"Of course, it's wrong for him to hit people, but he's still better than those effeminate men who look like pretty boys."
"Besides, only men who hit women have manly spirit and are real men."
“Look at your father, how useless I am. Your mother complains every day that I am not ambitious and have no future. I feel like I am not a man.”
“Good child, you are just like your father, you will definitely like him too. The reason you don’t like him now is because you don’t understand him.”
"You'll know how good he is once you get married."
Pei Shushu chuckled, tears streaming down her face. "He's good? What's so good about him?"
"He's rich!"
"You child, are you not listening to your father? He's incredibly rich, his family is extremely wealthy, and he doesn't have a single child. If you marry him and have a son, you'll be the one calling the shots in the family, won't you?"
"When you're living a life of luxury, with jade as your bed and gold as your horse, don't forget your father!"
"Dad is still waiting for you to give me a good life!"
"Oh no! The fourth wife has snatched the marriage certificate!"
Just as the Fourth Master was getting into his speech, the Fourth Madam suddenly snatched the marriage certificate from Jiang Shuwan's hand when no one was looking, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face as she tried to swallow the marriage certificate whole.
"Sister-in-law, you mustn't swallow it!"
The third wife was close by, and she took two steps forward and snatched the marriage certificate.
"Give it back to me, give it back to me, I beg you, give it back to me..."
Seeing the fourth wife crying and begging him, the third wife also choked up and cried.
"What's the use of giving it back to you! The marriage certificate was written by the Fourth Master last night in front of everyone at the gambling den."
"That cripple came to propose marriage today with great fanfare, all aboveboard. You may be able to swallow the marriage itself, but you can't swallow this marriage that's set in stone!"
"But...but...I only have one daughter, Shushu..."
The fourth wife cried out in despair. Outside, the rain poured down, the whole world was in turmoil, and the sky was dark and gloomy.
In that instant, she felt that her world, like the sky, was devoid of any light.
"Why!"
Why is God doing this to me?!
"Good heavens! That cripple is a gambler and womanizer, and he even has venereal disease on his neck. How could I possibly let Shushu marry such a disgusting person..."
"God, just let me die!"
"Mother, I will not marry him, I would rather die than marry him!" Before anyone knew it, Pei Shushu had wiped away her tears. The little girl opened her bloodshot eyes and grabbed the fourth wife's hand.
"That's not up to you!"
Wen spoke coldly, but perhaps realizing that her words were too cold-blooded and did not fit her image as a devout Buddhist, she quickly softened her voice and spoke to Old Madam Pei.
"Madam, our Marquis's Mansion has always been a man of our word. Once the marriage is arranged, there is no reason to cancel it."
"That cripple is a scoundrel. If we dare not admit it, he will dare to beat the drum and cry for justice. If he makes a scene, what will the Marquis's mansion do?"
"Besides, this whole thing was caused by the Fourth Master's gambling addiction. If it blows up, the Marquis's mansion will be accused of both breaking off the engagement and gambling. The whole capital will laugh at us. If the matter reaches the ears of the censor, there will probably be several impeachments."
As she spoke, she observed Madam Pei's expression. Seeing the old lady's somber face, she knew she had hit the nail on the head.
She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice trembling with emotion.
"It's all because my daughter-in-law is useless. She was reprimanded by His Majesty for lending money at exorbitant interest rates some time ago, and now with this mess of Fourth Master's, how can His Majesty view the Marquis?"
"How should one view the Marquis's residence?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Pei became even more hesitant. The old lady stared at Wen Shi, knowing that Wen Shi's choked-up appearance was just an act.
But what she said wasn't without merit.
The Marquis's household was indeed favored, but there were also issues like usury, broken engagements, and gambling...
These factors combined make public opinion a formidable force, capable of destroying one's reputation through repeated slander.
Madam Pei fell silent. Just then, Pei Shushu stood up.
"Grandma, I have a way to refuse this marriage without disgracing the Marquis's mansion."
Hearing her words, everyone looked at Pei Shushu in surprise.
Jiang Shuwan was no exception; she was racking her brains for a solution.
But Pei Shushu's plan had no flaws at all. She had been thinking about it for a long time but had no idea how to proceed. She never expected that Pei Shushu had already come up with a solution.
Jiang Shuwan looked at Pei Shushu, and then saw the little girl straighten her clothes properly and kowtow three times to the old lady and the fourth wife.
"..."
What is this for?
The others were also dumbfounded, not knowing what she was going to do.
"Mother, thank you so much for raising me. I am unfilial and unable to serve you. I will repay your kindness in the next life..."
After saying that, a figure in apricot yellow rushed towards a nearby pillar.
"Something terrible has happened!"
"The Fourth Miss committed suicide by running into a pillar!"
The whole house erupted in screams. The fourth wife screamed and tried to stop her, but Pei Shushu was determined and rushed toward the pillar at top speed.
If she hadn't seen that disgusting man in the front yard today, she might have married him for the sake of the Marquis's reputation and to clean up her father's mess.
But after seeing the cripple's lewd appearance, she refused to marry him even if it meant death.
Wasn't that cripple going to marry her?
Then let's take her body back!
This way, the old lady won't be in a difficult position, and the Marquis's family's reputation will be preserved.
It's a pity that her mother raised her all these years, and not only could she not be there to enjoy her company, but she also had to bury her child.
And then there's the Crown Prince's sister-in-law. These days, she's been teaching her how to manage a household, taking her out to broaden her horizons, and teaching her so many principles...
The Crown Prince's sister-in-law has wasted all her time and energy...
sorry……
I'm sorry, Your Highness's sister-in-law.
I'm sorry, Mom.
With a loud "thud," accompanied by a dull impact, blood splattered everywhere, and a strong stench of blood instantly filled the air.
The bright red blood stained the black lacquered pillar and splattered on the face of the fourth wife. The fourth wife screamed, and the maids and servants panicked. Old Madam Pei was stunned and did not react for a moment.
The Fourth Master was also stunned.
"Why did it have to come to this..."
"It's just getting married..."
"Marrying anyone is the same as marrying..."
"livestock!"
Madam Pei jabbed him with her cane, and the Fourth Master screamed as half of his teeth were knocked out.
"Grandma, the Fourth Miss is still breathing!"
As Chang's mother supported Pei Shushu's broken body, her eyes were filled with surprise and joy, and she looked at Jiang Shuwan, who was holding Pei Shushu's skirt, with even greater astonishment.
"What are you waiting for! Quickly summon the imperial physician, no, the imperial physician too! Go get my token and summon the censor!"
Old Madam Pei kept tapping the cane on her hand.
The room erupted in chaos again, but everyone's anxiety subsided only after the imperial physician confirmed that the patient's life had been saved.
Seeing that the imperial physician was about to leave, Madam Chang quickly said, "Old Madam, please also ask the imperial physician to examine the young mistress's hands!"
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