Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
She wouldn't be able to defeat them in any way.
"I'll do my best," Shao Liulang declared, clenching his fist. "I'll study hard and surpass Shao Yunduan. I'll make it, I'm determined!"
"Yes!" Ms. Ma's spirit was reignited. "My son has always been clever, better than Shao Yunduan. I'm confident you'll succeed, and when that time comes, you can marry any girl you want. Bah!"
Shao Liulangs expression darkened, and he fell into silence.
Any girl? He wasn't so sure about that.
But he knew one thing for certain—he genuinely liked Lady Zhao. She was the only one who treated him with respect and trust, the only one who would smile at him and ask him to spend time together, relying on him whenever she faced difficulties.
But he had failed to help her. and now he had lost her too.
Shao Yunduan had shattered his happiness, and he wasn't going to give up easily.
While Ms. Ma continued to nag and defend her son, Shao Liulang tuned out, lost in his own thoughts.
The Zhao Family faded away from the county, soon becoming a forgotten memory.
As for Ding Qiuyue, her life as a concubine was filled with bitterness. Her hostile sister-in-law constantly gave her trouble at work, sneering at her and hurling insults. Qiuyue understood the need to be tolerant while living under someone else's roof, but there were moments when she reached her breaking point.
Unable to bear it any longer, she found herself engaged in arguments with her sister-in-law, leading to heated exchanges. Even her own mother blamed her and chaos reigned within the family.
Driven to annoyance and fury, Ding Qiuyue decided she had to escape. She fled her home and, before leaving the village, she made a visit to the first section of the Shao Family once more.
However, Ms. Fang refused to allow her into the yard. Unperturbed, Ding Qiuyue apologized to Ms. Fang, explaining that she had come before because Old Master Zhao had instructed her to set up Shao Yunduan.
After leaving the village, Ding Qiuyue lived as a wanderer for a while until she eventually married a widower in his forties. They had a son together, and their life gradually improved. From that moment onward, she never returned to her mother's home.
Ms. Guan made an attempt to visit her once, hoping to gain some benefits from the new situation. However, Ding Qiuyue promptly chased them away with broomsticks, and they never dared to approach her again.
The entire village found amusement in the misfortune of Ms. Guan and her family, drawing comparisons to the troublesome Zhang Family from Zhang Village.
Ms. Fang was deeply disturbed by Ding Qiuyue' s revelations. She immediately confronted Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan about the matter.
The three of them exchanged worried glances, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Qiao Xuan spoke up, "Mother, this serves as a reminder for us. As the husband is the Provincial Champion and soon to become an Advanced Scholar, he will likely pursue a career as an officer in the future. There will be many attempts to undermine us. It's not just him; Elder Brother and Third Brother should also be cautious. Qi and Taotao should choose their martial partners wisely too. We can't allow random choices.'
Ms. Fang nodded in agreement, "You're right. We must keep this in mind."
Ms. Xu and Yang Xiaoni shared the same sentiment, expressing even greater concern. They were determined to ensure that their husbands remained loyal and committed, without any other women entering the picture..