Chapter Seventy-two: Mutual Slaughter

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  "...she's always been like that, and this is actually an improvement, you don't know how arrogant she used to be." Thinking of Jixi's pig-like face, Shen Zhongge had the urge to scold Chu Xinyi a few times, but after thinking about it, he held back and said casually, "I told you to stay away from her earlier, but you didn't listen, and instead went to ask for trouble."

  "Oh, so you're blaming me now?" Chu Xinyi's voice immediately rose, "It was General who said she wasn't feeling well, and was so poor that she didn't even have a decent quilt, so I went to visit her with good intentions, thinking of buying some furniture for her, and also delivering the monthly allowance...". She looked at Shen Zhongjie with a wronged expression, "She didn't appreciate it, but instead hit me!"

  "I didn't say I blamed you." Shen Zhongge's tone softened, and he changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Jiuyi is always pregnant with six babies, even if she was wrong, you shouldn't have hit her like that. After all, she's still her senior maid." No matter what, in terms of status, Zhen Shimai was superior to Chu Xinyi, so it wasn't right for Chu Xinyi to treat her senior maid like that.

  Xian Xiang thought of Zhen Shi Niang's sharp words about him doting on his concubine and killing his wife, Shen Zhong Ge's face grew hot again.

  This matter, Chu Xinyi indeed went too far.

  However, she was also beaten like this, and if he let Zhen Shiniang go, he really had no way to explain it to Chu Xinyi. The more women there were, the more trouble they caused. This muddy situation was not easy to deal with, and neither side was in the right.

  "What!" Chu Xinyi cried out in a sharp voice, "I am always your woman, presiding over the general's mansion for so many years, no merit but hard work, how is that?" She glared at Shen Zhongge, "Now she's not even as good as a maid, and you're blaming me for her sake?"

  The magpie's children are indeed his!

  It's still early days and it has already become like this, if a son were born...

  Chu Xinyi didn't dare think about it anymore. A strong sense of jealousy made her lose all reason, and her face twisted into a fierce expression like that of a shrew.

  Never had Shen Zhongjie seen Chu Xinyi like this before, and for a moment he was at a loss, staring blankly at her.

  Seeing him like this, Chu Xinyi let out a cold laugh, "The maidservants were beaten to such an extent, but the general didn't even punish them, did he?"

  She wanted to ask, but the general didn't even say goodbye to her when he left.

  Is this still the same Yier who was content as long as he was good?

  For some reason, Shen Zhong's heart suddenly felt a strong sense of disgust. He had the urge to get up and leave, but he restrained himself and called out in an unusually gentle voice, "Yi'er... No matter what, she is still the legitimate wife. You hit her maid, and it's not unreasonable for her to slap you a few times in public."

  His sister had just gotten into trouble, and he hadn't slept all night, feeling annoyed in his heart. He really didn't want to quarrel.

  Is she his legitimate wife?

  Admitting that lowly woman as his legitimate wife in front of himself and giving her a position, is he not planning to divorce?

  Chu Xinyi suddenly jumped up. "In that case, these years the concubines have been serving you, working day and night like oxen, worrying about everything at home and outside, what does it count for?" She started wailing. "Since she is the legitimate wife, General can bring her back to take charge of the household chores, the concubine will leave tomorrow!" The crying suddenly stopped, she glared fiercely at Shen Zhongge. "In this house, there is me or her, not both!"

  Shen Zhong knew she hated being threatened the most. She shouldn't have forced her like that.

  But she didn't have time anymore.

  Since the facade has been torn apart, she might as well make a big fuss. She must drive away that cheap person before Shen Zhongge discovers the private collusion between Old Lady and Anqing Hou, making everything a done deal.

  Is she threatening him?

  Shen Zhong's face suddenly turned black, and the blue veins on his forehead bulged one by one.

  The air suddenly turned cold, and Chuxinyi's voice disappeared instantly.

  Yu Guang stole a glance at Shen Zhong, who only darkened his face but didn't move. She sobbed again in a low voice, "General, don't you think about it? Five years ago, how she treated you... and how your concubine treated you... If I had known that being so devoted would not bring good fortune, I might as well..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zhong jumped up from the ground with a loud clang.

  "General!"

  Chu Xinyi let out a sharp cry and chased after him to the door, but Shen Zhongge had already vanished from sight.

  With a loud crash, Chu Xinyi tore the bed curtains in two, turned around and grabbed the teacups and teapots on the table, smashing them to pieces.

  ……

  "......Where's Mother gone again?" Old Lady Shen returned to the manor in a hurry, and Shen Zhongge received the message and hastily arrived at Yangxin Garden.

  Rong Sheng went out to investigate and found that the palace guards all said they saw the old lady's carriage leave the palace gate and head in the direction of the General's mansion, but no one knew where she actually went, which made Shen Zhongzhong anxious.

  When did Mother's whereabouts become so mysterious?

  He took the tea from his son and took a sip, "I went to Anqing Houfu."

  Went to Anqing Marquis's residence?

  Shen Zhong was shocked, his niece's child was gone, and it was likely the Empress who did it. At such a sensitive time, his mother had actually gone to the Anqing Hou Mansion!

  What was sitting opposite him was his own biological mother.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Shen Zhongge barely suppressed the shock in his heart and waved his hand to dismiss the servants in the house. "What did Mrs. Xue tell Mother?"

