Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Just as Tao'er was wondering, the three ladies arrived with Xiao Mingyue and Xiao Qingyu, followed by the third lady's maid, Dongkui.

For some reason, she noticed that the Third Madam did not seem to show much sadness.

Unlike the First Madam and the Second Madam, whose expressions of grief were genuine and whose eyes were swollen from crying, hers was not.

She had never inquired about the Third Madam before and knew nothing about her. She had only heard some gossip that said she had become attached to the Third Master of the Xiao family.

Old Master Xiao agreed to the marriage to save face for the Xiao family.

She didn't know the specifics, because she only cared about the people and things on the first wife's side.

"Mother, all the servants in our house have been given money to be dismissed, and my personal maid has also been sent back to my parents' home."

"That's what Madam Liu Suyun said."

"Mother, my wet nurse has also been given some money so she can go back to her hometown to live out her retirement."

Second Madam Lin Jinxiu said.

"Mother, my maid Dongkui doesn't want to leave me. She has no family left and can only stay with me."

Third Madam Li Nanyu said.

The old lady glanced at the three of them and continued, "Your men may not be coming back. At best, they will be exiled and their property confiscated; at worst, they will lose their heads."

The three of you are still young.

I can make the decision for my sons and give you divorce papers so that you can remarry.

Although being divorced sounds unpleasant, it's better than losing your life.

Even after the three daughters-in-law divorced, they were still able to remarry thanks to the protection of their maternal families.

The old lady's eyes swept over Tao Tao'er. "Tao'er, take out the three divorce papers from the box."

Tao'er was stunned.

Whoops!

Did this old lady have her sons write the divorce papers a long time ago?

That's really unexpected!

"Silly girl, what are you standing there for!"

Hurry up and take out the divorce papers.

There are also three green packages inside; take those out as well.

The old lady did not get angry, but spoke gently.

Tao'er quickly responded and walked to the wooden box. She opened the box and found three green packages inside.

There were also several sheets of Xuan paper stacked together.

Tao'er glanced at it and saw that it really was a divorce agreement. The top page had the name of Prime Minister Xiao Wen on it, and his handprint was already pressed on it.

She took the things out and placed them on the small table in front of the old lady's bed.

Then he stepped aside and watched quietly.

The three ladies were all astonished when they saw the divorce papers, staring in disbelief at the divorce papers that the old lady had laid out on the small table.

The divorces of the second and third wives were identical: they had no sons and could not continue the family line.

The reason for the first wife's divorce was: she was old and her beauty had faded, and she no longer had any feelings for him!

In Shengjing, no one knew that the Prime Minister and his wife had been loving and harmonious for ten years, so this reason for divorce was really far-fetched.

Perhaps the Prime Minister was afraid that the First Madam would not agree to divorce him, so he deliberately hurt her feelings!

That's really a painstaking effort!

It must be said that the sons of the Xiao family are all extraordinary, true gentlemen!

"Press your fingerprints on this document, and then take this divorce agreement and the package and leave the Prime Minister's residence!"

There are some coins and jewelry in the package, which can be considered a small compensation for you!

"It is our Xiao family that has wronged you; please don't hold it against us."

The old lady sighed and spoke again.

First Madam Liu Suyun knelt down first and cried, "Mother, I will not leave, I will not divorce. As a woman of the Xiao family, I will be a ghost of the Xiao family even in death."

"Suyun, I know you are a good person, but this is Jingzhi's idea, so don't let him down."

"Hurry up and grab the divorce papers and your belongings, then leave."

The old lady shook her head and said.

"Mother, I won't leave either. I will stay with Second Master through life and death."

Second Madam Lin Jinxiu also knelt down.

"Jinxiu, Suyun, if you stay, you might not even survive. Don't you understand? Don't be foolish, leave now."

The old lady said with a face full of grief.

The eldest son's wife and the second son's wife have always been filial and respectful to her, and often come to her bedside to take care of her when she is ill.

She actually liked both of her daughters-in-law very much.

The first and second wives exchanged a glance, nodded, and quickly picked up the divorce papers from the small table and tore them to shreds.

The two continued, weeping, "Mother, neither of us is afraid of death."

We will not divorce our husbands; we will die together.

The two spoke at the same time, but they couldn't bear to look at their two daughters.

