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Zoey’s voice was cold and sharp. “Have you forgotten that you’re no longer married to Mr. Jaffe?” “Either way, this has nothing to do with me!” Viola scrambled to push her mother away, grabbing the iron bars of the cell and shouting, “You’ve got the wrong person! A woman follows her husband after marriage! Even if I’m divorced, I don’t live at Silverstone Estate. I don’t know anything! I am innocent!”
The jailer outside said coldly, “It wasn’t a mistake. You’re all the same.”
If one was guilty, they were guilty together. If innocent, they were innocent together.
“No! No, we’re not the same!” Viola screamed, the sound sharp and almost unbearable.
“Save your breath, Viola. It’s His Majesty’s orders,” Luna said, her voice trembling. She was afraid too, but she knew that shouting and losing her composure would not help.
When they had been taken away, Zoey had warned them not to act out, not to be stubborn, and not to anger the people in the dungeon. They were to stay calm, maintain hope, and conserve their strength. No matter how awful the food was, they had to eat it.
There was hope only as long as they were alive.
So, everyone kept quiet. Screaming and causing a scene would only drain their strength and break their will without serving any real purpose.
Seeing that crying and shouting were in vain, Viola dropped to her knees, crawling over to Zoey and grasping her shoulder. Tears poured down her face like a torrent.
“Zoey, you have a way out, don’t you? Even if you don’t care about us, you must care about your children!”
Zoey didn’t even bat her eyelids. “If I had a way out, I wouldn’t be here.”
Viola shook her head violently, tears mixing with snot as she pleaded, “No! You and Sophie are close, aren’t you? Haven’t you asked her for help? Have you sent someone to beg her?”
Zoey stared at Viola for a long time before she suddenly let out a soft, almost amused laugh. “Viola, you’ve always looked down on Lady Sophie. Why would you want me to go beg her now?”
“I’ve never looked down on her! When have I ever done that?” Viola covered her face, wailing in despair. “I can’t die here. This is unfair!”
“Who here hasn’t been treated unfairly?” Zoey snapped.
Zoey couldn’t be bothered with Viola. She hugged Courtney and turned away, not sparing Viola another glance.
When Sophie returned to Hell Monarch Estate, she immediately heard the news-Silverstone Estate had been seized, and the Earl of Silverstone’s family had been imprisoned.
In fact, she already knew. The word had reached her while she was still in the palace.
Or perhaps, she had suspected this even earlier, when news of Oliver’s desertion reached her. She had known then that this would be the inevitable outcome.
The people sent to seize Silverstone Estate were not only carrying out the punishment for Oliver’s crime, but also hoping that he would turn himself in voluntarily. The confiscation of the estate and the stripping of titles were routine measures in such cases.
It would be impossible for such a scandal to erupt and for the title to remain intact, allowing the family to continue in wealth and comfort.
But what would happen next?
Even Sophie couldn’t predict Salvador’s next move.
Isaac had already begun making his rounds, seeking assistance, but not from the powerful or the nobility -he was turning to the common folk.
Zoey had foreseen this, so she spent money to set up a food distribution stall outside the city, helping the poor and offering assistance to those who were seriously ill.
Luna had once mentioned in Skye Embroidery that both Evelyn and Viola had opposed Zoey doing this, thinking it was a waste of money for the sake of building her reputation. But now, the only way to assist the Earl of Silverstone’s family was through two conditions-a great victory at the Southern Frontier, and the people’s spontaneous support for Zoey.
Supporting Zoey was different from supporting Oliver.
So, Isaac had already ordered rumors to be spread-that Oliver had abandoned his wife, running off with his concubine and the child she had borne him. Oliver had not only neglected his military and political duties, but he had also betrayed the king, the court, and, worst of all, his wife and children.
Isaac wasn’t just concerned with creating a reputation for Zoey as a virtuous woman-he was also building the narrative of a woman cruelly abandoned by her husband.
They claimed that Oliver had long intended to divorce Zoey. But being stationed at the Southern Frontier, he couldn’t find the right excuse, so he delayed the decision.
Rumors from traders traveling to the Southern Frontier spoke of Oliver having a young, captivating wife at his marshal’s residence-one who possessed an enchanting beauty so powerful that those who saw her were said to fall under her spell.
Jacob had no doubt been fanning the flames of these rumors. But he focused on how, despite being rejected by her husband, Zoey still had a loving heart. The food distribution stall at Silverstone Estate continued without fail, feeding the poor outside the city in all kinds of weather.
Gradually, the common people began to form a clear impression of the lady of the Earl of Silverstone’s family.
She was dignified and graceful, a capable manager of her household, compassionate, and generous in charity. However, her own life wasn’t easy; her mother-in-law was demanding, and her sister-in-law, Viola, was troublesome. Everywhere, both inside and outside the estate, there were burdens weighing on Zoey’s shoulders.
It could be said that since Zoey married Oliver, she had never known a day of peace. Oliver had never shown her affection or respect, and there were more than a dozen concubines in the household. Even though Zoey was good at managing things, her life was not as good as those of other noble families. She had never experienced the luxury Oliver’s name could bring, and now, she was suffering from the consequences of his actions.
Truly, it was a pitiable fate.
The weak always drew sympathy, and with Zoey’s reputation for virtue, the public rallied behind her. For a time, it seemed everyone was outraged by the injustice she had suffered.
As public opinion began to swell, Sophie saw that things were taking shape. She immediately sought out Meredith.
That evening, Meredith returned to her husband’s house for dinner and casually mentioned a few things to her father-in-law Irvin, the Oversight Minister. Irvin paid close attention to public sentiment, and the voices of the people were always of great importance to him.
The next day, he took it upon himself to visit and inspect the food distribution stall Zoey had established. To his surprise, it was still running.
He found it odd-how could it continue operating when its benefactor had been imprisoned?
He immediately sent someone to inquire, learning that Zoey hired the people outside Silverstone Estate to run the food distribution stall. They were not part of the household staff. The people she hired were originally poor citizens who came to the stall for food.
The person in charge of the food distribution stall, Charlie, explained that Zoey trusted him and had given him one thousand silver coins to continue the charitable work. Even though Zoey had been imprisoned, the funds remained, and the overseer would continue to buy and provide food for as long as he could. Irvin couldn’t help but be deeply moved when he heard this.
Charlie was a man who had once known hunger and cold. He had lived a life of poverty and hardship, and he knew that he would never come close to earning one thousand silver coins in his lifetime. He could have taken the money and run.
Instead, he chose to honor Zoey’s compassion and continue the work she had started.
Compassion-true compassion-had the power to touch hearts and inspire others.
The following morning, Irvin brought the matter before the court.
Jeremiah nodded in approval and said, “I’ve heard of Mrs. Prince’s good deed of setting up the food distribution stall. It’s rare for a woman, confined to the inner chambers of the household, to have such a chance to do good. Yet, despite her circumstances, she has remained true to her heart, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue.
“It’s something worthy of praise and should be spread far and wide to set an example for the people. Though, it’s truly regrettable that such a virtuous woman should be dragged down by her husband and trapped in Astral Prison, her fate uncertain.”
Malcolm stepped forward and added, “The common people have been speaking of nothing else these past few days, and many are speaking out in support of Mrs. Prince.
“Your Majesty, I believe that while Mr. Prince’s actions are unforgivable, punishing his family by stripping their titles and confiscating their property is already enough. I urge you to show mercy and consider a lighter sentence for them.”
Salvador wanted to use Oliver’s family to lure him into surrendering, so they couldn’t be released, nor could anyone say they would receive a lighter sentence.