Having arranged matters in Yangcheng, Wu Caiwei resumed her original appearance and once again boarded a ship bound for Lan Cheng. Unlike her solitary journey there, this time Zhang Changhe stood by her side, with servants following behind, carrying large and small chests of luggage.
Shortly after their arrival in Lan Cheng, Madam Zhu heard about them. It was, after all, impossible to overlook Wu Caiwei's striking appearance.
"That woman actually dares to flaunt herself on the streets, isn't she afraid of shame? Considering her past as a prostitute, it was already a blessing from heaven for her to even enter our family. Expelling her from Lan Cheng would prevent us from becoming gossip fodder. I never expected her to return," Madam Zhu complained to her son.
"Mother need not worry. We were able to drive her away last time, and we can do so again. Moreover, she has a daughter in our hands. For her own flesh and blood, she will obediently comply," the young master of the Zhu family said, feeling somewhat unsettled but not overly concerned.
One day, while Zhang Changhe and Wu Caiwei were looking at shops on the street, several servants were coaxing a young girl who was throwing a tantrum nearby. Although the servants tried their best to conceal it, they inadvertently cast glances towards the couple. Zhang Changhe quickly realized who the young girl was and tapped Wu Caiwei, who was speaking with the shopkeeper.
Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow and walked forward. Sister Yu looked at the woman blocking her path, recoiled slightly with distaste, tugged at her wet nurse's sleeve, and whispered, "Let's go quickly."
Wu Caiwei simply watched as they bypassed her, their hushed whispers filling the air. Even Sister Yu's backward glance was filled with disdain.
"Don't be sad. She's still young and has been misled by the Zhu family. Once I find a way to bring her out of the Zhu family and nurture her for a while, she'll be alright," Zhang Changhe said quietly, appearing beside her and patting her hand to comfort her.
"I'm not sad. A forcibly plucked melon is not sweet. Although the original owner gave all her love to her, the recipient did not appreciate it. As she grew older, she gradually understood that prostitutes were looked down upon, just like the servants in the mansion, and she treated her adoptive mother with contempt. She began to curry favor with Madam Zhu, dreaming of the day she could be adopted by her. The original owner was not unaware of her daughter's thoughts. She understood that her status would affect her daughter's marriage prospects, so she turned a blind eye."
Wu Caiwei sighed, feeling a heavy heart, and felt pity for the original owner. She should have had a wonderful life, but it was ruined by Liu Baishi. She loved her daughter dearly but had to watch helplessly as she tried to please others, desperately attempting to become someone else's daughter and escape from her. She had been heartbroken and resentful before, but with the dawn, she wiped away her tears, and life had to go on.
Wu Caiwei knew that today's encounter was arranged by Madam Zhu and understood its implied message. However, this time she was determined not to leave easily. The original owner's last wish was for her daughter, and now she intended to do business in Lan Cheng and protect Sister Yu.
Sister Yu, now somewhat understanding, lowered her head and hurried back to her courtyard, closing the door and collapsing onto her bed, weeping. After crying herself out, she looked up to see her wet nurse gazing at her with pity. Her eyes immediately welled up again, and she complained with a sense of injustice, "I've been a joke in this mansion since birth. She finally left, and I managed to win over Madam. I finally established myself here, and now she reappears and disrupts my life. Madam will surely be angry because of her. Wouldn't all my careful efforts over the past few months be in vain?"
The wet nurse sighed. She had been hired by Li Shiyun. While Li Shiyun was in the mansion, she had treated her well. She knew the woman was kind, but sometimes one's birth was not something one could choose. Li Shiyun was beautiful and talented. If she hadn't been sold by her own father, she could have lived a carefree life no matter whose family she married into, given her intelligence. But fate was beyond her control. Suzhou Novel Network. Sister Yu had grown up under her care. She was kind-hearted but had suffered too much scorn and disdain in the mansion, making her somewhat insecure and desperate for Madam's approval to lessen the influence of her adoptive mother. It was hard to say who was right or wrong; it was simply the twists of fate.
A few days later, as Wu Caiwei and Zhang Changhe returned to their small courtyard in Lan Cheng, they encountered a person they had expected.
"Your Ladyship's presence graces this humble abode," Wu Caiwei said with a smile, stepping forward and expertly pouring her a cup of tea.
Madam Zhu surveyed her up and down with a meaningful gaze. The scrutiny surprised her. She had thought that after her husband's death and without any protection, Wu Caiwei would be struggling to survive, and she remembered how she had sent people to strip her of all her silver. To survive, Wu Caiwei had lived in a haunted house in the city. Yet, after such a short time, she appeared rosy-cheeked and radiant, clearly living well. Her attire was no different from that of a wealthy lady. Her gaze shifted to Zhang Changhe, standing beside her, which made her envious of Wu Caiwei's good fortune. She cursed her inwardly as a vixen, wondering what it was about her that attracted these men, who threw themselves at her despite her disreputable background.
In Madam Zhu's eyes, a woman's honor stemmed from her husband. Wu Caiwei's turnaround in just a few months was clearly inseparable from the man beside her. Furthermore, he was handsome and refined, and one might mistake him for a scholar. Zhang Changhe sensed the change in her expression and stepped forward to shield Wu Caiwei, smiling as he allowed himself to be scrutinized.
"You have been in Lan Cheng for several days and should know the Zhu family's influence here. Since my hints have not been understood, I will be blunt: I am here today to give you a warning. Leave immediately, or you will face the full wrath of the Zhu family," Madam Zhu said, losing patience with their affectionate display and getting straight to the point with a somber expression.
"I was once part of the Zhu family; everyone knows that. The Zhu family expelled me, and I remarried. We have no business conflicts, so why insist on driving us away?" This was something Wu Caiwei had always pondered. She knew that in Madam Zhu's eyes, she was a stain on the Zhu family. Did the past cease to exist just because she wasn't living in Lan Cheng?
"Enough nonsense. Just tell me whether you are leaving or not," Madam Zhu replied, unwilling to engage further. Did she want to tell Wu Caiwei that she had fallen in love with her husband at first sight? They had been married for many years, and he had treated her with respect. Wu Caiwei's appearance had disrupted their peaceful life. She learned that her husband, too, could be gentle and attentive, but it was not directed at her. She had wept countless times, and thinking of all these years, she felt her own life had been unfulfilling.