[1] The Whole Family Is Insanely Eavesdropping on My Thoughts

"Go kneel in the ancestral hall. Without my permission, you are not to come out," Madam Xu ordered sternly, clutching her daughter tightly.

Lu Yuan Xiao slumped his head in defeat, responding with a sullen, "Oh." He quietly headed toward the ancestral hall to kneel.

Deng Zhi's legs were still weak from the fright earlier, only now beginning to recover her composure.

[Mother, please don't blame Brother. Chao Chao wants to go out so badly...]

Smack! Lu Chao Chao planted a big, wet kiss on Madam Xu's cheek.

Madam Xu glanced at her carefree daughter and sighed. "Today, you seem to be the happiest. You nearly scared me to death, though." Just thinking about it filled her with lingering fear.

"Young Master Yuan Xiao only meant well for his sister, Madam..." Deng Zhi tried to intercede on Lu Yuan Xiao's behalf. Usually, he was sweet-tongued and never acted with the airs of a noble young master, endearing him to the maids.

Madam Xu gave her a sharp look. "Enough. Let him kneel until after dinner."

Deng Zhi's face brightened immediately, and she bustled off to arrange for dinner an hour earlier than usual.

"Madam, you seem to be in high spirits," Deng Zhi remarked with a sly grin. If Madam Xu weren't in such a good mood today, Young Master Yuan Xiao would surely have faced a more severe punishment.

Madam Xu pressed her lips together to suppress a smile.

Earlier that morning, everything stolen from her private treasury was recovered, along with a substantial amount of compensation. Years of enduring grievances were at least somewhat repaid in gold.

The Marquis Zhongyong's Manor was now nothing but an empty shell.

"Hmm, Old Madam's eyes were dark-rimmed this morning. She claimed she was going to the temple to pray," Deng Zhi commented indignantly.

"I suspect she went to check on that side," Deng Zhi added, her tone bitter.

"Madam, why don't we..."

"Divorce?" Deng Zhi had pondered these words countless times before finally daring to utter them.

Lu Chao Chao instantly sprang up in her mother's arms. [Divorce, divorce, divorce!]

[New daddy, new daddy!]

"See? Even Young Miss is thrilled at the idea," Deng Zhi said earnestly, unwilling to see Madam Xu suffer further.

Just imagining the past seventeen years of living a lie filled her with resentment on Madam Xu's behalf.

Madam Xu's expression grew distant. "Deng Zhi, I have three sons and one daughter. Traditionally, a woman who divorces and returns to her family does not take her children unless the husband willingly gives them up." Right now, Lu Yuan Ze lacked sufficient bargaining chips to abandon the children.

Seeing Madam Xu's silence, Deng Zhi dropped the topic and instructed the servants to prepare dinner.

By evening, Old Madam and Lu Yuan Ze returned to the manor, their faces weary and tinged with anger. Madam Xu's actions had completely disrupted their plans.

"That daughter-in-law of yours is utterly malicious! She actually intended to ruin Jing Huai!" Old Madam exclaimed.

"Jing Huai is the pride and hope of the Marquis's Manor! Did you see the forlorn look on his face today? It broke my heart!" She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, tears streaming down her cheeks.