I just got divorced, and this cold, ruthless, and powerful minister is begging for a third child eve

On a sweltering summer afternoon, thunder rumbled and torrential rain shattered the solemn atmosphere of the Hou Mansion ancestral hall.

Gu Mingshuang stood outside the ancestral hall, her plain blue dress stained dark gray by the rain, making her appear even thinner.

Today was the day set for her to be included in the family genealogy, but an hour had passed and no one had summoned her inside. Standing under the eaves, she grew increasingly uneasy, her knuckles turning slightly white from gripping the umbrella handle so tightly.

Seeing her frowning, her maid Lingxiang comforted her:

"Girl, don't scare yourself. It's all over the place. The Lady of Ningyuan Marquis is the kindest person. She would never make things difficult for such a good daughter-in-law as you."

"Furthermore, if it weren't for our master's compassionate heart, who inadvertently saved the young master when buying a child groom, how could the Lady of the Marquis be reunited with her son now? For this favor alone, the Marquis's mansion should think highly of you!"

She paused, then adjusted the jade hairpin in her daughter's hair, her tone softening further.

"Moreover, in terms of looks and character, you are one of the best in Qingzhou. After your husband passed away, you single-handedly supported the family business!"

"When your son-in-law was seriously ill, you took care of him day and night, losing a lot of weight in the process. You even spent all your family's wealth to buy that life-saving medicine. Everyone in Qingzhou City said it was thanks to you that your son-in-law passed the imperial examination. If you ask me, it's not that you're marrying into the Marquis's family; it's that the Marquis's family is incredibly fortunate!"

Gu Mingshuang reached out and gently tapped Lingxiang's forehead.

"Alright, I know you have the sweetest tongue. But the Marquis's mansion is different from Qingzhou. You'd better be more discreet in the future and not cause trouble for your son-in-law."

Lingxiang nodded emphatically and smiled happily:

"Yes, after being added to the family genealogy, the young lady will no longer be the wife of a scholar, but the heir apparent of a marquis's household!"

Footsteps approached, and Gu Mingshuang immediately spotted the white figure—her newlywed husband, from whom she had been separated for almost half a year.

Song Linyuan was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, the dark cloud pattern on the cuffs exuding nobility, and a white jade ring at his waist further accentuated his gentlemanly demeanor.

Unlike his former gentle and scholarly air, after only a few months apart, he now exudes the dignified and noble air of a young master from a prominent family, appearing as refreshing as a gentle breeze and bright moon at first glance.

However, at this moment, his usually gentle eyes held a hint of apology. "Ming Shuang, you must be tired after waiting for so long. Come with me to the courtyard to settle down."

Gu Mingshuang was led outside by his hand. She frowned slightly and looked back at the direction of the ancestral hall.

"Husband, didn't we agree to pay respects to our ancestors and add our names to the family genealogy today?"

Seeing the troubled look in Song Linyuan's eyes, Gu Mingshuang felt a strong sense of unease.

She knew Song Linyuan too well; he must be hiding something from her!

"Husband, has something happened?"

Song Linyuan pursed his lips, looked away, not daring to look at her, but his brows were full of guilt.

"Mingshuang, come with me to settle in first, and we can discuss things later, okay?"

Seeing Song Linyuan's evasive attitude, Gu Mingshuang's heart sank. She pulled back her sleeve and walked quickly toward the ancestral hall.

"If my husband won't tell me, I'll go and find out for myself!"

Gu Mingshuang rushed towards the ancestral hall and almost bumped into the Lady Hou, who was being escorted out of the hall.

Lady Meng, the wife of the Marquis, was dressed in brocade and adorned with pearl hairpins. Although her well-maintained face was amiable, it also exuded the majesty of someone in a high position.

"Gu Shi, I transferred a nanny to teach you manners, just so you could act like this and disrupt the ancestral hall?"

Song Linyuan immediately stepped forward and pulled Gu Mingshuang to kneel down.

"Mother, please calm down. Mingshuang is just being immature. I will definitely teach her properly in the future."

Meng stared at Gu Mingshuang and said slowly:

"Alright, get up. If it weren't for your concern for the family, my Yuan'er wouldn't be able to return to the Marquis's mansion. Although you are not good at etiquette, you have done a great favor for our Ningyuan Marquis's mansion."

Hearing the cold and distant words between the lines, Gu Mingshuang refused to get up and stared fixedly at Meng Shi.

"Ming Shuang dared not get up. The Lady Hou once wrote that Ming Shuang should first worship the ancestors upon entering the family and be recorded in the family genealogy with her husband."

Song Linyuan frowned and interrupted Gu Mingshuang.

"Mingshuang, this is an ancestral hall. You can't cause trouble here. Come with me first!"

Gu Mingshuang bit her lip and turned to grab Song Linyuan's sleeve.

"I waited for three months in Qingzhou, and then another three months at the inn in Kyoto. My husband, can you just tell me directly when I will have to wait?"

Meng's eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke:

"Yuan'er, you are now the heir of the Marquis's mansion. After inheriting the title, you will be a first-rank marquis. There are some things that should not be delayed any longer."

