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

Wen Ling followed behind Xie Yanzheng, urging him incessantly, "You'd better hurry up, Wanwan can't wait too long!"

Xie Yanzheng smiled helplessly and quickened his pace.

If she weren't pregnant, she would definitely have gone back with them. Women should be more reasonable with each other. However, she also knew that brothers like Xie Yanzheng couldn't go back without an order.

Meanwhile, in Xuancheng.

Xie Wanru had not yet moved to the Princess's Mansion. When she was made a princess, she was still young. Later, her father sent her to Mount Xuwu to learn martial arts. After returning, she often stayed at the Empress's place or the Xie Mansion. The Princess's Mansion was just for show.

Over the years, while the area has needed some time for repairs, the Xie family has always maintained it extremely well thanks to Butler Xie and his team.

Now, rumors about her and Shen Nian'an are circulating all over Xuancheng. Some people are criticizing Shen Nian'an, while others are criticizing her.

Some say that since she married into the Shen family two years ago, she hasn't given birth to a single child, so it's not surprising that Shen Nian'an is like this. But others say that Shen Nian'an's stepson is already seven or eight years old. The young master of the Shen family has been exposed to sex early, and the Xie family's daughter has never even looked at such a good-for-nothing.

After all, Shen Nian'an had a bad reputation in Xuancheng and had never done a good deed. On the other hand, Xie Wanru distributed porridge and other supplies at the Xie family, which was a great act of kindness. So what had Shen Nian'an done?

Opinions varied, some positive and some negative, but Xie Wanru had no regrets. Only in this way could she break free from the constraints of the Shen family, act freely, and watch the Shen family make a fool of themselves.

"Wanwan."

A gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

Xie Wanru looked up and saw her good friend Lin Xi standing not far away, smiling at her.

"Lin Qing, what brings you here?" Xie Wanru asked in surprise.

Seeing her young mistress so happy, Dongzhu knew that she was right not to inform her; this was a pleasant surprise.

Lin Qing stepped forward and took her hand: "I heard about what happened to you and was worried about you, so I came to see you. Dongzhu said I didn't need to announce myself and let me come in directly, so I could give you a surprise."

Xie Wanru felt a warmth in her heart and looked at her gratefully: "Thank you, Lin Qing."

Having been reborn and busy dealing with Shen Nianqing, she had completely forgotten about Lin Qing.

In her previous life, Lin Qing married a handsome man. When her husband was transferred, she left Xuancheng, and the two never saw each other again. In this vast city of Xuancheng, Lin Qing was a rare and close friend of hers.

The Lin family is one of the four major families in Xuancheng. Lin's father was the Minister of Justice, and other members of the family also held official positions in the court, making them very powerful.

"Don't thank me, we're best friends," Lin Qing said reproachfully. "Wanwan, don't be too sad. If you want a divorce, so be it. With your qualities, are you afraid you won't find someone better?"

Xie Wanru gave a wry smile: "It's not that easy."

“How is it not difficult? Look at you, you’re beautiful, talented, and a princess. So many people want to marry you!” Lin Wanqing said.

Xie Wanru felt a little embarrassed by what she said. At this moment, she was nearly forty years old. Moreover, the emperor had asked her to move to the princess's mansion temporarily and had not agreed to her divorce.

She also knew that the Emperor did not want her to divorce, and that she needed to wait a little longer.

"Idiot, I meant divorce."

Xie Wanru sighed and started chatting with Lin Qing.

Lin Qing then realized that the imperial decree that had been regarded as an honor to bestow marriage upon Lin Wanru had now become a shackle binding her.

Without the Emperor's permission, Lin Wanru could not get a divorce.

“When I came in, there were still many people outside receiving porridge. Your kindness has really helped many people. Good people shouldn’t have to suffer like this. By the way, it seems that Shen Nian’an is also outside.”

Lin Qing looked at Xie Wanru with regret.

“On the day you held your banquet, my grandfather and I went back to our hometown. Otherwise, we would have definitely helped you beat those two scoundrels to a pulp.”

"Are you sure they'd survive if I really wanted to take them down?"

Xie Wanru chuckled, and Lin Qing, remembering Xie Wanru's own abilities, exchanged a smile.

In her past life, if she hadn't neglected her martial arts for decades in order to manage the entire Marquis's mansion, how could Xie Wanru have been so easily killed?

If she makes a move, the entire Marquis's mansion will be unable to stop her.

"Physical suffering is secondary; I want them to suffer the scorn of the world and have no dignity whatsoever in this world."

And... dying in the place of burial.

Xie Wanru didn't say the last sentence. She had to sever ties with the Marquis's mansion first before taking action, otherwise the pig's blood would inevitably get on her.

If she just wanted to beat them both up, she could do it whenever she felt like it; it wouldn't be difficult.

“That makes sense, that makes sense. I heard your stepson was also expelled from school. Ugh, that bastard.”

Lin Qing realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly spat it out.

"My dear young lady, you're an unmarried girl, you shouldn't say those two words, people will laugh at you. Let's not talk about these unpleasant things, talk to me about something else to cheer me up."

Xie Wanru was very happy to have someone to talk to at this time.

"Okay, let me tell you, my hometown is so much fun..."

Lin Qing smiled broadly as she shared her amusing experiences of returning to her hometown with Xie Wanru.

Xie Wanru grew up without her mother's restraints and was mostly as wild as a boy. She only restrained herself when she entered the palace to accompany the Empress.

Actually, she knew everything Lin Qing was talking about. When she was in Void Mountain, wasn't she in the countryside?

They chatted until sunset before reluctantly parting ways. When Xie Wanru saw Lin Qing off at the Xie residence, she encountered Shen Nian'an, who had been waiting at the Xie residence gate.

“He’s still here, Wanwan. Don’t be soft-hearted, or he’ll do it again.” Lin Qing pulled at the collar of her cloak, shivering in the cold wind. “It’s cold outside. Don’t bother seeing him off. Go inside quickly.”

Fearing Xie Wanru might soften her heart, Lin Qing went to the trouble of pushing her through the gate before coming out again and getting into the carriage.

Outside the Xie residence, there were people receiving porridge. They didn't know Shen Nian'an, but after so many days, they knew what had happened at the Shen residence and all felt indignant on behalf of Xie Wanru.

It's unclear who started the first snowball, but it gradually turned into a large group of children throwing snowballs at Shen Nian'an.

"You bunch of troublemakers!"

Shen Nian'an only had time to utter a curse before she was hit by a barrage of snowballs, making her scream in pain.

He used to stay here until midnight every day before returning to the Shen residence, but because of this ordeal, he had to go back earlier.

"You scoundrels! I'll make you pay for everything you've done today sooner or later."

Shen Nian'an ran and dodged, almost being chased all the way to the Marquis's mansion. There were servants at the gate, so the children stopped chasing her.

"Miss, the person has already left."

Dongzhu came to report excitedly, but Xie Wanru just smiled slightly, without much emotion.

She was merely driven away; compared to everything she had experienced in her previous life, it was utterly insignificant.