TRBDM -Chapter 196 Major Breakthrough in Defense

“Yes, sister-in-law, your complexion really looks awful.”

Xie Chuan repeated it, rubbing Shen Zhizhi’s embarrassment in the dirt all over again.

Her already bad face turned even worse.

She forced herself to stay calm, straightened her back, and placed a hand on her stomach, saying, “Thank you for your concern, elder brother, elder sister-in-law. I’m fine.”

Since she said she was fine, Dou Shuyao naturally didn’t press further.

Everyone from the Xie family at the Marquis residence was here, except for Xie Lan and Xie Yu.

Shen Zhizhi could afford to show weakness in front of Wei Zhaorong and Xie Wanrou, but she absolutely could not lose in front of Dou Shuyao.

The open and covert rivalry between sisters-in-law made her unwilling to admit defeat.

She tried to adjust her expression and asked, “Elder sister-in-law, are you… expecting?”

Dou Shuyao didn’t answer, but Xie Chuan’s eyebrows shot up toward the sky as he quickly jumped in: “Yes, almost four months now.”

Four months…

Shen Zhizhi stammered, realizing she had passed the risky period and the fetus was stable.

“Elder sister-in-law, do you have morning sickness?”

“Yes, but not severe. Shuyao is healthy, and the child is fine—nothing troublesome.”

Xie Chuan’s words struck Shen Zhizhi again.

She had been bedridden for a whole month to protect her pregnancy, yet Dou Shuyao had remained perfectly safe until today.

Why?

Shen Zhizhi didn’t want to speak, not even a single word.

She wished she had invisibility skills so she could disappear in front of everyone immediately.

Xie Chuan, not one for subtlety, continued: “Second sister-in-law, why did you come to the Marquis residence today? Where’s your husband? Didn’t he accompany you?”

Xie Chuan hit the nail on the wrong head again. Shen Zhizhi cursed him in her heart for being brainless, but on the surface, she forced a smile: “My husband went on duty; he had no time.”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Your husband’s always on duty, so he has no time for you. Unlike me, I have no official position, so I can stay around Shuyao every day.”

Shen Zhizhi was so infuriated by this that she almost spat blood. Had Xie Chuan’s brain been eaten by pigs? He spoke without thinking at all.

No… maybe he did it on purpose!

Her face flushed red and white, and she didn’t reply.

Xie Chuan had no intention of continuing the conversation and turned to Dou Shuyao: “Madam, the iced drinks made by the kitchen today are really sweet. Try some.”

He held out the iced drink and scooped a spoonful to her lips.

Dou Shuyao took a sip and nodded: “Mmm, it is indeed good.”

“Hehe.” Xie Chuan suddenly withdrew the drink. “Sorry, Madam, it’s too cold. You can only have one sip; the rest is mine.”

Dou Shuyao was caught off guard and playfully scolded him: “How old are you? So childish.”

“Childish? Let mother and elder sister judge—can a pregnant woman drink iced drinks?”

Wei Zhaorong smiled: “Shuyao, Chuan’er is right.”

Xie Wanrou also said, “I agree with Xiao Chuan.”

“Madam, look for yourself. My concern for you is turned into ‘childish’—so hurtful!” Xie Chuan pretended to clutch his chest dramatically.

The warm, harmonious atmosphere in front of her pierced Shen Zhizhi’s eyes like needles.

Once, when the family sat together, she had been the center. Now, she could only play a supporting role, peeking at other people’s happiness.

Her eyes burned with resentment, and she finally could not bear it any longer.

She suddenly stood up, and because of the sudden movement, all eyes turned to her.

“Mother, I’ll take my leave first. I’ll come see you another time when I’m free.”

After speaking, Shen Zhizhi didn’t say a word to anyone else and walked straight out of the pavilion.

Her steps were quick; from her back, it was almost impossible to tell that she was six months pregnant.

Once she completely disappeared from sight, Xie Chuan asked: “Mother, what exactly did Second Brother’s wife come for today?”

