Shocking! In this matriarchal society, every man wants to marry me!

Xia Mu looked up at his wife seriously. There were no secrets between them. The fact that Zhong Tian was unable to speak could only mean that what she was about to say would disappoint Xia Mu Ning, or even make Xia Mu Ning angry!

Xia Muning put down his chopsticks, mentally preparing himself. He looked into Zhong Tian's somewhat guilty eyes and slowly said, "My lady, go ahead and speak. I'm listening."

"I want to elevate Xia Jin'an to the rank of Pingfu."

After Zhongtian spoke, Xia Muning remained silent for a long time, as if the gloomy and damp air before a storm was pressing down, making even her breathing a little more rapid.

Zhong Tian looked up and saw that Xia Muning's eyes were red. He looked at Zhong Tian with extreme disappointment.

“My lady, I know that you and Xia Jin’an are deeply in love. You have known each other since you were young and have gone through many hardships together. So, even if I have a thousand reasons not to and ten thousand reasons to feel wronged, I have no objection whatsoever to your decision to bring Xia Jin’an into the family!”

"I plan to go to the government office to finalize the marriage certificate when I have some free time. The clerk is already handling these matters, and the necessary purchases have begun. My wife, I have done everything I can!"

“But today you tell me that you want to elevate Xia Jin’an to the status of a commoner, because he comes from a lowly background! It may be unpleasant to hear, but it is the truth! To make him my equal is an insult to me, and it is a disregard for our child Ping’er!”

"Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between the noble and the lowly, and a proper order between legitimate and illegitimate children! How can you stop the gossip and silence the voices of the people by elevating Xia Jin'an to the status of a commoner?"

Zhongtian looked up at Xia Muning with some shock. Xia Muning's attitude was extremely intense. Zhongtian understood that Xia Muning was an ancient person who had been influenced by traditional ideas since childhood. These doctrines were engraved on him and, like a steel stamp of thought, were also engraved in her heart.

Zhongtian had anticipated opposition, but he hadn't expected Xia Muning's opposition to be so fierce!

Zhongtian wanted to say something, but Xia Muning rubbed her forehead, pointed to the door, and said weakly to Zhongtian, "My wife, I'm not feeling well today and can't have dinner with you. You should go out first!"

After saying that, she turned her head away, leaving only her back to Zhongtian. That back view was aloof and cold, like a pine tree standing tall.

Zhong Tian stepped forward, intending to touch Xia Muning's back, but Xia Muning took a step forward and refused Zhong Tian's touch. This was the first time Zhong Tian had failed to touch Xia Muning.

There was an invisible rift between them, a rift that, though unseen, had indeed appeared, separating their hearts!

Nakata left, looking rather dejected.

Outside the door, Zhong Tian looked up and saw Xia Jin'an, whose eyes were also red.

Xia Jin'an had obviously heard everything that was being discussed in the room. Given his cunning, he should have quietly slipped away and pretended nothing had happened. Now that there was a rift and some unpleasantness between Xia Muning and Zhong Tian, ​​he should have been gentle and considerate, or, if he was feeling particularly despicable, he should have taken advantage of the situation!

But his feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, unable to move at all.

With red eyes, he asked Zhongtian, "Zhongniang, is it my fault for being born lowly? Because of my appearance, because of my background, am I guilty of all the suffering I've endured?"

Xia Jin'an wanted to question fate more than once. Since she had given him the beauty of a captivating woman, why didn't she give him a matching family background, making her beauty his greatest misfortune?

He didn't blame Xia Muning; in any respectable family, the head of the household would never agree to this!

He originally had no improper thoughts, but now resentment filled his heart.

Having seen the vast world outside, he could have been a domestic sparrow kept in the backyard for love, but now he is unwilling.

Looking at Xia Jin'an's reddened eyes, Zhong Tian felt extremely distressed! She stepped forward to hug Xia Jin'an, but Xia Jin'an pushed her away.

Just then, Xichun walked in and whispered to Zhongtian, "Master, people from the Dali Temple have arrived!"

The Dali Temple has summoned you; you must proceed immediately without delay!

Zhongtian looked at Xia Muning inside the house, then at Xia Jin'an outside. His heart was torn apart by a thousand hands, and he was in unbearable pain!

But Zhang Duruo, kneeling in front of the hall, was in even greater pain. Her eyes were deeply sunken, and her face, which was originally fair and rosy, was now pale and bluish. She glanced guiltily at Jin Xia, whose face was gloomy.

Jin Xia had paid a lot of taxes over the years and had become a guest of honor at the government office. She looked at Zhang Duruo kneeling on the ground with a very gloomy expression! They were waiting for Zhong Tian to arrive!

When Zhongtian was brought back by the yamen runners, he had a gloomy face and was completely devoid of his usual smiling demeanor.

When Jin Xia saw Zhong Tian coming over, she went to greet him warmly, wanting to say something heartwarming, but Zhong Tian just gave her a cold look and ignored her.

Zhongtian stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Lord Li, and said, "My lord, proceed with the interrogation!"

Lord Li nodded.

"Speak!" Lord Zhao slammed his gavel on Zhang Duruo, who spoke with a trembling voice.

“I…I discovered that my sister-in-law, no, Jin Xia, has problems with her account books. She has been eroding Manager Zhong’s assets.”

Jin Xia initially had some reservations, but after Zhong Tian was exiled, leaving Xia Muning as a widower and his infant daughter, Jin Xia became unrestrained!

Zhang Duruo spoke haltingly, her memory was somewhat impaired due to medication, and she needed to pause for a long time before she could recall it!

Jin Xia knelt on the ground, completely unfazed. She retorted, "Zhang Duruo has contracted an unclean disease. She's only after your money. Zhang Duruo, don't make false accusations. Do you have any evidence?"

Jin Xia was certain that Zhang Duruo had no evidence; she must have only seen it. The account books were still in the accounting office, and she had instructed Zhang Xiang'er to burn all the account books before coming to court!

Verbal statements are meaningless; the ledger, burned to ashes, buried all evidence in the dust.

"I, I, I..." Zhang Duruo was speechless!

Jin Xia looked at her foolish younger brother with a smug look. Her gaze also fell on Zhong Tian, ​​who looked at her in return. Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke.

From initial mutual support to current bitter enmity, Zhong Tian had long anticipated this, yet her heart still ached. But pain is proof of humanity; she did not become a profit-driven businesswoman.

Zhongtian closed his eyes, swallowed his pain, and beckoned to Xichun, who then handed the evidence to Lord Li.

Zhong Tian said loudly, "Zhang Niangzi has no evidence, but I have it!"

Jin Xia looked at Zhong Tian in disbelief.

Zhongtian showed no mercy to the treacherous villain: "Lord Li, my husband has been collecting evidence of Jin Xia's crimes. She embezzled taxes and owed the people their wages. Every single one of these things is clear and undeniable. This is the evidence!"

Zhong Tian's suspicions about Jin Xia never ceased, while Xia Muning remained calm and secretly collected all the evidence.

This evidence was enough to turn Jin Xia from a wealthy tycoon back into a penniless beggar! The thought of this possibility made Jin Xia feel somewhat devastated!

From frugality to extravagance is easy, from extravagance to frugality is difficult!

She now flies into a rage over even the slightest food she doesn't like, and she's living that precarious life again.

After observing Jin Xia's somewhat devastated expression for a while, Zhong Tian paused, then spoke to Lord Li: "Lord Li, I also want to accuse Jin Xia of murder, arson, and the extermination of her entire family!"