"To slander your own sister with these ungrateful wretches, I truly bore you in vain and raised you to be so useless. You're only afraid that offending the Ling family will hinder your son's official career. Let me tell you, as long as this old woman has a breath left, no one will bully my daughter!"
Old Madam Zhao’s eyes blazed as she glared at everyone. The myriad of wrinkles on her face creased together, failing to convey any sense of authority and instead looking utterly ridiculous. Truly, as the mother, so the daughter.
With Old Madam Zhao as a living example, it was inevitable that Madam Zhao would turn out this way.
"Mother, you've finally arrived. Your daughter is about to die of humiliation at the hands of the Ling family!"
Before Madam Zhao herself was seen, her pig-like wailing was heard first. Madam Zhao entered the main hall and knelt directly before Old Madam Zhao, clutching her leg and weeping incessantly.
"My daughter, you have suffered. With me here, no one can bully you again!"
Old Madam Zhao's maternal love erupted as she fiercely protected Madam Zhao behind her, turning to face Old Master Ling. "My daughter has been married into your Ling family for twenty years. How can you divorce her simply because you wish it?"
"The Ling family's decision to divorce is final. If you have any sense, then divorce amicably. This way, it will be more presentable for Madam Zhao and the Zhao family. If you continue to make unreasonable demands, then we will issue a formal letter of divorce and send back that venomous woman, Madam Zhao, to the Zhao family!"
Old Master Ling's tone was resolute. The formidable aura he had gained from years of battlefield combat remained undiminished, stunning the entire Zhao family contingent.
Old Madam Zhao, who had been arrogant and unreasonable moments before, immediately lost her imposing presence.
"You... your Ling family is simply going too far! You have completely forgotten the kindness your late husband bestowed upon your Ling family. You are ungrateful! I will let everyone in the capital know what kind of people your Ling family are – ungrateful, discarding a wife who has been with you through thick and thin. Let's see how the dignitaries and prominent figures of the capital view your Ling family!"
Old Madam Zhao was so enraged she had lost her senses, dredging up old grievances to threaten them.
"Mother, you are truly muddled. Do the Ling family's past kindnesses to our Zhao family not compare to what Father did for Old Master Ling all those years ago..."
"What do you know? Your father saved his life back then. If your father hadn't given him that piece of bread, he would have starved to death long ago. How would the Ling family have today's prosperity? This is what they owe us."
"Mother, you... you've gone mad! Are you willing to sacrifice all of our family, young and old, just for your sister?"
"Brother, I think you're the one who's gone mad. It's the Ling family who have bullied me. As my own brother, you should be helping me, yet you're kicking me while I'm down. You are truly heartless!"
Madam Zhao, having been raised and taught by Old Madam Zhao since childhood, naturally felt emboldened. She pointed directly at her maternal uncle's nose and began to scold him.
*Slap!* A crisp sound echoed. Before her maternal uncle could even lower his raised hand, Madam Zhao, unable to react, was sent sprawling to the ground. Clutching her face, she wailed dramatically.
"You ungrateful wretch! You dare to hit your sister? I should never have given birth to you, you ungrateful wretch!"
Seeing her precious daughter struck, Old Madam Zhao instantly exploded. She charged at her maternal uncle, slamming into him and sending him flying more than two meters.
Upon witnessing this scene, Feng Jin couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Despite her age, Old Madam Zhao was incredibly strong, capable of knocking her maternal uncle so far away. It looked like he was quite seriously injured!
Old Madam Zhao, still furious and wanting to continue her attack, was about to grab her maternal uncle again when soldiers wielding sharp weapons burst in from the doorway, surrounding the entire main hall.
Two soldiers then pressed their spears against Old Madam Zhao's neck, terrifying her into trembling.
Following them, Ling Mo Han entered from behind, his face as dark as a storm cloud.
"Old Madam Zhao, you have quite the audacity to cause such a commotion in the Ling family!"
Ling Mo Han's voice was deep and as cold as ice.
"You, a junior, dare to be so arrogant in front of your elders? Your Ling family is truly formidable. Aren't you afraid of people..."
Old Madam Zhao's words trailed off abruptly. A sharp sword, glinting menacingly, was held at her throat. Any closer and her neck would be sliced open. Terrified, Old Madam Zhao dared not move.
"Old Madam Zhao, at your age, do you not understand that one's words can bring disaster? It would be wise to speak more cautiously in the future."
Ling Mo Han said this with an air of nonchalance, slightly shifting the hand holding the sword. Old Madam Zhao became so weak-kneed that she collapsed onto Madam Zhao.
"I thought Old Madam Zhao would be a tough nut to crack. It seems she's nothing special after all," Ling Mo Han remarked with disdain. With such courage, she dared to barge in and make trouble. She truly didn't know her own limitations.
Uncle Zhao sighed and stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Old Master Ling. "Uncle Ling, my mother is old and foolish, and has committed these actions. I beg your forgiveness. Please, for the sake of my late father's contributions, do not hold this against us. Let us not damage the ties between our two families."
"It is good that you, my nephew, think this way. Though your father gave me only a thin piece of bread, it was a life-saving kindness to me. The descendants of the Ling family will never forget this debt. If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to seek help from the Ling family. When my grandson enters officialdom in the capital, do not forget to have him pay his respects to me."
"Uncle, rest assured, I will certainly have my son call upon you. Uncle, my sister has made many mistakes, but please, grant the Zhao family some face. Can you allow them to divorce amicably? The Zhao family will naturally take her back!"
Uncle Zhao was a sensible man. Continuing this commotion would benefit neither family. Since the Ling family was adamant about divorce, it was better to compromise and seek an amicable separation to preserve their dignity.
"No... no! I will not divorce! I will not divorce! You all wish to... wish to!" Madam Zhao shrieked hysterically. She suddenly stood up and tried to run out.
Uncle Zhao gestured to the maids guarding the door. Two maids stepped forward, restrained Madam Zhao, and bound her tightly with silk cloth, trussing her up like a zongzi.
"Lift her onto the carriage," Uncle Zhao waved his hand and said.
The once arrogant and imperious Madam Zhao was thus bound and left the Ling family through the back door.
"Uncle, rest assured, from now on, I will let my sister retire to our estate in the countryside to recuperate quietly. She will never appear before the Ling family again!"
"You ungrateful wretch, ungrateful wretch! She is your own sister, how can you be so heartless!"
Old Madam Zhao had never expected that the daughter she doted on her entire life would ultimately be dealt with by her own son.
"Mother, stop speaking nonsense. Are you perhaps also gravely ill? The countryside is peaceful. Perhaps you should go to the estate with your sister to recuperate."