Chapter 13
Edward Quan ·
Du Cheng felt as though a crushing weight had settled on his chest.
“Ahem…”
“Lord Du.”
“What do you intend to do about the child?”
“Test our blood!”
He ground the words out through clenched teeth.
It had come to this. His dignity was gone. There was no point hiding anything now.
The governor ordered the necessary things brought.
Du Cheng, Zhang Biao, and the baby each supplied a drop of blood for the test.
The result came quickly.
The child was indeed Zhang Biao's.
Silence fell.
Everyone looked at Du Cheng.
He collapsed into a chair.
After a while, he began to laugh.
Quietly at first, then louder and louder, until the laughter became uncontrollable.
He shook with it.
Tears streamed down his face.
He laughed until he spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the floor.
Old Madam Du had already been taken back to Songhe Hall. The discovery of Liu Wanning's unchastity had made her ill with rage.
Now Du Cheng was unconscious.
So was Liu Wanning.
Of all the household's masters, only Du Cheng's sister-in-law remained in possession of her faculties.
“Honored guests.”
“We have been unforgivably remiss today.”
“Please return home for now.”
“The Du family will come to apologize in person another day.”
For once, the eldest madam showed some quick thinking.
For the first time, she took charge.
The household had lost all dignity today. It was hardly an appropriate moment to rejoice.
Yet deep down, she could not help feeling pleased.
After this, Liu Wanning would certainly be divorced.
The old madam was seriously ill. Du Cheng could not immediately marry again.
Who else could they entrust with managing the household…
But her?
And besides…
The child was no longer part of the Du bloodline.
Might there now be another chance for her and Second Master?
Dreaming of that rosy future, she warmly saw the guests out.
They had not eaten at the Du family's celebration for its eldest legitimate grandson.
Yet they left thoroughly satisfied, even reluctant to go.
Today's feast had plainly been more entertaining than any play.
That afternoon, Du Cheng woke and immediately wrote a letter of divorce.
No amount of Liu Wanning's weeping or pleading helped.
She and the baby were thrown out.
Zhang Biao had waited outside the residence all along. As soon as mother and child appeared, he took them away.
No one knew how he would treat them afterward.
In the days that followed, Du Cheng became the capital's favorite subject of gossip.
Everything, from his examination success to the baby's full-month celebration, was dragged up and discussed anew, day after day.
“Your Majesty!”
“Du Cheng petitioned to resign in court today.”
“They say His Majesty has agreed!”
Caiwei had barely returned before announcing the news with relish.
“Mm.”
I nodded slightly.
“Hardly unexpected.”
Cailian joined in.
“Hmph! The moment he betrayed our mistress, he sealed his fate!”
“How could he possibly remain in the capital?”
“As for serving in office…”
“With things as they are, just how thick-skinned would he have to be to endure his colleagues' looks and gossip?”
Caiwei covered her mouth and laughed.
“A third-place graduate ending up like this!”
“He must be the only one of his kind in all Tianyu!”
“Had his intentions been honest, he could have had a very good future even without scheming against me.”
“What a pity…”
I smiled faintly.
“Perhaps that was his fate.”
7
Half a year later, I gave birth to a prince.
Xiao Yunlan immediately named him crown prince.
My position in the harem became more secure than ever.
I looked at the lovely child in my arms, then at my incomparably handsome husband beside me.
With a life like this, what more could I ask?
The End.
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