System: [Just tell me, isn't this explosive!]
Shen Mingzhu: [Explosive indeed! If the Old Madam finds out, she'll probably die of anger!]
Watching the dignified and graceful Old Madam above, Shen Mu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled silently.
Who would have thought her mother-in-law had such a hobby.
She should buy a few sticks of stinky tofu to offer her another day!
So she wouldn't have to sneak eat it in the middle of the night!
Seeing Shen Mu's expression, Wang Shi understood everything!
Then she glanced at her grandchildren below.
She felt as if the sky had fallen!
Pointing at Shen Mingzhu, she stammered,
"You, you, you…"
Then she felt like she was seeing her own grandmother!
Knowing she couldn't reveal Shen Mingzhu's strangeness, she could only point at her and tell her to leave!
"Go, go! All of you, leave!"
She didn't want to see this granddaughter who had been brought back!
She was simply a calamity!
Her lifelong carefully maintained image was ruined just like that!
Shen Mu quickly took Shen Mingzhu and scurried away in disgrace.
Oh my heavens!
This time, mother-in-law will be furious!
She probably won't want to see us mother and daughter for a long time!
Just after the mother and daughter returned to their courtyard, the heir apparent of the Marquis Estate, Shen Qinghong, stormed in angrily.
"Shen Mingzhu, what have you done now?"
Shen Mingzhu looked at the furious Shen Qinghong with confusion.
"Eldest Brother, what are you talking about?"
"If you did nothing, why did Grandmother get so angry she fell ill?"
"Ah? I didn't do anything! I just went to Shoukang Courtyard with Mother. If you don't believe me, ask her."
Shen Mu looked at her eldest son and nodded earnestly.
"Qinghong, you and Mingzhu are biological siblings. You should protect Mingzhu, not wrong her without understanding the situation. Apologize to your sister right now!"
Shen Qinghong's face turned crimson with anger, clearly unwilling to comply.
"Mother, you're spoiling Mingzhu too much. You should pay more attention to Jiaojiao—she's your daughter too!"
Hearing her son's words, Shen Mu was very displeased.
"Stubborn mule who sides with outsiders!"
[Gua Gua, so this is my unlucky eldest brother!]
[Host, that's right!]
Shen Mingzhu looked at the young man before her and clicked her tongue inwardly.
[He probably doesn't know yet, right? That his fiancée is already pregnant with someone else's child. Wow, wow, wow, what a cuckold!]
Shen Qinghong's face changed dramatically.
He abruptly looked up at Shen Mingzhu—she was truly malicious!
Just because he didn't apologize, she cursed him!
Ruoxue is the legitimate granddaughter of the Minister of Rites' family—cultured, disciplined, gentle, and virtuous. Their relationship has been proper and restrained, so how could she possibly be pregnant!
Xue'er comes from a strictly disciplined family and would never act improperly!
Shen Mu, meanwhile, lowered her head in contemplation.
Regardless of whether it was true or false, she would definitely investigate.
Logically, her eldest son's marriage should have been arranged long ago, but the Su family always said there was no hurry. This endless delay was suspicious.
It seemed there was something fishy going on!
"Shen Mingzhu, I don't care what you're thinking, but I am your eldest brother, and Ruoxue is your future sister-in-law. You should show some respect."
[Respect? Where have I been disrespectful? What a lunatic! No wonder he got cuckolded—so brainless. I'm starting to wonder how he even passed the imperial exams!]
"Shen Mingzhu!"
Shen Qinghong was about to die from anger!
The worst part was he couldn't explain why.
He finally understood how Grandmother must have felt.
Shen Qinghong, "I'll be back!"
"Eldest Brother, take care."
"Hmph!"
Shen Qinghong stormed off in a huff.
Shen Mingzhu curled her lip.
【By the way, Gua Gua, whose child is Miss Su's?】
This piece of gossip isn't finished yet!
Shen Mu was about to leave to investigate the Su family's young lady, but upon hearing this, she immediately sat back down.
