Abandoned Wife? Her Starlight Shall Blind You!-Chapter 69 - 20: Recruiting a Son-in-Law Is Key

The Duchess Xu had always had some words of criticism towards Old Mrs. Xu, but considering her young granddaughter and Old Mrs. Xu’s deep schemes, she decided to listen to what Old Mrs. Xu had to say.

"Very well." The Duchess Xu responded calmly.

The group then moved to Old Mrs. Xu’s room, where the Duchess Xu sat gracefully, and a maid presented her with fragrant tea.

She gently sipped it and asked unhurriedly, "Old Mrs. Xu, what do you wish to discuss?"

Old Mrs. Xu maintained her false smile, "I want to discuss Ruoxi’s matters with you."

Upon hearing this, the Duchess Xu furrowed her brows slightly, "Ruoxi? What about her?"

Old Mrs. Xu lowered her voice, "A couple of days ago, Old Mrs. Xiao came to the Shen Mansion and scolded Ruoxi at the gate. Today, Xiao Chengyi came to provoke Ruoxi again. They are trying to drive her to death!"

The Duchess Xu, hearing this, was enraged and widened her eyes, "How outrageous! I was intending to confront them anyway."

Old Mrs. Xu played the good person, "There’s no need to be angry, this sort of shameless family is rare in this world.

To completely detach from them and make Xiao Chengyi give up, there is actually no need for drastic measures, simply find a husband for Ruoxi."

The Duchess Xu’s eyes lit up instantly, indeed! Finding a good husband for her granddaughter would put an end to Xiao Chengyi’s nonsense.

If Ruoxi had a husband, would they dare come and spout nonsense? Wouldn’t we fight them off?

Seeing that the Duchess Xu agreed with her, Old Mrs. Xu, delighted, added, "The Xiao Family is overstepping, especially that Xiao Chengyi. He, busy with his own grand wedding, yet shamelessly entangles with Ruoxi, perhaps thinking she still has feelings for him?

Let’s have Ruoxi marry, outshine him, and make him regret it!"

The Duchess Xu agreed but then seemed troubled, for where could they find a suitable husband for Ruoxi on such short notice?

Moreover, after the incident with Xiao Chengyi, she was more cautious about other young gentlemen as well.

Thus, choosing a husband for Ruoxi had to be done with great care.

"We need to carefully consider the candidates, not rush into it." The Duchess Xu said solemnly.

As the Duchess Xu deliberated, Old Mrs. Xu suddenly leaned in closer, speaking mysteriously, "Have you heard any rumors going around?"

The Duchess Xu was taken aback, asking puzzled, "Rumors? What rumors?"

Old Mrs. Xu lowered her voice, pretending to be secretive, "There’s talk outside that His Majesty seems interested in Ruoxi, hence he personally decreed for Ruoxi and Xiao Chengyi to divorce. It’s said Ruoxi is to enter the Imperial Palace soon."

Upon hearing this, the Duchess Xu’s face sank, and she angrily exclaimed, "Which blind idiot spread such nonsense? It’s utterly baseless!"

Seeing this, Old Mrs. Xu quickly said in a low voice, "Don’t be too angry. There’s no smoke without fire.

I have an idea, why not host a spring banquet at the Shen Mansion the day after tomorrow, and you can come to oversee things for Ruoxi.

We can invite young, unmarried sons of officials ranked fifth and above with a clean family background and under 25 years old to attend.

Let Ruoxi choose a husband she is satisfied with, dispersing those rumors, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, the Duchess Xu frowned slightly and said, "But Ruoxi is injured now and needs rest. Besides, such a significant matter requires her consent."

Old Mrs. Xu whispered, "After careful thinking, I believe it’s best not to inform Ruoxi of this."

The Duchess Xu, hearing this, was puzzled, "Why not discuss it with her?"

Old Mrs. Xu replied, "Because if you seek her opinion, she will surely disagree!

