Yin Furen grew anxious upon hearing this and sat up straight in bed, exclaiming, “How can this be? I’ll go find her myself.”

Xu Nian’an quickly stopped her and said, “Mother, please calm down. The matter has not yet been brought to light. If you go and scratch Pei Furen’s face now, we don’t fear anything else, but what we worry is that they might break the already-cracked pot completely and refuse to agree to San Jiejie’s divorce under any circumstances. How about this: when Zufu returns from court today, you should first discuss the matter of San Jiejie’s divorce with him and gain his approval. In two days, when Sanlang starts his ten-day break, he and I will go together to Ding Guogong Residence to bring San Jiejie back.”

Yin Furen hesitated. “You and Sanlang will go?”

Xu Nian’an nodded. “You are an elder. If you go in person, there must be a resolution, and if the talks fall apart, it would be difficult to manage the aftermath. If we, as the younger generation, go instead, even if something unexpected happens, it will leave room for the elders to step in and remedy the situation. Rest assured, we will definitely bring San Jiejie back.”

That evening, when Zhao Huanxi returned, Xu Nian’an told him about the matter. The young couple carefully organised the evidence collected by Qian Ming, which detailed Li Ziliang’s treatment for venereal disease and his illicit affairs.

Zhao Huanxi grumbled, “Why doesn’t Biao Ge keep his word? He said he’d be back in ten days or half a month.”

Xu Nian’an replied, “Doesn’t traveling take time? Why are you so eager for him to return?”

“If he were here, wouldn’t having an extra person increase our chances of winning if we had to fight at Ding Guogong Residence?”

Xu Nian’an chuckled, poking his forehead with her finger. “Who said anything about fighting? Do you think we’re going to storm their doorstep? You’re really something!”

Zhao Huanxi pointed at the pile of evidence and said, “Look at this disgusting stuff. If killing weren’t illegal, I could beat him to death!”

Xu Nian’an gently held his finger and said softly, “There’s no need. Our goal is to safely bring San Jiejie out of Ding Guogong Residence and have her divorce Li Ziliang. Once she’s divorced, whatever happens to Li Ziliang is no longer our concern. There’s no point in dirtying your hands over someone like him.”

Zhao Huanxi lowered his head and said, “I know. Blaming him is just venting my anger. The one I should truly blame is my father. If it weren’t for him, how would my San Jie have ended up married to someone like this?”

“Fortunately, San Jiejie will soon be free of him.”

“En!”

Xu Nian’an said, “Qian Ming and the others have helped us so much this time. When we have the chance, we should prepare some gifts to properly thank them.”

Zhao Huanxi replied, “No need. I’ve already agreed to dress as a Nandan for him. Why should I give him more?”

Xu Nian’an looked at him in surprise. “Nandan? Perform opera?”

Zhao Huanxi nodded. “He’s a total opera fan. Previously, he tried to curry favour with me because he thought I looked good and wanted me to dress as a Nandan for him. This time, thanks to the matter with San Jie, he finally got his wish. I’ve already planned it out. I won’t do it for free. I’ll ask him to stage 《Ou Lian Guan》. Next year’s Second Month, for mother’s birthday, I’ll perform it personally for you. I’ll handle the action scenes, and Qian Ming can do the singing. You’ll get to see a spectacular performance of 《Ou Lian Guan》 that’s both thrilling and melodious.”

“藕连关” (ǒu lián guān) (lit. Oulian Pass) is the title of a traditional Chinese opera piece. This opera is typically staged as a martial performance (武戏), placing strong emphasis on action and physical skill rather than intricate plot development. It often features female warrior roles (刀马旦), showcasing techniques such as spear play, kicking routines, and acrobatic movements. “藕连关” is best understood as a dynamic, action-focused opera scene centered around combat at Oulian Pass (fortress/mountain pass).

Xu Nian’an laughed uncontrollably. “You’re really going to perform yourself? Aren’t you afraid Mother will kill you?”

“You don’t need to worry about how Mother will react. I have my ways of dealing with it. Just tell me, do you want to watch or not?” Zhao Huanxi looked at her eagerly.

Xu Nian’an pressed her lips together, trying to hold back her laughter, her eyes sparkling. “I want to watch.”

Zhao Huanxi smiled with delight. “Then I’ll perform it for you.”

The next day, Xu Nian’an saw Zhao Huanxi off and came to Yin Furen’s room, where she was preparing the gift list with Nanny Su.

“On the 7th day of the Eleventh Month, it’s Ling Gelao’s 70th birthday. The gift has already been prepared, but we need to double-check it now to avoid any mistakes,” Yin Furen said to Xu Nian’an.

