She Lost Memory Before the Divorce-Chapter 13 - 00: Really Think You’re the Empress Dowager Cixi?

Chapter 13: Chapter 0013: Really Think You’re the Empress Dowager Cixi?

“How can you be so disrespectful? How dare you speak to your elders like this?”

Han Yongmei’s accusing tone made Mu Lan involuntarily laugh.

“Mom, you just said we are family, I’m just telling it like it is.

Shouldn’t adults face the consequences of their own actions? Isn’t that right?”

Upon hearing this, Huo Qitang became anxious. What did she mean by that? Did she really not want to drop the charges so her precious son would have to go to jail?

“You have such a vicious heart! Are you so eager to see your cousin behind bars?”

...

“Aunt, what you’re saying isn’t right; it’s not that I want my cousin to go to jail, it’s the law.”

Mu Lan wore an innocent face, her tone somewhat aggrieved.

Huo Qitang was so angry that she became incoherent, throwing etiquette aside and saying whatever ugly thing came to mind.

“If your cousin ends up in jail and this scandal gets out, how does the Huo Family losing face benefit you?

As a daughter-in-law, you actually revel in the disgrace of your husband’s family. It seems you lack any respect for your elders at all, and it looks like you just can’t stand to see the family doing well.

After seven years of marriage, you haven’t given birth to a single child for the Huo family, don’t you feel any shame?”

How did the topic veer off in this direction? Mu Lan didn’t get angry but rather found it amusing.

“So what you mean, Aunt, is that issues between my husband and me should also involve my cousin?

Since you entered, you’ve shown no remorse towards me, and you’ve been trying to suppress me with your status as an elder.

You also want to push all the blame onto me; isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”

“You…”

“Mu Lan, it’s true that what Mingxu did was wrong. But your aunt is right; this scandal mustn’t become a big issue. It could tarnish the Huo Family’s reputation.

Besides, you weren’t harmed, were you? Why must you cling to this and make everyone miserable?

When Mingxu is out, whether you want to hit or punish him, to vent your anger, you can do so, but you must withdraw the lawsuit.”

Hearing Han Yongmei’s words, Mu Lan finally got angry.

Huo Qitang’s eagerness to defend could at least be understood as a mother’s concern for her son.

But what about her? The one being bullied here was her daughter-in-law, and yet there was not a single word of comfort, only interrogation.

She didn’t even dare to imagine what sort of bullying she must have endured from this mother-in-law during the seven years of lost memory.

“What if I don’t withdraw the lawsuit?”

Mu Lan looked straight at Han Yongmei and asked, word by word.

“What’s gotten into you, child? You’ve always been so sensible, whatever I said went, and you never refused.

I asked you to take bridal classes for Tingxiao’s sake; you agreed.

I asked you to give up the chance to go abroad for Tingxiao; you agreed.

I asked you to quit your job and stay at home as a housewife for Tingxiao, and you also agreed.

This time you should still do it for Tingxiao—”

“What do you mean ‘for me’?”

Suddenly, Huo Tingxiao’s voice came from the second floor, startling both Huo Qitang and Han Yongmei.

Especially Huo Qitang, whose eyes widened at the sight of Huo Tingxiao as if she’d seen a ghost.

Why was he at home? Wasn’t he supposed to be at the company at this time?

“Sister-in-law, your daughter-in-law is becoming more and more delicate. Clearly in good health, yet she’s involving Tingxiao and making him neglect important matters.

Look at the time, he’s still not at the company.”

Huo Qitang’s tactic of stirring up trouble was particularly effective; Han Yongmei’s gaze towards Mu Lan also carried an increased measure of blame.

After all, in her opinion, a man’s career is the most important thing, how can it be right to hinder it for the sake of a woman?

“Do I have to report to my aunt now whether I go to the company or not?”

Huo Tingxiao, dressed in loungewear, descended the stairs, his tone neither salty nor bland, yet carried a powerful oppressive force that made Huo Qitang chuckle dryly.

“Tingxiao, I didn’t mean it like that, I…”

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“Always fond of stirring up trouble whenever there’s an opportunity, my dear aunt has so much free time, why not enroll in a university for seniors?”

Huo Tingxiao’s hawk-like eyes stared intently at Huo Qitang, and his words were quite scathing.

Mu Lan could hardly keep herself from laughing out loud.

“Tingxiao!”

Han Yongmei frowned, her son was excellent in all respects, except for his foul temper.

Once his bullish temper flared up, even his father couldn’t control him. Five years ago, in a fit of anger, he had set out to establish his own business. Not only did he take the company public, but he also became a magnate in the industry.

As if he hadn’t heard a thing, Huo Tingxiao went over and sat next to Mu Lan.

This move left Han Yongmei startled. What was happening with her son? His feelings towards Mu Lan were usually indifferent; when had he ever been so proactive?

“I was the one who had the person sent to the police station, and the decision to file charges was mine too.”

“What? You…”

Han Yongmei looked at her son in shock, then glanced at Huo Qitang.

Huo Qitang averted her gaze guiltily. To win Han Yongmei over, she had lied and pushed all the blame onto Mu Lan.

She had hoped to use the pressure from her mother-in-law to make Mu Lan succumb. If Mu Lan relented, then surely Huo Tingxiao would also…

But she had never expected that Huo Tingxiao, who was usually too busy to be seen, would be at home at this time.

“Tingxiao, you’ve already hit him, and Mingxu is covered in bruises; there isn’t a single spot on him that isn’t injured.

He knows he was wrong. Just let it be water under the bridge.

Auntie is begging you, spare him this time. If he ends up in jail, his life is ruined!

I raised him all by myself, it really wasn’t easy. I admit I failed in teaching him, and if you still have anger, direct it at me. As long as you release Mingxu, I’ll do anything.”

Mu Lan watched in astonishment as Huo Qitang’s demeanor changed completely from when she spoke to Mu Lan herself, the hard edge disappearing.

Seeing that Huo Tingxiao was unmoved, Huo Qitang began to soften towards Mu Lan.

“Mu Lan, please persuade Tingxiao, will you? Auntie was just too anxious and spoke in a bad tone, please don’t take it to heart.

Auntie is apologizing on Mingxu’s behalf, so as his sister-in-law, please be generous.

If this matter gets out, it won’t look good for you either. That brat deserves whatever he gets, but we can’t let it affect you too.”

Her words could make the dead seem alive, turn black into white.

But… she had to admit, the final plea made some sense.

Being innocent is one thing, but that doesn’t stop the scum from pointing fingers at the victim.

However, agreeing so easily would be too lenient for this mother and son duo; Mu Lan hadn’t vented her frustration enough.

“This…”

Mu Lan looked conflicted, her tone hesitant.

“Qitang, let me discuss this matter properly with Tingxiao. You go back for now, and I’ll call you when there’s news,” Han Yongmei interjected decisively, breaking the awkward tension. Seeing a glimmer of hope for the situation, Huo Qitang didn’t want to push too hard and took the opportunity to step back.

An aunt departed, but the mother-in-law was still there—the real boss.

Mu Lan was truly astonished to have drawn out such a reaction from her at this moment.

“Now that there are no outsiders, Mu Lan, your performance just now was a huge disappointment to me.”

Great, she started off on the wrong foot.

Thinking she’s the Empress Dowager Cixi herself? Putting on such airs with her.

“What a coincidence, Mom, your performance just now left me cold too.”