"Brother Qianmian, did that wicked woman really hit you? How could she be so cruel? Why haven't you divorced her yet? Wuwuwu…"
"Cough, cough, Wan'er, don't cry. Although that woman is unjust and unrighteous, she hasn't committed any of the seven grounds for divorce. And this poison's source cannot be found. If I were to divorce her, I fear I would be condemned by the world. I don't want you to bear infamy for being with me."
"Wuwu, Brother Qianmian, my life is so bitter! Why wasn't it me who met you first? My heart hurts so much, as if it's about to shatter."
As she spoke, she buried herself against Tao Qianmian's body through the quilt, weeping. Tao Qianmian gently stroked her head.
"Wan'er, don't cry. Methods are always devised by people. Once I find the antidote, I will definitely settle the Jiang family."
At this moment, the two guards lying on the ground outside the door were speechless. Could the general and his lover speak a little quieter? Madam was standing right outside the door, and they were quite awkward.
It happened too fast, and for some reason, they couldn't make a sound. They could only glare. General, you're on your own.
Jun Jiuli kicked open the door, startling the two inside.
"How dare you! Who let you in?" Tao Qianmian, lying down, didn't know Jun Jiuli had entered.
At this moment, Zheng Wan'er collapsed to the ground, "Madam… Madam Jiang, why are you here?"
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you and the General were already this intimate."
Jun Jiuli walked over, pinched her chin, her long nails digging into her fair, tender face. With a forceful lift, she met Zheng Wan'er's gaze. Tao Qianmian on the bed could only rage ineffectively.
"If you were a few years older and had met your Brother Qianmian, you two would either starve to death on the road fleeing famine or be like the beggars at the west city gate."
"Do you think your Brother Qianmian knew everything from birth? If I hadn't been kind in my youth, he would have been devoured by crows and become a pile of withered bones in the mud. How could you be so presumptuous now?"
"He dares not divorce me because he fears bearing infamy and wants to seize my Jiang family's property. Do you really think it's for you? Your love is not worth mentioning."
After speaking, she released Zheng Wan'er's face and found a chair to sit down. Zheng Wan'er gasped for breath and said furiously,
"You're spouting nonsense! Brother Qianmian loves me. You're jealous of me. Although your Jiang family owes Brother Qianmian, hasn't my brother also brought you honor? Hasn't he allowed you to enjoy wealth and glory? Why won't you fulfill our wishes?"
"Ignorant. Without your Brother Qianmian, I would still be a young lady of the Jiang family. My Jiang family lacks nothing in terms of wealth."
"You… you are vulgar. No wonder Brother Qianmian can't stand you, always flaunting your Jiang family's money and kindness."
"A dog that eats our food will wag its tail at us. It seems both of you are worse than dogs."
"Jiang Li, shut up. I won't allow you to speak to Wan'er like that."
Zheng Wan'er looked at Tao Qianmian with tear-filled eyes, and the two gazed at each other affectionately. Jun Jiuli felt like a wicked villain separating lovers. Jun Jiuli now felt like she was going to vomit her previous meal.
"Madam Jiang, I know I've wronged you over the years of your nurturing. But feelings cannot be controlled. I love Brother Qianmian, and love knows no first or last. Moreover, Brother Qianmian no longer has feelings for you. Can you fulfill our wish?"
"Are you asking me to divorce myself?"
Zheng Wan'er looked at Jun Jiuli with hopeful eyes, her tears blurring her vision, looking pitiful.
"Madam Jiang, all the mistakes are mine. From now on, I will take good care of Zhuo'er and his two brothers. You can leave the General's mansion with peace of mind. You know my character; I will never harm the two children."
Shui Wa: "Host, she also wants you to leave with nothing. The plan is so obvious that I can hear it from two meters away. This little bitch, I can't stand it anymore."
"Do I look like a fool? Little Tao, slap her."
"Yes, Madam." As she spoke, she rushed from outside the door to Zheng Wan'er, grabbed her collar, and started hitting her.
This little maid was a second-class maid from the original owner's courtyard, and she was also clever.
"Jiang, do you still respect me, your husband, at all? Make her stop, stop it!"
Jun Jiuli took a sip of tea, "No, I don't."
These words almost made Tao Qianmian faint from anger.
"I've come to see the General today to discuss an important matter. Your and Zheng Wan'er's affairs are already a hot topic in the capital. If you still want to save face and live in this world, you need to come up with a solution."
"Poisonous woman, is it you? You want to harm me."
"Such a stupid question, why are you still asking? How did you become a general with such a pig's brain?" As she spoke, she slapped him twice more on the face.
"Jiang, you are outrageous. I am your husband, the head of the household. How can you hit me so casually?"
"Wuwu, Madam Jiang, don't hit Brother Qianmian." As she spoke, she tried to rush over.
Jun Jiuli kicked her back, "Did your parents die? Crying so loudly, shut up."
After speaking, she turned to Tao Qianmian again, "Don't you know who is the head of the household? Apart from this imperial mansion, what else in this house isn't from my Jiang family? You are merely a live-in son-in-law of my Jiang Li. I can hit you if I want."
Zheng Wan'er clutched her kicked abdomen, sweating profusely from the pain, and dared not say another word. Little Tao's slaps had not stopped.
"The day after tomorrow is an auspicious date. I will invite some official ladies to witness the ceremony. At that time, recognize Zheng Wan'er as your and my adopted daughter. Otherwise, the rumors outside will not subside. General, consider it yourself."
After speaking, she left with Little Tao, leaving only Zheng Wan'er's sobs. Seeing them leave, she cried even more sadly and loudly.
"Wan'er, stop crying."
"Wuwuwu~"
"I told you to stop crying."
Zheng Wan'er looked at Tao Qianmian with disbelief, "Brother… Brother Qianmian, you're being fierce to me."
"You're crying so loudly. If you keep wailing, the entire General's mansion will know about us. Don't you want your reputation anymore?"
"Brother Qianmian, in your heart, reputation is more important than me, right?"
"At this point, why are you still being so temperamental? Go and see what's wrong with the two guards at the door."
Zheng Wan'er stopped sobbing, her face swollen like a pig's head, and she reluctantly went out. The two guards had recovered, standing outside the door, unsure whether to enter or not.
"You two are fine, why didn't you come to save me just now?"
"Madam used some technique just now, and we couldn't move. Miss Zheng, please don't blame us."
"You're lying. She's just an ordinary woman. And the girl who knows martial arts wasn't here today. Tell me, weren't you bribed by him?"
"We've been wronged, Your Highness. We wouldn't dare."
"Hmph, you two go in and explain to Brother Qianmian yourselves."
After being dealt with by Jun Jiuli these few times, he believed she had the ability. However, this was completely different from the previous Jiang Li's behavior. The most fatal point was that Jiang Li did not know martial arts.
"Wang Hu, go and tell Madam that we agree to take Miss Zheng as an adopted daughter and ask her to handle the arrangements. Zhu Long, go to Buddha Light Temple and invite a respected master. This matter must not be leaked, do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness."