Chapter 1  

Xiao Baoxin was very frustrated.

However, there was someone else who was even more frustrated than her. In the room, her sister-in-law was crying while complaining to her mother about her brother’s misbehavior.

It had been eight years since they got married, and they had been a harmonious couple. But recently, they were in a heated argument. The cause of it was her brother’s promiscuous behavior. Not only did he frequently visit the red-light district, but he even redeemed a woman and raised her outside.

“… Her belly is almost as big as mine… How could Xiao Baoshan do this to me?! Mother, you have to make decisions on my behalf!” Madam Cai cried incessantly, but even so, her makeup remained intact.

“Your granddaughter is not even four years old yet, and the one in my stomach is only five months old. What are the three of us supposed to do if he is like that?”

“He actually intended on bringing that woman into the residence. Our Cai Clan must not suffer such humiliation!”

Xiao Baoxin’s sister-in-law was born in the Cai family of Jiyang which was a noble family for several dynasties. Back when she married into the Xiao family, she was still arrogant and looked down on her in-law, Madam Xie, who was born a lowly status and was a second wife.

The leader of the Liang dynasty’s influential family was Xie Yuanxiao. However, Madam Xie did not belong to the main Xie family and was only from a distantly-related side family. Before she married into the Xiao family, even the Xie family did not know that they had such a relative.

And the Xiao family was even worse. They were not even distant relatives, but a random family that came out of nowhere, just a lowly family.

Behind their backs, the influential families in Jiankang City called them a ‘fake aristocratic family’—

The Xiao family’s Family Head, Xiao Yun, was deeply favored by the Emperor, and conferred the title of Duke of Shixing County and Doctor Zuo Guanglu. He opened his residence, and established three branches, and was now conferred a large number of official titles for helping the Emperor suppress the chaotic situation.

But in the eyes of those aristocratic families, their Xiao Family was still a country bumpkin.

Not only did the Cai family think this way, but the entire Jiankang City had the same attitude.

However, at the thought of how the aristocratic families did not even look up to the Emperor, who was born from a lowly family, Xiao Bao felt her confidence return.

“— I want to divorce Xiao Baoshan!” Madam Xie was startled by Madam Cai’s loud voice.

Madam Xie was annoyed by this eldest daughter-in-law. Her son wasn’t even her biological son, and her daughter-in-law who came from an influential family was always acting all high and mighty. Her eyes were always full of looks of ‘you are all scum’, so it would be strange if she could get used to it.

She was also annoyed by her cries, but a divorce—

Not to that extent, right?

It was just a mistress, wouldn’t it be resolved by stopping her from entering?

“Madam Cai, don’t worry. Mother will definitely fight for your justice. By bringing anyone into the residence, does he think that this is a charity hall?” Madam Xie patted her chest and guaranteed. She did not like this daughter-in-law of hers, but if they ‘divorced’ because of this matter, she might not be able to account to Xiao Yun, and the Xiao Family would be even more embarrassed in Jiankang City. “Baoxin, hurry up and persuade your sister-in-law. She doesn’t have to go that far!”

After Madam Cai finished speaking, she wiped her tears and stood up to leave. No matter how annoyed Xiao Baoxin was, she could not just watch her leave like that.

This was her brother’s fault in the first place, even though she did not think highly of her sister-in-law.

Did she take anyone into consideration when the two of them were deeply in love?

But now that things had come to this, she had to consider the big picture.

“Sister-in-law.” Xiao Baoxin stepped forward and hurriedly stood in front of Madam Cai, grabbing her hand—

“Instead of being divorced, I’d rather initiate the divorce!”

“What if that guy doesn’t listen to his stepmother and really kills me to appease that woman and child?”

“I think I’d better go back to my parents’ house. Xiao Baoshan doesn’t dare to hit me at the Cai family—if he still wants to continue being with me, should I do it or not?”

“On the day when he begs me, I will definitely teach him a lesson. How dare he hit me for that b*tch!”

…

She knew that things were not as simple as what Madam Cai said!

Xiao Baoxin had a hidden skill that could ‘hear’ a person’s most secretive thoughts whenever she met others. Without a doubt, she had seen through her act.

What did she mean by asking her mother to fight for her justice? She was clearly asking her mother to be the sacrifice and cause their family to be in a huge fight.

