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

As soon as Song Linyuan left Qingwu Garden, a maid from Shou'an Hall rushed over and bumped into him.

Song Linyuan looked at her in surprise.

"Why aren't you serving your mother? What are you doing here?"

The maidservant quickly said:

"Your Highness! The lady is having a terrible headache!"

Song Linyuan's eyes were full of fatigue.

"How exactly are you taking care of me? If I'm sick, I should go see a doctor. What's the point of coming here?"

The maidservant quickly said:

"Your Highness, please calm down. It's just that when the former lady had headaches at night, it was always the Crown Princess who rushed over to massage her and relieve the pain."

Song Linyuan was stunned.

"Isn't your mother's illness controlled with medication? Why does she need massage as well?"

The maidservant quickly said:

"The lady gets headaches when she doesn't sleep well, and medicine doesn't help."

Song Linyuan frowned and said:

"The Crown Princess doesn't know medicine either, but she can do it. Why can't you servants do it?"

The maid lowered her head and whispered:

"We are too clumsy to learn this skill."

He was moved. Although she had learned some spoiled and greedy habits, she had still done good for the Marquis's mansion and for his mother.

Standing at the door, Song Linyuan's knuckles were slightly white.

"Go back and serve her. I'll invite the Crown Princess."

But just as Song Linyuan turned around, the candlelight in the main house of Qingwu Garden suddenly went out.

His face felt slightly hot.

I don't know how long I stood at the door.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed slightly, casting lonely shadows on him.

Even when she was his childhood sweetheart, she was always understanding and never made him bow his head and beg.

Footsteps sounded, and Granny Yan hurried over.

"Young Master! Miss Cousin has rushed to Madam's place and has already relieved her headache!"

The tension in Song Linyuan's heart eased, and he turned and hurried towards Shou'an Hall.

Shou'an Hall.

Before Song Linyuan even entered the door, he heard Song Lanfang cursing.

"I knew that Gu woman was vicious. She knows Mother's health best. She agreed to prepare the medicine on the surface, but she's just waiting here!"

"She's trying to use my mother's body as leverage to force us to submit to her! Once she succeeds, who knows what other conditions she'll impose!"

Song Linyuan frowned as he thought of the account books:

"Elder sister, there must be a misunderstanding. Mingshuang has put a lot of effort into the Marquis's mansion and Mother."

"I checked her accounts for renovating the Marquis's mansion today. She chose the best materials for everything, and she subsidized most of them privately. She also sold her property in Qingzhou."

Song Lanfang paused for a moment, then said in an annoyed tone:

"If she weren't after even greater benefits, why would someone like her be willing to sell her family property to spend money on the Marquis's mansion?"

"Lin Yuan, you're too kind, that's why she's repeatedly outmaneuvered you."

Song Linyuan's expression stiffened slightly.

"She did pick up some bad habits after coming to Kyoto, but she was truly devoted to her mother. Otherwise, why would she have consistently used the most expensive medicine and even learned massage herself?"

Song Lanfang crossed her arms and said disdainfully:

"These small favors are exchanged for the status of the future mistress of the Marquis's mansion!"

Song Linyuan's face turned even paler.

"If she truly cares so much about the position of Crown Princess, why is she so determined to divorce me? Is her claim of being heartbroken and leaving just a pretense?"

Xie Lanyu stepped forward and stopped Song Lanfang.

"Elder sister, cousin is right. Perhaps we've misunderstood cousin's wife. Which young lady in the capital doesn't hope for a harmonious life with her husband? Who would casually mention divorce?"

Song Lanfang had just been speechless when these words struck her like a straw, and she angrily retorted:

"She's no ordinary woman! What ordinary woman, once married, doesn't settle down to be a good wife and mother, living a quiet and obedient life?"

"Focusing on petty gains and haggling over every penny—is this bookkeeping or just waiting to be accounted for?"

These words made Song Linyuan's heart sink.

