64 Wretched Daughter-in-Law VI

Having such a change of heart, why bother now?

In Guan Haiquan's view, the couple were now grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If his true identity were exposed, both of them would be reduced to criminals. Even if innocence could be claimed through ignorance, they would still end up as commoners.

Having lived as the Prince's Heir for many years, he simply could not imagine how commoners managed to survive.

The most urgent matter at hand was figuring out how many people actually knew the truth.

Guan Haiquan glanced sideways at her and asked in a low voice, "Where did you hear this news?"

"A message sent by the heavens in a dream," Chu Yunli replied concisely. "At first, I thought it was false, but then I tested your mother with a few words, and she was terrified out of her wits. Yesterday, I actually saw the Zhou mother and daughter with my own eyes."

Guan Haiquan was speechless. This was absolute nonsense.

"You aren't lying to me, are you? Aside from you, is there really no one else who knows?"

Chu Yunli shook her head. "That depends on whether the Princess Consort left her actions hidden well enough back then."

Regarding this, Guan Haiquan still held a shred of confidence. Otherwise, such a massive secret would have been uncovered long ago and not kept hidden for so many years.

He thought it through carefully and steadied his nerves. Currently, aside from the Princess Consort, only the two of them knew the truth. And since everyone in this circle was terrified of the secret coming to light... as long as none of the three had a death wish, his position as the Prince's Heir should remain secure.

He gave a solemn warning, "Let these words stop at my ears today! You must never speak of them again!"

Chu Yunli replied offhandedly, "I am tight-lipped. If you hadn't questioned me repeatedly, I never would have revealed the truth."

Hearing this, Guan Haiquan finally put his mind completely at ease.

He mused, "Regarding this matter, we still need to go and discuss it properly with Mother. That Miss Zhou... we must certainly take care of her; otherwise, I am afraid Mother will not let the matter rest."

Chu Yunli raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to marry her and bring her home to take care of her?"

"No!" Guan Haiquan blurted out anxiously. "You are my true wife!"

Chu Yunli said with utmost sincerity, "Let us divorce, and the children will come with me."

Guan Haiquan was naturally unwilling. Anyone who knew the secret had to remain right under his nose for him to feel at ease.

Unwilling to converse further with Chu Yunli for fear that a disagreement would spark another argument, he swiftly opened the door and slipped away.

That night, Guan Haiquan did not return.

Chu Yunli did not go to the main courtyard to pay her respects the entire day. However, that evening, the main courtyard sent over a considerable number of gifts. Anyone with a keen sense of news realized that the Heir's wife could no longer be neglected as she had been in the past.

Word of these events soon reached Lady Zhu's ears.

It was as though the slap she had suffered earlier had been completely forgotten by everyone. Consumed by lingering resentment and burning anger, she simply marched straight into the main chambers, put her hands on her hips, and declared, "Madam, the Heir belongs to everyone! You cannot monopolize him..."

Chu Yunli interrupted her. "Are you teaching me how to do my job?"

Hearing her unhurried tone, Lady Zhu suddenly felt a lingering sting on the cheek where she had been struck. Yet, things had already reached this point; if she were to tuck her tail between her legs and back down now, what would the servants beneath her think?

Stiffening her neck, she retorted, "Even if you are the mistress of the house, you still have to be reasonable!"

Chu Yunli nodded. "For the mere offense of running in here and shouting at me, giving you ten paddle strikes is hardly a heavy punishment." She raised her voice and commanded, "Drag her down and beat her!"

Yang Aicao had never beaten anyone before. Hearing this order, the servants exchanged glances in astonishment, none of them daring to move.

Chu Yunli stroked the pattern on her teacup. "Those who refuse to obey my commands have no place here. Pack up your things and get out of my sight immediately!"

Servants who were driven away by their masters rarely found another respectable position unless they encountered a miracle. But how many strokes of good fortune fell from the sky in this world?

With no time for hesitation, the servants rushed forward in a flurry, pinning Lady Zhu to the floor while others fetched the wooden paddle.

Lady Zhu shrieked, "Let's see who dares to hit me!"

They cast nervous glances at Chu Yunli's expression and, seeing no intention of leniency, set upon her with flailing hands and feet.

As the pain struck, disbelief washed over Lady Zhu's face.

Chu Yunli slowly paced toward her, the gorgeous hem of her skirt trailing behind. Looking down from above, she said, "I have wanted to hit you for a long time. By the way, you are quite welcome to go and file a complaint."

Gazing at the woman before her, Lady Zhu felt as though she had transformed into an entirely different person. More than that, she felt as though the very heavens above the Prince's Estate had turned upside down.

The dull thud of the paddle echoed through the dead-silent courtyard.

At that exact moment, the crying of a child rang out. A six or seven-year-old boy sprinted into the courtyard, charging straight toward Lady Zhu and throwing himself over her. "Auntie..."

Chu Yunli narrowed her eyes. "Drag him away."

Someone swiftly carried the child out of the courtyard, and Chu Yunli issued another command. "Summon his wet nurse and give her twenty paddle strikes as well."

Before long, the wet nurse was also pinned to the ground, struggling frantically and crying out grievance after grievance.

Chu Yunli emphasized, "Your grievances are unfounded."

The child did not even live in this courtyard; someone must have realized something was wrong and rushed to fetch the wet nurse, sending the child here to plead for mercy.

Lady Zhu had done wrong, but the child was innocent. Chu Yunli despised nothing more than those who used children as tools.

