Chapter 132: The Mistress Named Chuniang
Teahouse.
Yun Chu and Luo Shi sat facing each other.
"That hairpin on your head is truly beautiful, Madam Xie."
Luo Shi held her teacup and caught sight of the new hairpin on Yun Chu's head, offering a sincere compliment.
Yun Chu smiled faintly. "Surely the Marchioness didn't invite me here just for tea?"
Luo Shi gazed at her and said, "When I was still in the inner chambers, I often heard many people mention the eldest daughter of the Yun family—the number one beauty in the capital, with suitors nearly breaking down the doorstep. I always thought the eldest daughter of the Yun family was like a cloud in the sky, far beyond my reach. No matter how beautiful you were, it had nothing to do with me. But now I realize... I was wrong..."
Yun Chu took a sip of tea.
She had been having people keep an eye on Marquis Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng. Of course, she knew that under the deliberate guidance of a servant, Luo Shi had taken her people to the small courtyard where Marquis Xuanwu kept his mistress outside, catching him red-handed.
Now, the two mistresses in the courtyard were under the control of the Luo family.
She hadn't instructed the servant to conceal his identity, so it was no surprise that Luo Shi had traced it back to her.
But why were Luo Shi's words so strange? Shouldn't she be questioning why Yun Chu had orchestrated all this?
"Did you know, Madam Xie, that my husband, Marquis Xuanwu, has been keeping mistresses outside—two of them?" Luo Shi laughed, but her laughter was filled with endless pain. "Everyone in the capital says I married a good husband. For so many years, there hasn't even been a single concubine in the marquis' household. I, too, always believed my husband and I shared a deep bond. It wasn't until I saw those two mistresses that I realized my husband has always had someone in his heart."
Luo Shi stared at Yun Chu. "Those two mistresses look so much like you, Madam Xie. Especially the pregnant one—from the side, I almost mistook her for you."
Yun Chu's fingers suddenly stilled.
It was as if a venomous snake had slithered up from her feet, hissing in her ear, sending chills down her spine.
"I also found out that there is a secret room in the marquis' residence, filled with portraits—all of you, Madam Xie." Luo Shi's voice grew increasingly hoarse. "So, the one in my husband's heart is the number one beauty of the capital, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, now Madam Xie. After the one he loved married someone else, he found two women who resembled her and kept them outside, living an ordinary life as husband and wife... Then what about me? What am I?"
As she spoke, she broke down, covering her face with a handkerchief and weeping.
Yun Chu felt as if she had swallowed countless flies.
Her stomach churned violently, and she had to drink several large gulps of tea to suppress the nausea.
She patted Luo Shi's shoulder, offering silent comfort. It took nearly a quarter of an hour before Luo Shi finally calmed down. "I'm sorry for making a fool of myself in front of you, Madam Xie."
"Since the Marchioness has been so candid with me, I should not keep anything from you either." Yun Chu lifted her gaze. "Did you know, Marchioness, that it was I who deliberately had the servant guide you to that courtyard?"
Luo Shi had suspected someone was behind the guidance but hadn't yet investigated who it was, as she was too grief-stricken to know what to do.
When she saw the room filled with portraits of Madam Xie, she completely lost her composure and, unable to restrain herself, came directly to confront Madam Xie.
She truly hadn't expected that it was Madam Xie who had led her to discover her husband's mistresses.Could it be that Lady Xie had long been aware of Qin Mingheng's dark, unspeakable intentions?
"I did indeed know of Marquis Xuanwu's intentions long ago. When I accompanied my husband to the marquis's residence to apologize with a bared back carrying brambles, the marquise probably didn't know that Marquis Xuanwu drugged my tea." Yun Chu's expression turned cold. "Since he dared to do such a thing, I naturally had to make him pay the price."
With a clatter, Luo Shi's teacup spilled onto the table. She hurriedly wiped the tea with a handkerchief and asked anxiously, "Did he... do anything disrespectful to Lady Xie?"
Yun Chu pressed her lips together and remained silent.
What happened on her wedding night was something she couldn't bring herself to speak of. Just thinking about that night made her bones feel cold with dread.
From her expression, Luo Shi seemed to understand something.
A long, heavy silence fell between the two women.
Yun Chu looked at her and said, "As fellow women, I want to tell you something in advance. My Yun family will not let Marquis Xuanwu off. Soon, there will likely be no more Marquis Xuanwu's residence."
Luo Shi looked up sharply.
The Yun family held the first-rank general's mansion, and General Yun had just returned to the capital, enjoying the emperor's deep favor.
If the Yun family decided to deal with Marquis Xuanwu's residence, it would be as easy as lifting a finger. Making Marquis Xuanwu disappear was no empty boast.
"Before things come to a head, you still have time to make a choice." Yun Chu stood up. "Please think it over carefully, Marquise. I'll take my leave now."
It was nearly two hours after Yun Chu left that Luo Shi finally managed to stand up, leaning on the table.
Having eaten almost nothing for two days, she felt weak and could barely steady herself while holding onto her maid's arm.
She took a carriage back to Marquis Xuanwu's residence. As soon as she entered her courtyard, a teacup shattered at her feet. She looked up to see Qin Mingheng sitting in her room.
"Finally back!" Qin Mingheng's face was full of rage. "Where have you hidden Chuniang and Qiuwen? Chuniang is with child and mustn't be frightened. Release them both at once!"
Hearing the name Chuniang, Luo Shi thought of Yun Chu. If Lady Xie knew this man had deliberately given his mistress such a name, she would surely be even more furious.
She walked in slowly, sat down, and said, "I can release them and allow them to enter the residence. But on one condition—that bastard child must be aborted."
Qin Mingheng's face darkened. "Impossible!"
"Husband, after we had our son, you said you were afraid too many children would fight over the heir position later. We agreed we'd only have one child in this lifetime," Luo Shi looked at him. "That was your promise back then. If you keep that promise, then I'll welcome both of them into the residence."
After giving birth to a son, her husband had never touched her again. She had thought he genuinely didn't want more children.
But it turned out her husband had another family outside. He had only given her face, while all his affection went to those two mistresses.
Qin Mingheng's expression grew stormy.
Having a legitimate son with Luo Shi and petitioning for him to be named heir was all the duty he needed to fulfill as Marquis Xuanwu.
The child in Chuniang's womb was the one he truly wanted—a child who would resemble him, and also resemble Yun Chu...
He never intended for Chuniang's child to become the heir. He only wanted to live an ordinary life with Chuniang and their child, a simple family of three. Such a modest hope had been completely destroyed by this woman before him.
His eyes seemed to spit fire.Luo Shi pursed her lips: "I just went to see Lady Xie and told her about my husband's mistress."
"What did you say?!"
Qin Mingheng sprang to his feet.
Yun Chu already disliked him intensely. If she found out he had secretly kept a mistress, any possibility between them would be gone forever.
He had given Luo Shi all the respect and dignity she deserved, so why was she determined to ruin his image in Yun Chu's eyes...
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