"Bang!"
Feng Jin grabbed the approaching wet nurse and slapped her hard.
The wet nurse lost her balance and was caught off guard. She stumbled a few steps and fell heavily to the ground.
"Who dares to be so presumptuous? This is the East Courtyard, managed by Second Uncle's wife, not your Second Branch's territory. Who gave you the audacity to shout and threaten here!"
Feng Jin stood in front, shielding Ling Wan firmly behind her, her eyes coldly glaring at Madam Zhao and her entourage.
The slapped wet nurse, clutching her stinging face, got up and immediately hid behind Madam Zhao.
"You... you are completely rebelling! Even a dog looks at its owner before being beaten. I am your elder, and you dare to hit my person!"
This slap was not aimed at the wet nurse but at her. Madam Zhao was furious.
Feng Jin met Madam Zhao's gaze fearlessly. "If it were anyone else, I would still dare to hit them!"
Madam Zhao was momentarily stunned, her lips trembling, and the words that were about to be spoken were swallowed back.
"What are you doing!" a deep, authoritative voice sounded from behind them, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Old Master Ling looked at the mess in the room, his expression displeased. After scanning the room, his gaze fell upon Madam Zhao.
Feeling guilty under his gaze, Madam Zhao lowered her head even further, not daring to look up.
Ling Second Master, who had accompanied him, also had a vague idea of what was happening and couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Greetings, Grandfather," Feng Jin said respectfully, bowing.
"Get up. You're pregnant, so don't stand. Sit down quickly."
Old Master Ling looked at Feng Jin with deep affection and care, eagerly beckoning her to sit.
"Yes, Grandfather!"
With Cai Qing's assistance, Feng Jin sat down.
Old Master Ling's gaze fell on Madam Zhao, and he let out a cold哼, saying impatiently, "Why are you here in the East Courtyard?"
"Replying to Father, your daughter-in-law is... is..."
Madam Zhao was so frightened that she stammered and couldn't utter a coherent sentence.
Fortunately, Ling Second Master was quick-witted and quickly interjected, "Father, it was I who knew my nephew's wife had returned to the manor, so I asked her to visit."
"Visit..." Feng Jin snorted disdainfully. "Your 'visit,' Second Aunt, almost cost someone their life."
"What nonsense are you talking!" Madam Zhao retorted flusteredly.
"You shut up!" Old Master Ling's voice boomed angrily. He looked at Feng Jin. "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Grandfather, Second Aunt is still resentful about Mu Zhu staying in Yingzhong County. I was the one who instigated it. She came to the East Courtyard just now to demand justice. Ling Wan said a few words, and Second Aunt ordered the wet nurses to slap her. I protected Ling Wan, which led to a dispute with Second Aunt. I beg Grandfather for forgiveness."
Ling Wan, being sharp, immediately added fuel to the fire. She knelt before Old Master Ling and cried, "Grandfather, it's all my fault. Second Aunt came here aggressively, and I was worried she would harm Eldest Sister-in-law and the child in her womb, so I argued with Second Aunt. Second Uncle called me a bastard born from a maid and ordered the wet nurses to hit me. Eldest Sister-in-law only wanted to protect me, which is why she clashed with Second Aunt. Grandfather, if you want to punish someone, punish me!"
"Good child, this is not your fault. The ground is cold, get up. You protected your Eldest Sister-in-law and the child, and you did the right thing! The one who is wrong is someone else!"
Old Master Ling's sharp gaze fell on Madam Zhao, frightening her so much that her legs went weak, and she immediately knelt down, begging for mercy. "Father, your daughter-in-law knows she was wrong!"
"You know you were wrong? I think you knowingly violated the rules. I've told you long ago that having Mu Zhu stay in Yingzhong County was for his training, but you harbored malicious intentions, constantly slandering Feng Jin, and today you even committed assault in public. Do you truly think I am dead!"
"Father, your daughter-in-law was just momentarily confused. Your daughter-in-law truly knows her mistakes!"
Madam Zhao trembled in fear, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy, looking at Ling Second Master for help.
Although angered by Madam Zhao's foolishness, after twenty years of marriage, Ling Second Master still pleaded on her behalf. "Father, Zhao Shi was also momentarily confused. The root cause was her deep love for our son. Please, for the sake of her love for our son, forgive her this time. She will never do it again!"
"Father, I will never do it again!" Madam Zhao quickly said.
"You will never do it again? How many times have you said that, and how many times has she repeated her mistakes? Indulging children is like killing them. Marrying an unworthy wife brings misfortune for three generations. Marrying a virtuous wife is my fault for not being more careful when marrying this venomous woman, which has led to the decline of the Second Branch's descendants and taught my children to be arrogant and useless. Today, I will make a decision for you and divorce Zhao Shi!"
Upon hearing the mention of divorce, Madam Zhao became so agitated that she fainted dead away.
"Father, this..." Ling Second Master quickly caught Madam Zhao, not knowing what to do. Why did the topic of divorce come up again?
"Carry Zhao Shi back, and send a divorce letter to her maternal family, inviting the Zhao family to come here to discuss the matter of divorce!"
"Father, no matter what, she has been married to your son for twenty years and has borne two children for him. Even if she has no merit, she has labored hard. Moreover, your son has reached the age of forty. To divorce his wife at this time would surely invite ridicule."
Seeing that Ling Second Master still wanted to plead for Madam Zhao, Old Master Ling became furious and slammed the table. "You are truly muddled! I have long advised you that this Zhao Shi has a wicked heart and is also foolish. Yet, you always listen to her and believe her, making so many mistakes. Don't you understand yet!"
"Today, I will make my position clear. Either you send Zhao Shi back with a divorce letter, or you pack your things and leave the Ling family with Zhao Shi. From today onwards, I will disown you as my son!"
With that, Old Master Ling stood up and left, not daring to look at Ling Second Master.
"Father!" Ling Second Master panicked and quickly ran after him.
The crowded room became suddenly empty as people left one after another. Feng Jin's expression was slightly dazed. She looked at Ling Wan. "So, Second Aunt is divorced?"
The progress was too rapid. Feng Jin still had a lot of arguments prepared against Madam Zhao that she hadn't used, and Madam Zhao was already announced as divorced, leaving Feng Jin momentarily stunned.
"It seems so," Ling Wan also looked somewhat dazed, her voice equally confused.
"Why is everything so chaotic? What happened?" As soon as Ling Mo Han returned, he saw maids and wet nurses carrying the fainted Madam Zhao away, as well as Ling Second Master looking distressed.
Feng Jin recounted the entire incident to Ling Mo Han.
"Grandfather ordered Second Uncle to divorce his wife!" Ling Mo Han was also a little surprised. Divorce was no small matter.
"Yes! I think Grandfather is serious this time. He has even sent a divorce letter to Madam Zhao's maternal family, asking them to come and collect her."
It seemed that Madam Zhao was bound to be divorced this time. Ultimately, she had brought this upon herself and couldn't blame others.