Chapter 291: Chapter 257: Farce (Part 2)

However, this man was like a demon, utterly unwilling to give up on her as his cash cow, trying every possible way to extort silver from her.

"Find out what’s going on, why do I feel like everyone’s expressions are so strange?" instructed Xiao Yanci to his attendant.

Su Yaoguang and Zhang Zhaodi were seated among the women. The mother and daughter elegantly enjoyed various delicacies, while the other women, despite lowering their voices, let out bursts of laughter as they discussed the two major pieces of gossip that had just occurred.

"Do you think Miss Wang can accept that child?"

"Didn’t Prime Minister Wang just say? They want to first investigate whether that woman is a fraud, whether the child belongs to Lord Xiao. Whether the child is Lord Xiao’s or not, it’s ultimately up to them. If they say he isn’t, then he isn’t. That woman must be a pitiful person to end up with such a vain man. If I were her, I wouldn’t have shown up here, I’d take the child and leave for a place where no one knows us. Now look, she has shamed the Prime Minister’s Mansion so publicly; it’s unlikely the mother and child will survive for long."

"Truly a pair of unfortunate souls!"

Prime Minister Wang arrived fashionably late. At this time, Xiao Yanci’s attendant had just gathered the information and was reporting to him. Upon learning what had happened, his expression grew peculiar.

Compared to his earlier issue, the Young Master of Cheng’an Hou Mansion had truly displayed audacity. Though usually indulgent, attending his wedding banquet with such behavior was offensive.

"The one who forced himself on him was the cousin from the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the son of the Prime Minister’s only sister. This Mr. Zhang has been living at the Prime Minister’s Mansion for several years, practically a half-son to Prime Minister Wang."

If Wang Ruyan hadn’t married a man into the family, half of the estate from the Prime Minister’s Mansion would likely have been inherited by this nephew. Now that Wang Ruyan had brought a husband into the family, Mr. Zhang, seeing his expected inheritance slip away, was in a foul mood and drank excessively, leading to this current scenario.

However, that’s how it appeared to outsiders. In reality...

The truth is only known to a few individuals; one of them is Xia Zhen, the victim and instigator, and the other is Zhou Wangshu, who narrowly avoided being caught up in the incident.

Zhou Wangshu stood beside the carriage, waiting for Su Yaoguang and Zhang Zhaodi to come out. His father-in-law had drunk too much and was resting inside the carriage.

The Marquis Cheng’an, supported by attendants, walked out.

Having suffered a heavy blow, he was unsteady on his feet. As he passed by Zhou Wangshu, he stumbled and fell in his direction.

Zhou Wangshu moved aside, allowing Marquis Cheng’an to fall to the ground without paying him any heed.

The attendants of Marquis Cheng’an gave Zhou Wangshu a peculiar look.

Marquis Cheng’an looked at Zhou Wangshu and his eyes began to wander, "You look very much like someone... my late wife. If my legitimate eldest son hadn’t died, he would be about your age now."

Sarcasm flashed in Zhou Wangshu’s eyes.

"Is that so? Marquis Cheng’an actually had a legitimate eldest son — how come I’ve never heard about this?"

"That child had a short life and passed away at ten," Marquis Cheng’an shakily stood up.

The attendants supported him.

Marquis Cheng’an looked at Zhou Wangshu, the more he looked, the more familiar this face seemed.

In fact, when Zhou Wangshu became the Champion Scholar, he had been suspicious, always feeling that this child looked like his deceased legitimate son. That legitimate son was born of the original wife, and died at ten by drowning.

He had collected the body and buried it in the ancestral shrine.

If that legitimate eldest son were still alive, he certainly wouldn’t have let him lose face like today.

Xia Zhen, that bastard, was ruined, beyond salvation.

He had never been as humiliated as today in his entire life.

No, he was still young enough to have more sons. He must take several more concubines, especially those who could bear children, to soon have a son to inherit the title of the Cheng’an Hou Mansion.

"Return to the mansion, immediately."

Zhou Wangshu watched the departing figure of Marquis Cheng’an with a sneer.

What a pretense of a loving father!

Ever since his stepmother moved in, he had never inquired about his legitimate eldest son’s affairs, leading to his young self being handled at will by the stepmother. He, once the esteemed eldest young master, the originally intended Heir of the Marquis House, ended up fighting with dogs for food and working like a servant. That malicious woman poured scalding water on him and intentionally pricked him with needles. Later, she couldn’t tolerate him any longer and sought to kill him. Fortunately, he discovered her plot in time and found a boy of similar build to substitute for him with a false corpse.

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