Chapter 8: Annulment
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
In the deep silence of the night, Madam Xu found herself unable to sleep, standing at her doorway with a heavy heart, gazing in the direction of the Xu family home, which was just a few streets away. The night sky above their residence was brightly lit by a raging fire, and from afar, the faint, mournful cries of distressed people reached her ears.
“Madam, it’s okay,” reassured Deng Zhi, attempting to comfort her as she grasped Madam Xu’s hand, which felt as cold as ice. She noticed Madam Xu’s body shaking uncontrollably.
Madam Xu’s lips had turned a chilling shade of purple as she trembled, struggling to form words. After a brief pause, she finally spoke in a raspy, charged voice, “So close… just a little more… and the Xu family would have been completely wiped out.”
Despite her despair, she found a sliver of comfort in the thought of her child, a precious blessing that brought her a sense of peace.
As dawn approached, Madam Xu, stiff from the night’s ordeal, tried to move, and was immediately supported by her head maid nearby.
“Has the lord returned?” asked Madam Xu, her voice weak and her complexion pale.
Deng Zhi shook her head sadly, “The lord did not return last night.”
Leaning on Deng Zhi for support, Madam Xu closed her eyes, trying to stifle the rising wave of fear and suspicion. The possibility that her husband might be involved in the calamity was too terrifying to contemplate.
“Madam, we’ve found out what happened. The royal guards stormed the Xu household last night. They discovered a letter written in blood near the madam’s private chambers, beneath a twisted tree. Now, Old Lord Xu is kneeling outside the imperial study, awaiting his trial,” reported Ying Xue, relaying the findings of her investigation.
The news brought a mix of relief and concern to the maids, Ying Xue and Jue Xia. They noticed a slight relaxation in Madam Xu’s posture, though her expression still conveyed worry, possibly indicating a misunderstanding.
Madam Xu remained silent, her lips tightly pressed, absorbing the information without showing any reaction to her maids.
Her unease lingered throughout the day. Ever since marrying Lu Yuan Ze, she felt as though she had gradually lost her independence, becoming increasingly dependent on him. She transitioned from being the most admired lady in the capital to a woman who lived for her husband, devoted her life to their children and home, and in the process, became estranged from her own family, a decision she now regretted.
Lost in her thoughts, she waited until evening, when suddenly, a servant announced the arrival of a member of the Jiang family. This took Madam Xu by surprise; the Jiang family was linked through her eldest son’s marriage arrangement. Their visit, under these tense circumstances, seemed ominous.
The Jiang and Lu families were instrumental in the founding of the nation, renowned for their contributions to scholarship and military prowess, respectively. The Jiangs boasted a lineage of scholars, with the current generation holding a third-rank official post, while the Lus were celebrated for their martial valor during the war. However, Lu Yuan Ze, hindered by frail health and less suited for military endeavors, pursued academics instead. His scholarly efforts saw modest success, which slightly improved with his marriage to Madam Xu, though they never quite reached the Jiang family’s prestige in this era.
“They got some nerve to come here now. In the past, it was the Jiang family who first approached us for a marriage alliance, impressed by Young Master Yan Shu’s talents,” remarked Deng Zhi before assisting the madam out.
But just as they were about to exit the door, Madam Xu paused and looked back, “Enough, we will see what they intend to do. Also, go inside and bring Chao Chao with us.”
Upon entering the front hall, Madam Xu was solemnly greeted by Madam Jiang, who was seated in a side seat. Between them, on the table, sat a tray covered with a red cloth, signaling the gravity of the visit.
“It’s been some time since we last met, Madam Xu. I regret missing the celebration for your child’s full month. Please accept my apologies,” began Madam Jiang, her voice sincere but with an underlying tone that hinted at her real agenda.
Previously, Madam Jiang had seen potential in Lu Yan Shu, but a tragic turn of events had left him severely disabled and prone to outbursts.
With the Xu family in a precarious position, Madam Jiang saw an opportunity to withdraw from their alliance without facing repercussions.
“Our families have been almost as close as kin. I hold no ill will towards the Jiangs,” responded Madam Xu, her voice overly cheerful, masking her internal turmoil.
Madam Jiang appeared momentarily taken aback by Madam Xu’s graciousness.
After a short pause, during which she seemed to gather herself, Madam Jiang got straight to the point: “Let’s be frank, Madam Xu. The engagement between our children must unfortunately be ended.”
This statement deeply shook Madam Xu, challenging her facade of stability.
“Yan Shu now barely clings to life, a state unworthy of any. He cannot be a suitable husband for my Yun Jin. My daughter, being the legitimate heir of our distinguished family, cannot be expected to tie her life to someone in his condition. This marriage should have been annulled long ago,” declared Madam Jiang coldly, seeing the downturn in Madam Xu’s fortunes as justification for her position.
“Was it not for your daughter that my son finds himself in this predicament?” retorted Madam Xu, her voice laced with bitterness.
Her eldest son, once vibrant and full of life, had become a mere shadow of himself, all because he had tried to save Jiang Yun Jin from drowning years ago. While Yun Jin emerged unscathed, Yan Shu sustained lasting injuries from the prolonged exposure to water.
The haunting memory of her son’s selfless act and the subsequent pain it caused weighed heavily on Madam Xu, fueling a deep-seated bitterness that surfaced during such confrontations.
Madam Jiang’s expression hardened, “My daughter stands as the rightful heir of our family. Why should her future be bound to someone in such a diminished state? Moreover, it was Yan Shu’s own choice to rescue her. My daughter didn’t compel him to act! This union undermines our family’s standing and should’ve been dissolved long ago. Your son’s plight is not merely a personal misfortune but a stain on our family’s honor. It’s unreasonable to expect any respectable family to accept him. With his erratic episodes, he’s more suited for seclusion than the responsibilities of a husband. My daughter is humiliated by this connection. It’s a blemish on our history, so I insist on this marriage being annulled!”
“I will not dissolve the marriage!” Madam Xu declared, tears welling up in her eyes, her resolve hardening. She could not stand idly by as the Jiang family disowned Yan Shu, especially under these circumstances.
During this heated exchange, Chao Chao, blissfully unaware of the tension, stretched out her plump little hands, babbling innocently, her light words clashing with the heavy atmosphere.
[Annul, annul, annul, beautiful mama, hurry and annul…]
[She has brought great suffering to my elder brother…]
[Since joining our family, she has treated him with unbearable cruelty…]
Madam Xu’s grip on her tea cup weakened as these thoughts, real or conjured, swirled in her mind, halting her breath. The tea spilled unnoticed as her hands clenched, nails pressing into her skin, drawing blood.
In that moment, the depth of her son’s ordeal pressed painfully upon her.