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

When Song Linyuan arrived, Li Xu was being dragged out of the teahouse.

As soon as he saw Song Linyuan, he immediately shouted:

"Young Master! Save me!"

Song Linyuan turned his head and met Jian Ying's gaze, his expression immediately freezing.

He steeled himself and stepped forward to ask:

"How did they offend the Duke? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Upon seeing Song Linyuan, Jianying grabbed Li Xu and threw him towards his subordinates, coldly saying:

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll only know after we investigate."

Seeing that Song Linyuan was still blocking the way, Jianying raised his voice.

"Is the young master also colluding with them? Why don't we go back together and find out?"

Song Linyuan quickly made way and said to Li Xu:

"Don't worry! I'll definitely find a way!"

As they were talking, Song Linyuan spotted Gu Mingshuang getting into the carriage and strode over to her.

"Ming Shuang! Wait!"

Gu Mingshuang frowned.

"Your Highness, I should return to the manor now."

Song Linyuan reached out and grabbed her sleeve.

"Mingshuang, could you please help me one more time? Li Xu has somehow offended the Duke of Anguo..."

Gu Mingshuang calmly pulled back her sleeve, interrupting Song Linyuan.

"Your Highness, the Duke of Anguo's mansion is not a marketplace where you can come and go as you please. I do not possess any extraordinary abilities."

Song Linyuan blurted out:

"But just now, the Duke of Anguo treated you very differently, perhaps..."

Gu Mingshuang's face was grim as she looked at Song Linyuan and said coldly:

"Your Highness, watch your words! My relationship with the Duke of Anguo is completely innocent. Are you trying to force me to my death?"

Her words were like a bucket of ice water being poured over him, and Song Linyuan's face turned pale.

Suddenly, he remembered that he had said the same thing to Gu Mingshuang before, for Ayu's sake.

"Do you only feel satisfied when you drive Ayu to her death?"

Only now does he realize that even he, who prides himself on being noble, is so selfish.

In his daze, Gu Mingshuang had already boarded the carriage and left.

Song Linyuan, standing still, frowned.

No, how can they be the same?

His relationship with Ayu was based on affection but remained within the bounds of propriety; they never crossed any lines.

Suddenly his face stiffened.

What about the Duke of Anguo's relationship with Ming Shuang?

Thinking of the courtyard gate that had closed in front of him, Song Linyuan's breathing became heavy.

Did nothing really happen?

The servant hurried forward.

"Young Master! Someone has arrived at the manor, saying that Madam is seriously ill and cannot take her medicine!"

Song Linyuan had no time to think about anything else and hurriedly returned to the Marquis's residence. After changing out of his wet clothes, he rushed to Shou'an Hall.

He hurried through a jumble of broken stones and tiles and entered the warm pavilion where Meng was temporarily housed.

Song Lanfang and Xie Lanyu were standing by, taking turns caring for Meng Shi on the bed.

Meng leaned against the soft pillow, her head covered in cold sweat, groaning in pain.

Upon seeing Song Linyuan, she weakly reached out her hand.

"Yuan'er, has everything been taken care of regarding Ayu?"

Song Linyuan nodded.

"Don't worry, Duke Anguo has already agreed not to pursue the matter."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and made way for Song Linyuan to sit at the head of the bed.

Supporting Meng Shi, Song Linyuan felt a mixture of foul and medicinal odors emanating from her nose, causing him to frown.

Madam Meng sighed again and said:

"I don't want to be a burden to you, but I really can't drink that medicine. Could you ask Madam Gu to get some more?"

Smelling this smell, Song Linyuan simply couldn't bring himself to ask his mother to make do again.

But he didn't know how to ask Gu Mingshuang for help.

Song Lanfang stepped forward and complained with dissatisfaction:

"In the past, Gu Shi was in charge of Mother's medicine. She used to pretend to be so filial, but now she's not saying a word. Is she deliberately washing her hands of the matter?"

Song Linyuan couldn't bear to listen any longer and frowned, saying:

"She probably didn't do it on purpose. She was confined to her quarters before, and she went out today to apologize to the Duke of Anguo's mansion. She doesn't know about her mother's situation yet."

Xie Lanyu wiped away her tears and comforted Meng Shi by patting her chest.

"Mother, don't worry, I'll go and ask my cousin-in-law..."

Song Lanfang grabbed Xie Lanyu and said through gritted teeth:

"Wouldn't you be throwing yourself to the wolves? Who knows what kind of humiliation she'll inflict on you!"

Xie Lanyu shook her head.

"I know my cousin's wife's personality. Once she gets her revenge, she definitely won't abandon my mother."

Song Linyuan looked at Xie Lanyu's fair neck, which was revealed when she lowered her eyes slightly. This woman, who was always aloof and self-possessed, was about to bow her head to someone for him.

He frowned and interrupted Xie Lanyu.

