49. Deep Sisterly Affection — Twenty-Six

The gatekeeper ran after them, but there was no time even to send someone ahead with the news.

By the time Zhang Qingxue arrived with her mother and the children, it was already very late. Yu Shanmeng had gone to bed, but upon hearing that guests had arrived, he hurriedly got up again.

Far too many things had happened recently, and the two of them had not yet found the time to sit down and talk. Besides, Zhang Qingxue and the others had been traveling all day without eating, so Yu Shanmeng ordered the kitchen to prepare a meal.

The kitchen fire had already been put out, and restarting it took time. Cooking required more than half an hour. Just as the dishes were placed on the table and everyone was ladling soup into their bowls, Chu Yunli arrived.

As she had at the main gate, she neither waited for anyone to announce her nor allowed anyone to lead her in. She simply kicked the door open herself.

With a bang, the door flew inward, struck the wall, and rebounded.

At the tremendous noise, everyone around the table turned to look.

When Yu Shanmeng saw who stood in the doorway, his expression became especially ugly. “Anyone who didn’t know better would think a thief had broken in.” He then looked toward the steward at the door. “A guest has arrived. Why didn’t you announce her?”

The steward felt so wronged he could have died. He had wanted to announce her, but the guest had refused to wait.

“I’m not an outsider!” Chu Yunli entered slowly with her arms folded. “Besides, I was so angry that I didn’t let him announce me.”

Her gaze swept over the people in the room, sharp with scrutiny.

They had been about to eat, but with Chu Yunli’s arrival, no one felt they could simply begin.

Zhang Qingyao looked embarrassed. “Sister, Mother and I would like to stay here for one night. You—”

“You don’t need to ask her.” Yu Shanmeng’s face turned livid. “We’re no longer husband and wife. Whoever I take in is none of her concern.”

Chu Yunli nodded. “That would normally be true. But Zhang Qingyao and her mother aren’t just anyone. They have a grudge against my mother, which means they have a grudge against me. As the father of my child, you’ve taken in my enemies. I won’t allow it!”

She turned her head and stared at Madam Zhang. “If you have any shame, take your children and grandchildren and leave on your own. Otherwise, I’ll have you thrown out!”

Madam Zhang had been told to leave repeatedly that day, and with hunger gnawing at her now, her patience was completely exhausted. She said coldly, “This isn’t your home. You have no right to—ah!”

The last sound was a scream.

Chu Yunli had reached out, seized her by the collar, and dragged her from her chair. That was not the end of it. She hauled the woman straight toward the door.

Yu Shanmeng’s legs were still somewhat inconvenient, but at the sight of this he exploded in fury. “Zhang Qingxue, what do you think you’re doing?”

Without looking back, Chu Yunli replied, “Yu Shanmeng, I’m helping you drive out an unwelcome guest.”

She flung Madam Zhang into the courtyard. The woman staggered several steps before falling face-first onto the ground. Chu Yunli dusted off her hands.

“Yu Shanmeng, we’re both still young. You can’t stop me from marrying again, and I can’t stop you from taking another wife. But I will not permit you to grow close to Zhang Qingyao. As long as I’m alive, you can forget about marrying her!”

Zhang Qingyao’s face flushed scarlet. “Qingxue, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Chu Yunli let out a cold laugh. “Zhang Qingyao, not one of the men willing to take you in is free of ulterior motives. You knew perfectly well that he would accept you, so you must have guessed his feelings. Why are you still pretending to be pure and innocent?”

She advanced step by step. “Zhang Qingyao, you’re not some girl of fifteen or sixteen. You’re the mother of a young woman, and you’re nearly old enough to be a grandmother. Continuing to pretend to be innocent and naïve will only disgust people!”

Zhang Qingyao’s face shifted from green to white. Unable to help herself, she stole a glance at her children’s expressions.

Chu Yunli grabbed her by the collar and hauled her up. “Are you leaving on your own, or do you want me to throw you out?”

Yu Shanmeng shouted furiously, “This isn’t your home! You have no right to drive people out. You barged in here just now. Is there any law left in this world?”

“There is!” Chu Yunli turned to look at him. “But beyond the law, there are also human decency and moral principles! Yu Shanmeng, if you can’t let her go, then marry anyone you like—but you should never have come asking for my hand.”

The reason Yu Shanmeng had sought to marry Zhang Qingxue was probably so that he could see Zhang Qingyao regularly.

Over the years, the sisters had indeed met once or twice every month. And every time, Yu Shanmeng had been unusually attentive. Not only did he make a special effort to set aside time to entertain them, he also prepared all sorts of rare and exotic dishes, and even thoughtfully arranged gifts for them to take home.

At first, Zhang Qingxue had known nothing of his disgusting intentions. She had been deeply touched, believing that he valued her family. To marry a man so devoted to her, a man willing to respect her family—she had thought she had fallen into a nest of good fortune.

After all, men in those days were often fickle and lustful, and among the wealthy, taking multiple wives and concubines was commonplace. Zhang Qingxue had never dared hope that her husband would remain faithful solely to her, yet Yu Shanmeng had done so.

The more moved she had once been, the more disgusted she became after learning the truth.

Yu Shanmeng struggled to his feet, limping. Given his injuries, he found it difficult to approach Chu Yunli. In a fit of rage, he lifted a chair and hurled it at her head.

