Liang Zhiyuan discovered something was wrong and stopped those people to ask, but everyone kept silent and did not reveal a word.
Liang Zhiyuan saw the ladies in the courtyard whispering in groups of three or five, so he called Han over to ask. Han looked very busy and said with a smile: "I'm afraid they are talking about someone's private affairs? What important things can they talk about when they get together? Don't bother with them."
"But, Jinghou, why do people always harass us?" Liang Zhiyuan asked in confusion.
Han smiled and said, "Do you even need to ask? Who doesn't want to curry favor with the Marquis? Even on the side of Marquis Ningyuan, there are many people rushing to join him."
Liang Zhiyuan felt that it made sense. Indeed, if he went to a banquet at another person's house and met the marquis from the capital, he would have to curry favor with him.
Liang Jin was really in high spirits today, because when he was picking up his bride, his father-in-law told him the inside information that he had passed the imperial examination.
For him, today was a double blessing, proving that Lin Ying was indeed a woman who would bring good fortune to her husband and children.
After the wedding ceremony, the bride is first escorted to the bridal chamber, and then comes out for wine and tea.
Liang Zhiyuan was very happy when he learned that his son had passed the imperial examination. He brought Liang Jin in front of everyone, especially in front of Jinghou, and praised him humbly and proudly.
The guests started to take their seats at You time.
Although the sun has not set yet at the hour of You, red lanterns have already been lit in the mansion, making it look very festive.
After they took their seats, Liang Jin brought the bride out to toast the guests.
Han and Liang Ruoyu exchanged glances, Liang Ruoyu nodded slightly, then called the maid over and whispered a few words in her ear. The maid received the order and hurried out.
Ali sat at the same table with them. Since they were the host family, they were accompanied by more distinguished guests. The old lady of the Marquis' Mansion, Su Qing's mother, and two aunts also sat together.
After Liang Ruoyu gave instructions to the maid, she glanced at Ali, who was sitting next to her, with a beaming look, her eyes revealing deep malice.
Ali was just busy eating and didn't even look at her.
Liang Ruoyu whispered in her ear: "If you beg me now, I might be able to forgive you."
Ali said calmly, "The old lady and the ladies are here. If you have anything to say, just speak directly. What's the use of whispering? Didn't mother teach you the rules?"
Everyone looked at Liang Ruoyu. She gritted her teeth, lowered her head appropriately to hide the anger in her eyes, and when she looked up again, her face was full of smiles. "Excuse me, I made you laugh."
Well, since you don't beg for mercy, I will destroy your reputation.
As she was thinking this, she heard a commotion coming from the front yard.
A sneer appeared on her lips. Juer is here!
He glanced coldly at Liang Ruoli beside him, but saw that she looked calm, without any sign of fear, as if she was completely unaware that the nightmare was coming.
However, the person who came in was not Juer, but a woman about twenty years old, dressed in mourning and wearing a white scarf on her head. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she was holding a child about two years old in her hands.
The child had a pale face and a confused look in his eyes. When he suddenly saw so many people, he hurriedly hid behind the woman.
Everyone looked over and was stunned to see the woman in mourning clothes.
When Liang Jin saw this woman, his face turned pale and cold, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.
Seeing the woman in mourning clothes, Han was furious. She said to the housekeeper, "You can't even close the door tightly? You don't even know what day it is. How dare you let anyone in?"
Without waiting for the housekeeper to speak, the woman walked straight towards Liang Jin and knelt in front of the bride Lin Ying, "Madam, please have mercy on me and my child, accept me as your wife, and serve me together with you."
The bride's face turned pale all of a sudden. She looked at Liang Jin in disbelief and asked angrily, "Who is she?"
Liang Jin looked flustered and shouted at the woman, "What nonsense are you talking about? You and I have only met twice. Why do you want me to take you in as my concubine? Are you crazy? Someone, get her out!"
The woman raised her head angrily, "Met twice? I have been married to you for three years. You swore that you would marry me and coax me into giving birth to your child. I know that I am of humble origin and it is impossible for me to be your principal wife, but I don't mind being your concubine. Now we have a child, do you want to disown him? Two months ago, you sent ten taels of silver to my mother and me, saying that you would buy a house to accommodate me in the future. But I would rather serve you and your wife than be your concubine. If I become your concubine, our son will be a bastard. How can I agree to that? It doesn't matter if I suffer injustice, but I cannot suffer injustice for our child."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ying was so angry that her face turned pale and her eyes widened, "Liang Jin, how could you be such a shameless person?"
Liang Jin hurriedly defended himself, "Don't listen to her nonsense. I don't know her at all, how could she have a child? I don't know where this child came from, and she tricked me into it."
Seeing that the guests were all watching and the servants were standing there in a daze, he shouted angrily, "Why don't you drag them out?"
Several servants immediately stepped forward, grabbed the woman and picked up the child, and tried to drag them out.
The heroine shouted in grief and anger, "Liang Jin, we have been married for three years, are you so heartless? You can deny me, but you can't deny Shui'er. He is your son, your eldest son!"
The legal wife had just married into the family, and already had a two-year-old illegitimate son. This was really a slap in the face to the legal wife!
Lin Ying looked at Liang Jin, whose face was red with anxiety, and said coldly: "You must give me an explanation for what happened today."
Liang Jin had no way of giving an explanation and just kept urging the servants to drag the woman out quickly.
"Liang Jin, my father is dead and I have nowhere to go. If you drive me away, my children and I will end up on the streets. You have no conscience!"
This collision of red and white was unlucky, not to mention Han and Liang Zhiyuan, even everyone present felt it was unlucky.
Liang Zhiyuan said nothing, but his face was gloomy.
Han was the mistress of the house, and she was the one who handled matters in the inner house. She stepped forward and slapped the woman twice, saying sternly, "Don't you see where you are? How can you make a fuss and frame someone? If you don't get out of here, I will immediately escort you to the government office."
The woman struggled, her hair was all messed up, and she looked at Han and cried sadly, "He betrayed me, and I was willing. Who made me believe him? But this child is indeed the blood of your Liang family. You can drive him away, but he wants to stay."
Han said sternly, "Shut up! My Jin'er has always been a clean person. She is about to pass the imperial examination. How can I allow you to slander her? Take your bastard and get out!"
The servant didn't dare to be too rough at first, but when he saw Han was so angry, he used brute force to pull her out.
“Wait!”
A voice sounded slowly.
Everyone looked over and saw Liang Ruoli, the daughter of the prime minister, standing up. She walked to the woman with a calm face and said to the servant who was pulling her, "Let her go!"
(End of this chapter)