"Ayu, you're not feeling well either. I'll talk to Mingshuang about this."

As he spoke, he looked at Song Lanfang.

"Since Mother is unwell and Eldest Sister is injured and has difficulty walking, let's hand over the management of the household to Mingshuang."

Song Lanfang stood up angrily and limped forward.

"Lin Yuan, are you out of your mind? She's already planning to empty the entire manor and divorce you, and you're still handing over the management of the household to her? Are you asking her to embezzle from the manor?"

Song Linyuan frowned.

"Give her the reins of household management, and maybe she'll calm down? I just want to go back to the old days, when she managed things perfectly. Wasn't that good?"

Song Lanfang's face darkened even more.

"Lin Yuan! What kind of sweet talk did that Gu woman give you today? She's not truly committed to living with you!"

"Your legal wife is the matriarch of the Marquis's household, the future matriarch of the family! She absolutely cannot be a scheming woman like her!"

Song Linyuan bit his lip.

"But……"

Meng spoke weakly:

"She's still at the Marquis's residence. Let's set aside how to deal with her for now and resolve the medicine issue first. Mother really can't hold on much longer."

Song Linyuan responded and quickly turned to leave.

Xie Lanyu stepped forward to support Song Lanfang and spoke gently:

"Elder sister, please calm down. I am already extremely grateful that my cousin-in-law took the blame for me today."

"My cousin is right. If my cousin's wife is willing to stay and settle down, that would be great."

Standing there, Song Lanfang stomped her foot in anger.

"You've been sold out and you're still counting the money for them! That little vixen is really cunning; she said she wanted to leave, but she was manipulating us at every turn!"

"Thank goodness I came back this time, otherwise, with just the few of you, she would have bullied you terribly!"

"I won't let this go without teaching her a lesson!"

Xie Lanyu lowered her head, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

At this time, in Qingwu Garden.

Song Linyuan stood at the door for a moment before letting the old woman unlock the door.

As soon as he entered, he saw Gu Mingshuang sitting under the sycamore tree.

The sycamore trees in summer are lush and green, and she is dressed in a blue dress, which makes her delicate face look even more radiant.

The recliner she was sitting in swayed slightly, and she was flipping through something in her hands, as serene as a fairy in a painting.

Her appearance, even without elaborate makeup, was even more radiant, like a summer flower in full bloom, captivating the soul without needing any deliberate embellishment.

For the past ten years, seeing Gu Mingshuang has been as natural as holding his own left hand with his right, without any ripples in his heart.

But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that unlike Ayu's cool and aloof beauty, Gu Mingshuang's beauty is bright and striking.

If other men saw this scene, would they be tempted?

"Is the Crown Prince here to return the token? Just leave it here."

Seeing Song Linyuan lost in thought, Gu Mingshuang frowned slightly and lowered her head, not wanting to say anything more.

Song Linyuan finally came to his senses, and after a moment of confusion, he realized that he had forgotten about it.

He quickly said:

"My mother suddenly fell ill, and I was busy running around, so I didn't have time to go back and get the jade pendant."

Gu Mingshuang didn't speak, and Song Linyuan felt a chill in his heart.

She didn't ask a single question about her mother's illness.

Indeed, it was because he hadn't taught her well that year that she developed such a spoiled and selfish nature.

However, Song Linyuan couldn't care less about teaching at this moment, and he spoke:

"Mingshuang, I've come to discuss with you how to expedite another prescription for Mother..."

Gu Mingshuang slowly put down the paper in her hand, looked at Song Linyuan, and spoke after a moment.

"Does the young master genuinely think I'm foolish, or does he think I enjoy being taken advantage of?"

Song Linyuan frowned, and finally couldn't help but speak.

"Mingshuang, your mother is an elder after all. Parents are never wrong. She has always loved you. Recently, there has just been some misunderstanding. Could you please help her..."

A dark glint flashed across Gu Mingshuang's eyes.

"Song Linyuan, I've said it before, I don't like listening to this nonsense anymore. You might as well tell me clearly what I can get out of this, so that things will be cleaner between us."

Song Linyuan's face turned pale.

"Mingshuang, do you always have to speak to me with such veiled barbs? Can't we just talk to each other like we used to?"

Gu Mingshuang lowered her head.

"The young master hasn't repaid a single penny yet, and now he wants me to pay for the Marquis's estate. Should I be grateful to you?"

Song Linyuan's face turned bright red.

"I can pay for the medicine first."

As he spoke, he took out his money bag.

Gu Mingshuang looked at him and said:

"I also want the estate in Huishan under the Crown Prince's name."

Song Linyuan put on a stern face.

"Ming Shuang! That's the Song family's ancestral property, passed down only to the eldest son! I can give you any other shops or estates you want, but this..."

Gu Mingshuang stopped looking at him.

"I need to see the estate deed tonight, otherwise, Your Highness, you should think of another way. Lingxiang, see the guest out."