My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 81 Taking the Blame for Her Husband
He Jinlan frowned and looked at Lu Mingzhu, saying, "How dare you speak so arrogantly? My father is the future father-in-law of the Seventh Prince. How dare you tell my father to get lost like that?"

Lu Mingzhu said, "Even if he were just the Seventh Prince's father-in-law, or even if the Seventh Prince had bullied my daughter, I would not let him off easily today. Go and tell He Tan to get out here."

Upon hearing the commotion in the front courtyard, Liu Xiuxiu quickly instructed the maid beside her, "Go and keep an eye on the young master. Don't let him know that Princess Mingzhu has returned to Chang'an."

When Liu Xiuxiu saw Lu Mingzhu, that feeling of unease welled up in her heart once again.

Lu Mingzhu didn't even return before the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, so why is she back now? Liu Xiuxiu wondered if it was for the Seventh Prince's marriage.

"Sister," Liu Xiuxiu said to Lu Mingzhu with a light smile.

Lu Mingzhu snorted coldly and said, "Who do you think you are to call me sister? You don't even deserve to!"

“Princess,” Liu Xiuxiu said with a smile, “Princess, after eighteen years, you still have the same old temper.”

Lu Mingzhu glared at Liu Xiuxiu and said, "Go tell He Tan to get out here. I have nothing to say to you."

Liu Xiuxiu said, "My husband is busy with Jinlan's marriage to the Seventh Prince and has no time to see the Princess. If the Princess has anything to say, I can pass it on to my husband. After all, the Princess and my husband have been divorced for eighteen years and the Princess has remarried. It would not be good if the Princess's husband found out that the Princess still has contact with her ex-husband."

Lu Jinshi was amused by Liu Xiuxiu's shameless words, "You steal someone else's husband, do you think everyone is as shameless as you who steals other people's things?"

He Jinlan said angrily, "Lu Jinshi, my mother is still your stepmother. How dare you be so unfilial?"

"Does she even deserve to be my stepmother?" Lu Jinshi's eyes were full of mockery.

He Jinlan gritted her teeth and said, "Wait a few more days, and let's see if you're still this arrogant. Let's see if you can still laugh."

"Why can't I laugh?" Lu Jinshi asked.

He Jinlan said, "In a few days, when I enter the palace as the Seventh Prince's consort, you will have to kneel before me, and even Princess Mingzhu will have to kneel before me!"

Lu Jinshi found it laughable and said, "Do you really think the Seventh Prince's Consort is you? The Seventh Prince's Consort mentioned in the imperial edict is the eldest daughter of the He family."

He Jinlan sneered, "Not me? Could it be someone like you, an unmarried pregnant woman with no shame? The Seventh Prince is His Majesty's most favored prince. Do you even deserve to covet the position of the Seventh Prince's consort?"

Lu Mingzhu grew increasingly angry as she listened, and looked directly at Liu Xiuxiu, saying, "I'll give you a quarter of an hour to go and call He Tan out, or don't blame me for sending someone to your Marquis's residence to drag He Tan out."

Liu Xiuxiu frowned and looked at Lu Mingzhu, saying, "Princess Mingzhu, you have quite the nerve. This is the Yongxing Marquis's residence. If you were a princess, you wouldn't send people to search our residence, let alone a mere princess."

Lu Mingzhu said, "Then let's see if I dare to send people to search your Marquis's residence."

Liu Xiuxiu took a deep breath, and He Jinlan, standing beside her, pulled her hand and said, "Mother, this is the Marquis's mansion, our home. Are you really going to let Lu Mingzhu continue to be so arrogant? Please let Father come out and give Lu Mingzhu a good scolding."

"No, we absolutely cannot let your father see Lu Mingzhu," Liu Xiuxiu whispered to He Jinlan.

"Mother, why?"

After a long pause, Liu Xiuxiu walked up to Lu Mingzhu and said, "Princess Mingzhu, my husband is not in the manor. If you need anything, you can come to him or me. My husband and I are husband and wife."

