Lu Mingqian stared at Jin Shu in disbelief.
"What did you say? You want me, a man, to wash your underwear?! Jin Shu, I think you've gone mad!"
Jin Shu looked at him with an innocent expression.
"What's wrong with men? Can't men wash women's underwear? Didn't you always say you hated feudal and outdated things the most? How come you're now promoting this gender antagonism yourself?"
"Jin Shu, are you deliberately playing me? I went through so much trouble to come back, and this is how you treat me?"
Jin Shu, you've disappointed me so much!
"Then why did you come back? You can leave now if you want, I promise no one will stop you."
Lu Mingqian realized that Jin Shu had completely changed and was no longer the virtuous and kind woman she once was.
"Are you crazy! This is the Lu family home, and you actually want to kick me out? I was originally going to save you some face, but now it seems you brought this all on yourself!"
Jin Shu, I want a divorce! I want you to leave the Lu family!
Lu Mingqian's chest heaved with anger. He had originally wanted to delay for a few more days to give Jin Shu face and let her pack her things.
He couldn't wait any longer. If they didn't get a divorce soon, Jin Shu would really start to consider this family her own!
"hehe……"
Lu Mingqian had expected Jin Shu to be angry, flustered, and argue with him, and he had already made plans in his mind. However, Jin Shu simply smiled gently in the end.
"Lu Mingqian, the whole capital thinks you're dead. How can a dead person get a divorce? Do you even understand the situation?"
"It was just an accident. I will explain it to His Majesty."
Jin Shu smiled.
"Since you are not dead, the culprit who caused the ambush and death of eight thousand soldiers back then has been found."
Think about it.
If you die, that's called mutual destruction.
If you are not dead, then you have fled to escape punishment.
In conclusion, do you think His Majesty will forgive you?
Seeing Lu Mingqian's shocked and terrified expression, Jin Shu didn't even bother to look at him anymore.
What a fool! How could he make the original owner love him so deeply but be unable to have him?
"Jin Shu, we've been husband and wife, we should be of one heart and mind. What do you mean by saying this now? Can you bear to see me hide away from the light of day for the rest of my life?"
Jin Shu said earnestly.
"Otherwise what? Do you have any other ideas?"
"I...I've been alone for so many years, out of touch with the world for far too long. You understand the situation in the capital better than I do. What do you think?"
Lu Mingqian is a man who can be both flexible and resilient.
Jin Shu pretended to think seriously for a moment, then said helplessly.
"Now there is only one way. You have been gone for ten years. I had already made up my mind to break with you, but after thinking it over, I still can't bear to see you punished by His Majesty."
Well then, you definitely can't use the identity of Lu Mingqian anymore. Your Majesty bestowed upon you the title of Loyal Martyr, and your memorial tablet is already placed in the Hall of Loyal Martyrs. There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter.
"Although you can't be Lu Mingqian, you can be someone else."
"Others? Who?"
“Anyone from the collateral branch of the Lu family will do, as long as they are still a member of the Lu family. That way, you can live openly and honestly.”
Lu Mingqian listened to this and pondered it carefully.
"If I become someone else, how can I be your husband?"
"This is something you and I know, and you are still my husband. Even if others don't know, as long as we know, that's enough."
"In a few years, once I've chosen the heir to the Duke's mansion, you can return directly as the heir's biological father. That way, you'll still be the patriarch of the Duke's mansion."
This explanation sounds perfectly reasonable and logical. Most importantly, if he takes someone else's identity, he can openly and legitimately bring Deng Qiao to his side!
At that time, all we need to do is say that since the heir needs a biological father, he naturally needs a biological mother as well, and that way we can give Deng Qiao a legitimate identity.
Thinking of this, Lu Mingqian nodded.
"Okay, this method will work."
However, the selection of the future heir of the Duke's mansion requires my approval.
Jin Shu smiled.
"That's only natural. In the end, the one who becomes the Duke must be agreed upon by everyone."
Satisfied, Lu Mingqian went to sleep in the side room.
Deng Qiao didn't sleep a wink all night.
The thought of Lu Mingqian and Jin Shu spending the night alone in the house made her restless and uneasy. She finally made it to the next morning and stood impatiently at the gate of the courtyard.
They didn't return until noon.
Upon seeing Lu Mingqian, Deng Qiao immediately turned away without looking back, her face darkening.
Seeing this, Lu Mingqian had no choice but to chase after him.
"Something came up at home and kept me from leaving, but I came right back as soon as I finished dealing with it."
"You actually know how to come back? I thought you'd forgotten where your home is once you came back here."
"Lu Mingqian, I don't like it here. Let's leave, let's leave tonight. I can't stand this awful place for another second!"
Deng Qiao simply couldn't stand this secluded mansion. Every day, she not only had to face that pedantic old lady, but also had to watch helplessly as her husband went to sleep in other women's rooms.
"Calm down. Once Ah Zhao inherits the family business, we can leave here and go wherever we want."
"Then hurry up and hand over the Duke's mansion to A-Zhao! You're back now, this little matter is just a matter of a word from you! Why are you dragging your feet for so long?"
Lu Mingqian frowned and said helplessly.
"This matter is not as simple as you think. My current status is special, and I need you to be patient for a few more years."
"You all like to complicate simple things, dragging your feet and going around in circles. What right does Jin Shu, a woman, have to manage your entire Lu family? You've remarried and have a son now, so why don't you just make her leave?"
"Aren't you all so focused on having offspring? She doesn't have children, but I do. Why don't you just tell everyone she can't have any more?"
Deng Qiao simply didn't want to endure it for even a second longer.
This place really is a ruthless place that devours people without blinking an eye; it almost drove her to a mental breakdown in just one night.
Lu Mingqian really didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only go forward and hug her.
"It's my fault for being useless, causing you to come back and suffer with me. But the situation is complicated now, so please listen to me, okay?"
This tactic worked very well on Deng Qiao. She gradually calmed down, and Lu Mingqian explained the current situation to her in detail.
"Do you understand now? My current status is special, and I can no longer be Lu Mingqian."
Moreover, Jin Shu's power is too great. She has managed the Duke's mansion for so many years, and it is impossible to remove her in a short period of time.
All we can do is be patient and wait for Ah Zhao to grow up, pass the imperial examinations, and then we can go back to our old lives. (End of Chapter)
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