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

Amidst the murmurs and discussions, Gu Mingshuang remained calm, but the force in her hands did not diminish.

Pushing Meng aside, she stepped forward and said:

"As long as you return all my money, I will immediately ask to become your concubine."

"If Madam still doesn't know what to do, I can go to Shuntian Prefecture to ask for clarification on her behalf."

His gentle tone carried a sharp edge.

She looked at the stunned Meng Shi and a sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.

The masters of the Marquis's mansion only knew how to enjoy wealth and romance, and they squandered the family fortune left by their ancestors.

She was willing to give so much because she cared about Song Linyuan, but who knew that they would have such a smooth life and take her for a fool.

She considered the past ten years with Song Linyuan as a ten-year indenture, and the money she spent on cultivating him as a waste.

But she will make the Marquis's mansion return everything she smashed into it!

Besides, even if she were to leave, she wouldn't slink away in disgrace.

She wants to divorce him honorably as the Crown Prince's wife!

Upon hearing that the Shuntian Prefecture would be alerted, everyone looked at Gu Mingshuang in surprise.

I had thought this country girl was weak and greedy, but now I realize she was well-prepared.

If this matter escalates to the Shuntian Prefecture, the Song family will not only be in the wrong but will also lose face!

Song Linyuan stepped forward, looking at Gu Mingshuang in disbelief.

"Mingshuang! How dare you speak to your mother like that? You're going to make a scene at the Shuntian Prefecture over such a trivial family matter? You've become a member of the Marquis's household since you entered into this family; how can you disregard the reputation of the Marquis's household in the slightest?"

Gu Mingshuang couldn't help but let out a soft scoff.

"When you demoted my wife to a concubine, did the Crown Prince consider my reputation?"

Song Linyuan frowned, gripped Gu Mingshuang's sleeve, and lowered his head.

"Mingshuang, we've been together for ten years. This affection is something no one can change. No matter what your title is, in my eyes you are my wife for life, far more important than Ayu..."

Gu Mingshuang shook off Song Linyuan.

"A wife is a wife, and a concubine is a concubine. Even in Qingzhou, the young master used his pen as a weapon to denounce the prefect for favoring his concubine over his wife. Now that he has returned to his ancestral home, does he not even understand this principle?"

The surrounding mockery and gossip grew louder, and the last trace of color drained from Song Linyuan's face.

In the past, Gu Mingshuang would have lowered her head and comforted him if he had looked at her so dejected and lost. But today, she didn't want to look at him anymore!

Seeing this, Madam Meng couldn't help but step forward, tenderly shielding Song Linyuan, and scolded him:

"Mingshuang, how dare you speak to your husband like this in front of our ancestors? With such conduct, you are only fit to be a concubine!"

Gu Mingshuang found it laughable and nodded calmly.

"If you send the silver here, I'd rather not be your wife and become your concubine."

Madam Meng staggered, her face pale. If the old woman hadn't caught her, she would have fallen to the ground.

Seeing the mocking and sarcastic faces of those around her who already disliked the eldest son's direct line, Meng's heart pounded.

If she were to admit on the spot that she couldn't produce the money, the spittle of these clansmen would be enough to drown their eldest branch.

If Yuan'er gets a reputation for bad character, his chances of inheriting the title will be even slimmer!

Meng gritted his teeth.

She finally got Yuan'er back, and the Marquis's mansion had a support system, but she just missed the mark when it came to the marriage!

If it had been a little earlier, she would have given some silver to get rid of this troublesome Gu woman!

But now, she had no other choice but to swallow her anger and step forward to speak to Old Master Song:

"Grandpa, I was truly confused by what happened today. While Lanyu's reputation is important, the Song family's honor is even more so."

"Today, the old master will decide whether to let Mingshuang marry into the family and become Yuan'er's legal wife. As for Lanyu's matter, we will make arrangements for her later."

Song Linyuan frowned, about to speak, but was interrupted by Meng's gaze.

When Old Master Song heard that Madam Meng had conceded, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's how it should be."

After a pause, Madam Meng looked at Gu Mingshuang, who stood calmly to the side. Her expression clearly showed that she had a plan in mind!

