The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 147 He Has No Choice But to Return To...
Shangjing.

The white silk banners covering the entire Shun Guogong Mansion have not been removed.

It was a bright, sunny day, yet everywhere seemed desolate.

The servants in the main courtyard were trembling with fear and dared not make a sound.

Lady Shunguo, lying on the couch, was facing the wall. She looked much thinner, and the bruises and marks on her neck were glaring.

The one speaking was the sister-in-law of the Duchess of Shunguo, who was standing to the side.

“My mother-in-law has cried and cried about Guizhi’s return, and right now she’s most worried about you.”

“We’ve been keeping your situation a secret, for fear of upsetting her. She wanted to come with me today. But she’s getting old and her health isn’t what it used to be. It’s not good for her to see you in your current state. Your brother and I have tried to persuade her again and again.”

Lady Shunguo did not react.

She was the stunning eldest daughter of the Marquis of Ningguo, who was famous in the capital. She was dignified, skillful, and adhered to her plans. She was admired and envied by outsiders throughout her life.

Although she was jilted once, she never became a laughing stock.

She remained glamorous and, after being granted a marriage by the late emperor and being courted by the Wei family, married into the Duke of Shun's mansion.

A year later, she gave birth to Wei Zhao.

Her husband was a man of great literary talent and cared for her deeply. From the time they got married until the New Year, she remained chaste and celibate, without taking any concubines or mistresses.

The son is outstanding. From the Imperial Academy to the military camp, he has made every step quickly and steadily.

Among the women in the capital, who is as fortunate as her?

But right now, she is like a withered flower.

It was bleak and hopeless.

My sister-in-law from my maternal family said, "You absolutely mustn't do anything rash. This huge Duke Shun's mansion still needs you to hold it together."

The Duchess of Shun remained silent.

Seeing that she hadn't heard, the woman had no choice but to quietly leave the room.

She had been waiting outside for a long time. As she approached, the stern-faced middle-aged man asked in a low voice.

"How's the persuasion going?"

The woman finally broke down, shook her head, wiped her tears with her handkerchief, and said in a sobbing voice, "Don't you know what kind of temper your sister has? She's stuck in a dead end. How can you persuade her about something like this? This child... is the most promising child in our family. Even I, as her aunt, can't sleep at night, let alone her mother."

Inside the room, the Duchess of Shunguo didn't want to speak; even breathing was painful.

She dreamt of the Duke of Shun yesterday, and he looked just like he did when he was young.

He wore a white robe and had a face as handsome as jade.

It's ironic. This is the first time Wei Fengxing has appeared in her dream since his death. Her husband, who has never been hostile towards her, looks at her with unusually distant eyes.

He said.

"Why didn't you take good care of Guizhi?"

"Su Chan, ask yourself honestly, are you a good mother?"

Is she?
Probably not.

She had too high expectations of Wei Zhao.

Strict in everything.

Other mothers would be eagerly waiting at their doorsteps when their children returned from school.

Are you hungry? Mom has asked the kitchen to make some of your favorite snacks, have some to tide you over.

But what about her.

They place the utmost importance on rules and etiquette.

When Wei Zhao first began his education, he stayed in the room, waiting for the servant to bring him over to pay his respects.

All she does is ask questions.

—How did you behave at school today? Did you write down what the teacher taught? Mother will check later.

At that time, Wei Zhao was a tiny little boy who could barely walk steadily, yet he was able to bow and greet her.

And then... well, he was just a child at heart.

Get close to her.

Shout it softly.

"Auntie."

He said in a very, very soft voice.

"Xiao Huaiyan started crying and wanted to go home as soon as he arrived today. His parents took him back and asked for ten days off."

"I……"

He carefully observed his mother's expression.

"I don't want to go either."

The Duchess of Shunguo only said two words: "No."

Having received the answer, Xiao Wei Zhao's eyes flashed with sadness, tears welling up, and he sniffed.