Ruoxi is very filial. If we say it was you who arranged it, that it’s you wanting her to find a husband, she wouldn’t oppose it.

Although she is injured, that’s due to Xiao Chengyi’s provocation, resolving this will help her recover.

Furthermore, choosing a husband doesn’t require much energy, as long as she finds one pleasing to her eye."

Although the Duchess Xu was quite averse to Old Mrs. Xu, after hearing her words, she found them reasonable.

After all, the rumors have been circulating for years, if she truly found a husband, those rumors would naturally fade away.

She nodded in agreement, "Let’s do as you say. However, there are many sons of officials ranked fifth and above, I’ll first have Ruoxi’s uncle screen them, limiting the number to around ten, then invite them over."

Old Mrs. Xu was secretly pleased, her goal achieved.

She knew well that finding a husband was merely a ploy, once this news spread, the first to panic would be His Majesty.

He would not allow Shen Ruoxi to marry, and would surely take action.

As soon as Shen Ruoxi entered the palace, her disadvantage at the Shen Mansion would be reversed, and the Yang Family and Zou Family would be nothing to worry about.

Thus, she respectfully replied, "I shall follow your arrangements, and only need to handle the preparations for the spring banquet."

The Duchess Xu nodded, "Then I shall return to the Xu Mansion now."

"Farewell, dear in-law." Old Mrs. Xu respectfully saw off the Duchess Xu, filled with anticipation and scheming.

"Old Mrs., you certainly have great ideas." Nanny Hou admired.

Old Mrs. Xu slightly raised the corners of her mouth, Shen Ruoxi nearly pushed her to the brink this time, almost destroying everything she had painstakingly built.

She would not allow such a thing to happen, she now only hoped His Majesty would quickly confine Shen Ruoxi in the Imperial Palace, so she could be at ease.

She said with deep meaning, "First we must thank the Xiao Family, if they hadn’t come to the Shen Mansion to make a scene, I truly wouldn’t know how to handle it.

Of course, we must also thank His Majesty, if he hadn’t spread the rumor, how could things have gone so smoothly?"

"You are truly blessed and fortunate." Nanny Hou quickly praised.

However, Old Mrs. Xu’s face turned sinister instantly, although she had leverage over Chen Gun, she couldn’t let her guard down.

Only with the deaths of both Chen Gun and Cuicui could she truly rest easy.

However, there was one thing she was completely at ease about, which was the fear Shen Ruoxi instilled about being subjected to Yin Yang Replenishment by Tai and dying of organ failure.

She had sought a doctor’s thorough examination, finding her health unimpaired, just a bit of heatiness.

It seemed that Shen Ruoxi was merely bluffing, trying to frighten her.

Since Shen Ruoxi returned to the Shen Mansion, she hadn’t known a single day of peace.

She resolved that she must drive Shen Ruoxi out of the Shen Mansion to regain her tranquility.

...

Shen Ruoxi slept very deeply and did not wake until the sun was already high.

She opened her eyes, her mind still a bit foggy, and only felt a bit more relaxed in her body when Chuntao and the other two maids came in to serve her.

"Miss, the Young Master came by, seeing you asleep, he didn’t disturb you. He said your senior master has handled all matters at the distillery, Manager Yan and the others have been handed over to the government, and the bodies in the backyard garden were also reported." Chuntao said softly.

Shen Ruoxi nodded, indicating she understood.

After having lunch, she began contemplating how to evade Old Mrs. Xu’s eyes and ears and take control of her minions one by one. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chen Gun’s family must be rescued, only then can he testify against Old Mrs. Xu and bring her to justice.

Shen Ruoxi thought that to resolve this matter properly, her senior master’s direct involvement was necessary.

She immediately decided to send Chuntao to the distillery with a message, asking him to come to the Shen Mansion for a detailed discussion.

Just as she was lost in thought, a sudden idea leaped into her mind, rendering her completely stunned.