The funeral rites for Madam Zhou lasted seven days, and then the coffin was temporarily placed in a temple while it was being decided where she should be buried.

After seven days of mourning, Wufu looked even thinner, her face sharper, making her eyes appear larger, yet those eyes also grew brighter, with a gaze more commanding and dignified.

After visiting her younger brother, Wufu, Ah Jiu, and Hua Wushuang sat in the room drinking tea and talking.

"...Purple Jade mentioned you sent someone to the Zhou family, and your people are on their way with Zhou Xueli?" Wufu held her tea, looking at Hua Wushuang, and asked, "Is my mother really not part of the Zhou family?"

"She is, but not born to Old Madam Zhou," Hua Wushuang responded. "My mother, named Mei Qing, was the only legitimate daughter of the Main branch of the Mei Family in Quanzhou. My father, Jiang Chengrong, was a live-in son-in-law of the Mei family."

"Mei and Jiang, you..."

Hua Wushuang’s eyes flickered, saying, "My original name was Mei Peng."

Wufu narrowed her eyes.

"Mother was raised as an heir, so instead of marrying out, her marriage had a live-in arrangement. Jiang Chengrong, the youngest son from the Jiang family, known for his literary talent and quite famous, married my mother, and they lived harmoniously for a while. But when my grandfather fell seriously ill, my mother spent her days managing household affairs and family matters. How could she have the time to play music and serve tea with him?"

"After giving birth to me, my mother became even busier. When I was two, my grandfather, who had been bedridden for years, passed away, and my mother became the head of the Mei family..."

Wufu rubbed her brows, saying, "No need to delve into the Mei family’s struggles. Just tell me how she gave birth to my mother!"

There was too much going on, she didn’t want to know all the ins and outs of the Mei family’s affairs.

Hua Wushuang choked momentarily, then said, "The Mei family was vast, with not just the Main branch but also the second and third branches, and not everyone was willing to accept a woman as the head, even if she was extremely capable. Jiang Chengrong conspired with the second branch, committing vile acts while my mother was inspecting the estate, just to legitimize the child he had with his concubine, while the second branch harbored ambitions for the head position."

"So, Old Lady Mei was harmed and then met Old Scholar Zhou?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Hua Wushuang nodded, "Old Scholar Zhou was an external accountant for one of the Mei family’s shops at the time."

"Are you saying they had a, uh, one-night stand?"

Hua Wushuang gave a bitter smile, "It was a move of desperation for my mother."

Wufu touched her nose, saying, "Even if it was a one-night encounter, accidentally getting pregnant could have been resolved by an abortion."

"If it were that simple, it would have been resolved, but those people wouldn’t give up and intended to kill her." Hua Wushuang sneered, "Mother was severely injured, and simply stayed in the small town to give birth; with her severe injuries, an abortion would have been fatal."

Wufu remained silent.

"After your mother was full-term in September, she was induced to give birth, and then left her in the care of Old Scholar Zhou, returning to the Mei family."

"You claim your mother was the head of the Mei family; it seems true. Without a hardened heart, how could she have held that position steadily? To leave her daughter behind for decades, acting as if she didn’t exist, why seek her out again? Just to ease a guilty conscience?"

If she truly felt guilty, how could she have ignored her for so many years? Even if not visiting, she could have sent some money, but Madam Zhou lived without wealth.

Hua Wushuang opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but in the end said nothing, only remarking, "Everyone has their own struggles. If they could, what mother would willingly abandon their flesh and blood?"

"Now you’ve found her, but she’s gone, so just imagine you never found her, as if she died years ago!" Wufu decided, "I am now Ah Jiu’s wife. I will go to Beiyan in the future. Mother’s remains will be cremated after forty-nine days and taken to Beiyan for burial."