She knew her father was in a difficult position. With several children at home and herself a married daughter, it was understandable that he wouldn't prioritize her. The forces her husband had painstakingly built and trained were silently annihilated by the enemy, revealing their terrifying strength. She didn't want to drag her father into this mess, yet whenever she heard news of them, she couldn't help but pay attention, only to return later and vent her frustrations, feeling as if she were on the verge of madness. She had once approached the Zhu family, hoping to ally with Madam Zhu, not believing that woman would be so magnanimous as to let Wu Caiwei live freely. But the other party was impenetrable, completely rebuffing her.
Knowing the other party was cunning and that their refusal to ally was a tactic to avoid alerting the enemy, she couldn't wait any longer. She felt that if she stayed in the city, she would be compelled to pick up a knife and attack people in the streets. Her father had also written to her, suggesting she return home for a break and not dwell in such a sorrowful place. But the thought of her husband being here made her reluctant to leave.
To avoid disrupting the children's studies, she sent them to her maiden home. Only three servants remained in the courtyard, each occupied with their own tasks, making the place feel desolate. Laughter and joy had once filled these grounds. Remembering her husband's voice and smile, tears welled up in her eyes again.
Exhausted from crying, she stood up, slowly walked to her jewelry box, took out half of her assets, put on black clothes and a black cloak, and quietly walked out of the courtyard. Her family members, accustomed to the eccentricities of the wealthy, dared not stop her or even approach to ask questions.
That day, as dusk settled, Madam Zhu had still not seen her two sons and felt uneasy. She hadn't heard of any important matters scheduled for today, so why hadn't they returned by now?
She quickly sent someone to the shop to look for the young masters. Shortly after, the steward arrived before her, looking flustered, and stammered, "Madam, the shopkeeper said the young masters left long ago."
Madam Zhu's heart sank, a bad premonition washing over her. As she pondered how to find them, the gatekeeper suddenly announced that a young beggar had delivered a letter. Madam Zhu eagerly opened it. Upon reading its contents, her hands began to tremble. The paper fluttered to the ground, and the steward quickly picked it up, read it, and frowned.
"Aside from our minor disagreements with the Zhang family, we have never offended any family in this city. Who could have done this?" the steward was utterly bewildered. While they had some friction with the Zhangs, their recent interactions suggested Zhang Changhe was not the type to resort to dirty tricks. If the other party wanted to cause trouble, they would have done so already, why wait until now?
"It's the former county magistrate's wife," Madam Zhu sobbed, sinking onto a stool. When the county magistrate's wife had approached her, she had noticed the woman's unstable mental state. Fearing she might do something rash, she had refused when the woman proposed an alliance. She hadn't expected her to resort to coercion here.
"What should we do now?" the steward asked. He had heard about the county magistrate's wife visiting his mistress and knew her intentions. He hadn't expected her to do something so drastic. He hesitated whether to report it to the authorities or to notify Wu Caiwei and her husband.
"Let's do as she says," Madam Zhu said after a moment's hesitation, with all her strength.
"What if, even after we comply, she doesn't release the two young masters? We should notify Zhang Changhe and his wife. I heard they are skilled in martial arts and medicine, they might have a solution," the steward disagreed somewhat.
"No matter how capable they are, they will surely prioritize saving Yu Jie. What does that have to do with my children? They probably wish my children dead at her hands, so they can better avenge Li Shiyun," Madam Zhu thought from their perspective. If she were Zhang Changhe or Wu Caiwei, she wouldn't just spare them, she'd actively encourage it.
With her two children's lives in their hands, she could only rely on her own strength to negotiate with the other party. They simply wanted her to deal with the two of them. As long as they could guarantee her sons' safety, she would do as they said.
"But I don't think a normal couple would act like that," the steward said. As soon as he finished speaking, Madam Zhu immediately looked up at him with disappointment. The steward's voice grew softer and softer.
He knew the madam couldn't overcome her pride and had always wanted to one-up Wu Caiwei. But some things couldn't be forced. Besides, when they met, they acted as if nothing had happened. Why antagonize them? However, this household was run by the madam, and since she had come to her senses, there was no point in saying more. If the other party truly harbored such intentions, even sacrificing his old life would be a betrayal of his ancestors.
That night, Yu Jie, fast asleep, was suddenly gagged, bound with ropes, and pulled into a carriage. At first, she thought it was some kidnapper, but upon seeing her mother, her eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't understand where her mother was taking her. Was she selling her?
Madam Zhu paid no attention to her feelings. Her mind was consumed with the suffering of her sons. She felt a surge of resentment towards Yu Jie, thinking that if it weren't for her parents offending the former county magistrate and his wife, her sons wouldn't have met with such misfortune. Seeing Yu Jie's tear-streaked face, the county magistrate's wife felt no sympathy and even had the urge to kick her. However, after years as a mistress of the house, she had long learned to control her emotions. Taking a few deep breaths, she commanded, facing forward, and the group proceeded towards their destination.
As they ventured into increasingly desolate territory, Yu Jie longed to ask where they were taking her, but her mouth was stuffed with cloth, rendering her unable to speak. Anyone who lagged behind was whipped. At this moment, she intensely missed Wu Caiwei, thinking that perhaps following her earlier would have been the right choice. She had heard that Wu Caiwei had no children now and that she and her husband ran over ten shops, living a comfortable life, contrary to her imagined downfall. If she had gone to the Zhangs, as their only daughter, would her life have been better? Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets.
Gazing at the distant mountains that seemed like a man-eating maw, she couldn't help but close her eyes. Without paying attention, a stone ahead tripped her, causing her to fall. The next moment, she was pulled up and forced to continue. Her leg was injured, and she limped, yet none of the people accompanying her showed any tenderness.
She resolved that if she could return safely this time, she would mend her relationship with Wu Caiwei. She realized that at this critical juncture, she was utterly alone with no one to turn to.
As her mind wandered, the procession suddenly halted. She unconsciously raised her head to gaze into the distance. The dark mountain peak was suddenly illuminated by torches, lighting up the sky and startling her.