Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Such drama demands a live audience!

As they reached the gates of Marquis Ji’an’s residence, Xu Yanmiao’s eyes widened, practically bulging out: [“Wait, wait, wait…”]

[Who’s so malicious as to summon the head monk of Yulong Temple?!]

The Emperor: “….” What’s malicious about it? He thought indignantly. I simply want my loyal subject Ji’an Marquis to die knowing the truth. How could that be wrong?

When the doors swung open, the scene inside was jaw-dropping.

The entourages of the two Marquis households stood sharply divided, each side bolstered by hulking guards ready to fight. In the center, Ji’an Marquis was shouting curses at the top of his lungs: “You wretch! When did this start?!”

The noblewoman’s hair was disheveled, and her clothes hung loosely, clearly hastily put on. She retorted with equal sharpness, “Since the first time you broke your promise.”

Ji’an Marquis did some mental math…

—Thank goodness!

Xu Yanmiao’s thoughts: [Wow! Does this mean all nine sons belong to someone else?!]

Ji’an Marquis: “…..???” Ji’an Marquis: “!!!”

Ji’an Marquis nearly choked on his own rage: “You deceived me! My first concubine came three years after we wed, and our eldest son was born in the second year of our marriage. How could he not be my child?!”

The noblewoman sneered, “Oh, I thought you were asking about my lovers, but you mean my clients? Of course, since you were cheating on me, I cheated right back.”

Ji’an Marquis: “……” He staggered. “Wait… you mean… not just one? Are you saying all nine children have different fathers…?”

The civil and military officials in the room collectively gave him sympathetic looks.

Ji’an Marquis could hardly process it, but someone crueler forced him to face reality.

[Wow, incredible! Ji’an Marquis has nine sons, each from a different father!]

The officials: “Pfft…”

The Emperor: coughs “….”

Not that they wanted to laugh—it was just impossible to hold it in with Xu Yanmiao’s running commentary.

Ji’an Marquis turned red, then green, then white, and finally purple: “You’ve gone too far!”

Xu Yanmiao’s mind: [Huh? What did she just say? Why is he suddenly so mad?]

Nearby, the Crown Prince, also snacking on the drama, shook his head: “Ji’an Marquis is too short-tempered.”

Indeed, unable to lash out at Xu Yanmiao, he could only rage impotently at his wife.

Ji’an Marquis pointed at the noblewoman and bellowed, “This is your fault! After childbirth, you couldn’t serve me, so I graciously took in one of your maids. I’ve been more than fair to you!”

The noblewoman wouldn’t back down, firing back like a string of firecrackers: “Hah! You couldn’t last a single incense stick’s time! Limp as noodles! Those concubines of yours still have to flatter you and pretend you’re great. Watching them makes me pity them. Don’t tell me you believed their words?!”

Ji’an Marquis’s face went from red to blue, to white, then purple again: “You—you—you… nonsense!”

[To be fair,] Xu Yanmiao mused, [an incense stick’s worth of time is enough for Ji’an Marquis to manage three rounds. She’s being awfully kind here!]

Ji’an Marquis: “Enough!!!” Lies! It’s two rounds at most!!!

The noblewoman’s burly brother stepped forward, his face dark: “You made an agreement. You broke it by taking in concubines. How dare you blame my sister! If she didn’t stop us, we’d have broken your legs long ago!”

Ji’an Marquis, from his well of anger, found a faint touch of bittersweet relief. At least his wife had defended him from her unreasonable brothers. Surely, she still cared for him.

Xu Yanmiao’s mind offered a somber confirmation.

[Oh, absolutely. She thinks you’re rare—a fool, easy to manipulate, and handsome to boot. Might as well keep you around.]

“Hahahahahaha—”

Some of the officials couldn’t hold it any longer. Many of them had suffered from Ji’an Marquis’s incessant bragging about his sons, often enduring veiled mockery of their own family situations. Now, they laughed so heartily they could barely stand straight.

[She’s right. When some noblewomen married later, they lamented not acting fast enough to snag someone foolish, gullible, and good-looking.]

The laughter cut off abruptly.

Silence.

“W-wife…”

A terrifying thought occurred to the officials: Wait… is Xu Yanmiao talking about MY wife?!

Meanwhile, the noblewoman’s brother continued ranting, “My sister is an incredible woman! A little headstrong, yes, but she’s pure at heart! She even lets those kids call you their father! Who else is going to perform the burial rites at your funeral? You’ve already gotten away with so much!”

“You—you—” Ji’an Marquis’s hand trembled violently, too enraged to speak.

His colleagues recovered faster than he did. Compared to baseless suspicions about their own marriages, there was more satisfaction in mocking this humiliated man in front of them.

One after another, they pretended Ji’an Marquis was deaf, speaking louder for effect.

“Impressive. Just wow. Imagine fathering nine sons without lifting a finger.”

“Hiss! He’s worn this green hat for nearly thirty years—since he was a teenager! Incredible!”

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