CHAPTER 656: CHAPTER 643: THE DOOMED PRINCESS 10

Liu Meiniang inquired about the location of Zhao Hongwen’s residence and then took her children there.

At this time, the outside of Zhao Mansion was decked out with lanterns and streamers, brimming with joy.

Zhao Hongwen mounted a majestic steed to fetch Liu Ruolan from the Liu Family and bring her back to his mansion.

The bridal sedan stopped, and Liu Ruolan was helped down by others. Zhao Hongwen, looking smug with spring breezes on his face, escorted Liu Ruolan back to the mansion.

Then came the ceremonial rites like worshipping heaven and earth. The couple paid their respects to the heavens, the earth, and to Zhao Hongwen’s deceased parents. At the moment when they faced each other to perform the couple’s bow, a maid came stumbling in.

Seeing her master in the middle of the ceremony, she quickly hid on the side, not daring to make a noise.

But Zhao Hongwen still noticed her.

He composed himself and completed the rites with Liu Ruolan, had her escorted to the bridal chamber, and then went out with a smile to entertain the friends who came to offer their congratulations.

Stepping out from the room, Zhao Hongwen called the maid over: "What’s happened?"

The maid trembled with fear: "Master, outside... outside there are a mother and her three children claiming to be your wife, saying they came looking for family..."

Zhao Hongwen’s face immediately turned dark.

"I understand. You go attend to Madam."

As the maid stepped away, Zhao Hongwen clenched and unclenched his right fist several times, finally making up his mind.

Anning and Xue He were in a tavern not far from the Zhao Family at that time.

The two sat by the window on the second floor, peering down from the open window.

Anning spotted Liu Meiniang with her children immediately.

Liu Meiniang had traveled from the countryside, dusty and travel-worn and now truly looking disheveled.

She was dressed in gray, coarse cloth, her face darkened and sallow, so thin she looked as if a breeze might blow her away.

The two children she brought were also skinny and small, fear noticeable in their eyes; evidently, they had suffered greatly along the journey.

Xue He held a teacup in one hand, slightly lowered his eyes, watching Liu Meiniang cause a commotion at Zhao Mansion.

Liu Meiniang stood outside the Zhao Family home and began to shout in front of everyone: "Zhao Hongwen is a good-for-nothing. I slaved away at home to earn money for his studying and imperial examinations. Yet the moment he becomes the top scorer, he abandons his wife to remarry for wealth and rank, discarding his old wife and children. An unkind husband, an uncaring father, a deceitful subject hiding the truth from Your Majesty, he shows no loyalty..."

Someone approached Liu Meiniang and asked, "You claim to be Top Scholar Zhao’s wife, do you have any evidence?"

Liu Meiniang scoffed, "I have our marriage certificate, how can you say that I have no evidence? If anyone doubts me, they can send someone to inquire in our hometown. I’ve been married to the Zhao Family for seven or eight years, everyone around Zhao Hongwen’s hometown knows he already has a wife and child."

Hearing Liu Meiniang state her case so confidently, the onlookers believed her.

Seeing that no one from the Zhao Family had come out yet, Liu Meiniang sat on the steps with her children and began to wail, "What sin have I committed, to marry such a heartless man? It breaks my heart that I worked to the bone for him, exhausting myself to this state, yet he becomes accomplished in one day and performs such ungrateful acts. Oh heaven, what wrong have I done? Open your eyes and see, look at this worthless man."

Anning watched Liu Meiniang, her performance full of drama, and the corners of her mouth curved up.

In her past life, it was she who Liu Meiniang targeted like this, and she felt extremely uncomfortable at the time.

Now, whatever Liu Meiniang did no longer concerned her. She was actually curious as to what Liu Ruolan’s expression would be at this moment.

