Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 74

“Yunque, I heard the heir didn’t come to your room last night?”

The Lady of the Marquis House kept her eyes closed, while the young maid behind her gently massaged her shoulders. Hearing this, the girl paused, nervously biting her lip.

“Madam, the heir has been staying in the study these past few days, and I, I…”

“Enough, it’s not your fault anyway.” The lady opened her eyes, her expression flickering with a mixture of relief and disappointment.

Her son wasn’t distracted by women — that was a good thing.

But if Yunque couldn’t get close to the heir, then all her efforts would be for nothing, and that little tramp from the Shen family would just end up laughing at her!

Her gaze suddenly darkened. This was a last resort. Ever since the mistaken marriage scandal, the Marquis House had become a laughingstock. She wanted to find a proper wife for the heir, but which noble family would want to push their daughter into this firepit?

In truth, the Marquis House was just a name now, with only Chi Jingyu holding any hope for the future.

Sure, some low-born women tried to cling on, but the Lady’s pride was too high for that.

In her eyes, her son should be worthy of the Princess!

But the Prince Consort couldn’t enter office or wield power, so even the Princess wasn’t that desirable to her.

Now, all she could do was awkwardly wait for the scandal to blow over before bringing up the marriage again.

As her thoughts churned, her nanny whispered, “Madam, Concubine Shen has arrived.”

The lady glanced at the courtyard figure and smirked coldly, “I didn’t send for her, yet she’s come on her own!”

Shen Xiwei entered. She immediately spotted Yunque by the Lady’s side. Standing there, fragile and gentle, her brows and eyes timid but full of charm.

Her hand inside her sleeve clenched tightly. Shen Xiwei unconsciously bit her lip.

The lady was ruthless. She had practically found a double of Shen Xiwei — this delicate charm was even stronger than the real woman!

Pregnancy made Shen Xiwei sensitive and cautious, and now with such a formidable rival, how could she be at ease?

“Oh? What wind blew our Concubine Shen here? I thought you weren’t supposed to come greet me? Why aren’t you staying quietly in your room and instead coming here?” The lady raised an eyebrow, her tone proud and condescending.

Shen Xiwei, holding her belly, gave a small bow, forcing a smile. “I am your humble concubine. Coming to pay respects to the Lady of the Marquis House is only proper.”

The lady sneered, “So you admit you’re just a concubine?”

Shen Xiwei’s face flushed with shame. She’d already been so humble, yet this woman still refused to relent!

“Let Concubine Shen take a seat, or if something happens to her, it’ll be on my head!” The lady sneered, then left Shen Xiwei to the side.

“Yunque,” the lady said, taking her hand and pulling her close, smiling sweetly. The girl was overwhelmed by the sudden favor.

“Does Madam have instructions?”

The lady’s eyes twinkled teasingly, “You’re so nervous! I just think you’re clever and obedient, so I can trust you to serve the heir properly.”

As she spoke, she slipped off the bracelet on her wrist and placed it on Yunque.

The girl quickly shook her head, trembling, trying to pull back her hand. “Madam, I’m not worthy of this! I cannot accept it!”

Shen Xiwei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

For the lady of the Marquis House to graciously give her own treasure to a mere maid — it was an enormous honor.

More importantly, the lady hadn’t gained anything on her wedding day, so this gesture was a clear slap in Shen Xiwei’s face, openly saying she wasn’t even as good as a maid!

Seeing Shen Xiwei’s face turn dark, the lady’s irritation melted away, replaced with a smile that grew wider as she feigned scolding, “If I give it to you, then you take it. I say you deserve it—what right do others have to say otherwise?”

That “others” was very telling.

Shen Xiwei gritted her teeth hard, barely keeping herself from losing control.

Yunque couldn’t refuse any longer and nervously accepted the gift, her face filled with respectful submission. “Thank you, Madam. I will serve the heir with utmost care and devotion.”

The lady was pleased with her tactfulness and chatted with her for a while longer.

Shen Xiwei left utterly infuriated.

Today’s display was clearly backing Yunque. Even if Shen Xiwei wanted to move against her, she’d have to think twice!

Frustrated, she clenched her belly. Yuzhu whispered angrily, “That Yunque is nothing but a sly fox! The lady is deliberately targeting you!”

Shen Xiwei’s expression darkened. Yunque was copying her; if the girl was a fox, then what did that make Shen Xiwei?

Yuzhu was oblivious, “But at least you’re carrying the heir’s child now — that’s some protection. The heir definitely won’t abandon you!”

“That’s not guaranteed.” Shen Xiwei’s eyes darkened. Believing a man’s so-called true feelings was the height of foolishness!

How did the concubine win her father’s favor all these years? Was it just affection?

Of course not.

Her father cared about nothing more than himself. Rising from nothing to his current power, he was deep in the abyss of lust for authority, and sensitive and suspicious to boot.

Xie’s noble family was cold and domineering, never fond of subtle flattery. When they married, the Xie family helped her father a lot, but after achieving success, he always felt that Xie secretly looked down on him.

So the concubine learned to be gentle and speak softly, catering to his whims and restoring his masculine pride with flattery.

Her father disliked intelligent women, so the concubine acted naive and clueless, feeding his need to control.

For a time, her father was obsessed with a courtesan, but for reputation’s sake, he couldn’t take her in. The concubine practiced singing daily until she had a melodious voice.

See? Men are fickle and heartless like that.

Shen Xiwei held her belly, her eyes flickering unpredictably.

…

Meanwhile, Liu Yifu had just finished handling a case and was leaving the Ministry of Justice when he bumped into Lord Liu. They exchanged greetings.

“Lord Liu, what a coincidence! I was just about to look for you.”

Liu Yifu stopped and nodded slightly, “Please speak.”

Although their last meeting about Jinxiu had been unpleasant, Liu Yifu understood Lord Liu’s difficulties and always kept work and personal matters separate.

Lord Liu glanced around nervously, then leaned in to whisper, “Pingtin’s corpse has been stolen!”

Liu Yifu’s eyes widened in shock. “How is that possible?”

Lord Liu looked puzzled. “I was about to have it buried, but who knew this would happen? If someone wanted to destroy evidence, they could have just waited until after burial and dug it up. Why bother stealing it now? It’s such an unnecessary risk!”

Liu Yifu’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “Unless… Pingtin means something very important to that person.”

Because of its special significance, they couldn’t just bury it hastily.