Shi Lingqiao had saved some money, but not much, not enough to buy a courtyard house, so she had to rent one in the working-class area.

Huo Jiwen has completely let himself go, spending his days eating, drinking, and relieving himself with excessive alcohol consumption.

Shi Lingqiao had spent all the money she had hidden away, so she had no choice but to go out and find work to earn money.

Because the emperor's men were watching, Shi Lingqiao couldn't touch anything related to medicine.

She went to the pharmacy, but they wouldn't sell her any medicine. She offered to treat people's illnesses, but no one believed her.

In the end, I had no choice but to go to the embroidery workshop to get the embroidery back to make it.

However, Shi Lingqiao's embroidery skills were only so-so, so she could barely make a living and didn't earn much money.

A year later, after selling her embroidery and returning with her meager earnings, she saw Huo Jiwen lying on a chair, drinking, his face covered in stubble.

She couldn't hold back and rushed over to smash the wine jar in his hand.

"Drink, drink, drink, what else can you do besides drinking?"

"What kind of skill is it to rely on a woman to support you? You're just a good-for-nothing. The family is almost starving. Can't you find a job?"

Since being kicked out of the Duke's mansion, Huo Jiwen has not scolded her, but he rarely speaks to her and no longer touches her.

She knew he was taking his anger out on her, but she had indeed dragged him down, and she still had feelings for him, so she kept enduring it.

But now I really can't take it anymore; that so-called love has been worn down by the poverty of life.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Why should she have to support this good-for-nothing?

Huo Jiwen wasn't completely drunk yet; his mind was still clear.

Seeing Shi Lingqiao's anger and the disgust on her face, he also became furious. (www.cascoo.net)

"Who's responsible for you becoming a useless piece of trash?"

"If it weren't for you, you wretch, how could I have been abandoned by my own parents and driven out of the Duke's mansion?"

"If I hadn't been seduced and instigated by you, I would still be the illustrious heir of the Duke's mansion. How could I have become a rat that everyone wants to kill?"

He no longer dared to go out, afraid of running into people he used to know who would laugh at him and gloat over his current misfortune.

He persisted in visiting the Duke's mansion for more than half a year, but he still couldn't see his parents. Only then did he realize that his parents had truly given up on him.

The emotions that had been bottled up for over a year finally burst forth at this moment.

He now regrets it, regrets being rejected by his parents and losing his noble status and becoming so destitute because of his desire to marry Shi Lingqiao.

Shi Lingqiao, her eyes red, said, "You finally said it. You still blame me."

"But you gave your consent to me poisoning your mother! What right do you have to blame it all on me?"

"If I hadn't married you, how could I have been hated and bullied by your parents, ending up in this situation?"

"I shouldn't have liked and married a good-for-nothing like you."

Shi Lingqiao also regretted it. She shouldn't have approached and seduced Huo Jiwen just because she liked him.

She would have been better off entering the Fourth Prince's residence or marrying another powerful figure.

She can still live a life of luxury, and may have already integrated into the upper-class circle of imperial concubines in the capital.

If she helps her cousin become emperor in the future, she can also use her methods to become empress, or give birth to a son who will become emperor.

Her later life was ruined by that good-for-nothing Huo Jiwen.

When Huo Jiwen heard her laugh in exasperation, his last bit of affection vanished.

He couldn't hold back and slapped Shi Lingqiao several times, saying, "You bitch, you're the one who ruined me, and you still have the nerve to blame me."

After slapping her a few times, Huo Jiwen felt his anger dissipate, so he continued to beat Shi Lingqiao until she screamed in pain.

Finally, Shi Lingqiao was beaten to the point of near death by Huo Jiwen before she was released.

She lay on the ground until the next day before dragging her injured body to the clinic for treatment.

They spent all their savings on medical treatment and medicine.

In the days that followed, Huo Jiwen did nothing but drink heavily and beat Shi Lingqiao.

Moreover, Shi Lingqiao was required to go out and work to support him, and if she resisted, she would be beaten.

Shi Lingqiao lived a life of unbearable suffering, yet she was no match for Huo Jiwen.

Because they were husband and wife, and with the emperor's secret guards keeping her under control, she had no way to seek help and endured this situation for several more years.

During this time, Huo Jiwen heard that Huo Xi had secured his position in the Duke's mansion.

A few years later, it was said that the Duke of Zhenguo had retired from the court and was traveling around with the eldest princess. Huo Xi became the new Duke of Zhenguo and married a noblewoman, with whom he had two sons.

Then the emperor abdicated and became the retired emperor, and after the crown prince ascended the throne, he gave Huo Xi even more important positions.

The more Huo Jiwen learned about these things, the more pain, sorrow, and resentment he felt.

Shi Ling cleverly hooked up with a peddler, then abandoned him and ran away.

When Huo Jiwen found out, he was so angry that he vomited blood.

He lost so much because of Shi Lingqiao. This woman should have been with him for life, but she abandoned him too.

In order to survive, Huo Jiwen had no choice but to go out and find work.

But he couldn't find a good job and could only do manual labor. He became thin as a rake, slovenly and disheveled.

No one recognized him anymore; he was once the most noble young master in the capital. Instead, they treated him like a beggar.

Huo Jiwen was tormented by regret and jealousy every day. One day, he accidentally saw his parents and Huo Xi and his wife chatting and laughing on the street. He rushed over happily.

Qingyou recognized him immediately as Huo Jiwen.

But instead of admitting it, he deliberately covered his nose with a handkerchief in disgust, saying, "Where did this beggar come from? Make him leave."

Huo Jiwen immediately shouted, "Mother, it's me, Jiwen! It's me, Jiwen!"

Qingyou's disdain deepened. "My son died a long time ago. Don't go around claiming kinship with me, you madwoman."

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