Everyone wanted to live, and Shangguan Wan was no exception.
But after experiencing those dark months, she would rather die than go back.
"Are we going north to look for Brother Lanting?"
Ever since she agreed to go north with them, Shangguan Wan felt as if a heavy burden had been removed from her shoulders. She felt light and at ease.
"Yes." Jiang Nongqin nodded and added, "The journey will be more dangerous. Lady Wan, you must be mentally prepared."
Shangguan Wan had vaguely heard about the situation in the north. She knew that the Tsing Yi Army and the Red Lotus Group were fighting, but could they be more terrifying than the Zhang residence?
Her eyes darkened and she said with determination, "Don't worry, Sister Nongqin. I'm not afraid."
It was better to do this sooner rather than later. The troops were ready to depart in two days, which was three days earlier than the original plan.
Shangguan Wan had been hiding in the troop camp for more than half a year. In the beginning, she was a little timid. Her mental state and emotions were very unstable, and her body was very weak. Later, Jiang Nongqin took her to learn martial arts to strengthen her body. In addition, Shangguan Wan had a certain foundation, so she learned very quickly.
Even if he couldn't kill or capture them, at least he had the ability to protect himself.
Zhang Zhaoshi was wronged in the Liu Mansion. When she went back, she cried and complained to her husband, adding fuel to the fire.
She thought that her husband would help her for the sake of her dead son, but he slapped Zhang Zhaoshi in the face instead.
Not only that, he even scolded her for being short-sighted and wanted to drag her to the Liu residence to apologize.
Zhang Zhaoshi was dumbfounded. Anger rose in her heart, and she cried and scolded her husband.
"Why should I apologize to an unchaste woman? That Gu Zhen is not a good person. She is fickle. Don't tell me that even you have been seduced by her? She's harboring that little bitch, Shangguan Wan. Do you want our son to die with everlasting regret? "
Zhang Zhaoshi's husband was also confused. He didn't know when his wife had become so unreasonable.
He smiled coldly and said word by word.
"You ask me why? Just because she came from a prestigious family, just because her husband was the magistrate of Chongzhou. In today's world, if someone wants you dead, you can't live. Do you understand? Look at it the other way round, what do you have? Let's not talk about whether she was harboring her daughter-in-law or not. The key is, do you have any evidence? Where are the witnesses and material evidence? You don't have anything at all, yet you dare to come here and ask for him. What a shrew! "
Zhang Zhaoshi still wanted to refute, but her husband said again, "You should stop interacting with the second wife of the Shangguan family in the future. Look at how disgusting you are now. You're torturing your daughter-in-law at home, but I'm turning a blind eye. I only hope that you don't go too far. Although Madam Shangguan doesn't love her anymore, she still has the blood of Shangguan in her bones. What right do you have to torture her to death? "
Zhang Zhaoshi opened her mouth and said awkwardly after a while, "I'm her mother-in-law."
Her husband chuckled coldly. "She has already written the divorce papers and gone through the official channels. What kind of mother-in-law are you? You didn't give birth to her, nor did you raise her. What right do you have to decide her life and death? Just because of those books that you hold in your hands all day long? If you have the time, read the words of the real sages, and stop reading these crooked things. "
Zhang Zhaoshi's husband said this not because he thought that the Four Self-accomplishment Classics for Women was bad, but because his mother was also a remarried woman. If he acknowledged the Four Self-accomplishment Classics for Women, wouldn't he be scolding his old mother?
Looking at Zhang Zhaoshi's absent-minded expression, he curled his lips and left.
Zhang Zhaoshi suddenly broke down, with an expression that looked like she was about to cry.
Her husband was determined to make her apologize to Gu Zhen. If she did not agree, her life in the residence would be difficult in the future.
The legitimate son she gave birth to was sickly and naturally castrated, but the sons of her husband and other concubines were smart and healthy.
Because of this, her husband felt that it was all Zhang Zhaoshi's fault that the legitimate son was handicapped. Ever since the legitimate son was born, he rarely entered her room.
Her belly had never moved, but the sons and daughters of the concubines jumped out one after another.
In the morning of the second day of the New Year, the troops were ready to leave. Before leaving, Lady Gu Zhen invited Shangguan Wan to watch a good show.
Shangguan Wan looked at the plain and completely unfamiliar woman in the mirror in disbelief. She deeply felt the magic of Lady Gu Zhen's hands.
"My sister taught her. It's a good skill," the Second lady said in a flat tone.
"I wonder what kind of show you want me to watch, madam?" Shangguan Wan asked.
The Second lady said, "You'll know in a while. Wait behind the screen and just watch the show."
Not long after, the gatekeeper reported that Zhang Zhaoshi had come.
Shangguan Wan subconsciously tensed up and clenched her fists tightly.
"Lady Zhang, what a rare guest. Why are you here?" The Second lady's voice passed through the screen and reached Shangguan Wan's ears. She said sarcastically, "I don't have the young madam of the Zhang residence here. Do you want to bring people to search me today?"
After a while, Shangguan Wan heard the familiar voice of her former mother-in-law.
Her usual sarcasm was replaced by flattery. She was humble and submissive. It was impossible to imagine how powerful and arrogant she was in the Zhang residence … Now … Shangguan Wan secretly bit her lower lip. She felt inexplicably carefree when she heard Zhang Zhaoshi flattering and apologizing to the Second lady and calling her "Madam Liu" so intimately.
The Second lady's reaction was indifferent. She only responded impatiently after the other party said more than ten sentences.
Even though she was so neglectful, the other party still carefully flattered and flattered her.
After hearing a lot of flattery, the Second lady finally showed mercy and sent Zhang Zhaoshi away. The other party felt as if she had been pardoned.
When the people of the Zhang residence had completely left, Shangguan Wan quietly walked out of the screen.
The Second lady said, "Did you hear what was said just now clearly?"
Shangguan Wan nodded. "Yes."
The Second lady took a sip of tea. The bright red rouge on her lips was still gorgeous. She opened her mouth slightly.
"In terms of prestige and status, the Liu residence is not much higher than the Zhang residence in Hejian. But you saw how she was just now. Why do you think that old woman is so submissive and flatters me everywhere? "
Shangguan Wan thought for a while. "Because of Uncle Liu?"
"Not because of my brother-in-law, but because of the troops in my brother-in-law's hands." The Second lady said with a smile, "Wan 'er, we hit it off at first sight. I feel very sorry for what you've been through, so I'm here to say a few words. If you hold military power one day, those people will also flatter you shamelessly. Only when you're strong can you not be bullied by others. All external forces are unreliable. Now, you can only rely on yourself. "
Shangguan Wan was the daughter of the Shangguan family's legal wife. No one dared to provoke her in the past. She had the highest status among the noble ladies in Hejian. Because she was doted on by the Shangguan family, everyone was afraid of the power behind her.
But when Shangguan Wan lost the love of her family, she was violated and treated so harshly that she was almost forced to commit suicide.
The Second lady made it clear, and Shangguan Wan was a sensible person, so she understood what she meant.
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