It hit upon the very issue Tong Xiyan had always avoided facing: her future!

Tong Xiyan’s body trembled almost imperceptibly; her face turned crimson with anger. She lifted her hand and pointed at Madam Jiang, unable to utter a word for a long time.

"Fourth Miss, don’t be upset. I’m just speaking out of goodwill. You see, you were once the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. Even though you’ve left, people still know about it. They will think of your husband when they speak about your well-being and future plans. Don’t think I wish ill upon you—quite the contrary. I hope you live well, so our family looks better when people talk about us!" She sighed, saying, "As I see it, the Fourth Miss finding another marriage might be difficult. It’s really difficult to find a woman who remarries in the Capital after a divorce... As for staying with your natal family, letting your brother and sister-in-law support you, I hear First Master Tong and First Young Madam Tong are very good people. I saw First Young Madam Tong today, and she’s indeed a kind person, but even kind people have tempers. If you stay at home, when her children grow up, having an aunt like you wouldn’t be a respectable matter. Not to mention the future—let’s talk about now. First Master Tong has been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, with a promising career ahead. Having a daughter like you is also a burden. Tell me if I’m right!"

Her voice was very low, and Daiju and the others could only see Tong Xiyan talking with her but couldn’t hear the specifics.

Tong Xiyan’s vision went dark, and she clenched her fists tightly, her eyes uncontrollably reddening.

Madam Jiang, seeing Tong Xiyan’s ashen face, felt a surge of satisfaction. She covered her face with a handkerchief and laughed lightly, saying word by word, "If I were Fourth Miss, I would consider it better to return home, making it easier for everyone."

Tong Xiyan looked at her, tears streaming uncontrollably, her face stinging as if slapped. She clenched her palms and gritted out, "What I do is none of your concern. Madam Jiang, if you have leisure, you’d better mind your own business."

"I’m very well, indeed," Madam Jiang said, smiling like a flower, "My mother-in-law treats me well, my sisters-in-law get along, and my husband cares for me so much that he fears I’ll be tired managing the household. The other day, when he found out that I used my own money for household expenses, he specifically reimbursed me..." She began to giggle, looking at Tong Xiyan, "Fourth Miss should carefully consider my advice. My mother walks closely with Master Puning. If Fourth Miss needs anything, feel free to find me."

"You..." Tong Xiyan’s vision went black, and her body stumbled. Madam Jiang was reminded of that night when Jiang Shilin returned drunk from Madam Mei’s side, holding her while murmuring "Xiyan... Xiyan..." The Jiang family is shameless. Old Madam Jiang was just a workshop girl who climbed to be the mother of a third-place and fifth-rank official, yet she acts as if she’s wearing a Dragon Robe? Madam Jiang’s sister-in-law is the same, ignorant and devoid of shame, yet she tries to pretend to be a noblewoman, constantly talking about rules and face. If she truly cared for face, she wouldn’t have laid a hand on her daughter-in-law’s dowry!

Jiang Shilin was no different; he clearly had someone else in his heart yet married her—what did he think she was?

She had to see what was so good about Tong Xiyan. Humph, if she were really that good, if she were really as understanding and dignified as the rumors said, how could she shamelessly stay at home? She should have gone to the temple long ago; why pretend here today!

"Madam Jiang!" Suddenly, Xiqiu’s smiling voice drifted over. Madam Jiang turned, startled, to see Xiqiu smiling as she stood behind her, saying, "Oh, so you’re here. I was searching all over for you."

"Fourth Madam." Madam Jiang, after a brief moment of awkwardness, smiled and said, "What a coincidence, running into Fourth Miss in the courtyard, so we were chatting here. Sorry for the inconvenience." Pausing, she asked, "Why were you looking for me, Fourth Madam?"

"Oh, Lord Jiang has sent someone from the outer courtyard, saying he needs to see you." Xiqiu naturally walked over to take Tong Xiyan’s arm and looked at Madam Jiang, "I don’t know what it’s about, but Lord Jiang seems to have already come in. He couldn’t wander around freely and is waiting for you outside."

Madam Jiang was stunned upon hearing this. Her husband also came today? She furrowed her brows secretly; could he have known that she came to speak with Tong Xiyan?

Impossible! She shook her head subtly. How could he know in the outer courtyard that she came to see Tong Xiyan? Her thoughts shifted, and she bowed slightly to Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan, smiling, "...I wonder what the urgent matter is that led him here. Fourth Madam, Fourth Miss, I bid you farewell!" Saying this, she led her maid and servants away.

Xiqiu furrowed her brows, looking at the dazed and tearful Tong Xiyan, and called, "Fourth Sister!" Tong Xiyan slowly raised her eyes, then suddenly threw herself into Xiqiu’s arms, clinging to her as she cried softly, repressively...

"Sixth Sister." She sobbed, her words barely coherent, "He... he’s truly cruel."

Xiqiu knew who she was referring to through Tong Xiyan’s reaction. She could almost guess what Madam Jiang had just said. She furrowed her brows and, holding Tong Xiyan, sighed with a voice full of empathy, "In my memory, Fourth Sister always had such a bright disposition. Even when upset, it was never for long, and she never bore grudges. I’ve never seen her cry... Yet now, I often see you crying. Do you remember since you met Jiang Shilin, you’ve cried more than you’ve laughed when you’ve talked about him to me..."

Tong Xiyan was taken aback by the words, and Xiqiu soothingly patted her back, calming her emotions, "I know that’s the nature of love—to tie your heart to someone else’s, to resonate with their emotions, sometimes even losing yourself. But we should think about whether you’re truly happy that way. If you are, why are you always crying?"

She pushed Tong Xiyan away, using a handkerchief to wipe the tears from her face, speaking softly, "That is to say, this happiness and sadness are just like marriage—whether you’re happy is something only you know, just like only she knows the true state of her marriage, even though she portrays it as happy." She was speaking about Tong Xiyan but also about Madam Jiang. She described her marriage as happy, but only she would know the true story.

Tong Xiyan understood, and looked at Xiqiu, saying, "He must treat her well. Otherwise, why would he follow her here?"

Xiqiu chuckled softly, turning back to Chunliu, instructing, "Go fetch some water for Fourth Miss to wash up." She added, "Keep it quiet."

Chunliu acknowledged and left, and Xiqiu took Tong Xiyan into Xiao Yanzheng’s main hall to sit down, adding, "How do you know he came after Madam Jiang? Maybe there’s another reason."

"You mean?" Tong Xiyan was taken aback, looking at Xiqiu doubtfully, while Xiqiu smiled and nodded.

Tong Xiyan was stunned, and Xiqiu leaned in to whisper conspiratorially, with a mischievous smile, "I heard Madam Jiang came back home this time after a big quarrel..."