The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 337: Others Shouldn’t Expect Anything

Chapter 337: Others Shouldn’t Expect Anything

The first time Lady Xue insulted him, Qin Zheng could let it slide, but if there was a second time and he still did nothing, how would he continue to manage his subordinates and conduct cases in the Capital?

His face cold and stern, he ordered, "Lady Xue insulted the court officials and disregarded imperial law. Take her into custody for three days."

Lady Xue widened her eyes, never expecting that just two sentences would lead to such trouble. Seeing the soldiers approaching, she panicked completely and looked to Lord Xue for help.

"Husband..."

Lord Xue had a splitting headache. Even though his feelings for Lady Xue had waned, she was still the woman he had married through proper channels. He spoke up, "Lord Qin, her words and actions are shameless. It’s like she’s blinded by arrogance. I apologize to you here. Please be lenient."

Qin Zheng turned his head slightly, clearly not willing to let the matter go so easily.

"Lord Xue, come to the Dalisi Procuratorate in three days to retrieve her."

Without further delay, he instructed his men to gather the evidence and took Lady Xue away.

Lord Xue’s face flushed with anger.

Meanwhile, members of the Xue family whispered among themselves:

"Big brother, with the way sister-in-law acted, it’s no wonder they raised such a daughter."

"Exactly, now that this has happened today, everyone in the capital will know. How can I show my face outside in the future?"

"Family head, we must come up with a solution quickly. With a murderer from the Xue family, what future will our young ladies have?"

...

The gossip was overwhelming, making Lord Xue’s head feel like it was about to explode.

He was so angry he swept his sleeves and turned to glare at them. "Shut up, all of you! I will think of a solution myself. I won’t let Yan’er drag down our whole family!"

He said this, but the Dalisi Procuratorate’s bold action in taking Xue Yan’er away would spread throughout the capital by midday, potentially implicating the entire family. However, since Lord Xue had spoken, they had no better options and could only disperse for now.

A few insincere individuals comforted Xue Shengnan with a few words.

Their sympathy was insincere, driven more by schadenfreude at the conflict between the first and second wives.

To them, this was a matter for the first wife; the other wives would likely try to distance themselves from it, perhaps even leaving the Xue residence soon. Given some time, they expected the incident to fade away.

Xue Shengnan saw through the jealousy and gloating of her older sisters and began to cry as they wished.

When she returned to her own courtyard, she quickly suppressed her sorrow and put on a weak appearance.

Shuang’er had already sweated profusely, and her inner clothes were wet. Upon entering, her legs weakened, and she almost couldn’t stand.

Xue Shengnan helped her up. "You’ve been with me for so many years. Why are you still so timid?"

Shuang’er’s voice trembled with a heavy nasal tone. "Miss, what we did before had never been noticed. Today, not only has Master Song’s matter been exposed, but also those we previously harmed have been unearthed... I’m really scared."

Xue Shengnan’s eyes were cold, but her expression remained calm. "The more afraid you are, the easier it is for others to suspect. Besides, Xue Yan’er has become my scapegoat. This case will soon be closed."

The items in the room were somewhat disorganized after the search by the soldiers. She calmly sorted through them as if today’s events were trivial.

Seeing her young mistress so composed, Shuang’er gradually calmed down.

She took a deep breath before saying, "But how could Second Miss admit to the crime? Lord Qin is known for his strict fairness. If there are doubts in the case, how could he close it?"

Xue Shengnan bit her lip, feeling unusually troubled.

She never expected that the past would be dug up like this. Unable to do anything else, she could only let Xue Yan’er be the scapegoat.

With things having developed to this point, turning back was no longer an option for her.

Xue Shengnan closed her eyes briefly and regained her composure. Slowly tracing the rim of her cup, she spoke softly, "As long as the Song family causes a commotion, this case will be closed."

Using someone else to do her dirty work was a tactic she was accustomed to.

Shuang’er, sensing her mistress had a plan, was now completely calm. "It’s good if Miss has a way. But now that the Xue family is in such a state, perhaps we should stop here. Even if we proceed with the plan, it might not succeed."

It was better to commit fewer sins, which would help her sleep better at night.

But Xue Shengnan’s expression changed. "We’ve come this far. How can I stop now?"

"Miss..." Shuang’er lowered her voice, trying to persuade her. "The Xue family is under scrutiny. Any further actions from us could easily be used against us."

Xue Shengnan tightened her jaw, still unwilling to give up.

"It’s just a man. Miss, if we give up on this one, could there not be another?"

Shuang’er continued, but Xue Shengnan ran her fingers through her hair, her eyes gradually turning cold and ruthless. "But in this world, there’s only him, Chu Ye, who can make me feel this way. Fine, I’ll listen to you."

Shuang’er breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

But before she could fully rejoice, Xue Shengnan added, "But whether I marry Chu Ye or not, Xiao Wanyi cannot live happily with another woman."

How could she bear to see her beloved man living happily with another woman while their family was in harmony?

What she couldn’t have, no one else should expect to have.

Shuang’er sighed inwardly but did not try to dissuade her further. Xue Shengnan had already made a rare concession.

---

Every few months, the noble families and officials in the Capital held charity auctions, where they donated money and items to improve their family’s reputation. The event was organized by the Duchess of Yingguo, known for her amicable personality. She welcomed anyone genuinely interested in doing good deeds, regardless of their status or the value of their donations.

Today’s charity auction was no different, attracting a significant number of attendees.

The Mansion of Marquis Anyang, under the leadership of Chu Shuo, usually managed its own philanthropic efforts and did not often participate in such events. Despite this, Madam Shen still had a few items sent over to show support for the Duchess of Yingguo.

The Mansion of Marquis Anyang was currently at its peak, and others couldn’t help but feel envious. However, they all praised Lady of Marquis Anyang for her kindness and compassion, believing that the eldest son’s illness would soon improve.

After the steward of the Mansion of Marquis Anyang graciously thanked everyone, he departed.

Next to arrive was Lady Xiao.

Many officials and their families brightened up upon seeing her, warmly greeting her, "Lady Xiao, you’ve finally arrived!"

Madam Shen might not have come, but Lady Xiao, their relative by marriage, was here. Moreover, Xiao Wanyi was currently pregnant with the Chu family’s eldest grandson, elevating Lady Xiao’s status even further.

Lady Xiao’s background wasn’t particularly prestigious, and her husband was only a third-rank official, which was considered modest among the powerful families of the Capital.

Seeing everyone fawning over her, Lady Xiao understood their intentions. However, she remained graceful and courteous, acknowledging their greetings with humility.

As the crowd ushered Lady Xiao to her seat, the conversation naturally centered around the Mansion of Marquis Anyang.

Lady Xiao was thinking of finding an excuse to leave when suddenly, shouts from outside pierced the air, "There are valuable items inside! Rush in and grab them!"