Little did she know, Shen Changyuan outside the door had also stopped to listen.
He had actually arrived a while ago, but since his son and daughter were arguing, he might have been asked to "settle the dispute" if he went in, so he waited outside for a moment. Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon a juicy piece of gossip.
【Host, it's a long story.】
Shen Mingzhu rolled her eyes dramatically and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the table, popping it into her mouth.
【Then make it short!】
System, 【Alright.】
【It all started on a dark and windy night. Miss Su was returning from worshipping Buddha outside the city when her carriage broke down. As if that wasn't enough, it began to drizzle. On her way home, Miss Su encountered beggars attempting to rob her. Suddenly, a scholarly man in a blue robe descended from the sky, drove away the beggars, and saved her from being robbed. When she looked up, she saw a man as elegant as an orchid and as graceful as a jade tree—an extremely refined scholar.】
Shen Mingzhu listened intently.
【What happened next?】
【Don't tell me Miss Su fell in love with him?】
The system sighed softly.
【Host, let me finish.】
【Later, to express her gratitude, Miss Su offered the scholar some silver as a reward, but he politely declined! Su Ruoxue felt that the scholar was noble-minded for doing good without expecting anything in return!】
【Through introductions and conversations, she learned that the scholar's surname was Qian, a candidate from a poor family who had come to the capital for the imperial examinations. Despite his humble background, he was diligent and aspired to serve the court after achieving success.】
【They met again at a banquet hosted by the Su Mansion. Scholar Qian was one of the candidates sponsored by her grandfather, Minister Su. Over time, the two fell in love!】
【Then, as you know, three years passed, and Scholar Qian had yet to achieve any success in the exams. Yet, Su Ruoxue remained devoted, waiting for him to pass the exams and marry her.】
【You know how it ended—they secretly tasted the forbidden fruit and now have a little one on the way.】
Shen Mingzhu: …
What a dramatic tale of a talented scholar and a beautiful lady.
【Then what about Shen Qinghong, who is engaged to Su Ruoxue?】
System, 【He's just unlucky!】
Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment and laughed.
【Gua Gua, you're truly something!】
Shen Mu: …How can you still laugh!
She was so furious she wanted to grab her red-tasseled spear and confront the two of them!
How dare they bully others like this!
If she already had someone she loved, why didn't she come to break off the engagement!
Qinghong was still eagerly waiting to marry her!
Shen Changyuan: …The Su family is something else!
Tomorrow, he would submit an imperial report against Minister of Personnel Su Qingshan!
Secretly carrying on an affair, failing to discipline their children!
Hmph!
Fuming, Shen Changyuan went straight to his study to draft the imperial report. He would make sure to expose them thoroughly!
…………
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky, but Shen Mingzhu still hadn't gotten up.
In the Jinluandian, Minister of Revenue Shen Changyuan suddenly launched an attack against Minister of Rites Su Qingshan, accusing him of failing to discipline his family, allowing the women in his household to behave improperly, and neglecting domestic morals…
Soon, his former classmate, Royal Censor Wang from the Censorate, stepped forward to support him.
"Your Majesty, many people in Shengjing City have witnessed Minister Su's granddaughter, Su Ruoxue, boating on the lake, flying kites during spring outings, and dining intimately with the scholar he sponsors. Their behavior was as close as an engaged couple. Although Great Yan has an open-minded culture, unmarried women should still be mindful of their words and actions…"
Royal Censor Wang rambled on at length, but in short, his message was that Su Ruoxue had an affair with a scholar, and many people in the Capital had witnessed it!
Isn't Su Ruoxue Shen Changyuan's fiancée?
No wonder Shen Shangshu is so anxious!
So his son has been cuckolded!
The colleagues cast a few sympathetic glances at Shen Changyuan, then waited for His Majesty's reprimand.
"Minister Su, what do you say?"
Su Qingshan immediately stepped forward and knelt down,
"Your Majesty, this old subject is wronged!"