Xue Yuxin and Shen Yuning quickly got up and headed to the front hall. Sure enough, they saw Xue Yuhan being held down on a chair by Mrs. Shao, crying non - stop.
Seeing them coming, Xue Yuhan immediately rushed over and knelt in front of them. "Elder sister, second sister, please, save my aunt, save my aunt. She... she is going to commit suicide."
Xue Yuxin was a bit unsteady from her sudden rush and her face turned a shade paler.
Shen Yuning quickly supported her. "Are you okay?"
Hearing this, everyone in the room rushed to support Xue Yuxin.
Xue Yuhan, still kneeling on the ground, was a bit dazed and asked hoarsely, "Is elder sister not feeling well?"
Xue Yuxin took a moment to recover and shook her head. "It's okay. Yuhan, don't kneel. What did you just say? Your aunt is going to commit suicide?"
Shen Yuning then turned back to help Xue Yuhan up and let her sit on the chair. "Don't be anxious. Take your time and tell us."
Xue Yuhan sobbed. "I... There are rumors outside that my aunt had an affair with that General Liang. At home, Xue Yujiao has been making a fuss all day, saying that Yu Xi is not father's child. Father beats my aunt many times every day... Today, I don't know what Xue Yujiao said. Father was drunk and even wanted to hang Yu Xi..."
Shen Yuning's eyes widened. "Yu Xi? How could he be so muddle - headed? How could Yu Xi not be his child?"
After saying this, she remembered that Xue Yuxuan was indeed such a muddle - headed person.
Xue Yuhan lowered her head, crying so hard that she was out of breath. "He... beats my aunt every day. I can only guard my aunt all the time. Even so, my aunt was beaten so badly that she couldn't get out of bed. I've long wanted to come to the Marquis Mansion to ask uncle to save her. But my aunt always told me that the reputation of the Marquis Mansion was important and that everything would be fine after father vented his anger. But... but today father actually wanted Yu Xi to die. My aunt had no choice but to decide to commit suicide to prove her innocence."
Saying this, she got excited again, slid off the chair and knelt down. "Two elder sisters, you are officials now. You can manage this, right? My father's behavior is abusing his concubines, right? Please, save my aunt."
The senior maid beside Mrs. Shao then remembered that every time she saw the second young lady, the Lady Bai always wore thick makeup and her cheeks were always red. Since the madam was concerned about the second young lady from another branch, she didn't pay much attention to the state of the concubine. She never thought that the concubine was beaten like that by the second master.
Shen Yuning pulled Xue Yuhan up. Just then, Xue Yuhan showed a section of her wrist, which was covered with new and old wounds. Shen Yuning rolled up her sleeve and saw that her whole arm was densely covered with wounds.
Seeing this, Xue Yuxin also stood up and wanted to check Xue Yuhan's other arm.
Xue Yuhan quickly dodged and put down her sleeve. "I'm fine, really fine."
Fine? How could she be fine? Just looking at these wounds, one could imagine how they were caused. Xue Yuhan had always been a gentle - tempered person. Like her aunt, she was timid and weak. Since she was a concubine - born child, she had been bullied since childhood but never said a word.
Xue Yuxuan was convinced that Xue Yuxi was not his son. How could he think that Xue Yuhan was his daughter? Moreover, he was always cold - hearted. Since he had beaten his concubine, how could he be soft on Xue Yuhan?
If things hadn't gotten so bad, no one knew how long this girl would have endured.
"Does he beat you every day?" Shen Yuning's face showed anger.
Xue Yuhan lowered her head and didn't say a word.
Xue Yuxin was extremely anxious. She grabbed her hand. "My dear younger sister, since you want us to save your aunt, you should tell us everything, right?"
Only then did Xue Yuhan tell them everything about what happened at home with tears in her eyes.
Not only did Xue Yuxuan beat them, but Mrs. Xiao also took the opportunity to vent her anger. She scolded Lady Bai every day. Fortunately, Mrs. Xiao only tormented her secretly and didn't beat her openly.
The ones who beat them were Xue Yuxuan and Xue Yujiao.
"Later, I had no choice but to let Yu Xi stay in the military camp as much as possible and not go home. Since father couldn't find him, he couldn't hurt him... We... I thought we could get through this."
Xue Yuxin was furious. "Get through it, get through it. How did we teach you? You are a daughter of the Xue family. How can you endure everything? Your father and your step - mother are being unkind by abusing you. Abusing concubines also violates the law. Even ordinary servants cannot be punished privately, let alone your aunt, who is a proper good - status concubine. As a daughter of the Xue family, don't you understand these things?"
The law was only useful when someone reported. It might also have some restraining effect on high - ranking families who cared about their reputation. But for the second branch of the Xue family, they didn't care at all.
Xue Yuhan lowered her head and still cried non - stop. "I... I had no choice but to come and beg you. If I didn't come, my aunt might really not survive."
Shen Yuning asked, "Who is watching Lady Bai while you've been away for so long?"
Xue Yuhan quickly replied, "My aunt was making a scene about dying, so father didn't do anything to Yu Xi anymore. But Xue Yujiao was making a fuss and forcing my aunt to commit suicide. But Yu Xi is at home. For the time being, he won't let anything happen to my aunt."
