Matriarch Rules, Scumbag Begs - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Only Mother

After returning to the Bi Xi Hall, Xia Shang closed the door with a look of relief, and breathed a sigh of relief,

“In the past, when the Heir got drunk, he would often lash out at the eldest miss with violence. This bad temper of his, today finally got some revenge!”

However, she was still worried,

“But I’m afraid that after he sobers up, he’ll make trouble for the young lady.”

“Make trouble for me?”

Shen Qiuci leaned against the warm seat, speaking in a leisurely tone:

“Three years ago, when the emperor personally led the army to attack Zhu Yin, he was ambushed, and it was only thanks to my father’s sacrifice that the emperor was able to escape safely. The emperor was grateful for my father’s life-saving grace, and after returning to the capital, he posthumously granted my father the title of Duke Zhongyong.”

She casually picked up a silver pick and idly poked at the incense ashes in the Boshan furnace,

“The status of a duke is far above that of a marquis, he is the son of the Marquis of Danyang, and I am the legitimate daughter of Duke Zhongyong, what is he compared to us?”

Xia Shang nodded thoughtfully,

“That’s right. The old marquis passed away just last year, and the Heir still needs to observe mourning for three years before he can smoothly inherit the title. During this time, he will have to be extremely cautious, if the emperor finds out that he’s favoring concubines and mistreating his wife in private, it will be hard for him to explain himself.”

Shen Qiuci’s mind flashed back to her eldest sister’s appearance before she passed away,

The once beautiful woman, like a flower, was drained of her vitality, with no hint of color on her face, making it unbearable to look at her.

Her heart suddenly tightened, and her chest felt suffocated, unable to breathe.

“In the past, my sister suffered humiliation in the Marquis’s mansion, and then mysteriously fell from the tower, lying in bed for two whole years before she died with hatred in her heart. With all these incidents, even if they wanted to atone for their sins with death, they’d have to ask me if I’d accept their apology.”

She lowered her gaze, watching as the incense ashes flickered under her touch,

“I’ll stand right in front of them, making it impossible for them to get rid of me or touch me. I’ll make them live in misery, unable to live or die, and that’s when they’ll know true pain.”

“Eldest wife, Xue Xiao’niang has brought the eldest young master to pay their respects to you.”

The servant’s announcement interrupted Shen Qiuci’s words.

A faint hint of cruelty flashed across her cold and beautiful face, and then her lips curved into a pleasant smile,

“Invite them in.”

As she finished speaking, she casually picked up the tea cup beside her and poured the tea water into the Boshan furnace, completely extinguishing the revived ashes.

Xue Yinshuang was followed by a wet nurse holding a swaddled baby, and she stepped into the room with large strides.

Her face was gloomy, with a hint of malice between her brows, and she didn’t seem to be there to pay her respects, but rather to provoke.

Shen Qiuci looked at her calmly,

“Long time no see, sister, your complexion is still radiant.”

As she spoke, she signaled to Xia Shang with her eyes, instructing:

“Since we have a distinguished guest, go prepare some new tea and serve her well.”

“Hmph. It’s just the two of us, why bother with such pretenses?”

Xue Yinshuang didn’t bow, she just gave Shen Qiuci a cold look before sitting down opposite her,

“Your injury to the Heir today, I’ll report to the Old madam in detail when she returns. The household rules are strict, your reckless behavior and lack of virtue will definitely earn you a beating!”

Shen Qiuci looked at her with a smile, but said nothing.

Xue Yinshuang’s face turned even uglier,

“You’re acting out of character, daring to lay hands on the Heir, isn’t it because he wants to make me his Equal wife and you’re consumed by jealousy?”

“Actually, what do you have to be unwilling about? Your body is damaged, and you’ll never be able to conceive again, how can you still shamelessly occupy the position of the Heir’s wife? If I were you, I’d just knock my head and die, where would I still have the face to live and be a laughingstock?”

Shen Qiuci’s smile remained on her face, she calmly picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
Completely ignoring Xue Yinshuang’s sarcastic remarks.

Xue Yinshuang was enraged, but had no plan, so she could only continue to rant,

“What are you pretending to be happy about? You’re childless, which is one of the seven grounds for divorce, and based on this alone, the Heir can already divorce you!”

