Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 83

As she met Chi Yan’s dark, clear eyes, Shen Tangning froze for a rare moment.
“Husband… how did you know?”

He was the first to look away, long lashes casting a shadow on his lower lids.
“What’s so strange about that? I heard it from Mother.”

His mother hadn’t said it outright, but her words had clearly been testing the waters, gauging his attitude.

He knew her well. With her cautious and timid nature, this idea couldn’t possibly have come from her alone — it must’ve been Tangning’s suggestion.

Shen Tangning blinked slowly. “And you don’t blame me?”

After all, persuading your mother-in-law to split the family — that didn’t sound like something a “good wife” would do.

Chi Yan answered without hesitation, “Why would I? It’s not like you’re the only one who wanted the split. I’ve had enough of them long ago! Honestly, we’re a perfect match in that way—”

Under her amused gaze, he immediately corrected himself.
“I mean, great minds think alike. Yes, that’s it.”

A soft smile tugged at the corners of Shen Tangning’s lips, her brows arched with teasing.
“Husband, I quite like this part of you.”

She paused, then responded to the worry Chi Yan had voiced earlier:
“Don’t worry — the split will happen. That much is certain.”

——

The cheating scandal spread like wildfire.
Public outcry filled the streets — voices demanding a full investigation, a harsh punishment for all involved.

At the center of the storm was none other than Chi Yan.
People questioned how someone like him could’ve topped the provincial exams. They clamored for his scholarly title to be stripped.
But the Ministry of Rites replied that the matter was still under investigation — no final decision had yet been made.

Some bold individuals even composed biting poems, mocking him with vicious words.
They weren’t exaggerating when they said that a scholar’s pen could kill.

In such times, Chi Yan had no intention of walking into the fire himself. He simply stayed behind closed doors.

On the surface, he still looked indifferent — as if nothing could faze him — but Shen Tangning knew better.

——

Late into the night, Shen Tangning was still in a shallow sleep when she heard a few muffled murmurs.

She opened her eyes and turned toward the sound.

Moonlight poured through the lattice window, casting a silver glow across the floor.

Chi Yan lay sleeping on a floor mat. The thin blanket had slipped off to one side, and his brow was furrowed as he mumbled in his sleep.

The nights weren’t cold, but still, it wasn’t good to be uncovered like this.

She quietly got up, slipped on her shoes, and squatted beside him. As she lifted a corner of the blanket, she heard him mutter faintly:
“Mother…”

Her fingers paused.

His brows were knotted tightly, lips pressed into a thin line — even in his dreams, he looked unsettled.

“Running to your mother when you’re upset. What a childish thing to do,” she whispered with a smile, shaking her head. She carefully tucked the blanket around him.

Suddenly, his voice trembled out again:
“Mother… I won’t fight anymore… I won’t take the exams either…”

Her smile faded. What does he mean — he won’t fight?

She narrowed her gaze, scrutinizing his expression by the pale moonlight.

He didn’t look sad — it was more like… pain. Struggle. Guilt.

If he was just falsely implicated in a cheating scandal, why would he feel guilty?

Shen Tangning couldn’t make sense of it. She stayed by his side patiently, but the fragmented dream talk never came again.

Still frowning, she noticed his brows had furrowed again. Without thinking, she reached out and smoothed them gently with her fingers.

When she realized what she was doing, she froze — then quickly pulled her hand back, curling her fingers guiltily.

She stood, rubbing her numb legs, and stared down at him for a long while.

What secret was he hiding?

For the first time, Shen Tangning found herself truly curious — she wanted to know.

——

The next morning, Shen Tangning found an excuse to send Chi Yan away and sought out his mother alone.

Madam Chi was currently reviewing several potential residences and lit up when she saw her daughter-in-law.
“Tangning, just in time! Come look — what do you think of this location?”

She’d heard the gossip outside, of course. But life had to go on, and keeping busy helped her tune it out.

Shen Tangning glanced over the map and raised an eyebrow.
“Mother, homes in that area don’t come cheap.”

The property was near Zhuque Avenue — one of the most prime locations in the capital, where only nobles and royals lived.

Madam Chi chuckled, clearly proud. “And? As long as we can pay for it, then it’s not a problem!”

Clearly, the second branch had money to spare.

Shen Tangning’s gaze flickered. They weren’t short on silver, true — but choosing such a flashy place, especially after losing the marquisate’s protection, was asking for trouble.

As the saying went, wealth should not be flaunted; petty people are hard to guard against.

She pointed to another area on the map.
“I think this one is better. It’s quieter, still central, and not as conspicuous. That other place is too noisy, being close to the market streets.”

This spot was still prosperous but less eye-catching — respectable yet moderate.

Madam Chi considered her words and nodded thoughtfully.
“Alright. Let’s go with this one!”

Shen Tangning smiled, then casually brought up the topic she came for.
“Mother, I’ve been wondering… could you tell me a bit about Husband’s childhood?”

The older woman lit up.
“Oh, of course! What would you like to know?”

Tangning smiled politely.
“Was he mischievous as a child?”

Madam Chi paused, then laughed. “What boy isn’t? But Yan was always measured — not to brag, but he was a lot easier to raise than most. Smarter too!”

Even his first tutor had praised him many times. If only Yan had the patience to study consistently, he’d achieve great things.

But he disliked rigid rules and boring lectures — always dreaming up wild ideas that left his teachers in despair.

Tangning nodded thoughtfully, then asked with feigned casualness:
“Did anything significant happen when he was… twelve?”

Madam Chi froze, her expression dimming.
“His twelfth year… that was when he passed the xiucai exam. That was also when everything started to change.”

She let out a quiet sigh.

“They say brilliance often brings hardship… Sometimes I wonder, did I push him too hard?”

Her son was a prodigy — she’d been so proud.

But joy turned to grief. That year, her health took a sharp turn for the worse. She was bedridden constantly, the doctors saying her days were numbered.

“I held Yan’s hand, begging him to focus on his studies… but he broke down crying and refused.”

Shen Tangning was stunned. Her brows drew together.
“Mother… your illness came on suddenly? There were no warning signs before? What did the doctors say?”

Madam Chi shook her head slowly.
“They said I overworked myself for too many years… and the birth was nearly fatal.”

Tangning frowned deeper.

She’d lived in this household for a while now — and from what she saw, Madam Chi’s health was perfectly fine. Certainly not the kind of long-term damage the doctors had claimed.

A sudden illness like that… didn’t feel like illness at all.

It felt more like…

Poisoning.