Reborn Heiress: Seeking Revenge

Chapter 363: The Shangguan Family’s Civil War (3)_1

"Mommy, let’s go too. We don’t belong here," Shangguan Qing said in a detached tone as she and Shangguan Yu supported Liu Ruoling, one on each side, and left the room.Shangguan Zhi cast a cold glance at Old Mistress Shangguan, his eyes brimming with disappointment and heartache. He looked at her deeply, went upstairs, grabbed several documents, and without looking back, strode away.

The Old Mistress Shangguan’s hand, which had been resting on Shangguan Rou’s, stiffened as she watched everyone leave. In the empty house, she was the only one left—her two children, two granddaughters, a daughter-in-law, and her husband had all departed from her side. Remembering the look in Shangguan Zhi’s eyes as he left, her heart gave a violent lurch. Words Shangguan Zhi had once spoken echoed in her ears again: "No matter what you do, as long as it doesn’t cross my bottom line, I can forgive and tolerate you. But if you ever cross that line, then it’s all over."

Upon recalling this, Old Mistress Shangguan could no longer maintain her feigned composure. She stood up abruptly, her face somewhat pale.

"Granny, what’s wrong?" Shangguan Rou asked anxiously.

"I just remembered I have more important things to do," Old Mistress Shangguan said hurriedly, her attention shifting from Shangguan Rou. "You (Shangguan You), go back with them first. We can talk about everything else later." No longer paying attention to Shangguan Rou’s pitiful expression, she quickly went after Shangguan Zhi. At that moment, Old Mistress Shangguan moved with an agility that belied her fifty-plus years.

"Everyone, please leave," Zhang Ma said coldly, watching as the last of them departed. That damn old hag! Daring to insult the Mistress and even having the nerve to compare the Young Miss to that heartless woman. She deserved to be abandoned by the Shangguan family, to die alone.

"Zhang Ma, you’re just a servant! What right do you have to tell me to leave? My surname is Shangguan too. This is my home, so why should I leave?" Shangguan Rou spoke arrogantly. With everyone else gone, she no longer needed to pretend.

Zhang Ma gave Shangguan Rou a look as if she were an idiot, then picked up the phone and dialed security. "We have some uninvited guests here. What kind of security are you running? Get these people out!"

Zhang Ma’s words made Shangguan Rou and her companions look uncomfortable. Those security guards only recognized their duties, not individuals.

"Zhang Ma, how can you do this?"

"Why can’t I? Who do you think you are? Did you think that just because that old hag backed you up and said a few nice words, you could just waltz back in here? You must be dreaming! You completely miscalculated," Zhang Ma said coldly, turning to leave. Someone will be here shortly to take care of these nuisances.

"You, I’m sorry you had to suffer," Shangguan Hao said to his daughter apologetically. If it weren’t for Old Mistress Shangguan, neither he nor his daughter would have had to endure this.

"Daddy, why are you divorcing Mommy? Is it because of Li Wanying, or is it because you don’t like Mommy anymore?" Shangguan You asked, a hint of loss in her voice. She still didn’t understand what had happened in the last sixteen years.

Silence—just silence. Shangguan You immediately regretted asking. She knew that if Shangguan Hao hadn’t answered before, he was unlikely to answer now.

"Your mommy initiated the divorce with me. At that time, the Li family just happened to have something on our Shangguan family, so..." Shangguan Hao spoke, his voice heavy with a sense of worldly weariness, contrary to Shangguan You’s expectation.

Shangguan You’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Shangguan Hao expectantly, urging him to continue. Was Shangguan Hao finally willing to talk about what happened with Lin Mengjie sixteen years ago?

"That was..." Shangguan Hao began.

Her heart pounded again with anticipation as she watched him, silently encouraging him to go on.

"It was eighteen years ago. I was young and impetuous, fresh out of the military academy. Due to outstanding performance in several missions and with Father’s deliberate grooming, I had just become the youngest colonel at the time..." He seemed lost in his memories, his pace slowing as he recounted the past.

Shangguan You listened, visibly tense. She wished Shangguan Hao would summon the decisiveness he showed when training troops and just get to the point. Yet, he seemed trapped in memories from after his graduation. Shangguan You’s lips parted several times, wanting to urge him on, but she forced herself to hold back. These were likely his most beautiful memories with Mom, and she shouldn’t interrupt.

"Second Brother."

"Second Uncle."

Two voices called out from nearby, interrupting Shangguan Hao. Shangguan You, holding Shangguan Hao’s hand, tensed. Here we go again! Every time she was about to hear the beginning, something like this would happen. It seemed fate was determined to keep her in the dark about her parents’ past. Was she really going to have to wait another year and a half to learn the truth?

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law," Shangguan Hao acknowledged, returning to his senses. He nodded at the two of them, his frown deepening as he saw Liu Ruoling’s deeply stricken expression. The Old Mistress’s words grew harsher with age. If she weren’t their mother...

"Sister-in-law, don’t take Mom’s words to heart. She has always been like this toward the Li family."

"Auntie, please don’t be sad, okay? Let’s all move out and live together. We won’t come back here anymore. We can buy a big house outside—I have money!" Shangguan You said affectionately, gently taking Liu Ruoling’s arm to console her.

Liu Ruoling replied, "You, dear, Auntie is just sad. After being a Shangguan daughter-in-law for over twenty years, to think Mom would say such things about me."

"Mommy, it’s okay, don’t be sad. Those kinds of people aren’t worth it," Shangguan Qing added, comforting her mother.

"Exactly. You’re my wife," Shangguan Yu said, putting an arm around Liu Ruoling’s shoulders to comfort her. "And I, Shangguan Yu, am telling you that as long as I approve of you and recognize you, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to pay any mind to what others think."

"Let’s go," Shangguan Zhi said, his voice somewhat hoarse and aged by strain. He strode over, an air of grim resolve about him. The entire group then promptly left the military residential compound.