She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Thinking of the humiliation she had suffered, the second wife deliberately tried to upset the first wife.

“Yi’er is always punctual, always the first to arrive for greetings, even when she’s sick,” the Second Madam said worriedly. “Everyone is here today, but Yi’er hasn’t come yet. Could it be that Tan’er can’t accept what happened yesterday?”

This reminds everyone that Shen Qingtan and Zhao Jue are childhood sweethearts, and the two should be deeply in love.

Zhao Jue, considering the bigger picture, was willing to accept Shen Mingzhu.

Where is Shen Qingtan?

Would she be willing to marry Zhao Yi, who was frail and sickly and could not even leave her any children?

"Are we late?" Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi entered the main hall side by side. They immediately saw the Second Madam. She had triangular eyes, upturned eyebrows, and a somewhat mean expression when she was sullen. Her hair was piled high with jewels, and she was dressed very luxuriously.

The First Madam, standing to the side, was beautiful and had a heroic air about her. Even when she wasn't smiling, her dignified presence was evident as she sat there upright.

Shen Qingtan calmly withdrew her gaze, her tone full of remorse: "Second Aunt, I originally thought that since it was my first time serving tea to the elders after entering the family, I wanted to dress more formally, which is why I was late."

At this point, she glanced at Zhao Yi sideways and said in a soft, coquettish voice, "You lied to me and said you weren't feeling well, and that the elders felt sorry for you and always paid their respects at this time, telling me not to worry. Now look what's happened, we're late."

This young girl's complaint reveals her intimacy with Zhao Yi, not that she doesn't want to marry him.

All eyes turned to Shen Qingtan, who wore a gold and jade crown and a wide, bright red brocade dress, which made her look radiant, elegant, and dazzling.

The younger generation was all stunned, seemingly never expecting Shen Qingtan to be so beautiful.

When they first saw the beautiful Shen Mingzhu, they thought Shen Qingtan's beauty had been exaggerated.

Zhao Jue stared blankly at Shen Qingtan, who had never seen her dressed up in such finery before.

Every time we met, she was dignified and quiet, and never showed such coquettishness.

Especially the captivating glance she gave Zhao Yi was so alluring that he couldn't look away.

Noticing Zhao Jue's gaze, Shen Qingtan turned her head to look at him.

The two exchanged a glance, and she remained calm, offering a serene smile.

That smile was completely different from the shyness she showed when facing Zhao Yi.

Cool and indifferent, distant and polite.

It was as if they had never been childhood sweethearts, and she wasn't as indispensable to him as he imagined.

He felt very uncomfortable, even a little annoyed; she shouldn't have reacted this way.

Seeing Zhao Jue staring at Shen Qingtan, unable to come back to his senses, Shen Mingzhu clenched her handkerchief tightly in her sleeve.

Then he secretly glared at Shen Qingtan. That bitch had a foxy face and was clearly someone who couldn't stay at home.

"It's my fault." Zhao Yi's eyes held a faint smile as she indulgently said, "It's my fault."

Except for the second wife's family, everyone else smiled knowingly.

Seeing that the couple got along well, the old lady said with a kind smile, "You're not late, you've arrived just in time."

Seeing that Shen Qingtan had no complaints about changing the groom and was willing to live a good life with Zhao Yi, she felt a little pity for her.

Conversely, there was even more dissatisfaction with the second wife.

Especially since the second wife had just tried to stir up trouble.

The old lady smiled kindly: "I originally thought Yi'er was indifferent and didn't know how to handle people. Now that I see you two are getting along well, I feel at ease."

Shen Qingtan's cheeks flushed slightly: "Grandmother, Second Master treats me very well."

Upon hearing this, the old lady said "good" several times in a row.

Next, Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan served tea to the old lady.

The old lady placed a pair of jade bracelets she had prepared on Shen Qingtan's wrists.

Shen Qingtan thanked her and returned the embroidered headband to the old lady.

They then served tea to the master and his wife.

The First Madam was furious with the Chengen Marquis's mansion and the Second Branch of the family, but she didn't hold a grudge against Shen Qingtan. In truth, Shen Qingtan was also a pitiful person, but she couldn't help but harbor some resentment.

Having just seen Shen Qingtan express her stance and witnessed her son's defense of her, the last bit of resentment dissipated.

The First Madam would wholeheartedly love anything her son liked.

