Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Shen Ru was determined to blow the matter up.

She was convinced that as long as she exposed my true colors, Fu Huai would keep his distance from me.

She even managed to alarm the neighboring estate.

Fu Huai valued his reputation above all else. By making a public spectacle of a private household matter, Shen Ru only stoked his displeasure further.

Shen Ru blurted everything out in one breath. “This vicious woman was hurting people by the age of three. As a child, she burned down a theater. At ten, she offended a censor… and a few years ago, she even killed someone.”

“General, you must not be deceived by her appearance. She is a vicious woman through and through!”

Fu Huai’s face was completely expressionless. “You mean, a few years ago, my wife killed bandits? I already know everything you’ve mentioned. As far as I am aware, every person my wife ever harmed was no good soul.”

After I turned twelve, I changed tactics and began playing mind games instead. I became the hand behind the curtain. No one knew what incidents I had instigated.

Thus, Shen Ru could only uncover my so-called “achievements” from before I was twelve.

She had been so confident, so certain victory was in her grasp.

“General, this slut has blinded you. I will teach her a lesson on your behalf!”

Shen Ru had already taken the whip from her waist and looked ready to punish me.

But she truly was stupid.

She was nothing more than a woman from the countryside, with no status and no backer. How dare she try to lay hands on the mistress of the household in full view of everyone?

Fu Huai raised his hand and slapped her, knocking her face to the side.

I hid behind Fu Huai. Where he could not see, I gave Shen Ru a triumphant smile.

See? Whose true colors had been exposed in the end?

Hers, of course.

When Fu Huai was at the border, he needed a fierce woman by his side.

But this was the capital, a place that devoured people whole and left no bones behind. Here, the game was schemes and intrigue. Fighting and killing could never secure victory for long.

Shen Ru slowly turned her face back.

Fu Huai was a military man. That slap had left the clear imprint of five fingers on her cheek.

Shen Ru burst into tears on the spot.

Fu Huai could not help feeling guilty.

And I, at the perfect moment, said the perfect words. “Younger Sister Shen, if there is anything to discuss, let us return to the residence first. Acting like this only puts my husband in a difficult position. If he favors you, the court officials will think he dotes on his concubine and neglects his wife. That would be terribly damaging to his reputation.”

At that, the little guilt Fu Huai felt vanished, replaced by impatience.

At this moment, Fu Huai would only think Shen Ru was being unreasonable. I was the one truly considering his interests.

No man liked a woman who brought him trouble.

Men always sought benefit and avoided harm.

Only a fool would naively believe old affection could withstand every hardship.

Shen Ru gave a bitter laugh, as if she had been driven nearly mad with anger. She staggered a few steps and pointed at me furiously. “You… you…”

The next moment, Shen Ru looked at Fu Huai again. “General, I truly regret following you to the capital!”

She turned and ran into the Duke’s Mansion.

Fu Huai’s expression grew somewhat complicated.

After all, Shen Ru had been through life and death with him. In his heart, she still held some place.

I linked my arm through Fu Huai’s and advised gently, “Husband, why don’t you bandage your wound first, then go comfort Younger Sister Shen?”

Even at a time like this, the thing I cared about most was still Fu Huai’s injury.

He must have been terribly moved.