Chapter 107: The Generals of the Back Courtyard [Thank You All for Your Support

Xie Shi pouted and said, “Husband, you should thank Great Lady Zhang—she can’t even speak without offending someone, like cursing a monk’s bald head in front of him.”

Sun Shi hurriedly asked, “When did Great Lady Zhang ever do something like this?”

“Mother, Yuan Baoye’s superior is surnamed Du; the niece of Lady Du’s family had divorced her husband, and Great Lady Zhang made mocking remarks about her at a banquet—unbeknownst to her, one of the guests was a close relative of Lady Du, who repeated it.”

Sun Shi: “How could you say such things without knowing the relationships?”

“Who says otherwise? Actually, my lady, I don’t think this story spread naturally.”

Xu Zaijing watched the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatting as if no one else were present, and quickly brought a plate of melon seeds from Qingcao to the table.

Xie Shi glanced at her husband and continued:

“Mother, the one who truly spread this story was Lady Yongping.”

Seeing her family’s astonished expressions, Xie Shi said with satisfaction: “It’s like this: Lady Shoushan heard her younger brother was ill and rushed over to visit. Seeing Yuan Baoye and Yuan Wenshao’s uneasy expressions, she pressed them—and learned what Great and Little Lady Zhang had done. Mother, there’s another secret between Lady Yongping and the Yuan family that few know.”

Sun Shi asked anxiously, “What? Is there more to it?”

Xu Zaihang gave Xie Shi a look that said, “Spill it,” patted Xu Zaijing, reached for a handful of candied fruit, and ate it with the melon seeds.

Qingcao, perceptive as ever, brought a cup of tea. Xu Zaihang smiled at her and turned back to listen to his elder sister-in-law.

“Lady Yongping’s daughter was supposed to marry into the Yuan family—to Yuan Wenchun, arranged by Lady Shoushan. Such a perfect match! But Great Lady Zhang delayed it two years by claiming Yuan Wenchun’s grandfather had died, then stole the match for her own family! She nearly ruined Lady Yongping’s second daughter’s entire future!”

“What?! There’s more? I never heard this before!”

“Exactly, Mother. That’s why Lady Yongping is making such a fuss—it’s revenge!”

“Oh my, the Saint of Martial Virtue! There’s this hidden layer too?”

“After the betrothal was stolen, Lady Yongping never made a loud outcry—she still remained close to Lady Shoushan. But Lady Shoushan always looked down on Great Lady Zhang. So when her own brother’s household erupted in scandal, she didn’t cover it up—she told Lady Yongping everything, even directly urged the Yuan family to divorce Great Lady Zhang!”

“Lady Yongping naturally spread the story far and wide—finally letting out the bitter resentment she’d held for years.”

“Ah?”

Sun Shi’s eyes widened—few knew this secret, and she couldn’t discuss it with Bai Shi or Wu Da Niangzi or her own sisters.

The three Xu brothers listened, stunned.

They had always believed that only men pursued the gentleman's revenge—waiting ten years if necessary.

But these ladies of Bianjing, these generals of the inner courtyard—this silent endurance, then the ruthless vengeance…

Xu Zaihang said, “This kind of scandal—your sister-in-law inciting her mother-in-law to give a concubine to her younger brother! Truly! I expect imperial censors will soon submit memorials; Yuan Baoye might lose his post and title, or at least face a stern reprimand!”

Sun Shi sighed.

Xu Zaiend, the eldest brother, listened, then looked at his younger brother Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing smiled faintly, his eyes saying: Brother, didn’t I tell you I wasn’t wrong?

At that moment, Marquis Xu Minghua entered, reeking of wine, seeing all the family members laughing.

“Oh? What are you talking about?”

After Sun Shi finished, his expression darkened. He said to her:

“I never knew the Yuan family had so many secrets. This match with Sheng’s younger brother doesn’t look so good anymore. The Yuan family leaves for Yangzhou in February—now this happens.”

“Husband, this kind of scandal! Alas! Yuan Baoye is still decent—we should help him if we can. He’s still a man who works hard.”

“My lady speaks truly. Just now, over a few cups with Deputy Director Du about the Tianwu Army’s horses, he spoke highly of Yuan Baoye.”

