Favoring a concubine and destroying the wife? I'll abandon my husband and children and wipe out

"Reporting to you, sir, Madam has really been very attentive to you today, bringing quite a few people to see you early this morning. The old lady is pleased with your reconciliation, and naturally she has been paying close attention as well," said Granny Zhang tactfully.

Zhao Ye immediately understood that it was because Cheng Nanzhi's arrival had been too noisy and had woken up Old Madam Zhao.

He immediately turned pale, and even though he was angry, he couldn't say anything to Cheng Nanzhi's initiative to seek peace.

Taking the opportunity, Cheng Nanzhi retorted, "My husband, look how much I want to live a good life with you, but you..."

She glanced at the messy bed behind Zhao Ye, her eyes reddening even more. She forced back her tears, turned around and left, telling Lian Ruo to follow her to Shou'an Hall.

Zhao Ye's expression worsened, and he felt extremely frustrated.

"Please hurry up and wash up, sir, so as not to miss the morning court session." Zhang Mama curtsied and left.

Zhao Ye kicked the headboard in anger.

Outside, Jingzhu was pressed down on a long bench. Even though Zhang Mama rushed over to stop her, Jingzhu had already been hit with ten strokes of the cane. Her body was covered in a faint blush of blood, and her face was deathly pale.

The men who were administering the punishment stood on either side, unsure whether to continue. When they saw Cheng Nanzhi come out, they quickly greeted her.

Cheng Nanzhi's gaze fell on Jingzhu, met her eyes briefly, and then quickly looked away.

Jingzhu bit her lip and lowered her head.

Lianruo spat, "Shameless wretch! How dare you try to interfere between Madam and Master?! The Old Madam has always doted on my Madam. Let's see what you do when you're in front of her!"

When Zhang Mama came out, she heard these words, broke out in a cold sweat, coughed twice, and told someone to help Jingzhu away.

"Granny, is it because Mother-in-law is afraid that if someone dies, the family's reputation will suffer? Mother-in-law cares about me, doesn't she?" Cheng Nanzhi asked earnestly at the right time.

Zhang Mama didn't know how to respond, and said dryly, "You'll know when we get to the old lady."

Cheng Nanzhi then went to Shou'an Hall with an expectant look on her face.

Of course, Cheng Nanzhi had no hope that the old lady would punish Jingzhu.

But the more she pretends to be hopeful now, the more naturally she can feign disappointment, hurt, and sadness when the results come out, making it easier for her to do what she does next.

They soon arrived at Shou'an Hall, where Old Madam Zhao was waiting in the front hall, already quite anxious.

"Mother-in-law!"

Cheng Nanzhi composed herself and hurried over, choking back tears, "Mother-in-law, you must stand up for me! I just wanted to apologize to my husband and start a new marriage, but he did it behind my back... Has he forgotten his vow that he would only have me?! Even if he wanted to take a concubine, he could have told me and discussed it with me. How could he touch a maid I just entered the household at this time!"

These words immediately silenced Madam Zhao, who was about to speak.

Cheng Nanzhi covered her face and wept. Then, Zhang Mama brought Jingzhu in and made her kneel on the ground. Old Madam Zhao immediately pretended to scold Jingzhu, in order to comfort Cheng Nanzhi and tell her not to cry.

Cheng Nanzhi didn't stop. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief soaked in ginger juice, and tears streamed down her face. Old Madam Zhao racked her brains to say nice things to her.

Cheng Nanzhi only stopped when Zhao Ye arrived.

Madam Zhao immediately scolded, "You unfilial son, kneel down before me! How could you be so disrespectful to Nanzhi? This maid has only been in the manor for a short time!"

Even though Old Madam Zhao intended for Jingzhu to become Zhao Ye's concubine, she didn't expect it to work out this way, and she didn't expect it to cause such a commotion that Cheng Nanzhi would find out!

Therefore, Madam Zhao was truly angry at this moment.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Zhao Ye refused to kneel and argued, "Mother, I drank too much last night and woke up like this. It was not my fault; it was an accident."

Jingzhu looked up and pleaded, "Madam, please allow me to stay and serve the master. I am already his person!"

Old Madam Zhao frowned as she looked at her, feeling very hesitant.

She hadn't even figured out Jingzhu's background yet. If she let her succeed like this, what if there were future troubles? But if she didn't agree, so many people already knew about Jingzhu's affair, and she couldn't just stay by Zhao Ye's side as a maid anymore. She would either be kicked out of the manor or beaten to death, and either way, it would be a loss.

After all, she hasn't married Ye Ruyue off yet.

