Zhou Shiye did not believe it.
Such a clumsy deception could be exposed immediately with a little investigation. Besides, he was no fool. Not only had they exchanged tokens back then, he had also lived with Li Qiu'er for a while. There was absolutely no way he could have mistaken her for someone else!
Jiang Shuyue sighed. In the face of love, human intelligence drops to practically zero. I won't listen, I won't listen! I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it~~ I understand. I understand it all.
Jiang Shuyue gathered the three children into her arms. One family, all neatly lined up for their secrets to spill. How heartbreaking!
Zhou Luming thought, A whole family of Great Villains. We certainly make a complete set.
Zhou Shiye thought, I still don't believe it. With my intelligence, how could I make that kind of mistake?
Zhou Sesong thought, Big brother, big sister, could we stop worrying about the gossip? Make Mother let go! I'm suffocating!
"Ahem!"
Little Peach coughed hard twice. "Miss, being ill-mannered at home is one thing, but this is the Marquisate of Southern Pacification. I believe your mother and father warned you before."
Zhou Luming and the others exchanged glances, then raised their eyebrows at Zhou Sesong.
Zhou Sesong understood instantly. She stepped forward and, mustering every ounce of strength she possessed, slapped Little Peach across the face.
Little Peach's feet left the ground. She spun halfway around in midair before crashing solidly to the ground.
Zhou Sesong reprimanded her coldly. "Ill-mannered wretch! Since when was it your place to interrupt your mistress's affairs? Guards, drag her away and give her fifty strokes of the paddle. Teach her her place!"
"Yes, young miss."
The steward immediately summoned two servants to drag Little Peach away. He would supervise them as they delivered all fifty heavy strokes, making certain they killed her!
Jiang Shuyue trembled. One disagreement and someone dies. The Marquis's Residence really is terrifying! To stay alive, I'd better behave myself for now and take things one step at a time.
Still, although the Zhou family is a whole household of villains, none of them are bad at heart. They were all driven to turn against everyone.
If I can keep them away from the things that turn them dark, could I change their endings?
The three children quietly listened to Jiang Shuyue's thoughts, unsure how to react.
They had treated Jiang Shuyue kindly because they found her interesting.
Besides, all her thoughts were exposed. They would know if she tried anything against the Zhou family.
In other words, she was safer than anyone else and posed no threat to the Zhou family.
But they had never imagined that this woman actually wanted to save them.
The system said, [Theoretically, yes. But is it necessary? Don't forget, host, you're only here to enjoy the gossip and accumulate green tea points. There's no need to wade into these muddy waters.]
That's not how it works. Think about it: Zhou Yunshen is my husband, and the three Great Villains are my kids. If they get killed before I've saved enough green tea points, what am I supposed to do?
Besides, I don't care whether Zhou Yunshen gets killed, but it'd be such a shame if these three children died.
All right, I've decided. Once I get back, I'll write up a plan to keep my sweet babies away from scumbags and vile women so they can grow up strong and healthy!
Sweet babies?
Zhou Sesong's ears turned red. If she had had a tail, it would have wagged like a propeller.
Zhou Luming took Jiang Shuyue's arm and smiled. "Mother, will you dine with us today? Little Song shot a few pigeons this morning. We could make a whole pigeon banquet. Would you like that?"
"Wild pigeons? Yes, yes! I've never eaten pigeon before!"
Jiang Shuyue had cultivated for ten thousand years without taking human form. Apart from wind, frost, rain, and dew, she had only ever eaten dirt.
Today she could finally eat meat, and pigeon at that. Wonderful!
Zhou Luming nuzzled her arm and took several deep breaths of her tea scent. "Then go back to your room and rest, Mother. Once the food is ready, I'll send someone to call you."
"Yes, yes! I'll be waiting! Remember to make crispy squab. I've heard it's delicious!"
Watching Zhou Luming cling to her and act spoiled, Jiang Shuyue felt her heart itch. That's my daughter for you. That face~~ If I were a man, I'd definitely pursue her!
Oh, right. I remember that around this point in the original novel, some shameless piece of trash came to propose marriage. Who was it again?
"Madam, the second branch's concubine has come to visit."
"Oh, my dear nephew's wife, you're treating us far too much like outsiders! Does family really need to be announced?"
Her voice arrived before she did.
A gaudily dressed, middle-aged woman swept straight into the little courtyard, accompanied by two elderly serving women and a shifty-eyed man.
Jiang Shuyue thought, It's her! Concubine Liu from the second branch! When I read the book, I wondered how they had the nerve to propose marriage to my daughter when her nephew was an expert at drinking, gambling, and whoring, and ugly to boot!
The system said, [Without her, where would the gossip come from? The system has detected a juicy bombshell. Want a bite?]
Yes, yes, yes! Anyone who isn't eager to feast on gossip has something wrong with their brain.
Jiang Shuyue sat primly in the seat of honor, perfectly pleasant as she waited for the juicy gossip to leap into her mouth.
The system's little gossip class began. [Concubine Liu was originally just the second branch's principal wife's foot-washing maid. While her mistress was pregnant, she climbed into her master's bed, then rose to the position of concubine on the strength of bearing a son. She's lived very comfortably all these years. But!]
[That child isn't the second branch master's son! Concubine Liu had him with a vegetable deliveryman.]
Jiang Shuyue drew out her words. Oh my, another green cuckold's hat! Concubine Liu isn't much to look at, but she certainly gets adventurous.
Zhou Shiye took a sip of tea to hide his smile.
His second uncle doted on Zhou Yi most of all. He was always saying that Zhou Yi was the true scion of the Zhou family, and even wanted to make him the heir to the Marquisate of Southern Pacification.
He wondered what expression his uncle would wear when he learned the truth.
The system continued, [Besides that vegetable deliveryman, she's also had affairs with the household cook, a servant, and the coachman. The daughter she later gave birth to belongs to the coachman.]
Jiang Shuyue thought, The second branch certainly is lively. Gather them all together and you'd have enough for two tables of mahjong!
The three children each had their own thoughts.
It was bad enough that Zhou Yi, a concubine-born son, showed no respect for the legitimate son. He also threw obstacles in their path at every turn, deluding himself that he could reach his hands into the Marquisate of Southern Pacification.
His younger sister, Zhou Xing, was no better. She often slandered Zhou Luming behind her back, and whenever she visited, she helped herself to something of Zhou Luming's.
Neither of them was any good.
Imagining the two of them brought down together made for quite a spectacle.
Zhou Luming smiled, and Concubine Liu swayed over and took her hand. "A girl transforms eighteen times as she grows. Luming, you're getting prettier by the day!"
"When I was your age, I'd already married your second uncle. Isn't it about time you were betrothed?"
Concubine Liu turned sideways and ushered Liu Xi forward. "This is my nephew, Liu Xi. He's already a seventh-rank official, with a smooth career ahead of him. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you two could be joined in marriage!"
"Could someone hurry up with the tea? Can't you see we have guests? What if people say our Marquis's Residence neglects its visitors?"
Jiang Shuyue inwardly rolled her eyes. My daughter has fair skin, a beautiful face, and long legs. She's also the daughter of a marquis's household. She's more than good enough for a prince! How could you even entertain such an idea?
Take a look at your nephew's face! Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the offspring of a toad and a filthy rat. Wonderful, you say? In your dreams!
Before you continue