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

The next day, after Xie Wanru got up, she and her third brother Xie Yanting distributed copper coins to the maids and servants in the mansion to bring good luck, and everyone was immersed in a joyful atmosphere.

Xie Wanru gazed at the plants and trees bathed in the morning light, a faint smile playing on her lips. Ultimately, only returning to the Xie residence could soothe the unease in her heart.

"Third Brother, let's go for a stroll in the streets today. I heard the markets in Xuancheng are really lively," Xie Wanru said, turning to Xie Yanting beside her, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

She feels like she's regained what she lost, so she cherishes the time she has with her third brother.

Xie Yanting smiled and nodded gently, his eyes full of doting: "Okay, I'll accompany you to have a good look around today."

But as soon as the two stepped out of the mansion, they heard a commotion coming from afar.

It turned out that Shen Nian'an was being escorted by the Shen family's servants and was heading towards the Xie residence, attracting a lot of attention and discussion from onlookers along the way.

Xie Wanru glanced coldly at Shen Nian'an, her heart unmoved.

Dongzhu told her about the fire last night when she woke up. She knew who did it, but she also knew that it was just a warning from her third brother to Shen Nian'an, and the purpose was naturally to avenge her.

She did not approve of her third brother's actions, after all, Shen Nian'an did not appear to have been injured anywhere.

While Xie Wanru was happy, she was also worried that her third brother would do such a thing again. After all, they were the first to be suspected when something happened at the Shen family's residence. If the authorities reported it, they would definitely be investigated. Even if they couldn't find conclusive evidence, it would still be quite troublesome.

However, seeing Shen Nian'an's disheveled yet still alive appearance, she felt that the fire last night had been too small.

Compared to what she had gone through in her previous life, the setback of having her house burned down was nothing. Shen Nian'an was truly lucky.

When Shen Nian'an saw Xie Wanru and Xie Yanting standing in front of the door, she immediately knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Wanru, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me and come back to the Shen family with me."

Early this morning, Shen Zhan had Fu Rou dragged from her sickbed and made her kneel in the snow, along with her two children.

If he fails to accomplish his goal today, returning home will inevitably anger his father and cause Rou'er to suffer.

Xie Wanru did not stop walking, but coldly said, "You should stay with your Rou'er and live happily ever after. I won't join in the fun."

After saying that, she got into the carriage.

Xie Yanting sneered. "Shen Nian'an, a man's knees are worth gold. Why are you kneeling before my sister? You're still husband and wife in name only. Are you trying to shorten her lifespan by kneeling before her?"

He despised this person in his heart, and his tone was also sarcastic.

Shen Nian'an felt a tightness in her chest, but dared not lose her temper.

“You know that’s not what I meant. I’m genuinely repentant. If our two families keep fighting like this, outsiders will just laugh at us. The Emperor will never agree to our divorce, and I don’t think it’s necessary to continue. If you think I’m not sincere enough, we can write a document and make a solemn oath. I just ask that she return to the Shen family and give Rou’er a way out in the future. I will treat her well.”

Shen Nian'an knelt upright, and his sincerity seemed quite evident.

Hearing his words, Xie Yanting's eyes were cold and unmoved: "Shen Nian'an, you are only saying these things now because you are afraid that our Xie family will really ruin your reputation and leave you nowhere to go. Your so-called repentance is nothing more than a choice made after weighing the pros and cons. I will not give you another chance to hurt Wanwan."

The onlookers began to whisper among themselves.

"I heard that the second master of the Shen family has a mistress and a child who is seven or eight years old. A few days ago, he even lied to his wife that the child was a distant relative and was adopted by Princess Yongchang."

"That child is seven or eight years old? Then this second master of the Shen family must have been eleven or twelve when he first got pregnant by that girl!"

“Young master from a wealthy family, this situation is not surprising.”

"But this is too much! They actually raised the son born to a mistress under the name of the legal wife, trying to occupy the status of the eldest son of the legitimate wife."

"Second Master Shen is just greedy for the power of the Xie family and wants his adopted son to benefit from their influence. He's shameless."

"He even had an affair with his mistress in bed with his wife. He's truly shameless."

"This Second Master Shen is too impatient. He's kept it a secret for so many years. Why not wait another two years to bring his mistress into the mansion? He's the only one left in the Shen family. He'll inherit the title of Marquis of Yong'an in the future."

"Don't you know? The eldest son of the Shen family has woken up. As the second son of the legitimate wife, how could he possibly inherit the title?"

"No wonder..."

"..."

Xie Wanru's marriage to Shen Nian'an was already considered a step down, so naturally, he was the one who received more criticism in this public opinion.

Shen Nian'an's voice was filled with despair: "I know what I did in the past was outrageous, but please give me a chance to make amends. I am willing to spend the rest of my life proving my sincerity."

At this moment, Shen Nian'an believed that Xie Wanru's arrogance these days was because she knew he was keeping a mistress, which made her so cold and unapproachable.

Even though Xie Wanru didn't like him, she had been quite obedient during the two years she had been married into the Shen family.

Inside the carriage, Xie Wanru watched him humbly pleading before her, and instead of pity, she felt a surge of joy from the bottom of her heart.

She never loved Shen Nian'an; in her past life, her relationship with him was nothing more than forced submission.

"Third Brother, stop wasting time talking to him, let's go." Xie Wanru's voice came from inside the carriage.

Clearly, Xie Wanru had no intention of turning back to Shen Nian'an.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yanting glanced at Shen Nian'an, his eyes filled with both disdain and warning: "Shen Nian'an, you'd better watch yourself."

Then, Xie Yanting turned around and got into the carriage. The carriage slowly drove away, leaving Shen Nian'an kneeling on the spot, her figure appearing particularly lonely in the morning light.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and Shen Nian'an slowly stood up, watching the departing carriage with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

He knew that things were completely over between him and Xie Wanru, but he couldn't get her forgiveness. How was he going to explain himself when he went back...?

Shen Nian'an returned to the Shen residence, exhausted.

Fu Rou's old injuries had not yet healed, and she fainted after kneeling for a while. Fearing that someone might die, Old Madam Shen begged Shen Zhan to take her back to the house.

Fu Rou was so badly injured that she was almost dead and lay unconscious in bed.

Shen Yu'er cried until her voice was hoarse, and was taken to the courtyard by Old Madam Shen.

"Nianlang..."

"Nianlang..."

While Fu Rou was unconscious, she kept calling for Shen Nian'an, but Shen Zhan ordered that Shen Nian'an could not see Fu Rou, nor could he see Shen Yu'er and Shen Yanzhi again until he had dealt with this matter properly.

With nowhere else to turn, Shen Nian'an went to the palace to see the emperor and said that he wanted a divorce, otherwise this hellish life would never end and he would go crazy.