TSWRLM -Chapter 296 The Child Is Not Yours

Madam Yao bled heavily and soon fell into a coma.

After the doctor examined her, the conclusion was grim: she had been poisoned, and the child in her womb was gone.

The wedding could not continue. The Marquis of Qingyuan immediately sent someone to report to the authorities, ordered the mansion gates closed, and then retrieved the sword he had worn in his youth from the ancestral hall.

Stepping back into the main hall with the sword in hand, the Marquis’s face was iron-blue, his entire being radiating murderous intent.

He slammed the sword onto the tea table, paused, and spoke in a deep, cold voice: “This very sword accompanied me through countless battles. It has severed no fewer than eight or nine hundred heads. After the wars, I enshrined it in the ancestral hall and haven’t touched it for over twenty years. But today, someone has harmed my wife and child. The culprit behind this blood debt shall pay with blood!”

After being ennobled, the Marquis of Qingyuan had been stripped of military power and never given significant responsibilities again. In recent years, he had lived recklessly and meekly. But at this moment, the warrior’s aura of decisive violence returned to him.

Everyone present felt a chill.

The three uncles of the Shen family quickly spoke to clarify:

“Big Brother, our family has lived well only because of you. You can remarry and have children now—we’re truly happy for you.”

“Yes, yes. In our family, Big Brother has the most courage and talent. Your children are all gifted, your grandchildren will surround your knees, and we can also benefit and enjoy life. Even if our brains were kicked by a donkey, we wouldn’t dare harm anyone.”

The three took turns flattering the Marquis, desperately trying to remove themselves from suspicion. Seeing them skirt the issue, Shen Qingyu couldn’t help but speak: “The three uncles are right. No one would harm others without gaining something. Father hasn’t been active at court these years and hasn’t offended anyone. The only one threatened by the stepmother’s child is Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law.”

At this, the hall fell silent. Everyone seemed to awaken from a dream.

Indeed, the Marquis of Qingyuan lacked influence, had no solid estate, and little family wealth to divide. The only thing worth competing for was the title itself.

In recent years, with no wars, ordinary people had no chance to be granted nobility or appointed to high office.

The relationship between the Marquis and Shen Qingyuan had always been distant. Yet he doted on this new wife and the child in her womb. If she truly gave birth to a son, the Marquis might even favor this late-born child in passing down the title.

But Shen Qingyuan was now a rising star at court, with a limitless future. Would he truly harm the stepmother and the unborn child for a title?

After a moment of doubt, everyone turned their gaze toward Chun Xi.

Shen Qingyuan was clever, but Cao Chun Xi came from a lowly background, with limited knowledge. It was entirely possible she had acted impulsively in a moment of foolishness.

Feeling all eyes on her, Chun Xi felt speechless.

So she really looked that foolish?

Under everyone’s scrutiny, Shen Qingyuan stepped beside Chun Xi, placing her behind him.

He had just stood firm when the Marquis of Qingyuan coldly demanded: “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Shen Qingyuan looked at him as if he were a fool: “Could your question be any dumber?”

Before the Marquis could respond, Shen Qingyu jumped forward: “Big Brother, how can you speak to Father like that? Even if you’re now at the Censorate…”

Shen Qingyu hadn’t finished when Shen Qingyuan smashed a teacup into his knee.

Pain shot through him, and Shen Qingyu helplessly knelt.

Looking down at him, Shen Qingyuan said: “Do we need your interruptions to speak?”

Shen Qingyuan moved quickly and decisively. His presence rivaled, even subtly surpassed, the Marquis’s martial aura.

Humiliated, Shen Qingyu finally shut up, and the others lowered their gaze to avoid drawing Shen Qingyuan’s attention.

Soon after, Li Mingde, the Prefect of Jingzhao, arrived with officials.

He didn’t immediately investigate but went straight to Shen Qingyuan: “Lord Shen, your judgment is unmatched. You must already know who the true culprit is, right?”

Shen Qingyuan replied calmly: “To be honest, everyone now suspects that I am the one who did it.”

Li Mingde: “…??? What is this? Who’s the culprit?”

Li Mingde suspected he misheard. At this moment, Shen Qingyue stepped forward and briefly explained the sequence of events.

Learning that Madam Yao had been poisoned and lost her child, Li Mingde immediately sent people to trace the source of the poison.

Before long, a box of leftover pastries and the maid who had been taking care of Madam Yao, Xing’er, were brought before the Marquis.

Upon seeing him, Xing’er knelt and begged repeatedly: “Marquis, this box of pastries was sent by the First Young Madam. I truly didn’t know there was poison. If I had known, I would never have given it to Madam.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingyu gained confidence. He endured the pain and stood, glaring at Shen Qingyuan: “With witnesses and evidence, what else can Big Brother say to defend herself?”

Before Shen Qingyuan could speak, the Marquis drew his sword and pointed it at him: “Get out!”

The Marquis had a deep affection for the child in Madam Yao’s womb. He had even allowed her to marry and granted her a status for this child. But now, the child was murdered just after the wedding ceremony.

Even if the king himself came, the Marquis vowed he would kill the culprit to ease his rage.

Shen Qingyuan remained firmly between Chun Xi and the Marquis.

Shen Qingyu sneered and said sarcastically: “Big Brother, all these years you’ve pretended to be meek and unambitious, fooling everyone. Cao Chun Xi poisoned the stepmother’s child, and you’re still protecting her. Did you instruct her to do this behind the scenes?”

As soon as he spoke, the Marquis could no longer contain his anger and stabbed toward Shen Qingyuan: “Traitorous son, I’ll kill you!”

Full of murderous intent, the Marquis, however, was old and had long indulged in wine and women, no longer the commanding general he once was.

After just two swings, Shen Qingyuan had kicked the sword out of his hand.

Whether intentional or not, the flying sword grazed Shen Qingyu’s neck and lodged in a pillar behind him.

A gash appeared on Shen Qingyu’s neck, and warm, crimson blood spurted instantly.

“Ahhh! Someone help me! I’m hurt!”

Clutching his neck, Shen Qingyu screamed, utterly lacking the confidence he had just shown when accusing Shen Qingyuan. Fear gripped him.

Li Mingde immediately called for a doctor to bandage him. Just as he was about to question Xing’er further, a soft, weak voice rang out: “Father, do not be angry. The child in the stepmother’s womb is not yours. You were already given a sterilizing medicine and can no longer have children.”

At these words, the hall fell even more silent. Even Shen Qingyu went as silent as a chicken with its neck pinched.

The Marquis of Qingyuan’s breathing was rapid. His face flushed red. He glared viciously at Shen Qingchi and finally asked after a long pause: “What did you just say?”