When Old Madam Hang heard the news, she was eating a vegetarian meal. Her calm smile instantly twisted, and she slammed her chopsticks on the table. She threw a furious tantrum, scolding the servant for daring to spread nonsense at the temple. The servant was extremely aggrieved and insisted that the young master himself had personally brought back Sixth Madam, which was why he was sent to report such joyous news.
Old Madam Hang nearly slapped the servant away. How was this joyous? It was clearly terrible news! Besides, she had seen the woman fall into the water; she didn’t know how to swim and was frail—how could she survive? Qingya was clearly dead. Where had this other Qingya come from, popping out from under a rock?
That woman must be an impostor, here to deceive her infatuated son. Old Madam Hang could no longer eat and immediately ordered a sedan chair to go down the mountain. The ten or so female relatives who had come with her were shocked upon hearing the forbidden name. None of them tried to eat, all followed her down the mountain. Two or three of the smarter ones told the maids to pack some steamed buns for the road.
Wang Ziqi clenched her teeth so hard it felt like she’d break her silver teeth. The woman who had made her jealous for nearly half her life was suddenly resurrected? On the way to Wuling Temple, her aunt had promised that if she bore a son, she would be made the primary wife. She had been thrilled, but now, in a blink, that woman was back? If she was already dead, why hadn’t she died thoroughly?
“Aunt, didn’t you say she was dead?” Wang Ziqi almost demanded from inside the carriage.
Old Madam Hang scowled, “She was dead! Fell into the water and died! Someone must be impersonating her to deceive your young master! I will expose her mask when we return and peel off her skin!”
Old Madam Hang thought of over ten cruel tortures she swore to inflict on the thief who frightened her so much she nearly lost her soul. But deep down, she could not suppress one thought:
What if… it’s true? What if this ghostly lonely daughter really came back from the underworld to haunt her son? Would she complain to Zhi’er, revealing this was all her plan? If Zhi’er lost his mind for her and believed her, then she…
The carriage jolted suddenly. Wang Ziqi cursed the coachman. Old Madam Hang snapped back to reality, drenched in cold sweat. But the older and wiser always think quicker. She soon understood: in this world, sons listen to their mothers when it comes to divorcing wives. She’d never heard of anyone choosing their wife over their mother. Even if Zhi’er cared for Qingya, he was still her son. He would never go against his parents for a woman. But surely there would be a rift in their hearts. No, she could not let this happen.
Thus, when she saw Qingya, Old Madam Hang was the first to embrace her. “Good child, good child, you’re still alive. That’s wonderful, wonderful!”
Moved, she choked back tears, then lifted Qingya’s face to examine it carefully. Seeing the pale beauty and the fear in her clear eyes, she knew this was her unyielding sixth daughter-in-law. The old lady hated her so much she wished to kill her with one stroke, yet those murderous eyes were moist. She drew Qingya close again, pressed her to her ear, and said, “You survived this calamity. From now on, live well with Zhi’er.”
Qingya was dazed in Old Madam Hang’s embrace until these words stabbed her heart like a needle. Her meaning was: because she died and came back, she had survived the trial, and so she was acknowledged? Was there such a ridiculous thing? A daughter-in-law had to die once before passing the mother-in-law’s test? Or was Old Madam Hang afraid Qingya would expose her recklessly, so she first placated her, only to find a chance to kill her again later?
Qingya felt desolate. Even if the world envied her and her husband’s closeness, with a malicious mother, it was all for nothing.
In the past, Qingya might have compromised for Hang Zhi. But now she no longer wanted to suffer silently. If this was her fate with Hang Zhi, then so be it. Qingya turned her head and glanced at Wang Ziqi, who wore a grown woman’s hairstyle. Her heart hurt even more. Whatever—there were others to accompany him anyway. One less wouldn’t matter.
Qingya shoved the Old Madam Hang aside. “Old Madam Hang, there’s no need for you to do this.”
At that moment, present in the room were Qian Jiaoniang, Hang Zhi, Hang Mo, Wang Ziqi, the second Madam Hang, and the third Madam Hang. Upon hearing this, everyone except Qian Jiaoniang was stunned. Filial piety is the foremost of all virtues, and since ancient times, no daughter-in-law had dared openly defy her mother-in-law—especially in grand families like theirs, where rules were strict and the elder lady was akin to heaven itself. Even if they might throw a little temper at their husbands, they would never dare show the slightest neglect toward their mother-in-law. Had this resurrected sixth sister-in-law really eaten leopard gall and bear heart to dare such boldness?