Feeling that she had been tricked by Gu Mingshuang, Madam Meng gripped her sleeves, suppressing the resentment in her eyes. When she looked up, her expression had returned to its usual gentleness.

"However, since Mingshuang and Yuan'er have already had their wedding ceremony in Qingzhou, there's no need for a grand ceremony when they move into the manor. They can just move directly into the Marquis's manor."

"Let's postpone the matter of adding him to the family genealogy for now. We can hold both celebrations together after Yuan'er inherits the title."

These words elicited various reactions from the crowd.

Before Gu Mingshuang arrived, they heard from Madam Meng that she was going to hold a grand wedding banquet to welcome her son to Xie Lanyu, but now that Gu Mingshuang is here, she's not even going to have a wedding banquet.

Moreover, Song Linyuan had just returned to his ancestral home and had no official rank. It was already an extra favor to be granted the title of heir apparent, and it was unknown when he would inherit the title.

What family would wait a year or two to marry a legitimate daughter-in-law who isn't listed in the family genealogy? Isn't this a deliberate insult?

It's clear to everyone that this is Meng's way of showing her new daughter-in-law a lesson after suffering a great loss.

Everyone looked at Gu Mingshuang with pity. Having entered the family through such means, she would likely face a difficult life in the future.

Gu Mingshuang, however, calmly stepped forward and bowed.

"The daughter-in-law bows to thank her mother."

Old Master Song then said:

"Very well, it's not appropriate for the Marquis's residence to be too ostentatious these days. Serving tea is enough to complete the ceremony, and from now on we're all family."

As soon as the maid poured the tea, Madam Meng covered her forehead and swayed slightly.

"My old headache has flared up again, and I really can't take it anymore."

Song Linyuan looked at his mother with heartache and left first, citing feeling unwell.

Gu Mingshuang's expression remained unchanged as she followed protocol and offered tea to Old Master Song, Second Uncle Song, and other clan members.

As Uncle Song accepted the tea, he felt guilty and said gently:

"Mingshuang, you've been wronged today. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to come to your second uncle."

Gu Mingshuang nodded calmly, bowed, and withdrew.

Even after everyone left, the argument continued inside the ancestral hall. Uncle Song was so frustrated that he sighed.

"My sister-in-law and Lin Yuan are really going too far. If word gets out, who knows what outsiders will think of the Song family?"

He had been entrusted by the Meng family to go to Qingzhou to express his gratitude to the Gu family, and his face was burning with embarrassment.

Old Master Song's face also darkened.

"The Song family has been able to stand firm for decades because of its integrity. Our ancestor never abandoned his wife who had shared his hardships, and that's how he built up this family fortune."

"If your elder brother were still alive, he would have handled this matter properly long ago. How could he have allowed such a scandal to occur in the manor?"

Uncle Song said worriedly:

"Although Mingshuang has married into the family, I can see that my sister-in-law is very unwilling. I don't know if she will cause trouble again in the future."

Old Master Song frowned.

"Since we are both from a collateral branch of the Song family, it's not appropriate for us to interfere too much. We should write to Jiangnan as soon as possible to inform them that the matriarch of the eldest branch values ​​family tradition the most. She is Lin Yuan's maternal grandmother, so it is perfectly legitimate for her to govern the eldest branch."

Uncle Song nodded and arranged for someone to deliver the message.

At this moment, at the entrance of the ancestral hall, Lingxiang, with red eyes, couldn't help but shed tears.

"Although you have won the position of Crown Prince's consort, I am afraid that you will be mistreated after entering the manor because of the Madam's expression."

"The young master clearly swore to the master that he would treat the young lady well..."

Gu Mingshuang's expression was calm as she reached out and pressed down on Lingxiang's cold, rain-soaked hand.

"Stop shouting like that, he's no longer your son-in-law."

Lingxiang stared at Gu Mingshuang in shock.

"Girl? What did you say?"

Gu Mingshuang spoke calmly:

"This den of wolves is not worth my staying, but I don't want to swallow this insult in vain."

She reached out and wiped away Lingxiang's tears that kept rolling down her cheeks.

"Alright, stop crying. Let's move to the Marquis's mansion first. After we get back what's rightfully mine, we'll get a divorce and live our own lives."

