At the same time, during the final moments of the You Hour, a major event occurred in the Zhongyi Marquis Residence in the distant city of Chang’an.
The Zhongyi Marquis, who had fainted from anger after a confrontation with his son, suddenly began convulsing after drinking a bowl of medicinal soup.
He almost died on the spot!
Fortunately, his fate was strong, and he managed to survive.
But he was left lying on his bed, unable to move.
The doctor beside him sighed and said, “The Zhongyi Marquis has only a few months left.”
Only a few months!
Just a few months!
Qin Chanyue stood inside the room, seemingly overwhelmed with grief.
She covered her face with a handkerchief, unable to speak.
The maids and older servants around her sighed along with her.
Look at how devastated their lady was!
One of the older maids comforted her in a low voice.
“My lady, do not grieve too much.
Birth, aging, illness, and death are part of life.
When fate arrives, there is nothing one can do.”
“How could my life be so bitter?”
Qin Chanyue sat at the edge of the bed, tears welling in her eyes.
“My two sons aside, my husband is now in this condition.
How am I supposed to go on?”
Their lady had always been strong-willed, yet now she was crying like this.
The older servants felt completely at a loss.
At that moment, the Zhongyi Marquis finally regained consciousness.
The first thing he saw was Qin Chanyue’s tear-streaked face.
By then, dusk had arrived.
The golden hues of the setting sun spilled through the window, casting a warm, golden glow on her face.
She looked breathtaking.
Seeing Qin Chanyue cry like this, the Zhongyi Marquis wanted to reach out and wipe her tears away.
But he couldn’t lift his hand.
He couldn’t even feel parts of his body.
His legs seemed to have lost all sensation.
His hands trembled uncontrollably, and it took all his effort just to move them slightly.
Even his tongue refused to cooperate when he tried to speak.
He could feel his body wasting away.
It was as if he were a hollowed-out tree his body still intact, but the inside utterly empty.
It wouldn’t be long before he dried up completely and turned into a corpse.
And this… was all because of those two sons of his!
He had spent his whole life upholding his honor and dignity.
Yet in his old age, his sons had brought him nothing but disgrace.
But the real pity… was his wife.
Seeing Qin Chanyue still crying, he mustered all his strength to lift his trembling hand and touch her face.
Just that simple movement sent his entire body shaking violently.
His muscles trembled uncontrollably.
He truly was at death’s door!
As a man nears death, he cannot help but voice his deepest regrets.
Now that he was dying, he had to finally express the feelings he had long suppressed his guilt, his regrets.
So, with great difficulty, Zhou Ziheng grasped Qin Chanyue’s hand.
She held onto his hand tightly.
Her fox-like eyes shimmered with tears, filled with love and reluctance.
She loved him so deeply, couldn’t bear to let him go.
At this moment, no matter what he asked for, she would surely agree, wouldn’t she?
Lying on his deathbed, Zhou Ziheng trembled as he parted his lips and spoke his final confession.
“I have a mistress.
I’ve kept her outside all these years and never told you.
I also have a son with her.
My lady… I am dying.
Please do not blame them.
Let them live… bring them back to the residence.”
Zhou Ziheng deeply loved Fang Qingqing and their son.
That was the woman he cherished most!
How could he let his bloodline remain outside after his death?
If he were still healthy, he would have had at least ten more years to pave the way for Fang Qingqing and their son.
But now that he was gravely ill, he had no choice but to confess everything to Qin Chanyue.
Several maids in the room heard his words, and all were stunned.
The Marquis and his wife had been in love for over a decade.
Everyone believed they were inseparable.
Yet now they discovered that the Marquis had kept a mistress!
And even had a child with her!
How could he do this to their lady?
How heartbroken must she be?
Sure enough, upon hearing that Zhou Ziheng wanted to bring his mistress and illegitimate son back into the house, Qin Chanyue felt a surge of rage shoot straight to her forehead.
What a shameless man!
In her past life, after she fell from power, Zhou Ziheng had welcomed that mother and son into the residence, letting them trample all over her.
In this life, she had yet to fall, yet Zhou Ziheng was still determined to bring them in.
His devotion to that woman and her child truly ran deep!
She had thought that by letting this man die, she could prevent them from ever returning to the house.
But no Zhou Ziheng insisted on bringing them back.