Shen Yuning thought for a moment. "In that case, Yuhan, if we let your aunt divorce your father, would you be willing?"
Xue Yuhan was stunned. "She is just a concubine. How can she divorce?"
A concubine was, in fact, a slave. Her contract was in the hands of the master's family. Unless the master's family didn't want her, how could a slave not want the master's family? Moreover, it was a divorce.
Shen Yuning smiled. "As long as she is willing, there is nothing impossible."
Xue Yuhan immediately replied, "She is definitely willing. Even if she isn't, I have a way to make her willing."
Seeing Xue Yuhan's decisive answer, Shen Yuning felt a bit comforted. After all, she was a daughter of the Xue family, a younger sister she had watched grow up. Even though she was usually soft - tempered, she was decisive at critical moments.
Xue Yuxin quickly asked, "What method does the second younger sister have?"
Shen Yuning said, "First, let the third younger sister go back and comfort Lady Bai. Remember, you must make Lady Bai understand that at that time, she was forced. She was sold to the Marquis Mansion by her father and brother. Even the seal on her contract was forced. Do you understand?"
Xue Yuhan nodded absent - mindedly. "It's not difficult. I heard my aunt say that she would rather be the wife of a poor family than a concubine in a rich family. If she hadn't been forced, she wouldn't have wanted to be a concubine in the Marquis Mansion."
Shen Yuning added, "According to mother, Lady Bai hasn't had any contact with her natal family for so many years?"
Mrs. Shao nodded. "Actually, the Bai family has come to ask for money every year, but Lady Bai has never met her brother and sister - in - law. Only once did her mother come, and she met her then."
Shen Yuning smiled. "This just shows that Lady Bai was forced to be a concubine in the Marquis Mansion. So after entering the Marquis Mansion, she was resentful and even refused to see her natal family."
As for whether Lady Bai was just being obedient or resented her father and brother, no one knew.
Shen Yuning continued, "Mother also needs to go to the Xiao family."
The Xiao family was used to being opportunistic. Seeing that Shen Yuning had married into the Prince's Mansion, they no longer had the slightest bit of disdain for this fake niece.
When Mrs. Xiao saw Shen Yuning again, she had changed her attitude. She flattered and fawned on her everywhere. She also tried to distance herself from the second branch of the Xue family, saying that Xue Yujiao was too outrageous and they couldn't stand such a niece.
Mrs. Shao understood. "The old madam who bought Lady Bai from the Xiao family has passed away, but Mrs. Xiao is sensible. I'll go and talk to her. She will surely come forward to testify about what happened back then."
This matter couldn't be delayed. Xue Yuhan thanked them repeatedly and was about to get up and go back to settle things.
Xue Yuxin quickly grabbed her, but suddenly felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground.
Xue Yuhan quickly supported her. "Elder sister, please call a doctor to take a look. Don't bear it by yourself if there is something wrong."
Xue Yuxin's face looked a bit ugly. She covered her lower abdomen and said, "Maybe I ate something bad. My stomach is a bit uncomfortable. Don't worry about me. Instead, think about what you are going to do. Your step - mother is in charge of your marriage. If this matter makes a fuss, uncle and aunt will surely take it out on you and won't make it easy for you."
Xue Yuhan sighed. "My aunt endured so much for me. But even so, they never let me go. Grandmother finally found a good marriage for me, but they ruined it every time. Anyway, it's like this. If one of us can escape, it's good."
Last time, when grandmother took Xue Yuhan back to their hometown, she thought there was hope for Yuhan's marriage and found a poor scholar. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Xiao refused later, saying that Yuhan was not in good health and might delay the young man.
She was right. Now the second branch of the Xue family was like a tiger's den. They were from the concubine - born branch. It was hard for them to get justice when they were wronged. Apart from enduring it, there was really no other way. If one of them could escape, it was better than everyone waiting to die inside.
After Xue Yuhan left, Shen Yuning went to the table to pour a cup of tea and handed it to Xue Yuxin, asking her to drink it to feel better.
But Mrs. Sun stepped forward and pressed Shen Yuning's hand, shaking her head. "I think we'd better not let your sister drink tea for now. Let the female doctor in the mansion come and take a look first."
A female doctor was not a real doctor. She could only help condition the body and treat simple ailments.
Shen Yuning was a bit confused.
Mrs. Shao understood. Seeing that her daughter - in - law didn't let Yuxin drink tea, she was overjoyed. "Yes, when your sister - in - law was pregnant with her first child, she also had discomfort in her lower abdomen like this."
Xue Yuxin was a bit confused. "Do you mean, mother and sister - in - law, that I'm... pregnant? But, but I don't feel nauseous and want to vomit when I see food like others do."
Mrs. Shao laughed. "Not everyone is the same. Your sister - in - law has been really suffering this time. She can't stand any smell. Even when she goes to your grandmother's room, she feels very uncomfortable."
Mrs. Sun quickly said, "It may not be. I just think you look like I did when I was pregnant with Hao'er. Let the female doctor take a look first. If it is, that's great. If not, it's not too late to call a doctor."
Xue Yuxin nodded shyly and urged, "Okay, okay, mother. I have sister - in - law and Yuning here. You go to the Xiao family quickly to inform them. Later, you still have to go to uncle's house to help Yuhan and them."