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

If it weren't for Gu Mingshuang, none of these things would have happened in the Marquis's mansion!

If Gu Mingshuang hadn't been scheming to seize the Marquis's estate, Fang'er wouldn't have invited this old woman back!

Meng stared at Gu Mingshuang with eyes wide with fury.

"Aren't you feeling smug? Let me tell you! You're not getting away!"

She knew that it was too late for her to regret it now.

Given this old woman's temperament, Fang'er is already an abandoned child in her eyes!

Watching Meng Shi being led away, Lingxiang trembled as she tugged at her mistress's sleeve and whispered:

"Young lady, the rumors about the old lady are indeed true. She is ruthless and swift in her methods, even punishing the madam at will!"

She looked inside with fear. She couldn't see the inner room clearly from this direction, but she could vaguely see that the maids and servants coming in and out were different from the casualness of the Marquis's mansion, and were exceptionally well-behaved.

You can tell at a glance how difficult their master is to serve.

Gu Mingshuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and she said in a low voice:

"Wait for me outside."

She knew Lingxiang's personality and feared she wouldn't be able to handle such a scene.

Lingxiang didn't want to cause trouble for her young lady, so she nodded and stood guard at the courtyard gate, thinking that if anything happened to her young lady, she could immediately go to the Duke of Anguo's mansion to get help.

After settling Lingxiang in, Gu Mingshuang went inside.

At this moment, Song Lanfang, whose head had been shaved, had already fainted.

Without delay, the old women quickly helped her into a sedan chair and carried her away.

Looking at Song Lanfang, who was lying in the sedan chair like a rag doll, Gu Mingshuang couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

In order to control her, Song Lanfang went to great lengths to invite the old lady back to the capital.

But no one could have imagined that the first blow the old lady would deliver upon her return would fall on Song Lanfang's head.

Given the old lady's decisive nature, she could have had Song Lanfang take over her spiritual practice, but she shaved her head to prevent Meng Shi from interfering.

This incident also left Gu Mingshuang with a lingering sense of fear.

This old lady of the Song family is indeed ruthless.

I hadn't walked more than a few steps when a gentle voice called out from behind me.

"Ming Shuang..."

Song Linyuan limped over.

Upon seeing Song Linyuan, Gu Mingshuang's eyes widened in astonishment.

She heard that Song Linyuan had been beaten, but she didn't expect him to be beaten so badly.

Not only was he limping, but there was also a large bruise on his eyebrows and eyes.

Although Song Linyuan suffered hardship as a child, she was soon adopted by her father.

Although he was a child groom in the Gu family, he was served by servants. Even though it was not as good as the Marquis's mansion, he still lived a life of luxury. He had never suffered such hardship before.

"Your injury..."

Walking up to Gu Mingshuang, Song Linyuan frowned and shook his head, saying:

"I'm fine."

Hearing Gu Mingshuang's cold voice, yet still concerned about his injury, Song Linyuan felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.

A gentle warmth appeared between his brows, and his voice softened.

"Don't be afraid. I knew Grandma wanted to see you, so I came here especially to accompany you to see her."

Gu Mingshuang was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Song Linyuan had come specifically to accompany her to see the old lady.

Seeing that Gu Mingshuang didn't speak, Song Linyuan reached out to her and took her hand.

Gu Mingshuang subconsciously took a half step back.

"Your Highness, there's no need."

Seeing Gu Mingshuang's resistance and opposition, a pang of pain flashed across Song Linyuan's eyes.

He still remembered the times when he secretly held her hand in a secluded place, the smooth, white touch making his palms sweat.

But now, she no longer wants him to touch her.

Seeing that Gu Mingshuang had already walked inside, Song Linyuan didn't have time to think about anything else and followed her.

When he entered, Gu Mingshuang was already kneeling and bowing.

The matriarch of the family, Madam Song, wore a dark blue long gown and had white hair tied in a simple bun, secured with a cold blue jade hairpin.

His eyes were sharp and his aura imposing.

She didn't speak, so Gu Mingshuang could only kneel.

Song Linyuan frowned slightly, then knelt beside Gu Mingshuang and spoke in a clear, gentle voice:

"Lin Yuan has been away from home for many years and has not been able to fulfill his filial duties to his grandmother. Now, due to his injury, he has not been able to personally go to pick up his grandmother. He is truly unfilial and hopes that his grandmother will punish him."

Old Madam Song scrutinized Song Linyuan and slowly began to speak:

"You do look very much like your birth mother. No wonder she knew at a glance that you were a descendant of the Marquis's family who had been separated from the family."

Song Linyuan opened his mouth, somewhat disappointed.

Although he lacked the aristocratic upbringing of scions of noble families by more than a decade, he knew that his natural talent and appearance were outstanding.

His mother often took him out over the past year, her face beaming with undisguised pride.

But his grandmother looked at him coldly, and didn't even ask him a question despite his injuries.

He was genuinely disappointed.

At this moment, Madam Song's gaze had already fallen on Gu Mingshuang.

"You are from the Gu family."

Song Linyuan subconsciously moved aside, blocking Gu Mingshuang's way.

"Grandmother, Mingshuang is from Qingzhou. She only came to the capital with me a year ago. She is not very familiar with etiquette. If she does anything wrong, I hope you will be lenient with her."

Madam Song's brows twitched slightly.

"I'm talking to her."

Gu Mingshuang spoke calmly.

"Yes, Madam."

Madam Song looked at them and spoke after a moment.

"You want a divorce?"

"Yes."

"no!"