Song Linyuan remained silent for a moment, his handsome features filled with apology, but his eyes hardened, and he finally spoke, word by word:

"Ming Shuang, two months ago, I almost drowned when I fell into the river on my way to the ancestral home. My cousin Lan Yu risked her life to save me. I have already promised my mother that I would marry my cousin."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Mingshuang's face froze.

The tightness in my chest felt like it was finally being blocked, making it hard to breathe.

No wonder the servants looked at her strangely when she entered the Marquis's mansion today, as if they were both contemptuous and pitying.

Having waited for so long at the entrance of the ancestral hall, she knew that something was bound to happen today, but she never expected it to be like this!

If Song Linyuan is going to marry his cousin, where will that leave the original wife?

Before Gu Mingshuang could speak, Lingxiang, with tears in her eyes, knelt down.

"Son-in-law! Are you out of your mind? You and the young lady have already paid your respects before the ancestral tablet! You already have a wife, how can you marry someone else?"

Song Linyuan frowned.

"My cousin ruined her reputation to save me. If I can't take responsibility for her and let this vulnerable woman go on living, how can I face her and her parents who sacrificed their lives for the country?"

Meng said in a deep voice:

"When Yuan'er was living away from home, Ayu was like my own daughter, fulfilling her filial duties for him for over ten years. If she were to suffer any injustice, I, as her mother, would be the first to disagree!"

Gu Mingshuang clenched her sleeves and spoke in a clear, crisp voice:

"My lord, I am grateful that my cousin saved you, but if she doesn't love you, wouldn't forcing a marriage only cause her parents more grief in heaven?"

"If you're still worried, we can easily find her a good husband outside of Kyoto and provide a generous dowry, so she can live a carefree life..."

Song Linyuan looked up, interrupting Gu Mingshuang.

"My cousin only wants to marry me, and I am willing to protect her for the rest of my life."

Gu Mingshuang clenched her sleeve so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palm through the fabric. The pain helped her suppress the surging emotions in her heart, and her eyes finally calmed down again.

"My lord, we are already married. Even if you were to marry my cousin, she could only be a secondary wife. You know that while 'secondary wife' sounds nice, it's really just a concubine. Wouldn't that be beneath my cousin?"

Song Linyuan frowned slightly.

"What do you mean by concubine? My cousin is the daughter of an official, and a noblewoman raised by my mother herself. With her status, she can only be the principal wife..."

Gu Mingshuang turned to look at him, a hint of resentment slowly rising and falling in her eyes.

"And what about me?"

Song Linyuan pursed his lips, and after a moment spoke:

"Ming Shuang, you come from a humble background and only know how to do business. You are not capable of being the mistress of the Marquis's mansion. I have already secured the title of concubine for you in front of the clan elders."

Gu Mingshuang was surprised that he would say such a thing, and she almost burst out laughing.

"Do you remember what you said when you were bowing before Father's spirit?"

At that time, he vowed that she would be the only one for him in his life.

Song Linyuan turned his face away, looking somewhat embarrassed and troubled.

"There's no need to bring those things up. At that time, I didn't know my true identity, nor did I know I would meet my cousin."

When his cousin was mentioned, a tender feeling unconsciously surfaced in Song Linyuan's handsome eyes.

"My cousin is different from you. She is noble and untouched by worldly affairs. She only wants the title of legal wife and disdains the infighting within the household and the management of the household. She will not compete with you for it."

"From now on, you will still be in charge of the household, and you will remain the mistress of the house."

He paused for a moment, then spoke solemnly.

"Mingshuang, we've been together for ten years. You understand me best. I hope you can grant my request and voluntarily relinquish your position as my legal wife."

The phrase "ten years of companionship" made Gu Mingshuang feel as if she had swallowed a fly, extremely disgusted.

She clenched her fists, and the last glimmer of hope in her eyes vanished, leaving only coldness.

She waited so long, selling her property and traveling thousands of miles to Kyoto, just to reunite with him.

But what awaited her were such shameless words!

This is the man her father poured all his efforts into cultivating! The husband she personally chose!

Lingxiang, crying, grabbed Gu Mingshuang's sleeve and sobbed softly:

"Miss, you can't agree to that! My sister became a concubine and was beaten to death by the mistress. She was wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave. They say concubines aren't even human, just objects!"

Song Linyuan's face darkened.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Even concubines in the Marquis's mansion are treated with the utmost respect, let alone Ming Shuang, who is also the housekeeper. Her children will be registered under the legal wife's name, just like legitimate children!"

As he spoke, Song Linyuan took Gu Mingshuang's hand.

"Ming Shuang, later in the evening, the elders of Lan Yu's maternal family will also be arriving to witness her grand wedding and to rightfully enter into our Marquis's family genealogy. If you refuse, the Xie family will not let it go!"

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"The Xie family elders are in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. If this matter causes suspicion, it will be a big problem for the Marquis's mansion, and it will also affect my succession to the title."

As Gu Mingshuang listened, she felt a chill run through her entire body.

If she doesn't agree, even if she forcibly takes the position of Crown Princess, she will still be a sinner who ruins her husband's future!

At that time, she, as the crown prince's wife with no backing, will only be abandoned by everyone, and how could she possibly have a day of peace?

But if she agreed to give up her position as the principal wife, she would be permanently confined to the status of a concubine.

A concubine who is not listed in the family genealogy and is forbidden from socializing!

A concubine who died and could be thrown away in a straw mat!