"...Dear Madam, please rest assured. Since Huahua is our Song Family’s daughter-in-law, we will spare no cost in treating her illness, regardless of how much silver it takes. Our Song Family won’t even bat an eye... However, dear madam, as you know, in this world, there are matters beyond the power of medicine. The gods are observing from above, and surely you understand this better than I do."

As it was getting late, Old Madam Song asked Lady Gu and Lian Duo to stay the night. However, that night and until the next morning when they left after breakfast, Lady Gu and Lian Duo were unable to see Lian Huahua again.

On the way back, Lady Gu felt dazed. Her mind kept replaying Old Madam Song’s words. Her concern and sadness over Lian Huahua’s future even overshadowed her fear of returning to Thirty Mile Camp.

Upon arriving at Thirty Mile Camp, her worry and sorrow reached their peak. She felt that her life held no more hope, and thus she had no reason to continue enduring Lady Zhou’s torment.

The longstanding resentment between her and Lady Zhou, coupled with the blow from the visit to the Song Family of the County City, left her thinking of nothing else but to have a showdown with Lady Zhou, to break things once and for all and seek some relief.

However, she did not expect that Lady Zhou would not only humiliate her by stripping her of her clothes and driving her out of the Lian Family, but would also target Lian Duo. If it were only Lady Zhou scheming, she might not be afraid, but she clearly saw Lian Manman swayed by Lady Zhou’s words.

Lady Gu was frightened. In this day and age, if Lian Manman’s family wished to end her and her daughter’s lives, it would be all too easy. Moreover, without Lady Zhou’s instigation, if Lian Manman’s family still held a grudge over past matters, they would have ample reason to eliminate her and her daughter.

She had no desire to die. More importantly, she couldn’t let Lian Duo die. Not only did she want Lian Duo to live, but she also hoped Lian Duo to live well within the Lian Family, marry well in the future, and enjoy a life of prosperity and happiness.

And regarding Lian Huahua, since Old Madam Song had not yet acted, there might still be room for reconciliation. Lady Gu could guess what Old Madam Song was wary of.

Not for herself, but for the sake of Lian Huahua and Lian Duo, she could not act on impulse. Even in great pain, she had to endure under Lady Zhou’s hand. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

It was with this mindset that Lady Gu pulled Lian Duo to kneel before Lady Zhou, admitting fault and pleading for mercy.

Lady Gu’s attitude in begging for mercy was incredibly humble and submissive, seemingly easing Lady Zhou’s anger slightly, but Lady Zhou would not let Lady Gu off that easily.

"Gu Dongqing," Lady Zhou called Lady Gu by her maiden name, "get up, don’t kneel in our Old Lian Family’s house. Who are you to kneel before me, in this vast and open land? I cannot bear it. Now, get out, leave our Old Lian Family... Duo is our Old Lian Family’s daughter, don’t think about taking her. You go, not even a blade of grass should you take."

Lady Zhou drove Lady Gu out.

Lady Gu knelt on the ground, refusing to rise.

The reason she’d always endured Lady Zhou was to stay in the Lian Family, and by staying, she meant not being divorced. Not to mention where she could go if she were divorced. If she were divorced, Song Family’s Lian Huahua would be the first to be affected. With a divorced mother, Lian Huahua couldn’t hold her head high as the Third Madam in the Song Family.

Similarly, this would also greatly affect Lian Duo. Lian Huahua, at least, was already married off, but Lian Duo had yet to find a husband. With a divorced mother, what kind of family would be willing to marry Lian Duo, and how dire would their prospects be?

Previously, Lady Gu endured for the sake of future days of happiness. Later, especially now, she endured purely for her two daughters. Whether she wanted to or not, she had to endure.

She wanted to see if she could save Lian Huahua; she wanted to watch Lian Duo marry well. Then, Lady Gu closed her eyes, and after that, everything would be manageable.

"Are you still not leaving, haven’t you caused us enough harm?" Lady Zhou, seeing Lady Gu’s actions, scolded again in anger.

"Mother, Father!" Lady Gu crawled to the edge of the kang, despite Lady Zhou spitting in her face, she did not dodge, but cried while pleading, "I know I was wrong. If you divorce me, I have nowhere to go but death. I am willing to atone and stay to serve you like an ox or a horse... Our Old Lian Family is known for its integrity, there’s no such thing as divorcing a daughter-in-law, do not ruin this reputation because of me."

"Considering nothing else, at least acknowledge that I have given birth to two children for the Old Lian Family. I raised Jizu to adulthood." Lady Gu said, kneeling as she turned to Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu, "Elder Master, we’ve been husband and wife for so many years, even if I have no achievements, I have endured hardships for the family. Please plead for me. Elder Sir, when I came, you were just a child, although I did not give birth to you, I have not treated you any differently than my own. Elder Sir, please plead for me as well."

Lady Gu kowtowed to Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu.

Then Lady Gu turned, and kowtowed to Lian Shouxin and Lian Manman.

"Fourth Old Master, Manman, please, as adults, do not hold grudges against the petty. I know you have the kindest hearts, please plead for me too. In this life, and the next, I will serve you as an ox or a horse."

Afterward, Lady Gu kowtowed to Lian Shouyi and Lady He, saying similar words.

’Knowing what would be today, why act like that back then,’ Lian Manman said nothing, but thought in her heart, if vows truly worked, then Lady Gu’s service as an ox or a horse wouldn’t suffice across this life and the next.

After bowing her head all around, Lady Gu’s forehead was already dripping with blood, and she was about to turn back and kowtow to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou again, when suddenly she collapsed backward, fainting.

***********

This is the first update, I ask everyone for their pink support.

The whole body aches these past few days, and it was hard enough to write this update. Apologies to everyone, I’m afraid the second update today won’t be possible, Ruoyan is going to rest now, and will strive to add more updates tomorrow as compensation.

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Book recommendation

Emei’s new work "Riding the Dragon" Book Number: 2380445—Even if you are the True Dragon Emperor, you must surrender to this girl (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)