Chapter 4 I agree to this marriage!

Did she treat him as Huo Yunzhan? To console her longing? To treat her child as her own?

Shen Qingci looked up in surprise, but in Huo Yunzhan's eyes she saw an undisguised greed and possessiveness!

Shen Qingci suddenly remembered that he had said something similar in his previous life.

At the time, she didn't know he was Huo Yunzhan and not Huo Yunting. She only thought that he was her uncle taking care of his widowed sister-in-law and the unborn child in her widow's belly, and didn't think much of it.

Now it seems that Huo Yunzhan simply wanted to... enjoy the blessings of having two wives!

He wants the title! He wants Liu Ruolan! But it seems he doesn't want to let her go either!

Hearing these utterly shameless words, Shen Qingci felt her stomach churning violently and almost vomited!

Thinking of her past life, Shen Qingci took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea and overwhelming hatred in her heart. She put on a tearful, weak and helpless expression and asked cautiously, "Does the Marquis mean what I think?"

Huo Yunzhan knew that Shen Qingci understood, so he nodded: "Yes, Yunzhan and I were brothers. Now that he has passed away, it is only natural that I should take care of his wife and children."

vomit!

Shen Qingci trembled uncontrollably, "No, no, no, I dare not!"

She lowered her eyes, a fierce glint flashing within them: "I appreciate your kindness, Lord Marquis. But... Yun Zhan and I are deeply in love, how could anyone else replace him?"

“Moreover…” Shen Qingci raised her eyes slightly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Huo Yunzhan. Her gaze was filled with boundless sorrow for her deceased husband, as well as a perfectly measured sense of awe and distance from her uncle: “Moreover, my sister-in-law is of noble status and has a rather strong personality. She would never agree to this!”

"My lord, please let me leave the manor!"

Looking at her tearful appearance, Huo Yunzhan felt an even stronger possessiveness in his heart.

There was no way he could let her go.

What's more, the child in her belly is Huo Yunzhan's!

"Letting you go is absolutely impossible." Huo Yunzhan's tone left no room for argument: "I will arrange a new courtyard for you. Just focus on your pregnancy. Don't worry about anything else, leave it to me."

After he finished speaking, he gave Shen Qingci a deep look, then turned and left.

As soon as Huo Yunzhan's figure disappeared at the courtyard gate, the gentleness and sorrow on Shen Qingci's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sneer.

"Miss." Wanqing walked in from outside the door, her face full of indignation: "The Marquis... he's gone too far! How could he say such outrageous things!"

Shen Qingci sneered: "He really has a good plan. He wants the marquisate, the prime minister's daughter as his ally, and I to bear his children. Ideally, I'd be grateful to him and throw myself into his arms. What wishful thinking!"

Wanqing looked cautiously at Shen Qingci: "Miss, the child in your belly is gone, why don't you tell the Marquis..."

Shen Qingci wiped away the tears that hadn't dried from the corners of her eyes, a calculating glint in her eyes: "Tell him? Why should I tell him?"

“This child is gone, but it can’t just be gone in vain.” A cold smile curved her lips. “Someone has to be held responsible for its death.”

Wan Qing was taken aback, then understood Shen Qingci's meaning: "Miss means..."

“That’s right.” Shen Qingci said calmly, “Didn’t he tell me to focus on my pregnancy? So I focused on my pregnancy until the child was miscarried. Whether it was due to excessive grief or… being harmed by someone, that will depend on the timing.”

In her past life, her child was killed by Huo Yunzhan and Liu Ruolan together.

She certainly wouldn't let this matter rest.

Wanqing gasped, a chill running down her spine as she looked at the unfamiliar ruthlessness in her young mistress's eyes.

“But Miss,” Wanqing said worriedly, “the Marquis won’t let you leave the manor, what… what are you going to do?”

Shen Qingci scoffed: "Just because he won't let me leave the manor, does that mean I can't leave?"

"I am now the widow of General Huo Yunzhan, the General Who Conquers the West. They won't let me, a widow, leave the Marquis's mansion, saying that I am all alone and have nowhere to go, which is somewhat plausible."

“But,” Shen Qingci changed the subject, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness, “since my husband is dead, I can always remarry, can’t I?”

According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if a husband dies, his wife may remarry after observing a hundred days of mourning.

Two months have passed since Huo Yunzhan died in battle, and there is still more than a month until the 100-day mourning period ends.

Although there is still more than a month to go, she can go on dates first, find a suitable candidate, and then remarry when the time comes!

Wanqing opened her mouth in surprise: "Miss...you're going to remarry?"

"Why not?" Shen Qingci's eyes were icy cold. "Do you expect me to be trapped in this cannibalistic manor for the rest of my life, watching those two adulterers put on their lovey-dovey act in front of me every day, suffering their torment and humiliation?"

