This side, Cui Xuan t her sister-in-law Mrs. Xuan E and Xuan Chen’s legitimate sister Xuan Ai.
When she approached, the atmosphere inside the room was very stagnant. Xuan Ai was crying, her face covered, while Mrs. Xuan E hugged her.
"What happened?"
Cui Xuan couldn’t help recalling how Xuan Chen had recently hesitated to speak.
Xuan Ai quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stepped forward to greet them: "Aunt, sister-in-law."
She forced a smile.
"It’s nothing, just missing mother too much and couldn’t help but make you laugh at ."
Mrs. Xuan E pulled Cui Xuan to sit down and asked a servant to serve tea.
She said displeasingly, "Why do you still cover up for your husband? How did I raise such a bottled-up girl like you!"
"She is your legitimate aunt! What can’t you tell her."
Seeing this, a pang hit Cui Xuan’s heart.
Without waiting for her to ask, Mrs. Xuan E sighed deeply. Frustrated yet also filled with pity, she said.
"Your husband has kept a concubine."
Qiao Si could not believe it.
Xuan Ai had always been obedient. She had been married off six years ago since the Xuan Family had taken a liking to the honesty and integrity of Chong Bingwen. Thus, they did not hesitate to marry their daughter off to him.
Mrs. Xuan E said gritting her teeth word by word: "Now his concubine is seven months pregnant."
She poked Xuan Ai’s head.
"This matter is known to all in the Chong Family, fooling only you, silly girl! You even kept it hidden after finding out! If Brother Chen hadn’t happened to see it with his own eyes, I, as a mother, might not have known even after the child was born!"
Xuan Ai hung her head in embarrassnt, helplessly saying, "Mama, what can I do? I’ve had no movents in my belly, and my mother-in-law has blad for many years."
"By the ti I found out about this, that concubine was already five months pregnant, I couldn’t just ask for it to be aborted. If the dicine is mishandled, it could lead to both lives being lost."
"So, you just endured it yourself?"
"Look around in Shengjing, which reputable family would allow a concubine or mistress to get pregnant when the wife hasn’t borne children? And this is just a lowly concubine who can’t be openly acknowledged!"
"Child, don’t forget, you are married off!"
"So they in the Chong Family do these dishonorable deeds, and you fool born for them to cover it up?"
It’s no wonder she feels this way, she is utterly infuriated, trembling all over.
The smile in Cui Xuan’s eyes also gradually faded.
She consoled her sister-in-law with a few words before turning to Xuan Ai.
"Although bearing children is a wife’s duty, you are still young. There are many who have not conceived children five to six years after marriage. Keeping your body in good condition, you should be able to have children."
"If not for our Xuan Family’s support, could Chong Bingwen have secured a position as a compiler in Hanlin Academy? The glory was given by the Xuan Family, doesn’t he dare to complain?"
Cui Xuan was also furious with nowhere to vent.
She is gentle but not to the extent that when soone hits her face, she won’t feel the pain.
"Do you know why he dares not bring that woman to Zhong Mansion?"
Xuan Ai held back the sourness in her eyes.
Seeing her like this, how could Cui Xuan feel better.
"He dares not."
"Child, your status is strong. Your parents and siblings are still here."
"He rely preys on your good nature. Can the Xuan Family really suffer the silent losses from the Chong Family? You pity others, but who will pity you?"
Xuan Ai sobbed aloud.
Mrs. Xuan E slapped the table heavily: "Initially, I didn’t agree to her marriage, but your brother insisted that Chong Bingwen was good. Everything about him was good! Look how well our daughter was ruined by them. How dare they?"
Qiao Si also spoke softly: "Sister-in-law, after the child is born, would you agree for them to return to Chong Family?"
"If raised outside, it would inevitably lead to malicious instigation by so, claiming you are too jealous to accommodate others. But if raised under your watch, how could it not be irritating?"
Xuan Ai said quietly, "He promised , said he would not let them cross the threshold, just wanted to keep the child and the concubine safe, asked not to tell my family, that in the future he would neither visit the concubine nor let them disgust my sight."
Mrs. Cui E rolled her eyes in frustration, "My ancestors, you believe that too?"
"The Chong Family, knowing that you’re aware, yet does nothing. They’re set on letting the concubine give birth to a child. If it’s a boy, he will be the Chong Family’s illegitimate eldest son. How can you be sure that the Chong Family won’t beco more instense? Next, they’ll ask for your rcy and understanding again? Once soone enters, where is your dignity? How will you assert authority before the servants?"
She continued to say sothing, but Xuan Ai’s head dropped even lower.
Deep love invokes deep reprimand.
This matter is known only by the few present. Family scandals are not to be aired in public, so naturally, we have to cover this up first.
Once Xuan Chen’s wedding is over and the guests have dispersed, we’ll close the doors and settle this matter once and for all.
Cui Xuan stopped Mrs. Cui E.
"Enough, don’t talk about Ai anymore."
While speaking, she also said, "Tomorrow is Chen’s wedding, and since the mansion will also be lively, there’s no rush to go back. Stay with your auntie here at your mother’s ho for a few more days. How about that?"
Her words, of course, were heard by Xuan Ai.
"Yes."
"Alright, you don’t need to worry about things here, go out and take a walk."
Xuan Ai lowered her head and went out. As she crossed the threshold, she faintly heard Mrs. Xuan E’s deep sighs.
— You say I’ve always been strong, how did I end up having such a soft-hearted child. The whole house thought they could protect her, but ended up pushing her into the fire pit themselves.
After she left, Mrs. Xuan E spoke, her voice breaking.
— Every ti I see her cry, it feels as if my heart is being cut by knives.
Xuan Ai, clutching her handkerchief, left the courtyard.
She walked aimlessly, following the winding corridors forward.
Then she heard noises not far away.
"Little ghost, I told you not to follow !"
The unfamiliar voice made her recoil and just as she was about to change direction, she heard a childish yet assertive voice.
"I need to keep an eye on you!"
"Sister Shen, this is my maternal grandfather’s house, you can’t ss around. Don’t go towards the rockery, do you not learn your lesson from last ti when you got stuck and couldn’t get out?"
She, cheeky and larger than life: "My uncle specifically entrusted , naturally, I cannot fail his trust, and indeed you are not worry-free."
She even felt proud.
She even felt she towered over Shen Hua by a head.
Wherever Shen Hua went, the little follower was sure to go.
Shen Hua finally scoffed coldly.
Seeing the situation go sour, Cui Rong hurriedly scrambled away.
"If you have the guts, don’t run!"
"If you have the guts, co catch ."
Shen Hua, frustrated, ran a few steps but lagged far behind Cui Rong, as she was physically weak. She couldn’t catch up with Cui Rong.
But sotis clearly, it was possible to outsmart her.
Shen Hua turned her head, staring straight at Yingwu.
"Bring her back to ."
"Yes."
Yingwu flashed into action.
Cui Rong: "Ouch!"
She was brought before Shen Hua.
Shen Hua looked at her very gently, very tenderly.
"Little ghost~"
Cui Rong shuddered.
"Sister Shen, you will have children too, soday."
She threatened fiercely, "If you bully , I swear I’ll repay it a thousandfold, a millionfold on your children!"
Shen Hua was utterly unconcerned.
"I won’t have any."
"What if you do!"
Shen Hua showed not a hint of motherly affection.
"Oh, I truly look forward to that."
Cui Rong: ???
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