Quick as a flash, Chu Yunli seized Zhang Qingyao and pulled her in front of herself.

Zhang Qingyao was the sort of delicate woman common in that era. She had no time to react or dodge before the chair struck her. She fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

Yu Shanmeng stared blankly. “Are you all right? I didn’t mean to—”

“You meant to hit me!” Chu Yunli yanked Zhang Qingyao to her feet. “It’s the middle of the night. You can’t stay here, so you’d better leave.”

Zhang Qingyao’s entire body ached, and she could only allow herself to be dragged helplessly toward the door.

They had just reached the halfway point when Master Zhang arrived.

He had been afraid that something might truly exist between Zhang Qingyao and Yu Shanmeng. Even though Zhang Qingyao was now raising two children alone, and Yu Shanmeng had already divorced, their former relationship made it impossible for them to be together.

Not truly impossible, perhaps—but they would become the talk of the entire city.

Master Zhang cared deeply about his reputation and could not bear to see Zhang Qingyao commit such a disgraceful act. Moreover, if the two of them really became entangled, it would also affect his daughter, Qingxue.

There were so many men and women in the world. Zhang Qingyao could marry anyone, and Yu Shanmeng could marry anyone. Surely they could find suitable partners. Master Zhang feared that Yu Shanmeng might behave improperly, and he feared even more that Zhang Qingyao might have no sense of shame. He had therefore sent someone to keep watch over the residence and rushed over as soon as he received word.

When he entered, he had been considering how to persuade his former son-in-law to let go. Then he heard that his daughter Qingxue had arrived. Unease stirred in his heart; he was certain the sisters would quarrel. Without realizing it, he quickened his pace.

Sure enough, the scene did not disappoint him. Even from a distance, he saw his daughter Qingxue dragging Zhang Qingyao outward by the collar as though she were carrying a chicken.

Zhang Qingyao struggled desperately, but could not break free of her grip.

Master Zhang could not help shouting, “What sort of behavior is this? Hurry up and stop her!”

“I don’t want to drag her around either, but she refuses to leave!” Chu Yunli said helplessly. “Father, can’t you keep these people under control and stop them from going out and disgracing themselves?”

The words were far too harsh. Master Zhang emphasized, “That is your elder sister!”

“She caused my brother’s death!” Chu Yunli shouted even louder. “If you keep forcing me, I’ll have Mother go to the magistrate and accuse you of hiring someone to murder your wife and child. Let the authorities decide whether justice is owed!”

Master Zhang flew into a rage. “You dare!”

“Don’t provoke me.” Chu Yunli gave him a half-smile. “If this matter becomes public, it will be your family who loses face. My mother is the victim. She raised someone else’s daughter for so many years, only to discover that the girl was an ungrateful wretch. Once word gets out, everyone will pity my mother. You may think you’ve done nothing wrong, but when the time comes, you’d better listen carefully to what other people say about you.”

Master Zhang’s expression darkened. “Qingxue, I’m your father. I’ve treated you well all these years. Why are you trying to harm me? You call your sister ungrateful, but you’re no different—”

Father and daughter both harbored resentment toward each other, and neither could conceal the hostility in their eyes.

“The only person who treated me well was my mother!” Chu Yunli declared. She turned her head and ordered, “Go to the magistrate’s office and report this. I want everyone under heaven to judge whether I’ve mistreated my father. If I have, I’ll pour him tea, kneel, and apologize!”

Master Zhang was speechless.

He did not need her apology. He only hoped the matter would not become public.

Everyone said that family disgrace should never be exposed to outsiders. Why could this girl, already no longer young, still not understand such a simple principle?

Seeing the maid already heading out, Master Zhang panicked. “You are not to go!”

Madam Zhang was extremely unwilling to have the past brought to light. For one thing, becoming pregnant before marriage was hardly something honorable; if word spread, she would lose face. For another, she had known that Master Zhang had ordered the midwife to harm the child. If the matter were investigated closely, all these truths might be uncovered.

When people committed such deeds, they did not always think much of them. But looking back now, she had to admit that she had indeed been rather vicious.

Yet people were selfish by nature. What was wrong with considering her own interests?

“No, you can’t go.” Madam Zhang hurried forward to persuade her. “Qingxue, the midwife is already dead. The truth can’t be uncovered now. Besides, we’re all family. Don’t let this create a rift between us.”

“What family?” Chu Yunli scoffed. “To share the same bloodline with an ungrateful creature like you is a curse I must have suffered for eight lifetimes. You married out of this family, and so did I. Don’t speak of us as family ever again.”

Master Zhang, frantic with anger, ordered the servants to stop the maid.

The servants did not take the matter seriously enough, and the maid slipped past them and ran outside.

Master Zhang was speechless once again.

Then he turned and sprinted after her.

Chu Yunli grabbed him. “Father, there’s no need to hurry. There’s a whole table of food inside. Let’s eat first.”

Yu Shanmeng’s legs were still impaired, and he had been unable to stop the maid either. At this, he snapped irritably, “That food wasn’t prepared for you.”

“Then I simply won’t eat.” Chu Yunli gave a soft snort. “If you and Zhang Qingyao weren’t carrying on behind everyone’s backs, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

Zhang Qingyao was rendered speechless.

The way Chu Yunli put it, she sounded like a walking disaster.