“My daughter-in-law is so beautiful, she looks like a blessed person. No wonder we are destined to be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.” The First Madam presented a set of kingfisher feather and ruby ​​headdress as a gift, and then took the embroidered shoes given by Shen Qingtan and praised, “The craftsmanship is so skillful, the embroidery looks so real.”

The old man seemed oblivious to the undercurrents. He had an exceptionally good temper and refined manners, and always had a smile on his face: "The soles are well-made, and they will definitely be very comfortable to wear."

Seeing that she hadn't caused any trouble for the eldest son's family, but instead had even made the old lady like Shen Qingtan even more, the second wife felt even more annoyed.

Especially those whom the First Madam praised as having good fortune.

A blessed woman does not enter the door of an unblessed one.

Doesn't that mean the second wife's family is unlucky?

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, please have some tea."

Shen Qingtan handed over the teacup with both hands.

The second wife wanted to say a few more sarcastic remarks, but when she caught a glimpse of the old lady's cold gaze, she held back her anger and took out a gold hairpin, placing it on the tray.

She was still angry, but put on a smiling face and said, "Yi'er, Tan'er, your aunt wishes you a long and happy life together and many children."

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned cold.

Everyone knows that Zhao Yi won't live long, and he's unlikely to have any children. The second wife is stabbing the first wife in the heart.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the First Madam to make her move.

"Thank you for your blessing, Second Aunt." Shen Qingtan was delighted and said with a smile, "I've heard that Hualing Temple is very efficacious. When close relatives light a wishing lotus lantern for newlyweds there and offer their sincerest blessings, the Bodhisattva will grant their wishes. Second Aunt, I'll be going to Hualing Temple in a few days. Could you please light a lotus lantern for my husband and me?"

The second wife's smile froze. Hualing Temple was indeed very efficacious, but lighting the lotus lanterns was extremely particular. One had to eat vegetarian meals at the temple for three days and attend morning and evening prayers with the master for two hours each day.

The entire household knew that she was going to Hualing Temple. If she didn't agree to Shen Qingtan's request, then she wouldn't be offering her sincere blessings.

The old lady will definitely not let her off the hook.

That little slut, she actually tricked her.

Everyone in the room was looking at her. The second wife reluctantly agreed, "It's no big deal. Your aunt will light two lotus lanterns for you."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Aunt." Shen Qingtan pretended not to know that the Second Madam had been humiliated, and said to Zhao Yi with a smile, "Husband, you must thank Second Aunt properly."

Zhao Yi looked at Shen Qingtan's bright eyes, which were filled with cunning, and smiled, saying, "Second Aunt is so thoughtful."

Seeing one person acting recklessly and the other indulging in it, the second wife was so angry that her heart ached and she could no longer maintain her fake smile.

The old Duke had two legitimate sons, two illegitimate sons, and one legitimate daughter.

The legitimate daughter was the late empress, who died in childbirth, resulting in the deaths of both mother and child.

After Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi served tea to their two other uncles, the third and fourth uncles, and their spouses, they distributed the other gifts to the younger generation.

After Zhao Jue and Shen Mingzhu finished serving tea, Shen Mingzhu seemed somewhat absent-minded. The gift the Second Madam gave her was not as valuable as the gift the First Madam gave to Shen Qingtan.

and……

She secretly observed Zhao Yi, who possessed a beautiful and refined appearance.

His gaze remained fixed on Shen Qingtan, showing her tenderness in every way, while a torrent of bitterness surged within him.

Originally... this gentle and considerate man should have been her husband, but she was the one who wanted to die young, which is why Shen Qingtan got the better deal.

I had expected to see a haggard Shen Qingtan, but instead I saw her rosy complexion and a contented look.

Shen Mingzhu was filled with jealousy, as if all the good things were happening to Shen Qingtan.

What exactly is the basis for this?

She saw Zhao Yi cough a few times, his fist pressed to his lips, finally releasing the pent-up acid in his throat.

There's nothing to envy. Shen Qingtan won't have many good days left; she'll be a widow in the future.

"Third sister-in-law, this is a gift I prepared for you when we first met." Shen Qingtan took out a piece of white jade carved with a love knot from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Mingzhu: "I liked it very much before I met you, so I'm giving it to you today."

The jade is of fine quality, pure white and flawless, and the carving technique is especially exquisite, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

Shen Mingzhu's expression changed instantly.