The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 148: Would It Be Awkward?

The window was half open, revealing the winter plum grove that Wei Fengxing had planted for her during his lifetime.

Time flowed like water, and now the plum trees stand tall in full bloom, their fragrance overwhelming.

The room was elegantly arranged, unchanged for a decade, even the distant four-panel camphor wood screen with primrose-colored silk and glass hadn’t been replaced.

The Duchess Shun slowly turned around, looking at the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the opposite wall.

It was what Wei Fengxing taught her hand in hand after their marriage.

As a maiden, she couldn’t understand why the Wei Family sought her hand in marriage.

She was very unfamiliar with Wei Fengxing.

Although both resided in the Capital, as a noble lady, she was raised under strict rules, never interacting with men outside.

Whenever they met, it was either at palace banquets or gatherings hosted by noble families, and she only caught glimpses from afar.

The first real conversation occurred on the day Duke Zhongyong got married.

She and the Marchioness Zhongyong were close friends.

Wei Fengxing accompanied Duke Zhongyong to fetch the bride.

As the newlyweds knelt to bid farewell to the bride’s parents and served them tea, the atmosphere was joyful, with firecrackers going off outside.

She was observing from a corner when a mischievous child came from nowhere and pushed her. She was unsteady but luckily was supported.

"Miss Ning, stand firm."

Wei Fengxing’s voice was gentle like jade.

She thanked him calmly, then subtly distanced herself.

Upon learning about this, the Marchioness Zhongyong’s eyes sparkled.

"You said Wei Fengxing supported you?"

"That shouldn’t be, he never gets close to women. You know every son of the Wei Family is outstanding, and so many people are eager to marry them, yet he always avoids them."

Unlike the Marchioness Zhongyong’s emotional reaction, she remained serene and poised.

"I’m different."

The Marchioness Zhongyong agreed: "That’s right, you’re so beautiful, and your figure is graceful..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

She replied calmly: "I meant I was already promised to someone, and I’m to be married next year. It wouldn’t be unusual in the eyes of others if he lent a hand; it wouldn’t cause him any trouble."

Yet, a year later, she still married him.

Sitting on the wedding bed, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t anxious.

He lifted her veil, and they drank the wedding wine. The couple cut a lock of hair together, wove it into a love knot, and placed it by the bedside.

His eyes were gentle and affectionate.

"Would it feel awkward to call you my wife?"

This was the second sentence they spoke to each other.

Awkward.

Very awkward.

But she had always been prudent, never allowing others to find fault with her.

At such close proximity, she met Wei Fengxing’s gaze with a perfectly poised smile: "No."

Whether or not Wei Fengxing believed her, he didn’t show.

The candles in the room crackled as they burned, and he let down the wedding bed curtains.

The view dimmed.

"Suxuan, let me know if it hurts."

This was the third sentence he said to her.

From Miss Ning to Madam, ending with affectionately calling her by her name.

It seemed methodical.

But the process was quick.

Ning Suxuan felt at that moment, this man was not simple. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Though gentle, his presence was too strong. Impossible to ignore.

And yet, he wasn’t repulsive.

Being a married couple, there was nothing wrong with whatever he called her.

After becoming pregnant, the Marchioness Zhongyong came to see her.

"What is going on?"

"I got married before you, yet nothing’s happening."

"Suxuan, your husband is something else."

Even as a married woman, she couldn’t tolerate such indecent talk, and lectured the Marchioness Zhongyong for half an hour on propriety and conduct.

When it came time to give birth, little Wei Zhao was the best at crying.

Even when Wei Fengxing held him, it wasn’t helpful.

But once in her arms, he was inexplicably well-behaved.

She held the tiny child in her arms, reluctant to let go.

Until the late Emperor died and the new Emperor ascended. Wei Fengxing’s brother died at the border.

She, with her hair loose, lay beside the cradle, worry evident on her face as she looked at her two-year-old child.

Gui Zhi... if only you were a daughter, how wonderful that would be.

Later, Wei Fengxing passed away, and she was in a stupor, feeling as if the sky had collapsed, with everyone telling her to mourn and take care of herself.

She indeed had to take care.

Gui Zhi hadn’t yet started a family.

She couldn’t let go.

But right now...

What could she not let go of?

————

Unlike the Capital.

The light in Ze County was bright, rarely without wind, and warmly enveloped.

The accumulated haze over Ze County was dispersed, revealing a vibrant scene.

Everyone was talking about the Imperial Censor’s punishments for the prisoners in the cells these past few days in the Capital.

"All sentenced to death just as yesterday. The day before too."

"Even those villains knew fear, pleading they would never do it again, asking for mercy to reform, pah! Save those words for King Yan when they reincarnate."

"I always wondered how the County Magistrate in Ze County dared to mine without authorization, turns out it was all to butter up the Magistrate in the end."

"How greedy can they be."

"Those people never lacked money, yet shamelessly increased taxes on us poor folks."

Land, poll, labor, military service... these taxes weighed everyone down. Not to mention Ze County had an extra road permit fee.

Especially in the countryside.

How much oil and water could there be in a year?

In the end, it all went into the pockets of those corrupt officials.

Some wiped away tears.

"The west mine is pressingly filled with bodies buried over the years beyond count. The Imperial Censor’s people dug up quite a few bones. The mountain is now sealed, no one gets in or out. My brother got into trouble there back then, now I can go to the Post Station to get compensation."

Someone was particularly excited.

"Remember the constable who collected road permits, beating people to death? The Imperial Censor said to let them die the same way."

"I must go see it then!"

Someone was puzzled.

"It’s strange, the money those people embezzled must be countless. But the Imperial Censor’s people searched and didn’t find a single copper coin, no idea where they hid it."

"Even subjected to harsh torture, these people wailed pretending innocence, claiming it’s impossible, saying they don’t know."

"Pah, did the money grow legs and run away?"

"Are they taking the nobles of the Capital for fools? Right up to the point of death, they still don’t know life and death."

This wasn’t only spreading in the streets.

It was also spreading in the alleys.

Yu Tingwan hugged a warm stove, cracking melon seeds.

She was menstruating, feeling lazy these days.

Lady Zhao: "You might not know, that Dong Family! The one trying to harm young girls, getting married Dong Family."

Yu Tingwan: ...

She knew them all too well.

Lady Zhao: "He was tried just yesterday."

"Landlord Dong, maybe scared for his life because of his old age, maybe from a bitten finger, confessed everything."

"He was engaged in human trafficking, selling abducted boys to families unable to have sons. As for the girls with decent looks, some were sold to brothels, others used as gifts. Truly heartless."

"In his desperation, he confessed, besides the secret room, he buried unethical wealth in several anonymous villas over the years."

"He’s bribed all the officials in the four cities, sending over ten thousand gold over the years."

Lady Zhao: "The Imperial Censor quickly ordered those villas to be excavated. And guess what?"

Yu Tingwan: ...

"I guess... they’re all empty."