Those with experience know that taking in a son-in-law can easily result in one’s family being swallowed up whole, not to mention that disgusting practice of “restoring the ancestral name after three generations.” In any case, the tricks involving live-in sons-in-law have been abundant throughout history.
But if the live-in son-in-law is purchased, these troubles become much smaller.
“These mortals sure know how to have fun! Does this Zhuang Yuyan actually know who her father really is?”
Upon hearing the scandalous affairs of his so-called maternal grandfather, Shen Jian perked up immediately, even hoping the divine artifact’s spirit would say more, so that everyone would stop focusing on his own messy business.
As for the impropriety of a younger generation discussing an elder’s romantic entanglements?
Well, everyone knew that Emperor Mingxi and the Grand Princess, along with their children, harbored deep resentment toward their late father, even if they didn’t speak of it openly.
So taboos about respecting the honored dead? Nonexistent. Besides, who dared to silence those two?
[Before her grandmother died, she revealed the true background of Zhuang Zhidong—that is, Zhuang Yuyan’s father.]
“So the Zhuang family targeting Shen Jian, a son of the Grand Princess, was it revenge against the imperial family, or were they trying to restore their ancestral status?”
Knowing he had an emperor for a father—that he was a lost imperial prince who should have enjoyed limitless wealth and glory—yet now had to live as a marginal figure in his clan…
How could such a man not harbor hatred?
“Having his rightful identity as a prince stripped away, Zhuang Zhidong probably found it impossible to swallow that bitterness.” It was no different from a pauper losing out on several major fortunes—and not just in terms of money.
Yue Fuguang could even guess that Zhuang Yuyan’s father often fantasized in solitude: if he had grown up in Da Yan, perhaps the throne would have been his!
As for the brothers Emperor Mingxi had eliminated before and after taking power—those could conveniently be ignored.
[Master has guessed correctly. After learning of his true identity, Zhuang Zhidong became ambitious toward Da Yan. So he found himself some helpers, intending to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his.]
“His helpers were the people behind Zhuang Xiu?” In this era of clan society, appealing to the clan head was the most reliable way to secure one’s interests and find the most steadfast ally.
[Correct. He told the Zhuang clan head—namely, Zhuang Xiu’s uncle. Together, they set up a trap for Shen Jian.
Shen Jian fell for Zhuang Yuyan at first sight. In the border town, he doted on her endlessly; she could even enter his private study on occasion. Thus, the border defense maps quickly ended up on the clan head’s desk.
When Zhuang Yuyan was five months pregnant, she accompanied Shen Jian back to the Shen household in the capital. Shen Jian intended to use her pregnancy as an excuse to elevate her to the status of a legitimate wife.
But Emperor Mingxi was still clinging to life at the time, and the Grand Princess was still around—they naturally refused. In the end, Zhuang Yuyan became Shen Jian’s noble concubine.]
Yue Fuguang glanced sidelong at Shen Jian and said flatly, “This Shen Jian appears upright and reliable on the surface, but deep down he’s a complete scumbag traitor!
He coddles a woman he brought back from outside, wants to make her his legitimate wife—did he ever consider his actual wife’s feelings?”
Her contemptuous gaze seemed almost tangible. Even though Shen Jian had his back to her, he could clearly feel the weight of her stare, like needles pricking him.
To receive such a judgment from the Preceptor herself—how could he ever face her or his fellow officials again? Had this not come from the infallible divine artifact spirit, he would never have believed his future self could be so despicable!
“If I recall correctly, Shen Jian’s wife is the niece of Minister of Rites Zhang Zhongping—well-mannered, filial to her in-laws, raising their children properly, without a single fault.
Zhang Qingyu was the one who enabled Shen Jian to guard the border without any worries. And his repayment? Bringing back some ‘true love’ to disgust everyone. How ironic!”
By now, Shen Jian’s face had turned the color of pig liver. With every word Yue Fuguang spoke, his flush deepened. Thinking of his gentle and graceful wife, whose name was Madam Zhang, his face burned with shame.
Madam Zhang—she was the woman he had loved since youth. In the years since their marriage, their bond had been deep. How could he have lost his mind upon seeing Zhuang Yuyan?
[Master, you don’t yet know: Zhuang Yuyan’s mission was to control Shen Jian, then through him control the Shen family, and gradually extend her reach into the imperial palace.
When she failed to become his legitimate wife, Madam Zhang became an obstacle. So, when she was eight months pregnant, after confirming through a secret method that she was carrying a girl, she staged a fall in Madam Zhang’s courtyard, causing a miscarriage to frame Madam Zhang.]
“So, Shen Jian believed her?” Back in her hometown, Yue Fuguang had seen plenty of melodramatic love-and-hatred plots. She didn’t need the system to spell things out; she could fill in the blanks herself.
[When a man is blinded by ‘love,’ he’ll believe whatever his beloved says. Madam Zhang thus lost her management authority over the household.
The Grand Princess had no choice but to personally take over the household management, simply to prevent Zhuang Yuyan from getting her hands on Shen family affairs.]
Even though Zhuang Yuyan’s scheme was crude and full of holes, Shen Jian chose to turn a blind eye.
He believed all of Zhuang Yuyan’s accusations but refused to listen to a single word of Madam Zhang’s self-defense, refusing to trust her character.
“Hah, men. Damn their ‘love’!” As for whether cursing might damage her divine image?
At this point, Yue Fuguang didn’t care. She was a goddess—she could say what she wanted, curse if she pleased. Who said gods never swore?
Would you believe the legends, or would you believe her, the authentic divine being?
[Master, every cause has its effect. Zhuang Yuyan had thought she was carrying a girl, and so cruelly used that child to frame Zhang Qingyu.
Who knew that secret method was inaccurate? Only after the miscarriage did she realize it had actually been a male fetus.
Unfortunately, the saying goes: Seven-month fetuses may live, eight-month ones may not. The child died shortly after birth.]
“So Zhuang Yuyan killed her own son with her own hands? She must have been furious, right?”
[Furious is an understatement. When she learned that not only had she lost the male child, but she had also damaged her body and might never conceive again, she nearly went mad.
Her mission was to control the Shen family. Without a biological heir, how could she do that?
By this point, you could say her mission had already failed.]
“That severe? One miscarriage and she couldn’t bear children anymore?”
[In this era, childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell. For her, it wasn’t just the fall—she had also taken an abortifacient beforehand.
The male child she aborted actually had some karmic connection with Zhuang Yuyan. It had struggled to finally get its chance to be reborn, specifically to settle a past grievance.
Before it could even be born, she deliberately destroyed it. That resentment was immense. Her damaged body was simply the consequence of that cause.]
Upon hearing such an otherworldly topic again, Yue Fuguang couldn’t help but shudder slightly. Her past life’s obsession with ghost stories still haunted her.
Even with her new, mighty divine identity, she still felt a bit creeped out by these supernatural matters.
The others weren’t much better off either. It was still raining, the surroundings dim and gloomy. The temperature, once pleasant amidst the rainfall in late April, now seemed to have turned icy cold.