I suddenly remembered how she kept accounts; she was never in a hurry and calculated every single item clearly.

He never considered why she wanted to calculate everything so precisely.

Xie Lanyu quickly stepped forward to persuade him:

"Elder sister, cousin, Mother has just recovered and shouldn't get upset, so let's not talk about this now."

Song Lanfang then calmed down, took Xie Lanyu's hand, and said to Song Linyuan:

"Yes, let's not talk about that. I really should thank Ayu today."

"I was so anxious just now that I was completely at a loss. It was only after she went to the lady who bought her blueprints late at night that she managed to get a female doctor to massage my mother."

"Not only that, she also learned the techniques from the female doctor so that she could massage her mother every day from now on."

Meng's headache had eased considerably, and she found Xie Lanyu quite pleasing to the eye.

"The children I raised are naturally different from those outsiders; Ayu loves me the most."

"Let me make this clear: even if Ayu isn't the daughter of a noble family, anyone who bullies her or tries to drive her away is going against me!"

Looking at Xie Lanyu, who was dressed in white and looked delicate and frail, Song Linyuan felt even more pity for her.

"Ayu, you are not in good health, you shouldn't be working so hard."

Meng held Xie Lanyu's hand and said to Song Linyuan:

"You should have paid more attention to Ayu a long time ago. Tomorrow, you should personally go and invite a royal physician to come back and treat Ayu's health."

Just then, Mo Zhu's voice came from outside.

"Your Highness! We've searched everywhere else in the Marquis's residence, but we haven't found the Princess Consort's jade pendant."

"Now only the courtyards of the Madam, the Aunt, and Miss Lanyu remain."

Song Lanfang said with a dark face:

"What is Gu Mingshuang up to now? It's never going to end!"

Song Linyuan frowned.

"I lost a jade pendant, which was a keepsake from Ming Shuang's deceased mother."

Song Lanfang frowned and couldn't help but speak:

"Is a jade pendant really enough to cause her such a commotion? I heard you just gave her that estate in Huishan! That's our Song family's ancestral property!"

Meng grabbed Song Linyuan, heartbroken and indignant.

"You're so foolish, Yuan'er! Is she determined to bring down the Marquis's mansion before she's satisfied?"

Song Linyuan frowned and gave the following instructions:

"These three courtyards don't need to be searched."

As he spoke, he turned around and said:

"Mother, Mingshuang comes from a humble background and lost her birth mother at a young age, which is why she has become distorted. I will definitely teach her well in the future."

Meng pulled Song Linyuan aside and said earnestly:

"She's gone to such lengths, and you still won't give up?"

"We have already repaid the Gu family's kindness over the past year, and the Marquis's mansion can no longer tolerate such a despicable woman!"

"Besides, your grandmother is probably arriving in Kyoto tomorrow, and she certainly won't let her off easily when she returns!"

Xie Lanyu stepped forward.

"Mother, I understand what my cousin means. He is the kindest, most loyal, and most devoted person."

Looking at Xie Lanyu's usually aloof eyes now filled with tenderness and comfort, Song Linyuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Yes, he is a learned and virtuous gentleman who prioritizes benevolence and righteousness. He not only wants to repay the kindness of the Gu family, but also feels a sense of responsibility to accompany Gu Mingshuang for ten years.

Besides, she only wanted a divorce out of spite; where could she go if she really left the Marquis's mansion?

As a woman without any family to rely on, she could only be bullied wherever she went.

Song Linyuan sighed softly and pleaded:

"Mother, please, for the sake of the ten years she has been by my side, persuade Grandmother to let her stay tomorrow."

"Even if we just let her be a concubine in the Marquis's mansion, she can live a decent life."

Meng frowned.

"Your grandmother is decisive and efficient; no one can control her."

Footsteps approached, and the butler, panting heavily, said urgently:

"Madam! A letter just arrived, but the Old Madam was delayed on the way and will not arrive for another two days!"

Hearing this, Song Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief; he could still think of a solution in the next couple of days…