The street cleared of people, and in Qi Yue’s office, A’ru brought a cup of tea to the old woman. The old woman’s hand still held Yan’er tightly, unwilling to let go for even a moment.

“Young Madam, your guess was correct,” she said, her breath still unsteady, looking at Qi Yue. “Our Liu family did have such a child; it was either the one I bore, or the daughter the wretched old man sired!” Qi Yue didn't know what to say and managed a dry laugh or two.

“Uh, just call me Qi Yue,” she said. “I’m not the Young Madam anymore.” The old woman looked at her.

“Child, what are you being silly for? How can you let them off so easily?

Stop being foolish. They made you unhappy, so why should you let them be happy?

Don't leave. Let’s see who gets sick of whom,” she declared.

Qi Yue tugged at the corner of her mouth; this old woman was truly… “Don’t worry, leave it to me. Isn't it just because your mother’s family has no one to back you?

I’ll stand up for you. I’ll go curse the Residence of Marquis Dingxi right now.

If they won't let you in, I’ll make that wretched old man write something to verbally flay the Residence of Marquis Dingxi. That old thing only has that much skill left,” the old woman said with resentment.

“No, no need,” Qi Yue said, feeling a flush of embarrassment. Here, the old woman let out a long breath, then turned to Yan’er, her expression doting.

“I’m taking Yan’er back,” she said. At this, she suddenly raised her eyebrows.

“For them, the Residence of Marquis Dingxi, to actually drive out our orphans and widows—she was a proper young lady of a Marquis’s house! They don’t care about the title of Young Lady of the Marquis’s house, but she is still a daughter-in-law of our Liu family.

How can a daughter-in-law of the Liu family be driven out so easily!” A daughter-in-law of the Liu family; in reality, the divorce letter had been written long ago… Qi Yue thought to herself, but naturally, she wouldn't say it aloud now. “It’s just that Yan’er she…” she began.

Old Madam Liu interrupted her. “Yan’er is a child of our Liu family; of course, I’m taking her back,” she said, her tone leaving no room for refusal.

She glanced towards the door, gripping Yan’er’s hand tightly. “Everything the Liu family owes Yan’er, they must return to me!” It’s what they owe you… Qi Yue wiped her brow again.

Indeed, the more suppressed they are, the more perverse they become. This seemingly timid old woman could explode with such ferocity.

At this rate, Old Master Liu was probably in for some trouble. However, this was truly cause for great joy, and Qi Yue couldn't help but laugh.

That’s right, what is owed must eventually be repaid. Chang Chunlan and her daughter were ultimately taken away by Old Madam Liu.

Yan’er fussed, unwilling to leave Qi Yue, crying out that she wanted to study medicine. “Study, study whatever you want,” Old Madam Liu answered without a hitch, taking Yan’er’s hand, looking at her as if she were her very heart’s treasure.

“Whenever you want to come, Grandmother will prepare a carriage for you. Whatever you want to learn, we’ll learn.

Wherever you want to go, we’ll go. From now on, you can walk sideways in our house; if anyone dares say a word to you, Grandmother will tear their mouth apart.” Even Chang Chunlan couldn't listen to this.

“Young Madam, wait for me. I’ll go to the Residence of Marquis Dingxi right now and scold them for bullying you…” the old woman said again.

Startled, Qi Yue quickly waved her hands, urging Chang Chunlan to hurry and get them away. Watching the carriage rattle away, Qi Yue stood at the entrance motionless for a long while.

This was the best possible outcome. Divorced women had a difficult time in this era; they were ultimately different from her.

“How are you different? Aren’t you a woman too?” A’ru disliked hearing this and said.

Qi Yue laughed heartily but said nothing. “You… you miss the Young Lord very much, don’t you?” A’ru asked quietly after hesitating for a moment.

Qi Yue quickly waved her hand dismissively. “Hey, don’t speak nonsense.

You can think whatever you want, just don’t pin it on me,” she quickly said. Stubborn mouth.

“If you didn’t miss him, why did you call out his name?” A’ru blurted out. Qi Yue reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“What nonsense are you speaking? Who—who called his name… I don’t talk in my sleep… You’re trying to trick me… You were eavesdropping again…” she stammered.

“The Young Lord has feelings for you too; there will surely be a way, Young Madam…” A’ru looked at her, speaking with a touch of fervor. These words, however, calmed Qi Yue down.

“There’s no turning back once the arrow leaves the bow, A’ru; don’t overthink it,” she smiled, reaching out to pat A’ru’s shoulder. “Black and white characters are set; if I turn back, won't everything I've done so far become a joke?

Alright, stop fretting. If you truly care for me and genuinely want me to be happier, why don’t you…” A’ru looked up at her.

Qi Yue rubbed the tip of her nose. “Prepare a few more dishes tonight, and bring a pot of fine wine…” she said with a smile.

A’ru huffed and stormed inside, shaking her hand. Although Qi Yue and Chang Chunlan repeatedly tried to dissuade her, Old Madam Liu still went to the Residence of Marquis Dingxi to cause a scene afterward.

Compared to Old Master Liu’s venomous tongue, Old Madam Liu’s shrewish tantrum was even harder for the Marquis of Dingxi to endure. Old Madam Liu rarely showed her face in public.

After being in-laws for seven or eight years, Madam Xie and the Marquis of Dingxi were seeing this old lady for the first time. They had assumed the reclusive old lady was as meek as dried mud, never expecting her to be such an explosive firecracker.

It was truly strange; how could a firecracker remain dormant for half a lifetime? And why did it suddenly explode?

