Chapter 1384 – Southern Prosperity, Autumn of Chaos (10)
Madam Han’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
Was this disheveled, pale-faced woman who seemed to have aged ten years overnight truly her mother?
In Madam Han’s memory, her mother had always been a figure of grace and authority, dignified and generous in public, virtuous and composed at home. The Tao clan was managed meticulously under her care, with her husband and even the house maids respecting her without question. Her mother had lived a splendid life, revered wherever she went, admired for her background, looks, knowledge, and poise… everything was exceptional!
Her hair was always impeccably styled, adorned with pearl and jade decorations, drawing attention wherever she went.
Under her mother’s guidance and influence, Madam Han had unknowingly absorbed her conduct deep into her bones.
Now, seeing her usually perfect mother charging at her like a street hag with the intent to slap her shattered the flawless image her mother had in Madam Han’s heart. So taken aback was she that she temporarily lost her wits, raising a hand to cover one side of her swollen face.
“M-Mother—” Madam Han took two steps back, sorrowfully gazing at Madam Tao. “When has the daughter ever done such a thing?”
Madam Han felt terribly wronged, her usual proud demeanor fading, revealing a vulnerable and helpless side before her mother.
Madam Tao had only slapped her out of anger, and while she regretted the impulsive act, there was no way she would apologize to her daughter.
Besides, in her heart, she was convinced that Madam Han was the traitor among them.
Otherwise, why would she choose to divorce at such a sensitive time?
Madam Tao had high cheekbones and a narrow forehead, and her skin was somewhat thin, making her appear harsh.
On ordinary days, she could cover her flaws with makeup, but at this moment, without that luxury, her face looked particularly menacing and foreign.
Hearing Madam Han’s aggrieved defense, before Madam Tao could speak, her daughter-in-law chimed in.
“Are you implying that Mother has wronged you?”
Madam Tao was quite capable in managing the inner chambers, raising her legitimate children while her illegitimate ones lived under her thumb.
The daughter-in-law speaking now had only been married into the family for less than half a year.
She had thought entering the household would elevate her family connections, but unexpectedly, her in-laws were disappointing, and disaster had struck within mere months.
Not only had their wealth vanished, but she also found herself a captive, filled with anger.
She wouldn’t blame the Tao family for their greed, monopolizing the salt trade; her fury was directed entirely at Madam Han, who had retired to her parental home.
Before Madam Han’s arrival, the sisters-in-law had exchanged a few words and collectively redirected all their anger toward Madam Han.
Otherwise, there would have been no need for Madam Tao to leap forward and slap her daughter publicly.
“I am innocent.” Madam Han declared. “Liu Xi’s actions have nothing to do with me!”
“The divorce is unclear.” One sister-in-law said, “Isn’t it because you went back to your family that it brought trouble upon us?”
Madam Han felt her anger boiling over, quickly snapping, “You’re simply being unreasonable! Liu Xi is targeting the Tao residence, isn’t it all about the salt trade?”
Though she was a woman of the inner chambers, Madam Han wasn’t totally clueless.
She knew Jiang Pengji’s motives for dealing with the Tao family; wasn’t it all about the salt trade monopolized by the noble clans? However, Jiang Pengji didn’t dare reveal the true reason and instead assigned false charges like “plots of rebellion.” Little did they know, the accusations against the Tao clan were utterly legitimate. Madam Han, being a woman in the household, had no means to grasp the deeds of other family members.
As soon as her words fell, Madam Tao, whose anger had somewhat subsided, gave Madam Han another resounding slap.
“Wretched girl!” Madam Tao gritted her teeth. “You truly are a traitor!”
The noble clans had monopolized the salt trade for so long that they regarded it as their personal property.
Madam Han’s words undeniably pierced their ambitions and greed, so how could Madam Tao not be infuriated?
With two slaps in succession, blood trickled from Madam Han’s mouth, her cheeks swollen, looking utterly disheveled.
“Mother… why like this? What wrong has the daughter done?”
Finally unable to hold back her tears, Madam Han felt a nauseating taste of iron in her mouth.
Before her stood her own relatives; her mother, once her respected elder, had transformed into someone unrecognizable.
Madam Tao, still unsatisfied, shouted angrily, “Get lost! The Tao family has no unfilial daughter like you!”
The commotion among the women caught the attention of the female soldiers watching over them, who rushed in and promptly reported the situation.
Xie Ze arrived with his men, and upon seeing the distressed women, they all felt a wave of anxiety.
In ancient times, once a woman entered prison, it was nearly impossible to maintain her purity; many guards were ruthless, bullying female prisoners.
However, this time, the guards were temporarily replaced by female soldiers, which offered some sense of security to the women.
Seeing a group of men now made their previously relaxed nerves tingle with tension.
As Xie Ze surveyed the scene and spotted the disheveled Madam Han, he felt a wave of awkwardness.
“Open the door!”
Xie Ze addressed Madam Han. “My earlier failure to consider your situation, allowing you to share a room with these ruffians, please forgive me.”
Thinking Madam Han was just a Tao clan girl, he’d assumed it would be fine to leave her somewhat among them; little did he expect that she’d be assaulted upon arrival.
Even though Madam Han was divorced from Han Yu, her status was still not one to be trifled with.
Madam Han glared fiercely at Xie Ze, catching a glimpse of the others’ expressions and then her mother’s venomous glare. Suddenly, she raised a hand to cover her face and sobbingly fled outside. Xie Ze’s countenance turned awkward as he arranged for Madam Han to have a clean, single cell.
Xie Ze asked Madam Han, “When this matter is resolved, should I escort you back?”
Madam Han replied, “In such a ruinous state, returning will only invite laughter.”
Xie Ze assured, “Though you and the sir are finished, you are still the mother of two Young Masters.”
After his words fell, Madam Han’s sobs grew even more tragic, seeming to want to pour out all the grievances she had endured in recent days.
To put it in the audience’s words, Madam Han must have played a winning hand terribly; who else could she blame?
Xie Ze worried that Madam Han might fall into despair, specially assigning female soldiers to guard her to prevent any fatal attempts.
Xie Ze detained everyone and confiscated their properties.
When he glanced at the salt trade books from each family, he couldn’t help but gasp in shock at the staggering figures.
His own lord was especially generous to the soldiers in the military camp, with annual funds that could only be described as astronomical, not even including the compensation for those who had died in battle. Each noble family’s military fund rankings would surely place his lord at the top by a large margin.
Only upon reviewing the records did he finally understand what his lord had often referred to as “the rudimentary plan with obvious flaws.”
He realized he was indeed still too young.
