhang, assuming his wife had changed her mind, asked coldly, "Regret it?" He continued self-righteously, "You, too—even if you were going back to your maiden home, that would be better than staying long-term at your son-in-law's house! It’s fortunate you came to your senses early; if you had really gone, you would have made everyone laugh their heads off. I don't know how you’d have the face to look at the other ladies in the city after that..."

While he was speaking, Madam Zhang walked into the inner chamber on her own. Sounds of clattering and shifting objects followed. Before long, she emerged clutching a box, while a maid behind her carried a chest half the height of a person.

It looked exactly like someone moving house.

Master Zhang was dumbfounded. Once he regained his composure, he hurriedly asked, "Where are you moving to?"

"These are all my dowry items. The bulky things are in the warehouse, but there are still many pieces here." Madam Zhang turned back to emphasize, "These are my belongings. No matter how short of silver you are, you are not to touch them! Otherwise, we shall meet in court! For a man of your stature, Master Zhang, to be reduced to stealing his wife’s dowry—that would be a true disgrace."

Master Zhang was so angry he chased her to the door. "Go then! But to move your things like this—what will outsiders think of you?"

Madam Zhang couldn't be bothered to waste more words on him.

Once inside the carriage, Madam Zhang’s tears finally broke free. She collapsed onto Chu Yunli’s lap, sobbing until her whole body shook, unable to stop for a long time.

Chu Yunli patted her back, comforting her softly. "Mother, please don't be so heartbroken." She then asked, "Why didn't you tell me about sister's parentage?"

Madam Zhang, who had just begun to calm down, burst into tears again upon hearing this. She reached out and touched Chu Yunli’s face. "I have failed you."

In Madam Zhang’s view, since her daughter already knew the truth, there was no longer any need for concealment, so she recounted the events of the past.

Master Zhang had a younger sister, two years his junior. Their mother had died in childbirth, and although the infant survived, she was sickly and passed away two years later. During that time, Master Zhang’s father had already found a new lover and cared little for his children. At the time, Zhang Huiniang was still young, and she was raised almost entirely by her brother.

The bond between the siblings was deep. Madam Zhang had heard of this before marrying, but she believed that a man who doted on his sister was not a bad thing; it only proved he was a man who knew how to care for others.

After they were betrothed, their affection grew, and by the time they married, they both looked forward to their future together. After the wedding, the couple lived in harmony, discussing everything together—if only Zhang Huiniang hadn't constantly meddled.

Zhang Huiniang was of age to be married, yet she remained immature, constantly vying for her brother’s attention.

Still, Madam Zhang thought that as a sister-in-law acting as a mother, she should be patient with a girl who had lost her mother so