The Zhou family heard the commotion outside, and Old Madam Zhou was no exception. She asked doubtfully, "What's going on outside? Why is it so noisy?"
Madam Zhou could no longer hold back. With a plop, she knelt before Old Madam Zhou and cried, "Mother, you must seek justice for your daughter-in-law! Yanqing Zhou has been fooling around outside, and now over a dozen women have come to our door together, claiming that Yanqing Zhou wrote them personal letters and gave them tokens of affection, asking them to bring their children to acknowledge their ancestors today!"
The other eleven concubines sitting beside her also had drastic changes in their expressions, looking sullenly at Minister Zhou.
No wonder the master only visited their rooms so infrequently; he had kept so many women outside!
"W-what?" Old Madam Zhou's voice trembled with anger. She grabbed the walking stick beside her and prepared to strike Minister Zhou.
Minister Zhou dodged her, glared at Madam Zhou, and shouted sternly, "What nonsense are you spouting? Those are all liars! I don't know them at all! I was... I was framed!"
"Framed? Then do you dare to confront them outside? See if those personal letters are yours! See if those tokens of affection are yours?!" Madam Zhou pointed towards the main gate, her lips trembling with anger.
The other brothers and sisters-in-law of the Zhou family exchanged glances. Some looked gloomy, while others secretly rejoiced.
Zhou Yanran and Zhou Qingyun exchanged a look, their eyes covered in deep gloom.
For so many years, their father had been involved with one woman after another outside, and he particularly liked visiting courtesans. Of the nine concubines in the household, five were from courtesan backgrounds. Truly, he had no regard for cleanliness!
Old Madam Zhou trembled all over. Leaning on her walking stick, she stood up. "Take me outside to see!"
The嬷嬷 and Madam Zhou immediately stepped forward, supporting Old Madam Zhou as they walked towards the main gate.
The rest of the Zhou family followed behind.
As the gate opened, over a dozen crying women and five or six children stood outside.
What the Zhou family hadn't expected was that the steps of the gate were already crowded with onlookers, officials from the Imperial City street and their families.
Because the residences on the Imperial City street were very large and spaced some distance apart, how had they found out about this matter so quickly?
As soon as Minister Zhou appeared, before he could even greet his colleagues outside, the dozen women exclaimed "Master" in sweet voices and rushed towards him. Several small children also burst into tears, calling out "Daddy."
Seeing this scene, Old Madam Zhou and Madam Zhou almost couldn't stand, their back teeth nearly ground to dust.
"Oh, who are you? This minister doesn't know you! Go away! Go! All of you, go away!" Minister Zhou pushed the women away in exasperation.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
When the women saw the master turn hostile, they guessed they had been set up. However, things had escalated to this point, and retreating was no longer an option.
If they retreated now, the master would never look at them again, and Madam Zhou would surely drive them out.
Today, they were many. It was better to unite and cause a scene; perhaps they could gain something. If they went back now, they would lose everything, like chickens and eggs scattered to the wind.
Especially those with sons, they felt even more confident.
The dozen women showed surprising tacit understanding, exchanging glances secretly.
Qingxiang, holding her child, rushed to Old Madam Zhou and Madam Zhou, tears streaming down her face. "Old Ancestor, Sister... Sister, I have served the Master for ten years and given birth to Zhou family blood. This is the Master's personal letter and his token of affection, a jade thumb ring. The Master asked me to bring my child to acknowledge our ancestors today. Who would have thought that upon arrival, the Master would turn against us? How can we mothers and children survive now? I beg Old Madam and Sister to seek justice for me!"
"Sister?" Madam Zhou scoffed, "This Madam cannot bear such a dirty appellation!"
You slut! How dare you call her sister?! If not for the large crowd of onlookers, and her need to maintain her image as the lady of the household, she would have rushed forward to tear that foxy slut's foul mouth to shreds and trampled her wretched face into the ground until it was utterly ruined.
A cold glint flashed in Qingxiang's eyes, but she suppressed it. Sobbing, she stood up and respectfully handed the letter and the thumb ring to Old Madam Zhou.
Old Madam Zhou picked them up and saw that they were indeed her son's personal letters, and the thumb ring was the one he used to wear most often.
Madam Zhou also took the letter to read and was almost overcome with anger.
The letter read: "Qingqing, my dearest love, I have seen all your ten years of devotion. Mao'er should also acknowledge his ancestors. I have decided to give you and your son status despite the immense pressure from home. Be sure to bring the child at the hour of Hai on New Year's Eve. Yanqing."
Seeing this, the other women also stepped forward, presenting their letters and tokens of affection to Old Madam Zhou.
Minister Zhou's face was clouded with gloom. He roared hoarsely at the group of women, "Get out! All of you, get out! This official does not know you!"
Qingxiang cradled her son's face and cried loudly, "Master, how can you say you don't recognize me? I have served you for ten years, and I have at least had toiled! Moreover, look, Mao'er resembles you so much, and also resembles the eldest young master, the second young master, and the third young master! You personally gave Mao'er his name!"
Mao'er, seeing that his father, whom he rarely saw, was publicly disowning him, followed the tactics his mother had taught him. He rushed to Old Madam Zhou's side, clutching her small leg and crying, "Grandmother, Grandmother, I am your son's biological son! I am Zhou Mao! Grandmother, you can't abandon your grandson, or I'll be thrown out onto the streets, boo-hoo..."
The other women with children also pushed their children towards Old Madam Zhou. The children cried loudly, calling out "Grandmother" and "Daddy."
Madam Zhou felt dizzy. Staggering, she almost fell to the ground.
Zhou Yanran rushed forward and kicked the pregnant woman fiercely in the stomach, "A bunch of sluts, prostitutes! All of you, get out! Hurry up and get out!"
The pregnant woman was pulled away and dodged Zhou Yanran's kick. Zhou Yanran screamed in anger, "Bitch! You dare to dodge?!"
Turning, she drew the saber from a guard's waist and began to hack at the women. Seeing this, the women shrieked and fled towards Old Madam Zhou.
Old Madam Zhou pounded her walking stick on the ground, and with all her might, shouted, "Help! Stop!"
Zhou Yanran refused to listen. She waved the saber and slashed wildly. Several women were already injured, and blood stained the ground.
"Stop... stop," Old Madam Zhou felt a surge of suffocation. She stumbled backward, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.
"Mother!"
"Grandmother!"
Minister Zhou, Madam Zhou, and the Zhou family disciples all rushed forward.