Afterwards, she probably thought that her mother would not be influential enough to protect her, so she changed her mind and wanted to return back to the in-laws’ home, then push the blame to Xiao family!

“Let go of me, Eldest Miss,” Madam Cai said in a deep voice. “You don’t have to speak up for your brother. I can’t tolerate this!”

As soon as Madam Cai finished speaking, she wanted to shake off Xiao Baoxin’s hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake it off. She didn’t understand. Why was a good young lady like her learning martial arts like a man? Her whole body was filled with brute force!

“Baoxin!”

In the Xiao family, she hated her sister-in-law, Xiao Baoxin, the most!

Clearly, she was also very beautiful. She had been praised as a beauty since she was young and had a noble temperament like an orchid in an empty valley. However, Xiao Baoxin’s looks were more attractive. Every time she stood at a spot, everyone’s gaze would be focused on Xiao Baoxin, making others appear very plain-looking!

Madam Cai glared at Xiao Baoxin. Just looking at her made her eyes hurt! … She heard that.

Xiao Baoxin also felt a headache. Even her beauty could provoke this sister-in-law; but what could she do? She was a natural beauty! The heavens favored her and gave her looks, so she couldn’t refuse, right?

She wouldn’t admit to being common-looking. Xiao Baoxin subconsciously touched her face.

“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Brother is in the wrong in this matter. My mother will definitely uphold justice for you. It’s not good to return to the in-laws’ house for no reason. If there’s anything you want to say, just say it in front of me. If my brother dares to mess around, not just my mother, I’ll be the first one to cut ties with him!”

Cut ties? What use was it to cut ties with him?

Madam Cai rolled her eyes. With this fellow blocking her way, there was no way she could leave.

Madam Cai simply sat back in her chair, pulled out her handkerchief, and cried again.

Madam Xie’s head hurt from all the crying, and she could not vent her anger. She could only curse Xiao Baoshan in her heart, and on the surface, she had to continue persuading the tear-stained Madam Cai.

“Someone, bring the Eldest Master back to the residence!”

“He’s at Xiao Changgan.” Madam Cai repeated the address twice with a sob, as though she was afraid that the old Madam wouldn’t remember it.

Madam Xie, “…” Madam Cai had a thorough understanding of the enemy and was basically using her as a weapon.

However, even though she knew Madam Cai was using her to suppress Xiao Baoshan and force him to give in, she had no choice but to follow her plan. She was the stepmother, the most familiar stranger when they were together. Once she was needed, she could only step forward bravely. Otherwise, if anything happened, she would have mismanaged the family and would be a vicious stepmother with ulterior motives!

Damn! If he was her own son, she would have captured him and broken his leg! He must have been tired of the good days that he would find a prostitute to amuse himself with! Was he unable to find a soul mate with his charm, and had to spend money to seek a sense of existence?!

However, it would be difficult to do that if he wasn’t her biological son!

“Waah, Mother…”

‘Do not act like this. Continue with your cold and arrogant demeanor of an influential household member who’s always high and mighty and act as if it was none of your business.’

“Baoxin…” Seeing that Xiao Baoxin was about to leave, Madam Xie asked her to stay and endure Madam Cai’s weeping together.

Xiao Baoxin pretended not to know and put on a serious face. “I’ll go take a look to prevent any loopholes.”

What loophole? How would there be a loophole while bringing someone back?

Madam Xie, “…” This was her biological daughter. Shouldn’t she endure the torturous cries together?!

Xiao Baoxin did not wait for Madam Xie to speak and quickly walked out of the room. The maidservant lifted up the curtain, and the housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, barged into the room. Half of her body bumped into Xiao Baoxin’s arms, so Xiao Baoxin heard the voice in Aunt Zhang’s heart soar to the sky,

“I’m going to die! I’m going to die! I’m going to die!”

Xiao Baoxin paused and stopped in her footsteps.

She still remembered from the words of Madam Cai that she had pushed the prostitute who had been hidden by Xiao Baoshan as his mistress. It seemed like she did that with the intention of killing both her and her baby. Could it be that Madam Cai had really killed her?

Xiao Baoxin had a headache. If someone really died, it would be a big problem…