After finishing the gossip of Bianjing and satisfying their curiosity, Sun Shi waved for the children to return to their own courtyards and rest.

Sun Shi rose and helped Xu Minghua up from his seat. Her eyes flickered, glanced at Xu Zaihang, then lowered. She pondered something before returning to the inner chamber with her husband.

Xu Zaijing, followed by Qingyun and Qingcao, returned to his own courtyard.

The courtyard was too cold.

The half-person-tall goldfish tank had been moved beneath the study window.

The cat was inside the study.

Xu Zaijing walked over.

The window was bright.

He watched the goldfish in the tank.

Xu Zaijing grabbed the cat mid-air as it leapt to catch the fish.

The cat kicked its four tiny paws, then, recognizing him, let out a soft meow.

Xu Zaijing smiled faintly and tossed the cat to Qingcao.

“Take it to Second Sister.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Qingyun stood by the door, lost in thought—perhaps wondering how a simple direction from a random laborer had somehow landed him in the center of Bianjing’s gossip storm.

Xu Zaijing stared at the goldfish, his eyes filled with memories—he recalled Great and Little Lady Zhang, and how they had tormented Hualan.

Xu Zaijing spoke to the goldfish in the tank: “If not for Madam Sheng finding Madam He, the medical sage, and giving Hualan a son, Great and Little Lady Zhang—those heartless mother-in-law and daughter-in-law—would’ve crushed her!”

He scooped a pinch of fish food from the small bowl beside him and tossed it into the tank.

Watching the goldfish scramble for food, the water rippled.

‘Great Lady Zhang casually arranged concubines; Little Lady Zhang sneered and stirred trouble; then Great Lady Zhang siphoned Yuan family money back to the Zhang household!’

‘And Hualan, burdened with household duties, used her dowry to cover the accounts—covering the money Great Lady Zhang stole!’

‘Without her grandmother, Hualan might never have had a son—she’d have been a worn-out ox, toiling for the Yuan household!’

‘Mentally exhausted, physically drained—she’d miscarry even if she conceived! But would Great and Little Lady Zhang let her rest?’

‘If Hualan had no son, wouldn’t Great Lady Zhang push concubines even harder?’

‘No son! Tormented! Mentally and physically broken! Can’t conceive! No son!’—a vicious cycle.

‘She might even be driven to depression and death by these demon mother-in-law and daughter-in-law! Hualan’s dowry? It wouldn’t even enter the Yuan household—it’d all vanish into the Zhang family’s pockets.’

These things,

Xu Zaijing could not tell anyone—because they hadn’t happened yet.

How could he speak of what hadn’t occurred?

He looked at the goldfish in the tank—noble, elegant, dignified, poised.

Xu Zaijing smiled: “There aren’t many households like mine.”

Xu Zaijing clapped his hands, brushing off a few specks of human filth:

“Those with sense—don’t go to Yangzhou. What swine and dogs!”

Then Xu Zaijing stretched and said, “Qingyun, have the kitchen heat the bathhouse.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Night deepened.

In Xu Zaiend’s courtyard.

The eldest Xu awoke in the middle of the night—he’d slept too early in the afternoon and couldn’t fall back asleep.

Xie Shi slept lightly and had already slept enough; sensing a gaze, she stirred and woke half-asleep.

Xu Zaiend told his wife about the events of a few days prior.

Xie Shi immediately perked up, propping her head on one hand, turning to face Xu Zaiend: “Ah? Husband, you mean the one who saved her was you and Fifth Brother?”

Xu Zaiend nodded: “Fifth Brother only stopped his horse and blocked her path—he meant to let her escape, but she fell.”

Xie Shi thought for a moment: “Husband, tell me exactly what you saw.”

Xu Zaiend described the scene.

Xie Shi lay on her side, silent for a moment, as if replaying what her husband had witnessed.

Then she blinked and said: “Husband, I don’t think she fell—she fell on purpose. How could she collapse so easily after landing a kick on that Li family wastrel’s belly?”

No cliffhanger, dear readers who enjoy this—please lend a hand and toss a few coins into the author’s bowl.

The bowl has no oil~~~~~~~

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(End of Chapter)