Lady Hou's face was as cold as ice, her tone firm and harsh: "Zheyuan is my only precious daughter. How can the noble title of the Marquis's mansion be left without an heir? If Zheyuan has no children, I will definitely choose an heir from the clan to inherit my mantle. If your daughter can stand out, her status will be similar to mine in the future. Why should you fear being helpless?"
She glanced at Jiang Shuqin sideways, a hint of disdain in her eyes.
"Although Madam Jiang is somewhat arrogant and dull-witted, with a little guidance, she can manage household affairs to a reasonable degree. She is the heir apparent's principal wife, a fact we must acknowledge. As long as she can get past my hurdle, the important responsibilities of the Marquis's mansion will gradually be entrusted to her."
Hearing this, Madam Hao was deeply moved and couldn't help but ask, "You... had already made such a thorough plan?"
Lady Hou's gaze was sharp, a stern glint in her eyes. "Since you all know about the Heir Apparent's situation, I will speak frankly. As Zheyuan's mother, I must plan for his future. If Lady Jiang can come to her senses, her future position will be the same as mine today; if she remains obstinate—"
"The Marquis's mansion can also issue a letter of divorce to restore her freedom."
This statement caused an uproar among the crowd.
Lady Hou's face held an undeniable coldness as she continued, "The young master has now recovered, and even if he is slightly unwell, there are still quite a few people willing to enter the Hou residence. The Qin family is not your only option. My patience is limited, so let's get straight to the point today. You can weigh the options yourselves."
Everyone fell silent.
Faced with Lady Hou's clear and unambiguous answer, Lady Hao's heart stirred. If she could adopt a child, raise him to adulthood, and have him inherit the Marquis's mansion, she would indeed have no worries about the future. However, doing so would mean that Shuqin's life would be delayed…
Conversely, if they accept the letter of divorce, Shuqin will become a remarried woman, and her marital prospects will become unpredictable, perhaps even without a suitable partner. Moreover, the Marquis's family will harbor resentment and exert pressure on the Jiang family as easily as crushing an ant; how will they then deal with that?
Madam Hao was in turmoil, unwilling to offend the Marquis's mansion, yet also unwilling to let her daughter suffer. In desperation, she could only turn to Jiang Shuqin for help.
Jiang Shuqin's face was a complex mix of emotions, like petals swaying uncertainly in spring.
In her past, she lived a life of poverty, barely surviving like an ant. Hearing that Jiang Huaiyu had become a glamorous marquis, her heart was filled with jealousy and resentment. As those powerful and wealthy ruthlessly trampled on her, until she died with bitterness in her heart, her deepest desire was to reverse her fate and become a mistress who controlled the destinies of others, rather than a weakling at the mercy of others.
However, if she were to choose this path, the price she would have to pay would be a lifetime of widowhood.
She resisted this fate, but if she left the Marquis's mansion and no longer served as the heir's wife, what kind of family could she join? Perhaps the choices she could make at that time would be even less than those of the Bai family she was in now. Wouldn't she be surpassed by Jiang Huaiyu in this life again?
How could she possibly accept such a thought!
Jiang Shuqin felt increasingly bitter, her gaze as cold as ice in winter as she stared at Jiang Huaiyu. She was secretly furious, all because of Jiang Huaiyu's silence in her past life!
After hesitating for a moment, Madam Hao slowly rose, walked to Jiang Shuqin, and whispered in her ear, "Shuqin, if your father were to make the decision, he would definitely want you to stay in the Marquis's mansion. Although I know that staying in the Marquis's mansion is the best choice for you, I hope even more that you can have true happiness. Therefore, this time, you should decide for yourself. No matter what, I will stand by your side."
Hao's love for her daughter was evident in her words; she truly couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer.
In any case, we must make Shuqin willing.
Jiang Huaiyu sat quietly in a corner, seemingly calm on the surface, but her fingers holding the teacup trembled slightly. In fact, she had been silently observing the development of the situation. Although she couldn't hear what Hao Shi was saying, she could guess the gist of it from Hao Shi's loving, concerned, and resolute expression.
She smiled helplessly.
In her previous life, she never revealed a single thing to the Jiang family, not out of any intention to conceal it.
Despite repeated orders from the Marquis's mansion forbidding her from revealing any information, Jiang Shuqin disregarded them and brazenly disclosed the inside story. Although this might incur punishment and cause her some suffering, it seemed to have no effect on her.
In her past life, she was alone and helpless, and when faced with such difficulties, she longed to confide in her family and seek their help. However, even a tentative mention of her strained relationship with the Crown Prince was met with harsh rebukes from Jiang Wenyuan and Lady Hao, who questioned why she had failed to properly serve the Crown Prince. Regardless of the trivial matter, whether she revealed it or not, the Jiang family would not offer her any support.
So she chose to remain silent.
In this life, facing Jiang Shuqin's situation, she is well aware of their differences.
Fortunately, she has come to terms with reality and no longer harbors any illusions about the Jiang family, so she is not disappointed. In today's farce, she is merely a detached bystander.
After hearing Hao's account, Jiang Shuqin and her daughter embraced and wept, tears streaming down their faces.
Lady Hou, standing to the side, appeared somewhat impatient, her brows furrowed, and she said coldly, "I have made it clear that the Hou family has never oppressed you, so don't put on this pitiful act. Now, tell me your choice."
Jiang Shuqin frowned, appearing unusually hesitant.
She looked at Hao Shi, whose eyes shone with a firm light, conveying a message to her: no matter what choice she made, she, her mother, would support her.
"A letter of divorce..." Jiang Shuqin began hesitantly.
Lady Hou was quite surprised. She had not expected that Jiang Shuqin would actually be willing to give up the wealth and prosperity of the Hou family. This was completely different from her usual vain personality.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu's eyes flashed with surprise, but she quickly understood. Even if Jiang Shuqin was divorced by the Marquis's mansion, as long as the Jiang family was willing to accept her, she would always have a home to return to. This was undoubtedly the source of her courage to make this decision.
She gently stroked her teacup, took a sip of the fragrant tea, and continued to quietly play the role of an observer.
Lady Hou's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile. The smile was faint, like a dewdrop in the morning mist, shimmering with an imperceptible glint of sarcasm.
Her gaze swept contemptuously over Jiang Shuqin, her tone filled with undisguised disdain. "Jiang, we've known each other as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for a long time. Only today have I seen you show some courage. Since you're willing to give up the glory of the Marquis's mansion and insist on getting a letter of divorce, then I will grant your wish. However, you've been in the Marquis's mansion for less than a year, and you haven't shown any filial piety or respect to your parents-in-law, nor have you been able to continue the heir's bloodline. According to common sense, you don't need to return your dowry when you leave the mansion. However, the Qin family is not such a stingy family. You can take all of your dowry with you, but the betrothal gifts given by the Qin family must be returned in full."
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