still hoping the merchant caravan would bring supplies so she could finally start building a proper house for her family. However, before the caravan arrived, Wang, the village head, brought her some...All are nicknames, reporting or not makes no difference.

When asked about his parents, Dong'er hesitated. The servant boy he had chased just now called the man in front of him "Master," which meant he was working with that terrifying old woman in the back!

After realizing what was happening, Dong'er grabbed her younger brother and quickly retreated a few steps, her little face filled with alarm.

Zongpingchuan frowned, “Don’t be afraid, I’m not a bad person.”

He turned his head to look at the two servants.

"Tell the mistress, don't make things difficult for the two children over such a small matter. It's just a piece of clothing, there's no need to be so petty."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Xiangli, who had rushed over, caught him red-handed.

"What did you say You said Son Pingchuan is stingy!"

She glanced at Dong'er and Yuanbao, then turned her gaze back to her husband's face. After looking at him several times, she suddenly paled and trembled all over.

"Good, good."

“I said, how come these two little bastards look so familiar Turns out they're your illegitimate children outside!”

As soon as Yuan Xiangli spoke, everyone was taken aback.

When Dong'er heard that the man in front of her was called Zong Pingchuan, she was shocked. He was the very villain Yuanbao had been looking for, the one who had caused her grandmother years of heartache.

He is also Yuan Bao's grandfather.

"What illegitimate child You're talking nonsense!"

Zongping's heart skipped a beat. In fact, when he saw these two children, he already had some guesses in his mind.

Since the Mu family could bring Zong Bai to Beijing, then their eldest son, Zong Yu, should be in his thirties. It's normal for someone that age to have children.

He almost immediately guessed that the two children before him were his grandsons. Otherwise, how could they resemble the Zong family members so much

Especially Dong'er's children, they look just like Ayu when she was little. The younger ones kind of resemble Fang Jinshu.

So, that widow named Fang Jinshui is actually A Yu's wife

His daughter-in-law

It was said in the capital that she was a widow. Could it be that her eldest son, Zongyu, had already passed away

Zongpingchuan organized his thoughts slightly and looked at the two children again, his eyes filled with more tenderness.

"Nannan, Jīnbao, don't be afraid, Grandpa won't let anyone bully you."

He and Yuan Xiangli's two sons, one worse than the other, with one unable to live a normal life immediately. Even if the eldest son could live, with the Yuan family around, it is uncertain who his lineage will belong to in the future.

Not everyone will necessarily bear the surname Zong.

But these two young men before me, though small in stature, are genuine descendants of the clan. They carry the bloodline of his ancestral home, Pingchuan, and are his own flesh and blood.

Yuan Xiangli was so angry she was about to explode when she saw this.

"Zong Pingchuan! Are you admitting this"

"I admit to what" Zong Pingchuan retorted angrily.

"As a wife of a third-rank official, at least you should act like an elder. Look at yourself now, there's no difference between you and a shrew who makes unreasonable demands in the marketplace!"

"Even the most esteemed officials' daughters are unbearable, and you can't even tolerate your own two children! Is this the family style and upbringing of the Yuan family!"

This was the first time Zong Pingchuan had so directly disliked Yuan Xiangli and argued with her since he married her.

Hearing these words, Yuan Xiangli was completely stunned, as if she couldn't believe what she heard was true.

"What did you just say to me"

After Zong Pingchuan finished speaking, he regretted it. If Yuan Xiangli ran back to the Yuan family to complain, his life would probably be difficult for a while again.

Everyone envied him for marrying the daughter of a high-ranking official, but they didn't know how difficult it was to be the son-in-law of such a powerful family.

Zong Pingchuan softened his tone, wanting to coax Yuan Xiangli in their usual way.

"Alright, making a scene like this in front of so many people wouldn't be good for our family's reputation."

"I was just being hasty and careless with my words earlier. Please forgive me, madam."

Zong Pingchuan was always so aloof and proud. For him to actually lower himself and admit fault is like the sun rising in the west! Even if Yuan Xiangli was fuming inside, she had to remember her mother's words: losing face for one's husband is also losing face for oneself.

Once married, husband and wife become one entity, sharing both prosperity and adversity.

While she was angry, she had to swallow her pride for now.

"Humph, I can let those two little things slide, but there's something you have to make clear to me today."

She gritted her teeth and whispered, "For the sake of our many years of marriage, tell me the truth, are they really your illegitimate children from outside"

Before, she wasn't against the idea of taking a concubine for Zongpingchuan. Instead of waiting for men to cheat outside, it was better to keep those "temptresses" under her control.

But these proposals were clearly rejected by him, and he vehemently stated that for the rest of his life, she alone was enough.

Could all those sweet words from the past have been lies

Yuan Xiangli looked at Zong Pingchuan, waiting for his answer.

With so much commotion here, the maidservants by Jin Yu and King Jing's side had already seen it. They went to find their masters one after the other.

Fang Jinxiu arrived with the Mu family and several guests, at the same time as King Jing.

"Yuanbao, Dong'er!"

The two children rushed to their mother upon seeing her.

"Mother, these two people are bullying my brother and me!"

Yuan Bao, this little goblin, was the first to complain.uselessZong Yu nodded and thanked her, walking ahead of her with his wife's hand in his.The constable led them to the back courtyard of the county office, which was just the time when the magistrate w...