The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Zhou's eyes widened instantly. What had she just heard? Xue Qingwan actually said that Gu Huaizhou was no good.

Such absurd remarks are truly eye-opening.

Without thinking, she slapped Xue Qingwan across the face.

"Can't you use your brain before you lie? The evidence is right here, and you still dare to talk nonsense. It's infuriating!"

Zhou pointed at Song Wenjun, who had just given birth to a son.

How dare Xue Qingwan?

"Madam..." Xue Qingwan covered her face with her hands, crying, "If you don't believe me, you can call a doctor to take the Marquis's pulse. I don't accept being beaten without even knowing the facts."

She didn't say anything wrong, she just told the truth, so why should she be beaten?

Madam Zhou's face turned ashen with anger. She pointed at Xue Qingwan and scolded, "So you think you can cheat like that? As a concubine, you should follow the rules of a concubine. If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll really think you're above the law."

"Madam?" Xue Qingwan looked flustered; Madam Zhou was actually going to reprimand her.

She knew those torture methods, and Xue Qingwan hurriedly begged for mercy, but it was too late.

Zhou called in two old women and ordered, "Drag her out and slap her."

"No, no!" Xue Qingwan trembled with fear and hurriedly pleaded with Song Wenjun for help: "Young Madam, please save me, please save me!"

Song Wenjun remained expressionless, showing no intention of pleading for her.

Xue Qingwan was indeed wrong in this matter.

It's time to teach her a lesson she needs to learn from.

Xue Qingwan was dragged out by the old woman, and soon the sound of slapping and Xue Qingwan's cries could be heard outside.

After dozens of slaps, her face was red and swollen, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Still furious, Zhou punished her by sending her back to her own courtyard to reflect on her actions for three days.

After dealing with Xue Qingwan, Madam Zhou sighed deeply and said to Song Wenjun with some difficulty, "Huaizhou's matter cannot be delayed. It would be best to find a doctor to take a look."

“Mother, we should also consult the Marquis on this matter. You know his temper.”

That's why Song Wenjun didn't take on such a thankless task and passed the ball back to Zhou Shi.

If she wants to see a doctor, she can go find one herself.

Don't drag her into this.

Zhou paused for a moment, realizing that Song Wenjun was right.

If someone were to rashly bring in a doctor to take Gu Huaizhou's pulse, he would probably be so angry that he would flip the table.

But if we don't look for him and let him do as he pleases, what if...

Madam Zhou dared not think any further; the household still depended on Gu Huaizhou to have more children.

Just then, a servant announced from outside the door: "Madam, the old Marquis has arrived."

Normally, unless there's something important, the old Marquis never sets foot in Zhou's house. What evil wind blew this old thing over today?

Zhou's eyes were full of disdain, but she pretended to be happy and hurriedly got up to go out and greet her.

Song Wenjun followed behind her to greet the old Marquis.

Before long, the old Marquis was seen being helped in by his servants.

Although he is over sixty years old, he takes good care of himself and has a rosy complexion, showing no signs of aging.

On the contrary, the old Marquis was in better mental condition than most young people.

"Why did you come at this time, my husband?" Zhou said ingratiatingly.

The old marquis gave her a cold look, showing her no respect whatsoever: "What, do I need to report to you where I come from?"

Zhou was speechless, and gave an awkward laugh: "My husband is the head of the family, so of course you can go wherever you want."

The old marquis took his seat, his face still grumpy.

He looked at Song Wenjun and asked, "How's the matter I told you about a few days ago going?"

He was asking about marrying Jiang Miaoyin off.

Song Wenjun had already come up with a solution, so she replied, "Father, after much thought, I feel it's quite difficult to find a suitable young man in the capital who is from a good family and is a good match for my sister-in-law. However, I have a friend whose maternal cousin is from Qingzhou. He is a handsome and wealthy grain merchant in the area. His wife died a few years ago, and he has a three-year-old son. I just don't know if this would be a good fit?"

It was extremely difficult for a widow like Jiang Miaoyin to find a suitable match in the capital.

But if you leave the capital and go to other places, it's a different story.

Jiang Miaoyin's family were imperial censors, and she was the legitimate daughter of an imperial censor; such a status made her highly sought after.

The old Marquis didn't care about the man's family background; he just wanted to get rid of Jiang Miaoyin, this troublesome woman.

He nodded and said, "Having a child isn't a problem. Once she marries into the family, she'll be the mistress of the house and won't have to worry about food or clothing. She'll also have someone to rely on for the rest of her life. That puts my mind at ease."

Hearing their conversation, Madam Zhou looked shocked: "Husband, you're going to marry Miaoyin off? How come I didn't know about this?"

"What I do is none of your business to tell me what to do!" The old Marquis snorted heavily. "She is a young woman in the prime of her life. She has been waiting for three years. Do you really expect her to wait for the rest of her life? I can't afford to lose face like that. I'll find her a good family to marry into. I, the Marquis, have treated her well enough."

The Marquis's family had said that if Jiang Miaoyin got married in the future, the Marquis's family would provide her dowry.

Zhou was alarmed as she listened. How could that be?

No matter what, Jiang Miaoyin is Gu Jinyan's biological mother. How could Gu Huaizhou agree to marry her off?

Knowing his personality, what if he does something shameful like stealing someone else? Would she even want to live?

"My husband, please calm down. I just feel that this matter is a bit sudden. She has a hard life. If she marries rashly and does not live well in the future, I, as her mother-in-law, will feel guilty."

Song Wenjun looked slightly embarrassed and said softly, "Mother, I dare not be careless about my sister-in-law's matter. I also carefully selected that man."

After saying that, she lowered her head, looking submissive.

Before Zhou could speak, she heard a thunderous voice: "Could Wenjun have chosen the wrong person? Do you think everyone is as narrow-minded and jealous as you?"

“Master?” Madam Zhou’s eyes reddened and tears fell. “Even if I haven’t done anything meritorious over the years, I have still worked hard. How can you treat me like this?”

Despite Zhou's arrogant demeanor in front of others, she was nothing more than a sick cat in front of the old Marquis.

The old marquis snorted heavily, his eyes filled with disgust: "I don't want to mention your dirty deeds anymore. You still have the nerve to say you have merit in front of me? Have some shame."

Song Wenjun was shocked. She knew that the old Marquis disliked Zhou Shi, but she did not expect that they would be so irreconcilable.

At the same time, she was also curious about what Zhou had done to make the old Marquis so disgusted with her.

It seems her mother-in-law has quite a story.

The old Marquis made the final decision, saying to Song Wenjun, "I entrust this matter to you. If it's convenient, have the other party come to the manor so that we can finalize the marriage."

“Yes, Father,” Song Wenjun replied respectfully.

Zhou looked panicked, but she couldn't tell the old Marquis the truth, so she could only stare at him anxiously.