Everyone turned around. At some point, Zhou Yunshen's carriage had arrived at the gates of the Marquis's Residence.
He stepped out, glanced at Jiang Shuyue kneeling on the ground, and walked toward her without expression.
Sensing his murderous aura, Jiang Shuyue panicked a little. Why does the Great Villain look ready to kill? Oh no, does he think I've embarrassed him and want to off me too?
Have mercy! I haven't had time to redeem a Strength Pill-pfft, I mean a Soul-Returning Pill! System, is it too late to redeem one now?
Suppressing the urge to curse, Zhou Yunshen hauled her up from the ground.
Zhou Yunshen lowered his eyes and said coldly, "Am I really so despicable in my wife's eyes?"
Huh?
Jiang Shuyue looked puzzled. Zhou Shiye stepped forward and said, "Mother, Father will stand up for you. Don't be afraid."
Jiang Shuyue thought, So the Great Villain is blaming me for not letting him handle this? Oh my, why does this feel a little like a domineering CEO romance?
Zhou Yunshen bent down and brushed the dust off her knees, then swept a cold gaze toward Concubine Liu. "Did you just say you were my elder?"
Concubine Liu said, "No, no, no! I didn't. You misheard."
Jiang Shuyue thought, You bully the weak and cower before the strong. You were trying to slap me inside just now, and now you're pretending to be some innocent old white lotus?
Zhou Yunshen said, "It seems my long absence from the Capital City has given you delusions. A concubine who climbed into her master's bed and betrayed him dares to call herself my elder?"
Concubine Liu had only seen Zhou Yunshen a handful of times, always from a distance. She had never even gotten a proper look at his face.
Intimidated by him at such close range, Concubine Liu's legs nearly gave out, almost sending her to her knees.
"I-I belong to the Second Master, at least. You can't be so harsh with me."
"You bullied my wife and daughter while I was away, and you still expect me to spare your dignity?"
Zhou Yunshen ordered coldly, "Strip off her outer robe and return her to Second Uncle. Tell him that if this happens again, he shouldn't blame me for disregarding our family ties."
Qi Ye obeyed. Before Concubine Liu could start screaming, he dislocated her jaw, then ordered the servants to strip off her outer robe and throw her onto a cart.
Jiang Shuyue thought, Wow! System, did you see that? Wasn't my husband ridiculously handsome just now? Such boyfriend energy!
The system said, Restrain yourself! Don't break your green tea girl persona!
Jiang Shuyue replied, I haven't, I haven't! I just think that, after his performance today, I could go another three rounds tonight!
The corner of Zhou Yunshen's mouth twitched.
Three rounds, was it? Very well. He would remember that.
"Daddy, what should we do with this man?"
Zhou Sesong pointed at Liu Xi, who lay limp on the ground. "Should I punch him a few times to avenge my sister?"
"Little Song, haven't I taught you to be civilized instead of always shouting about beating and killing people?"
Zhou Sesong thought, No, you only ever said to use my fists instead of my mouth!
Zhou Yunshen said, "Since Lord Liu only acted so foolishly today out of his deep love for his wife, I won't pursue the matter. Tomorrow, I will enter the palace and ask His Majesty to grant Lord Liu a marriage."
Keeping a few concubines or dancing girls was commonplace among officials' families, but marrying a brothel girl was another matter entirely.
Liu Xi's reputation and career were utterly ruined, yet he couldn't neglect Rui'er either, or he would be slapping the emperor in the face.
Jiang Shuyue set off firecrackers in her heart. You rotten scumbag! Serves you right!
Only after Liu Xi had been bundled up and sent away did Zhou Yunshen turn his gaze to Shen Rufeng.
After hearing his wife's muttering earlier, he already knew what Shen Rufeng was thinking.
In all fairness, he could die for his family, but he couldn't bring himself to castrate himself.
The Shen Family's endless chatter gave him a headache. He hadn't expected them to produce someone with such backbone.
His expression cold, Zhou Yunshen said in a low voice, "Luming is still young. I intend to keep her at home for another two years."
