The Cao Family was shrouded in dark clouds, a cold and somber atmosphere prevailing.

The servants tended carefully, fearing the masters above might vent their displeasure by punishing them for any mistake.

The Old Madam had fallen ill.

Her gaze was muddled, headband on, lying on her sickbed, unwilling to eat, but she had someone help her sit up.

She leaned against a maid and looked at Elder Cao, standing tall and robust by the window.

"You blame Grandmother."

The person did not speak.

The Old Madam’s eyes flickered.

In truth, she felt a bit guilty.

After all, for things to succeed that day, it was by her consent that the second household’s people included the eldest legitimate grandson.

But what could she do?

That eldest legitimate grandson was unwavering in his decisions, no one could sway him. He would not agree.

So she could only act first and report later, by spiking his food with drugs, only then did the plan succeed.

But Old Madam Cao didn’t expect Elder Cao’s reaction to be so intense.

"Qian, Grandmother cares for you deeply."

Her hair was white, and after the events of the past few days, she appeared particularly haggard.

"Your mother passed away early, your father quickly remarried, and your stepmother has many thoughts. But your father was so infatuated with her, that it made him neglect you."

Tears welled in her eyes: "It was Grandmother who raised you herself, and brought you up."

"I know you have grievances, your father’s favoritism was obvious while he lived. If not for your abilities, the title would’ve long gone to your second brother, and you’d have fallen victim to that wicked woman! That’s why when you moved away to establish your own residence, Grandmother never said a thing."

"Staying at the old residence, not leaving with you, was because I know that only with me here, like an anchor, would you protect your stepmother and second brother for my sake. Grandmother is selfish, and Grandmother admits it."

"It’s also Grandmother’s fault. The wife I picked for you was promising, but who knew she would die young. You were heartbroken and refused to remarry, leading to a lonely life without a heart companion."

"But as long as I still breathe, the Cao family line cannot be cut off! Can Grandmother rely on your second brother like this? Otherwise, after I pass, how will I face our ancestors?"

Elder Cao exhaled heavily, but his expression remained extremely grim.

He was travel-worn, clearly having rushed here.

"But Grandmother shouldn’t have allowed the second brother’s wife to be with me..."

He couldn’t continue.

"I thought you pitied that Shu woman."

Old Madam Cao had always been old-fashioned, and marrying a second wife had long been a practice.

She never thought there was anything wrong with it.

"I do pity her."

Old Madam Cao: "She’s filial and sensible, ever since she entered the household, she’s been meticulous towards me. Because of this, I must plan for her."

"You’re clearly aware of what sort of person your stepmother is, aren’t you? The number of servants she’s beaten to death could fill both hands."

She never felt she was wrong.

She even justified it as being good to Second Madam Cao.

"The Shu woman has suffered under her watch. She couldn’t conceive a child, and when it was discovered it was your second brother’s fault, your stepmother couldn’t bear to take it out on her son, so she treated her less than human."

"She’s an honest one, too afraid to speak up, yet your second brother is useless, watching helplessly as she’s disciplined without protecting her."

"There’s much that I know of, what about what I don’t know?"

Without a child, a woman has no standing in her husband’s family.

Old Madam Cao said firmly, "But if she had one, that would be different."

"A child is the Cao family’s heir. As long as it’s under your second brother’s name, your stepmother wouldn’t dare to cause trouble, she’d be too pleased."

"That child is your own blood, you’d have a successor."

"The Shu woman would count as half your wife, she’d have support in her later years."

Old Madam Cao spoke with more self-righteousness: "Grandmother is doing this with her heart on her sleeve, for both your sake and the family’s."

Elder Cao gave a cold laugh.

His gaze was sharp, directly meeting Old Madam Cao’s.

"Is that really true?"

"Isn’t Grandmother doing this deliberately to control me?"

Old Madam Cao was old, with one foot in the grave.

Even without mentioning that one instance, whether the Shu woman was pregnant.

With just the relation alone, for that connection, even if he were angry, for Old Madam Cao, he wouldn’t utterly disregard the second household if she someday passed.

The day he awoke in that haze, the second sister-in-law was long gone.

But Elder Cao remembered amidst the bewilderment, what had transpired.

The Cao Family knew Elder Cao’s temperament; if he knew Second Madam Cao had been involved too, there would certainly be a stir.

Unbeknownst to him, his sister-in-law had already been locked up by the Cao family members.

Elder Cao thought of her as shameless and collusive, feeling they were all shameless, he flared up and left for Jiangnan in anger.

He had originally gone to Jiangnan for an appointment and had specially rushed back to celebrate the Old Madam’s birthday.

But having not yet reached Jiangnan, he learned that Shu had reported the incident to authorities, realizing something was suspicious, he hurried back.

After being pointed out, Old Madam Cao’s face took on an uncomfortable look.

After all, the second grandson was just hopeless; without Qian’s protection indeed...

How could she not know, that Qian refused to stay in the capital for a good appointment, instead insisting on going to Jiangnan! It’s obvious he wanted little entanglement with the second household.

"You!"

She turned pale with anger. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

At that moment, someone was thrown in, tied up tightly and gagged.

It was Second Young Master Cao.

Immediately, Mrs. Cao came running in, crying.

"Qian, why have you tied up your brother? Isn’t this family bonded by blood, have you gone mad?"

But Elder Cao didn’t look at her, stepping forward to grab Second Young Master Cao by the collar.

"You scoundrel!"

"You don’t even have an ounce of dignity left, do you!"

"If you had only schemed against me, I might have looked up to you, but to think you’d even scheme against the one beside your pillow!"

Second Young Master Cao turned pale with fright, unable to breathe.

Elder Cao released his grip, kicked him resentfully in the chest, looked around and declared.

"Today, the Zhou Family are sentenced to execution; the Imperial Censorate could use a break too. No need for them to come over to arrest and question, I will escort my second brother to confess."

Mrs. Cao’s eyes widened: "Are you mad!"

"Now that the scandal is rampant outside, the Cao family’s reputation is thoroughly sullied, and instead of calming the matter, you’d harm your own kin?"

Knowing this step-son hated her, she pled to the Old Madam.

"Mother!"

"Mother, Ancestor, please intervene."

But Elder Cao raised a hand, soon someone entered, carrying rope, to bind Mrs. Cao’s hands.

"Stepmother, do you think you can escape?"

Ignoring Mrs. Cao’s curses, Elder Cao took a deep breath and knelt to the Old Madam who was about to sternly stop him.

"I’ve sent a divorce letter to the Shu Family under the Cao family head’s name."

"Grandmother is confused, but given your advanced age, your sins, I will bear for the sake of your raising me, but I will no longer concern myself with your affairs, or the Cao family’s."

The Old Madam turned pale.

Was this truly to sever ties with the Cao family completely?

She hurriedly cried: "Qian, you..."

Elder Cao: "All of you are guilty, and so am I. Whatever the Imperial Censorate decides, you must accept, and so will I."