SGEIRS -Chapter 259 Utter Despair

At the main gate of the Yongchang Bo Residence.

The gate opened just wide enough for one person to pass through. Madam Sun held a cloth over her mouth and tried to get one of the maids to move aside, but two other maids shoved her out without a trace of courtesy. She lost her balance and fell to the ground, wincing in pain, letting out a sharp “hiss.”

The two maids hesitated for a moment but didn’t help her. After all, the master had explicitly said there was no need to treat Madam Sun with courtesy; if she didn’t cooperate, force could be used. They were just following orders.

If they failed to complete their task, they would be the ones punished.

Even if the heir and the second young lady complained about them, they could just pass the responsibility to the master—they were merely obeying his commands.

Madam Sun got up from the ground and, pointing at the two maids, glared at them with tear-swollen eyes, so furious she couldn’t form a complete sentence: “You… you…”

One maid said, “Miss Sun, this is all by the master’s orders. We are just following instructions. If you have any issues, you can take them up with the master himself.”

Miss Sun?

Hearing this long-forgotten title, Madam Sun was momentarily stunned. Images from over a decade ago flashed through her mind—back when she was still the carefree daughter of the Sun family, with her father alive and the family still respectable, not fallen like it was now.

Because of her pretty appearance, she had attracted many admirers back then, including a young scholar chosen by her father. He had come second in the imperial exam and was an ordinary-looking young man with the scholarly aura that all learned men carried. His brows carried a sense of integrity; it was clear he would become an honest and upright official—and he truly did.

When the young man was invited to the Sun residence, he froze for a long moment upon seeing her. When he finally realized, his face turned red. He quickly bowed and stammered, “Miss Sun, I… I have been rude.”

What a good young man he had been.

But she had dismissed someone like him back then. Now, thinking back, she realized how utterly wrong she had been. If she had married him, she surely would have been happy—but it was too late.

The maid saw that Madam Sun hadn’t said anything and, not knowing what she was thinking and not particularly interested anyway, said, “Miss Sun, we’ll leave you here. You may go.”

With that, the maid motioned for the gatekeeper to close the door.

As the gate was closing but not fully shut, the other maid spat, “Bah! How old is she now? An old, wrinkled woman, and you’re still calling her Miss Sun? I’d say ‘Aunt Sun’ fits better.”

The first maid laughed, “She is the mother of the second young lady and the heir, so at least give her a little respect.”

The other maid chuckled but didn’t continue the conversation.

Madam Sun stood at the gate, staring blankly as the vermilion gate closed, lingering for a while before turning to walk forward, her gaze drifting absentmindedly along the road ahead. After a moment, she stepped down the stairs.

Barely a few steps out, the sky opened up, and rain poured down in sheets. Soon, she was soaked through.

Late autumn rain carried a chill. Her thin, coarse cloth clothing was drenched, making her shiver. She quickened her pace. All she wanted now was to go home and reclaim her identity as the daughter of the Sun family.

Perhaps driven by sheer willpower, her frail body managed to make it all the way back to the Sun family gate.

But when she gritted her teeth and returned, it was already the hour of Hai (around 9–11 PM). The autumn rain had stopped, leaving only the bleak autumn wind blowing. She trembled all over, her face pale as paper.

Hugging herself and rubbing her arms, Madam Sun knocked on the door.

After a while, the gatekeeper came out to check. Seeing Madam Sun in such a disheveled state, he didn’t recognize her at first and thought she was some destitute refugee. Irritated, he said, “Who are you? If you’re here to beg, get lost! This isn’t a place for beggars!”

Madam Sun’s anger flared immediately. She shouted, “How dare you! Open your eyes and look properly! I am the granddaughter of the Sun family! Let me in at once!”

The gatekeeper paused, then looked more closely and realized she indeed appeared to be the Sun family granddaughter. Shocked, he remembered that the master had ordered that if the granddaughter returned, she shouldn’t be let in immediately; the master and mistress should be notified first. He forced a smile. “It’s dark, and I have poor eyesight, so I didn’t recognize you at first, miss. That’s entirely my fault. I’ll go inform the master and mistress. Please wait here, miss.”

He quickly closed the gate and went to deliver the message.

Madam Sun stood before the closed gate, stunned, silently cursing the gatekeeper for lacking foresight—she, the granddaughter, had returned home and was left outside in the cold wind.

Not long after, Sun Zhiyong and Madam Yang came out. Seeing Madam Sun, they were dumbfounded. That morning she had looked disheveled but still decent; now, she looked like a refugee.

Seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Madam Sun couldn’t hold back her tears again. “Big Brother… Sister-in-law…”

Sun Zhiyong frowned. “Why are you back? And in this state?”

Madam Sun, unable to restrain her emotions, choked on her words and recounted how the Meng family had treated her, hoping for comfort from her brother and sister-in-law.

But reality was cruel and always opposed to her hopes.

Upon hearing the story, Sun Zhiyong and Madam Yang’s expressions darkened. Exchanging a glance, they tacitly nodded. A sister who had committed so many wrongs and been dismissed from her marriage? They would be crazy to let her back into the house. The proper course was to sever ties and prevent any gossip or scandal.

Immediately, Sun Zhiyong kicked Madam Sun to the ground. Before she could react, he shouted, “You venomous woman! How dare you show your face after committing such vile deeds! You’ve brought shame to the Sun family. From today onward, you are no longer a Sun family daughter! Our family has no place for a girl as wicked as you!”

Madam Yang, angry as well, added, “All our daughters are gentle and kind. How did we end up with someone like you? With a wicked aunt like you, the reputations of our girls would be ruined. How can you be so cruel, doing nothing but heinous acts?”

Madam Sun could hardly believe her ears. She never imagined her once-close brother and sister-in-law would treat her this way, refusing her entry and severing ties.

Seeing her like this, Madam Yang’s heart softened slightly. She took out a handful of copper coins and a little silver from her pouch and pressed them into Madam Sun’s hands. Coldly, she said, “Don’t blame Big Brother and me for being cruel. Take this and find a place to stay. From now on, we will have no further contact. We are no longer your brother and sister-in-law. From this day forward, we are strangers.”

The couple didn’t want to waste any more words with her, lest the neighbors gossip. They turned and went inside, ordering the gatekeeper to shut the door.

With the gate closed, the last shred of hope for Madam Sun was gone.