On the cobblestone street, tavern flags fluttered. Shops lined up, exuding an ancient charm.

An acerbic woman posed with an air of superiority, glancing at the servant woman behind her.

The servant woman, with heavy golden bracelets on her hand, looking quite presentable, stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Come and take a look, everyone!"

"This Second Madam Cao is really something! Three years after marrying into the Cao Family, she hasn’t had a child yet, not even one for the Cao Family."

"Even though she comes from a scholarly family, why not voluntarily step down? Not only did she file a lawsuit against the entire Cao Family at the Imperial Censorate, she also clamored for a divorce."

"What woman demands a divorce?"

She spat, "Marrying such a daughter-in-law, the Cao Family has really had bad luck for eight generations! But she’s fine, still brazenly parading around the market."

Passersby, hearing this, paused, their eyes full of scrutiny.

"The Cao Family? Is she the Second Madam Cao who was drunk and seduced by her elder brother-in-law?"

An elderly woman carrying a basket, her hair white, spat upon hearing this.

"What seduction? Elder Cao’s wife passed away years ago, and he has never remarried, showing his faithful nature. What women does he not have? He already established himself outside, why entangle with a sister-in-law whom he sees only a few times a year? I see it as this woman being improper and pushing herself onto Elder Cao taking advantage of the wine."

"Having not benefited from the situation, she’s upset, hence the false accusation."

Some nodded in agreement.

Second Master Cao couldn’t even compare to a finger of Elder Cao.

"That’s right, for years the Cao Family has relied on Elder Cao to establish themselves in Shangjing."

"She wanted to climb higher, ambitious and shameless enough to do such a disgraceful thing."

These days, Second Madam Cao had heard enough gossip.

Though resentful, as a woman, she had little confidence.

She wanted to argue, but how could these people truly care about the truth?

She was just a topic of idle conversation for others.

Her face turned pale.

"No, it’s not like that."

"The Imperial Censorate will give me justice."

"Then what is it like?"

The servant woman sneered, "Why don’t you tell us, let everyone help judge."

Second Madam Cao fell into a silence like death.

In fact, she also... wasn’t clear.

It was just on the day of her grandmother-in-law’s birthday at her husband’s family, she drank too much, and when she awoke, beside her lay her elder brother-in-law.

The remnants on her body and the soreness told her something shouldn’t have happened.

Second Madam Cao dared not recall.

Yet voices echoed in her ears.

Voices from her husband’s family.

——"Shu Family, listen up, once married, you must follow your husband, since you have married into the Cao Family, you must continue the lineage."

Grandmother-in-law, who loved her the most, held her hand.

——"Ah Qin, grandmother won’t hide this from you, your belly has been quiet for long, grandmother invited many experts in women’s problems to examine you and all said there’s nothing wrong. Grandmother was at a loss and even invited a doctor to see your husband."

Grandmother’s tone was troubled.

——"Never thought it was him who couldn’t have children."

——"Which is why over these years, you’ve taken so much bitter medicine to seek offspring, grandmother feels pained too. But the second branch’s lineage can’t break."

——"Grandmother then discussed with your mother-in-law, letting his brother have two branches combined. You and Elder Brother would be aunt and nephew in the day and husband and wife at night until a son is born. Your husband agreed, grandmother then is asking your opinion, is it okay?"

Back then, she seemed to have heard a big joke.

How against humanity, how to agree.

Husbands can’t have children, why not adopt?

But her mother-in-law sneered.

——"Adopt what? Adopt from whom? Your elder sister-in-law passed away early, didn’t leave a son or daughter."

——"Are we to bring in one from outside? This won’t do, the grand assets of the Cao Family can’t let an outsider share."

Husband knelt before her.

——"I know we’re wronging you, combining branches sounds ugly but it’s not unprecedented. But you as a daughter-in-law must understand."

——"You might not like it, Elder Brother might not like it either, but grandmother mediates. Elder Brother has established himself outside, if you gave birth to a son, wouldn’t his properties, titles, all be ours?"

——"For the good days to come, sacrificing a bit isn’t much, after it’s done, I’ll live with you, never minding the dirtiness of your body."

Only then did she realize how despicable her pillow person was.

And her opinion apparently wasn’t that important.

Though all resided in Shangjing, her natal home only two hours away, the Cao Family afraid of her ruining things, confined her for seven full days!

If not for father visiting, she would’ve...

Second Madam Cao wobbled slightly, unable to stand firmly.

The servant woman glanced at her with pride in her tone, continuing, "Our madam is of no small status, has some connections, even has some ties with the He Family."

She paused, sweeping her gaze around. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"The He Family, surely everyone has heard of, that’s the He from He Yushi, Princess Jiasan’s maternal family."

"Seeing Second Madam Cao like this, perhaps we’d be willing to lend a hand, clarifying things before the case concludes."

Chun Yao was furious, intending to protect her cousin behind her.

"Enough."

"You are truly—"

But she had only said a few words.

"Miss Chun."

The acerbic woman spoke interrupting, pushing aside the servant woman and approaching directly, lifting Chun Yao’s chin.

"If I were you, I would be ashamed to go out too."

"Your father killed your brother, your mother, unable to bear the blow, hanged herself, now, with no family, how do you manage to remain indifferent, not severing ties with your father?"

This one sentence left Chun Yao speechless.

She wanted to say her father wasn’t wrong, it was brother who committed wrongs, as an Imperial Censor, couldn’t act with personal motives to cover up.

But mother unable to bear the blow indeed died, father turned white overnight, also true.

Just then, a plate fell from the sky.

With deliberate aim, striking towards the woman.

Heavily grazed her ear, ripping off the earring hanging there, tearing the flesh.

With a loud crack.

The plate crashed at her feet, shards of porcelain scattering.

The woman touched her ear, all blood, still dripping down, she screamed in pain.

"Ah!"

"Which blind fool dare hurt me!"

The crowd all looked up towards the window on the second floor next door.

The servant woman was astonished, seeing the woman trembling in pain, lips turning pale, hurriedly pressed a handkerchief against her ear, but the handkerchief soon stained red, blood flowing down the nails.

"Madam! Madam, are you okay? Old servant will take you to the doctor right away."

"Who could help run to report this to the authorities, our Dong Family would be very grateful."

People looked at each other, about to speak up.

Then they heard a gentle voice.

"Oh dear, how did it miss?"

From the second-floor window next door, a woman with willow-like brows and red lips, eyes like autumn water, showed no panic, instead, she smiled.

It indeed missed.

The crowd murmured.

But even if unsteady with the plate, it should’ve fallen in front of the teahouse, how did it fall skewed next door?

Tan Jiang: "Subordinate is guilty for missing the target direction."

Yu Tingwan softly: "Then you should reflect. Why didn’t you aim for her head?"