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

Meng raised an eyebrow slightly and walked to stand in front of Gu Mingshuang.

"Ming Shuang, Yuan'er mentioned many times in his letters back then that you are a virtuous woman, not the kind of jealous woman who can't tolerate others."

"Don't worry, although you will be a concubine in name only, you will still be a proper daughter-in-law in my heart, and there will be no difference in age between you and Ayu."

As she spoke, Madam Meng took off the jade bracelet from her hand and put it on Gu Mingshuang's wrist, applying a bit more force with her movements.

"As long as you are of one mind with the Marquis's family and are a good helpmate to Yuan'er, no one will be able to look down on you in the future."

Her kind and benevolent gaze carried a hint of warning, urging Gu Mingshuang to prioritize Song Linyuan's future.

Gu Mingshuang looked at the red mark on her wrist, and her eyes darkened.

She felt sorry for her mother-in-law, who had lost her legitimate son more than ten years ago and was frail and sickly. She spent a lot of money to invite a famous doctor to examine her mother-in-law and searched for rare medicinal materials from all over the country.

To ease her mother-in-law's burden of handling the wedding arrangements, she renovated the Marquis's residence in Song Linyuan's name even before she entered the family, and stayed up for several nights just drawing up the plans!

But now, Meng is asking her to give up her position as the principal wife?

She gripped her sleeves tightly and looked into the ancestral hall.

Song Zhenliang, the second uncle of Song Linyuan, came to Qingzhou half a year ago.

Uncle Song made a special trip to kneel before her father's grave to express his gratitude for saving his life, and vowed that the Song family would recognize her as the matriarch.

When Song Zhenliang met Gu Mingshuang's gaze, he frowned and quickly looked away.

Back then, Madam Meng cried in the ancestral hall, praising the Gu family for their great kindness and virtue, and even saying that she would be willing to give the entire Marquis's mansion to that Gu family girl!

But in just over half a year, he didn't expect the Meng family to change their attitude.

But now that the direct line has an heir, his second uncle could no longer say anything and could only offer some advice:

"Ming Shuang had already married Lin Yuan in Qingzhou. Although they hadn't consummated their marriage due to the mourning period, she was still Lin Yuan's wife."

"Her willingness to relinquish her position as the principal wife demonstrates her virtue and kindness, but none of us in the Song family can underestimate her; otherwise, I, as her second uncle, will be the first to object!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, smiling and praising the Song family for having such a rare and virtuous woman as Gu Mingshuang in the family.

But such sweet words sounded particularly disgusting to Gu Mingshuang, and she gave a mocking laugh.

They regretted their promise to make her the matriarch, but they didn't want their newly found heir to be blamed for betraying his wife. So they used the word "virtuous" to force her to sacrifice herself and make way for Song Linyuan and the future of the whole family!

She lowered her eyes, a coldness surging within them.

For the past ten years, she has been by his side, supporting him with all her might and giving her all. She has always placed Song Linyuan in the most important place in her heart, and even sold her family property to travel thousands of miles to the capital for him.

Unexpectedly, in the end she was not even worthy of being the principal wife, and was only a concubine with an empty reputation for virtue!

Gu Mingshuang clenched her fingers, the stinging pain in her palms making her even more awake.

All that sincere effort she put in over the past ten years has been wasted!

She would never submit to being his concubine!

Gu Mingshuang stood up briskly, looked at the crowd in front of her, and spoke calmly but firmly.

"With all the elders of the clan here, they will bear witness for Mingshuang. Regarding her official title, Mingshuang will follow the arrangements of the Marquis's Mansion..."

Madam Meng smiled with satisfaction. She knew it. How dare a wild girl from Qingzhou compete for status in a prestigious family?

Once you think it through, you'll realize that being a concubine in a noble household is quite prestigious.

Lingxiang frantically grabbed her mistress's sleeve, but her mistress pressed her hand down.

She breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw the girl's calm gaze.

Gu Mingshuang composed herself, raised her eyes, and spoke calmly.

"If I become a concubine in the future, I should not bear the responsibilities of the Crown Prince's wife. Let's settle the accounts today to avoid any misunderstandings caused by unclear accounts when the Crown Prince's wife enters the household."

Several clan elders looked over with surprise.

No one knew that Gu Mingshuang hadn't even entered the house yet, so how could there be accounts and household liquidation?

Gu Mingshuang looked up at the butler beside her.

"Please trouble the steward to bring out the Marquis's account books."

The butler paused for a moment, then said with difficulty:

"Isn't it inappropriate to settle accounts today?"

Gu Mingshuang stared at him intently.

"This money was spent on the Marquis's residence by me in my capacity as the heir apparent's principal wife. If I don't take it back, how can I be considered to have voluntarily requested to become a concubine?"

"If concubines have to pay extra money to become concubines, what will others think of the Marquis's mansion?"

Meng's brows twitched slightly, and she raised her eyes to say:

"Alright, go to the ledger, check it, and have the accountant withdraw the silver. Whether it's one hundred taels or two hundred taels, take an extra one hundred taels as a token of my appreciation."

Madam Meng looked at Gu Mingshuang with disdain. She remembered that it was just a little money for medicine, at most a hundred taels of silver. It was good that she gave it to her, otherwise it would be embarrassing for the Marquis's mansion to have the money of a concubine.

The steward reluctantly retrieved the account book, looked at Madam Meng, frowned, and said in a low voice:

"Madam, the monthly consultation fees and medicine costs are nearly five hundred taels, not to mention the renovation costs of the Marquis's residence. All in all, it's probably more than five thousand taels. Where will the accountant come from..."

Madam Meng's face turned pale, and she looked at the steward in disbelief.

"What are you talking about? How could our Marquis's mansion have used so much of her money!"