Hang Zhi froze on the spot. What did she mean by this…?
The Old Madam Hang, upon hearing this, instantly realized this sixth daughter-in-law of hers—who could so stab at the heart—was about to overturn the sky. Her sharp brows shot up. “What did you say?” She didn’t believe the girl really had the nerve!
Di Qingya took a deep breath. “I said, since you dared send people to pose as river bandits to take my life, you needn’t act so falsely concerned anymore!”
Qingya threw caution to the wind, loudly exposing the old lady’s vile deed before everyone present. A surge of tragic resolve rose in her chest. She looked toward Hang Zhi—now frozen like a statue—with eyes full of finality, as though with a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Why had he insisted she return? Their red thread of fate had already been severed the moment she fell into the water. Now this was merely pouring oil on the fire, to wound him all the more.
Her words fell like a muffled thunderclap, striking the entire room into deathly silence.
The old lady sent people to pose as river bandits to take her life? Then her fall into the river had not been an accident, but… deliberate?
Hang Mo was so terrified he hardly dared to breathe. He glanced at Hang Zhi—his sixth uncle who had never panicked even if the sky fell—now frozen stiff like a wooden chicken.
The Old Madam Hang’s face burned hotly with shame. Never before had anyone dared humiliate her in public—this Di Qingya really dared to challenge her! If she didn’t teach her a lesson, she wouldn’t know the meaning of “means.”
The elder lady exclaimed in shocked tones, “Sixth daughter-in-law, you must be out of your mind! You are my daughter-in-law; I am your mother. Why would I kill you? Mere words mean nothing—what proof do you have?” She stepped forward. “Or is it that you’ve listened to someone’s nonsense and returned to sow discord? Tell me—after you fell into the water, how were you rescued? By whom? Where have you been all this time? How could a weak woman like you survive until now?”
As she stepped forward, Qingya stepped back. The old lady sneered inwardly and advanced again—when suddenly, two sharp dog barks split the air. The old lady startled. Looking down, she saw a one-eyed, ugly dog glaring up at her and barking furiously.
The old lady had always disliked animals. She snapped, “Where did this beast come from? Beat it to death!”
The old serving women who had followed her back immediately moved to seize it, but Hang Mo quickly blocked their way. “That won’t do! Absolutely not!”
“Come here, Big Sis.” Qian Jiaoniang squatted down and crooked a finger at the dog. The one-eyed dog obediently limped forward two steps and leapt into her arms. Holding it, Qian Jiaoniang stood and smiled sweetly at the old lady.
The old lady noted Qian Jiaoniang’s dress and manner—not of a common household. But how had such a stranger appeared here, having heard their conversation so clearly? “And you are…?”
“Grandmother, this lady is Dingxi Marchioness, here especially to visit the Hang household today,” Hang Mo said.
Dingxi Marchioness? The old lady’s killing intent was forcibly smothered. Striving to return to her usual composure, she said, “So it is the Marchioness—this old woman has been discourteous.”
Qian Jiaoniang stroked the one-eyed dog and smiled. “Is the old lady well? I’ve heard the scenery at the Hang estate is beautiful, so I came along with my younger sister to enjoy it.”
“Your younger sister?”
“Yes. Isn’t she my sister?” Qian Jiaoniang patted Di Qingya’s shoulder. Qingya met her gaze, and the chill in her heart faded.
This had always been a battle she was bound to lose, but she must lose it with grace—walk out of the Hang household with her head held high.
“I have no proof, nor am I here to sow discord. I am only recounting what happened that night. Those so-called river bandits were clearly under your orders; the guards on the boat never moved to protect me. Poor Ruyu died tragically for my sake. They drove me to the prow of the boat, and you watched from hiding with cold eyes. I did not wish to be killed, so I jumped into the river—better to die cleanly in the water. Believe it or not, I had to say it.”
Though she said “you all,” her eyes never left Hang Zhi. Whether the others believed her was irrelevant.
The others also looked toward Hang Zhi. The third madam was about to speak, but the second madam yanked her arm to stop her.
Hang Zhi looked at his own mother, then at Qingya. Slowly, he stepped forward until he stood before her.
