Xiao Mo was not as talkative as usual, merely stating, "I knew it all along; I knew it on my birthday.

With Second Brother's temperament, he wouldn't easily celebrate a birthday with just anyone.

At home, every time Father suggested celebrating yours, you refused, yet you told He'er you wanted to celebrate." "I care for He'er.

Is Xiao Mo unhappy?" Wen Ningxuan looked at Xiao Mo and asked.

Xiao Mo looked at Wen Ningxuan but didn't speak.

After a long pause, he shook his head and turned to look out of the carriage window.

He seemed lost in thought, markedly quieter than normal.

This quiet Xiao Mo seemed suddenly older.

Logically, Xiao Mo wasn't that young, but because he was the youngest son, the family naturally doted on him, and coupled with his own lack of focus, everyone continued to treat him like a child. "When does Second Brother plan to tell Father?" Xiao Mo finally asked after some silence. "We'll wait a while longer.

He'er's family still has some matters to settle," Wen Ningxuan replied.

Xiao Mo only nodded lightly and remained silent until they returned to town.

Wen Ningxuan alighted from the carriage at the silversmith's, and Xiao Mo walked off towards home by himself.

Wen Ningxuan watched the departing carriage without a word, then turned and entered the silver shop.

At Lin He's house, the day after Wen Ningxuan left, Madam Zhao, accompanied by Hong Xia, arrived early.

They claimed they had heard about Yu'er’s situation.

However, since Madam Zhao and Madam He had a massive falling out previously, and Yu'er and Madam He were currently at Qing Shan's home, Madam Zhao refused to go there.

Thus, she came to Lin He’s, suggesting that Lin He’s household send a maid to summon Da Jiang, asking Da Jiang to bring Yu'er to Lin He’s residence.

Madam Huang also wanted to see how Yu'er truly was, so she dispatched a junior maidservant to call for Da Jiang.

When Da Jiang returned, he brought Yu'er along.

Madam He followed close behind.

This was the first time Lin He had seen Yu'er since her marriage.

Yu'er was utterly unrecognizable compared to how she was before marriage.

Before wedlock, Yu'er was slightly plump, in the bloom of her youth.

Madam He never let her do any chores, and her skin was so delicate it seemed one could pinch water from it.

Though Yu'er wasn't strikingly beautiful, she was a soft, tender girl.

But the Yu'er before Lin He now was a completely different person.

Her skin was so tanned that her original complexion was invisible, and she was so thin it looked as though her flesh had withered away.

A stranger would never guess what Yu'er had looked like originally.

Seeing Yu'er in this state, Madam Zhao and Madam Huang both burst into heartbroken tears.

Madam Zhao pulled Yu'er to sit before her, her voice thick with emotion as she stroked Yu'er's face. "Yu'er, what has become of you? What suffering have you endured at your in-laws' home? How could you have changed so much in just a few months?" "Yes, Yu'er, tell Second Mother, how exactly did your mother-in-law abuse you into this state? Why didn't you come back and tell us?" Madam Huang also asked, her voice choked with tears.

Yu'er, beside them, was already crying too hard to speak.

It was Madam He who wept aloud, "Mother, Second Sister-in-law, you must seek justice for my Yu'er! That mother-in-law of hers is simply inhuman.

My Yu'er has to do all the housework! She hides the good food to eat with her own son, giving Yu'er only two coarse steamed buns for an entire day's meal, and just a bowl of rice gruel in the morning—meaning she eats only once a day! During the busy farming season, she still drove my Yu'er out to the fields alone.

When Yu'er couldn't manage the work anymore, she beat her mercilessly.

Look at Yu'er’s body, and the lumps on her head.

Several patches of hair have been yanked out! Oh, my poor daughter, why is your life so bitter?" Hong Xia had been sitting quietly, initially planning to remain silent upon seeing Madam He arrive.

But looking at Yu'er's condition and hearing Madam He's account, she spoke up with sudden anger. "That Zhao Yu's mother is truly vicious! What about Zhao Yu? Is he dead? His own wife is being ruined like this, can't he see it? This is a new marriage; does he not intend to keep this wife at all?" "Yes, Yu'er, Zhao Yu—was he just standing by while his mother beat you?" Madam Zhao also demanded indignantly. "This doesn't concern him.

He usually doesn't know anything; he spends most of his time studying with his classmates at the academy and isn't home often.

His mother hides all these things from him.

When she beat me this time, she had already sent him away, so he was unaware.

When I returned to my parents' home, he likely didn't even know; I came back on my own," Yu'er interjected, speaking up for Zhao Yu.

Although Yu'er tried to excuse Zhao Yu, Madam Zhao and the others clearly did not agree.

Zhao Yu lived at home every day; how could he not know if his mother regularly abused his wife? How could he not notice his wife changing this drastically in just a few months? There were only two explanations: either Zhao Yu never cared about Yu'er and didn't know what she was originally like, or he pretended not to know, allowing his wife to be bullied by his mother.

Both possibilities were unforgivable. "Elder Brother, given Yu'er's current state, what do you intend to do?" Hong Xia asked Da Jiang. "If no one comes from Zhao Yu's side, then Yu'er will stay at her parents' home.

We'll let her stay here forever if need be," Madam He interjected. "If someone does come from their side, do you intend to send Yu'er back like this every time?" Madam Zhao cut to the heart of the matter. "Then Mother, what do you suggest we do?" Madam He asked. "Elder Brother, Yu'er was harmed by you two.

Now, this matter falls to you.

You two must go to Zhao Yu's house tomorrow and summon him.

With Yu'er's mother-in-law acting this way, there is no other path but separation of the household," Madam Zhao declared. "Separation? If they separate, Yu'er and Zhao Yu will have nothing! That mother-in-law is unlikely to give them anything.

Furthermore, Yu'er’s dowry is meant for her future security; we cannot touch it!" Madam He exclaimed. "Very well, then send Yu'er back tomorrow.

Once her mother-in-law dies, everything will be Yu'er's.

But her mother-in-law seems physically stronger than Yu'er right now—who knows if Yu'er will even survive long enough to inherit anything! Madam He, has your mind gone astray? Yu'er is like this, and you are still thinking about those possessions? Are you willing to trade your daughter's life for those things?" Madam Zhao’s words were piercingly direct. "Yes, Elder Brother, Yu'er is in this state; only separation will suffice.

In the separation, the worst-case scenario is taking nothing from the mother-in-law, just securing Yu'er's dowry.

Yu'er's dowry is quite substantial; using a small portion for now won't hurt.

They can then rent a few acres of land and live their lives.

It will be hard, but at least they will be free," Madam Huang added.