After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 232 Madam Zhu Comes to the Door
Once Cui made up her mind, she went back to think of a solution, but Madam Zhu didn't give her a chance to act. That same day, under the pretext of chanting sutras and praying for Zhu Yixuan, she took Cui to a temple to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers. When Cui returned, she found that all the servants in the courtyard had been replaced.

Not only hers, but many of the prominent maids and servants in the household also disappeared.

Upon inquiry, it was discovered that either he had committed a crime and been punished, or he had left the manor on another mission. However, Madam Zhu remained vague about his specific destination.

To Cui's horror, she discovered that besides Bilian, she had no one else she could rely on, and her mother-in-law was even using the excuse that she needed to rest and recuperate to prevent her and Bilian from stepping out of the Zhu residence.

She's like a tiger without claws now, with nothing to do but rage helplessly.

Seeing that she had behaved herself, Madam Zhu was satisfied and left the mansion for Dongmen Village.

The village in the first month of the lunar calendar was covered in a blanket of white snow.

Madam Zhu's carriage entered the village, and she asked around from house to house before finally finding Su Chunsen's house.

Su Chuan opened the door and was taken aback when he saw Madam Zhu. Without asking any questions, he politely invited her into the house.

Madam Zhu looked around the farmhouse, somewhat surprised. "This is your home?"

Su Chuan smiled and casually replied, "My uncle built it for us."

Without giving it much thought, Madam Zhu had the things put down and said impatiently, "I think you've already guessed why I'm here. I want to see them!"

Her eyes were full of pleading, and she gazed longingly at Sun Ying'er and the child.

Madam Wan handed her grandson to Sun Ying'er, saying, "Take the child back to the house first."

Sun Ying'er obediently left.

Madam Wan nodded to Madam Zhu and said in a low voice, "Madam, you don't need to look. Those are my daughter-in-law and grandson, not the people you are looking for."

Madam Zhu's disappointment was palpable, yet she maintained her dignified demeanor. "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. Aren't they here?"

Madam Wan shook her head. "Young Master Zhu should have left a letter for Madam."

Madam Zhu's face stiffened, somewhat embarrassed.

The son had naturally left something for him, but when the steward returned with the news of the death, Cui overheard him and tricked him into leaving, stealing the brocade box.

She searched for several days without success. Thinking back, the only possibility was Cui Shi, but Cui Shi denied it to the death, and she couldn't very well search her courtyard, so she had no choice but to let the matter drop.

The reason she kept such a close watch on Cui was because she was afraid that Cui would find out their whereabouts and strike before her.

Seeing her like that, Madam Wan knew something was wrong and couldn't help but shake her head inwardly. "Madam, since you've found them, you must know some things. We can't say too much, we can only tell you they're fine. As for their whereabouts, the young master hasn't given any instructions, so we definitely won't reveal a single word. You don't need to send anyone to keep an eye on us, they're not here."

Madam Zhu was instinctively displeased, but she suppressed it and pressed on, "Could you tell me whether the child is a boy or a girl?"

Mrs. Wan said calmly, "It's a boy."

Madam Zhu instantly beamed with joy, her eyes welling with tears of excitement. "A boy is wonderful! How old is he?"

"Four years old."

Madam Zhu was even happier. There's an old saying that children under three are hard to raise, but this child was already four, so he must have passed the test.

"How do you look? How are you? Are you in good health?" Madam Wan patiently answered Madam Zhu's questions one by one.

Madam Zhu listened with great interest, eager to see her grandson immediately. "Can't you really tell me where they are? Don't worry, I certainly won't harm them!"

Madam Wan chuckled, “Madam, what are you saying? That’s your own grandson, how could you possibly harm him? But just because you wouldn’t doesn’t mean others wouldn’t. The Zhu family has a young mistress who can’t tolerate any dissent, and even if the Cui family falls, she’s still alive. These are all threats from that mother and son.”

We are just ordinary people, powerless and without influence, how could we possibly win? Besides, there's no such thing as being able to guard against thieves for a thousand days. The best way is for us to completely cut off contact with them and stop all interaction. As long as no one can find their whereabouts, that's the best outcome for them. What do you think?

Madam Zhu looked at Madam Wan with surprise, and after a long while nodded approvingly, "You are right, but there are very few people in the world who can do such a thing. Well, since that's the case, I won't force it. I'll ask one last question: does that child have a tutor?"

That child is the Zhu family's last trump card, so she should pay more attention to him.

Wan hesitated and shook her head. "No."

Madam Zhu sighed, her expression becoming more serious. "You forbade me to see them, and I agreed, but the child can't be completely helpless. When I go back, I'll find a good tutor for the child, and you can help me send him there, okay?"

Wan frowned, clearly not entirely willing.

Knowing her concerns, Madam Zhu said, "Don't worry, I'm sure I've found a doctor from outside the family, and he won't have any dealings with anyone else."

"Alright then," Wan reluctantly agreed.

Madam Zhu then left satisfied.

As soon as she leaves.

Su Chuan immediately closed the door, extremely anxious. "Mother, why did you agree to her just now? There are women and children over there. What kind of place is it to send a teacher? We've already felt bad enough leaving him there. How are we going to explain this now?"

Madam Wan stamped her foot and gritted her teeth, saying, "I'll go there and explain!"

Although the mother and son were anxious, they were not reckless and endured it for several days until Han said she wanted to go see Su Tai and her grandson, at which point Wan went with her.

Su Tai led the person into the house, somewhat surprised by Wan's arrival. "Aunt, you are truly a rare guest!"

Madam Wan smiled wryly, "Xiao Tai, please stop teasing me. I came here mainly for the matter of Yunyun and her son. A few days ago, Madam Zhu came to my house and learned that Yunyun had given birth to a grandson for her. She said she wanted to arrange a tutor for the child."

If I refuse her permission to see Yunyun and her child, then I can't refuse you, sir. Now I'm at a loss for what to do. What should you do, sir?

Madam Han frowned. "Sister-in-law, we can't bring that gentleman here! Otherwise, the villagers' spittle will drown us. We can't cause trouble for Xiaotai."

“I know, I know. How about I spend some money to send the gentleman away?” Wan Yi suggested.

They sold fruit in the prefectural city for two years and had saved up quite a bit of money.

Just as Han was about to nod, Su Tai calmly said, "Then send it over."

"Huh?" Both Madam Han and Madam Wan stood up in shock.

"Xiaotai, are you crazy? Having a man in the house is a matter of life and death!" Madam Han was so angry that she could hardly speak.

Su Tai shook her head. "Mother, don't get the wrong idea. This is what I'm planning. There are many children in the family, and it would be great if there could be a tutor to teach them. Another important point is that we don't know how long this war will last, or when Young Master Zhu will return. If it's only a year or two, that's fine, but what if it's five or ten years, or even longer?"
Yunyun and her son can't just stay locked up in my house forever! That's not a good thing for them.

"If that gentleman comes from out of town and has no connection with the Zhu family, he could secretly deliver the items. We can beg him to arrange a respectable identity for Yunyun and her child, so they can move around the village more easily. What do you say?"