Chapter 167: Chapter 109: Escalating to Marital Conflict

“What nonsense are you talking about, we, we…” Xu Jingwan trembled all over with anger, her words quivering.

Xu Jingwan was strong-willed and always took the lead in everything. Over the years, Lan Yu had rarely stepped into Xu Jingwan’s room, and the two of them were basically at odds with each other.

Seeing his son speak like this, Lan Yu found himself at a loss for words because their marriage was indeed unhappy.

After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth and said, “Jue, are you planning to stay single for life? Why don’t you move out and establish your own residence?”

At these words, Xu Jingwan seemed as if struck by lightning, standing there dumbstruck.

After a moment, she quivered at the corners of her lips, her face full of disbelief, and shrieked, “Lan Yu, what are you trying to do?

My son is the princely heir, the future Prince of the South City, and the rightful successor of the Prince Mansion. Did that woman say something to you to make you want to drive the eldest son out of the mansion?”

Lin Xuening was also completely stunned. What was going on?

Though she didn’t care whether Lan Jue would become a prince in the future, she’d never heard of a princely heir establishing his own estate.

It seemed the situation was spiraling more and more out of control, and she understood she couldn’t stay there any longer.

Thus, she quickly bowed and excused herself, “Xuening does have matters to attend to at home, so I will take my leave first.”

Lan Jue also felt that having Lin Xuening here amid these chaotic family affairs was indeed inappropriate.

Moreover, the matter of breaking the engagement was not urgent for the moment, and if it must be done, he would still have to personally visit Prime Minister Lin to explain.

“Please, Miss Lin!”

Lin Xuening exhaled lightly, as if pardoned, hurriedly bowed and took her leave.

After Lin Xuening left, only the family of three remained in the room.

Suddenly, Xu Jingwan laughed coldly, a laugh full of grief and despair, “Lan Yu, when that woman’s son was born, why didn’t you suggest making him the princely heir? Now you bring it up; you must be dreaming!”

Lan Jue frowned slightly, attempting to mediate, “Mother, perhaps Father didn’t mean it that way.”

“Didn’t mean it that way?”

Xu Jingwan’s eyes widened with anger, and her voice grew sharper, “Since that woman’s son was born, has he once looked at us mother and son with respect? Now he clearly wants to drive us out!”

The more Xu Jingwan spoke, the more agitated she became. Tears welled up in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall. Her hands clenched tight, and her body trembled slightly with rage.

“What are you thinking? I, Lan Yu, have only one legitimate son, and I merely want him to be away from you, his mother. With you around, he’ll never be happy!”

Lan Yu roared in outrage, his voice full of anger seemingly piercing the clouds.

Lan Jue never imagined his affairs would provoke such a fierce conflict between his parents.

His expression was cool as he said, “You two stop arguing, I will carefully consider the marriage with Lin Xuening myself. I’m heading back to my room first.”

With that, he respectfully bowed to his parents and turned to leave.

The room quickly fell into silence, and Xu Jingwan, with tears brimming, shakily questioned, “Lan Yu, I have been with you for over twenty years and bore you such an outstanding son, yet you speak to me like this. Don’t I hope for Jue’s happiness?”

Lan Yu cast her a cold glance, one that seemed to freeze, “You are selfish and indifferent; you never care about anyone’s happiness, only yourself in your heart.”

Having said that, he turned without hesitation, intending to leave.

“Lan Yu, clarify your words!” Xu Jingwan shouted hysterically from behind him.

Lan Yu suddenly found it all so insipid, his footsteps not pausing for a moment.

Xu Jingwan suddenly let out a cold laugh, mockingly, “Lan Yu, I know your thoughts. You are so pitiable for loving but not getting it.

You think I don’t know who you once liked? Too bad she chose another, instead of you.

So you’ve been treating me with that strange attitude all these years, never acknowledging me properly and always coming up with excuses.”

Lan Yu abruptly halted, his heart full of helplessness and disappointment.

This woman he married for over twenty years, always so self-righteous, always thinking the mistake lay elsewhere.

Indeed, in his youth, he did have a naive crush on her elder sister, but after her sister’s marriage, he’d long put it behind him.

Moreover, when he married her, he truly wished to spend his life together harmoniously, but things turned out contrary to his wishes…

“Think whatever you like; I no longer care. My life indeed is not joyful, but I won’t let my son repeat my mistakes. If you won’t leave, then we, the father and son, will leave.”

With that, Lan Yu, without turning back, strode away decisively, leaving only his resolute figure.

“Lan Yu, explain yourself!” Xu Jingwan screamed hoarsely, but Lan Yu had already disappeared from her sight.

Only after a long time did the surroundings fall into dead silence, and Xu Jingwan, like a deflated ball, collapsed onto the ground, breaking into sobs, “Who did I do all this for? Each of you blames me, but why does no one understand me!”

But the empty room offered no response to her cries.

…

Ruoxi walked back to the Shen Mansion with heavy steps, her once beautiful face now clouded, her mood extremely foul.

Her three maidservants, observing their mistress’s distress over the past few days, cautiously placed freshly brewed tea for her, their eyes filled with worry.

“I’m fine, you may leave!” Ruoxi said weakly.

The three maidservants hesitated to speak, finally only able to sigh softly and slowly withdrew from the room.

As Chuntao reached the door, she suddenly seemed to remember something and turned back, “Miss, I forgot to tell you, the First Young Madam and the Fifth Young Madam have left the mansion, someone seemed to have invited them out.”

Upon hearing this, Ruoxi replied softly, “I understand.”

Although she once said they were not allowed to leave without her permission, it had merely been words spoken in anger.

Now, with a heart full of worry, she didn’t even know how to explain to them.

Inside the room, Ruoxi was soon left alone. She wrapped her arms around her head, her eyes stinging with waves of tears.

How wonderful it would be if her parents were still alive; she wouldn’t have to face these complex, overwhelming troubles alone.

She felt she had exerted every effort, yet things always seemed to go contrary to her desires, never managing to do anything satisfactorily.

Failing to gain the understanding of her sisters-in-law, even her own aunt treated her thus, making her feel deeply wronged.

After a long while, she forcibly swallowed the grievances, trying to gather her strength, contemplating how to explain clearly to her two sisters-in-law.

Chunyu Che, in fact, had saved her life twice, and most commendably, he genuinely cared for the people of Beichang Country, truly fitting the title of an enlightened ruler.

If he could ascend the throne smoothly, it would be a monumental fortune, both for Beichang and Dayi.

However, even so, she still could not persuade her eldest sister-in-law; after all, in her eyes, the annihilation of the Shen Family Army was closely tied to him, giving her every reason to seek him as a target for her indignation.

It was truly problematic.

Ruoxi sat there in a daze for a long time, even struggling to think of a better explanation, decided to stop pondering altogether.

Just then, the door suddenly creaked open, and she thought it was the three maidservants returning, and said softly, “If there’s nothing, leave me be. I’d like to be alone.”

But the person who entered said nothing, only somewhat awkwardly stepped forward slowly.

Realizing something was off, Ruoxi raised her eyes, only to see the First Young Madam and the Fifth Young Madam walking in together.

She bit her lip slightly, increasingly at a loss for how to face them, her hand hidden in her sleeve involuntarily clenching tightly.

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