Although Shen Mingzhu didn't get a clear look at the person in front of her, she guessed it should be Liu Shi. Wasn't Liu Shi divorced? Why did she suddenly come to cause trouble?
Shen Mingzhu exchanged another look with Xie Lang. They tacitly began to back away, trying to find another way back.
Unexpectedly, although Liu Shi had been pretending to be crazy, she had been paying close attention to the surrounding movements. Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang looked very conspicuous. Compared with the on - lookers around, they stood out like a crane in a flock of chickens.
"Your Highness! Xie Lang!"
Liu Shi stumbled towards them. There was a glimmer of hope on her face. Her hair was in disarray, and the clothes she was wearing were nothing like her former self. Some parts were even torn.
Shen Mingzhu was helpless. She couldn't just run away with Xie Lang, so they could only stand still and sigh.
"Your Highness!" As soon as Liu Shi stood in front of them, she began to kowtow non - stop, which made Shen Mingzhu's scalp tingle.
The bright red blood trickled down from her forehead, instantly making Liu Shi's face, which was originally just covered with dust, look extremely embarrassed. Coupled with her slightly crazy appearance, it made people subconsciously want to avoid her.
Shen Mingzhu looked at her and said, "What are you doing here?"
"Your Highness! Please save me!" Liu Shi kowtowed while speaking, out of breath from kowtowing. "Those people from the Liu family want to send me back to the manor. If I really go back, how can I live! Please, for old times' sake, save me!"
Looking at Liu Shi's state, Shen Mingzhu continued, "Why do you come to me for help? Do you think I'm such an easy - going person?"
Shen Mingzhu raised her eyebrows. Looking at the artificiality in Liu Shi's eyes, she couldn't help but feel a hint of irony welling up in her heart.
Liu Shi stiffened. She originally thought that in full view of the public, Shen Mingzhu would loosen up to maintain her good image. She never expected that Shen Mingzhu didn't care about others' comments at all, and the look in her eyes towards herself was still full of indifference.
This...
Liu Shi gritted her teeth in desperation and said to Xie Lang, "Please! For the sake of our past mother - son relationship, save me this time!"
Xie Lang almost retched in disgust at the woman's shameless words. There was thick sarcasm on his face.
What mother - son relationship did Liu Shi have with him? How come he didn't know?
Before Xie Lang could speak, the gate of the Xie Mansion was pushed open at some point. A woman in a light cyan dress stood there, accompanied by a delicate girl.
"Liu Shi!"
Concubine Zhang spoke softly, but her eyes were as firm as iron. As she approached, she raised her voice and said, "What mother - son relationship do you have with the son - in - law?
"After he returned to the mansion, you deliberately or inadvertently suppressed him. For the sake of your own son, Xie Yun, you secretly spoke ill of Xie Lang to General Xie, trying to drive a wedge between father and son. How can you have the face to say such things now?"
Hearing Concubine Zhang's words, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, with a meaningful look in her eyes.
This Concubine Zhang was really not simple. Shen Mingzhu originally thought she was really the kind of weak and timid person, but unexpectedly, she was actually pretending to be weak to gain an advantage.
In this matter, if Xie Lang were to refute, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, it might be spread that he despised his step - mother and distort the truth.
But it was different when it came from Concubine Zhang's mouth. This was her way of showing kindness to Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang. She was really a rare smart person.
"You also caused me and Sister Wang to lose our children, and made my poor Lianlian fall ill." As she said this, Concubine Zhang wiped her eyes and patted her chest hard. Then she continued, "Such a person who harms others and causes unrest in the general's inner house was divorced for a reason."
Concubine Zhang took a step forward and looked down at Liu Shi. "How dare you have the face to plead with the son - in - law?"
Liu Shi's expression froze on her face.
"Tsk tsk tsk. I thought it was that prodigal son, Xie Lang, who had done something to his step - mother again. I didn't expect this woman to be so vicious."
"This woman is really a bad person. It's probably thanks to her that the son - in - law has become a prodigal. It's a pity that General Xie only realized it now."
"In my opinion, this woman..."
Hearing Concubine Zhang's words, the on - lookers around began to discuss unscrupulously. There was full - blown malice on their faces, which made Liu Shi feel cold in her heart. She was so desperate that she couldn't say a word.
"Princess, son - in - law." Concubine Zhang saluted them and said gently, "Please go inside first. Leave this to me."
Shen Mingzhu nodded slightly and said to Concubine Zhang, "Then I'll thank you, madam."
After they went back, Shen Mingzhu and Xie Lang both heaved a long sigh. Their mood had been spoiled by Liu Shi just now.
"Your Highness." Chun Tao rushed in from outside the house. She stepped forward and explained, "Liu Shi has been taken back by the Liu family. Presumably after this, she won't have another chance to cause trouble."
Shen Mingzhu nodded and asked Chun Tao, "What about that Liu... Liu Shi's nephew? How is he?"
Chun Tao couldn't help but smile and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your Highness must be referring to Liu Zhiyu. After the banquet, that man was beaten by General Xie again and carried back to the Liu family. It is said that he is now lame and has been hiding at home all day."
"Is that all?"
Suddenly, Shen Mingzhu remembered Xie Fangfei, who had come to say goodbye a few days ago but was persuaded to stay by her. She still said, "Find something else for him to do."
"Yes."
Watching Chun Tao leave, Shen Mingzhu sighed to Xie Lang, "Your Xie Mansion is really full of hidden talents. This Concubine Zhang is really not simple. I almost misjudged her."
Xie Lang chuckled.
"Your Highness, Concubine Zhang requests an audience."
Just then, a voice came from outside. After a moment of hesitation, Shen Mingzhu raised her voice and said, "Come in."
Concubine Zhang walked in behind the maid, with her delicate daughter beside her.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
Concubine Zhang spoke and saluted Shen Mingzhu. Then she looked up at her and said gently, "I'm here to thank Your Highness.
"I've been neglected for many years, so I don't have anything valuable to offer. I'll present this to Your Highness."
As she said this, Concubine Zhang took out an account book and a small bunch of keys.
Did this mean she was handing over the power of managing the household?
Shen Mingzhu didn't expect that Concubine Zhang had actually obtained the power of managing the household. But she could so easily give up something she had been longing for for so many years. Shen Mingzhu really couldn't understand her.
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu didn't take the things, Concubine Zhang took a step forward and put them on the table. Then she lowered her head, looking a bit uneasy, and said, "Your Highness, don't think too much.
"I've spent my whole life in the inner house and have had little chance to get involved in other matters. All I want is Lianlian." When Concubine Zhang mentioned her daughter, tears welled up in her eyes. She choked with sobs and said, "Lianlian has damaged her body. It will probably be difficult for her to bear children in the future. How can she marry into a good family?
"If she is deceived by a heartless man, I'm afraid I'll never have peace in my life." Concubine Zhang glanced at Xie Fanglian and continued mournfully, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so heavy with child and hadn't taken good care of Lianlian, then... "
As a result, Concubine Zhang not only had a miscarriage, but Xie Fanglian also almost lost her life and fell ill.
Liu Shi was really ruthless!
Shen Mingzhu looked at her and asked, "Then what do you want?"