"Yes, I understand..."
"Luming will attend the next poetry gathering too. She's never been to one, so show her around properly."
Shen Rufeng was both surprised and delighted. When he saw Zhou Luming smile at him from the doorway, his face immediately flushed.
Shen Rufeng bowed deeply, then bounded away, practically leaping half a foot into the air with every step.
Jiang Shuyue thought, Look how easily he's pleased. If this really works out, how happy will he be? System, do you think I'll get to hold a grandchild in two years?
The system said, I think having a child yourself would be more realistic.
Zhou Yunshen agreed with the system.
He was a marquis and a great general. How could he lose to some greenhorn?
Zhou Yunshen led Jiang Shuyue back into the residence with an arm around her waist, and the steward had lunch brought out.
Roast pigeon, braised pigeon, pigeon soup, whole pigeon steamed with eight treasures-Jiang Shuyue swallowed hungrily at the sight of the table full of dishes.
Jiang Shuyue thought, You used to drop bird poop on my head. Now it's finally my turn to get revenge!
She was just about to dig in when Cuizhu coughed softly, instantly reminding her of her days at the minister's residence.
Jiang Shuyue thought, I have to use chopsticks, and I can't eat until the head of the household starts. Boohoo, I nearly forgot! I almost got smacked again. Thank goodness for Cuizhu!
Zhou Yunshen's gaze chilled. Pretending to be casual, he studied Jiang Shuyue's hands.
Although they weren't especially soft and delicate, her skin was fair. One strike from a chopstick would surely leave it red and swollen.
That old bastard Jiang Gui had actually struck her so brutally. He must truly be eager to depart for heaven!
Zhou Luming placed half a pigeon leg in her bowl. "Mother, go ahead and eat. Pigeon doesn't taste good once it gets cold."
"But..."
Jiang Shuyue thought, The Great Villain is so skilled at martial arts. It would really hurt if he hit me. I don't want to get smacked!
Zhou Yunshen ladled her a bowl of pigeon soup. "Eat. We're family. There's no need for so many rules."
Jiang Shuyue was merely a green tea plant that had yet to take human form. Everything she knew about humans had come from television or tea farmers.
When the Heavenly Dao sent her here, it had also instilled some human knowledge and understanding in her.
Beyond that, humans were utterly unfamiliar to her. She didn't even understand what she was feeling now.
Jiang Shuyue thought, System, why does my heart feel all achy, and why do I want to cry a little, even though I feel happy too?
The system patted her head. Maybe... the pigeon at the Marquis's Residence is just that delicious.
Zhou Sesong piled food into Jiang Shuyue's bowl like mad. "Mom, this is delicious. Try it! This one smells great too! Tomorrow, I'll hunt a couple of pheasants. They're wonderful roasted!"
"Yes, yes! I want some!"
Jiang Shuyue thought, Those little beasts used to bully me because I couldn't move. They even sharpened their beaks on me. Now it's finally my turn to take revenge! Hahaha!
Zhou Luming thought, Mother looks a little silly. It's rather cute.
Zhou Shiye thought, A little. Not much.
Zhou Sesong thought, If Mother likes eating them, I'll shoot down all the spies' messenger pigeons in a few days and make her a grand Manchu-Han pigeon banquet!
Jiang Shuyue ate until her lips glistened with grease. Seeing how much she enjoyed the food, Zhou Yunshen casually rewarded the cook with a hundred taels of silver.
The cook was moved to tears. Before Madam arrived, when had anything this wonderful ever happened? She must have been sent by heaven to save them!
Jiang Shuyue had no idea that, in the time it took to eat a single meal, she had become a legend throughout the Marquis's Residence.
After eating and drinking her fill, Jiang Shuyue ran into the courtyard, found a reclining chair, and stretched out on it.
Zhou Luming brought her a blanket. "Mother, it's windy in the courtyard. Be careful not to catch a chill."
"No need, no need. I'm just basking in the sun. This is lovely."
Jiang Shuyue thought, I'm a plant, after all. I need to photosynthesize. More sunshine is good for my health!
Before you continue