Favoring the concubine and killing the wife? She divorced the concubine and lived with her concubine

The air was humid and hot, and the cicadas in the trees kept chirping, making the whole yard very noisy.

Mother Xu brought a basin of warm water into the room, wrung out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off the pale-faced Madam lying on the bed. "Madam, you must get better. If you collapse, what will happen to the young lady?"

She put the handkerchief back into the basin, scrubbed it, wrung it out, and took it out to wipe. "The master went to Wangchun Tower again. He said he wanted to carry the courtesan into the courtyard and offer you tea... It's really..."

Mother Xu's tears welled up as she spoke, wiping them away with a handkerchief from her sleeve before turning to fetch medicine. "That crazy little Fang fell into the fish pond again today, and now she's not sure whether she's alive or dead. The old lady doesn't want to treat her anymore. If it weren't for the young master, she wouldn't have accepted her into the family..."

Xiao Lan was annoyed by the noise. She opened her eyes, looked around, and then closed them again. "Does this ward have themed suites?"

Her mind was in a mess, and memories from nowhere poured in like water, making her unable to cope. She propped herself up and sat up, looking at the surprised Mother Xu in front of her, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Madam, are you awake? God bless you, God bless you!" Mother Xu put down the medicine bowl and clasped her hands together in a pious gesture towards the door.

"In other words, I died, died before the divorce?" Xiao Lan murmured to herself. Mother Xu had already come over with the medicine bowl again.

"Madam, it seems that this medicine has miraculous effects. Drink it while it's hot." A spoonful of medicine was handed over.

Xiao Lan didn't say anything. If it really worked, this lady wouldn't have died and would have given way to Xiao Lan.

"No more drinking, I'm fine now."

As she put on her clothes, she felt exhausted. The original owner was too weak and depressed all day long. She had her period recently, and the virus took advantage of the opportunity to enter. Her throat became inflamed and the fever would not subside, which was why she died.

She looked at the not-so-well-trimmed green plants in the yard and reviewed the life of the original owner.

The original owner was also called Xiao Lan. She was the only daughter of a local merchant from a wealthy family. Because she had a childhood engagement with the family of County Magistrate Sun, she married County Magistrate Sun's eldest son, Sun Shaohua, when she grew up.

Sun Shaohua was a good student when he was young and had a good reputation in the local area. He was also proficient in poetry and songs. He felt that he should marry the daughter of an official and was very disdainful of the daughters of merchants. However, due to his father's power, he had no choice but to accept her.

However, Sun Shaohua was unable to make progress and failed the imperial examinations many times, all because of Xiao Lan's bad feng shui. After the death of the county magistrate, he made things even more difficult for Xiao Lan, which made him depressed, self-deprecating and self-deprecating, and eventually he fell ill and died.

Xiao Lan thought about herself. She was dead now. If that man inherited all her property, she would really want to beat herself to death.

She slammed her fist on the table so hard that her arm went numb. Looking at her weak little arm with blue veins visible, she shook her head. It was useless!

Mother Xu brought the meal, a dish of green vegetables, a dish of fresh mushrooms, and a bowl of rice porridge. Xiao Lan looked at it and shook her head again, but she was too weak to eat any meat or fish for the time being, so she had to bite the bullet and eat some.

Seeing Xiao Lan's disdain for the meal, Mother Xu explained, "The doctor said that Madam is too weak to benefit from nourishment. She should eat some light porridge and some vegetables to nourish her body. She can have other food when she feels better."

Xiao Lan nodded without refutation, "Mother Xu, what time is it now?"

"Madam, it's just past noon." Mother Xu picked up the chopsticks and put a piece of fresh mushroom into Xiao Lan's bowl.

"Where's Sun Shaohua?"

"Grandson...Master didn't come home last night." Mother Xu almost followed Xiao Lan in saying Master's name, but quickly changed her words. She carefully looked at the lady before her, feeling something was amiss, but she couldn't put her finger on it. At least the previous lady, even when angry, wouldn't call Master by his name.

