Shen Ming'e never expected her husband to say that. She had no idea why Jiang Xuan was closer to Shen Mingrong. Perhaps it was because Jiang Xuan had a higher social status. After all, she didn't even have an imperial title, while Jiang Xuan was a first-rank imperial title lady.

These were all close friends from back then, and now that she was doing so poorly, Shen Ming'e felt somewhat resentful. Her husband's words only fueled her anger, and she stood up, gripping the table corner. Looking at her husband with displeasure, she said, "Fang Wenshi, did you marry me simply because I had a good relationship with the Empress in the past?"

Seeing his wife's attitude, Fang Wenshi opened his mouth, then turned his face away.

"That's not what I meant either, why are you getting so worked up?"

"Then I'll tell you now, I was lying to you. Shen Mingrong and Shen Mingzhuang have the best relationship. Why don't you divorce me and marry Shen Mingrong? She's luckier than me. Maybe if you marry her, you'll pass the imperial examination this year, become the top scholar next year, and be the head of the cabinet the year after!"

These words were laced with sarcasm. Fang Wenshi, still resentful of his repeated failures in the imperial examinations, lost his temper upon hearing this and glared at his wife, saying, "Can't you be reasonable? How could I not have known you were so fiery? If I could marry Shen Mingrong, would I have married you? You being my principal wife is already a blessing for you. Look at your seventh sister, now she's someone else's concubine, enduring so much mistreatment and being laughed at openly and secretly. If it were you, you would have hanged yourself!"

Although Shen Ming'e disliked Shen Mingxi, upon hearing this, she immediately reacted as if a gust of wind had been blown into a raging fire. Holding her waist, she pointed at Fang Wenshi and said, "You, Fang Wenshi, not only ridiculed me but also my sister! Since you look down on me, then divorce me! So what if my sister is a concubine? My sister has been an empress and a duchess. Why don't you mention that? You really have some nerve..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Ming'e felt a dull pain in her stomach, and her words came to an abrupt halt. She clutched her stomach, frowned, and slowly sat back down.