Upon hearing the two different voices, Old Madam Song frowned.

Song Linyuan immediately explained:

"Grandmother! I was confused before and agreed to the divorce, but now I've thought it through and I won't divorce Mingshuang!"

Old Madam Song took a sip of tea and said:

"Lin Yuan, your mother is still in the ancestral hall. Go there first and deliver some Buddhist scriptures."

Song Linyuan glanced at Gu Mingshuang beside him.

"I……"

But the old woman had already handed over the Buddhist scriptures.

"Your Highness, please."

Song Linyuan had no choice but to get up and limp towards the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at the still kneeling figure.

She knelt upright, as stubborn as her nature.

Song Linyuan pursed his lips before turning and walking outside.

Soon, only Gu Mingshuang and Madam Song remained in the inner room.

Old Madam Song said coldly:

"You're a smart one, so let's get straight to the point. I know how much you've done to get to this state of affairs at the Marquis's residence."

"The Marquis's mansion certainly cannot tolerate such a thing, which is why I came back."

Gu Mingshuang gripped her sleeve, raised her eyes, and solemnly said:

"Don't worry, Madam. I only want to take what belongs to me and leave the Marquis's mansion. I have no other requests."

Madam Song's expression grew even colder.

"Do you realize that marrying into the Marquis's household is already a great honor for you?"

Gu Mingshuang lowered her eyes.

"Once I leave the Marquis's mansion, I will be able to stand on my own two feet and will not have any further involvement with the Marquis's mansion."

Old Madam Song looked at her with a complex expression in her eyes.

After a moment, Madam Song spoke:

"What did the Meng family threaten you with?"

Gu Mingshuang was somewhat taken aback, and after hesitating for a moment, she told him about it.

Old Madam Song snorted coldly.

"She's always been terrible at judging people; she can never be right."

Gu Mingshuang frowned.

"Miss Cousin is a noble lady from the capital who was raised by the Madam, so she is naturally more suitable to be the Crown Prince's consort."

Madam Song stroked the cup in her hand, and after a moment spoke:

"You may leave now. I will give you an answer tomorrow."

Gu Mingshuang stood up and took her leave.

At the entrance of Qingwu Garden, I ran into Song Linyuan again.

"Ming Shuang!"

He limped over to her and looked at her with concern.

"Did Grandma make things difficult for you?"

Thinking of his elder sister's situation and his mother's punishment in the ancestral hall, he finally realized how formidable his grandmother was.

Gu Mingshuang shook her head.

"no."

Song Linyuan frowned and said:

"I know you feel wronged, and I will go and persuade your grandmother to be more tolerant of you."

Gu Mingshuang shook her head again.

"Your Highness, there's no need for that. If there's nothing else, I'll return to my room."

Song Linyuan stopped her.

"I have something I want to discuss with you. The house is in such a state, and I'm injured. But tomorrow is Ayu's birthday banquet, and it really doesn't make sense if no one is there to host it. Mingshuang, could you...?"

Gu Mingshuang interrupted him.

She knew what Song Linyuan was going to say; it was nothing more than asking her to help Xie Lanyu one more time.

She found it somewhat amusing at that moment, and looked at Song Linyuan, saying:

"My cousin's birthday is important, and I have no objection to how the young master handles it, but it is none of my business."

The fact that she and Xie Lanyu are currently able to coexist peacefully is already a testament to her excessive leniency.

Song Linyuan reached out and grasped Gu Mingshuang's hand.

"Mingshuang, you have always been kind-hearted and acted prudently."

"I know you own a house outside. From now on, this house will be your private property, and I will not interfere."

"Besides that, I'll get you another shop. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Gu Mingshuang looked at the hand on her wrist, the same hand that had repeatedly applied ointment to Xie Lanyu to relieve her symptoms.

As she pulled her hand away, Gu Mingshuang felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

"Your Highness, I have said I am unwilling."

Even now, Song Linyuan still thinks that as long as he gives her some comfort, she can continue to give to his beloved?

Song Linyuan's voice was somewhat hoarse as he lowered his head and pleaded.

"You know, after Ayu regained her identity, she fell from grace and into the mire. Unlike you, she is proud and aloof. It's already quite remarkable that she was able to get through it."

"This birthday banquet is something she has been looking forward to for a long time, and it is very important to her. I promised her that I would not let her down."

As he spoke, Song Linyuan looked at Gu Mingshuang.

"Ming Shuang, this is the last time."

Gu Mingshuang suddenly looked up.

"Alright, I can make the appearance tomorrow, but the young master must promise me one thing."

Song Linyuan finally felt relieved and looked at the woman in front of him with joy.

Sure enough, they were able to go back to how things were before.

As for what he had agreed to, he had a rough idea in his mind. It should be that he would accompany Gu Mingshuang to release lanterns on her birthday.

She had been looking forward to her birthday for a long time, but on that day he was searching the whole city for a doctor because Ayu had contracted a strange disease. How could he have time to set off lanterns?

So on that day, Ming Shuang waited for him by the river for half the night.

Bringing his thoughts back, Song Linyuan nodded solemnly.

I promise you.

Gu Mingshuang nodded.

"Alright, I will tell the Crown Prince what I want tomorrow."

After saying that, she turned and went back into the courtyard.

With a slight twitch at the corner of her lips, Gu Mingshuang lowered her eyes.

What she wanted was for the deal with the Meng family to end smoothly.

The thought of Meng arranging a marriage between Song Linyuan and Xie Lanyu did not stir any emotion in her eyes.

This matter is finally coming to a close...