After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

"No, this is a family scandal. With so many guests here today, it will be embarrassing." Zhao Xing'er was still a little hesitant.

"Why don't we go check on that mother and daughter first?" Princess Xiangyi suggested. Actually, she was itching to know what was going on; this kind of excitement was what piqued her curiosity the most.

Women hate it most when men keep mistresses. Princess Xiangyi was also a woman, so of course she wanted this matter to be known by everyone and teach all men a lesson.

Led by Granny Lin, the three girls arrived at the back gate and, sure enough, saw a mother and son waiting there.

Although their clothes were not particularly luxurious, they were not bad either; at least they were made of fine cloth.

The woman looked to be almost thirty years old and was very beautiful. No wonder her second uncle had kept her outside for ten years without sending her away.

When Zhao Xing'er saw the boy, who looked to be about ten years old, she was completely stunned.

He's practically a carbon copy of my second uncle. Anyone who sees him will immediately recognize him as my second uncle's son.

No wonder even at her advanced age, Granny Lin couldn't resist going to deliver the message.

"Who are you two?" Zhao Xing'er asked, even though she was already certain.

"Miss, my surname is Chen, and I am your second uncle's wife. Since today is the old lady's birthday, we have come to kowtow to her and wish her a happy birthday. Hao'er is already ten years old and has never met his own grandmother." Madam Chen said with a fawning expression.

She recognized Zhao Xing'er.

Her child is already ten years old, but the old man just won't let his son acknowledge his ancestors, so she tries every means to get in touch with the Zhao family.

She had secretly come to the gate of the Zhao residence many times to watch the people coming out, and through this method she had long since recognized the people in the Zhao family.

"Are you sure you're my second uncle's woman?" Zhao Xing'er demanded that she produce physical evidence.

Madam Chen immediately took out a jade pendant from her person: "Miss, this is a jade pendant that your second uncle gave me."

Zhao Xing'er took it and, sure enough, saw the character "瑜" on the back of the jade. This was a jade pendant custom-made by the Zhao family for the male masters.

"Xing'er, since they've come to wish the old lady a happy birthday, let them in," Princess Xiangyi advised.

"Yes, Xing'er, the child is already so grown up, he should have been recognized by his ancestors long ago," Gu Qingya also advised, though she was also watching the spectacle with amusement.

Zhao Xing'er looked at the child again, and thinking of her second cousin who had stolen her marriage, and how her second aunt always liked to trip up her mother and say sarcastic things, Zhao Xing'er no longer hesitated.

"Come with me."

Zhao Xing'er personally led the mother and son to the main hall where Old Madam Zhao received birthday greetings from various families.

"Grandmother, your granddaughter has brought two people to wish you a happy birthday." At this moment, Zhao Xing'er was very excited. She wanted to see what kind of expression Zhao Ling'er from the second wife would have when her second uncle's affair was exposed.

Will her marriage to the Fu family be called off because of this?

This is the price to pay for stealing her marriage.

Madam Zhao found it strange. Wasn't Xing'er supposed to be entertaining the young ladies from various families? Why was she bringing a woman and a child to her?

You can tell they're not from a wealthy family just by looking at their clothes.

Whose wife is this, so shabby?

Chen's son kept his head down, and neither Madam Zhao nor the guests present saw the child's face immediately.

Chen, leading her son Zhao Tianhao, respectfully knelt before Old Madam Zhao: "Chen, along with her son Zhao Tianhao, pays our respects to Old Madam Zhao and wishes her a long and healthy life."

"Get up quickly, whose lady are you?" Old Madam Zhao was in a very good mood today and called out cheerfully.

Madam Chen did not rise, but instead had her son bow again: "Hao'er, quickly greet your grandmother."

The little boy was very nervous. He had never been to such a place before, nor had he ever seen so many important people present.

"Hao'er, hurry! Only after we pay our respects to our grandmother can your father and I be with him every day," Chen urged.

Having made up her mind, she was determined to enter the Zhao family today.

