The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 389 You are guilty, and so am I.

The Cao family's residence was shrouded in dark clouds, a somber and oppressive atmosphere prevailing.

The servants served him with utmost care, fearing that their master might be displeased and take the opportunity to punish him for any mistake.

The old lady fell ill.

Her eyes were glazed over, she wore a headband, and lay on her sickbed, refusing to eat, but had someone help her up.

She leaned against the old woman and looked at the tall and imposing Uncle Cao standing by the window.

"You're blaming your grandmother."

The man remained silent.

The old lady's eyes flickered.

Actually, I did feel guilty at times.

After all, the fact that the matter was resolved that day meant she allowed the second branch of the family to include the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife.

But what can she do?
This eldest grandson, if he doesn't want to do something, has always refused no matter who begs him. He certainly won't agree.

She had no choice but to act first and inform him later, by drugging his food to facilitate the marriage.

But Madam Cao did not expect Uncle Cao to react so strongly.

"Qian-ge'er, your grandmother is just worried about you."

Her hair was completely white, and she looked extremely haggard after so much had happened in the past few days.

“Your mother died early, and your father remarried. Your stepmother was too scheming. But your father was so infatuated with her that he treated you poorly.”

With tears in her eyes, she said, "It was my grandmother who personally raised you and nurtured you into adulthood."

“I know you have grievances in your heart. Your father was very biased when he was alive. If it weren’t for your ability, he would have given the title to your second brother long ago, and you would have fallen into that wicked woman’s hands long ago! That’s why when you moved out to open your own mansion, your grandmother never said anything.”

“I stayed in the old house and didn’t go with you. I know that as long as I’m here, I’ll be the anchor. I’m only protecting your stepmother and second brother because of me. I admit that I have my own selfish reasons.”

"It's also Grandma's fault. She carefully selected a wife for you, but she died young. You were heartbroken and didn't want to remarry. As a result, you've been lonely and haven't found anyone you like."

"But as long as I have a breath left, the Cao family line cannot be broken! With your second brother in such a state, how can Grandmother rely on him? Otherwise, how will I face my ancestors after I pass away?"

Uncle Cao let out a heavy sigh. But his expression was extremely grim.

He looked travel-worn, clearly having rushed over.

"Grandmother shouldn't have let my second brother's wife live with me..."

He couldn't continue.

"I thought you felt sorry for that Shu family."

Madam Cao has always been an old-fashioned person, and the practice of having multiple lineages is not uncommon throughout history.

She never felt anything was wrong.

"I feel sorry for her."

Madam Cao said, "She is filial and sensible. Since she married into the family, she has taken meticulous care of me. But it is precisely because of this that I have to make plans for her."

"You know perfectly well what kind of person your stepmother is. Over the years, you can't even count the number of servants who have been carried out of her room and beaten to death on one hand."

She never felt that she had done anything wrong.

They even used the pretext of being kind to Madam Cao.

"Shu suffered a lot under her nose. She couldn't have children, and your stepmother blamed her. Later, it was found that it was your second brother's problem. Your stepmother couldn't bear to take it out on her son, so she treated her even less like a human being."

"She's an honest girl and doesn't dare to say a word, but your second brother is useless. He just watches his wife being disciplined and can't protect her."

"There are many things I know, but what about the things I don't know?"

Without children, one cannot gain a foothold in one's husband's family.

Madam Cao said with certainty, "But if she is pregnant, then it will be different."

“The child is the continuation of the Cao family line. As long as the child is registered under your second brother’s name, your stepmother will be overjoyed and would absolutely not dare to cause any trouble.”

"That child is your flesh and blood, so you have a successor."

"You and Shu are practically husband and wife, so she'll have someone to rely on for the rest of her life."

As Madam Cao spoke, she became more and more self-righteous: "Grandmother is doing this from the bottom of her heart for your own good, and for the good of this family."

Uncle Cao sneered. His eyes were sharp as he stared directly at Old Madam Cao.

"Is that really the case?"

"Wasn't Grandmother doing this on purpose, to keep me in check?"

Madam Cao is very old and has one foot in the grave.

Regardless of whether Shu had a child that happened just once.

The mere fact that they had a relationship was enough to infuriate him, but if Old Madam Cao were to pass away one day, he couldn't possibly abandon the second branch of the family.

When I woke up that day, my sister-in-law was no longer beside me.

But Cao Bogong remembered what happened when he was infatuated.

The Cao family knew Cao Bogong's temper; if he knew that Cao Ershou was just like him, he would definitely make a scene.

He was unaware that his sister-in-law had long been imprisoned by the Cao family.

Cao Bogong assumed she was shameless and knew what was going on, and that she was plotting against him. Enraged, he felt these people were shameless, stormed out, and returned to Jiangnan.

He was already on his way to take up a post in Jiangnan, and he made a special trip back to celebrate the old lady's birthday.

Before he even reached Jiangnan, he learned that the Shu family had reported him to the authorities. Realizing something was amiss, he rushed back.

After being touched by him, Old Madam Cao's face also looked unpleasant.

After all, the second grandson was disappointing; without Qian'er's protection, he really would have been...

How could she not know that Qian'er had a perfectly good job in the capital and insisted on going to Jiangnan to take up his post? It was obvious that he didn't want to have too much to do with the second branch of the family.

"you!"

Her face turned pale with anger.

Just then, someone was thrown in, bound hand and foot and gagged.

It is the second master of the Cao family.

Immediately afterwards, Madam Cao ran inside, sobbing.

"Qian-ge'er, why are you tying up your brother? We're all family, are you crazy?"

Uncle Cao didn't look at her, but strode forward and grabbed Second Master Cao by the collar.

"Bastard thing!"

"You have absolutely no shame, huh?!"

"If you only schemed against me, I would respect you more, but I never expected you to scheme against even the person next to you in bed!"

Master Cao was so frightened that his face turned ashen and he couldn't breathe.

Cao Bogong released his grip, kicked him in the chest with disgust, looked around, and made a statement.

"The entire Zhou family will be executed today, so the Censorate should have some free time. There's no need for them to come and arrest and interrogate. I'll take my second brother to confess his crimes right now."

Madam Cao's eyes widened: "Are you crazy?!"

"The matter is in an uproar outside, and the Cao family has completely lost face. Instead of trying to calm things down, you want to harm your own family?"

Knowing that her stepson hated her, she went to the old lady for help.

"Mother!"

"Mother, Ancestor, please persuade them."

Cao Bogong raised his hand, and soon someone entered from the front, carrying a rope, to tie Cao's wife's hands.

"Does your stepmother think you can escape?"

Ignoring Madam Cao's insults, Uncle Cao took a deep breath and knelt down before Old Madam Cao, who was about to sternly stop him.

“I have already sent a divorce agreement to the Shu family in the name of the Cao family head.”

“Grandmother is confused, but you are old. I will take the blame for your sins out of gratitude for raising me. I will never care about you or the Cao family again.”

Madam Cao's face turned pale.

Is this a complete break from the Cao family?
She hurriedly said, "Qian-ge'er, you..."

Cao Bogong: "You are guilty, and I am guilty as well. Whatever the Censorate decides, you must accept it, and I will accept it too."