To divorce his wife, the top scholar preferred being cuckolded to wearing a red hat.

"Oh dear, what illness has she contracted that makes her rush to bring the master home?" Madam Ruan burst in with Su Ziyu and several maids.

When Aunt Liu saw Madam Ruan enter with her entourage, her previously flustered state of mind instantly calmed down.

"Greetings, Madam. May I ask what brings you here?"

“I wouldn’t have come over if there was nothing wrong.” Madam Ruan sat in the main seat. “I just heard that while the master was keeping you away, you were having an affair behind his back. Since the master is not home, I naturally investigated this matter so that I can have an explanation when he returns.”

"You're talking nonsense. No one can lie without knowing my true feelings for you. You just want to punish me while he's away. Let me tell you, that's impossible."

"You're really stubborn." Madam Ruan sneered, "I'm here today only to ask you one thing. You and the master switched my daughter back then, so where is my daughter now? If you can't return my daughter to me, don't even think about acknowledging your son."

Aunt Liu laughed upon hearing her words.

"If you're so capable, go ask the master. I know nothing about what happened back then, just like you. What's the point of you asking me?"

"You didn't know? Your son was switched and placed under my name, and you actually say you didn't know?" Madam Ruan found it utterly ridiculous.

“If you don’t tell me, don’t blame me for making Zheng’er disown you. You know, I raised Zheng’er, and he listens to me very much. A few days ago, I suggested that he get closer to you, and I even had him bring you bird’s nest porridge. He was overjoyed. If I tell him that I don’t want him to acknowledge you, what do you think he will do?”

“Mrs. Ruan.” Aunt Liu bit her lip. “Your daughter was given away by the master. As for where she was sent, I don’t know. He told me not to ask.”

"Judging by her age, she should be sixteen by now. If she were still by my side, she should be getting married. You and Su Sihai are so selfish. For your own sake, you switched my daughter. What right do you have?"

Madam Ruan glanced at Aunt Liu across from her, then took two steps forward: "Aunt Liu, if you don't find my daughter, I won't let you have your way."

“I really don’t know where she is,” Aunt Liu shook her head.

After giving birth to Guanzheng, she announced to the public that she had miscarried and stayed in the palace for a full six months. Unable to see her young son, she spent almost all her time in tears.

Having finally managed to fake her death and escape, she and Su Sihai lived a peaceful life outside, only to be discovered and taken back to his mansion.

“Mother,” Su Ziyu came in from outside, “For the sake of her son’s future, Father and she actually disregarded my little sister’s life and recklessly gave her away. Since that’s the case, how about we sell her off too? If Father asks, just say that she behaved improperly and eloped with someone.”

"Even if Master wants to divorce me, I still need to get to the bottom of this. Guards, lock up Aunt Liu first."

“You can’t detain Madam.” Que Ling stepped forward anxiously. “There’s a misunderstanding. We should wait for Master to return to handle this. If Master finds out how you’ve treated Madam, he won’t let you off the hook.”

“In this Su family mansion, I am the only lady. What kind of lady is she?” Madam Ruan’s head, adorned with headdresses, swayed slightly. “She dares to call herself a lady when she is just a concubine. Lock up this maid who has no sense of hierarchy.”

Aunt Liu and her maid Que Ling were imprisoned together.

"Ziyu, is this really alright? If your father comes back and finds out we've locked up Aunt Liu, he won't really divorce me, will he?"

"Mother, something bad is about to happen to the Su family. It would be best if we could get a letter of divorce from Father. Quickly have someone pack up all the family's valuables. I'll take you somewhere first, and you can wait for me there."

"What are you trying to do? I'm not leaving. What will you do if I leave?" Ruan Shi didn't know what Zi Yu was planning.

"I can't explain it to you in a short time, but there's no turning back for me. Even if the Su family is gone, Mother, you must live well." Su Ziyu hugged her: "Although you are not my biological mother, you raised me from childhood to adulthood, and in my heart you are my biological mother."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Of course you're my biological son." Madam Ruan realized something was wrong and tried to correct her.

“Listen to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve processed this. I only found out by chance that I’m not your biological daughter. Your biological daughter, like your younger sister, was taken away by him right after she was born.”

"Impossible, he can't do this, how could he do this to me?"

"Because he wants to mold me into a chess piece. A chess piece that will be useful to him."

“Ziyu, you must be mistaken. You are our first child, there is no reason for him to do this.”

"As your mother, I don't want you to end up in a bad way. This is my outer courtyard. You will take your maid there in a while. No matter what happens at the Su residence, don't ask about it or come back."

“Tell your mother what exactly happened. Don’t believe Su Mingyue if she told you these things; she doesn’t tell you much.”

Su Ziyu said nothing more, but stood up and said to the maid, "See Madam out."

Ruan wanted to say something, but when she met Su Ziyu's cold gaze, she couldn't utter a word.

“Take care of yourself too. Even if what you said is true, as long as he hasn’t turned against you and still acknowledges you, don’t turn against him. If this matter is exposed, he will lose face, and it will be his face that is lost.” Madam Ruan held Su Ziyu’s hand and instructed her, “As long as you are still the second young lady of the Su family, you will have a share in the Su family’s glory and prosperity.”

"I know what to do."

……

As evening approached, a strange noise came from Su Mingyue's courtyard. Then, Xingchun ran out in a panic, shouting as she went, "Help! Help! Miss has gone mad!"

As soon as Xingchun ran out of her courtyard, she saw Su Sihai leading a group of people over.

"What kind of behavior is this, shouting and yelling? What happened?" Su Sihai asked with a stern face.

Xingchun was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, stammering and unable to say anything coherent.

"Speak quickly, or I'll sell you right now."

"Master, our young lady was perfectly fine just now, but after waking up, she was completely different. She grabbed a knife and started slashing people. Luckily, I ran fast, or she would have slashed me too."

"Let's go in and take a look." Upon hearing this, Su Sihai frowned, flicked his sleeves, and walked towards Su Mingyue's courtyard.

A bloody smell emanated from Su Mingyue's courtyard, and several servants lay on the ground.

As she watched Su Sihai and his group approach, she raised her knife and charged forward, shouting, "You old bastard, you killed my mother, didn't you? I'm going to fight you to the death!"