  "The empress said that the child of the concubine was not her doing, but someone had used the crab roe soup she sent to frame her...". Old Mrs. looked at Shen Zhongge, "Mrs. Xue is right, we are not the only favored concubines in the palace, and many princes have been born, why would the empress use such a despicable trick just because of our concubine's child? Even if she was jealous, the empress wouldn't stoop so low." She sobbed quietly again, "Why is our concubine's fate so bitter, after entering the palace for two years and finally having some movement, it's all gone..."

  Isn't this explanation too pale?

  The queen says she didn't kill anyone just because she didn't kill anyone? Then what's the point of the imperial court keeping these constables, jailers and executioners?

  Who killed and who didn't kill, just go surrender and confess yourself.

  In the imperial harem and the imperial court, pulling one hair would move the entire body. This complex and intricate situation was so complicated that even he couldn't see clearly, and often needed Xiao Yu to enlighten him. How could his mother, an ordinary housewife, have such confidence?

  Facing his mother's determination, Shen Zhongge felt a wave of powerlessness in his heart and forcibly comforted her, "Mother is still young, raise this child for two years, and it won't be too late to have another one."

  "It must be that Zheng Guifei, the fox spirit!" The old lady gritted her teeth, "The tenth prince is only seven months old, she's afraid our princess will give birth to a dragon son and steal her thunder. Although the crab roe soup was given by the empress, it went through Zhou Qie's hands, and Xue Fu Ren said Zhou Qie is Zheng Guifei's person..."

  "Mother..." The words were cut off by Shen Zhongge, "Whether the loss of the child is an accident or a trap set by someone, it will be decided by His Majesty. We shouldn't worry about it." He also said, "His Majesty didn't care about the impurity of the delivery room and has been staying in Guan Yu Palace for two days, which is already a great honor to the Shen family. If he knew that Mother was suspicious of these things behind his back, he would definitely be unhappy."

  The old lady lowered her head.

  Shen Zhongxiang exhaled a breath, just wanting to ask Old Madam how she went to Anqing Houfu, when he heard Old Madam ask, "......has Xiaoxiang returned from Wutong Town with any results?"

  "There isn't..." Shen Zhongjie shook his head.

  "Why?" The old lady sat up straight, "What right does she have to disagree and beat Chu Niang like this? You're letting her get away with it!" A cold laugh, "She thinks she's still the daughter of a high-ranking official!"

  "Mother misunderstood," seeing the old lady get angry, Shen Zhongjie hurriedly explained, "It's not that she disagreed, it's just that I didn't mention it."

  "Qiu Er, how..." The old lady was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Is it because of the magpie's child?"

  Magpie's children?

  Shen Zhongbo was puzzled and couldn't understand what relationship did the magpie's child have with him and his wife's separation?

  The old lady chuckled and said, "It's already difficult for you to have a son, now that the magpie has given you a flesh-and-blood child, just bring it back openly." She smiled at Shen Zhongqiu, "I'll take charge of this matter. If she gives birth to a boy, I'll promote her to be your concubine..." Her expression turned stern again, and she said fiercely, "I don't believe that Zhen Shi would dare to stop you from bringing it back!"

  The old lady thought Zhen Shining was holding Shen Zhongge's child hostage.

  Shen Zhong's expression was stunned for a while before he came back to his senses.

  A layer of liver-like crimson color gradually floated onto his face, "What nonsense is mother talking about!"

  "Isn't it?" The old lady blinked, "All the maids who followed Chu Niang saw it, Xi Que's belly is quite prominent, about six or seven months pregnant." Her voice suddenly lost its confidence, "Could it be... not... Ke Er's?"

  "Xǐ yuè had married long ago, she..." Shen Zhong's voice trailed off.

  Since he thought the child was his, why did Chu Xinyi still take such drastic measures?

  Isn't he afraid of losing his flesh and blood due to the magpie's miscarriage?

  The old lady was disappointed, "Since that's the case, what is Xiao'er hesitating about? Go and divorce her immediately, if she dares to disagree then...". She wanted to say kill her, but hesitated for a moment and changed her words to, "Might as well get rid of her, arrogant and unruly for seven years without any children, in an ordinary family she would have been divorced long ago. Xiao'er just go and ask Wanxiang for instructions."

  Xue's wife said that if Zhen Shiniang did not agree to divorce, Shen Zhongjie did not want to kill her, he could also petition for a divorce. The Marquis of Anqing would definitely help speak out and even instigate the officials to jointly guarantee.

  Zhen Shining is arrogant and domineering, not a bit of a virtuous woman. Her father was guilty of treason back then. If the Emperor is unhappy one day, he will investigate and Shen Zhongjie will lose his head if something goes wrong.

  The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Mrs. Xue's words made sense. At this moment, Old Lady Zheng hated that she couldn't immediately kill Zhen Shiniang cleanly.

  After talking for half a day without a response, the old lady raised her head and found that Shen Zhongge was staring blankly at the window, seemingly lost in thought. She called out to him, "Zhongge!"

  "Mother..." Shen Zhongke came back to his senses and saw the old lady staring at him, so he said in a gentle voice, "Doctor Zhong said she can live for no more than two years...". Looking at his mother, he deliberated, "Two years isn't long, I think it's not necessary to divorce her, just let her continue living in the ancestral mansion."

  "Can she live for two more years?" The old lady was also startled when she suddenly heard this, and a wave of unbearable emotions arose in her heart. She shook her head decisively, "Peng'er is muddled! Has Peng'er ever thought that if she dies in our house, you will be saddled with the evil name of being a widower? Who would dare to marry you afterwards?"

  It's really like that, let alone the legitimate daughter of Anqing Houfu, even an ordinary family's concubine-born daughter may not be willing to marry!

  Besides, how could Anqing Hou wait patiently for two years?