Chapter 2421 - 2395: What Are Your Plans? (Part 2)

If one is intent, seeking Wang Ruile’s opinion is not difficult. Xia He and the others applied eye compresses and sorted their emotions, finally bringing back a pile of things with them.

The two women maintained their obedient, submissive demeanor as before, albeit with a hint of numbness. As it was already dark, and the room was dimly lit even with lamps, it wasn’t easy to see, not to mention Wang Ruile was still asleep and hadn’t woken yet. Thus, there weren’t many lamps lit in the courtyard, just enough to make out people.

Aunt Ma saw how much they brought back and stepped forward to ask, "Why did you bring so many things back?"

In the same flat tone as usual, Xia He said, "Madam insisted on giving them, saying they were all things from her maiden days that our madam should be accustomed to using."

She paused, her voice lowered a bit, then said, "Madam wants our madam to stay here to treat her illness and return only after it’s cured. She also wants Xia Cao and me to persuade madam, as for the residence, she will write to inquire."

Aunt Ma had already anticipated this when Zhou Man said it would take six months to a year for a cure. She actually didn’t want to go back either; if madam listened and stayed here to get well, it would be fine.

But this is the master’s business, she only needed to do her part.

The message was already sent out today, and the letter should be mailed out tomorrow. The residence would have its own decision by then.

So she looked at the things and nodded, "Madam is still asleep, be quiet so as not to wake her."

"Yes."

Seeing them entering, Aunt Ma summoned a maid and whispered, "Keep an eye on them, don’t let them say anything they shouldn’t to outsiders. When someone came to summon them today, I was careless, and you let both of them leave together. If the young master and the Old Madam find out, watch your skin."

The maid trembled, her face turning pale as she lowered her head in acknowledgment, pulling off a bracelet from her wrist and slipping it into her hand, pleading, "Please don’t tell, last night I was on night watch, madam got up seven or eight times, didn’t sleep well at night, and was busy all day. In the late afternoon, I accidentally dozed off, who knew they’d be called away?"

"Hmph," Aunt Ma accepted the bracelet and whispered, "I’ll let you off this time, if it happens again, I won’t dare cover for you."

The maid nodded repeatedly.

Wang Ruile slept until dawn, and while Xia He and Xia Cao didn’t show it on their faces, they were very happy; it’s been years since madam had such a good sleep.

Wang Ruile felt lazy and wanted to continue sleeping, but Aunt Ma was afraid she’d oversleep, so she gently coaxed her awake.

Xia He and Xia Cao helped Wang Ruile dress; she’d slept since the afternoon before, so she was surely unkempt.

Aunt Ma glanced around and promptly instructed a maid, "Chun Xin, go with Xia He to attend to madam, Xia Cao, go to the kitchen and fetch breakfast..."

The maids complied, and Xia He along with another maid assisted Wang Ruile to the washroom for changing clothes.

Wang Ruile did not like being attended to by other maids, even though Chun Xin had been by her side for many years, she still only allowed Xia He and Xia Cao to do personal tasks.

Chun Xin understood this, so she just stood by the side, handing things to Xia He as usual.

The Ma Family only wanted them to remain within sight.

Xia He carefully adjusted Wang Ruile’s belt, discreetly slipping a small folded piece of paper into it, with her back to Chun Xin.

Wang Ruile noticed and looked down at Xia He.

Xia He merely lifted her eyelids to glance at madam, then lowered her eyes again and continued to arrange the belt.

After changing clothes, Wang Ruile felt more comfortable and nodded emotionlessly to Xia He and Chun Xin, "You may leave now."

Chun Xin knew she wanted to change, so she bent down to light an incense stick, then carried the dirty clothes out with Xia He.

Behind a screen, Wang Ruile seated herself on a chamber pot. Her fingers gently retrieved the paper from her belt, unfolded it onto her lap, revealing a larger piece full of densely packed writing.

This was a letter Madam Tang wrote to her. The beginning was somewhat full of indignation, and towards the end she asked what she intended to do?

If she wished to return to the Ma Family, she and the Wang Family could ensure her safety; if she didn’t want to return, there were other ways to avoid going back.

Madam Tang was deeply disgusted by Ma Hongzhong and the Ma Family, thus suggested Wang Ruile leave the Ma Family, regardless of whether through divorce or not, it was important to leave.

The Wang Family supporting an aunt was still easy.

Wang Ruile quietly stared at the letter spread on her knee, tears falling one by one, blurring the ink on the letter.

She wiped her tears emotionlessly, then folded the letter carefully and tucked it into her sleeve.

She had contemplated this issue countless times, what should she do?

At the second beating, and the first time she returned to her maternal home, she wished for her family to intervene and make Ma Family pay, preferably to beat Ma Hongzhong, making him afraid to ever lay hands on her again.

With Cong’er around, and for his sake, the marriage had to continue, leaving had never crossed her mind, let alone getting a divorce.

But after being sent back by the Second Madam and facing everything in the Ma Family, she knew she couldn’t stay in the Ma Family, ultimately, she’d either leave horizontally or vertically.

But getting out had three ways, just as she thought, and Madam Tang inquired which one she wanted, to divorce and leave cleanly alone; or take the child and leave, or separate and not divorce, taking the child back?

She knew, of these three options, the third was the simplest, the first not too hard, and the second very difficult, not only in execution but also for Cong’er’s future.

But why?

A harsh light flashed in Wang Ruile’s eyes, why should the son she gave birth to stay with the filthy Ma Family, carrying the Ma surname?

With Lord Tang’s guidance, and being on their own turf, exchanging information was conducted smoothly.

Madam Tang personally came with three children to have breakfast with Wang Ruile, and when the sisters leaned against each other watching the children play, Madam Tang took the paper from Wang Ruile’s sleeve nonchalantly and tucked it back into her own sleeve, then asked her, "Among the three snacks the kitchen sent, which one do you like most?"

Wang Ruile drank the bitter medicine in one gulp, wiped the corner of her mouth, and said, "The third tastes best, but my favorite is still the second."

Madam Tang raised an eyebrow, smiling, "Me too. I don’t know what the cook added, it tastes a bit bitter, but I must say, as one gets older, one doesn’t only crave sweets like in childhood, bitterness can be quite pleasant, offering a refreshing taste."

Wang Ruile smiled faintly, clasping Madam Tang’s hand and laughed, "I think sister’s taste has always been constant, not that you ever particularly liked sweets before."

Madam Tang sighed, "Indeed, but you couldn’t bear any bitterness before, now you drink medicine like water, taking it down without a flinch."

Aunt Ma and the others stood aside listening, not suspecting a thing was amiss.