Although Madam Wang harbored resentment toward Wu Lihong’s cruelty, she still said nothing. Wu Yining’s temperament was far too impulsive; she had been taught lessons many times and still couldn’t learn restraint and composure. She really did need a proper disciplining, a harsh lesson.

So when she watched Wu Yining being dragged in the direction of the ancestral hall, even though a flash of reluctance crossed Madam Wang’s eyes, she still forced herself to endure it.

Wu Lihong glared at her, speaking through gritted teeth: "If you dare send that unfilial girl even a bite to eat or a sip to drink, you mother and daughter can get out of here and go back to the Wang Family."

Madam Wang clenched her hands tightly and kept silent. At a time like this, whatever she said would be wrong; better not to speak at all.

"Master, the Old Madam has heard about what happened at the Beast-fighting Palace and isn’t feeling very well. She asks that you go over and talk with her." Nanny Liu, who served Old Madam Wu, hurried over to report to Wu Lihong.

Wu Lihong’s face turned even darker. He gave Madam Wang a vicious glare, then strode quickly toward his mother’s courtyard.

"Linlin, go and fulfill your duty of filial respect before your grandmother," Madam Wang instructed Wu Yilin. "Take your younger brother with you."

Wu Yilin obediently and gently bent her knees in a curtsey and answered with a soft "Yes."

Seeing this, Madam Wang felt a little better. Thankfully she still had a daughter who wasn’t so disgraceful. Her gaze toward Wu Yilin grew a few degrees warmer and softer as she said, "It’s gotten much colder. Put on an extra cloak before you go, don’t let yourself catch a chill!"

Wu Yilin smiled softly and said, "Mother, your daughter understands. You will have to attend the Imperial Banquet later—please take care of yourself as well."

"Mn."

Wu Yilin thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Mother, what about Elder Sister?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Madam Wang’s face sank. "Your elder sister’s temperament does indeed need tempering, so she can remember this. You go and serve your grandmother. As for your elder sister, you don’t need to concern yourself with her."

Wu Yilin said, "Elder Sister was just impulsive for a moment. Mother, your daughter will take her leave first."

She made a formal bow, then turned and left with her maidservant. Once she was where Madam Wang could no longer see her, the corners of her lips curled upward. Her gaze swept once toward the ancestral hall, and she gave a cold little snort in her heart.

She really did need to remember this well, so she wouldn’t drag others down with her.

Only after everyone had gone did Madam Wang, her face full of exhaustion, lean on Qing Lian’s hand and say, "Let’s go back so you can help dress me."

Once she had returned to the main courtyard, Madam Wang finally couldn’t hold herself back. She smashed two porcelain pieces in a row before stopping.

"Madam, your hand." Nanny Wei, seeing that the flesh of her palm was a bloody mess, couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

Madam Wang lowered her head and saw that her own palm had long since been gouged open by her own fingernails, smeared with blood.

Nanny Wei had the maids bring medicine. As she applied it, she said, "Madam, why don’t you ask for leave and just not go to the Imperial Banquet?"

"Not go? If I don’t go, how will people see me, how will they see the Wu Family? Wouldn’t that be trampling on Meng Songguan’s instruction?" Madam Wang said through clenched teeth, hatred in her voice. "So this is what they mean when they say scholars can curse people without using a single dirty word. What he’s done is make it so my children can’t lift their heads and be people."

Nanny Wei hesitated, wanting to speak yet holding back, and in the end said nothing.

"All for the sake of his disciple, he protects his own like this and makes the few of us womenfolk into a laughingstock in this city. Nanny, it’s ruined, it’s all ruined. What family would dare form a marriage alliance with us now?" A bleak sorrow rose in Madam Wang’s heart. "My mother’s family’s prospects are completely destroyed, and now the Wu Family’s reputation has also taken a blow. With that old thing lecturing us like this, we’re all finished. Linlin and Yuyu are still young, but what about Ningning? She’s about to be reaching the age of marriage!"

Nanny Wei let out a long sigh and said, "Madam, then we can only lie low. Fortunately, it’s not so hard for a woman to marry again at eighteen. In these next two years, we must properly teach the Eldest Young Miss."

But Madam Wang’s face twisted with bitterness. She muttered over and over in a low voice, "I can’t accept it, I just can’t. Why should all the good things fall to that mother and daughter? Why? I can’t accept it!"