Chapter 22 Who Am I?

Cousin? Ex-wife?

Wen Rugui's answer was like two powerful firecrackers thrown into the crowd, exploding with crackling sounds.

The eyes of the onlookers lit up, and they had a premonition that a big gossip was about to be born.

"The original wife?" Lin looked at Chang.

The woman who was hiding behind Wen Rugui took a step to the side, exposing herself to the public eye.

She was beautiful and graceful, with a hint of fear on her pale face.

But Lin felt a provocation from the seemingly weak woman's action of taking a step forward.

A surge of blood rushed to my head.

Lin subconsciously touched her waist, but found nothing. Only then did she realize that the long whip that had been wrapped around her waist when she was young was no longer there.

I was young and reckless back then, and when I was particularly angry I always liked to swing a long whip to scare people.

Later, I married my ideal husband. Firstly, I was afraid that he didn't like me. Secondly, I was so happy to grow old with my beloved that there was no time to be particularly angry.

Of course, there is no need for that long whip.

At that moment, Lin didn't actually think too much. Her head and heart were shaking, making her thoughts dull. She just instinctively questioned her husband who was standing right next to her: "She is your original wife, so what am I?"

After asking this question, Lin felt that the familiar yet unfamiliar man in front of her, the weak yet provocative woman, and the passers-by who were surrounding her and pointing and talking, all became unreal.

She felt like she had fallen into a quagmire, a nightmare, staring at Wen Rugui and asking repeatedly: "What am I? Who am I? Who am I?"

Wen Chan's eyes turned red, and she didn't know whether to go forward or just watch.

Wen Hao also felt heartbroken.

She had experienced much more and understood much more than when she was actually sixteen years old, and therefore she felt more and more deeply the pain of her mother and the cruelty of her father.

The old lady didn't think too much about it. She rushed over and hit Wen Rugui with her cane: "You beast, do you think there is no one left in the Lin family? How dare you say such a ridiculous thing in public!"

Wen Rugui staggered after being hit, and his vision went dark.

Don't get dizzy, or it will be bad if you get dizzy.

He bit the tip of his tongue, and with the same perseverance he had in those days when he studied hard, he stayed awake under the old lady's cane. "Lord Taishui, have you forgotten what happened back then?"

"Situation? What situation?" The old lady was furious and had no idea what the ungrateful man in front of her was talking about.

Wen Rugui raised his hand to straighten his clothes, enduring the pain from the cane and speaking calmly, "That year, I passed the imperial examination and somehow caught Wanqing's eye. Lord Taishan summoned me and asked if I would be willing to be the Duke's son-in-law."

The old lady did not interrupt, but listened with a serious face.

Of course she remembered these.

When the Great Zhou was first established, there was a lot of work to be done. It took three or two years of hectic activity before things got going smoothly. The spring examination that Wen Rugui participated in was the first spring examination of the Great Zhou.

One can imagine what a grand occasion it was back then.

All the students who passed the imperial examinations were in the spotlight, and the young and handsome Wen Rugui was noticed by countless young ladies.

Wanqing told her that she liked the newly-minted Jinshi. Although she felt that they were not suitable for each other, she did understand her daughter to some extent.

He is young, handsome and talented, and he is praised by officials in the imperial street for his great status. How many people can resist being moved by such a young lady in her prime?

They only have this one daughter, and they couldn't resist their beloved daughter's insistence, so they fulfilled her wish.

Wen Rugui's somewhat excited voice rang in the old lady's ears: "In fact, at that time, my son-in-law had already married my cousin!"

The old lady's voice trembled with rage. "Nonsense! I personally asked you about your family situation back then, and you never mentioned you were married!"

Wen Rugui's expression calmed down and he smiled bitterly, "Master Taishui, do you really want me to explain myself?"

"You say!" The old lady held her cane horizontally and pointed at Wen Rugui, "I don't believe you can confuse right and wrong and speak nonsense!"

Wen Rugui sighed: "Since Lord Taishui said so, I have no choice but to tell you what happened back then."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, and countless people pricked up their ears, waiting for Wen Rugui to continue.

Wen Rugui suddenly felt that this was a good opportunity for a showdown.

Is there any other way to spread the news faster and wider than through these onlookers?

Divorcing his wife and remarrying is against the law. He needs the support and sympathy of public opinion so that the emperor will not pursue the matter out of consideration for the fact that he was forced to do so.

"Back then..." Wen Rugui calmed down and continued, "Back then, my son-in-law clearly told Master Taishan that he already had a wife, but Master Taishan told me to hide the fact that I was already married and marry Wanqing. I refused at first, but Master Taishan threatened me that if I didn't agree, my official career would be cut short, and even my wife back home would not have a good ending."

At this point, Wen Rugui wiped his tears with his sleeve, his voice trembling slightly, "If it was just to ruin my future, it would be fine. At most, ten years of hard work would be wasted. But you threaten the safety of my beloved wife. I really have no choice but to agree to Master Taishan's request..."

"Bullshit!" the old lady cursed, raising her cane and hitting him. "I'll beat you to death, you bastard who lies with his eyes open!"

Wen Rugui hurriedly covered his head and dodged, his voice out of tune: "Master Taishui, stop, stop——"

He arranged everything except the old lady's cane.

However, it is precisely because of the old lady's behavior that people will believe his words more when they remember that the Lin family came from bandits.

Wen Rugui was thinking about this when he was distracted and was hit on the buttocks by the old lady's cane. He immediately let out a scream.

Everyone looked at Wen Rugui's embarrassment and felt a strange mood.

When the official was spanked, his screams were no different from those of ordinary people.

"Move aside, move aside, what happened?"

A group of soldiers came and made way for the onlookers.

"Who is fighting in the street—" the leading officer shouted, but when he saw the old lady waving her cane violently, he was stuck on the rest of his words.

If a mother teaches her prodigal son a lesson, that is a family matter.

The old lady completely ignored the arrival of the officers and continued to chase and beat Wen Rugui.

Chang Hui felt sorry for his father and shouted, "Officer, please save my father! He's about to be beaten to death!"

Wen Hao saw that the fight was almost over, so he stepped forward and pulled the old lady, whispering, "Grandma, you should take a break. Be careful not to tire yourself out."

The old lady also knew that she couldn't really beat the man to death, so she put away her cane.

"Lord Wen?" The leading officer was startled when he recognized Wen Rugui and subconsciously looked at the old lady.

This sight made me even more shocked.

It turned out to be the old lady of the general’s mansion!

"Excuse me." Wen Rugui bowed to the leading officer and turned to the old lady, his tone still respectful, "I understand Master Taishui's feelings, but every word I said is true, not a single lie."

The old lady sneered: "You bastard, you are just taking advantage of the fact that the old man is gone and throwing dirty water on him!"

Wen Rugui bowed calmly and said, "If Master Taishui doesn't believe me, why not ask the people who knew about it back then?"