A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes: "Wanqing, tomorrow you go to the most prestigious official matchmakers in the city and deliver a message saying that I am Shen, the widow of General Huo Yunzhan, the General Who Conquers the West. I am heartbroken at the loss of my beloved husband and do not want to stay in the Marquis's mansion and be reminded of his pain."

"Therefore, I intend to choose a good husband again, to find someone to rely on and to protect me in the future. I ask them to help me find a suitable candidate with a respectable family background and good character."

These words were perfectly worded, expressing her desire to remarry while also attributing everything to not wanting to be reminded of painful memories. Moreover, the fact that she had twice attempted suicide for Huo Yunzhan had already spread throughout the city, and everyone had to admit that Shen Qingci's feelings for Huo Yunzhan were deep and profound!

Even if onlookers felt disgusted, they couldn't find much fault with it on their faces.

Although Wanqing felt that this matter was too shocking, seeing that Shen Qingci was determined, and considering Huo Yunzhan's disgusting attitude towards Shen Qingci today, she dared not persuade her any further. She could only reply in a deep voice, "Yes, Miss, this servant understands."

In the following days, Shen Qingci claimed that she was "overwhelmed with grief and her pregnancy was unstable," and closed her doors to visitors, only allowing Wanqing to go to the Buddhist hall every day to chant sutras and pray for her deceased husband. In reality, she was secretly observing the situation in the mansion and quietly passing on messages.

In the capital, the news that the widowed wife of the General Who Conquers the West, from the Yongning Marquis's household, intended to remarry spread like wildfire throughout the mansions of all the high-ranking families.

Immediately, there was much discussion, with some expressing sympathy, some expressing disdain, and others observing from the sidelines.

High-ranking families are often hesitant to marry a newly widowed woman, especially one who is pregnant with a child, for fear of getting into trouble, and even more so of offending the powerful Yongning Marquis's mansion.

Therefore, over the course of several days, the news that Wanqing brought back was mostly about unsatisfactory candidates. Some were illegitimate sons from declining families who wanted to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy; others were old men over fifty with many wives and concubines who wanted to take her as a concubine.

Shen Qingci simply smiled faintly upon hearing this, not taking it to heart.

What she wanted was not these misfits.

On this day, Zhang, the most famous and well-connected matchmaker in the city, mysteriously appeared at the side gate of the Yongning Marquis's residence, requesting an audience with Shen Qingci.

"Madam," Zhang the matchmaker said with a beaming smile as she entered, her voice low and mysterious, as if she were presenting a treasure, "I've been running around like crazy these past few days trying to find you a perfect match, one that no one else could possibly dream of!"

Shen Qingci's heart stirred slightly, but her face remained expressionless: "Oh? Which family's young master are you?"

Matchmaker Zhang leaned closer, lowering her voice as if afraid of being overheard: "To tell you the truth, Madam, it was personally bestowed by His Majesty the title of... Regent Prince Chu Jichen!"

Shen Qingci's hand, which was holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.

Regent Chu Jichen?

That legendary figure who wielded immense power, said to be so ruthless and decisive that even the current emperor had to defer to him, yet remained reclusive and enigmatic? He… how could he…

Seeing that Shen Qingci's expression was strange, Zhang the matchmaker quickly smiled and explained, "Madam, you may not know this, but although His Highness the Regent is extremely powerful and noble, there is one regret."

She sighed, her voice tinged with regret: "Your Highness was seriously injured on the battlefield in the southern border region in his early years, which damaged his legs and feet. Now... he is confined to a wheelchair and has difficulty moving around."

"Moreover...moreover, there are rumors circulating that His Highness...his physical condition...has also been affected by his injuries, and he may...maybe be unable to...be able to have children."

Upon hearing this, Wanqing's expression instantly turned somewhat strange. If that were truly the case, wouldn't it mean that if her young mistress married into that family...?

Shen Qingci's heart suddenly lit up!

Disability? Inhumanity?

This...this is simply a golden opportunity sent from heaven!

What she wanted was not marital bliss, nor even physical intimacy! What she wanted was simply an identity and a powerful backer to escape the prison of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, someone who could provide her with solid protection and allow her to plot her revenge with peace of mind!

The Regent holds immense power and a prestigious position. If one could become the Regent's Consort, even in name only, it would be enough to make Huo Yunzhan and Liu Ruolan, that despicable couple, wary and dare not easily harm her again!

As for the inability to have sex... that couldn't be better! It saves her so much unnecessary trouble and entanglement! She's just happy to have some peace and quiet!

Shen Qingci put down her teacup, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "His disability suits me perfectly."

She looked at the bewildered matchmaker Zhang and said decisively, "Please tell His Highness the Regent that I, Shen Qingci, accept this marriage proposal!"