Chapter 432 - 424: Determined
Mrs. Dong was startled when she heard the news and hurriedly had things prepared to return to the Dong Mansion.
Mrs. Dong’s arrival, however, agitated Mrs. Jiang. Mrs. Jiang didn’t say anything and lunged at Mrs. Dong, tearing and hitting her. Mrs. Jiang’s behavior startled Mrs. Dong, who dared not fight back until the servants came and pulled Mrs. Jiang away, finally saving Mrs. Dong.
Mrs. Dong had scratches on her face but still said nothing. Just a nephew seeking a shortcut, although it had no relation to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the matter was indeed connected to them. Bringing up the issue led to the nephew’s suicide, and Mrs. Dong felt uneasy.
Mrs. Jiang glared at Mrs. Dong with hatred, "Give me back my son’s life. If it weren’t for the daughter you raised, how would my son be gone like this? Even if my son died, your daughter won’t be spared." Mrs. Jiang spoke madly, looking as if she would devour someone.
Mrs. Dong used to be formidable and unyielding, disregarding rules and doing anything she wanted. But this time, she dared not retaliate and only instructed someone to take Mrs. Jiang away, then went to her mother.
Dong Mansion was busy with funeral arrangements, with some noble families visiting. Mrs. Dong Sr.’s place was quiet, with no one around, as she was still unconscious from the shock and hadn’t woken up.
Mrs. Dong entered the room, seeing her mother lying unconscious on the bed, feeling both regret and sorrow. She thought she should have listened to her mother at that time, even cared about her nephew’s feelings. If she hadn’t driven the nephew away, perhaps he wouldn’t have sought a shortcut when he returned home.
Mrs. Dong sat by the bed, asked a young servant girl a few questions, and learned that her mother hadn’t woken since her coma. She wanted to sit for a while and then see her brother, but her mother slowly woke up, surprising Mrs. Dong, who hurriedly went to assist her mother.
Mrs. Gu Sr. sat up and remained silent while looking at her daughter. Mrs. Dong knew her mother was distressed, comforting her, "No one expected this to happen, mother, please do not blame yourself. If Side were here, he would want you to take care of your health."
"I had a dream and saw Side. That child told me he couldn’t just go like this; he had to get a wife first. So, I thought since that’s the case, let him marry Sister Jian from your house." Mrs. Dong Sr. spoke without agitation, her tone very calm.
Mrs. Dong was stunned, incredulously looking at her mother. But upon realizing what her mother meant, she quickly said, "Mother, do you mean to have Sister Jian bring the memorial tablet of Side into the house?"
"This is destiny between the two children. Besides, she owes us for Side’s life. Now that Side died for her, she should repay us for Side. I didn’t ask for her life, which is already merciful. Now, bringing Side’s memorial tablet into our Dong Mansion, we won’t mistreat her. Later, a child will be adopted under her name." Coldness flashed in Mrs. Dong Sr.’s eyes, "Yesterday, I told you this, but you insisted otherwise. Later, thinking of what Sister Hui said, I fulfilled that child’s wish. I didn’t demand anything from you then, but now it’s about Side’s matter. Whether you agree or not, it must happen. You should know, back then, your issues were all covered by me as your mother. I have nothing left to ask of you, just this one thing now."
Mrs. Dong looked at her mother, even showing fear in her eyes, not expecting her mother to use past events to threaten her.
Mrs. Dong Sr. didn’t look at her, but Mrs. Dong feared and waved for everyone in the room to leave.
Seeing this, Mrs. Dong Sr. continued, "For all these years, I’m your mother, I did those things for the family’s image, so I never mentioned them. I know I’m making things difficult for you now, but she owes us for Side. Today, I make it clear: if you don’t do this, I’ll expose those past events, and let’s see if you can remain the Marchioness of Dingyuan."
"Mother, why are you putting me in such a difficult position? You know my current circumstances in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. If you bring up the past, where will I find a way to live?" Mrs. Dong cried until her eyes were red, "Besides, regarding Sister Jian, it’s not that I don’t want to help. The Marquis sent her away; I don’t know where she was sent. Even if I wanted to bring her back, I couldn’t. If you insist on this matter, shouldn’t you handle it directly with our old lady and the Marquis? Now that Side is gone, Sister Jian cannot escape the responsibility. If you propose this request, I believe they will agree. Why force me so?"
"How can they agree? Even if I don’t say it, I know in my heart." Mrs. Dong Sr. raised her head to look at her daughter, "Don’t think I’m old and easily fooled with such words. Now that Side is gone, I have no more desires. For all these years, I’ve carried many things for you; asking you to do this is considered your repayment to the Dong Mansion."
Mrs. Dong bit her lip, "I will try. If I try and the Marquis and old lady don’t agree, there’ll be nothing more I can do; I will have tried my best."
"This matter must succeed. Before you married into the Marquis Mansion, everyone thought you waited years for the Dingyuan Marquis, not marrying, even disregarding his life or death. Later, the Dingyuan Marquis was conferred as Marquis and returned to the Capital; when you married into the Marquis Mansion, do you remember what I said to you? It was me who found a way to restore your body, so they wouldn’t detect that you weren’t a virgin. That’s how you managed in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion as Marchioness, receiving the respect of Marquis and the old lady. In recent years, if you hadn’t made turmoil yourself, I believe you’d still have their respect. Not mentioning other things, just talk about bearing Brother Zong. Think about it, if you had no legitimate son in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion now, what status would you have? I fear your situation would be even worse. When I did those things for you, even sacrificing our Dong Mansion’s reputation, not fearing them finding out and helping you, now it’s about your nephew; it’s your Dingyuan Marquis Mansion that owes us. Do you think this is too much?"