'Smack!'
Feng Jin grabbed the approaching wet nurse and slapped her hard.
The wet nurse, losing her balance, stumbled a few steps and fell heavily to the ground.
"I'd like to see who dares to be so presumptuous! This is the East Courtyard, Auntie your Second Branch does not own this place. Who gave you the guts to shout about beating and killing here!"
Feng Jin stood in front, shielding Ling Wan firmly behind her, her eyes glinting coldly as she glared at Madam Zhao and her entourage.
The slapped wet nurse, clutching her aching face, stood up and immediately hid behind Madam Zhao.
"You… you're simply out of your mind! Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. I am your elder, and you dare to hit my person!"
This slap was not on the wet nurse, but on her face. Madam Zhao was seething with rage.
Feng Jin met Madam Zhao's gaze without fear: "If it were anyone else, I would still dare to hit them!"
Madam Zhao was taken aback, her lips trembled, and the words she was about to utter were swallowed back.
"What are you doing!" A deep, authoritative voice rang out from behind them, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Old Master Ling, looking at the mess in the room, frowned. His gaze swept around the room before landing on Madam Zhao.
Feeling guilty under his gaze, Madam Zhao lowered her head even further, not daring to look up.
Second Master Ling, who had followed her, also had a vague idea of what was happening and couldn't help but feel worried.
"Greetings, Grandfather," Feng Jin said respectfully.
"Rise. You are pregnant; don't stand. Sit down quickly."
Old Master Ling's eyes were filled with pity and affection as he looked at Feng Jin, hurrying her to sit down.
"Yes, Grandfather!"
With Cai Qing's help, Feng Jin sat down.
Old Master Ling's gaze fell on Madam Zhao, and he snorted displeasantly, "What are you doing in the East Courtyard?"
"Replying to Father, this daughter-in-law is… is…"
Madam Zhao was greatly frightened and stammered, unable to articulate anything coherent.
Fortunately, Second Master Ling was quick-witted and quickly interjected, "Father, it was I who asked my niece-in-law to come and visit, knowing that she had returned to the manor."
"Visit…" Feng Jin scoffed contemptuously, "Auntie your Second Branch's visit almost resulted in a death."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Madam Zhao retorted flusteredly.
"You, be quiet!" Old Master Ling roared, then looked at Feng Jin, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Grandfather, Auntie your Second Branch resents Mu Zhu for staying in Ying Zhong Commandery. I instigated it. She came to the East Courtyard just now to demand justice from me. Ling Wan said a few words, and Auntie your Second Branch had the wet nurses slap her. I, to protect Ling Wan, then clashed with Auntie your Second Branch. I beg Grandfather for forgiveness."
Ling Wan, being a shrewd person, immediately added fuel to the fire. She knelt before Old Master Ling and cried, "Grandfather, it's all my fault. Auntie your Second Branch came in aggressively just now. I was worried about hurting Eldest Sister-in-law and the child in her belly, so I argued with Auntie your Second Branch for a few words. Because Second Uncle cursed me, calling me a lowly slut born of a maid, and wanted the wet nurses to beat me, Eldest Sister-in-law was only protecting me, which is why I offended Auntie your Second Branch. Grandfather, if you want to punish someone, punish me!"
"Good child, this is not your fault. The ground is cold, get up. You protected your Eldest Sister-in-law and the child, and you did the right thing! The one who did wrong is someone else!"
Old Master Ling's sharp gaze fell on Madam Zhao, making her legs go weak. She immediately knelt down and repeatedly begged for mercy, "Father, this daughter-in-law knows her mistake!"
"You know your mistake? I think you are deliberately making mistakes. I have long said that letting Mu Zhu stay in Ying Zhong Commandery was for him to gain experience, but you, with malicious intent, have been slandering Feng Jin. Today, you even committed assault in public. Do you really think I am dead!"
"Father, this daughter-in-law was just momentarily foolish. This daughter-in-law truly knows her mistake!"
Madam Zhao trembled in fear, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy, looking to Second Master Ling for help.
Although he resented Madam Zhao's foolishness, after all, they had been married for twenty years. Second Master Ling still pleaded for her, "Father, Zhao Shi was also momentarily foolish. The cause was her deep love for her son. For the sake of this love for her son, please forgive her this time. She will never make such a mistake again!"
"I will never make a mistake again!" Madam Zhao quickly said.
"Never make a mistake again. How many times have you said this, and how many times have you made mistakes? Indulging a child is like killing a child. Marrying an unvirtuous wife brings disaster to three generations. When marrying, one should marry a virtuous woman. It is all my fault for marrying this poisonous woman, which has caused the Second Branch's descendants to decline and taught my children to be arrogant and useless. Today, I will settle this for you and divorce Zhao Shi!"
Upon hearing the mention of divorce, Madam Zhao became so agitated that she fainted dead away.
"Father, this…" Second Master Ling quickly caught Madam Zhao, not knowing what to do. Why was divorce being mentioned again?
"Take Zhao Shi back, and send a divorce letter to her maternal family. Invite Zhao family members here to discuss the divorce!"
"Father, no matter what, she has been married to me for twenty years and has borne me two children. If she has no merit, she has at least endured hardship. Moreover, I am already at the age of forty. If I divorce her at this time, wouldn't it make people laugh?"
Seeing that Second Master Ling was still trying to intercede for Madam Zhao, Old Master Ling was instantly infuriated. He slammed the table, "You are truly foolish! I have long advised you that this Zhao Shi is wicked and foolish, yet you insisted on believing her words and made so many mistakes. Don't you understand yet!"
"Today, I will make my stance clear: either you send Zhao Shi back with a divorce letter, or you pack your things and leave the Ling family with Zhao Shi. From today onwards, I will not acknowledge you as my son!"
Having said this, Old Master Ling stood up and left, not daring to look at Second Master Ling.
"Father!" Second Master Ling panicked and quickly ran after him.
As people left one after another, the crowded room suddenly became empty. Feng Jin looked a little dazed and turned to Ling Wan, "So you're divorcing Auntie your Second Branch just like that?"
The progress was too rapid. Feng Jin still had a lot of arguments prepared for Madam Zhao that she hadn't used, and before she could react, Madam Zhao was already announced as divorced, leaving Feng Jin momentarily stunned.
"It seems so." Ling Wan was also a little dazed, her tone sounding a bit vacant.
"Why is it so chaotic? What happened?" Ling Mo Han, upon returning, saw servants and wet nurses carrying the unconscious Madam Zhao away, and Second Master Ling looking dejected.
Feng Jin recounted the entire incident to Ling Mo Han.
"Grandfather told Second Uncle to divorce his wife!" Ling Mo Han was also somewhat surprised. Divorce was no small matter.
"Yes! I think Grandfather is serious this time. He's even sent a divorce letter to Madam Zhao's maternal family, asking them to come and take her back."
It seemed that Madam Zhao was destined to be divorced this time. In the end, she had brought this upon herself and could not blame others.