Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 15

Zhang Xiaolan had already been waiting at the city gate for two days.

Tao Shi and Tao Yi Ming both advised her to go home and wait, but she smiled and said, “I would be waiting at home too. I might as well wait here at the city gate, so I can see Xiang Ning sooner.”

No matter how they tried to persuade her, she remained firm. Eventually, the two stopped insisting and only reminded her to come and eat during meal times.

In fact, Zhang Xiaolan wanted to tell her nanny not to worry. She still had some savings, so food and clothing were not a problem.

She wasn’t just waiting at the city gate. She had already asked Shopkeeper Hao about the caravan’s estimated arrival time.

She would wait at the gate when the time came, but at other times, she was also looking into possible business opportunities.

She and her daughter needed to survive, and Xiang Ning needed to study. Without an income, how could they manage?

She had already thought it through—she would rent a shop near the house in the North Market. Whether selling steamed buns or pastries, business would surely be good. With that, she and her daughter would have something to rely on in the future.

With these hopeful thoughts, Zhang Xiaolan continued waiting at the city gate.

“Urgent report from the imperial merchant! Make way at once!”

Two riders on fine horses galloped past. The line of people waiting to enter the city instantly scattered. Some grumbled, but no one made a fuss.

After all, it was an urgent report for the court. As long as the imperial court was stable, the common people could live in peace.

Watching the two riders speed by, Zhang Xiaolan felt a sudden sense of unease.

She hurried toward Shopkeeper Hao’s store and entered through the back door. The two horses were already in the embroidery workshop’s stable—one was eating grass, the other drinking water. But both were still panting heavily.

Her heart tightened with anxiety. She quickly made her way to Shopkeeper Hao’s tea room.

“A tornado? Speak quickly—tell me everything!”

Zhang Xiaolan had just reached the tea room door when she heard Shopkeeper Hao’s urgent and angry voice.

“Bang!” She pushed the door open. “Is there news of my Xiang Ning?”

Her eyes were wide, desperate to know where her daughter was now.

Shopkeeper Hao knew there was no way to hide it, so he had the two men explain.

Zhang Xiaolan barely heard their words before she collapsed to the ground.

Shopkeeper Hao immediately ordered someone to take her home.

He had meant well—he wanted to handle this matter properly.

But who could have expected such a disaster?

Shaking his head, he sighed. Fate was playing a cruel joke.

That day, Shen Ting was unusually restless at home.

She had gone out by carriage to offer incense and had unexpectedly seen Zhang Xiaolan at the city gate.

She sent a young maid to ask around and found out that Zhang Xiaolan was waiting for the imperial merchant to bring her daughter back!

Ha! The imperial merchant bringing her daughter back? She might as well claim the emperor was at her command!

Feeling uneasy, Shen Ting sent someone to ask Madam Lin. But the old woman only replied, “I don’t know.”

What a joke!

Shen Ting was so angry she nearly ground her silver teeth to dust. These deceitful merchants!

They took her money but didn’t do the job. Sooner or later, she would buy that broker’s shop and tear it down!

Clutching her silk handkerchief tightly, she paced back and forth in the front hall, glancing at the doorway from time to time.

“Send someone to check—why isn’t the master home yet?” she ordered a maid.

“Madam, have some tea and rest for a while. The master has probably just left the Censorate,” the little maid beside her said kindly, offering tea.

Smack! Shen Ting slapped the maid across the face.

“What? You keep track of the master’s schedule so well? It seems this isn’t the first time! Should I send you to the master’s bed tonight?”

The little maid clutched her burning cheek, shaking her head frantically. The pain stung her skin, but the fear in her heart was even greater. She was so terrified she couldn’t speak—only shake her head.

Shen Ting grew even angrier. “Drag her out! Throw her out the back gate!”

Without Cuìliǔ by her side, nothing was going smoothly!

At once, servants came forward and pulled the maid out of the hall. The other maids and servants kept their heads low, afraid to attract attention.

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by Shen Ting’s hurried footsteps.

Perhaps her anxiety was too overwhelming—her mouth felt dry, and she couldn’t find any tea. Furious, she slammed her palm against the table.

“Are you all dead? Your mistress has been standing here for so long, and no one even brought tea!”

“If you’re useless, then get out of the house! I’ll replace you with people who know how to serve!”

Everyone panicked and rushed to prepare tea.

The remaining servants in the room felt their hearts leap to their throats, dreading that they might be next to anger their mistress.

A maid finally brought the tea. But Shen Ting, seeing the girl’s carefully drawn eyebrows and faint fragrance, felt her temper rise even more.

She grabbed the tea and splashed it onto the maid’s face.

“Ah!” The maid screamed as the hot liquid scalded her.

A seductive little vixen! Shen Ting had long wanted to get rid of her, but since this was the master’s front courtyard, she hadn’t dared to act. Now, however, she felt much better.

She grabbed the maid’s chin, applying just enough pressure to make tears well up instantly.

“Oh my, what a pitiful beauty,” Shen Ting mocked, shaking her head. “Is this how you serve the master?”

The maid dared not speak, only lowering her eyes as tears rolled down her face.

“Wretched girl!”

Suddenly, Shen Ting released her grip and slapped the maid hard.

“What’s wrong, Madam? You’re in quite a temper today.”

Zhou Quan strolled in leisurely. He glanced at the maid on the floor but quickly shifted his gaze to Shen Ting.

The servants in the room brightened at the sight of Zhou Quan.

They feared that if Madam Shen grew any angrier, she would take it out on them.

Meanwhile, Shen Ting needed Zhou Quan’s help.

Annoyed by the presence of others, she pulled him into the study and ordered all the maids and servants out.

“Quan, I saw Zhang Xiaolan at the city gate. I heard the imperial merchant is bringing that little wretch back. She’s waiting to be reunited with her daughter.”

She sat on Zhou Quan’s lap, acting coy.

“What do you plan to do? It’s only natural for a mother and daughter to reunite.” Zhou Quan played with her fingers, utterly unconcerned.

Shen Ting suddenly pulled her hand away and stood up. “So, you still care about her? If that’s the case, why don’t the three of you go live happily together? I can live alone just fine!”

She turned away, her voice choked with suppressed sobs.

Zhou Quan exerted a little force, pulling her back onto his lap. He tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and rested his forehead against hers.

“What nonsense. If I had feelings for her, why would I have married you?”

Shen Ting pushed him away. “I don’t care! I want her to suffer!”

Zhou Quan sighed. “I heard on the way back—there was a tornado, and some people are missing.”

Shen Ting spun around, eyes wide. “Is that true?”

“Of course. Since you don’t want her to live well, why not send her to Beijiang to look for her daughter?”

Beijiang was a harsh, freezing place. Even men struggled to survive, let alone an ignorant woman. Zhou Quan considered this and reached for Shen Ting’s hand.

“No!” She jerked away. “If she wants to find her daughter, I won’t let her! I’ll make her suffer right here in the capital!”

“Fine, fine. I’ll tell the city guards not to let her leave. Is this small matter worth arguing over?” Zhou Quan dismissed it casually, calling a servant to carry out the order.

“You sent away all the maids and servants from the front courtyard,” Shen Ting pouted.

“What? Do you want to turn my courtyard into a monastery?” Zhou Quan chuckled indulgently.

“When you finish work, come home early to keep me company.”

“Alright.”

“And don’t go visiting those brothels!”

“Alright.”

“And don’t—”

“Alright, alright. Will the master agree with you on everything now?”