Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 72

Inside the Examination Hall, preparations for the upcoming test were in full swing.

Chi Yan retrieved his inspected belongings and stepped into the small cubicle assigned to him.

This cramped little space would be his home for the next few days—square-shaped, divided by two walls, with a wooden plank stretched across as a table.

Eating, drinking, relieving oneself, and sleeping all had to be done here. He could only sit, unable to stretch out his legs.

He sighed heavily, feeling somewhat downcast, and lowered his head to enter.

The proctors were making rounds, inspecting each cubicle with stern expressions.

Chi Yan glanced up and noticed two proctors he had never seen before. He rested his chin on his hand, staring straight at them. The proctors caught his gaze and exchanged looks full of unspoken meaning.

Without a word, the two examiners quickly turned away, whispering to each other as they walked off.

Chi Yan could practically guess what they were saying behind his back.

No matter where he went, Second Young Master Chi was always the center of attention.

—

Meanwhile, at home, Shen Tangning wasn’t exactly free of worry either.

She wasn’t overly concerned about Chi Yan, but Lady Chi, the second madam, couldn’t sit still. She even wanted to burn incense and pray to the Buddha, hoping their ancestors’ graves would send smoke as a good omen.

Lady Chi shyly approached Shen Tangning, hesitant to speak.

“Tangning…” she started.

Shen Tangning caught on immediately. “Mother, is there something you want to talk about?”

Lady Chi blinked awkwardly. “Even if Yan doesn’t pass this time, could you please give him another chance? Don’t consider a divorce—just once!”

Shen Tangning was surprised, a flash of amusement crossing her eyes. She couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“When have I ever said that if my husband fails the exam, I’d divorce him?”

Lady Chi, without thinking, blurted out: “You two haven’t been… intimate for so long… doesn’t that mean you’re thinking about divorce?”

Realizing her slip, she hurriedly tried to backtrack, but Shen Tangning had already understood.

She froze for a moment, then a faint blush crept over her cheeks as she turned away awkwardly.

“Mother, you’ve misunderstood. I have no such thoughts.”

Lady Chi was equally embarrassed and said stiffly, “I’m not trying to rush you two. I know you’ve suffered marrying Yan, and of course, this is up to you both to decide.”

She felt a pang of regret—her constant hovering must make her daughter-in-law feel scrutinized.

Clearing her throat to change the subject, Shen Tangning said, “Weren’t you going to burn incense and pray?”

Better keep Lady Chi busy so she wouldn’t overthink things.

Lady Chi descended the stairs, suddenly brightening. “Ah yes, I’m going now!”

She hurried off, and Shen Tangning shook her head with a smile.

She knew her mother-in-law’s straightforward nature was not meant to criticize.

When she and Chi Yan first married, they hardly knew each other, and Shen Tangning wasn’t sure if her rushed decision was right. She still kept her guard up, and Chi Yan hadn’t expressed much in this regard either, so they just muddled along.

Now that she thought about it, if it were with Chi Yan, maybe she wouldn’t be so resistant.

But in the end… everything would take its natural course.

—

Snow Qing’s voice pulled Shen Tangning back to the present. “Miss, Second Miss is here.”

Shen Ximei?

Her expression cooled—an uninvited guest.

“Big sister, I hope you’re not angry I came uninvited?” Shen Ximei stepped in, her pregnancy just over four months, her belly visibly rounded.

Shen Tangning glanced over and gestured to Snow Qing, “I told my second sister, you should take care of yourself now that you’re heavy with child. Why come to my courtyard?”

What if she stumbled or hurt herself? Would she blame Shen Tangning?

As Shen Ximei took her seat, she looked aggrieved. “Big sister, we’re sisters by blood. Why have we grown so distant since marrying here?”

Snow Qing’s face showed displeasure.

How dare she say that?

Shen Tangning smiled lightly and replied deliberately, “Second sister must have a short memory. You stole my marriage—do you still want me to be all sisterly with you?”

Caught off guard by her bluntness, Shen Ximei almost lost her composure. But she was thick-skinned and adopted a submissive posture, biting her lip.

“I know you’re still upset, but Father says since we are sisters, we should stand united.”

Shen Tangning’s eyes sharpened and a faint smile curled her lips. “Have you seen Father?”

“No,” she said, frowning, “Father’s been busy with official matters lately and not well. It was our stepmother who sent me the letter.”

She looked reproachful. “As the eldest legitimate daughter, why haven’t you kept up with Father’s condition?”

Shen Tangning snorted coldly. That bribery scandal involved their father, Minister Shen Chang, tangentially. Though he wasn’t directly involved, he still had to bear responsibility.

The stress from the political fallout was bound to affect his health.

The letter from the stepmother was likely sent under his instructions. Chi Jingyu, her husband, was a rising star in the court—if he spoke a good word, much trouble could be avoided.

As for Chi Yan, a playboy, what help could he possibly offer?

So Shen Tangning, as the legitimate daughter, had become a mere figurehead.

Her mother hadn’t told her about the scandal—probably to spare her worry. Perhaps the stepmother had a hand in this.

The Xie family still had influence at court. Shen Chang did not beg his own mother but went to his son-in-law instead, revealing the distance between father and daughter.

“Father clearly favors second sister more. If you hadn’t reminded me, I’d never have known,” Shen Tangning sneered coldly.

“If you’re here to flaunt that, you can leave.”

Seeing her anger, Shen Ximei felt triumphant. Compared to the legitimate daughter, Father favored her, the concubine’s child. Shen Tangning must be furious!

But she dared not push too far and forced a smile.

“Big sister, you misunderstand. Father loves you as his only legitimate daughter. I came today not to provoke, but because I heard brother-in-law is taking the imperial exam. I worried you’d be too anxious.”

Shen Tangning’s voice was icy. “It’s good that my husband has ambition. Why does it sound bad when you say it?”

Shen Ximei’s smile stiffened. She pitied Shen Tangning—looking so hopeless, forced to pin her hopes on a useless man.

“Big sister, you’re misunderstanding again. If brother-in-law really passes, that’d be wonderful!”

Shen Tangning didn’t need to guess what she was thinking and lost patience.

“You didn’t come just to say that, did you?”

Shen Ximei was known for never visiting without reason. Shen Tangning had already figured it out.

Her eyes flickered. She bit her lip.

“I want to ask big sister—how can I get mother-in-law to fully obey me?”

Shen Tangning: ?

She suspected Shen Ximei’s brain had been kicked by a donkey.