The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 636 - 599: An Exposed Secret Identity (Part 1)

Chapter 636: Chapter 599: An Exposed Secret Identity (Part 1)

The position where Wen Wan and the others were situated was on a small Han white jade arch bridge, with banquet halls at both ends of the bridge. The woman’s crying was so loud that soon, it attracted the women guests to come out.

Old Mrs. Lu’s face was somewhat somber, but seeing Wen Wan’s behavior, it seemed as if she was acquainted with the woman’s husband. Thus, she could not directly speak to have someone deal with the woman, and could only watch from the side.

The woman kneeling on the ground, with tearful eyes, seemed unaware that many people were watching her. She gently tugged Wen Wan’s skirt with one hand while wiping the torrents of tears with the other, "It’s all because my man was too greedy, not knowing his limits, and came from afar trying to threaten Mr. Song for money, which resulted in him being severely injured and left untreated. Madam, he already knows he was wrong, I beg you, show mercy and let him go. At least consider he’s Yuanbao’s own uncle."

Right after the woman finished speaking, Wen Wan felt countless gazes piercing towards her.

People tend to sympathize with the weak. The woman quickly assumed the role of the weak and played the family card, whether there were hidden truths in between, Wen Wan disregarded this kinship by having her stepson’s uncle beaten, which was undoubtedly her fault.

No wonder a few months ago Wang Xiaolang merely showed up briefly before Song Wei and didn’t get a single coin, then disappeared; turns out they were waiting here.

Perhaps because the setup by the opposing party took enough time and hid many unknown details in between, Wen Wan had no forewarning about it. She only felt chest tightness before heading out, predicting something bad might occur at the Lu family.

As it turns out, that foreboding thing was what was happening right now.

Faced with so many fingers pointing at her, she did not open her mouth to argue but simply asked the woman, "Where is your husband?"

Upon hearing this, the woman’s face instantly showed terror, repeatedly begging for mercy, "Madam, spare us, we really won’t dare anymore, please give us a way to survive."

A noblewoman watching couldn’t bear it, chimed in, "Mrs. Song, after all, it’s family, he came to the Capital in distress for help. If you are financially capable, give more; if not, then less, is it necessary to resort to beating? No matter how you say it, Mr. Song is an esteemed minister before the Emperor, and doing this, isn’t it too..." Too disgraceful for the Song family, too lacking in the demeanor of a matron.

The latter part of the sentence, the noblewoman did not say out loud, but everyone present was not foolish, they naturally understood.

Wen Wan simply listened quietly, without raising her eyelids, her gaze still fixed on the coarse-clothed woman kneeling on the ground, "You say you are Yuanbao’s aunt, then why did you not go to the Song Mansion to find me, instead of coming here, do you know what this place is?"

The woman’s face slightly stiffened.

Ignoring her reaction, Wen Wan continued, "You also said I secretly had someone beat your husband, why should I beat him? There must be a reason, right?"

The people present were not all just spectators, some retained their rationality, and as soon as Wen Wan spoke, someone responded by saying, "That’s right, Mrs. Song is known for her good temper in our circles, how could she possibly dispatch someone to beat another for no reason, let alone a relative. There must be a cause; if you cannot explain, it’s deliberate slander!"

The woman pursed her lips, her expression conflicted, seemingly having something to say but dared not.

Mrs. Xiao Liu received the news and rushed over to witness such a scene, her face turned unpleasant, quickly jogging to the Duchess’s side, asking, "Did the Old Madame get frightened?"

The Duchess shot a severe look at her, "How did this person get in?"

Initially, she thought it was some ill-intentioned maid from the mansion; it turned out to be an outsider. Since they’re unrelated, how did they enter the Duke Mansion without an invitation?

Mrs. Xiao Liu couldn’t respond.

With so many guests today, to maintain order, she specifically arranged personnel at both gates as guards. Logically, unidentified individuals shouldn’t have mixed in, yet this anomaly occurred.

Thinking about how this woman spoiled such a good banquet today, Mrs. Xiao Liu was filled with anger, raising her hand to summon several maids, "Escort her to my courtyard for tea, whatever the matter, we’ll discuss after the banquet."