Xie Chuan wasn’t truly naive. When the Second Branch split from the family, it had ended very badly, and the brothers’ relationship had been completely severed.

Given the Second Branch’s resolute attitude, Xie Chuan had assumed he wouldn’t see them for several years.

For Shen Zhizhi to suddenly visit today, she must have had a reason.

Wei Zhaorong said, “Xie Sheng argued with her. She wants me to mediate on her behalf.”

Wei Zhaorong didn’t mention Flower Alley—after all, it wasn’t a proper place—and besides, Xie Chuan’s past misdeeds had all come from Flower Alley. She didn’t want to bring up old matters and hurt Dou Shuyao.

Matters of marital feelings were not something outsiders should interfere with.

Understanding the reason, Xie Chuan didn’t ask further.

Shen Zhizhi stepped out of the Xie residence’s main gate, and tears the size of beans streamed down her face.

She didn’t have time to wipe them and hurriedly climbed into the carriage, telling the driver to leave immediately.

Her personal maid carried the food Dou Shuyao hadn’t sent out yet and cautiously comforted her: “Madam, please don’t cry. Take care not to hurt your body.”

Shen Zhizhi’s shoulders shook as she wept: “What does it matter if my body is harmed? No one cares about the child in my womb anyway.”

Xie Sheng didn’t care, the Mingde Marquis residence didn’t care, the Shen family didn’t care. In the end, only Shen Zhizhi bore the suffering alone.

The Shen family demanded she send silver back daily; she had practically given away all her valuable jewelry. Today, when she went to the Marquis’s residence, she didn’t even have a single hairpin she could show—her possessions were pitifully scant.

She had just noticed the jade bracelet on Dou Shuyao’s hand—the quality, the color—it was clearly a high-grade piece, worth a significant amount of silver.

Before Shen Zhizhi left the Marquis residence, Dou Shuyao hadn’t had a bracelet. It must have been a gift from Wei Zhaorong after she became pregnant.

Glancing at her own empty wrists, she didn’t even have the cheapest silver bracelet.

The Shen family drained her resources, pressing her step by step, while Xie Sheng had changed completely, slipping through her grasp.

Xie Sheng controlled Shen Zhizhi strictly, not leaving her a single copper coin. Yet he himself indulged in debauchery, spending in Flower Alley in one night what could sustain the Xie household for a month.

Shen Zhizhi was desperate, but there was nothing she could do.

She had hoped that Wei Zhaorong, seeing her own son’s situation, would help, but this visit only ended in self-inflicted humiliation.

She felt the sting of trying to catch a chicken and ending up losing a handful of rice instead.

The Xie residence was far from the capital. The carriage jolted for a long time before reaching it.

Shen Zhizhi’s waist felt like it was about to break. Her maid helped her down from the carriage.

Standing at the gate of the Xie residence, Shen Zhizhi felt a flood of emotions.

Just looking at the main gate, the Xie residence seemed smaller and more run-down compared to the Mingde Marquis residence, lacking any sense of grandeur.

Even after living there for several months, she had adapted, but today, after visiting the Mingde Marquis residence again, she realized the Second Branch seemed to be on the decline.

The feeling was deeply unpleasant.

The only way to vent this frustration was for Xie Sheng to get a promotion.

That evening, Shen Zhizhi had a table of fine wine and dishes prepared, waiting for Xie Sheng to finish his duties.

She waited a long time; the food on the table had gone cold and been reheated three times, yet Xie Sheng hadn’t returned.

“Ah———”

Shen Zhizhi overturned the bowls on the table in a furious sweep.

The sound of porcelain shattering rang out repeatedly.

“Madam, be careful! Don’t cut your hand!”

Shen Zhizhi was too furious to listen to anyone.

She smashed and cursed as she went: “Why are you treating me like this? Why! I’ve done nothing wrong—why am I the one punished? I’m not willing! I’m not willing!”

By the time Xie Sheng returned to the residence, he hadn’t even stepped inside before hearing Shen Zhizhi’s hysterical screams.