Wang Zijing was summoned to Lengxiang Courtyard by Zhizi, who was waiting by the roadside, as soon as he left the main hall.
Although Madam Bai was under house arrest, Wang Qingyao had not let down her guard.
It was she who had Xiao Bazi instigate Xiao Yun to leak the matter of the "little eight sons" to Wang Da.
She did not want Madam Bai to ruin her once-in-a-lifetime promotion ceremony.
It seemed that Madam Bai had not gained any advantage from Wang Da and had instead turned to Wang Zijing.
Well, her husband was unreliable, but her son was absolutely dependable.
Wang Zijing also had something to ask Wang Qingyao.
He was terrifyingly honest, hiding nothing. After Yin Zhu served tea and refreshments and withdrew, he got straight to the point.
"My mother said that you resent her, so you had Chun Yiniang and Xia Yiniang slander her. Is this true?"
Wang Qingyao smiled. Since Wang Zijing was honest with her, she would be frank with him.
"Resentment is true, but slander is not. She brought it upon herself."
She then recounted some of the more significant misdeeds Madam Bai had committed, such as instructing Chun Lan to bury voodoo dolls in her courtyard, hiring bandits to ruin her reputation, and poisoning the Old Madam to force her to cut off her flesh to save her life...
She was too lazy to mention minor incidents like withholding food and fabric, or condoning servants' bullying that had happened to the original owner.
Wang Zijing's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe his ears.
"My mother, my mother she..."
Was she truly such an unbearable person?
Hadn't she always taught him to be upright, kind, and filial?
"She... why did she do this?" Wang Zijing asked with difficulty.
"Perhaps I was too used to being weak before and never defied her. Once I stood above her, she could not tolerate it..."
Wang Zijing looked at Wang Qingyao with confusion, like a lost child.
Such an absurd reason...
But he knew it was true.
---
Wang Zijing left Lengxiang Courtyard in a daze. He did not seek out Wang Da for a confrontation, but Wang Da sent someone to summon him to the study.
Wang Da did not know how to approach Wang Zijing, after all, she was his own mother...
He was deeply conflicted and thus failed to notice Wang Zijing's unusual state. After much deliberation, he hardened his heart and spoke: "The doctor said your mother needs rest. The manor will be preparing for Yao Yao's wedding soon, which might disturb her recovery. I plan to send her to the manor in the countryside to recuperate for a while..."
Silence fell in the study.
Wang Zijing met Wang Da's gaze, his eyes churning with pain. After a long moment, he closed his eyes slightly and softly uttered two words: "That's fine."
Wang Da looked at him in surprise.
He had expected an argument.
In that instant, Wang Da understood. Wang Zijing knew about Madam Bai's misdeeds.
He couldn't help but feel relieved.
The father and son faced each other. Wang Zijing asked in a hoarse voice, "When will Mother depart? Has a date been set?"
Wang Da was silent for a moment, then said, "Tomorrow."
Wang Zijing's pupils contracted. So soon?
The person happiest about Madam Bai being sent away was none other than Ying Yiniang.
Of course, Madam Bai was unwilling to leave obediently. Following Ying Yiniang's suggestion, Wang Da administered a strong dose of sedative tea. While she was in a deep, unconscious sleep, he had servants carry her into a carriage and drive her to the countryside under the cover of night.
When Madam Bai woke up, she was already at the manor in the countryside, with only an unfamiliar maid by her side.
Madam Bai was furious. "Where is this? Where is Granny Sun? Call Granny Sun to see me!"
Just as Wang Da had dealt with Steward Cheng from the outer court, he had not let go of Madam Bai's primary confidante.
The maid replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Granny Sun's entire family has been sold off by the Master. Madam probably won't be able to find her. Anything you need done, I can do it. The Master said that Madam should just focus on her recovery. It's best not to see such a wicked servant."
Madam Bai was stunned for a moment. She flicked her sleeve, sending the teapot and teacups on the table crashing to the floor. Gritting her teeth, she said, "A day of marriage is a hundred days of kindness, yet he is so heartless!" She then cried out, "I want to see the Eldest Young Master! I want to see the Eldest Young Master! Please pass a message to the Eldest Young Master for me, from now on..."
Before she could finish her promises of future favors and small kindnesses, the maid took out a letter and respectfully presented it to her. "This is a letter from the Eldest Young Master to Madam."
Madam Bai was stunned again and took the letter with a puzzled expression.
Wang Zijing's letter was more explicit. He said that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. He urged Madam Bai to reflect well at the manor and promised to personally bring her back once she had truly repented.
Madam Bai was so enraged that she tore the letter to pieces on the spot and cursed Wang Zijing for being unfilial.
She never dreamed that her own son, whom she had raised, would be so upright that he would disregard all familial ties.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Soon, the entire Wang family knew that Madam Bai's condition had worsened and she had been sent to the manor in the countryside to recuperate.
Only Wang Qinglin was kept in the dark.
It wasn't exactly being kept in the dark.
She was now confined to her own chambers, and the maids attending her rarely saw her. No one would be so bored as to specifically go and tell her about this.
It was only later, when Wang Qingzhen visited her, that she "accidentally" let it slip, and Wang Qinglin found out.
She merely lifted her eyelids and looked at Wang Qingzhen for a moment, showing no significant reaction.
Through her veil, Wang Qingzhen could not see her expression and, seeing that she said nothing, was clearly somewhat disappointed.
"Father has always doted on Eldest Sister the most. If Eldest Sister were to beg Father, Father might ask Madam to return."
Heh, Wang Qinglin sneered.
How long had it been since Wang Da had visited her?
No, he had never visited her.
Ever since he had seen her disfigured face in the Old Madam's Rongtang Courtyard last time, he had not come to see her.
She had embarrassed him, disappointed him.
Now, he probably wished he didn't have a daughter like her?
Wang Qinglin still showed no reaction. Wang Qingzhen found it boring. "Eldest Sister, please rest well. I'll be leaving now."
---
Wang Da had originally planned to send Wang Qinglin away along with Madam Bai. However, the Old Madam said that sending them away together would easily arouse suspicion.
If one person fell ill, it was understandable. But if two people fell ill at the same time, how could that be a coincidence?
"It's not too late to send her away after Yao Yao's wedding."
The Old Madam spoke of Wang Qinglin with a look of regret.
Although she had not seen Wang Qinglin's disfigured face, she had been terrified after hearing about it from the servants in the courtyard.
A disfigured granddaughter was utterly useless.
She would have to be sent away sooner or later.