The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 162 - 161

Chapter 161

Zhuiping Residence

Since the beginning of the new year, the Zhuiping Residence had remained tranquil. Despite the chaos that had erupted within the capital, it had had no impact on the Zhuiping Residence. The three masters of the house continued their daily lives as usual.

In the study, a small figure of a young girl listened impassively to a report from her subordinate. Before her knelt a man dressed in black, relaying the latest developments.

"Miss, according to the information gathered from the maids in Shin Wang Palace, there was a major argument after Shin Wang announced the matter of the last heir to his consort. Neither party would yield. The Consort has adamantly refused to accept the existence of the sole heir, which enraged Shin Wang to the point of slapping her face."

"Furthermore, that night, the Consort returned to the Mu Manor without Shin Wang’s permission, which infuriated him greatly upon receiving the news. He declared that if she didn’t want to come back, she need not return at all. As a result, the Consort has been staying at the Mu Manor for the past three days."

Upon hearing the report, Mu Yingying’s lips curled into a sly smile, her big, round eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. The married life Mu Luofei had once envisioned as beautiful and strewn with petals had now transformed into a hellish prison, causing her immense suffering, akin to a living death.

Mu Luofei...I hoped you enjoy this wedding gift I’d carefully prepared for you!

“How is the Empress Dowager handling the situation?”

Mu Yingying inquired further. The man in black reported truthfully, “Our sources within the palace inform us that the Empress Dowager is currently preoccupied with arranging care for Shin Wang’s sole heir. It appears she is not yet aware of the conflicts between Shin Wang and his consort.”

“Then ensure she becomes aware of it. If Shin Wang’s good news is announced, many people will definitely congratulate him,” Mu Yingying said with a malicious smile.

Shin Wang, revered and respected by many, appeared outwardly polite and gentle, a gentleman desired by all the women in the capital. However, not long after marrying his consort, an accident rendered him impotent, and soon after, the last heir appeared.

If this news were to spread, it wouldn’t only disgrace Shin Wang but also humiliate Mu Luofei, the Consort. Her honor as the primary consort would be utterly shattered!

Imagining the furious and desperate expression on Mu Luofei’s face, Mu Yingying couldn’t help but smile. She eagerly anticipated that moment.

Was it not Mu Luofei who ruined her sister’s life in the previous lifetime to marry Shin Wang?

Weren’t they supposed to be a pair blessed by the heavens?

Then she would ensure they had a married life befitting such a heavenly match!

Although Mu Yingying couldn’t personally kill or torture the trio to make them pay for what they did to the three siblings in their previous lives, due to the protection of a mysterious enemy, there were other ways to deal with them.

Mu Yingying didn’t always need to personally handle her enemies. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to make someone’s life a living hell!

She would make them realize that even without staining her own hands with blood, she could make them pay for their deeds thoroughly.

"Right now, Shin Wang Palace is in disarray. Find a way to infiltrate our people into the palace. Make sure they aren’t discovered. Also, send people to spread the news about Shin Wang being childless and having only one heir. No matter how it’s done, ensure this news spreads as widely as possible,"

Mu Yingying ordered sternly, her face showing a serious expression. The man in black immediately acknowledged, "Understood. And what should we do about that woman in the royal palace, Miss?"

"Do nothing. Just instruct our people watching over her to take good care of her. The child in her womb must be protected at all costs. It is not yet time. We cannot lose the child," Mu Yingying thought of the woman carrying Shin Wang’s sole heir and sneered.

It seemed the ensuing drama would be quite entertaining...

Mu Manor

After Mu Luofei was slapped by Shin Wang over the matter of the sole heir, her remaining patience snapped. She realized how foolish she had been to love and trust such a scoundrel.

He claimed to love her, yet he impregnated another woman!

How could that be called love?!

Since birth, even her own mother had never struck her, yet the man she loved the most slapped her over some unknown child. How could she endure this!?

"I am not going back! If His Highness doesn’t come to get me himself, I will not return!"

Mu Luofei shouted. After all, she was the primary consort. How could Shin Wang dare to insult her honor so gravely over some illegitimate child? She could not accept this!

If Shin Wang did not come to fetch her from the Mu Manor himself, she would not return to the palace!

"Fei’er, calm down. It’s normal for husbands and wives to have quarrels. But you running back to your natal home like this will cause people to gossip," Bai Lijun tried to persuade her. Normally, when a wife ran back to her natal home, the husband would be subjected to public ridicule and shame.

Given that the husband’s family in this case was royalty, the wife could not act on a whim. If Mu Luofei caused Shin Wang to lose face, the consequences would certainly be severe.

"Gossip? What could they possibly say about me? The one who deserves criticism is Shin Wang! He’s the one who secretly had an affair and fathered an illegitimate child, then insulted me, his consort! He’s the one at fault!"

Mu Luofei ground her teeth, her jaw clenched tightly. Her eyes burned with the utmost hatred. The love she once had for Shin Wang had entirely vanished, leaving only a deep-seated anger for being treated like a fool.

The greater the love, the deeper the hatred!