At this moment, Wen Wan spoke up, "Let her finish talking."

Mrs. Xiao Liu was stunned, "Finish what?"

Wen Wan said to the coarse-clothed woman, "With so many people here to witness, tell whatever insider details you have, I’m right here, not leaving."

Upon hearing this, the woman hiccupped twice, and sobbed in a fearful tone, "Madam, that is your past, how dare a commoner expose it publicly?"

Past?

Those two words were like oil poured into a pot of cold water, instantly sparking discussions among the quiet female guests.

Everyone in the circles knew Wen Wan and Song Wei were married back in their hometown, a typical marriage borne out of poverty. Only after Song Wei passed the Advanced Scholar exam and received recognition did they move to the Capital.

Thus, although Wen Wan attended school at Hongwen Academy, in many people’s eyes, she was inherently a small village girl from the countryside.

As for her past, growing up in the countryside, who would investigate or doubt she had any background, there was absolutely no need.

The origins of a village girl, however bad, couldn’t be that bad.

But when the person being suspected was Wen Wan, it was a different matter.

After all, earlier in the hall, Wen Wan’s resemblance to the former Princess was still a hot topic among noblewomen, and now that her past was brought up, it inevitably led people to think about the former Princess.

At the moment, looking at Wen Wan again, all those gazes had already changed in flavor.

Even Old Mrs. Lu’s stature quivered almost imperceptibly.

Back then, Lu Xingzhou and Princess Changping unintentionally had a dalliance, which Old Mrs. Lu knew about, but while she was still contemplating ways to remedy the grave mistake, an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager bestowed Su Yi upon them, leaving the Lu Family with no say.

Later, the Empress Dowager publicly announced sending Princess Changping to a remote estate to recuperate, being a woman, Old Mrs. Lu had a hunch that the girl was likely pregnant, forcing the Empress Dowager to conceal it out of shame.

The matter back then ended there, but what transpired afterward, Old Mrs. Lu remained unaware, yet the fact that Lu Xingzhou and his wife had a child before their wedding was something she kept in her heart. She thought about asking, but the second daughter-in-law was of royal status, unwilling to speak, no one could force it out, but not asking left her contemplating.

Previously, upon seeing Wen Wan for the first time in her courtyard, Old Mrs. Lu almost couldn’t help but want to inquire about her parents, but was restrained by the presence of old friends and it being her first meeting with Mrs. Wen, she had to hold back.

Now suddenly the coarse-clothed woman revealed an alternative past for Wen Wan, directing Old Mrs. Lu’s thoughts in a certain direction.

In truth, she secretly hoped.

Wen Wan said nothing.

Regardless of whether the kneeling woman was indeed Yuanbao’s aunt or not, the person behind the layout aimed to reveal her identity as an illegitimate child before everyone today. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Honestly, ever since learning of her parents’ tumultuous experiences, Wen Wan never felt embarrassed about her past.

She was neither born of adultery nor a child her mother bore from an infidelity with someone.

Although her arrival was an accident, her biological parents were genuinely in love at that time.

However, despite her personal indifference, feeling it was nothing, having to be exposed and revealed in front of so many people still couldn’t stop her heart from wrenching.

Taking a deep breath, Wen Wan tried to steady her emotions, thinking first of Song Wei.

She pondered, if it were her husband, how he would handle such a situation.

When Song Wei’s figure clearly emerged in her mind, Wen Wan suddenly felt less afraid, looking at the woman on the ground, her gaze returned to a state of calmness, "What past? Speak clearly, to prevent suspicion remaining in others, and avoid concocting unpleasant rumors in the future."

The woman probably hadn’t anticipated Wen Wan being not only unperturbed but also daring to compel her to speak publicly, her spine stiffened momentarily, then she once again cried out, the voice filled with fear, "I came today to only ask Madam to spare my man, he already knows his fault, any further fuss will result in death..."

Words that are vaguely defined often arouse more suspicion from others.

Sure enough, those previous gazes once again fixated upon Wen Wan.

Wen Wan tightened the fingers within her sleeves, interrupting her words, "How could your master not instruct you to expose my secret in front of everyone?"