"Aunt, moving into the hospital seems rather inappropriate?" Liu Mei'er's heart was filled with joy, but her face showed hesitation.
"What is inappropriate?" The old madam persuaded, "This General's Mansion will be handed over to you sooner or later."
A determined glint flashed in Liu Mei'er's eyes. The main courtyard was where the matriarch resided. Now that her aunt was letting her move in, the servants in the mansion would have to show her the utmost respect from now on.
"I heard that Mother has returned to the mansion. Your daughter-in-law is here to pay her respects," a woman's voice came from outside the door. The curtain was lifted, and He Qingyi, covered in dust from her journey, yet losing none of her etiquette, said, "Your daughter-in-law pays her respects to Mother."
Elder Madam Xiao looked at He Qingyi, who was respectfully performing the kowtow, and a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes. She had thought this girl would be easy to control when she decided to marry her into the family, but who knew she'd turn out to be such a formidable force!
"As a daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, you do not serve your husband or your in-laws, yet you left without permission to appear in public, disgracing my General's Mansion. My Xiao family cannot afford a daughter-in-law like you!"
"Mother, you are mistaken. Your daughter-in-law was acting under imperial orders when she went to Jiangzhou," He Qingyi said calmly. "Under the heavens, all are subjects of the king. His Majesty has issued an order, and not only your daughter-in-law, but even the General must obey."
Elder Madam Xiao was choked: "You do not observe wifely virtues, yet you still have the audacity to speak?"
"Mother, you are mistaken again," He Qingyi's tone remained gentle. "Your daughter-in-law comes from a family of physicians. The common people are suffering, and your daughter-in-law was ordered to go and treat them. This is a virtuous act. How can it be considered not observing wifely virtues? If Mother believes this is not observing wifely virtues, aren't you implying His Majesty is foolish?"
Elder Madam Xiao glared at He Qingyi, almost unable to catch her breath: "Do you think that now that you've entered this General's Mansion, this old woman can do nothing to you?"
"Mother, what are you saying? It is only natural for a mother-in-law to discipline her daughter-in-law."
"Fine, then I will tell you, you are divorced! From today onwards, you are no longer the matriarch of my General's Mansion!" Elder Madam Xiao said with a dark expression, "Pack your things and get out of the General's Mansion!"
"Mother, could you allow your daughter-in-law to treat the General first before leaving?"
"Heh, do you really think you've become a miracle doctor just because you went to a disaster-stricken area? My son has plenty of people to treat him. Hurry and pack your things and leave the General's Mansion."
A cold glint flashed in He Qingyi's eyes, but her expression became even more gentle: "If that is the case, please give your daughter-in-law a letter of divorce."
"When Zhen'er wakes up, he will naturally give you a letter of divorce."
"Since Mother does not have a letter of divorce, then your daughter-in-law is still the matriarch of the General's Mansion. Only when the General wakes up and writes your daughter-in-law a letter of divorce can she leave the General's Mansion," He Qingyi curtsied. "Your daughter-in-law needs to attend to the General, so I will not linger. Your daughter-in-law takes her leave."
"Stop!" Elder Madam Xiao stood up. "You want a letter of divorce, right? This old woman will write you one immediately!"
He Qingyi turned around, her smile unchanged: "Mother, to divorce a wife, there must be a reason. May I ask what reason Mother intends to use to divorce her?"
"Disregarding wifely virtues! Talking back to her mother-in-law, and having no heir!" Elder Madam Xiao immediately wrote a letter of divorce and threw it at He Qingyi.
He Qingyi caught it and read it: "Since Mother has said so, your daughter-in-law cannot shamelessly remain in the General's Mansion. If that is the case, your daughter-in-law bids farewell."
After saying this, He Qingyi led her people outside. Elder Madam Xiao had expected to spend more effort, but He Qingyi left so readily. Didn't she just act tough moments ago and say she wouldn't leave?
He Qingyi's wet nurse was quite disapproving: "My dear young lady, how could you agree to leave the General's Mansion?"
"Don't worry, wet nurse. As long as the eldest miss does not speak, no one can drive me from the position of General's wife!" He Qingyi said with a smile. "It won't be long before she begs me to return!"
Less than half an hour after He Qingyi returned to the mansion, she emerged from the General's Mansion again, immediately attracting a lot of attention.
Everyone thought the General's wife was going to the palace to summon an imperial physician. To their surprise, He Qingyi directly checked into a very ordinary inn, which led to widespread speculation.
When the old emperor learned of He Qingyi's return to the capital, he immediately issued an order, bestowing upon He Qingyi the title of a first-rank noble lady. He commended He Qingyi for her fearlessness in rushing to the epidemic-stricken area to treat the common people and also sent a plaque inscribed with "Benevolent Heart, Divine Physician!"
When the plaque was delivered to the General's Mansion, He Qingyi was nowhere to be seen to receive the imperial decree. Eunuch Hu, with a smile on his face, looked at the butler: "Old butler, where is the General's wife?"
The butler bowed: "Eunuch, my wife is not here."
"Not here? Wasn't it said that she had returned to the mansion? The imperial decree has arrived, quickly invite the wife back to receive it!" Eunuch Hu said with a beaming smile. "This is a great honor."
"This… this subordinate…"
"What wind has blown today to bring Eunuch Hu here?" Elder Madam Xiao slowly approached, supported by wet nurse Xu.
"Greetings to the old madam. Congratulations, old madam, congratulations. Great joy!" Eunuch Hu said with a fawning smile. Su Dan Novel Network
"Eunuch Hu, you jest. Where does this joy come from? My Zhen has been ill for a long time, where is the joy?" Elder Madam Xiao asked with displeasure.
"His Majesty's imperial decree has arrived."
"Imperial decree?" Elder Madam Xiao's gaze fell upon the young eunuchs holding items nearby, trying to see what was covered by the red cloth.
Hu Wan seemed to have read Elder Madam Xiao's mind and removed the red cloth from one of the young eunuchs' hands. It was a first-rank noble lady's ceremonial robe.
Elder Madam Xiao's spirits immediately lifted, and she quickly knelt down: "This old woman receives the decree."
Eunuch Hu was slightly startled and quickly helped Elder Madam Xiao up: "Old madam, please rise. This imperial decree is not for you, it is for the General's wife."
The smile on Elder Madam Xiao's face instantly froze: "For whom?"
"His Majesty's imperial decree, bestowing upon He Qingyi the title of a first-rank noble lady, and gifting a plaque personally written by His Majesty. This is the highest honor. Old madam, quickly call the wife out to receive the decree."
The expression on Elder Madam Xiao's face turned a mixture of green and white. She had already driven He Qingyi out of the General's Mansion. Where was she supposed to find her to receive the decree?
"Steward Lu."
"Old madam." Steward Lu appeared calm and composed.
"Go and call the wife back to receive the decree."
Steward Lu looked at the old madam, wanting to speak but hesitating. Didn't you give her a letter of divorce and drive her out? Can she come back now?
"Look at this old woman, why aren't you going!"
"Yes, this subordinate will go immediately."
"Eunuch Hu, please sit for a moment. My daughter-in-law, she always likes to wander outside. This old woman cannot control her."
Hu Wan, having lived in the palace for a long time and seen much, did not expose Elder Madam Xiao's lie. He Qingyi must have rushed back upon hearing the news of the General's critical illness. Now that she had returned, why wasn't she attending to the General but was outside? Who would believe there was no trickery involved?
"It's nothing. This eunuch will wait."