p with an idea. What if one day, their family was no longer favored by the emperor, no longer valued by him, and even seen as a threat...Then, what would it be likeCould her beloved home be destroyed..."Wu Cuifang was found, but she's going to die, at the back garden of Hou Mansion. The second son will go with me to Hou Mansion, the fourth son will go find Jiaren. He said he's visiting his schoolmate at Lei family in Ping'an Alley, South City. Wu Cuifang is your mother after all, ask him to come over quickly! Also, go search the four city gates to see if your older brothers are around, maybe they've gone to Xindu Can you bring Jia Yi back But don't panic even if you can't find them."

"Alright, Mother, I'll go right away." Li Lao Si went out, took his horse and galloped off without a trace.

Li Laer didn't show any expression, but when he helped his mother out the door, he still tripped over the threshold.

The old woman patted her son's hand and sighed.

I haven't forgotten about Wu Cuifang over the past two years, but what she did before was too vicious, and her disappearance was so disgraceful. Even if I think about it, I don't want to think too much about it.

I thought that with her selfish nature, she'd probably be doing well wherever she was.

Where did I know, the first time I heard about her, it turned out to be... going to see her for the last time.

The carriage of the Marquis' mansion was large and spacious. Even with three members of the Li family, the steward, and Dongmei inside, it didn't feel cramped.

Old Mrs. Li held her granddaughter and, after some thought, told the head housekeeper about past events.

After all, Jia Yin is now the eldest miss of Hou Mansion, and Wu Cuifang has also fallen into Hou Mansion. If things are not made clear, what if everyone in Hou Mansion mistakenly thinks that the Li family is harsh to their daughter-in-law and does not treat Jia Yin well

The head steward and Dongmei sighed throughout the whole story.

This Wu Cuifang got to where she is today, it's really self-inflicted, not a bit of blame on others.

A heartless mother-in-law, who doesn't care for her children, is selfish and lazy. She only cares about supporting her own family.

He actually took his infant niece out, just to boost his brother's luck and win more money gambling.

Out of compassion for her two grandsons, Li Ji Nian didn't kill them or abandon them. She merely drove them out to work. She was truly kind-hearted.

But she actually ran away with them again!

Winter Plum and the Butler instinctively looked at Li Laoer, then quickly lowered their heads.

Mr. Er is such a good person, yet he suffers so much!

Soon, the carriage entered the new capital and went straight to Hou's Mansion.

There are precedents of the Jade Snow having several maidservants, and no one in the Hou Mansion dared to disrespect the Li family.

But whenever they encountered a servant, each and every one of them greeted him with utmost respect and deference.

But Li's family had no time to pay attention, following the steward directly to the servants' courtyard.

Servants from the same courtyard, perhaps aware that Wu Cuifang was nearing her end, stood at the door of her ear room, whispering amongst themselves.

"Wouldn't Madam Wu have been finished She really is tough. When she was first brought back, she looked like she wouldn't make it, refusing medicine and acting crazy. I didn't expect her to live for another two years."

"That's right, this is at our Hou Mansion. Without a servitude contract, she still gets monthly wages to cover her food and lodging, as well as medical expenses. She helps us wash clothes on a daily basis, and we even give her copper coins. If she were in another household, she would probably be dead by now."

"The steward said, let us take care of more, just as doing good deeds."

"Where did the housekeeper go Did he really go to find her family"

"I saw the steward's face change color. Could her family still be a well-known one"

"Impossible"

While they were speaking, the steward led the Li family members over. Everyone was surprised and quickly bowed their heads and stepped back.

Elder Li handed Fu Niang to the head steward, "Matters like this are not suitable for children to be involved in. Please take care of Fu Niang, Steward."

"Rest assured, Madam." The steward hurriedly took Fu Niao over and ordered the servants to move the tables and chairs, set up a windbreak, then carried Fu Niao to sit in the courtyard and coaxed her to eat some snacks.

Although Funiu disliked Wu Cuifang, she felt heavyhearted thinking about her two brothers losing their mother. She couldn't even stomach her favorite snacks anymore.

Li La'er took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom first. The old woman followed closely behind.

The earroom wasn't very large, with only one window letting in a patch of sunlight.

Wu Cuiflower lay under the window, staring blankly at the beam of light, mumbling to herself.

Perhaps hearing the noise, she slowly turned her head towards the door, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.

Li Lao Er and the old woman were also extremely shocked. In their impression, Wu Cuifang was the greediest eater. She would even snatch a few bites of the children's egg custard, and she was the fattest in the family.

It's only been two years, and you've completely changed.

His once plump figure was now gaunt, with hardly any flesh left. One side of his face was covered in scars, his complexion pale and sallow, his eye sockets sunken, and half his hair had turned white.

The blanket covering him was fairly new, but one bare leg stuck out in a strange pose from under it, clearly showing that he was disabled!