"And what can you do about it? Your father cannot reprimand Shin Wang, especially since the matter concerns the childless issue. The sole heir of Shin Wang is now more valuable than anything. In this regard, even His Majesty would have to side with Shin Wang," Bai Lijun said helplessly. If it weren’t for the issue of the heir, the matter of another woman being pregnant wouldn’t have been such a significant problem.

Just wait for the right opportunity and stage an accident resulting in a miscarriage, and the problem would be solved!

However, with the childless issue coming into play, this pregnancy was being guarded with utmost care, making it difficult to take action...

“Nevertheless, I will not allow him to treat me this way!”

Mu Luofei refused to give up. She pondered ways to retaliate against Shin Wang and restore her own honor, then an idea struck her.

Wasn’t the royal family most concerned about their reputation?

Then she would use this against Shin Wang and make him come to apologize to her!

...

..

.

Two days later, rumors spread rapidly throughout the capital like wildfire. By the time anyone realized it, the entire city was abuzz with talk about Shin Wang and his consort. It was said that on their wedding day, Shin Wang had an accident that rendered him unable to have any more heirs. During Shin Wang’s recovery, his consort remained by his side. The Consort showed no displeasure despite knowing he could never father children again, she remained by his side, unchanged.

Later, Shin Wang announced to his consort that he had a sole heir, a child from an adulteress he had kept hidden even before their engagement. He even forced the Consort to take care of the adulteress and her unborn child. To appease the adulteress and her child, Shin Wang even resorted to physical violence against his consort, injuring her.

The Consort, heartbroken and unable to endure any longer, had to return to her natal family home at the Mu Manor to recuperate for many days.

As this news spread, the people in the capital mostly turned against Shin Wang. Many began to sympathize with the Consort, praising her noble heart, while condemning Shin Wang’s actions. The once high and merciful image of Shin Wang transformed into that of a vile man who had been bewitched by a temptress, leading him to harm his truly loving wife.

As days went by, the rumors and criticism intensified to the point where the royal court could no longer ignore them. Petitions were submitted to the Emperor, urging him to address the matter justly. Though it was a personal affair of Shin Wang, it was tarnishing the reputation of both the royal family and the royal court.

Senior officials submitted numerous petitions, harshly criticizing Shin Wang. Many requested the Emperor to punish Shin Wang for his reckless behavior. While it was unfortunate that he was unable to have more heirs, physically harming his consort was deemed utterly inappropriate.

The situation quickly escalated, forcing the Emperor to issue an official decree reprimanding Shin Wang and stripping him of some of his powers, confining him to the palace to reflect on his mistakes. Publicly, it appeared to be a lesson for Shin Wang in response to the officials’ pleas, but secretly, it was a cunning move by the Emperor to reclaim power from Shin Wang.

Faced with the imperial decree, Shin Wang, though unwilling, had no choice but to accept the punishment. His resentment towards Mu Luofei deepened.

It was just a child, after all. Why did she have to blow things out of proportion?!

He had once thought Mu Luofei to be a sweet and magnanimous woman. Instead, she turned out to be petty and vengeful, like a venomous snake striking back at him!

The more he thought about it, the more dissatisfied Shin Wang became with Mu Luofei. He could immediately tell that the rumors must have been her doing. Now, all he could do was wait for her to return to the palace, where he could teach her a lesson...

Mu Manor

After the imperial decree punishing Shin Wang was issued, Mu Luofei was elated. Her anger subsided significantly, and her once gloomy demeanor brightened with new life. So what if he was Shin Wang? In the end, she managed to get her revenge!

“Is this really a good idea, Fei’er? Shin Wang must be very displeased with you now. If you return to the palace, the relationship between you two will surely become strained.”

Bai Lijun’s expression was full of concern. She knew that a strained marital relationship could have lasting repercussions, and she did not want her daughter to suffer in the future.

“So what? Once I return, I’ll just treat him a little better, and that will be the end of it. After all, I am the primary consort. This time, even His Majesty issued a decree to punish him. Shin Wang wouldn’t dare harm me again,”

Mu Luofei said coldly. She had no fear of Shin Wang anymore. Her position as the primary consort gave her enough leverage that Shin Wang would have to think twice before doing anything. There was no way he could touch her so easily.

“But...”

Before Bai Lijun could finish her sentence, a maid entered the room and reported in an anxious manner. “Your Highness, Aunt Qi, the Empress Dowager’s close aide, has come to see you!”

Mu Luofei frowned upon hearing this. She hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to send someone to her. It had to be about Shin Wang. But regardless, Shin Wang was at fault, and the Emperor had already issued a decree. The Empress Dowager couldn’t possibly blame her.

“I understand,”

Mu Luofei nodded and quickly changed her clothes before going to meet Aunt Qi in the hall.

As soon as Aunt Qi saw the Consort enter, she respectfully bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Highness. The Empress Dowager urgently wishes to see you.”

“Then please lead the way, Aunt Qi,” Mu Luofei responded with a smile, showing no signs of nervousness.

Although she had felt some anxiety initially, Mu Luofei had contemplated the situation thoroughly on her way to the hall. She believed the Empress Dowager had likely summoned her to discuss and persuade her about Shin Wang’s heir. The Empress Dowager had a fondness for her ever since Mu Luofei saved her life previously. Surely, she would not blame her for the quarrel with Shin Wang...