"Oh, it's in that Wangchunlou, right?" Xiao Lan drank all the warm porridge and finally felt less panicked. She was probably suffering from low blood sugar from hunger.

"Yes..." Mother Xu was genuinely pleased to see Xiao Lan had a healthy appetite, and quickly poured another half bowl for her. Seeing her accept it without hesitation, she was so moved she almost cried. Mother Xu had always taken care of Xiao Lan, having watched her marry, endure the brink of death and give birth to her daughter, and now accompanying her through her terminal illness and recovery. It was inevitable that she felt a surge of emotion. It was all because Xiao Lan had always been gentle and delicate since childhood, and yet she had fallen into the clutches of Sun Shaohua.

"Okay, let's go see my daughter." Xiao Lan drank the last mouthful of porridge, wiped her mouth, and went out. She was always uneasy in her heart and wanted to see the daughter in her memory. It must be the original owner's concern in her heart, which also had a great influence on the current Xiao Lan.

Xiao Lan married into the Sun family five years ago. In the second year, she gave birth to a daughter, who is now three years old. This is Xiao Lan's only child.

Sun Shaohua already had two concubines and two or three maids, and now he had to redeem the captivating courtesan, so naturally he couldn't care less about the frail, old-fashioned, and boring Xiao Lan. Because of Xiao Lan's poor health, the old lady had taken her daughter away and raised her. If she truly loved her, it would be fine, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It was just a ploy to manipulate the original owner.

Xin'er lived alone in a small courtyard, a secluded part of the Sun residence. The distance wasn't far, but even that short distance had already made Xiao Lan breathless. When she passed the courtyard where Fang Xiaoniang had fallen into the water, it was deserted. A tall, thin boy of six or seven was happily playing in the yard. Seeing Xiao Lan, he turned and ran away.

When Xiao Lan saw Xin'er, the child was sitting on a stone bench in the yard with her back to the visitor, in a daze. She had two cute buns on her hair, which were simply decorated with two small flowers. She was wearing pink clothes and looked very cute.

Cuizhu, the maid who served Xin'er, bowed lightly when she saw the lady coming. There was a hint of arrogance in her eyes. She glanced at Xiao Lan and reminded her, "Miss, the lady is here to see you."

Xiao Lan looked at Cuizhu and knew that Cuizhu had slept with Sun Shaohua several times before and looked down on Xiao Lan.

When Xin'er heard that it was her mother who came, she was surprised, but she secretly suppressed her feelings. She stared at the person with red eyes without saying a word.

Xiao Lan had never had children in real life, and despite her efforts during her marriage, she hadn't been able to find success. Now that she had this little child, she was cute and well-behaved, and she loved him very much. But she didn't understand what this child meant.

"What's wrong..." she asked softly.

"Miss, have I taught you in vain?" Cuizhu said coldly.

Xin'er timidly glanced back and replied, "I dare not forget." Then she turned around and took a step back, bowing respectfully, "Daughter greets mother."

Xiao Lan found this scene ridiculous. What was this servant girl being so arrogant about? Although she came from the modern era and didn't discriminate based on status, this person treated her like this and even scolded her own child in front of her. She could easily imagine what kind of life Xin'er was leading behind people's backs.

She walked closer to Xin'er, squatted down and hugged the little girl completely in her arms. Only then did she realize that the round face was just an illusion and the child did not have much flesh on her body.

"Xin'er is too thin. You should eat more in the future." Xiao Lan pinched Xin'er's arm and looked at her with a smile. Xin'er looked like Sun Shaohua, with a pair of big, cute eyes.

It must be said that Sun Shaohua was a good-looking man. It was just a pity that, like Xiao Lan's ex-husband, he was all good looks but no real talent.

"Madam, I have been taking care of the young lady's diet. The doctor said that the young lady has a weak spleen and stomach and is not suitable for eating too much. Eating less is better for her."

Xiao Lan nodded. This doctor was probably sent by Sun Shaohua to starve them to death.

