This New Year month is the most oppressive month in the history of the Capital City.

Each day, different officials and nobles have their homes raided, and those once high-ranking noble patrons and wealthy young ladies are dragged out of their homes like pigs and dogs.

No matter what, the Emperor considers it’s still the New Year, and the names of the masterminds have been marked in red, waiting to be executed at the marketplace once the New Year ends.

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince have been deposed to commoner status, both banished to the Imperial Estate and put under house arrest, forced to earn their own living expenses from now on.

Their miserable fate is foreseeable, but it’s fortunate enough that they are spared their lives, given the grave crimes of usurpation and murdering their sovereign father; if not for being the Emperor’s own sons, their entire families would have been exterminated long ago.

The families of the Crown Princess Consort and Second Princess Consort have been raided, with all males over twelve executed, while those under twelve are made into Chamberlains, commonly referred to as eunuchs.

The female relatives are all turned into official servants, each bound with ropes, handed over to different officials to be taught rules before being distributed for sale after the fifteenth of the month.

This month, even the most unruly sons of wealth choose to stay home obediently, not daring to step outside, fearing that a careless move might get them arrested as traitors.

Those loyal to the Emperor, the old ministers and officials, are now incredibly busy.

Song Hong hasn’t returned home for several days, having taken Song Wu and his trusted guard with him, leaving only house servants and family behind.

Lady Gao is under house arrest and not easily disturbed, while everything inside and outside is managed by Song Chongxiu, as there’s no need for social engagements or banquets, making things somewhat simpler.

Song Chongzhao and the other brothers were warned by Song Hong to remain low-key during these days; if they can stay home, they shouldn’t go out, and they compliantly follow suit.

The Song Family’s doors remain closed, and even when visitors arrive, the message is that Lord Duke is away on business, the mistress is ill, and a young girl is in charge, making it inappropriate to entertain, thus politely declined.

Yet, some small news has been heard nonetheless.

For instance, the Wang Family’s youngest daughter, who was previously married to Song Yin, is now caught in the trouble as Duke Qiguo Residence faces raids; as a daughter returned home, she cannot escape the calamity.

She was made an official servant, reportedly causing disturbances in the City God Temple outside the city, where she daily abuses the biological mother of the Second Princess Consort, the original Wife of the Heir to Duke Qiguo.

She accuses the Wife of the Heir of being a jinx, raising a harmful demon, thereby not only harming herself but also Duke Qiguo Residence.

If earlier, even though the Wife of the Heir was the elder sister-in-law, she had to tolerate this; otherwise, the family would not have accepted her.

But now that Duke Qiguo Residence is condemned, her daughter is banished to the Imperial Estate with uncertain hardships, and her family dragged down, her two elder sons to be beheaded after New Year, her youngest son to be sent to the palace as a eunuch.

What hope does she have left in this lifetime? She truly has nothing remaining.

A person with nothing to lose no longer fears anything.

Originally oppressed from the moment she married into Duke Qiguo, now witnessing this sister-in-law’s arrogance, how could she endure?

She retaliated immediately!

The Wang Family’s youngest daughter’s body was already weak due to past injuries and medicinal painkillers from the Imperial Physician, so she never expected her once compliant and obedient elder sister-in-law to fight back, resulting in her being pushed to the ground unexpectedly.

Thus, the Wife of the Heir vented her lifelong grievances entirely upon this sister-in-law.

Riding on the Wang’s Youngest Daughter, she didn’t settle after slapping her a few times, choosing to stab her mouth with a hairpin, causing the Wang’s Youngest Daughter to scream loudly.

While venting, she enumerated the grievances she suffered over the years.

Besides, Lady of Duke Qiguo, feeling distressed for her daughter, scolded and ordered the other daughters-in-law to separate them.

Yet, none of the daughters-in-law were willing; who isn’t terrified and resentful in such circumstances?

Recollecting the past, the Wang Family daughters-in-law remember how this mother-in-law and sister-in-law would daily brainwash their father-in-law and husbands about the Second Prince’s alliance and the promising future, claiming they would soar to success in the future.

Had these mother and daughter not murmured daily, perhaps the father-in-law would have hesitated, possibly averting this disaster — they might still be the young wives of Duke Qiguo.

People are always reluctant to admit their mistakes, naturally pushing the blame onto others.

Conveniently, the Lady of Duke Qiguo and the youngest daughter indeed played significant roles, justifying the daughters-in-law’s resentment.

Elderly habits and conventions had accustomed them to the sister-in-law and mother-in-law’s sway, alongside upbringing dictating respect for elders; thus, despite resentment, they didn’t act against their mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

But the elder sister-in-law’s actions jolted them back to consciousness, providing relief and venting a year’s accumulated grudge.

Now, Lady of Duke Qiguo flaunted her maternal authority, and they naturally chose not to heed her.

After half a day of appeals, no daughter-in-law moved, causing Lady of Duke Qiguo’s alarmed urgency for her daughter when she finally dashed forward to slap the eldest daughter-in-law.

The watching daughters-in-law immediately intervened, uttering pleas for their mother to calm down, abstain from rage, preserve her health, and other such platitudes.

Yet, they prevented Lady of Duke Qiguo from advancing.

Additionally, several capitalized on the opportunity to stomp upon the sister-in-law, discharging irritation.

Amid chaos, the Lady of Duke Qiguo herself reportedly received several heartless kicks, not to mention the daughter, whose condition was already frail, tormented by anxiety, wind exposure, and hunger for days in the City God Temple — following the Wife of the Heir’s brutal assault, she was left half dead.

Forced to lie atop straw, aside from a crying Lady of Duke Qiguo embracing her, all official female relatives of Duke Qiguo avidly avoided them.

At first, Lady of Duke Qiguo pleaded with prison guards for a Doctor’s examination.

After being mocked by the prison guards, she quieted down, later managing to bribe the guards, sending messages to reach Song Yin, imploring for a meeting about urgent news.

Song Yin was originally unwilling to go, as associating with Duke Qiguo Residence now spells trouble — not idiotic enough to approach despite others’ avoidance!

Moreover, marriage with Duke Qiguo Residence brought him only humiliation, nothing more. He wasn’t a saint willing to return kindness for harm; why wade into such muddy waters now?

Yet, messengers insisted it was worth going, perhaps Lady of Duke Qiguo had evidence of Duke Qiguo Residence’s crimes to disclose.

Reluctantly, Song Yin had to pinch his nose and visit the City God Temple to meet Lady of Duke Qiguo, along with Lady Wang and other Duke’s Mansion female relatives.

This meeting startled Song Yin, seeing the formerly elegant and conceited Wang Family women now haggard and miserable, their eyes despairing and apathetic while seated on piles of straw.

With bone-chilling cold and lack of heat sources, their luxury clothing stripped, leaving only thin jackets; they huddled together for warmth, covering with straw for added insulation.

Upon seeing Song Yin, Lady of Duke Qiguo’s eyes brightened as she rushed forward; if not barred, she might have fallen at Song Yin’s feet.

Even so, Song Yin retreated several steps in fright. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Before Song Yin spoke, Lady of Duke Qiguo started speaking incessantly.

Her repeated implication was that Song Yin and her daughter were once married; regardless of the past, pleading for their bond’s sake, could he pay to rescue Lady Wang for treatment.

She continued, stating how Lady Wang was unwell, not long for this world; be it for virtue or kindness, if he could free her from that place, he’d be the Wang Family’s great benefactor.

In their next life, they’d repay this kindness by becoming cattle horse labor in gratitude.