You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Xie Wanru from Xuancheng was unaware that her father, Xie Yun, had begun to question her identity, but fortunately, her third brother inadvertently resolved the issue for her.

All she knew was that her meat pie tonight must have bribed Shen Yanzhi.

Moreover, she deliberately let Fu Rou in, with another intention: to leave Fu Rou with a thorn in her heart that she could never remove before she left.

Every time she argued with Shen Nian'an in the future, she would think of Shen Nian'an and Old Madam Shen's attitude towards her, Xie Wanru, today.

She didn't care about the position of the legal wife, but Xie Wanru would always be the legal wife, and Fu Rou could never erase her mark in this lifetime.

She wouldn't give Fu Rou anything she didn't want.

However, Xie Wanru underestimated Fu Rou's ability to court disaster. Before Xie Wanru could even make a move, Fu Rou had already dug her own grave.

"Madam, Nianlang and I are husband and wife. We were just doing some ordinary things that husband and wife do. Please don't blame Nianlang."

Fu Rou then put on a pitiful look.

"It was my overstepping of the bounds and I did not know the rules. Please punish me, Madam."

Shen Nian'an then knelt down.

"Mother, your son is also at fault. Please calm down."

He never expected that simply bringing Fu Rou into his courtyard to stay overnight would make his mother so angry.

Moreover, he didn't understand why he was discovered.

"Calm down? Do you know who told me this? It was a servant in your elder brother's courtyard. You two are so impatient, you can't even keep a secret for a moment. Can't you behave yourselves for a few days and not do that kind of thing? Huh?"

Madam Shen was furious; nothing had gone smoothly lately.

Knowing full well that everyone in this household has their own agenda, yet they act so carelessly, they lied yesterday that they were friends of an old acquaintance. If Xie Wanru finds out now, how will they cover up this lie?

However, just as they were feeling uneasy, Dongzhu came to report that the Second Madam said the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden were in very good condition, so she invited people to appreciate the plum blossoms the next day and hoped that Old Madam Shen would approve.

It seems that they are unaware of the matter between Shen Nian'an and the other person.

"She still has the leisure to hold a flower viewing party at this time of year, how leisurely."

Shen Nianqing poured cold water on the situation as usual, but instead received a cold glare from Old Madam Shen.

“Mother, why are you looking at me like that? There’s nothing wrong with Second Brother and Sister Rou’s relationship. Eldest Brother is a member of the Shen family, not Xie Wanru’s brother. And even if we told Xie Wanru, so what? Second Brother and Xie Wanru’s marriage was arranged by His Majesty. Even if she looks down on the Shen family, she still lives under your care.”

Shen Nianqing's face was full of smiles, and she didn't feel that anything was wrong.

Fu Rou smiled at her, feeling that the money she had secretly given to her sister-in-law had not been wasted.

Madam Shen's expression did not soften; instead, it became even more grave. The calmer Xie Wanru was, the more frightened she felt. Moreover, since Shen Cong'an woke up, he had become distant from her, and she was unsure whether her son would leak this matter.

Seeing that Old Madam Shen was no longer so angry, Shen Nian'an dared to stand up and speak.

"Why did my elder brother tell Mother about this? He was worried that if Xie Wanru found out, she would use it as an excuse to affect the relationship between the Shen family and the Xie family. Xie Wanru is not like that; if she knew, she would not be so calm. So she definitely doesn't know. We'll just have to be careful in the future."

Shen Nian'an's implication was that it was impossible for her not to touch Fu Rou; Fu Rou was the love of her life.

“If you don’t handle your relationship with Fu Rou properly, it will not only cause Xie Wanru to harbor resentment, but it will also make the outside world laugh at our Shen family. How can we stand in the world if our family is not at peace? As a member of the Shen family, you should learn to weigh the pros and cons, instead of acting impulsively and only thinking about yourself.”

Shen Nianqing was rendered speechless by her mother's words. Although she was unwilling, she dared not talk back.

"As for her plan to hold a banquet to appreciate the plum blossoms, since she asked me about it, perhaps she is trying to curry favor with us because she is afraid that you have really neglected her, or perhaps she knows about it but is unwilling to face it. In any case, you should talk to Fu Rou about this matter as soon as possible."

Madam Shen gave the instructions in a deep voice.

"Yes, mother."

Shen Nian'an nodded; he had been thinking about this all along.

“Mother, you are the old lady of the Marquis of Yong’an, why do you have to be mindful of Xie Wanru’s feelings in everything you do?”

Shen Nianqing was still unconvinced.

She helped Fu Rou not just because Fu Rou secretly gave her money, but also because she wanted to see Xie Wanru admit defeat and be defeated.

"Oh? So you're not afraid of Xie Wanru? Then why don't you just stop her from holding this plum blossom appreciation party? Go to the plum garden and inform her."

Old Madam Shen had completely lost patience with this woman.

"I……"

Shen Nianqing immediately chickened out.

Xie Wanru has a temper and likes to slap people, and it hurts a lot. She doesn't want to try it again.

"You two, you can go down now."

Madam Shen kicked Shen Nian'an and Fu Rou out, leaving only Shen Nianqing behind.

Before the palace banquet that day, she had told Shen Nianqing not to act rashly, but Shen Nianqing had the idea of ​​drugging His Highness the Crown Prince. If Shen Cong'an hadn't discovered it in time, the Shen family would have been buried with him.

Shen Nianqing looked at her second brother, Shen Nian'an, with longing eyes, hoping he would stay. But Shen Nian'an had finally escaped being scolded, so how could he possibly stay? He quickly left with Fu Rou.

"Now you're scared? I've locked you up for days, but your temper hasn't changed at all. You still speak and act without thinking. You're a noble lady from a marquis's mansion, and Fu Rou secretly gave you some benefits, and you've already been bribed?"

Looking at her daughter, Madam Shen felt a growing sense of disappointment. How could she have given birth to such a foolish and oblivious child?

Shen Nian lowered her head, feeling guilty, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. She explained softly, "I just can't stand Xie Wanru's arrogant attitude. Why does she always boss us around? Besides, I was just trying to help my second brother..."

"Help? You're harming the Shen family!" Old Madam Shen raised her voice, her eyes filled with disappointment. "You think letting him and Fu Rou run rampant in this mansion is helping him? Don't forget, you share the same blood. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. Do I need to teach you that? If he's indulging in debauchery in the mansion, what will the world think of you? If Xie Wanru doesn't agree, this woman surnamed Fu can only be dealt with by her. That's the status of the legal wife, do you understand?"

Shen Nianqing's face turned red from the scolding, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back from falling.

“If you remain obstinate, Fu Rou will be your fate, and anyone can trample on her. Fortunately, you didn’t succeed that day. If you had, as a young lady from a marquis’s family, you would be nothing but an ant in front of the royal family, just like Fu Rou in our Shenfu, whom we can beat at will without any scruples. You should find a suitable man of equal social standing as soon as possible, marry him, and become a proper wife. That’s what you should be doing now.”

Shen Nianqing lowered her head. She understood that she had indeed gone too far at the palace banquet. She was also afraid afterward. The Emperor and Empress cared so much about His Highness the Crown Prince. If they found out that she had drugged His Highness the Crown Prince, she was afraid she wouldn't have survived that night.

But the resentment and jealousy in my heart, like wild grass, will never cease to grow again when the spring breeze blows.

"Mother, I know I was wrong. I will be more careful in the future."

Shen Nianqing apologized softly, but in her heart she was already plotting how to salvage the situation.