Lu Mingzhu looked at Liu Xiuxiu and said, "Are you really like He Tan?"

Liu Xiuxiu smiled faintly and said, "Yes, my husband and I are husband and wife. If you have any problems, it's the same whether you go to him or me." Upon hearing this, Lu Mingzhu raised her hand and slapped Liu Xiuxiu hard. She then kicked Liu Xiuxiu in the knee, forcing Liu Xiuxiu to kneel in front of her.

Lu Jinshi looked at Lu Mingzhu in surprise. In her memory, her mother was always very gentle. This was the first time she had seen her mother so irritable, and also the first time she had seen her mother display her martial arts skills.

The servants of the He family all tried to step forward, but were all intimidated by Lu Mingzhu's gaze.

"Mother!" He Jinlan walked to Liu Xiuxiu's side, frowned and looked at Lu Mingzhu, saying, "Let go of my mother, Lu Mingzhu. When I become the Seventh Prince's consort, I will never forgive you!"

Looking down at Liu Xiuxiu, who was kneeling on the ground with a swollen face, Lu Mingzhu said condescendingly, "Liu Xiuxiu! I never wanted to lay a hand on you because it was too pointless. Putting you in my eyes was simply an insult to my eyes. Since you and He Tan are deeply in love and you want to take the blame for your husband, then I will grant your wish!"

Lu Mingzhu slapped Liu Xiuxiu hard across the face again. "I haven't settled the score with you for forcing me to take contraceptives and ruining my body back then. Now that my daughter is returning to the He family to observe mourning, you dare to force her to marry a notorious playboy. I can't let this score go so easily!"

Liu Xiuxiu felt her cheeks were red and swollen. He Jinlan went over and said, "Mother... I'm going to find Father. How could Lu Mingzhu bully you like this? I'm going to find Father and the Seventh Prince to get justice."

Lu Mingzhu said, "You'd better have your father come over!"

Liu Xiuxiu grabbed He Jinlan's wrist, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Lu Mingzhu and asked, "Has the princess calmed down?"

Lu Mingzhu said, "If I forced your daughter to marry a womanizer, would you be satisfied with just two slaps? Forget it, there's no point in settling scores with you. You should tell He Tan to stop being a coward."

Lu Mingzhu wiped her hands and said to Lu Jinshi, "Miaomiao, let's go visit the Empress Dowager first."

Lu Jinshi nodded and said, "Okay, Mother."

After leaving the He family's residence, Lu Mingzhu threw the handkerchief she had touched Liu Xiuxiu on the ground.

Inside the Marquis's residence, Liu Xiuxiu was helped up by He Jinlan. She swept her sharp eyes over the maids in front of her: "No one is allowed to tell the Heir Apparent about Princess Mingzhu's return to Chang'an. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."
-
When Lu Jinshi and Lu Mingzhu arrived at Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager was already there to greet them at the palace gate.

"Pearl."

"The Empress Dowager."

Lu Mingzhu stepped forward and bowed to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "I never thought I would live to see you return to Chang'an. After you return to Chang'an this time, will you leave again?"

Lu Mingzhu said, "Empress Dowager, I have become accustomed to handling academy affairs in Shanyin City. After Jinshi's wedding, I think I will have to return to Shanyin. I am truly unfilial and unable to fulfill my filial duties to you."

The Empress Dowager gently patted Lu Mingzhu's hand and said, "It's good that you have a filial heart. I never thought that your mother and I would actually become in-laws in the end. Back then, you disliked the constraints of the palace and were unwilling to enter it, but your daughter did enter the palace."

Lu Mingzhu said, "This is also a preordained fate. However, Jinshi is even more wild than me. I don't know how Jinshi will manage to live in the palace."

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly at Lu Mingzhu and said, "Mother, you don't need to worry too much about your daughter. I know the rules of the palace and I won't do anything reckless."

The Empress Dowager smiled at Lu Mingzhu and said, "As long as I am still alive, I will protect Jinshi for you. You can rest assured."