And why did it detonate right at their Residence of Marquis Dingxi? “It’s one thing for you to drive out my family’s daughter-in-law, but to drive out your own excellent daughter-in-law as well?

It seems when you have a stepmother, you also get a stepfather,” Old Madam Liu sneered, sitting in the main hall. Now, the Marquis of Dingxi reverted to his usual response when confronted with trouble: a single word—evasion.

Out of sight, out of mind. The female relatives were naturally attended to by Madam Xie.

Madam Xie was most sensitive to the term 'stepmother,' and her already ashen face turned even grayer. As the saying goes, do not strike a person's face or reveal their sore spots when scolding.

But Old Madam Liu completely ignored this basic social rule; no, she followed this principle perfectly, just in reverse. “It’s not your place to meddle in our family’s affairs.

Mind your own business,” Madam Xie said coldly. “The affairs of the world are managed by the people of the world; why can’t others manage them?

Since you dare to act, you must dare to be spoken about! When the Emperor first ascended the throne and quarreled with the Empress, wanting to depose her, all the court officials submitted memorials rebuking the Emperor.

The Emperor’s and Empress’s matters were family matters, weren’t they? What?

Did those officials who spoke up become busybodies? Are your family’s matters more significant than the Emperor’s?” Old Madam Liu scoffed.

Madam Xie shot up abruptly. This woman!

This old hag! What kind of nonsense was she spouting!

Why drag the Emperor’s household into this! One was sickeningly pedantic, the other disgustingly vulgar.

They truly were a couple! Madam Xie trembled with rage; she finally understood why the Marquis of Dingxi had shunned Old Master Liu like a serpent or a scorpion back then.

Then she recalled that time Old Master Liu had cursed the Marquis of Dingxi and Qi Yue Niang in the main hall, and she, listening from the back parlor, had been happily laughing. If that woman knew now, she must be laughing just as happily.

If it weren't for that woman! How could this old crone have come to cause trouble!

Vile servant! Madam Xie clenched her fists.

“Enough. Aren’t you just accepting favors, eating their food, and now you’ve come to bark a few times to curry favor?” she said coldly.

“Don’t wave that great banner here.” “I repay kindness received; it is only right. If I speak of it, people will praise me for being loyal and righteous.

How is that worse than you people? Disloyal, unfilial, heartless, and unjust,” Old Madam Liu retorted, curling her lip.

Madam Xie trembled with anger. “You…” she pointed her finger at Old Madam Liu.

“I’m talking about you,” Old Madam Liu quickly cut in, rising from her chair as well. “Don’t be foolish.

Cleverly lower your head, say a few soft words, and invite Madam Qi back. Then this matter will pass.

If you keep pushing, you’ll end up with nothing. Families like yours—who would still dare marry their daughters to you?

Don’t wait until you are old and have no dutiful daughter-in-law to mourn you…” Madam Xie swayed, and fortunately, Su Mama was quick enough to support her. “That is not for you to worry about.

We are immediately arranging a marriage,” Madam Xie said after taking a deep breath, her face pale. “A new daughter-in-law will be entering soon.

Tell that woman to give up hope this lifetime; if she wants to wear mourning weeds for me, she should try next lifetime.” What? “Arranging a marriage?

What marriage are you talking about?” Old Madam Liu paused, asking. This wasn't right.

This wasn't what she had intended by coming here… Madam Xie took several deep breaths, straightened her back, and looked at her with a cold sneer. “Didn’t that woman tell you why the Emperor issued the edict for their heli?” she said coldly.

“It’s because the Emperor is going to take a new wife for our Yuncheng.” Old Madam Liu’s eyes widened. Impossible… “Go tell that woman to stop jumping around and making trouble.

She can forget about entering our house in this lifetime,” Madam Xie said, tilting her chin up, looking down with mockery. “Oh, as if anyone wants to enter,” Old Madam Liu recovered, immediately huffing without showing weakness.

“Who would want to serve a stepmother-in-law like you! If you want a good daughter-in-law like Madam Qi, you should try in the next lifetime,” she retorted.

Madam Xie was so angered she nearly fainted. Old Madam Liu swaggered out of the Marquis’s residence.

The moment she sat in the carriage, her triumphant expression vanished, replaced by sighs and lamentations. “Bad, bad.

I’ve made things worse this time,” she slapped her thigh. “I meant to support Madam Qi and force the Marquis’s residence to invite her back, but I only indulged my own satisfaction.

How did I end up forcing that stepmother-in-law to say she’s marrying someone else? This is terrible…” She repeatedly blamed herself, sighing heavily.

“Old Madam, should we still go to Qianjin Hall?” the maidservant asked. “Go where?” Old Madam Liu glared.

“How can I go to claim credit now? Hurry up and take me home.” So Madam Qi unwittingly took the blame for you… The maidservant muttered internally.

Old Madam Liu clearly realized this too, her expression becoming awkward. “Madam Qi is such a good person; perhaps she can find another good match,” she said weakly.

Yeah, right… The maidservant thought, but she maintained a smiling agreement outwardly. “Hurry up, hurry up,” Old Madam Liu quickly pulled down the carriage curtain and urged them on.

The carriage sped away from the Prefecture of Yongqing in a whirl. Recommended for you: The East Bed The east wind blows, the war drums beat; If I transmigrate as a villainous supporting character, who fears whom?

Waking up to find herself in the erotic rebirth and household intrigue novel she read last night, she’s stuck being a weak, brainless, Mary Sue supporting character. Amidst plot developments that cannot be changed, she finds an opportunity for a comeback, kicking the female lead aside to claim the throne successfully.