By the time the wet nurse's punishment began, Lady Zhu had already finished receiving her blows and lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move.

In truth, very few people in this courtyard actually knew how to administer a beating, and Lady Zhu's injuries were far lighter than a standard twenty-paddle sentence. Even so, for a pampered lady accustomed to luxury for years, it was undoubtedly unbearable.

Looking down, Chu Yunli asked, "Do you know your mistake?"

Lady Zhu nodded hastily.

Satisfied, Chu Yunli said, "Go back. Do not point fingers in front of me ever again, and remember to keep your people in line."

Later that evening, word reached Chu Yunli that Lady Zhu's personal maid had gone to the main courtyard. There was no need to ask; she had clearly gone to complain.

Still incorrigible.

However, Lady Zhu was destined to be disappointed.

That night, Guan Haiquan attempted to return to their chamber, only to find the door barred against him once more. Lacking the courage to provoke Chu Yunli and finding the door locked, he sensibly retired to the neighboring guest room.

The next morning, when Chu Yunli arose, she discovered a maid kneeling outside her door. Upon inquiry, she learned the girl was one of the maids who had attempted to climb into his bed the previous night.

In the past, this would not have mattered at all. Guan Haiquan had always accepted these favors with pleasure, which was why the maids had grown so bold.

Chu Yunli said indifferently, "Get her out of my sight. Don't ruin my mood at the door."

Having seen several people beaten in the courtyard yesterday, the maid had assumed she too would escape no punishment. Hearing these words, she kowtowed frantically in gratitude and fled in a panic.

When Lady Zhu's complaints yielded no response the previous day, she had assumed the Princess Consort would come to deal with Yang Aicao the following morning. True to her expectations, the main courtyard did react the next day by sending Old Madam Yang over. However, she came not to scold Yang Aicao, but to reprimand Lady Zhu for her lack of propriety, even docking half a year of her allowance.

From that moment on, Lady Zhu fully understood Yang Aicao's standing and fell completely silent for a time.

For many days, the Princess Consort remained entirely unresponsive. She neither mentioned a divorce, nor did she find fault with Chu Yunli, nor did she bring the Zhou mother and daughter back into the estate.

Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye. Chu Yunli's health had improved significantly; sleeping early, rising early, and eating well every day—combined with discarding her old-fashioned garments—left her skin fair, translucent, and glowing with vitality. Her entire demeanor had shifted, making her look several years younger.

During this period, Guan Yunnan and her younger brother were overjoyed.

In the past, their mother was frequently punished, leaving them constantly anxious. They had tried pleading on her behalf, but to no avail. Now that their grandmother no longer tormented their mother, though they did not know the reason, they considered it a wonderful turn of events.

One day during daylight hours, Guan Haiquan came to see her. "I want to settle Yunnan's marriage," he said. Dismissing the servants, he lowered his voice, "Help her choose a kind and reliable family so that even if the worst happens... she won't suffer alongside us. Besides, having such a matrimonial alliance will provide us with some backing."

Where on earth could one find such a suitable match on such short notice? Furthermore, if a secret of this magnitude were exposed, would Guan Yunnan's husband's family harbor no resentment?

Even if they did not send her back in a divorce, they would inevitably direct their anger at her. Guan Yunnan's life would certainly be miserable.

Chu Yunli flatly refused. "There is no rush for her marriage."

Guan Haiquan hesitated, wanting to say more. "I... I have secretly saved away some silver." He pulled out a stack of silver notes and pressed them into Chu Yunli's hand. "Have your maiden family keep them. If things reach the worst possible pass, we will still have silver to fall back on once the storm passes."

"You actually dare to trust my maiden family?" Chu Yunli's face was dripping with sarcasm. To put it bluntly, sending money to the Yang family was like throwing meat to a dog.

Guan Haiquan was rendered speechless. "Your mother has always cherished you; she would surely be willing to help you keep it... If you truly cannot trust them, find a safe place—even burying it would do."

Chu Yunli tucked the silver notes away. "Once you give it to me, it's mine. Don't even think about taking it back."

Guan Haiquan was left speechless.

Calculated properly, Chu Yunli had not visited the main courtyard to pay her respects for nearly twenty days. Finally unable to bear it any longer, the Princess Consort came to the Heir's residence in person.

"Aicao, even if you harbor resentment toward me, do not make it so obvious!" the Princess Consort said through clenched teeth. "If people discover I am wary of you and begin wondering why, it will not end well!"

Chu Yunli remained entirely nonchalant. "I am simply unwell!"

The Princess Consort was left speechless.

Realizing she could not persuade her, she gave up the effort and dispatched someone to notify the Yang family instead.

Thus, for the very first time, Chu Yunli met Yang Aicao's family.

The visitors were Lord Yang and his wife.

Back in the day, Lord Yang had devoted himself entirely to his studies, while Madam Yang had not only managed the household but also exhausted herself trying to raise funds for him. Consequently, though she was barely fifty years old, her hair had already turned mostly white.

The moment Madam Yang stepped through the door, she ordered Chu Yunli to dismiss all the servants. With a look of extreme vexation, she demanded, "I heard you have stopped paying your respects to your mother-in-law?"

Chu Yunli nodded. "I have my reasons."

Impatient, Madam Yang snapped, "No matter what the reasons are, you must be filial to your elders! You married upward into this family; you must not give others grounds for gossip. If you anger your mother-in-law and she divorces you, what will become of you?"