The Imperial Palace

When Mu Luofei was brought into the Empress Dowager’s palace, she found the Empress Dowager reclining comfortably on a daybed, her eyes closed as if she were asleep. Thus, Mu Luofei, who had arrived, did not dare to make a loud noise, fearing it would disturb her.

“You here?”

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes and asked in a calm tone, gazing at the beautiful young woman before her with serene yet unreadable eyes.

“I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. May you live long and prosper,”

Mu Luofei greeted her with the customary bow. She knelt for a long time without hearing a response. The longer she knelt, the more pain she felt in her knees, but she could not rise without permission.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes as she looked at the young woman with a flicker of cold light. When she saw that it was enough, she finally spoke, “You may rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Mu Luofei slowly stood up, feeling the pain shooting through her knees, and took a seat on the chair opposite the Empress Dowager that had been prepared by the maids.

“Ai Jia heard that you had a quarrel with Shin Wang, and in a moment of anger, he struck you, causing you to be devastate and return to your natal home to recuperate,” the Empress Dowager paused briefly before continuing, “Is this true?”

Though her tone remained calm, there was an underlying pressure that made Mu Luofei feel extremely nervous. She couldn’t gauge what the Empress Dowager was thinking.

“This matter...was just a typical husband-and-wife quarrel, Your Majesty. Shin Wang may have acted impulsively, but I know he did not mean it,” Mu Luofei responded evasively, choosing not to confirm that Shin Wang had struck her intentionally, instead using the word impulsively.

She was unsure whether the Empress Dowager would side with her or Shin Wang. After all, the Empress Dowager had raised Shin Wang. Criticizing him in front of her would not be wise!

“Ai Jia knows well that Shin Wang has a fiery temper and might have lost control. It must have been difficult for you,”

The Empress Dowager said with a faint smile, the pressure dissipating, causing Mu Luofei to silently breathe a sigh of relief.

The Empress Dowager then looked at her with a peculiar expression before continuing, “You understand the importance of a man’s lineage, don’t you? Ai Jia was very distressed to learn that Shin Wang could no longer have children. But it seems heaven has intervened, sending us his sole heir.”

“Ai Jia understand that it may be difficult for you to accept this situation. However, you must consider your duty as the consort. This child is the only heir of Shin Wang. Once he is born, he will also be your child. As for the child’s mother, you can handle her as you see fit. Do you understand what Ai Jia is saying?”

Mu Luofei bit her lip hard to suppress the humiliation she felt. The Empress Dowager was indeed persuading her to accept that illegitimate child!

Just the thought of the child becoming hers made her feel nauseous and wanted to vomit!

Seeing Mu Luofei’s reluctance, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned cold, her voice icy enough to send chills down one’s spine.

“Consort...do not be so narrow-minded. You cannot bear children for Shin Wang after all. This child will be yours. This matter is very important to Shin Wang Palace and me. If you continue to be narrow-minded and refuse, Ai Jia will have no choice but to replace you with the new consort...”

At the Empress Dowager’s words, Mu Luofei looked up and met her eyes in alarm. Seeing the cold determination in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, she realized she was not merely being threatened. The Empress Dowager would indeed follow through!

If she did not accept this child, she would be dismissed!

If she were stripped of her position as the consort, everything she had worked for and endured would be in vain!

She couldn’t allow that!

She couldn’t lose her position, but she also didn’t want to accept that illegitimate child!

Her slender hands clenched into fists beneath her sleeves, her nails digging into her palms until they bled. With no other choice and unable to oppose the Empress Dowager’s authority, Mu Luofei finally conceded.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager’s face brightened at the satisfactory response. She smiled warmly, as if her previous coldness was just an illusion. “...Ai Jia knew you were wise and generous, more so than any other woman.”

“Now, Ai Jia will introduce you to the child’s mother. She is under my care now. This child is more valuable than anything else. Ai Jia hopes you understand,” the Empress Dowager cautioned, giving a nod to her close attendant.

Moments later, the attendant helped a young woman into the room. When Mu Luofei saw the familiar face, her eyes widened in shock, her body stiffening momentarily.

“Greetings, Second Sister...Ah! I mean...greetings, Your Highness.”

Mu Tingge entered and bowed respectfully to her half-sister, her face gentle. As she prepared to kneel, the Empress Dowager stopped her.

“Rise. From now on, do not kneel unless I permit it. We must not disturb the child in your womb.”

“I understand, Your Majesty,”

Mu Tingge responded obediently. She glanced at Mu Luofei’s expression, which was akin to seeing a ghost, with satisfaction. A fleeting, mocking smile appeared on her lips, visible only to Mu Luofei.

When Mu Luofei regained her composure, her fists clenched even tighter. The pain from her nails digging into her palms was nothing compared to the anguish in her heart!

So, the wench carrying her husband’s illegitimate child was her half-sister!

A white-eyed wolf hiding right under her nose all this time!

Mu Tingge...how dare you disgrace me like this!

You harlot!

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