Chapter 200: Chapter 201: Make Things Clear

Xiuxiang held a handkerchief to the corner of her eye, dabbing away a tear. "Housekeeper," she said, her voice timid and weak, "I just want to see my husband. Please, I’m begging you, just let me go in and see him!

I know Seventh Uncle and the others are furious that my husband got sick. It’s all my fault. I didn’t take good care of him. You can beat me, you can curse me—I’ll take it. But you can’t tear us apart."

"See? I told you. It’s definitely this household."

"I just didn’t expect them to be so vicious. All because she supposedly didn’t take good care of their young master, they’re making her kneel outside the main gate. That’s going way too far."

...

After saying her piece, Xiuxiang simply covered her face and wept, allowing the onlookers’ comments to grow more and more agitated. This caused Housekeeper Fu’s brows to lock in a tight frown.

"If you have the guts to do it, then have the guts to admit it. What’s the meaning of hiding half the story?" Following a sharp cry, the main gates slowly opened from within. Jin Qianqian appeared at the top of the steps, dressed in a pink silk gown and flanked by servants and maids.

"Good day, everyone." Jin Qianqian stood at the forefront and gave a slight curtsy. "I didn’t expect our family matters to disturb our neighbors today. For that, I must first offer my apologies."

"That young lady is certainly pretty, but what a shame she’s so hard-hearted. A living, breathing person has been kneeling here all this time, and she only dawdles out now."

"Shh, keep your voice down. What if they hear you? Didn’t you see those servants beside her? Every last one of them looks ferocious."

The "ferocious-looking" servants: ’...’ ’We heard every word. You call that quiet?’

...

Jin Qianqian ignored the noisy crowd, raised her chin slightly, and addressed Song Xiuyang. "I don’t know what kind of drama you’re trying to stage here today, but since you’ve come to wail about your grievances, you might as well tell the whole story. If you’re too ashamed, I can have someone else recount it for you."

"Mrs. Gu, I know you’ve never liked me. You won’t even let me call you ’Auntie.’ But you can’t stop me from seeing my husband!" Xiuxiang panicked the moment she saw Jin Qianqian emerge, but she quickly dug her nails into her palm to force herself to stay calm.

Jin Qianqian casually gestured to one of the servants. "Xu Dawang, you were there for the whole thing yesterday, weren’t you? Come and tell everyone. Let’s hear all about the ’glorious deeds’ of this poor, pitiful little lady."

Xu Dawang, showing no stage fright, stood on the steps and recounted in vivid detail everything he had heard on the journey and all that he had learned afterward.

"I know as well as anyone that life is hard for a woman," Jin Qianqian continued after he finished. "But I ask all of you, which of your families could possibly tolerate what Lady Song has done?"

"You can’t be serious! If I had a daughter-in-law like that, who can’t tell her own family from outsiders, I’d be the first one to kick her out on her ass."

"Speaking of which, that young master of the Gu family is truly pitiful. Running into a jinx like her, it’s a miracle he’s still alive."

...

"It’s not like that! I didn’t want this to happen! You don’t know anything, what are you all talking about?" Xiuxiang’s face had gone ashen the moment Xu Dawang began to speak. Now, hearing the crowd’s accusations, she suddenly felt her heart pound and her breath catch in her throat. As she was speaking, her head lolled back and she fainted.

Some people in the crowd panicked, shouting that someone was dying, but no one stepped forward to help.

Jin Qianqian frowned and hurried over, forcefully pinching the philtrum beneath Xiuxiang’s nose. She didn’t hold back at all, even using her other hand to press down harder.

’Even though I’m not sure if she’s faking it, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. If word of that got out, it would be a stain on both my and Wenheng’s reputations.’

The woman on the ground let out a sharp cry and could no longer remain prone.

"See! Women like that are experts at faking it," one of the older women said to the man beside her. "Son, when you get married, make sure you don’t find one like this."

Xiuxiang had just come to, and she immediately wished she could faint for real. But the sharp pain under her nose made her abandon the thought. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"I can let you see Gu Lejia. There are some things you two need to clear up. But this is my final offer. If you try to stir up more trouble, then I have no problem reporting you and your brother to the magistrate and charging you with conspiracy to commit fraud and murder." Jin Qianqian didn’t want to cause them trouble, but since they kept pushing their luck, she didn’t mind resorting to threats.

Xiuxiang flinched. ’It seems kneeling here today was a miscalculation.’

Qingzhu and Qing Lan carefully helped Jin Qianqian to her feet, one on each side. Qing Mei quickly offered her a handkerchief so she could wipe her hands.

Jin Qianqian also found the snot and tears she had accidentally touched to be repulsive, and she meticulously wiped each of her fingers with the handkerchief.

But this casual gesture made Xiuxiang grind her molars, feeling deeply humiliated.

"Alright, everyone, the matter is more or less clear now. Please, let’s all disperse." Housekeeper Fu announced, having spotted a carriage approaching the street corner. "A carriage will be here any moment, and it wouldn’t be good to block the road."

Seeing that the matter was mostly resolved, Jin Qianqian led Sanqing straight back into the residence.

Xiuxiang gritted her teeth and struggled to her feet. Rubbing her still-aching knees, she followed them inside with a limp.

The moment Jin Qianqian entered the manor, she found Gu Lejia standing in the courtyard in a daze.

Jin Qianqian merely glanced at him before walking straight past and heading toward the rear courtyard.

"Lejia, you’re awake! Why didn’t you come find me?" The moment Xiuxiang entered, she saw Gu Lejia standing perfectly healthy in the courtyard and immediately began to accost him.

"I..." Gu Lejia looked at this woman, who seemed both familiar and strange. He opened his mouth to speak but found the words wouldn’t come.

"I knew it. They must have been stopping you," Xiuxiang muttered. "If I hadn’t made a scene outside, they never would have let us meet. See? It’s all better now. They’re afraid, so they’re giving in."

The servants still standing in the courtyard: ’...’ ’Is this woman a complete fool?’

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Gu Lejia had been thinking a great deal over the past night. "I’ve already decided to go back to our hometown with Seventh Uncle and the others. What are your plans?"

"What? Didn’t we agree? How can you go back on your word?" Xiuxiang’s voice grew shrill. "My brother is still here! I have to at least wait until he gets married. Only then can I, his older sister, be at ease."

Gu Lejia sneered. "Hmph. From the very beginning, you said you wanted to help him split from the family and live on his own. I used my Seventh Uncle’s status as a Scholar to force your father and your family to give your brother his own household.

You said your brother needed to build a house, so I’d work my job during the day and then have to go haul bricks for him at night.

Your brother needed furniture, so you took all the silver taels I had painstakingly saved and gave them away.

Your brother wanted to start a business and needed capital, so you sublet the house my Seventh Uncle lent us and gave all the rent money to him.

You tell me. Through all of this, one thing after another, what have I gotten out of it?"

"But you’re his brother-in-law. Isn’t it your duty to help him out?" Xiuxiang noticed the peculiar stares from others in the courtyard. She felt a pang of guilt but still summoned the courage to state her case.

"Brother-in-law? I’m afraid this brother-in-law can’t afford to pay for him time and time again."