Dressed as a middle-aged mistress, I want to lie down every day

Mrs. Zhao is a representative of middle-aged women who loves gossip and spreads gossip.

That day at the gate of Wang's house, she was not the only one who heard what the old woman said, there were other people around.

After the old woman left, everyone who heard it, whether they knew her or not, started talking about it.

"Zhong Hanlin's first wife has been married for three years and is still a virgin?"

"No wonder Madam Zhong always looked down on her second daughter-in-law. She turned out to be a bed-climbing thing? Tsk tsk, there are shameless people even in this high-class family."

"It's a good thing the Li family didn't come knocking on our door. It's a pity for Madam Li."

"That Madam Zhong is so shameless. She's been walking around Beijing with the title of Hanlin's wife for decades. You really can't tell she's that kind of person."

Mrs. Zhao went home and told her mother-in-law the story again, and she was very happy.

Madam Zhao scolded, "Don't talk too much from now on. This matter is not that simple. Let's see what Madam Zhong does."

Madam Zhao said, "Are we going to deal with Mr. Wang's family? Oh no! I have to tell Sister Mo, don't let her get involved."

She stood up to leave, but Old Madam Zhao slapped the armrest of her chair, "Stop! You're already grown up, and you believe everything you hear. Since Mr. Wang's wife dared to confront the Hanlin Mansion, she must have the confidence. Why should you worry about her?"

Madam Zhao sat down awkwardly and asked, "Mother, tell me, who are the Wang family's relatives? The General's Mansion doesn't even dare to confront the Zhong family. Could they be some other aristocratic family?"

Mrs. Zhao suddenly thought of Queen Mother Wang. Queen Mother Wang’s family was from Guanzhong, and Pingyang Prefecture was adjacent to Guanzhong.

However, if Wang Dongjia was a relative of the Queen Mother, it would be impossible for him to marry a merchant.

The Empress Dowager never came to the capital except for her family's visit on her wedding day. No one knew why.

Mo Chenxi and Madam Zhao went back to their parents' homes separately. Mo Yuanji and his wife also heard about this. When they heard from their daughter that Madam Zhong was thrown out by Madam Wang's servants, they were all shocked.

Mrs. Mo said worriedly, "How can you be so impulsive? The Zhong family is the Hanlin Mansion. Isn't this just causing trouble for your family?"

Mo Yuanji said, "The Wang family is not simple. No matter how big a local merchant is, even the prefect dares not offend them. Mr. Wang has traveled extensively, and I heard that this is not his first time in the capital. He must have a background that he dares to offend."

Mrs. Mo said, "Even if the Xue family knew the General's Mansion, they wouldn't dare to confront the Hanlin Mansion directly. So who could it be?"

Mo Yuanji's heart moved, and he thought of Queen Mother Wang. He would ask Eunuch Liang about it next time he saw her.

Mo Chenxi listened to her mother's wild guesses. She knew nothing about the high-ranking families in the capital, so she couldn't guess at all.

Old Mrs. Mo said to her daughter, "You should go and tell Xiangxiang's mother that when you go out, you should avoid offending anyone if possible and not act on impulse."

Then they talked about Nie Chengping. "There really is someone who looks like him. Your father told me about an examiner's wife who thought a student was her husband's illegitimate child, and ended up in a terrible mess. What's this Mrs. Zhong thinking? If that's true, would she really be willing to take the child back from her first wife? Would having it right in front of her make her feel bad?"

Mo Chenxi said, "Isn't it said that she has been controlled by her mother-in-law for decades? Madam Zhong may look glamorous on the outside, but she might be furious inside. So she can take Madam Li's eldest son back home and do the same thing to vent her anger."

Old Madam Mo spat, "How shameless! He forced his first wife to death, and now he wants to take his anger out on her son. Isn't it said that Madam Li was a virgin for three years? Doesn't she know? Everyone else knows, how could she not know?"

Mo Chenxi also felt confused. She found out about the Nie family when she was playing tricks. Nie Chengping and Mrs. Wang did not have the same mother. Nie Chengping's mother was brought back by his father from outside, so Mrs. Wang did not recognize her stepmother.

There is only one possibility, that is, Mrs. Li did not die, but ran away from home. For the sake of their reputation, the two families could only say that she died of illness.

That is, Nie Chengping is the eldest son of Zhong Hanlin, born to Madam Li, and what the old woman said was spread by Madam Zhong for the reputation of the Li family.

This old lady Zhong is really something. She would rather not acknowledge her eldest grandson than not protect the Li family and expose her own family scandal.

Most old ladies cannot do what she does because it would cause the greatest harm to the Zhong family.

She didn't tell her parents what she knew and guessed.

People in Beijing did not know that Mrs. Wang and her brother and sister-in-law did not have the same mother, and they believed the rumor that Zhong Hanlin's first wife was still a virgin after three years of marriage.

That Shang merchant and Zhong Hanlin just look alike, because there was the example of Chief Examiner He before.

The next day, Zhong Hanlin offered to resign when he went to court, saying that his mother was ill and he had to take care of her.

The emperor agreed immediately, which surprised the ministers.

Zhong Hanlin was the teacher that the emperor had been following since he was the crown prince. Just because of the matters in the inner palace, the emperor did not try to persuade him to stay but agreed on the spot.

This is something to think about.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Zhong sent a letter to Wang Dongjia, who was living with Mrs. Xue Si, saying that she was going to apologize.

She was received by Wang Dongjia and his wife.

Mrs. Wang saw that Mrs. Zhong had deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and two lines on both sides of her mouth that looked like they were carved with a knife.

She had never met Zhong Hanlin and didn't know what he looked like, but she felt that her brother looked a bit like Mrs. Zhong.

Mrs. Wang looked indifferent, while Wang Jingye had a gentle attitude. No matter what Mrs. Xue said, he could not be rude to an old lady in her seventies, who was of the same generation as his grandmother.

Mrs. Zhong said ashamedly, "I'm really sorry. My daughter-in-law was ill many years ago. She became insane two years ago. She took some medicine and got better. I don't know why she became ill yesterday. She heard that your brother and my son look a bit like each other, so she came here and talked nonsense.

"It's also because of me. I often scolded her because she didn't give birth to a son, which made her feel resentful. I came here today to apologize to you on behalf of my Zhong family."

Mrs. Zhong stood up and bowed slightly.

Wang Jingye rushed forward and held her with both hands. "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. Madam, I can't bear this. Since it's a misunderstanding, let's talk it out. My wife was a little impulsive yesterday. Please forgive me."

He personally helped Mrs. Zhong back to her seat.

Seeing that Mrs. Zhong was so humble, Mrs. Wang couldn't say anything to the old lady and her face was still unhappy.

Mrs. Zhong said, "My son's first wife was loyal and virtuous. She married into our Zhong family, was filial to her parents-in-law, treated her sisters-in-law well, and kept the inner house in order. My son is not worthy of her."

Mrs. Wang heard her praise Mrs. Li's kindness, without mentioning how Mrs. Li treated her husband. She thought it was okay and did not flatter her own family.

"I failed to discipline my son and neglected to teach my daughter-in-law. I have brought trouble to the family. I am extremely sorry."

She took out a silver note and placed it on the table.

Wang Jingye said, "Madam, this is embarrassing for our Wang family. I can say that I lack everything except money. Please take it back, Madam."

Mrs. Xue said nothing more and took the banknote back.