“Little brother, younger sister—of course there are…”
From a physiognomy reading of Madam Meng’s children palace, she must have both sons and daughters.
It’s just that these children have nothing to do with the marquis’s household.
Wen Jiushu’s eyes carried mockery, the corners of her lips curling into a teasing smile.
This entire family… are all cannon fodder.
Every single one of them was a short-lived ghost.
Madam Meng was only in her early thirties when she was widowed.
People said she had it hard, a young widow, so lonely!
In reality, she had someone warming her bed every night—money, leisure, and a lover. That kind of fairy-like life was something most people couldn’t even dream of.
“You yourself are shameless, committing adultery with another man, and you still dare drag me down with you? Wen Jiushu, you’re utterly black-hearted and rotten! I’ve managed the marquis’s household for so many years—if not merit, then at least effort! How dare you slander me!”
Madam Meng trembled with rage, pointing at Wen Jiushu as she scolded sharply.
“I haven’t even dealt with you yet, and you dare bite back first! How outrageous! Men—bind her up! I will personally beat the evil seed out of her belly. Otherwise, even if we divorce her, she’ll just go out and spread nonsense while pregnant—damaging the marquis household’s reputation!”
“I already said it—if you want to divorce me, let the Marquis of Pingnan come himself.”
Wen Jiushu gave a cold laugh.
In this era, a divorce letter was an official document that had to pass through the authorities.
Do you even have the Marquis of Pingnan’s seal?
Trying to divorce a wife on behalf of your son—do you think that’s reliable?
Without the official seal, it’s meaningless. Who would willingly be tied to this unlucky marquis household?
“You know very well my son has gone south on official duty and is not at home. Saying he must personally come to divorce you is just stalling for time.”
The day after the wedding, the Marquis of Pingnan received an imperial decree and left the capital for official duties.
She and the marquis… had not even consummated the marriage.
And yet the original owner was already pregnant.
Wen Jiushu had inherited this huge mess, and what did she even say?
She just cursed the heavens a few times, that was all.
“Mother!”
A light, frivolous voice sounded. In a blur of motion, a figure in crimson robes appeared before Madam Meng.
“Yunhuai, you came at the right time! Before marrying into our family, Wen Jiushu was already pregnant. She even wants your eldest brother to take the blame. Our Shen family absolutely cannot keep her!”
Madam Meng immediately switched to a heartbroken expression.
Shen Yunhuai frowned and instinctively looked at Wen Jiushu’s lower abdomen.
“Elder sister-in-law, is what Mother said true? Are you really pregnant?”
“You still call her sister-in-law? She can’t even bring herself to reveal her adulterer!” Madam Meng’s eyes hid a flash of satisfaction.
Wen Jiushu glanced at the newcomer.
A peacock?
Shen Yunhuai?
The Marquis of Pingnan’s younger brother.
[Let me think… how does this little brother die again? Oh right, his head gets smashed open, his limbs chopped off, and he’s thrown into a latrine to be fed to maggots.]
Ugh. Smells bad already. I can smell it.
Shen Yunhuai: “……”
This… that sounds like Wen Jiushu’s voice?
Little brother—was she talking about him?
He is her brother-in-law, right?
“Third Master, you must uphold justice for Madam! Wen Jiushu disrespects her mother-in-law and even slapped me! She even wanted to hit Madam! Madam is her elder! A woman who abuses her mother-in-law deserves severe punishment—even sent to the authorities is justified!”
The steward Lin hurriedly spoke in Madam Meng’s defense.
Shen Yunhuai was the third son in the household.
He glanced at Steward Lin’s face—the palm print was still extremely clear.
His sister-in-law’s hand strength was quite impressive.
But… that voice just now—was that really his sister-in-law?
Would he die?
And die in such a disgusting way?
“Call me father!”
Shen Yunhuai: “You’re insolent!”
Do you still want to be my father?!
His mouth twitched as he looked at Wen Jiushu, gaze turning cold.
“Hm?” Wen Jiushu looked puzzled.
[What’s wrong with calling you father? Your stepmother’s lover—calling him father makes perfect sense.]
Shen Yunhuai: “……”
His expression darkened.
Veins throbbed at his temple.
Wen Jiushu remained calm. Shen Yunhuai gave Steward Lin a deep look, then took a slow breath.
“Elder sister-in-law, is what the steward said true? Did you try to hit Mother?”
Steward Lin felt a chill in his heart. That look just now… felt like a blade.
“Is it not allowed for the mistress of the house to discipline a servant?” Wen Jiushu asked lightly. “Besides, didn’t I just slap him?”
Only then did Shen Yunhuai notice Steward Lin’s face.
It really was swollen.
“Third Master, I wasn’t lying! Wen Jiushu is truly disloyal to the Marquis! A doctor can prove it—she is already three months pregnant!”
Shen Yunhuai’s eyes flickered.
His sister-in-law had only been married into the household for half a month at most.
Three months pregnant… didn’t that seem off?
More importantly, he was suddenly unsettled by another thought—
Had his stepmother’s kindness toward him all these years been… cultivation into uselessness?
Shen Yunhuai looked at Madam Meng with suspicion for the first time.
Madam Meng did not notice, still intent on driving Wen Jiushu out.
“Wen Jiushu has brought disgrace to our marquis household. Yunhuai, tell me—shouldn’t we divorce her?”
“Sh—should…” he said.
[If it weren’t for the fact this child has some karmic tie to the Shen family, who would want to stay in this house full of short-lived ghosts? If I’m not mistaken, the child’s father is inside this family.]
Shen Yunhuai: “……”
His elder brother had married her only half a month ago and left on duty the next day.
So whose child was it?
Short-lived ghosts… did that mean they would all die?
Shen Yunhuai stared at Wen Jiushu in shock, only to find her looking directly at him.
That cold gaze made his scalp tingle.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked stiffly.
“No reason,” Wen Jiushu said. “I just wanted to see what the strongest love-brain looks like.”