To speak of the past, Madam Chen had valued the Xun family's wealth, thus she had always been deferential. But now? The Xun family's daughter was so outrageous. Not only did she engage in carnal acts with her son in broad daylight, but she had also drugged him, severely damaging his constitution. Whether he would wake up or not was uncertain, let alone the possibility of future fertility issues.
Under such circumstances, what did Madam Chen have to fear? She leaped forward and lunged at Shopkeeper Xun, scratching his face before he and his attendants could react.
"Xun, I'm telling you, if anything happens to my son, I will not let your entire family off the hook. You heartless people, in order to marry off this shrew, you colluded with the matchmaker to deceive us. The engagement was already settled, so we gritted our teeth and accepted. We thought as long as your daughter was well-behaved in the future, it would be fine. But you ask your daughter what she did? She ruined my good son!" Madam Chen's voice was sharp, her eyes bloodshot, and she glared fiercely at Shopkeeper Xun.
The maidservant sent back by the Xun family had only reported that Xun Wan Niang was being mistreated in the Song family, beaten and locked up without food. Shopkeeper Xun had assumed the Song family disliked his daughter's appearance, which was why they treated her this way. Now, hearing these words, he realized there was more to the story.
Shopkeeper Xun shot a cold glance at the maidservant, who shivered and stepped forward to recount Xun Wan Niang's actions.
Cold sweat broke out on Shopkeeper Xun's back. Song Ming Ze was the Song family's only grandson and was highly anticipated; his status was self-evident. How could his foolish daughter do such a thing? He knew about the medicine. His daughter was simple-minded. His wife, fearing that her son-in-law might not be pleased with his daughter's appearance and thus unwilling to consummate the marriage, had sought out the medicine through various means. A small amount used each time could enhance marital affection and aid conception. Now, with the Song family so agitated, could it be…
Shopkeeper Xun pulled Xun Wan Niang to his side and asked in a low voice, "My dear, Father asks you, how much of what your mother gave you did you use?"
Xun Wan Niang's greasy lips parted, and she said in a rough voice, "I used it all, just like Mother said. My husband suddenly liked me so much."
Shopkeeper Xun swayed, and those beside him quickly supported him, preventing him from falling.
Composing himself, Shopkeeper Xun's attitude underwent a complete transformation. "In-laws, my Wan Niang is a bit simple-minded and always acts on her whims. It was her fault. I apologize on her behalf. We are family now. There's no need to make such a fuss that everyone knows about our private matters. The two children are sensitive. If everyone finds out, how will they show their faces? Come, come, let's go inside and discuss this."
Madam Chen was about to start scolding again when she was stopped by Elder Song. "In-laws are right. Let's discuss this indoors. Making a scene like this won't solve anything."
After speaking, he glared fiercely at Madam Chen. If Madam Chen hadn't insisted on this marriage, how could Ze Ge Er have suffered this calamity? His mind was still unclear. Causing such a scene in front of so many people would make it common knowledge. Regardless of whether Ze Ge Er recovered, he would have to face the peculiar glances of others. Ze Ge Er had always been proud; could he endure it? Madam Chen was startled by her father-in-law's gaze. Her current outburst was merely to show that Ze Ge Er was her biological son, that she doted on him, and that she wanted to vent his anger. This way, her father-in-law might not blame her too harshly. Now, her father-in-law clearly detested her actions, and Madam Chen immediately wilted.
"Thank you all for your concern, villagers. It's just a small conflict between the two children. In-laws are worried about their daughter, so they rushed over," Elder Song said to the villagers, mustering his strength. "There's nothing more to it now. If anything happens, I will definitely inform everyone. You can all disperse now, disperse."
Shopkeeper Xun also quickly sent away the people he brought, telling them to wait at the Song family's entrance.
Since a fight was not breaking out, Qi Zhen Zhen sent Da Jiang and Xiao He back and went to Ming Yue's room herself.
Negotiations were about to begin, and while the elders could be present, Ming Yue naturally could not.
"In-laws, I… I didn't expect this," Shopkeeper Xun said, lowering his stance as soon as he entered the room. "I am also very fond of Ming Ze, otherwise, otherwise, I wouldn't have found a way to arrange this marriage."
This was an admission of his collusion with the matchmaker to deceive the Song family.
"You are fond of him, but your fondness doesn't justify harming our Ming Ze," Grandma Song said, her voice choked with sobs. "You went to great lengths to marry off your daughter to us, and we could only accept it. As long as the new daughter-in-law was good, we would treat her well. But what happened? She didn't even wear her veil when she got off the sedan chair, and she was gnawing on a roasted chicken in her hand. A new bride lifting her own veil is an inauspicious omen, said to bring misfortune to her husband's family! On the very first day after entering the house, my Ming Ze, who was perfectly fine, became like this. Where are we supposed to seek justice?"
"Not only that, but what kind of parents would prepare such medicine for their daughter when marrying her off? You know what kind of person your daughter is, don't you? She's brainless! Tell me, how should this matter be handled? If we were to take this to court, your daughter would be guilty of attempting to murder her husband and would be executed by being drowned in a pig cage." Grandma Song added.
Cold sweat beaded on Shopkeeper Xun's forehead, but he was not without experience and was not easily intimidated.
"In-laws, with all due respect, if this were to go to court, we wouldn't fare well, and neither would you. My daughter would die by drowning in a pig cage, and your Ming Ze would have to live with the ridicule of others. That would be a difficult life, wouldn't it?"
"Bah! Our Ming Ze has a great destiny. After your daughter dies, perhaps he can be cured! Even if he can't be cured, our family is still alive, and a living person is better than anything. We can move south as a family, change our names, and no one will know that Ming Ze had this incident. Then I will find a son-in-law for my daughter, and the first child born will be adopted by Ming Ze." Madam Yu said, hands on her hips, speaking forcefully. "Shopkeeper Xun, if I were you, I would be thinking about how to sincerely resolve the matter, rather than hoping for luck and trying to escape."
Qi Zhen Zhen, hiding by the window, gave Song Ming Yue a thumbs-up and silently mouthed, "Your mother is amazing."
After Madam Yu's words, Shopkeeper Xun's arrogance immediately deflated. "Then tell me, what do you want? The matter has already happened, and our Xun family did not wish for this. But we are not gods; we cannot reverse it."
"You must bear the cost of the doctor's visits for our Ming Ze, and your daughter will be disciplined by our family. If Ming Ze truly cannot be cured, your daughter must properly serve our Ming Ze," Madam Chen said sinisterly.
"We Xun family can bear the consultation fees and medicine costs, but our daughter cannot stay in your Song family." Shopkeeper Xun refused. What a joke! If Song Ming Ze truly did not recover, wouldn't their daughter be a widow for life? Moreover, with Song Ming Ze in this state, wouldn't he resent his daughter? Then wouldn't he torment her daily?