A maidservant sat by the bed, holding a bowl of medicine. She seemed surprised by so many people arriving for Wu Cuifang and quickly stood up, explaining in a low voice, “Madam Wu wouldn’t take the medicine; I tried to persuade her but she refused.”

Lao Li reluctantly nodded her head. At this moment, she truly had no heart for pleasantries.

The maidservant hurriedly put down the medicine bowl and backed out.

Wu Cuifang's originally cloudy eyes, washed by tears, brightened a little. She struggled to sit up, but had no strength.

Lao Li walked a few steps forward, helped her up, and leaned her against the pillow.

Wu Cuifang choked back tears, her face flushed a dark red. The first thing she said was, “Mother, I… I was wrong!”

Li Laotai's eyes turned red, "Don't say these things, it wastes your energy. Lao Si has already gone to pick up Jiaren. He is studying at the academy now, and he is doing very well. His classmates are all close to him, and they made plans to play together today. Jiayi got up early and went out with his uncle. I don't know if he can come back. You wait a little longer!"

"Jiarren, my son! Jiarren, Jiarren…" Wu Cuifang mumbled, her eyes shining a little brighter.

Li Lao'er stepped forward, enduring the complicated emotions in his heart, and asked, "You've fallen ill like this, why don't you seek treatment Also, where is Ergou Didn't you run away together The landlord said... said that you eloped with someone. Did that person take care of you"

Wu Cuiflower's tears flowed again, shaking her head like a madman, "No, no, I didn't elope with anyone! It was Erdogzi, Erdogzi asked me to be his wife and serve a pregnant woman to Kyoto, saying that it was profitable and the food was good. I didn't elope, I didn't elope with anyone!"

"Alright, alright, none of that matters now!" Seeing her discomfort, Li Laotai feared she might choke and quickly tried to soothe her.

"If you don't elope, you will be buried in the Li family's grave!"

As expected, the words acted like a shot of adrenaline, brightening Wu Cuifang's complexion and bringing her fully to her senses.

She gripped the old woman's hand tightly, "Mother, mother! Can I really be buried in Li family's graveyard"

The old woman sighed, “Although you have made many mistakes, the Li family didn’t divorce you before, and you didn’t elope to bring shame upon them. That’s why the Li family wouldn't leave you without a place to be buried. After all, you gave birth to Jiaren and Jia Yi…”

"Woooo, woooo!" Wu Cuifang cried out in pain, every tear a drop of regret.

"Mother, I was wrong. Ergouzi is a beast! My father was killed because of him! I worked like an ox and horse for him, and he left me crippled and disfigured, then abandoned me! I waited for him on the road for ten days, drinking rainwater when I was thirsty, eating grass roots and tree bark when I was hungry. The blood on my leg dried up! He never came back! Mother, I was wrong. I want to go home, but I'm ashamed!"

Li Laotai and Li Laoer, even if they had a thousand words, didn't know what to say at this moment.

For over a decade, they lived under the same roof. She had tried countless times to reason with Wu Cuifang, but she just wouldn't listen.

It's too late to realize now.

At this time, Li Laosi finally brought Jia Ren over.

Perhaps finding Jiaren too slow, Li Laosi simply carried him in.

Jia Ren finally stood steady, and when he saw his mother again, he was also stunned on the spot.

"Mother... Mother"

Wu Cuiflower suddenly struggled, pulling the quilt hard to cover her crippled leg and shield her hideous face.

Jiarren had seen it long ago, suddenly pounced up and burst into tears.

"Mother, you didn't...didn't elope with someone Why aren't you wealthy and prosperous Why haven't you had a good life How could this be"

There's no child in the world who doesn't love their mother!

Although Jiarren had complained countless times to his mother, hating her selfishness and foolishness, hating that she brought shame to the family, he even thought about taking the imperial examinations, achieving fame and honor, and one day making his mother regret it.

But he had never imagined, his mother would die! And in such a tragic way!

Wu Cuifua's shriveled hands clutched her face tightly, tears streaming down between her fingers.

The old woman hugged her grandson and urged him, "Your mother is about to pass away. Hurry up and have a good talk with her. She was tricked by Ergouzi into going to Kyoto to be a servant. As a result, when the capital was moved, she saved Ergouzi at the cost of injuring her face and legs, but Ergouzi abandoned her and ran away. The Hou Mansion's carriage convoy rescued her. Perhaps she felt guilty towards home, even though she knew our family was nearby, she didn't go back."

Jia Ren cried louder and louder, hating himself for not knowing what to do.

Wu Cuifua, perhaps exhausted, suddenly began to gasp for breath. She reached under her pillow with all her might, trying desperately to pull something out. Preceptor Yi hastened to unfold the Imperial Edict and read it aloud.The Chen family, upon hearing that they were sentenced to six months of hard labor on Broken Gold Beach and had to pay double the...