"When you ask that question, it's already impossible between us. Didn't you ever consider that if it weren't for the Zheng family's help, you'd still be a commoner? Would your cousin have married you then?" Wu Caiwei sneered. She couldn't fathom how his mind worked, how he couldn't grasp this. It could only mean he had feelings for his cousin.
Yang Zhongqing was momentarily speechless, not unaware of her meaning. He and his cousin had indeed been betrothed. After his family fell into decline, she reneged on the engagement. Neither able to ascend nor willing to descend, she had been constantly picking and choosing, without finding a suitable match. Only after Yang Zhongqing managed to get close to the Zheng family and become a general did her attitude change. However, Zheng Nian'er's maternal family was too powerful, and she dared not make any overt moves. It wasn't until mother and son disappeared that she latched onto him.
Initially, Madam Yang was somewhat annoyed with her. But after all, she was her sister's daughter, raised under her nose, and someone she knew inside and out. Moreover, she was gentle and virtuous and admitted her mistakes, behaving meekly before Madam Yang every day, which gave her a great sense of accomplishment. More importantly, she disdained Zheng Nian'er's coarseness. The Zheng family's influence was so vast that she always felt inferior in their presence, which unsettled her greatly.
"But Mother liked him very much, and we grew up together, childhood sweethearts. It's impossible to cast her aside," Yang Zhongqing said guiltily.
To be honest, although he was deeply grateful for the Zheng family's assistance, and he was deeply saddened by the misfortune that befell them, a sense of relief washed over him the moment the Zheng family's towering presence was removed from his life. He believed that as time passed, no one would ever say he relied on his wife to get ahead, to the point where he had to tread cautiously with every step, always prioritizing his wife's needs, terrified of being accused of ingratitude.
"Since that's the case, I will take the initiative to leave. My husband must be devoted to me alone and have no other women. Of course, I have a condition: I must take Rui'er with me. You might say Rui'er is the only male heir of the Yang family, but you are still young and can have more children. I only have him. Naturally, if you disagree, I don't mind taking this to the Emperor and letting His Majesty mediate. Considering my Zheng family fought and died at the border, I don't believe the Emperor would disregard the loyalty of his meritorious officials." She spoke the words the original owner had wanted to say but never did. In fact, the original owner had wanted to use the Zheng family's merits to threaten him, but she had always been hesitant because he was someone she had once genuinely loved, and she didn't want to completely fall out with him. Many times, the words had reached her lips but remained unspoken.
Unfortunately, she had been considerate of his feelings, while he had completely disregarded hers. By the time she regretted it, Yang Zhongqing had already become a favored official of the Emperor. She knew that at this point, no matter what she said, the Emperor would side with him, rendering any effort futile. With the death of her son, her regret was even more profound.
"Have we reached that point? And no matter what, I am his biological father. Following me would bring him nothing but benefits. You will also have your own life to live. If you remarry, will the other person treat your son wholeheartedly?" Yang Zhongqing's first reaction upon hearing she wanted to take their son was not to persuade her to stay, but to figure out how to keep the child.
Wu Caiwei noticed this. She had always known him to be callous and was not disappointed. She stated firmly, "No matter what, I will take him with me. Even if I remarry, I will find someone who truly treats him well; otherwise, I will not marry. Besides, a family's resources are finite. I don't believe that between my son and Wu Qingzhi's son, you would choose him. Even if you were willing, your current wife likely wouldn't be, and who knows how she would treat my son? He might even lose his life."
"She is very kind and has proactively offered to coexist peacefully with you. Furthermore, I will treat my children equally." Yang Zhongqing frowned unconsciously, feeling she always assumed the worst of people.
"I'm too lazy to argue with you further. Your heart has already swayed; you can't wake someone who pretends to be asleep. I will not place my son in danger. I will give you one day to consider. By this time tomorrow, you must give me an answer, or I will go to the Emperor for a good chat." Wu Caiwei said, then made a gesture of dismissal.
Yang Zhongqing wanted to argue further, but Wu Caiwei directly pushed him out and slammed the door shut. Yang Zhongqing, standing at the door, was in a daze for a long time. He considered his martial arts skills to be decent and that ordinary people couldn't do anything to him, yet he had no defense against her. He knew his wife knew martial arts, but he never imagined her skill had reached such a level.
Could it be that the Zheng family's claims of teaching him without reservation were just to appease him? And they had held something back? It wasn't impossible. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel resentment towards the Zheng family, after all these years of often speaking well of them.
Wu Caiwei was unaware of his thoughts at the moment. If she had known, she would have certainly opened the door and given him a good scolding. He was an ungrateful wretch.
Yang Zhongqing hadn't gone far from Zheng Nian'er's courtyard when he saw his mother and his wife waiting by the roadside. Helplessly, he followed them to his mother's courtyard.
Once they were alone in the room, Madam Yang impatiently asked, "What did she say?"
Yang Zhongqing recounted his entire conversation with her without reservation. Madam Yang was furious upon hearing it. It was the first time she had heard of a discarded woman wanting to take her child. If she succeeded, the Yang family would likely become a laughingstock in the capital.
"This is too much! We absolutely cannot agree to anything," Madam Yang exclaimed, hitting the table in her agitation, oblivious to Wu Qingzhi's expression. Wu Qingzhi was quite happy about Wu Caiwei's voluntary departure. However, seeing her husband and mother so reluctant to part with her son made her feel a pang of jealousy. If only she could have a son of her own.
She silently prayed that Wu Caiwei could withstand the pressure and take her son away. That way, he wouldn't occupy the position of the eldest legitimate son and wouldn't contend for inheritance with her own son when he grew up. She resolved that if the mother and son were indeed to leave, she would meticulously foster the relationship between her son and her husband. Even if he regretted it and wanted to reconcile, she believed her husband would favor her son, having personally tutored him and lived with him, their bond would be extraordinary.
Yang Zhongqing looked troubled. "If she really escalates the matter, everyone will only say it's the son's fault. After all, she's only been gone a year, and I've already remarried. Moreover, the Zheng family has been influential in the court for many years, and their deaths were so tragic. Even to appease the military officials, the Emperor wouldn't ignore her pleas. Furthermore, her father's former close friends in court have already expressed their displeasure to me."