Faced with Meng's questioning, the butler frowned and remained silent, handing over the account book directly.

Previously, the soon-to-be-married Princess Consort Gu handled everything properly and thoughtfully, and also took care of the Marquis's reputation. Therefore, most of the money entered the Marquis's public account in the name of the heir apparent.

The lady was in poor health and usually only cared about maintaining her health, arranging flowers and enjoying tea. She rarely concerned herself with mundane matters such as firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Therefore, she only knew that Madam Gu had invited a famous doctor and sent some tonics.

At this moment, as Meng looked at the account book, her face turned paler and paler.

She'd only seen it for three months and it already cost 2,500 taels! Not to mention the cost of renovating the house later!

Hearing the doubts and questions from the clan elders behind her, Meng's face turned red and white in turns.

With a snap, Madam Meng slammed the account book shut.

Seeing that his mother's expression was not good, Song Linyuan quickly pulled Gu Mingshuang aside, looked up at her, and gestured for her to prioritize the overall situation and let the matter drop in front of the clan elders to maintain the dignity of the direct line.

Gu Mingshuang didn't look at Song Linyuan again. She calmly pulled back her sleeve, stepped forward, and spoke to the Song family elder behind her in a calm and composed tone:

"Please wait a moment, elders. Madam is kind and will make proper arrangements."

She ignored Song Linyuan's pleading gaze and no longer took on any responsibility for him as she had done before.

She publicly took out her account book to settle accounts, intending to make the mother and son see the situation clearly and that she was not a pushover.

Madam Meng gripped the account book, managing to calm herself down.

"Mingshuang, you have done so much for the Marquis's mansion in the past six months, you have truly put your heart into it."

"How can your feelings be measured solely by money? I will prepare a generous gift, no less than that, to take you as my concubine..."

Gu Mingshuang looked up.

"Is Madam preparing a five-thousand-tael gift for my concubine?"

Meng's face stiffened, and sure enough, she heard the surrounding clansmen and even servants gasp in astonishment.

Her face turned completely cold. A concubine gift of five thousand taels of silver was something that couldn't be found anywhere else in the entire capital!

Besides, where would she get the money?

Song Linyuan frowned as he looked at the woman in front of him.

After arriving in Kyoto, Gu Mingshuang changed into simple clothes according to her mother's preference. However, despite her plain appearance, her beauty was still striking, like a summer flower in full bloom.

But at this moment, looking at that beautiful face, he was utterly shocked.

Why is Gu Mingshuang, who is usually obedient and easy to talk to, all prickly today, showing no regard for her past reputation?

Those who were already at odds with the direct descendants couldn't help but speak first.

"To take five thousand taels of silver and then refuse to let the girl into the house—such an outrageous thing being said in the ancestral hall must have truly opened the eyes of our ancestors!"

Meng said urgently:

"She gave all of this willingly!"

The clansmen all mocked, knowing that without the support of the direct line, the family was in dire straits, and the Meng family rarely had to pay for many clan affairs.

But now they realize that this direct descendant spent five thousand taels of silver in just six months! Not a single penny of that five thousand taels went to the clan!

Before Meng could speak, Gu Mingshuang stepped forward and said calmly:

"Madam, it is my way of showing my appreciation by arranging medical treatment and buying medicine for you. It is alright to not count it for now."

Meng frowned.

"My illness only improved thanks to Ayu's company. Your efforts in hiring doctors and buying medicine were just superficial and ultimately useless."

Gu Mingshuang sneered inwardly and continued:

"Alright, even if I wasted my money on the medicine, the money spent on renovating the mansion and preparing the dowry for the eldest daughter of the family really needs to be sorted out first."

Meng's face turned bright red, but who knew that Gu Mingshuang would also mention the preparation of her dowry!

"This is the ancestral hall! What right do you have to speak in front of the elders? How can someone as unfilial and disrespectful as you be allowed to enter the Marquis's mansion?"

Uncle Song's face flushed. He had just spoken up for Madam Meng, urging Madam Gu to ask to be his concubine, but now, seeing this scene, he felt his face burning.

"Sister-in-law! Madam Gu is Lin Yuan's first wife, and she has contributed money and effort to the Marquis's mansion. Yet you treat her like this, it's truly..."

He didn't utter the words "heartless," but everyone present had already realized what he meant.

As he spoke, Uncle Song glanced guiltily at Gu Mingshuang, then turned to Old Master Song, who was sitting at the head of the table.

"Grandpa, if such a thing really happens to my Song family, the reputation of our ancestors will be damaged, and it will also affect the future careers of Song family members in the imperial court."

Old Master Song nodded. He had been very satisfied with Song Linyuan before, but now he frowned with some displeasure.

"Well said. The Song family is a family with a distinguished history and integrity. They shouldn't do something that would make people criticize them behind their backs."

"Let's do as the Gu family girl said before, prepare a generous dowry for Lanyu, and then she can marry far away."

The clan elders frowned in displeasure at the commotion caused by a cousin.

Song Linyuan, however, paid no heed to the expressions of the elders. Upon hearing that he was to be married off to Lanyu, he immediately rushed forward and said, his face pale:

"No! I swore an oath by lighting a lamp in the temple that I must marry Lanyu! Otherwise, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Old Master Song's face turned even worse.

"Without parental consent or a matchmaker's consent, to swear an oath by lighting lamps—what kind of custom does the Song family have?"

Meng stepped forward and hurriedly said:

"Elders, you are all aware that I agreed to this matter, and it is certainly in accordance with the law and proper procedures!"

She pulled Gu Mingshuang aside and sighed.

"Mingshuang, I love you too. You're both my children. What am I supposed to do about this?"

"You've already sacrificed so much for Lin Yuan, why not grant his wish one more time? The three of you living a good life together from now on is more important than anything else!"