After sharing a body with her husband

The gossipy women lowered their voices even further.

"If you ask me, that makes sense. Originally, that young lady was just an adopted daughter of the Xiao family, destined to marry Xie Zhaoqing of the third branch. But after this exchange marriage, she's suddenly become Old Madam Wei's own daughter-in-law."

Xie Taichangqing only has one younger brother, Seventh Master. How could he and his wife not take care of their younger brother's family? Naturally, this marriage is more to the Xiao family's liking.

"But the only legitimate son of the Xiao family was schemed against by Xie Zhaoqing. He was unjustly smeared with a huge basin of dirty water and it took a lot of effort to clear his name."

Some people still didn't understand, and they wished the Xie and Xiao families would fight each other to satisfy their desire to watch the drama unfold.

"But what's done is done. Besides, Xie Zhaoqing was possessed by an evil spirit and has already committed suicide in anger. The Xie and Xiao families are still in-laws; how can we afford to break off relations?"

Some people say she's just being mysterious.

"Besides, that young man from the Xiao family didn't suffer any loss; he's the one on top..."

She winked and made a face, the meaning of which was self-evident; the others covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and chuckled.

"Oh, that makes sense!"

Another woman, dressed rather simply, spoke with a hint of sourness.

"Hey, you guys think the Xiao couple treats their adopted daughter really well? I heard they gave her a pretty good dowry. Neither side is short of money for her."

There are no concubines vying for favor and causing trouble in the household, and even the household affairs are managed by the eldest sister-in-law. She has a very leisurely life. That little girl is truly blessed…”

……

Pei Zhiying specially made sesame cakes for Shang Lingjun's family cook, which was Shang Lingjun's favorite food since childhood.

Shang Lingjun ate, but at this banquet, under the watchful eyes of so many people, she outwardly continued to chat intimately with Pei Zhiying as usual.

"Ah Ti, I knew you were thinking about the sesame cake! Have another one!"

Pei Zhiying pushed the small plate of sesame cakes toward Shang Lingjun. Seeing that Shang Lingjun was eating with relish, she felt a little relieved.

She had initially worried that Shang Lingjun would become estranged from her family, but now that she's finally grown up, she's become the sister-in-law of Xie Taichangqing's own brother.

There's plenty of time ahead, and if we drift apart and become estranged, it would be a real loss.

Fortunately, Ati was only angry for a moment. Now that her anger has subsided, she is still close to her adoptive mother.

That's true, this child is simple-minded, how could he think of so many things?

It was just a little tantrum.

Anyway, now that A-Jing's problem has been solved, what else does she have to worry about?

Thinking of this, Pei Zhiying's smile became even more genuine.

"Before I came, your brother reminded me several times to bring sesame cakes for his sister. They had to be made by Chef Li herself. Your brother really cares about you, his sister."

Shang Lingjun paused in eating the cake, silently lowered her hand, and gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

She looked up at Pei Zhiying, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Brother, you've come too?"

Pei Zhiying flicked her handkerchief and said, "Don't you know your brother? He loves horse racing the most. He hasn't been out for a long time, so he took this opportunity to come out and get some fresh air."

[Horse racing, horse racing, why not race him to death?]

Shang Lingjun cursed inwardly.

At that moment, Xie Zhiyuan ran over.

"Auntie, let's go outside and take a look. It's so boring sitting here! There's a group of young men racing horses outside, and the prize is a string of pearl necklaces. They're so beautiful!"

Just then, Shang Lingjun also wanted to get some fresh air. She really disliked these kinds of social gatherings, with their fake smiles and gossiping about everyone.

"Great! My brother must be going to the horse race too. Mother, would you like to go with him?"

Shang Lingjun asked politely.

Pei Zhiying still had things to say to Old Madam Wei, and besides, why should an elderly woman like her join in the fun? Let the young people watch the excitement.

Furthermore, seeing that Shang Lingjun no longer harbored any resentment towards A Jing, she thought she should let the two siblings talk alone and reconcile.