Before Zhao Tianhao arrived, Chen Shi had repeatedly instructed him to pay his respects to his grandmother.

He overcame his nervousness and bowed again: "Grandson Zhao Tianhao greets Grandmother."

"Xing'er, what's going on?" Old Madam Zhao was puzzled; where did she get such a big grandson?

Zhao Xing'er didn't say anything, but stepped forward to help the child up and made him raise his head: "Grandma, look."

Everyone present looked at the child.

"This...this child looks so much like Master Zhao!" someone exclaimed.

"Yes, you can tell at a glance that he's Master Zhao's son," someone echoed.

"Madam, I am the wife of the second master of this household. My child is already ten years old, but he still refuses to let my son be recognized by his ancestors. I am worried that my child is often bullied by his classmates at school, who say that he is a child without a father."

But he clearly has a father, yet he can't say it openly, and he's suffered a lot of humiliation because of it.

"Please, Madam, have mercy and allow my son and me to enter your household." After saying this, Madam Chen kowtowed again.

"You...you are the woman Mingyu keeps outside?" Old Madam Zhao understood.

His anger surged like a wild horse, rushing straight to the top of his head.

Madam Zhao fainted instantly.

This immediately caused a sensation.

The two daughters-in-law were outside greeting new guests when they learned that the old lady had fainted. Without hesitation, they immediately took her to her bedroom and sent someone to fetch the family physician and the imperial physician.

That's how it is.

After listening to Liang's account, Zhao Xianshan slammed his hand on the table. He felt like fainting at that moment.

What a disgrace to the family! We've made such a huge fool of ourselves in front of so many guests.

How will the Zhao family maintain their foothold in the capital after this?

The Zhao family is also the Empress's maternal family.

How will the Emperor view the Zhao family?

His vision blurred for a moment, and he gripped the sour pear wood table, his knuckles creaking as he gripped it.

"You unfilial son!" he hissed. "Kneel down!"

Zhao Mingyu trembled at the angry shout and obediently knelt down: "Father, please calm down. I know I was wrong. But since things have come to this, please allow me to bring my mother and child back to the manor to take care of them."

"Today, in front of so many people, the Chen family came to your residence to celebrate your mother's birthday. Is there any other way to handle this?" Zhao Xianshan closed his eyes tightly.

It was inevitable that Chen and her son would be allowed into the mansion, but how could the Zhao family salvage their reputation?

"Father. My husband has been keeping a mistress behind my back for so many years. You must stand up for me!"

"Grandfather, what about my mother, my elder brother, and my granddaughter? We have no face to show ourselves in public." Zhao Ling'er knelt before Zhao Xianshan.

In the capital, it was considered a major taboo for officials to keep mistresses, yet her father did such a shameful thing.

The father already had two concubines at home, but that wasn't enough; he also wanted to keep other women outside the family.

"Second brother, what is the identity of that mistress?" Zhao Xianshan had calmed down.

"Eleven years ago, my son accompanied Prince Xuan on a business trip outside the capital. While resting at an inn, he was tricked by the local magistrate and had intimate relations with Chen."

Chen said she was the illegitimate daughter of the county magistrate. Xuan Wang seized on this matter and insisted on seeking justice for Chen, demanding that I take her as a concubine.

But my son knew that Chen was not the magistrate's illegitimate daughter at all, but a prostitute who was adopted by the magistrate. He just wanted to send me a woman.

The son knew that such a woman was not fit to enter the Zhao family, but with Prince Xuan present, the son had no choice but to bring Chen back to the capital.

Xuanwang said that if he was worried about his family's disapproval, he could keep her outside, and he wouldn't tell anyone. So his son was kept outside. Chen was beautiful, and after a while, his son couldn't bear to give her up. Zhao Mingyu explained, but his voice softened at the end, knowing that he was indeed captivated by her beauty.

Chen was the most beautiful of his women. And he was even happier that she gave birth to a son who looked so much like him.

When Rong Yingluo heard that this matter was actually related to Prince Xuan, she felt that this was not normal.