Madam Zhou’s head throbbed with pain, especially when she saw Madam Lu’s hysterical behavior, which annoyed her even more. She called Qiu Xiang over and had her taken down to wash her face again.
The tea had long been replaced. Madam Zhou looked at Old Lady Zhou with silver hair and an aged face, feeling a dull ache in her heart, her gaze complicated.
This person was always her mother.
"What exactly happened? What did... Xiuxiu’s mother say? Did Big Brother get put in jail?" Madam Zhou asked, looking toward Old Lady Zhou.
Old Lady Zhou, upon hearing that Madam Zhou was no longer using proper names, felt a tightness in her heart. Now, as Madam Zhou actively inquired, her heart relaxed somewhat, and she began to wipe her tears.
"Ying Mei, let’s set aside past grievances for now, but you must save your Big Brother. Otherwise, he might not make it," Old Lady Zhou said through tears. "Your Big Brother, he was exposed for cheating in the examination, and now he’s locked up in the big prison, barely clinging to life!"
Madam Zhou was startled and sat up straight—it was because of that.
She pressed her lips together and said, "I knew from the start that he was wrong. To take an exam, one should do so honestly. What good can come from taking shortcuts? Mother, you shouldn’t have agreed with him back then... now..."
Old Lady Zhou also regretted not having seen it coming. With the scandal exposed, not only was Zhou Xuennian’s future ruined, but the silver was wasted as well, leaving the family’s livelihood in uncertainty!
But what good was regret now that the deed was done? The priority was to get Zhou Xuennian out. Every additional day in that place was a threat to his life—could he even survive it?
Madam Lu came back in after washing her face, only to hear Madam Zhou’s cold words. She shrieked, "Ying Mei, Xuennian is your own Big Brother. Now that he’s in trouble, how can you speak such cold-hearted words?"
Madam Zhou’s face darkened as she said, "If you ask me, he deserved this fate, and perhaps you were behind it. If you hadn’t egged him on, he wouldn’t have dared to make such a mistake."
"Enough arguing!" Old Lady Zhou glared at her fiercely, then turned to Madam Zhou. "Ying Mei, this isn’t the time to argue about right and wrong. You have to get your Big Brother out. You know full well he’s never suffered before, and if he can’t endure it..."
Madam Zhou looked down and said, "I am but a woman; what can I do to help him?"
"How could you not help? Haven’t you made the acquaintance of Lord County Magistrate?" Madam Lu said. "Just give Lord County Magistrate a nod, and your husband can be released, and he might even get to keep his titles. The glory of our entire family now rests on you."
Madam Zhou was stunned. "Who said I know Lord County Magistrate?"
Qiu Xiang handed her some tea, whispering something in her ear.
Madam Zhou then remembered that Wufu indeed knew that Lord County Magistrate, having paid him a visit not long ago.
"Is he locked up in the big prison of Huayang County?" Madam Zhou asked.
"Exactly. We went to visit yesterday, and on our way back, we met with a heavy rain, and that’s when we ran into you. This must mean that your Big Brother’s life isn’t meant to end yet," Madam Lu said, her eyes shining. "Ying Mei, you must act quickly to send word, and then bring your Big Brother out!"
Old Lady Zhou also said, "Ying Mei, your Big Brother only has half his life left."
Yet Madam Zhou fell silent, gripping her teacup tightly, pursing her lips.
As she remained silent, Old Lady Zhou’s heart sank too.
After a long moment, Madam Zhou looked up and said, "I’m not in a position to decide on this matter, as I have never met that official. But I do know, if he is spared his life and stripped of his titles, he can be released!"
She was decided against speaking up to help!