Chapter 42: Returning to Her Maternal Home After Domestic Violence
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu moved slowly to care for the sick, showing no sense of urgency. Before she even reached the door, she could hear loud scolding coming from within.
“That wicked woman, they’re all heartless! How could they act so terribly, especially when they have such smart and promising children?” The grandmother’s voice was angry, each word almost painful to utter.
When Madam Xu entered, the scolding ceased, but the grandmother still looked deeply upset.
“What has troubled you so, Mother-in-law?” Madam Xu asked, her face portraying outward concern.
“Have you heard about the disgraceful arrest of those shameless people to the north of our city, Mother-in-law? Maybe the concubine’s behavior has upset you. Don’t worry, your husband, the old Marquis, would never have associated with such people,” Madam Xu said, smiling as she poured tea.
The grandmother spoke sadly, “I’m worried about those two children’s futures. They didn’t choose to be born into this.”
Madam Xu grew pensive. Indeed, the children didn’t choose their birth, but one had chosen to steal and destroy books, while the other plotted against her Xu family.
“Mother-in-law, maybe you’re too forgiving. A child’s background affects their morality. Given the concubine’s tricky nature, her children’s legitimacy is doubtful,” Madam Xu said, laughing, blending criticism with humor.
The grandmother looked at Madam Xu, surprised and slightly disapproving.
“Let’s not talk about outsiders. What about Yuan Ze? He hasn’t been home for weeks. As his wife, shouldn’t you be more understanding and patient? What’s wrong with a woman bearing a little more?”
“Once married, a woman’s duty is to her husband’s family. Your parents are old; it’s not right to trouble them further.”
“And if a man makes a mistake, it’s up to us women to be generous and consider whether we’ve done something wrong. Remember, Yuan Ze faced a lot of pressure to marry you. Wasn’t that important?” The grandmother spoke sincerely, aiming to impart wisdom.
Madam Xu remained silent, her lips pressed together, revealing her inner turmoil. Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by someone hurrying to the door.
“Old Madam, Miss Wan Yi has come back unexpectedly…” The maid looked worried, suggesting a problem.
“Why today? Isn’t it just a regular day?” The grandmother wondered if Wan Yi’s return was because of Pei Jiao Jiao’s public embarrassment.
Madam Xu subtly lifted her teacup to her lips, hiding a slight smile. Held in Deng Zhi’s arms, Lu Chao Chao looked around with wide, eager eyes, belying her young age. At just eight months old, Lu Chao Chao, with two small teeth and having taken her first steps with the help of a wall, was already showing early signs of development.
[The show is about to start! The grand event is about to start!] Anticipating the drama about to unfold, Lu Chao Chao skillfully took two teething biscuits from her warm clothing, her small hands finding them in her pocket away from the household staff’s view.
Hearing this, Madam Xu couldn’t hide her pride. Her Chao Chao was truly special.
When Lu Wan Yi entered, she saw her mother and burst into tears. “Mother!” she cried out, overwhelmed with emotion, as she knelt before the elderly lady.
The old lady, shocked by her sudden crying, felt deeply distressed. Her love for Lu Wan Yi, her late-life daughter, made it especially painful to see her in such a state. Lu Wan Yi’s face, showing a handprint and covered in tears, contrasted sharply with her usual strong and prideful presence. In just three months, she seemed much less vibrant, as if her energy had been sapped away.
With a shaky voice, Lu Wan Yi said, “Close the door.” The servants, puzzled, did so, making the room private.
What happened next shocked everyone. Lu Wan Yi, removing her clothes, showed bruises all over her body, making the old lady gasp in shock.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu’s substantial dowry had once ensured that Lu Wan Yi was surrounded by wealth and care, keeping her skin as smooth as porcelain. But now, they saw a distressing sight of abuse: a network of scars and fresh wounds. Some injuries were old and healing, while others, fresh and bleeding, stuck to her clothes, tearing off skin as they were revealed, causing Lu Wan Yi to scream in pain and cry even more.
Seeing this, the old lady was overwhelmed with horror as she exclaimed in disbelief, “Who? Who would dare do this to you?” She was still shaken from her earlier anger, now intensified by what she saw. She didn’t realize how her intense emotions made her hands and feet go numb, her body shaking slightly. Madam Xu used to always watch over her, worried that the stress might cause the old woman a stroke, always looking after her emotional health. But now, faced with this situation, Madam Xu offered nothing but a faint smile.
With a voice full of sadness, Lu Wan Yi revealed her abuser: “It was Gu Ling, Gu Ling himself!”
“He seemed like a nobleman, but he was actually mad!” She poured out her despair. Being married to Gu Ling had shown his true character; he turned to violence when angry, slapping her across the face. But he would always come back, apologizing and acting remorseful and gentle. This cycle of abuse continued, with Gu Ling becoming more violent over time.
This last incident had left her tied up and beaten, showing the extent of his cruelty. It was only through sheer willpower that she managed to escape.
“Sister-in-law, I realize my mistake now. It was all because I couldn’t see him for what he was. I’ve failed to meet the expectations everyone had for me,” Lu Wan Yi said, now humble and kneeling before Madam Xu, a sharp contrast to her previously proud self.
“That Gu Ling is just pretending to be sane. Outside, he appears normal, but at home, he’s a monster who takes out his frustrations on those who can’t defend themselves. He has a history of violence; his previous young wife suffered and died because of him. Mother, I’m afraid he won’t stop until I end up like his previous wife!” Thinking of Gu Ling’s anger made her shiver with fear. She was determined not to return to the Gu family.
Hearing this, the old lady looked at Madam Xu, desperate: “We must end this marriage, get them divorced! This man will kill Wan Yi!” Her distress was evident.
“A man who hits women is beyond saving. Divorce is the only option!”
[What a hypocrite! When my scummy father was abusive, Mama was told to reflect on herself… Now, when her own daughter suffers, she demands justice and a divorce… She’s getting what she deserves. Let things happen as they may.] Lu Chao Chao thought to herself, her small face breaking into a wide smile.
Madam Xu replied with a look of false concern that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Mother-in-law, this issue isn’t as simple as it seems. In matters of marital conflict, not all complaints are taken the same way. Often, these disagreements are temporary, resolved as quickly as they come up, with the anger fading away immediately. We need to be cautious, considering our words and actions carefully. We should also understand the pressures faced by a man, especially in his career. It’s not unusual for a wife to share some of her husband’s stress. After all…”
She then looked at Lu Wan Yi, whose face showed shock and despair, “Wan Yi is known for her strong personality, which can be both an advantage and a challenge in a marriage. It’s possible that any issues with her husband could stem from misunderstandings or even her own mistakes. If Wan Yi sees this as a chance for self-reflection and change, couldn’t the situation get better?”
“Ending a marriage is a serious issue, much more significant than the collapse of a temple. I can’t, with a clear conscience, contribute to splitting up a married couple,” Madam Xu declared strongly, maintaining her position amidst the drama.
Turning to Lu Wan Yi, she advised, “And you, Wan Yi, think of our mother’s health. At her age, this kind of upsetting news is too much. Remember, once a daughter marries, she begins a new chapter, one that her birth family shouldn’t interfere with too much. Isn’t that true?”
“This is what you and Mother-in-law have always taught me,” Madam Xu reminded them, holding up a mirror to their past teachings in a moment filled with reflection.
[What a strong position, Mama truly deserves respect!] In the midst of this, the youngest onlooker, feeling a childlike impulse to applaud her mother’s authoritative display, almost clapped her hands.
But Deng Zhi, always observant, quietly stopped the child from the act, preserving the seriousness of the moment.
MC is truly enjoying become professional melon eater