Lingxiang bit her lip and choked out:

"But before the master passed away, he entrusted you to the heir apparent."

Gu Mingshuang curled her lips sarcastically as she looked at the rain curtain in front of her.

"Times have changed."

On a rainy day like this, before her father passed away, he was too ill to speak, but he stubbornly placed her hand in Song Linyuan's hand again and again.

She knew what her father meant.

Her father made her promise that she would marry and live a good life, and stop secretly going out and showing her face in public.

But the boy who swore to be her childhood sweetheart back then is now the high and mighty heir of a marquis's mansion, and his heart no longer belongs only to her.

It wasn't that she couldn't win the position of mistress; it was just that she didn't want to live such a life of scheming.

Gu Mingshuang had moved much of her dowry into the Marquis's mansion long ago, so now the inn has very little luggage, which can be filled in a single carriage.

Upon reaching the second gate of the Marquis's mansion's backyard, no servants were present to attend to them along the way.

Lingxiang said urgently:

"Miss, with rain like this, how could the Marquis's mansion not send someone to help you move your things? I'll go find someone!"

But soon after, Meng arrived surrounded by people.

She looked at Gu Mingshuang standing beside the two cars of luggage, her eyes slightly darkened, but her face still maintained the noble and indifferent demeanor of a wealthy woman.

"The Marquis's residence is short-staffed, so you can wait here for a while. We'll help you move things when someone becomes available."

Gu Mingshuang knew that Meng was just using this as an excuse to make her stand in front of the busy second gate, to embarrass her as a new daughter-in-law.

Seeing that Madam Meng was about to leave, Gu Mingshuang stepped forward and stopped her.

"There's no need to trouble others. The people my mother brought are more than enough to help me carry my luggage."

With the dignified air typical of a noblewoman, Madam Meng said calmly:

"I need to take some people to Bailong Temple to pick up Ayu now, otherwise it will get dark, and we can't afford to be delayed."

Lingxiang gritted her teeth and whispered to Gu Mingshuang:

"Just now, when the young lady was about to serve tea, the madam said she wasn't feeling well, yet now she's braving the rain to fetch her cousin! It's clearly intentional!"

Madam Meng glanced at Gu Mingshuang, a sharp glint in her eyes, and said:

"You behaved improperly in the ancestral hall today, resorting to such scheming to enter the Marquis's mansion. Your malicious intentions deserve a lesson, otherwise how will you correct this scheming habit?"

Gu Mingshuang knew this was a show of force from the Meng family.

She was about to speak when Song Linyuan, who had arrived a step later, learned of the matter and frowned, saying:

"Mingshuang, you've caused such a mess today, and Mother's health has just started to improve. Just stand here with your head down for a while, and that will be your way of showing filial piety to Mother."

Gu Mingshuang sneered inwardly, but calmly raised her eyes and said:

"If I were a concubine, it would indeed be punishable to publicly vie for the position of the principal wife, and I would willingly accept it."

"Since Mother thinks I've done something wrong, why don't you just give me the money so I can listen to your instructions in peace?"

Meng's face stiffened.

"In the end, it all comes down to money. Is money all you care about after marrying Yuan'er?"

Song Linyuan's expression also darkened.

Publicly contradicting her husband and mother-in-law, Gu Mingshuang was almost a completely different person from the gentle and considerate wife he remembered.

"Mingshuang, you have been given a proper title now, but your mother has taught you manners, so please stop making trouble."

Gu Mingshuang glanced at the carriage.

"Since I am unfamiliar with the rules, there is no need to trouble Mother. The luggage has not yet been unloaded. If Mother really does not know how to handle it, I can go to Shuntian Prefecture to ask for clarification."

Seeing that Gu Mingshuang had actually closed her umbrella and boarded the carriage, Madam Meng pointed at her, her face turning pale and then red.

"Stop her!"

If this really escalates to the Shuntian Prefecture, the Song family will be utterly humiliated!

Meng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Someone, help her with her luggage!"

As she spoke, Madam Meng looked at Gu Mingshuang, who had gotten off the carriage again, and could no longer suppress her anger.

"Although you have now entered the family and taken the position of Ayu's legal wife, you must always treat Ayu with the utmost respect, or don't blame me for disowning you as my daughter-in-law!"