The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 348 - 345: Is She Interested in Him, or Just Trying to Take Advantage of Me?
The sky gradually darkened. Despite the bright sunshine, in the blink of an eye, a light rain began to fall.
Not heavy, but gentle.
It seemed endless, drizzling softly and wetting everything, while Shangjing was blanketed in a layer of mist, and the rooftops were washed bright and clear.
A slight commotion in the vast Shangjing would quickly be known everywhere. People traveled back and forth on the streets, all discussing the affairs of the Duke Zhou Mansion.
Yu Tingwan sat in a private room at the Drunken Pavilion, listening to the noise below.
"Did you hear? The Young Madam of the Duke Zhou Mansion was caught in the act of adultery."
"How could I not have heard? It has spread everywhere. She was caught in bed, and yet Chu Liulang shamelessly claimed it was his own sister who seduced him, and he just couldn’t resist."
"Seeing his lack of responsibility, the Young Madam Zhou might be disheartened or perhaps aware there was no way out, so she dragged Chu Liulang and the entire Chu Family down with her, confessing everything before officials could even interrogate."
"Initially, Duke Zhou wanted to cover it up. He angrily accused the Wei Mansion’s crow of spreading nonsense and questioned the young General’s wife, suspecting her of instigating."
"Pah! I heard he and his daughter-in-law..."
"That must be a rumor. Young Madam Zhou admitted to what she did but firmly denied what she didn’t. She even said she couldn’t stand Zhou Xuan, so why would she be interested in Zhou Xuan’s father? For his old age?"
"A group of officials just headed to the Imperial Palace. It seems there will be trouble."
"Duke Zhou probably thinks the young wife at the General’s mansion is naive and tries to bully her; what kind of person is he after all!"
"That crow belongs to the Wei Mansion. It listens and learns everything but never invents lies."
"Quite right," replied an elderly woman in agreement.
"Who didn’t know that previously, the Wang Family’s daughter-in-law in the alley sneaked around with a lover when her husband was away on business? Later, she collaborated with the lover to murder her husband, disposed of the body on the street at night, and falsely accused an innocent passerby. Back then, the Capital Mansion could only solve the case early with the help of the Duke Mansion’s bird."
Many people remembered after she mentioned it.
The crow had hopped on the corpse at the time, refusing to leave even when the constable chased it away. It memorized the words the Wang Family’s daughter-in-law and her lover said while dealing with the body, word for word.
"Yes, the former Assistant Minister of Guanglu Temple abused his widow sister-in-law and even imprisoned her. Everyone thought the woman had met with misfortune and disappeared."
"The bird at the General Wei Mansion, idly flying around all day, actually took the widow’s written plea for help to the Ministry of Justice with its beak the next year."
"The Ministry of Justice, having no doubts, sent people over, and shockingly, they rescued the widow from a deserted mountain on the outskirts, chained and locked, and found her heavily pregnant. What a pitiful sight."
Shen Zhiyi slowly waved the folded fan in her hand, finally able to relieve the frustration after the Chu Family annulled her engagement.
"That Chu Ning always acts stubbornly and ruthlessly, and yet who would have thought she would be so bold? Who knows what fate awaits her in the end?"
"These rumors spread so quickly; it must be the handiwork of the Wei Family Army and the Gu Family."
"Listening for so long, the common folk surprisingly didn’t spread tales about Chu Ning fooling around."
"After all, nothing truly happened between father-in-law and daughter-in-law."
Yu Tingwan said faintly, "She’s hateful indeed and has done things against the order of heaven, but ultimately, it’s the Duke Zhou Mansion that’s harmed. In a way, I should thank her. Her reputation ruined from exposure is her own doing and has nothing to do with you or me."
The real purpose has been achieved.
Enough to drag the Empress and Duke Zhou into an icy pit.
To keep them living in constant fear.
That is enough.
Besides, would the Gu Family let Duke Zhou go?
Shen Zhiyi found reason in her words.
"Zhou Yurou was always eager, flaunting herself before Chu Liulang, vying for such attention. She must regret it deeply. Her expression earlier was as foul as if she had eaten something vile; did you see?"
"Fortunately, the Chu Family dismissed me and annulled the engagement; otherwise, I would have been truly disgusted."