“Mother-in-law, whatever you say, I’ll do as you say. I believe you won’t let me suffer, right?” Cheng Nanzhi said.

Madam Zhao was even more troubled and looked at Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye immediately said, "Mother, I had already made up my mind before I came here..."

Zhao Ye didn't think it was a good thing to keep Jingzhu at this time; he couldn't afford to become even more estranged from Cheng Nanzhi!

However, before he could persuade Old Madam Zhao to kill him, a startled and angry female voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"You are not allowed to take her as a concubine!"

Ye Ruyue rushed in and slapped Jingzhu across the face, angrily saying, "Who do you think you are, daring to climb into the master's bed? You lowly servant!"

Jingzhu fell to the ground, crying out in pain, and was unable to get up for a long time.

The people inside the house were also astonished.

"Ye Ruyue, what are you doing?!" Old Madam Zhao reacted and her anger flared up instantly.

As everyone knows, Jingzhu was someone she referred to, so on the surface, she is her person.

Before she could even say anything, Ye Ruyue started hitting her. How was that any different from slapping her in the face?!

Besides, didn't Ye Ruyue say she was giving up on Zhao Ye? So what's she doing here? Was everything she said and did before just a lie?!

Cheng Nanzhi, standing to the side, covered her face with a handkerchief, a slight smile playing on her lips.

It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive at the right moment.

"Madam, this lowly maid is clearly after the master and did this on purpose. How can she serve by his side? If you protect her, wouldn't that be telling the other maids in the mansion that it's okay to sleep with the master, and what if others follow suit?"

Ye Ruyue was furious.

When she overheard about this early in the morning, she thought she had misheard.

She and Zhao Ye had just had a fight, and the next day Zhao Ye went home and slept with a maid. How could that be?!

But after Dongqing inquired, she told her that it was absolutely true. Old Madam Zhao also knew about it and even specially ordered Zhang Mama to rush to Zhao Ye's courtyard to prevent Jingzhu from being beaten to death, and then brought her back to Shou'an Hall!

At that moment, Ye Ruyue felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

How could Zhao Ye treat her like this?!

He keeps saying she's the only woman he has, that he was forced into this situation and had no choice but to go back, and that once he went back, she was gone. How could he possibly touch other women?!

Ye Ruyue glared at Zhao Ye with red eyes, still retaining some rationality. Taking Cheng Nanzhi as an excuse, she said, "How can you do this to your sister-in-law? She has worked so hard for you for so many years, giving you her whole heart and soul, wanting to give you everything! You clearly swore an oath to her, but is this how you keep your promise?!"

However, every sentence she uttered referred to herself.

Zhao Ye understood as well, and a strong sense of guilt welled up in his heart. He said in a hoarse voice, "This was an accident. I didn't know it would happen."

"Then why did you keep her here to serve you while you were drinking? She deliberately seduced you, and you gave her the chance! Zhao Ye, do you live up to your promise? Do you live up to the people around you?!" Ye Ruyue burst into tears.

Zhao Ye couldn't hold back any longer. Without thinking, he wanted to wipe away Ye Ruyue's tears and pull her into his arms to comfort her. He was so heartbroken that he even forgot that Cheng Nanzhi was still there.

Fortunately, Madam Zhao reacted quickly and slammed her hand on the table.

"enough!"

"I know you feel sorry for your sister-in-law Nanzhi and want to seek justice, but this is not something a young lady like you should concern yourself with. You've gone too far!"

Zhao Ye instantly regained his senses and stopped abruptly.

Ye Ruyue bit her lip and agreed.

Having enjoyed the commotion, Cheng Nanzhi feigned gratitude and said, "Cousin, I never expected you to be so considerate of your sister-in-law. I misunderstood you in the past because of my petty mind. Don't worry, if you treat me well, I will certainly treat you well in return. Aren't you planning to get married? I will definitely find you a good family."

One sentence was enough to make all three of them turn pale.

Zhao Ye was particularly displeased, and he also remembered that he had been drinking last night because of his argument with Ye Ruyue, so his expression towards Ye Ruyue immediately turned cold.

Ye Ruyue cursed inwardly, "Who's thinking of you? What a big mouth!"

However, alarm bells rang loudly in Madam Zhao's heart.

Could Ye Ruyue really be lying to her, and not want to leave the manor at all?! Otherwise, why would she rush over here? Doesn't she know she needs to avoid suspicion in this matter?!

Madam Zhao's face darkened, and she immediately made a decision.

"Ye'er was confused about this matter, but Jingzhu is also an innocent girl, and we cannot let her down. So, Ye'er, why don't you make her your concubine?"