In particular, the First Madam kept an eye on her five-year-old son.

But she knew in her heart that if it was truly punishment from above, the children would likely not escape it either.

They are descendants of the Xiao family; there's no escaping them.

Given this, how could she possibly live on alone, much less remarry?

Looking at the scattered pieces of paper on the ground, the old lady felt a mix of relief, emotion, regret, and heartache.

"Fine, the divorce papers are destroyed. You may stay here!"

After speaking, the old lady looked at her third son's wife, who had not yet expressed her opinion, and said, "Nanyu, if you want to leave, take your things and leave the Prime Minister's residence now. I won't blame you."

The third son's wife hasn't said anything yet, probably because she has other ideas.

However, it's only human nature; nobody wants to die.

Perhaps the imperial edict will arrive tomorrow.

The third brother usually liked to slack off, and apart from his morning and evening greetings, he rarely came to her east wing.

However, there's nothing seriously wrong with it.

If she wants a divorce, we naturally won't stop her.

The old lady thought to herself, then coughed violently a few more times.

Tao'er quickly poured a cup of tea for her, "Madam, please speak slowly. Have some tea to soothe your throat before you speak."

The old lady glanced at her, took the tea and drank a couple of sips, then continued to wait for her third son's wife's reply.

Li Nanyu knelt down hesitantly, stammering, "Mother, I..."

I don't want to divorce Third Master, but I don't want to die either.

I'm sorry, Mother...

I still have my parents and brother, I can't bear to leave them...

Her family were merchants, and they used a little trick to get the third master of the Xiao family to marry her.

Originally, they just wanted to elevate their family's status and secure a bright future for their brother, but who would have thought that the powerful Prime Minister's mansion would end up like this?

Although the Third Master and the Old Madam treated her well, she couldn't risk her life!

"Third sister-in-law, how could you do this?"

Your third brother has always been so good to you, how could you just abandon him like this?

Do you really want to divorce him?

Even the usually good-tempered First Madam was unusually angry and questioned him.

"Third sister-in-law, even if you don't care about your third brother, don't you care about your own daughter, Qingyu?"

Are you really planning to just take the divorce papers and leave?

The second wife, with her fiery and straightforward personality, also asked with a face full of anger.

The third wife first lowered her head, then looked up at her daughter Xiao Qingyu, her eyes showing a hint of reluctance, but quickly turned to her two sisters-in-law and said, "Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, you don't need to say anything."

"You're willing to die with your husbands, but I don't want to. I'm still young, I haven't lived enough..."

The third wife was somewhat agitated.

Xiao Qingyu stood there, silent, neither crying nor laughing. She did not beg her mother, but simply watched the Second Madam quietly.

Tao'er wondered if the little maid from the third branch of the family had already guessed what her mother was going to do.

The old lady spoke again, "Nanyu, you may leave. I don't blame you."

The third son's wife's choice was simply human nature, so why would she blame her?

After saying that, he turned to the First Madam and the Second Madam and said, "Sulan, Jinxiu, don't stop her. She hasn't done anything wrong."

Seeing that the old lady had said this, the first and second wives said no more.

The third wife looked ashamed after hearing the old lady's words, but she didn't say anything.

When Tao'er heard the old lady change her address to "this old lady," she knew that the old lady no longer recognized Li Nanyu as the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family.

Although she didn't blame her.

Thank you, Mother!

Nanyu bids farewell to her mother!

Li Nanyu kowtowed to the old lady, then picked up the divorce papers, pressed her fingerprint on them, and picked up the divorce papers and the package.

She turned to leave, but then suddenly stopped, hesitated for a moment, and turned back to Xiao Qingyu, choking back tears, "Qingyu, your mother can't save you, please don't blame me..."

Xiao Qingyu remained silent, watching quietly, but her eyes were filled with tears, as if she was trying her best to hold them back.

Everyone present felt sorry for her seeing this, including Tao'er.

But she knew this was fate!

No one can change that.

Li Nanyu no longer lingered, and then turned and left without looking back.

The maid, Dongkui, followed behind and left.

Tao'er saw that the Third Madam had left, and the servants in the mansion had been made to take care of her.

I was getting a little anxious. What was she going to do?

Give me a quick answer, whether he's dead or alive!