"Xin'er will live in my room from now on. She will eat whatever I eat." It was always a worry to not have a child by her side. Although it was her first meeting with Xin'er, perhaps because of the mother-child bond, Xiao Lan felt very distressed about the child's current appearance.

Cuizhu hurried forward and pulled Xin'er to her side. "Madam, I was ordered by the old lady to take care of the young lady. What are you doing? Besides, you yourself are not well yet, how can you take good care of the young lady? The young lady is naughty, and I am afraid she will disturb your rest."

Xiao Lan finally took another good look at Cuizhu. She was quite pretty, but appearance reflects the heart. Her beauty was nothing compared to her evil intentions that were about to burst out.

"Is the old lady the mistress of this house?"

"..." Mother Xu turned her head and glanced at Xiao Lan without saying anything.

The old lady wasn't the mistress of the house, but she was a difficult character. Although she claimed not to be in charge of the household, she kept a tight rein on everyone. If it weren't for the dowry that Madam Xu had secretly left for Xiao Lan, she wouldn't even be able to afford medicine now.

"Since it's not the case, then listen to me." Xiao Lan was too lazy to argue with him and wanted to take Xin'er away from the yard.

Cuizhu quickly said angrily: "Miss, have you forgotten what the old lady told you?"

Xin'er wanted to leave, but she didn't dare. Cuizhu's "kind reminder" made her quickly shake off Xiao Lan's hand. "Don't disturb mother. It's troublesome to take medicine when you are sick. Just sleep by yourself." She turned her head away and pouted as if she was angry, but she didn't know who she was angry at. "If mother dies of illness later, I will be her child without her! Don't disturb her while she recovers from her illness!"

Listening to what Xin'er said, Cuizhu curled the corners of her mouth.

Seeing her triumphant expression, Xiao Lan wanted to slap her, but unfortunately, she was too weak and couldn't move. Just this scene made Xiao Lan feel suffocated and dizzy. What the hell was this old lady and her maid?

Mother Xu hurried over to help, and couldn't help scolding Xin'er: "Miss, what are you talking about!" Mother Xu was busy taking care of the frail Xiao Lan before, and had no time to take care of this child. Who knew that this child was later taken care of by the old lady and was not willing to get close to Xiao Lan at all.

Every time she came to see her, she would either be awkward and grouchy like now, or she would avoid him. This was also the reason why Xiao Lan's condition worsened.

Xiao Lan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She stood up straight and said to Xin'er, "Xin'er, Mother is always in a bad mood and sick because she can't see you. Now I want to take you to live in my yard. If you stay with me, I will recover soon. Are you willing?"

"Really?" Xin'er's eyes widened in surprise, and she tilted her head to look at Xiao Lan, as if she had just heard something incredible. After all, her grandmother and Cuizhu had never said such a thing, and neither had her mother.

"lady!"

"Give her a slap! I can't hit her!" Xiao Lan could no longer bear it when she saw that Cuizhu still wanted to speak. Mother Xu looked at Xiao Lan in disbelief, wondering if she had heard it wrongly because she was hard of hearing. After all, she had served Xiao Lan for so many years, and Xiao Lan had never hit anyone.

Seeing that the person didn't move, Xiao Lan turned her head to look at her and said, "Hit her!" Only then did Mother Xu confirm that she had heard correctly.

With a look of joy on her face, she walked over to Cuizhu in three or two steps and slapped the maid hard. As a maid who had been working hard for many years, her hand strength was not something that ordinary people could bear. The slap made Cuizhu's cheeks red.

Cuizhu covered her face and looked at the lady in disbelief, who was so weak and unable to take care of herself before. Could this be her last burst of vitality today?

"If you dare to talk nonsense again, it won't just be a slap." Xiao Lan stepped forward, took Xin'er's hand, and walked towards her own courtyard. Mother Xu hurriedly followed, her lips curled up uncontrollably. It was the first time she felt so proud since marrying Xiao Lan into the Sun family!