Chapter 54 I Agree to the Marquis Taking on Two Lineages

Upon hearing this, Huo Yunzhan was struck dumb, and a strong sense of panic and fear flashed in his eyes!

He had indeed considered using his current status as the Marquis of Yongning to inherit both branches of the family more than once before, but this was definitely not the case!

If he knew perfectly well that His Majesty had taken a liking to Shen Qingci, how could he still openly bring Shen Qingci into his room?

Wouldn't that be blatantly opposing His Majesty? Openly challenging imperial authority?

impossible.

He knew the current emperor quite well. Although the emperor was absurd, he was also extremely petty, vindictive, and held grudges. Especially because power had been usurped and the court was controlled by the regent, the emperor had long harbored a lot of resentment and dissatisfaction, and he hated anyone who dared to challenge his nominal imperial authority.

Although His Majesty does not hold much real power, he is still the emperor! Killing a mere Marquis of Yongning would be as easy as turning one's hand.

"What...what nonsense are you spouting? When did I take you into my room?"

Shen Qingci looked at Huo Yunzhan with a half-smile, her eyes full of mockery and ridicule. Her gaze gradually moved down from Huo Yunzhan's face, which was distorted with fear, and landed on a certain spot between his legs.

Huo Yunzhan felt every hair on his body stand on end, an indescribable humiliation and anger rushing to his head! That bitch Shen Qingci! What did she mean by that look in her eyes! That expression!

She's mocking him... is he no good?

Liu Ruolan, who had just been furious at Shen Qingci's words, suddenly spoke up unexpectedly: "I agree that the Marquis should inherit both branches of the family!"

This surprised not only Shen Qingci, but also the old lady of the Marquis and Huo Yunzhan themselves!

Huo Yunzhan looked at Liu Ruolan, feeling utterly overwhelmed: "Why are you meddling in this again? Shut up and don't say a word!"

This woman, all she knows is how to cause trouble, is she trying to kill him?

If it weren't for the fact that she had a prime minister father to rely on, and therefore some use to him, he really wanted to...

Shen Qingci squinted, observing Liu Ruolan's expression. Liu Ruolan's agreement didn't seem like she was deliberately trying to spite her.

Her mind raced, and she quickly realized that Liu Ruolan's sudden change of mind was probably because she was more unwilling to let Shen Qingci actually enter the palace than to let Huo Yunzhan inherit both branches of the family line.

Although the emperor was absurd and utterly depraved, he was still the supreme ruler. Once she entered the palace, she would become a concubine, and her status would certainly surpass that of Liu Ruolan, the Lady of the Marquis.

Liu Ruolan was also afraid that she would take advantage of the emperor's favor and whisper in his ear to him, taking the opportunity to retaliate against her and Huo Yunzhan.

If she were lucky enough to conceive and give birth to a prince, things would be even more unfavorable for Liu Ruolan.

In contrast, Huo Yunzhan is no longer capable. Even if he is nominally a father of two families, it is impossible for him to actually have anything happen with her, and she will have no chance of getting pregnant.

But this move will keep her firmly trapped in the Yongning Marquis's mansion.

If she is kept in the Yongning Marquis's residence, wouldn't it be easy for Liu Ruolan, as the wife of the Yongning Marquis, to deal with her?

But how could she let Liu Ruolan have her way?

Shen Qingci's lips curled up slightly, her voice carrying a hint of mockery: "The Marquis's attitude has changed quite quickly."

"I remember just two days ago, the Lady Hou was furious and called me a vixen because of some unfounded rumors, and she threatened to beat and kill me."

"How come he suddenly changed his mind after only two days and agreed to let the Marquis inherit both branches of the family line?"

"Let me think, what exactly happened that caused such a big change in the Lady of the Marquis's attitude?"

Shen Qingci tilted her head and looked at Liu Ruolan, whose eyes were somewhat evasive: "Oh, it happened. The royal physician diagnosed in public that the Marquis is dying."

"I've heard that this matter has caused quite a stir in the city these past two days."

Huo Yunzhan's face turned ashen, veins bulged on his forehead, and his fists clenched so tightly he almost ground his teeth to powder!

Shen Qingci, however, seemed completely oblivious to his murderous gaze, and continued unhurriedly, "I guess the Prime Minister's residence must know by now, right? This morning, my sister-in-law and I went out together, and it seems she went to the Prime Minister's residence?"

