When the Marshal returned home, he still felt an uncontainable anger. Already at the palace during the Longevity Festival congratulations, he had been rebuked by Mr. Li on the subject of heirlessness; now it happened again, a real sore spot for the Marshal. The direct bloodline of the Fang Family was already thin, with four generations maintaining only a single lineage. His father had died young, and he assumed the family burden in his adolescence.

He needed to defend the Fang Family from the elders’ covetousness regarding direct military authority and ancestral property, while simultaneously taking over the Jiangnan stationed troops as a young man, bearing a weight far beyond his years. After his mother’s passing, he still had to raise his young sister and find her a husband. When it was time to choose a wife, did he not know he needed to choose a lady who could command respect in the hall and appease the clan? However, years back, the royal family was resolute in wanting him to marry the Grand Princess. He had known the Grand Princess for many years and understood her temperament—pampered, domineering—and her deep emotions toward the late emperor and former Crown Prince, fiercely protective. Being from a military marquis’ home without elders to mediate, there would surely be friction with the clan elders.

Thus, when he was fourteen or fifteen years old and learned of the royal family’s plans, he never intended to marry the Grand Princess. Most importantly, the Grand Princess was intolerant of petty grievances. He, though not overly passionate, was a very traditional man, bearing the Fang Family’s responsibility of passing on the family line. He wanted to see the Fang Family flourish and did not wish for his legitimate son to be left as isolated and solitary as he was, without support.

He deeply understood the difficulties of being a legitimate heir, having collapsed countless times under pressure during his maturation. Once married to the Grand Princess, taking concubines would certainly not be allowed, and she had previously injured her body in a lake incident as a child. Though able to bear children, having them continuously would be impossible, so taking concubines was inevitable.

The Marshal, having lost his mother and without anyone to help, had no one to aid him in scouting women. The ladies in the clan harbored their own agendas, choosing brides not for the Fang Family’s benefit but for their own interests, selecting only girls from their own relatives. The Marshal found himself in distress; he needed to quickly select a wife to manage the household matters, assist with family affairs, and her disposition could not be too assertive—easy to manipulate, sensible and obedient, without causing unrest due to concubines.

As a man trained rigorously by his father from youth, he had little contact with women, knowing only friends’ sisters. Marquis Zhenbei had only sons, and among the eligible ladies, he found none suitable.

He needed the Li Family’s grain transportation to stabilize the Ningzhou battle situation for Marquis Zhenbei, unable to let Liangma Road become a tool for clans to manipulate the Ningzhou battlefield. The Marquis had already married the legitimate daughter of the Lin Family. Without a royal alliance, he had to pick the most favored daughter of the Li Family, which was also a marriage alliance. Back then, the Li Family head personally approached him, hoping for a union with the Fang Family. The Marshal, long vexed by matrimony, wished to conclude it swiftly and return to Jiangnan to arrange supplies for Ningzhou. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Thus, he agreed to marry into the Li Family and approached Miss Li, hoping for a harmonious future. He knew Miss Li was sensitive and introverted, raised like a flower, panicking and tearing at adversity; unfit to be the Fang Family matriarch. But he had no choice; at the time, he planned to marry her and then select a strong-willed concubine to assist her.

The Marshal, being a man, couldn’t understand women’s subtle, sensitive thoughts, nor did he focus on domestic affairs and romantic entanglements. With the elder brothers of Marquis Zhenbei successively deceased and Beiman forces threatening the Ningzhou Defense Line, he ventured into Sannan to contend with King of Sannan, deploying half of Jiangnan’s forces to Ningzhou. In such circumstances, no one paid heed to romances, and the Marshal only wished to marry quickly, sever the royal intentions, and return to Jiangnan guard. Yet, unexpected twists thwarted him, forced to marry the Grand Princess after negotiating, ruining her reputation, and left without choice.

The matter seemed settled, and the Marshal could only accept, intending to discuss matters post-marriage with the Princess. Unexpectedly, on the wedding day, Miss Li hung herself, turning the Li Family into a chaotic scene at his feast.

This was certainly his fault; he had felt guilty all these years for causing Miss Li’s death. Between the Li Family and the Princess, he couldn’t offend the Li Family due to wartime, lacking the leisure to care for grievances.

Over the years, he finally raised a capable legitimate heir meeting all his inheritance expectations, even though his son was emotionally distant, rebellious, yet still satisfying.

Unexpectedly, his son dared commit such an immoral, publicly shameful act.

Fueled by rage, the Marshal wished to turn back time to when Fang Chuning and Xie Jue met. He should have disregarded everything and taken his family to Jiangnan, regardless of royal or clan elder opinions, preventing his son’s acquaintance with Xie Jue, averting this disaster.

With a fiery and firm temperament, the Marshal had few friends, only a few men in Marquis Zhenbei Mansion who shared similar military marquis backgrounds, thus somewhat understanding each other.

His friendship with Marquis Zhenbei was unwavering; for Ningzhou’s battlefield, even marriage was negotiable, thus Xie Jue and Fang Chuning bonded well, and despite Chuning’s frequent absences, he found satisfaction in extending friendship between the mansions.

Reflecting now, he realized he had been a fool!

Mrs. Fang rarely saw him dejected; upon entering the house, he showed fatigue and sorrow. Although they were in marital discord, Mrs. Fang also felt heartbroken. Yet over the years, she understood her husband’s plight, knowing the reason behind marrying Miss Li. Out of understanding and affection from youth, she managed the household affairs and interceded in Beijing for him, nearly forgetting her carefree princess life, her temper and disposition entirely transformed.

Now that the children were grown, and Xiaoqi found his path, she wished not to entangle herself in this inappropriate marriage further, seeking more freedom in her remaining years. Seeing the Marshal in such distress, she couldn’t resist asking those accompanying him.

"Did the Emperor say anything when he summoned him to the palace?" Mrs. Fang assumed that talking with the Emperor had left the Marshal dispirited.

Most likely about his son and Xie Jue.

"The master was fine leaving the palace, merely serious. But sparring words upon encountering Minister Li en route infuriated him so?" The retinue dared not conceal.

Mrs. Fang frowned, "Did you hear what the argument was about?"

"This..."

"Speak!"

The retinue dared not hide, "I was distant and couldn’t hear clearly. Vaguely, Minister Li accused the young master of disgracing the family, while the Marshal defended him, in turn mocking the Minister’s sons as inept, leading Minister Li to curse about heirlessness."

Mrs. Fang seethed, "The Li Family are all vile and repulsive scoundrels! Prepare the carriage, I’m going to confront them!"

Just as Mrs. Fang intended to seek trouble with the Li Family, the housekeeper rushed to report, "Madam, Second Mistress has returned."

"Why has she come?"

Even as a legitimate sister, a return home post-marriage should first inform the elder sister-in-law, unannounced visits were improper. Mrs. Fang suppressed her temper; she initially wished to call the Marshal, not wanting to meddle in their affairs, but recalling his dejected appearance earlier, she held back.

Cursing someone heirless was truly the most venomous of curses, especially for a man like him who valued the continuity and hoped for the Fang Family’s century-long prosperity. Even though Xiaoqi could extend the Fang line, Xiaoqi’s children weren’t considered part of the Fang clan, as they carried Yuwen blood. Her husband’s distress was understandable.

"Forget it, don’t disturb him!"