"I wonder if Zhou Yurou will break off the engagement with Chu Liulang later."
Yu Tingwan: "She will."
Her tone was confident.
"After this incident, the Chu Family and Duke Zhou Mansion will inevitably become hostile. Zhou Yurou initially married into the Chu Family just to climb up to the Duke Zhou Mansion."
Shen Zhiyi: "Then you’ll have trouble."
Yu Tingwan: ???
What has this got to do with her!
Shen Zhiyi: "Perhaps Zhou Yurou will turn her attention to Ning Yunling again."
"If she could have done so, she would have already. Do you think my aunt would take a liking to her?"
That’s true.
Yu Tingwan suddenly set down her teacup: "Since I have nothing else to do and I’m not in a hurry to return."
Shen Zhiyi: ...
You can’t go back, can you?
The carriage has a problem and hasn’t been repaired yet.
Might as well have a meal here, otherwise, you wouldn’t linger.
Yu Tingwan: "Let’s not talk about others, let’s talk about you."
Shen Zhiyi was taken aback: "Why talk about me?"
"I overheard from my mother-in-law that in a while, my aunt might start arranging matches for Yunling. To keep him from being so erratic. Though she’s afraid those well-mannered ladies might not be able to handle him. From what I know, my aunt is inclined to find a temperamental girl, and who in the entire Shangjing has a worse temper than you?"
Shen Zhiyi suddenly stood up.
"What?"
Yu Tingwan was surprised: "Why are you so excited?"
Shen Zhiyi yelled: "My temper is bad?"
Yu Tingwan: "It’s a fact."
"Then how about you! What about you!"
Yu Tingwan enunciated clearly: "Well-mannered, gentle, and dignified."
Oh, please!
Shen Zhiyi: "Besides, why would I be interested in Ning Yunling?"
Yu Tingwan was silent for a moment.
"Although..."
"But..."
"I’m his sister-in-law at least."
"In front of me, give him some face."
Yu Tingwan: "I see Yunling doesn’t intend to marry either, and thankfully, you don’t wish to, so my aunt won’t force anyone."
Speaking of marriage, Shen Zhiyi also had some worries.
She was no longer young and should have gotten married by now.
Yet, with a bad reputation and having been rejected once, many families that would be considered suitable are wary of marrying her, just shy of claiming she would disrupt their peace.
As for her, she has high standards.
She still wanted to choose well.
Shen Zhiyi suddenly straightened her posture.
"I’m actually quite envious of Ning Yunling and you for being family, calling you sister-in-law."
Yu Tingwan: ??
"Do you think it’s possible..."
Shen Zhiyi: "That I put in some effort to try to be your aunt?"
Yu Tingwan: ...
She genuinely thought for a moment.
"Ah?"
She was incredulous: "You want to be Ning Yunling’s mother?"
Quite ambitious.
"I was talking about He Xuran!"
Soon, Shen Zhiyi frowned: "But I’m quite afraid though, he looks like the Cold-faced Yama. What if he’s just as hard to deal with and I get involved only to end up in jail?"
Yu Tingwan: ...
Although she wasn’t looking to claim He Xuran.
But...
"I don’t understand."
Yu Tingwan leaned back: "Are you interested in him, or are you trying to take advantage of me?"
Shen Zhiyi: ...
"I really can’t find anyone else."
"In Shangjing, the people I’m familiar with who are of high status, good-looking, capable, and still unmarried can be counted on one hand."
"The best two, one married you, and the other one is He Xuran."
Yu Tingwan lowered her gaze: "Then you overlooked one."
"Who?"
Yu Tingwan smiled but said nothing, bending down to wipe the dirt off the edge of her skirt with a handkerchief.
This still came from the rooftop of the Duke Zhou Mansion.
Standing on the rooftop at that time, she saw everything clearly.
For instance, Shen Zhiyi and Ning Yunling squeezed by the window watching, while Xiao Huaian unobtrusively pushed Ning Yunling aside so that Shen Zhiyi got a good spot.
And Xiao Huaian, lounging there, seemingly watching the chaos inside, but his gaze kept drifting towards Shen Zhiyi.
Tsk.
Remarkable.
Little secret intentions hidden quite deeply.