“Seventy and still not retired, it’s quite rare in this dynasty,” Xu Nian’an remarked softly.

Yin Furen replied, “I heard that Ling Gelao started submitting petitions to the Emperor to retire at the age of sixty, but the Emperor relied on him so much that he never agreed. Speaking of which, Ling Gelao is actually from my hometown. Once he retires, he can return to Jinling. When will I be able to return to Jinling?”

Upon hearing that Ling Gelao was from Jinling, Xu Nian’an’s mind suddenly became active. She asked Yin Furen, “Mom, can we add something else to the birthday gift for Ling Gelao?”

Two days later, Zhao Huanxi had a ten-day break.

The young couple, full of energy, arrived early at Jiaxiang House to report to Yin Furen before heading out to Ding Guogong Residence.

Upon arriving at Ding Guogong Residence and delivering their visiting card, Pei Furen instructed her servants to lead them in.

In high society, one did not simply walk into someone else's mansion. You had to present a formal visiting card (mingtie) to the gatekeeper to request an audience.

In Pei Furen’s courtyard, Zhao Huanxi and Xu Nian’an paid their respects. Xu Nian’an then gently spoke, “Pei Furen, my mother-in-law has been bedridden recently and is greatly missing my San Gujie. She has specially sent Sanlang and me to bring her back to visit.”

Madam Pei smiled with an expression that was both apologetic and natural. She replied, “Well, that’s quite unfortunate. Your San Gujie is also ill, and it seems she won’t be able to make the trip.”

“Ah? Is it that serious? What illness does she have? Has Furen called for the imperial physician?” Xu Nian’an asked, her voice filled with concern.

“It’s not an illness that requires the imperial physician’s attention,” Pei Furen replied, turning slightly and picking up her teacup. “It just needs some time to be properly treated.”

Zhao Huanxi clenched his fist, about to speak, but Xu Nian’an gave him a glance, and he immediately closed his mouth.

Xu Nian’an took a prescription from her sleeve, stood up, and walked over to Pei Furen, personally handing it to her. “Pei Furen, please have a look. Is this the illness my San Gujie is suffering from?”

Pei Furen took the prescription, confused. “What is this?”

Xu Nian’an replied, “This is the prescription that San Jiefu secretly asked a local doctor to prepare some time ago.”

Pei Furen’s expression changed, and she dismissed the servants from the room. She then turned to Xu Nian’an and asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Xu Nian’an met her gaze and said, “Since Pei Furen have kept my San Gujie confined in the courtyard, Pei Furen must have known what the Zhao Family intends from the very beginning. Why ask when one already know?”

Pei Furen sneered coldly. “I don’t know what the Zhao Family intends, but Jiazhen is Li Family’s daughter-in-law. Once a daughter-in-law, always a daughter-in-law.”

Xu Nian’an replied, “After Pei Furen learned that the prescription was prepared for San Jiefu, Furen immediately dismissed the servants, meaning you must already know what kind of prescription it is. Since you know it, Pei Furen must understand why my mother-in-law is ill. If my San Gujie cannot return, my mother-in-law’s condition will not improve. With this prescription in hand, and for the sake of her life, my San Gujie can never again be with San Jiefu as husband and wife. A daughter-in-law who will never bear you a legitimate grandson, is Pei Furen sure you want to go to any lengths to keep her here?”

Pei Furen’s tone was firm as she said. “Once she became the daughter-in-law of the Li Family, whether or not she bears a legitimate grandson is not for her to decide.”

Zhao Huanxi, furious, could no longer hold back and spoke out, “Pei Furen, if you allow my San Jie to divorce your son now, our two families can still remain as old friends. But if you insist on trapping my San Jie in the inner courtyard of Ding Guogong Residence, then our two families will become sworn enemies. You have a daughter too. If it comes to that, the pain my mother and San Jie have endured today, I will make sure you and your daughter experience it all!”

Pei Furen was taken aback. Her impression of Yin Furen’s only son had always been of a quiet, unimpressive figure. Although she had heard that he had changed after marrying, she hadn’t expected him to seem like a completely different person.

Now, standing tall and imposing, with a resolute tone in his voice, he spoke with such certainty that it made one believe that, if it came to that, he would indeed stop at nothing for revenge.

“Sanlang, we must not be rude to Pei Furen,” Xu Nian’an gently said to Zhao Huanxi. Then, she turned to Pei Furen, apologizing, “Pei Furen, our family’s Sanlang is young and impulsive, and he is truly worried about his San Jie. Please forgive him for this offence. Marriage is a matter that binds families together. No one would wish to reach this point unless it was absolutely unbearable.”

