Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Old Five’s Wife, you!” Third Great-Grandfather pointed at Elderly Lady Qiao and sighed. “Muddleheaded!”
Quite a crowd of villagers was standing outside the courtyard, gesturing and pointing as they whispered. Elderly Lady Qiao felt like they were all looking at her with ridicule, and her heart started stinging with pain. Even breathing became more difficult.
“Third Great-Grandfather, Mother is only doing this for Eldest Brother and his family’s own good.”
“You, quiet!” Third Great-Grandfather rebuked Xu Jiao. “Do you think I am a dotard? Zhongheng’s Wife, keep your nose inside your own family’s business. Don’t you find it shameful and unsightly to forcefully stick your hand into Zhongbang’s family?”
Xu Jiao instantly wilted and did not dare to speak again.
“Old Five’s Wife, you don’t need to manage Zhongbang’s family from now on. Although our branch has declined to Qiaotou Village, it doesn’t mean our clan can’t raise a single child! It’s merely one more mouth to feed. Zhongbang’s Wife, don’t worry, for as long as Third Great Uncle is alive, your children won’t have to starve. Give birth without worry; don’t have too much burden.”
“Third Uncle!” Elderly Lady Qiao nearly fainted from her fury.
“Old Five’s Wife, let me discuss a matter with you. From what I see, Zhongbang, Zhongxing, and Zhongheng have all formed their own families and have their own children. Look, your youngest daughter is also getting married in September. How about this, I will make a decision for you, and that’s to divide the family here today.”
“They can’t divide!” Elderly Lady Qiao screamed as she fell onto the ground in a puddle. “Third Uncle, although you are my senior, you can’t bully a widowed mother and her poor children this openly! How could this family separate simply because you said so!”
“If you don’t separate, take a look at yourself!” Third Great-Grandfather dryly looked at Elderly Lady Qiao, disgust flitting through his sharp eyes. “Then it’s decided. Since Old Village Chief just so happens to be here, he can be a witness too.”
“Separate! Separate now, separate immediately!”
Seeing his mother laying on the ground, Qiao Zhongbang felt like knives were cutting into his heart and interceded. “Third Great Uncle, Old Village Chief, for this matter, shouldn’t we wait until Second Brother returns to discuss it, we…”
“Oh, Zhongbang, I know you are a filial and honest, child, but sometimes, you should consider your wife. Ziqin hasn’t had an easy time these past years…” Third Great-Grandfather sent Qiao Zhongbang a look and pulled him to the side to have a few words with him.
After Qiao Zhongbang returned with Third Great Uncle, he did not say anything more. Instead, he kept secretly glancing at the steely-faced Wei Ziqin.
The family division occurred fairly smoothly, and the elderly lady’s ghost-like wails were completely useless. With Old Village Chief as a witness, Third Great-Grandfather single-handedly directed the family division ceremony and even dug out the documents that clearly recorded it.
Qiao Mu’s lips turned up, and her piercing gaze swept over Old Village Chief and Third Great-Grandfather. When she turned around, faint amusement involuntarily leaked out of her eyes.
She returned to her room, closed the door, and sat next to the table for a very long time. Then, she poured a cold cup of tea for herself and muttered to herself, “Power—it truly is wonderful.”
When I possess power, then I will possess everything too.
A little less than an hour ago…
Third Great-Grandfather and Old Village Chief knelt in front of Crown Prince Lian with fear and trepidation. As they watched the youth who was holding a cheap teacup in his hand but looked as if he was grasping the unmarred bright moon instead, they held their breaths and did not dare to speak.
Alas, after an eighth of an hour had passed, the youth’s cool voice indifferently rung, “Before today ends, separate Qiaoqiao’s family. From now on, for every time that the old woman blindly seeks trouble from Qiaoqiao, We will seek trouble from you as well.”
Whoosh. An iron arrow flew over the tip of the two old men’s hair and pierced straight into a pillar further down the corridor. The pillar instantly leaned over, nearly causing half of the ceiling to fall down as well.
“We wonder… Will the total of 18 people from your two families withstand Us seeking trouble from you three times.”
The crown prince stood up with a flick of his sleeves, and the two old men immediately devoutly prostrated themselves at his feet. “As Your Highness orders!”