"Gui Zhi understands."

Later, when Wei Zhao was eight years old, he transferred from the school to the Imperial Academy.

Lady Shunguo caught a cold, and Wei Zhao stood by her bedside to attend to her. "Aren't you going to the Imperial Academy?"

Wei Zhao: "I want to stay with my mother."

The Duchess of Shunguo's voice was unusually hoarse.

"Don't be lazy. I have maids and servants here. Why do you need to stay here?"

The Duke of Shunguo had just brought the medicine in from outside when he heard this and began to have a headache.

"Your child is being filial and loves you, so why are you doing this?"

“Studies are important, but it won’t matter if he misses a day or two. Even if he misses a whole month, he will still get the top score in the monthly exam.”

"I have agreed to everything, and the Master has already sent someone to reply."

Lady Shunguo looked at Wei Zhao.

"Guizhi, you don't need your mother to tell you what you should or shouldn't do at your age."

and then?
Then the son and she gradually drifted apart.

He excels in everything he does, and there's nothing to criticize about him.

Once, the Duchess of Shunguo bumped into a group of students from the Imperial Academy as she came out of a restaurant.

The group, dressed in student uniforms, chatted and laughed.

Lady Shunguo spotted Wei Zhao in the crowd at a glance.

She couldn't help but sigh at how fast time flies; before she knew it, he was already as tall as her husband.

Wei Zhao's expression was indifferent, but his eyes and brows exuded nobility and composure.

At that time, the woman standing next to the Duchess of Shun was the wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong, Xiao Huaiyan's mother.

Lady Zhongyong: "It all comes down to the feng shui of the Wei family. Which of the people they raised was bad?"

"Look at Gui Zhi, his demeanor and his bearing."

"It's you. Marrying you has been smooth sailing, with no troubles to deal with. You're surrounded by caring people, and you've regained your vitality."

The students over there also saw them.

Lady Shunguo saw with her own eyes that when Wei Zhao saw her, the smile on his face faded.

"mother!"

Xiao Huaiyan strode towards the Lady of Zhongyong Marquis.

"You just ate at a restaurant?"

"That's perfect."

Xiao Huaiyan turned his head and waved his hand.

"Please enjoy your meal, everyone. My mother is paying the bill today."

"Stinky boy!"

Lady Zhongyong asked irritably, "Where's your monthly allowance?!"

"It cost money."

"Oh, right, I also borrowed three hundred taels from Wei Zhao, and Mother helped me pay it back as well."

"How could someone have enough to spend? Why would they lend you any?"

Xiao Huaiyan: "He's incredibly boring. Aside from buying books, he rarely spends money. Is he like me?"

Wei Zhao walked the slowest.

Unlike Xiao Huaiyan, who approached to help his mother, she stood out from the crowd, stopping three steps away from the Duchess of Shun.

He bowed his hands in salute.

"Mother."

The wife of the Duke of Shun was satisfied: "Hmm."

then……

The mother and son remained silent.

Lady Shunguo didn't think anything was wrong, and neither did Wei Zhao.

Wait for the students to enter the restaurant.

She and Lady Zhongyong entered the carriage one after the other.

Lady Zhongyong felt something was very wrong.

"Why do you two look like you don't know each other?"

The Duchess of Shunguo remained seated upright, her emotions unreadable. She simply asked, "What are your requirements for Huaiyan?"

Lady Zhongyong: "A request? As long as he doesn't annoy people, that's fine."

She suppressed her smile: "My lord holds power, and like your Wei family, he is feared by the emperor. I don't expect him to rise above others; I only hope that Huaiyan can live a peaceful and stable life, even if... even if he is mediocre, it doesn't matter."

Thinking of these past events, the Duchess of Shun remained silent, but tears welled up in her eyes and soaked her pillow.

Some things are destined to have an ending from the very beginning.

He could only return to him... he had no other choice.