"My sister-in-law and the Marquis have been married for less than two years and have no children yet. Now the Marquis has encountered such an unspeakable problem. If the Marquis really cannot be cured, will the Prime Minister's Mansion allow you to stay in the Marquis's Mansion and waste your prime years?"

"My sister-in-law went to the Marquis's residence this morning, but now she has changed her tune and said she agrees to the Marquis taking over two branches of the family."

"Could it be... that the Prime Minister has already arranged a foolproof escape route for your sister-in-law? For example, a divorce from the Marquis, and then finding you another suitable husband?"

Upon hearing Shen Qingci's words, Huo Yunzhan's already gloomy eyes instantly flashed with terrifying ferocity and malice! He abruptly turned his head, staring intently at Liu Ruolan, whose face had turned deathly pale and whose eyes were becoming increasingly panicked, his voice as cold as ice in the dead of winter: "What she said... is it true?!"

Liu Ruolan hadn't expected Shen Qingci to be so perceptive, guessing and exposing her family's plans. She could only stammer in defense, "No, that's not how it is, my husband..."

But Huo Yunzhan wasn't stupid; he almost immediately saw through the truth from Liu Ruolan's reaction.

"Good! Good, good, good! I had no idea you had prepared such a surprise for me! Liu Ruolan, who is it that made me like this?"

"But the moment I got into trouble, you were already thinking about how to abandon me and find someone better?"

"Liu Ruolan, you're dreaming! I will never divorce you! I'll drag you here in this Marquis's mansion, even if it means holding you captive!"

Hearing his heartless and cruel words, Liu Ruolan's fear and resentment erupted instantly. She screamed angrily, "What does this have to do with me? Is it my problem? If you don't want to, do you think I can force you? Or did I force you to eat those two ounces of flesh?"

Looking at the chaotic and disgraceful scene before her, and listening to the vulgar and filthy words, Old Madam Hou trembled with anger, her vision blurring. She pressed her heaving chest, her voice hoarse as she shouted, "What...what are you doing? Are you trying to kill me? Stop arguing!"

Shen Qingci's lips curled up slightly, but she was too lazy to watch this farce any longer. She quietly left the old lady's courtyard and headed straight for the ancestral hall of the Marquis's mansion.

It doesn't matter how Huo Yunzhan and Liu Ruolan fight like dogs; what matters is that she has already presented both crucial imperial edicts and made them known to all three of them.

They just don't watch it, so... you can't blame her.

Shen Qingci placed the two imperial edicts on the offering table in the ancestral hall, lit incense, and then left the ancestral hall to return to his courtyard.

She returned to the courtyard for a while before Wanqing finally came back excitedly.

Shen Qingci smiled and said, "Was the show good? You didn't want to leave."

Wanqing chuckled and nodded, "It's absolutely beautiful! It's not that I didn't want to leave, it's that I wanted to gather information for you, Miss."

Wanqing lowered her voice mysteriously: "Miss, you left too early, so you didn't see anything. The Marquis and Liu Ruolan were having a huge fight."

"The Marquis even... was so angry that he hit Liu Ruolan."

"I slapped her hard across the face! I could hear the sound clearly from outside the courtyard!"

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow. Huo Yunzhan actually made a move?

Although Liu Ruolan deserved it, it was still somewhat beneath Huo Yunzhan's dignity for a man to lay a hand on a woman.

"After being beaten, Liu Ruolan was furious and cried, demanding to return to the Prime Minister's residence and ask the Prime Minister and his wife to settle the matter for her!"

"As a result, the Marquis grabbed her hair and dragged her back to the main courtyard."

"I heard that the Marquis locked her up in a room and sent several burly old women to guard the door, not allowing her to step out of the room!"

As Wanqing spoke, she couldn't help but feel a little scared: "This servant noticed that the Marquis... ever since he was diagnosed as incapacitated by the royal physician, it seems that... his entire personality has undergone a complete change, becoming much more gloomy and ruthless."

“Fortunately…” Wanqing lowered her voice to a very low level: “Fortunately, he is now the Marquis of Yongning, Huo Yunting.”

Yes, thankfully he is now the Marquis of Yongning, and no longer... the husband she, Shen Qingci, once deeply loved, Huo Yunzhan.