Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 314 Confrontation
Anping Bo was intimidated by Su Qingwan's imposing presence. Remembering Su Qingwan's past actions—her meticulous planning and maneuvering that had shattered Li Xueying's smooth-sailing life—he realized that her daughter, who should have lived a happy and carefree life, was instead murdered at a young age, her death undignified and her reputation ruined. Both elders and younger generations avoided her daughter, blaming her for affecting the family's fortune. She truly hated the Lu family, transferring her grief over her daughter's death onto them. Yet, Lu Jing rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming someone she couldn't afford to offend.

After Li Xueying's death, she often had nightmares in which Li Xueying cried and asked her, "Mother, why didn't you avenge me? Xie Zhaolan killed me. Don't you love me anymore? Am I not your only daughter? Why did you let Lu Jing go and let Xie Zhaolan go?"
Her heart was breaking. When Lu Feng and Su Qingwan divorced, and she knew that Su Qingwan was leaving, she had thought of sending someone to kill her. It was all because of her. However, Anping Bo stopped her, not wanting her to cause any more trouble. His words implied that Li Xueying should indeed be taught a lesson, and her death should not be a burden on the family.

The Earl of Anping is the backbone of the family. If he doesn't want revenge, what can the Earl of Anping's wife do?
However, now that Xie Zhaolan has transformed into the high and mighty Princess Su Qingwan of Huainan, returning to the capital and newly married, her daughter is nothing but withered bones buried in a grave. How can she swallow this insult?

“Madam Anping, you must think twice before you act!” Su Qingwan raised an eyebrow, her smile gentle. “Don’t provoke people you can’t afford to offend.”

Lady Anping sneered, "Xie Zhaolan, you wait and see. I don't believe you can control everything."

She turned her horse around and hurriedly left with her guards.

The two young ladies from the Lu family hurried over, still somewhat frightened. Su Qingwan reassured them, "Don't be afraid, Li Yue is here, and the guards are here. She wouldn't dare to do anything; she's just bluffing."

Lu Yunshu watched her sister-in-law calmly watch the departing Lady Anping, her heart pounding. Her sister-in-law was a very composed person, rarely provoking anyone. Even if she hated the Anping family intensely, she wouldn't openly provoke them or deliberately anger them. Was her sister-in-law trying to provoke Lady Anping into taking action?
Only if the Earl of Anping takes the initiative can his sister-in-law have a legitimate reason to act.

To occupy the moral high ground and avoid criticism, Li Xueying was killed because she went to dig up the Lu family's ancestral graves and was killed by her third brother. Her sister-in-law must have played a part in stirring things up.

She didn't need to lift a finger; her third brother would charge into battle for her. He was truly amazing! Lu Yunshu admired him a little and felt that she had learned something from him.

Lu Yuntang was more naive. "Sister-in-law, why do you admit that you are the eldest sister-in-law? What if she tells others?"

She was convinced from the bottom of her heart that Su Qingwan was Xie Zhaolan.

"Just because I don't admit it doesn't mean she won't say anything." Su Qingwan chuckled. "Forget it, there's no need to let her affect your mood. Qingyun and I will continue teaching you. In a few days, we'll take you to the polo match hosted by Madam Chen. Don't embarrass your third brother."

Although the two girls were somewhat bewildered, they were still obedient. They listened to whatever Su Qingwan said. The group continued to practice riding and archery in the forest. Li Yue had already sent someone to keep an eye on Lady Anping.

As the sun began to set and the sky grew dim, the group packed up and headed back. Lu Yunshu and Lu Yuntang seemed reluctant to leave. Su Qingwan laughed at them, saying that they were usually confined at home and rarely had the chance to play in the mountains and fields. They had gone crazy, like caged puppies yearning for freedom.

While the girls were packing their bags, Li Yue came over and said, "Your Highness, the Lady of Anping did not set up an ambush on the road."

"I underestimated her. I thought that after she was provoked, she would set up an ambush on the road and have everyone leave?" Su Qingwan thought to herself, did she overestimate the love that the Marquis of Anping had for Li Xueying?
Parents love their children and are willing to give everything for them. Lady Anping loved Li Xueying so much, and when she learned that Li Xueying had been assassinated by her and Lu Jing, she even mistakenly thought that Li Xueying had been killed to cover up the crime. Now that they are in high positions, how can she swallow this insult?
“Your Highness, she has taken everyone back. She probably won’t make a move today,” Li Yue said. “There are so many guards in the palace today, including the Imperial Guards. If she were to make a move, she would only be courting death. She’s probably not that stupid.”

Even if she wanted revenge, she would choose a good time. Su Qingwan led the girls back to the Prince's Mansion, and the journey was smooth. Although Li Yue had said that the Lady of Anping would not take action, and she was mentally prepared, she was still a little disappointed.

She overestimated the Lady of Anping.

"Girl, she's probably going to ruin your reputation."

"It doesn't matter. She can say whatever she wants. I won't acknowledge it," Su Qingwan chuckled.

As she expected, the scandal of Lu Jing and Su Qingwan having an affair the next day, with the younger brother stealing his older brother's wife, spread throughout the capital. Even the Imperial Guards couldn't stop it; once these rumors started to spread, they were very difficult to contain.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was adept at controlling public opinion. They would quickly take control as soon as public opinion began to emerge, preventing it from spreading.

Once public opinion becomes overwhelming, it's difficult to control, and they can't silence everyone.

The Li family of Anping Earl was a prominent clan in the capital, with a rich history and extensive connections. The regent's scandal involved the most sensitive moral issues, and the people loved to hear such stories.

A high-ranking prince, a beautiful sister-in-law trapped in his mansion, brothers sharing a wife, turning against each other, forbidden love, moral depravity—it has all the elements, making it even more exciting than a traditional Chinese novel.

They spread the rumors with great detail, as if they lived in the Lu family and watched Lu Jing and Su Qingwan's secret affair unfold. Their scandal was being discussed everywhere.

Few ordinary people had ever seen Xie Zhaolan and Su Qingwan. Although they didn't believe it at first, they wondered how the Regent could ruin his reputation by doing such a thing. He should have been expelled from the Lu family long ago for doing such a thing.

This incident has tarnished the family's reputation.

But when a lie is told too often, it becomes the truth. The rumors spread in such a convincing manner that the people believed them and began to condemn Su Qingwan as a promiscuous and shameless woman who seduced her brother-in-law. They feared that Lu Jing would be infatuated with her beauty and thus disgrace his culture.

Moreover, if the rumors are not controlled, they will only spread more and more wildly and outrageously. A crowd of onlookers has gathered outside the Lu family and the Prince's Mansion. Furthermore, a group of scholars who have long been dissatisfied with the Regent are wantonly smearing Lu Jing in teahouses, restaurants and other places, saying that he disregarded clan ethics and committed adultery with his sister-in-law. They say that such a person is not worthy of the heavy responsibility of the Regent, nor is he worthy of being the Imperial Tutor. They fear that he will teach a lawless emperor.

Lu Jing was the regent. Although the emperor had a tutor, he also studied with Lu Jing. Lu Jing would teach him riding and archery, and occasionally he would teach him poetry and literature.

Lady Anping knew that public opinion could not shake Su Qingwan, but she knew that public opinion could shake Lu Jing's power and status.