Hao Ren wanted to gently push away Xia Zhiyu's acne-scarred face, but at this moment, Xia Zhiyu threw herself into his arms, slowly raised her head, revealing her delicate, jade-like, tender and charming little face, with crystal tears hanging in the corners of her eyes, like a lotus just emerging from the water.
Hao Ren was stunned involuntarily: "Cousin, your appearance?"
Xia Zhiyu was secretly delighted. She gently held Hao Ren's hand and stroked her face. The touch was as smooth as silk. "Cousin, my face has been completely renewed. My mother is now bedridden and urgently needs our blessings to bring her happiness. How about we spend the night together tonight?"
Hao Ren's throat rolled, and he was half-reluctantly led by Xia Zhiyu into the bridal chamber.
Jiang Shu had been pregnant for over seven months, and with Liao Shi far away in Xinghua Village, Hao Ren hadn't experienced sexual pleasure for a long time. Xia Zhiyu, however, was like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, her passion blazing. She was much younger than Jiang Shu and Liao Shi, making it difficult for Hao Ren to control himself.
The next day, Jingzhao Prefecture.
The Fourth Prince personally visited the Jingzhao Yin and helped Liao repay the huge fine and rescued her.
When Liao Lingxi came to greet Liao, he burst into tears of gratitude towards the Fourth Prince.
"I am grateful to the Fourth Prince for his great kindness."
However, Xinyi Zigu remained seated in the carriage, and even when the attendants entered Jingzhao Prefecture to redeem him, he did not even lift the curtain.
He felt deeply disgusted with the Liao family, believing that they had lowered the status of his beloved Jiang Yuyao, so his tone was as cold as ice: "No need to be polite.
If she weren't Yuyao's biological mother, she would have been imprisoned for years for the crimes she committed! The debt of gratitude Yuyao owes you for raising her has been repaid by this prince.
From now on, she can only be the second lady of the Yongding Marquis Mansion.
From now on, you lowly people, please do not appear before Yuyao again, lest you tarnish her reputation!"
Liao Lingxi knelt on the ground, feeling his dignity was humiliated, but he could only bow his head and agree: "Yes, sir."
In the days to come, he would not hesitate to step on the Yongding Marquis' Mansion under his feet, be promoted to the prince of the Duke's Mansion, win the honor of being the top scholar, and make the Fourth Prince look at him differently!
Liao was imprisoned and had learned that Jiang Yuyao had become the Fourth Prince's concubine because of her. At this moment, she had long forgotten the Fourth Prince's insults and the only thought in her mind was to leave a good impression in front of the Fourth Prince for her daughter.
She prostrated herself beside the carriage, kowtowed, her voice choked with sobs, "Your Highness the Fourth Prince is absolutely right. Yuyao is innocent. This is all my fault. From now on, I will never let Yuyao be implicated again."
After hearing this, Xinyi Zigu left with satisfaction.
It was not until the Fourth Prince's carriage disappeared from sight that Liao Lingxi carefully helped his mother up.
"Mother, I am now my father's legitimate student, and Jiang Shu is not at the Duke's Mansion. I will take you back to the Duke's Mansion to stay for a while."
The carriage slowly stopped. Liao looked at the vermilion gate and the majestic stone lions of the Duke's Mansion, and a variety of emotions surged in her heart.
"When you were little, I told you that this is your home. Unfortunately, due to my low status, I was unable to bring you back to your roots early on."
"Mother, one day, father will welcome you into our family with great splendor. I will make you noble and honorable through the glory of being my son!"
Liao Lingxi puffed out his chest and raised his head, his eyes flashing with ambition. Then he supported Liao and walked into the Duke's Mansion through the side door.
"I will take you to see my father now."
He entered the mansion and met a passing servant. He asked, "Where is the Duke now?"
Liao Lingxi often accompanied Hao Ren, and most of the servants in the mansion recognized him as the Duke's favorite student.
The servant smiled and replied, "Master Liao, the Duke is currently busy with his new concubine Xia's room and has no time to attend to other matters."
Liao's joy at the prospect of seeing her beloved vanished in an instant. She clutched Liao Lingxi's hand tightly and whispered, "Who is Aunt Xia?"
She knew very well that the reason Hao Ren had not taken a concubine for many years was not entirely because of Jiang Shu, but to a greater extent because of her.
Liao Lingxi raised the corner of his mouth in contempt, revealing a disdainful smile, "That was just Jiang Shu's decision to choose for father. Xia Zhiyu is just an ugly woman, mother doesn't need to take it to heart. As long as father keeps his eyes, he will never approach her."
When Liao heard that it was Xia Zhiyu, the tension in her heart immediately eased a lot.
She knew very well that Hao Ren's cousin had a face covered with acne scars and was so ugly that people could not look at her directly. Even Hao Ren and ordinary people avoided her, so she could only live in the Duke of Huguo's Mansion for many years and never got married.
At this moment, two maids came out slowly from Xia Zhiyu's yard, carrying baskets filled with dirty clothes and bloodstained sheets. The two maids were talking and laughing, looking happy.
"Our cousin finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel."
"The Duke is extremely energetic. Last night when I was on guard outside, I heard him calling for help twice." The maids blushed shyly, and there was a hint of mischief in their laughter.
Upon hearing this, Liao and Liao Lingxi's faces turned gloomy at the same time.
"The maidservants around Xia Zhiyu are so rude!"
Liao Lingxi's brows furrowed, revealing obvious contempt. He then turned to comfort his mother, "That woman must have used some despicable means. Father was definitely forced into it."
Liao nodded with difficulty. Although she knew that Xia Zhiyu might have drugged Hao Ren to succeed, she still felt uncomfortable when she thought that Hao Ren had already taken a concubine before she entered the family.
She could only comfort herself by thinking that Xia Zhiyu's face posed no threat to her.
However, at this moment, when Liao Lingxi and Liao turned a corner, they ran into Hao Ren and Xia Zhiyu.
Xia Zhiyu held Hao Ren's arm intimately, as if nestled under his wings, giggling like a little bird, and repeatedly calling him "cousin", appearing unusually intimate and bold.
Hao Ren let her guide him, and was obviously addicted to Xia Zhiyu's enthusiasm and flattery. This was a unique feeling he had never experienced with Jiang Shu and Liao.
However, when his eyes fell on Liao Lingxi and Liao, Hao Ren instinctively pulled back his arm that was tightly grasped by Xia Zhiyu. The movement was as quick and obvious as if he had been burned.
His gaze was like darting arrows, nervously grazing across Liao's face. However, at this moment, he could only force himself to remain calm, as if they were strangers. He gave Liao Lingxi a slightly awkward smile, "Ah, Lingxi, since you brought your mother here, why not settle her down in the Duke's Mansion for a while?"
Xia Zhiyu felt a surge of anger when Hao Ren suddenly let go of her hand. She had deliberately dragged Hao Ren along for a stroll through the mansion today, wanting the servants to witness his exclusive favor and thus consolidate her position. She hadn't expected Hao Ren to actually let go of her hand in front of this mother and son.
She knew Liao Lingxi, Hao Ren's favorite student. But Xia Zhiyu couldn't help but frown slightly at the middle-aged woman next to her, Liao, who looked at her and Hao Ren with a strange look.
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