Ping Niangzi felt a grief deeper than death.
She decided to give the scumbag no more chances.
Following Su Xiaoqi's advice, she reported to the authorities directly, and a divorce letter ended their ten years of marital affection.
Their only son returned to Ping Niangzi.
Anyway, the scum had already had a child with his mistress, so he didn't argue.
These events all happened after Zhao Shi went to the capital.
Therefore, she didn't know.
When she casually asked about it now, she heard something so serious.
She sighed inwardly and said, "How did that person become like that?
When he had no money, he could still love his wife and child.
Once he had money, he turned into a bad person, alas..."
Zhao Shi couldn't understand it no matter what.
Su Xiaoqi said, "Your views are different, Mother, you definitely won't understand their thoughts."
A person's worldview is formed by their parents' influence and their life experiences.
Of course, there might be some changes later, but they won't be too significant.
Unless something very stimulating happens.
Zhao Shi's experiences meant she wouldn't do such a thing.
But Su Xiaoqi didn't understand what others thought, nor could she explain it to Zhao Shi.
She simply recounted a few instances of scum men becoming bad after getting rich in modern times.
Zhao Shi nodded frequently as she listened, and then occasionally looked at Shen Yun.
Shen Yun listened to his mother and wife talking about other people, and unknowingly, they had drifted to him.
And what did his mother mean by looking at him like that?
Did she think he was also the kind of man who became bad after getting rich?
He suddenly felt depressed.
He coughed softly, trying to remind his mother.
He was her own son.
If she continued to hint like this, wasn't she afraid of driving away her daughter-in-law and leaving him single?
"Alright, stop that fake coughing. You are my son, how could Mother not understand you?
Once you've decided on Xiaoqi, it's for life, you won't change your mind.
But Xiaoqi just said.
Some things are not entirely immutable.
Even people's thoughts can change in an instant.
Today, I'll make this statement:
Xiaoqi is my daughter-in-law, and that will never change.
Even if you were not my son, she would still be the closest person to me. If you dare to listen to others and do something that is detrimental to Xiaoqi, I will disown you as my son."
Is this prioritizing the daughter-in-law over the son?
Su Xiaoqi was a little stunned at first.
But she quickly understood: this, this, was Zhao Shi's warning, or her stance?
Su Xiaoqi's eyes darted, and she understood completely.
Zhao Shi might have realized what the couple had come to her to discuss.
To avoid making things difficult for them, she chose to express her attitude first.
Meaning she agreed with all their decisions.
But the precondition was that Shen Yun must not fail Su Xiaoqi.
"Mother!" Su Xiaoqi was very moved and threw herself into Zhao Shi's arms.
Her eyes grew warm, and her nose felt sore, on the verge of tears.
"Mother, don't worry, no matter what, Xiaoqi will always be my wife and your daughter-in-law," Shen Yun said with absolute certainty.
His voice carried a firmness like bedrock.
He knew the Ning King's mansion's attitude towards Xiaoqi. They could accept him, because without him, they would be childless.
At least in the short term, it wouldn't be easy to have another heir to the mansion.
Similarly, if he returned to the Ning King's mansion, he would be the sole heir.
How could he not even protect his own wife?
If that were the case, what use would the position of the heir apparent be?
Shen Yun deeply felt his mother's affection for Xiaoqi and was very happy.
He didn't feel threatened, but happy.
Their family's hearts were always together.
When a family is united, they can conquer anything.
"Mother, you know about it?" Although Shen Yun had his suspicions, he still wanted to ask.
Zhao Shi nodded: "I know. My eyesight may not be good, but my hearing is not bad. Of course, someone told me."
"Mother means..." Shen Yun asked again to ensure he understood Zhao Shi's meaning.
Zhao Shi suddenly fell silent.
Her face showed struggle, entanglement, and pain.
Su Xiaoqi knew she was remembering her time with the former King Ning.
Those memories had been beautiful before.
But now they had become the source of pain.
Some people, it would be better if they were dead, because if he were dead, he wouldn't have turned into a scumbag.
Abandoning his original wife and children, returning to the capital to marry a county princess and inherit the title of Prince.
Zhao Shi, who had been strong her entire life, would surely prefer King Ning to be dead, so that the young man who remained in her heart would be the one she met back then.
So beautiful, so pure.
Untainted by the mundane world.
Back then, she thought they were a match made in heaven.
They understood each other so well.
There was no need to speak; a mere glance was enough for them to understand each other.
The more she thought about it, the more painful and sad she became.
Ultimately, she couldn't bear to let go.
But since he had remarried.
No matter how reluctant she was, she had to let go.
She had no intention of becoming a concubine.
Nor did she intend to live with someone who had forgotten her.
"Mother..." Su Xiaoqi saw that she remained silent, yet tears were already streaming down her face.
Her heart ached, she understood Zhao Shi's feelings.
To love and not be able to, to love and not be allowed...
It was fate, or the old King Ning!
Having treated King Ning, Shen Zhongwen, she knew very well that he had been given the Forget Worry Grass.
The effects of the Forget Worry Grass had stimulated him to forget the past.
He might have done it intentionally, or unintentionally.
But they had no way of knowing the reason.
Nor did she want to know.
She and Shen Yun had the same thoughts as Zhao Shi.
Shen Yun could return to the Ning King's mansion, but it was best for Zhao Shi not to go.
"I, I'm fine. When people get old, they tend to recall past events.
You don't need to worry about it; I can handle this matter."
Zhao Shi realized she had lost her composure and wanted to explain, but then swallowed her words.
Some things become more complicated the more they are spoken, so it's better not to say anything.
She only asked, "Did you come today to talk to me about returning to the Ning King's mansion?"
"Mother is not returning to the Ning King's mansion, but going to the Ning King's mansion," Shen Yun corrected her earnestly.
A subtle difference in words, but the meaning was entirely different.
Zhao Shi nodded with satisfaction, patted Shen Yun's hand, and said, "I believe in the son I raised."
Then she looked at Su Xiaoqi again: "And even more so, I believe in the daughter-in-law I personally married!"
Su Xiaoqi hugged Zhao Shi.
She explained the Ning King's mansion's plan.
"They probably only want to acknowledge the husband."
She and Shen Mingzhu were superfluous.
Zhao Shi snorted, "Then there's no need to go."
Su Xiaoqi added, "My husband and I will find a way to have him acknowledge Mingzhu."
Not for any other reason, but so that she could have a status that could contend with Princess Qionghua.
And one that was titled as a county princess, but did not live in the Ning King's mansion.
Zhao Shi listened, shook her head, and said, "The old King Ning is not easy to deal with."
She had met the old King Ning when she was young. His cold, sharp eyes, she still couldn't forget.
Every time she recalled them, she felt a chill.
Although she had confidence in her son, the old King Ning was difficult to handle, and she didn't want them to clash too much with him.