She slammed her hand on the table, raising her voice:

“I advise you to be sensible, follow the Heir’s wishes, and willingly bring out the dowry to welcome me as an Equal wife. If you make me happy, I’ll give you some face in the future, and let the servants in the Marquis’s mansion treat you well with good food and drink. Otherwise, if the Heir gets angry and kicks you out, won’t you really become a laughingstock in the entire Shangjing city?”

Shen Qiuci didn’t hear a single word of her rant, just responded perfunctorily,

“Yes, you’re right.”

And then she shifted her gaze to the child in the wet nurse’s arms.

Xue Yinshuang caught her gaze keenly and sneered:”You were paralyzed at your mother’s house, and during those two years when you lost control of your bowels and bladder, the Shizi and I had a wonderful and happy time. I gave birth to the eldest son for the Heir, and the Old madam is fond of her eldest grandson, and she’s also very satisfied with me as her daughter-in-law, even giving me the key to the household’s treasury.”

As she spoke, she raised her chin proudly and instructed the wet nurse:

“Go, bring Chi’er over for her to see. She can’t give birth herself, so it’s good for her to look at other people’s children and get some vicarious pleasure.”

The wet nurse stepped forward, and Shen Qiuci naturally took the child from her arms.

“Let me take a look.”

She held the child awkwardly and unfamiliarly in her arms, examined him for a while, and then suddenly looked up at Xue Yinshuang with a smile:

“This child is really good-looking.”

As she spoke, she held the child tighter, her eyes darkening:

“But now… he’s mine.”

Xue Yinshuang seemed to have heard something unbelievable, her pupils trembled violently, as if they were about to shatter:

“What’s wrong with you?”

She saw Shen Qiuci gently stroking the child’s cheek, her sharp fingernails almost scratching the child’s skin, and she shouted loudly:

“If you dare to harm my child even a little bit, I won’t let you off!”
“Your child? Hmph.” Shen Qiuci sneered,

“Where did you get this child from? As long as Pei Yuanzhou doesn’t divorce me, I’m still his official wife, and the only mother of this child!”

She looked at Xue Yinshuang’s face twisted with anger, with a hint of a smile:

“Besides, you’re about to go to jail. Even if I gave the child to you to raise, it wouldn’t matter.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, poisonous woman! Give me back my child!” Xue Yinshuang stood up angrily, rushing towards Shen Qiuci.

“Bang.”

But before she could get close, a loud noise suddenly echoed, the sound of the door breaking was deafening.

Everyone looked in shock, and saw that Xia Shang had brought several yamen runners into the room.

The leader of the yamen runners stood at the bottom of the hall, cupped his hands and bowed to Shen Qiuci:

“Greetings, Heir’s Madam, we’ve come to arrest someone by imperial order.”

Shen Qiuci slowly patted the child’s back, without even raising her eyelids, just said casually:

“The person is right there, do as you please.”

As she finished speaking,

The yamen runners swarmed forward, immediately grabbing Xue Yinshuang.

She was stunned, struggling desperately:

“Let me go! What are you doing?!”
“Behave yourself!”

The yamen runners pressed her to the ground, shouting sternly:

“This morning, the Heir’s Madam beat the drum outside the yamen to accuse you of pushing her off the tower, causing her to be bedridden for many years. Now, the prefect has summoned you, and you must come with us immediately!”

After speaking, they efficiently put handcuffs and shackles on her, and dragged her away.

Faced with this unexpected turn of events, Xue Yinshuang was stunned,

She turned back to look at Shen Qiuci every few steps, cursing her loudly:

“You bitch! When did I ever push you?”

But no matter how she shouted, who would care?

The servants in the Marquis’s mansion had never seen such a scene, and they were all scared silly.

Only Shen Qiuci’s eyes sparkled with amusement, she calmly watched Xue Yinshuang’s distorted expression, raised an eyebrow slightly,

And then gently grasped the small hand of the child in her arms, waving slowly towards Xue Yinshuang’s departing direction, smiling and saying:

“Good child, go say goodbye to your Concubine Xue~”

—