"I won't go, you guys go ahead, by the way..."

Pei Zhiying pulled Shang Lingjun aside and whispered:

"By the way, Ati, I don't know what's wrong with Ajing lately, he's become obsessed with a woman surnamed Meng, he's been keeping her outside and spoiling her rotten, and he's brought her along too."

I can't find out anything about her, and A-Jing won't tell me anything either. A-Jing trusts you, so please help me sound her out. Don't let those shady characters lure her away...

Shang Lingjun raised an eyebrow. A woman surnamed Meng?

Isn't that Xie Zhaoqing after the face swap?

Shang Lingjun also lowered her voice to a very low level.

"Mother, don't worry. She's just some pretty girl from a brothel. Let him keep her if he wants. Besides, it's a good thing that my brother likes women now. It shows he's not a womanizer."

Pei Zhiying was stunned for a moment.

"That's true!"

She said that A-Jing likes women, so how could he be a womanizer? It was Xie Zhaoqing who corrupted A-Jing!

As Ati is right, no matter where she comes from, she's still a million times better than that male prostitute Qiang Ge, right?

Pei Zhiying's mind raced, and she looked at Shang Lingjun again, as if to confirm her suspicions, and asked:

"Ati, it's good that you don't resent your mother anymore, then you don't resent your brother either, right?"

Shang Lingjun shook her head; though she was smiling, the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"My brother was also harmed by villains. It was all a misunderstanding. I don't blame him."

Hearing Shang Lingjun say this, Pei Zhiying was completely relieved. She gently brushed some stray hairs from Shang Lingjun's temples.

She thought to herself that this child was simple-minded and easy to fool. The general was right; she must win her heart and make her always think of her family.

"Alright, alright, Mother knew Ati was a sensible and good child. Go, go and talk to your brother!"

"Oh, right, Mother..."

Suddenly, Shang Lingjun had a flash of inspiration, a sly glint in her eyes.

"If Mother really doesn't like that woman, she should control the money in Brother's hands. Without money, he naturally won't be able to support the beauty."

Pei Zhiying seemed to be thinking, "That's a good idea. Let me see how things go."

"Alright, I'll be going now, Mother."

The smile on Shang Lingjun's face faded the moment she turned around.

Xie Zhaoqing is really bold. Does she really want to be a mistress who can't be seen in public? Without a decent status, how dare she show her face at such a formal banquet?

Shang Lingjun is now very curious about what kind of identity Xiao Jing will give Xie Zhaoqing.

Since they're from out of town, they must have some family background, right?

It's strange, Xiao Jing kept her outside without taking any care of her.

This led Pei Zhiying to discover Xie Zhaoqing's existence—a woman casually kept by a man outside the home, for whom giving her a wealthy and prestigious status was of no use.

Pei Zhiying had already formed a preconceived notion that the Meng woman was an improper and frivolous woman.

That's why Shang Lingjun said that just now.

Recalling her past life, Xie Zhaoqing would always curse her with extremely insulting words: whore, slut...

Countless times, she was compared to a prostitute, no, she was insulted as being even worse than a prostitute.

Shang Lingjun knew Xie Zhaoqing too well. Her arrogance was almost overflowing. She was proud of her ability to achieve success as a man, proud of her talent, and proud of her noble Xie family background.

In her own words, she was an upper-class noblewoman, a person from the heavens.

Ordinary people are nothing but ants, none of them can catch her noble eyes.

She was too arrogant, so she had a strong sense of superiority. In comparison, she looked down on women who depended on men for a living in the inner quarters, looked down on illiterate commoners, and despised those of low social status.

Women of low social status would never sell themselves into prostitution if they had any other means, but Xie Zhaoqing would only look down on them and think that it was others who willingly debase themselves.

What if this time, Xie Zhaoqing herself is mistaken for one of the people from that entertainment venue?

Could she bear it if the same insulting words were hurled at her...?