Xu Nian’an glanced at the prescription on the table and continued, “My San Gujie originally intended to fulfill her duties as a wife and daughter-in-law, to bring children into the Li Family. Who would have thought that it almost cost her life? My mother-in-law, heartbroken, fell ill, and it was only then that she decided that my San Gujie should divorce San Jiefu, not for any other reason, but to preserve her life. This matter has already been made clear to Zufu, and we came here only with his approval. In short, our entire Zhao Family is resolute in bringing my San Gujie home. If Pei Furen is willing, that would be the best; if not, we also have ways to make it happen. However, if it comes to that, not to mention anything else, Pei Furen can be sure that you will never have a daughter-in-law again in your lifetime, and Ding Guogong Yé will be blamed for poor management of the household and failure in raising his son.”

Pei Furen, feeling troubled, said, “I can just ask my son to change his ways, there’s no need for a divorce.”

Xu Nian’an replied, “Pei Furen, now that we’ve reached this point, there’s no need for us to hide anything. If you could really make San Jiefu change, would it have come to this? Furthermore…” She pulled out a stack of papers from her sleeve and, under Pei Furen’s surprised gaze, slowly flipped through them before tucking them back into her sleeve. She then lifted her eyes and looked at Pei Furen, saying, “Based on what we know of San Jiefu’s less-than-respectable actions, if he were to change, it would likely only happen in the dungeons of Jingzhao Prefecture.”

“You… Is that…” Pei Furen stared at her sleeve, her expression no longer as composed as it had been moments ago.

Xu Nian’an spoke with grace and calmness, “Pei Furen, please don’t worry. This stack of papers is merely a transcription. As for what it contains and how useful it might be, it all depends on Furen’s decision.”

Pei Furen’s eyes showed signs of defeat, but she maintained a facade of composure, saying, “This matter is of great importance. I cannot make the decision on my own, I need to consult with Guogong Yé.”

Xu Nian’an replied, “Pei Furen and Guogong Yé may take time discussing it. Let Sanlang and I take my San Gujie home first. If my mother-in-law cannot see her in good health, she will become anxious. And when she becomes anxious, her condition will worsen. As younger ones, we don’t have the composure to handle it, and we fear that, in her distress, she might end up seeking rash treatments.”

Pei Furen understood. The other party had leverage over her son and had also gained the approval of Jing Guogong. It seemed that the divorce was inevitable. At this point, forcibly keeping Zhao Jiazhen would only result in enmity between the two families without any real benefit.

“You may take her back,” Pei Furen said, her words revealing a sudden weariness. She leaned against the table and rested her hand on her forehead.

“Thank you, Furen. Furen please take care,” Xu Nian’an said, giving her a respectful bow before happily taking Zhao Huanxi and heading to Zhao Jiazhen’s courtyard to bring her back.

Zhao Jiazhen was indeed confined in the courtyard. When she saw her younger brother and sister-in-law come to take her home, she was both startled and overjoyed. Fearing that Pei Furen might change her mind, the three of them didn’t speak much and quickly began leaving with Zhao Jiazhen’s maidservants and attendants.

Just as they were about to reach the gates of Ding Guogong Residence, they happened to encounter Li Ziliang, who had just returned from wherever he had spent the night.

Li Ziliang knew that Zhao Jiazhen had been confined by his mother, and seeing her now emerging, accompanied by all her maidservants and attendants, he immediately understood she was going back to the Zhao Family. He pointed at her and loudly demanded, “Zhao Jiazhen, where do you think you’re going?”

Zhao Jiazhen ignored him, only walking with Xu Nian’an, supporting each other as they made their way to the carriage.

Li Ziliang rushed forward but was grabbed by the collar by Zhao Huanxi, who had lagged behind.

Zhao Huanxi looked at the man before him, whose eyes were hollow and bloodshot, his face showing signs of indulgence in wine and debauchery, and with a disgusted expression, he spat, “Stop meddling! My San Jie is going to divorce you!”

Hearing this, Li Ziliang cursed furiously, “Zhao Jiazhen, you worthless thing, don’t even think about it! You’re mine, living or dead…” But before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Huanxi, seething with rage, landed a punch straight to his face, breaking his nose and causing blood to gush from his nostrils.

Not far off, Li Ziliang’s servant screamed and rushed over in alarm.

Zhao Huanxi, still not satisfied, released his grip on Li Ziliang’s collar, stepped back, and squared up. He then delivered two more punches to Li Ziliang’s cheeks, each one landing with brutal force, causing him to spit out blood and shattered teeth, before collapsing to the ground.

⟡ Aewoo’s Ramble ⟡

What a satisfying chapter!