Anning waved over Qiu Shuang: "Go spread the word discreetly, saying that Prime Minister Liu had long known about Top Scholar Zhao having a wife and children in his hometown. But to find his daughter a husband of talent and appearance, he turned a blind eye to his conscience and pretended not to know. Miss Liu favored Top Scholar Zhao’s talent and did not hesitate to hold on to him even knowing he had a wife and child, truly discarding all concerns for face and decency."

Qiu Shuang answered with a smile and quickly left.

Anning’s fingers tapped on the table: "I really want to see how Liu Ruolan will face these rumors."

In her previous life, Zhou Jingxing and Liu Ruolan spread rumors to destroy her reputation just like this.

But this time, she took the initiative and paid them back in their own coin.

Zhao Hongwen hadn’t even left his house when he heard Liu Meiniang’s distinctively loud voice.

He frowned, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes.

He walked to the doorway, his face lighting up with surprise as he saw Liu Meiniang: "Sister Liu is here, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Hurry, bring the children inside with me... You must have suffered on the journey."

Liu Meiniang was stunned.

The spectators were also stunned.

Anning smiled faintly: "This Zhao Hongwen is quite quick-witted."

However, Xue He’s face showed a trace of coldness, he grabbed Anning’s hand: "There’s no point in watching any longer; let’s go back."

Anning stood up, led by Xue He, and the two held hands as they descended the stairs, quickly getting into the sedan chair and returning to the Princess Mansion.

Liu Meiniang, on seeing Zhao Hongwen trying to deny her, jumped up in a rage: "Zhao Hongwen, you shameless man, what ’Sister Liu’? I am your wife, don’t you dare try to deny it, I’m telling you..."

Zhao Hongwen frowned and took two steps back.

"What are you saying? Making such a scene in broad daylight, aren’t you ashamed? Whatever reason you came for, you should come back with me first so we can talk it over slowly."

He glanced at the two children, smiling as he pulled them close: "Even if it’s not for anything else, you should consider the children, don’t scare them."

The children were indeed frightened and began to cry loudly.

Zhao Hongwen took the children inside: "Sister Liu, aren’t you coming in quickly?"

Liu Meiniang was left in a dilemma, whether to enter or to leave, but eventually, she gritted her teeth and followed him in.

The crowd outside, deprived of their spectacle, dispersed after a short while.

Anning and Xue He didn’t stay idle after getting back. Anning had people keep an eye on Zhao Hongwen’s matter, while Xue He continued to study.

On the second day, the affairs of the Zhao Family had spread throughout the Capital, and Anning naturally heard about it as well.

Hearing the news, Anning admired Zhao Hongwen’s clever maneuvers.

This life was unlike her previous life. Previously, Prime Minister Liu and his cohorts clearly intended to drag Anning into a pit, so they did not help Zhao Hongwen with any aftermath. When Liu Meiniang showed up, it truly stirred up a major scandal in the city, and Zhao Hongwen, lacking shrewdness, ended up trapping himself as well.

But this time, Prime Minister Liu and Zhou Jingxing did help Zhao Hongwen with some aftermath.

In the end, the news Anning heard was that Zhao Hongwen had already offered an explanation for yesterday’s events.

According to Zhao Hongwen, Liu Meiniang was indeed his wife, but he had divorced her long ago. He caught Liu Meiniang being unfaithful while he was home; he was so angry that he wanted to tie her and her lover up and send them to the government office. However, Liu Meiniang begged him on her knees, and considering their children, he did not publicize the affair, but he no longer wanted her. So he issued a divorce letter and divorced her.

When he went to the Capital for the imperial examinations, he was worried about the children at home and let Liu Meiniang take care of them, leaving her with some money.

He planned to bring the children over after getting married so that they would also have a mother’s care, but unexpectedly, Liu Meiniang brought the children to the Capital and slandered him in this way. So, he saw no need to cover up for Liu Meiniang any longer.

Liu Meiniang made a commotion, claiming Zhao Hongwen was talking nonsense.

But Zhao Hongwen produced the divorce certificate, and he stated that a copy was also kept with the clan elders in his hometown.