“The Marquis had a mistress outside?”
The beautiful lady gasped in shock, looking at her husband with tear-filled eyes.
Zhou Ziheng’s heart ached at the sight, yet he was powerless to change things.
Both of these women loved him deeply.
How could he abandon either of them?
Qin Chanyue had status and wealth she would be fine in the future.
But his mistress, Fang Qingqing, was still struggling outside.
If he left her alone, she wouldn’t survive.
He had to pave a path for her.
But seeing Qin Chanyue’s tearful face, he also worried that Fang Qingqing would suffer once she returned.
Gritting his teeth, he added, “If you truly despise her, I can send her back to the Zhou family estate.
Let my parents take care of them.
That way, they will at least have a proper place to live.”
By doing this, the entire city of Chang’an would know that Zhou Ziheng had kept a mistress.
That he had wanted to bring her back before his death.
But Qin Chanyue, being a jealous wife, refused to let them in and forced them to live in the Zhou family estate instead.
From then on, no matter what happened to that mother and child, it would always be blamed on Qin Chanyue.
He was using her reputation to force her into compliance.
After all, she cared deeply about her public image.
Could she really bear people whispering behind her back, saying, “Even after her husband’s death, she refused to let his child into the house?”
Moreover, by involving the Zhou family, he subtly pressured Qin Chanyue further.
Both the Zhou and Qin families were aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction.
If the Zhou family made things difficult for the Qin family, her brother would face trouble at the border.
He knew he was dying.
So he had abandoned all pretense and was using every trick he had left.
Qin Chanyue felt a chill creep into her heart.
Zhou Ziheng was determined to bring these two people into the house!
Fine.
She gritted her teeth.
Since he insisted, she would welcome them in with open arms.
She would let them enter the Marquis Residence with full honors.
And then, let’s see how well they could handle the consequences.
With a sorrowful, tear-filled expression, she wrapped her arms around Zhou Ziheng.
“You and I have loved each other for years.
I may resent you for this, but since she bore your child, I will not mistreat them.
Rest assured I will bring them back and take good care of them.”
Hearing her words, Zhou Ziheng finally felt at ease.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in his dying eyes.
Years ago, Qin Chanyue had sworn she would never allow him to take concubines.
Yet here she was, compromising after all.
He tightened his grip on her hand, wanting to say more, but his body was too weak.
Within moments, he fell into unconsciousness.
Qin Chanyue’s smile vanished.
Her eyes turned ice-cold as she slowly withdrew her hand.
That very night, she sent a carriage to retrieve Fang Qingqing and her son.
Let the games begin.
Hearing these words, her heart was filled with bitterness and sorrow.
She was also the daughter of a respectable family!
She had also been educated and taught proper etiquette!
Back then, it was she who had fallen in love with Zhou Ziheng first!
If it weren’t for Qin Chanyue using her family’s wealth and power to force a marriage with Zhou Ziheng, how would she have ended up as a mere mistress?
She was so heartbroken that she couldn’t even find the words to speak.
She could only swallow her grievances and return to her courtyard.
Days passed like this, one after another, until one day, a sedan chair from the Marquis Residence arrived.
The bearers of the sedan stood at the entrance, smiling as they congratulated her.
“Lady Fang, the Marquis thought of you even in his critical illness!
Lady Qin has spoken she permits you and your son to enter the household!
This is a great fortune!
Congratulations!
Hurry and pack your things, it’s time to enter the Marquis Residence!”
Fang Qingqing was overwhelmed with excitement.
She held her head high, proudly taking her son’s hand as they stepped into the sedan chair bound for the Marquis Residence.
As they passed by the common folk, she let out a cold snort of disdain.
Soon, she would be a concubine of the Marquis.
She had nothing in common with these lowly people anymore.
Before entering the Marquis Residence, she grabbed her son’s hand and urged him earnestly.
“My son, you must make me proud!
You must listen to your father well and keep him happy.
He will dote on you.”
Once they were inside the Marquis Residence, she would be more favored than Qin Chanyue!
Her son would be cherished more than Qin Chanyue’s sons!
Her son, just as excited, nodded eagerly.
Under the moonlight, the sedan chair moved through the streets.
Openly and triumphantly, it passed through the gates of the Marquis Residence.