Quick, female general, I traveled through time to save my father

Chapter 356: The Mother of the Bomen Raises Her Stepson 23

After returning to the capital, the two often looked for opportunities to meet privately.

The two were in love, and Mrs. Minghua was eager to find a man with a relatively suitable status, age, and family background to marry into.

Shen Shigen was born into a peasant family and had never been involved with a noble lady. This was the peak of his career.

The fire in the old house was no less violent than a volcanic eruption.

Love letters and notes between the two of them were passed back and forth every day.

"If my Lord truly cherishes Minghua, please allow me to stay by his side forever. I am willing to cook for you..."

He took a gulp of the liquor, and his throat burned.

Of course he wanted to marry her.

He had fought his way out of the border, and now he could win the heart of a noble lady, who was even willing to give herself to him... Just thinking of Minghua's snow-like skin trembling under his palms, he felt his blood burning.

Ke Sirong...

This is not as simple as just bringing a concubine home. Minghua will not agree.

But if he divorced his wife and remarried now, he was afraid that the censor would impeach him.

Those mad dogs in the Censorate were worried that they couldn't find any evidence to hold against these upstarts.

Shen Shigen stared at the pulse diagnosis sent by Minghua, his knuckles turned white from pinching. She was pregnant, and it was very likely a boy.

He only has one son, Shen Junyao. If Minghua gives birth to a second legitimate son...

The blood of a noble lady from an aristocratic family, the power of his mother's family, the future of the next generation. These thoughts burrowed into his mind like venomous snakes, making his breathing hot.

"Master," a trusted aide whispered, "Madam Minghua has sent word that her father wants to marry Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue as his second wife. She won't be able to delay much longer."

Shen Shigen clenched the teacup tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Minister Chen?

That old widower, nearly fifty, whose three wives had died in his mansion? It was said that his previous wives all died of depression, and there were even rumors that the last one committed suicide by hanging.

If a noble lady like Minghua were really stuffed into the Chen Mansion...

"Master, Madam Minghua also said..." the aide lowered his voice, "Her father has already agreed with Minister Chen that if you don't give her a decision within three days, she will have no choice but to accept her fate."

The next day, Shen Shigen asked Minghua to come out and meet him. This was a house in Minghua's marriage village.

Minghua was wearing a plain gauze nightgown. Her skin was as white as snow under the candlelight, but her eyes were slightly red.

"If you are truly cruel, my Lord, then let me die in the Chen Mansion." Her fingertips traced across Shen Shigen's chest, her voice trembling. "It's just a pity for the child in my belly. He needs a father who can be his grandfather before he is even born..."

Shen Shigen's breath caught in his throat. She was carrying his child!

He suddenly pulled her into his arms and asked, "Is your father really willing to do this?"

Minghua smiled sadly, "When aristocratic families marry, do they ever care about a woman's life or death?" She leaned close to his ear, her breath sweet as orchid, "Unless... my uncle can give me a legitimate status."

Status?

Shen Shigen's eyes were sinister.

Consort? Divorce? Or...

Hard to do!

Minister Ming is not an easy person to deal with, but given the current situation, Shen Shigen has no choice but to calm him down first.

After all, this is Minghua's father, although it is said that a daughter who marries for the second time is the one who chooses her own marriage.

But that was for the common people. For aristocratic families like theirs, they had to obey their parents' wishes even if it was their second, third or fourth marriage, let alone a second one.

Minister Ming sat at the desk, steam rising from the teacup in his hand, but his eyes were chillingly cold.

"Master Shen." He spoke slowly, "Although my daughter is not a first-time bride, the Ming family has a century-old reputation and will not be treated lightly."

Shen Shigen's back tensed, but his expression remained calm: "Master Ming has misunderstood. I am sincere to Minghua and this is no joke."

"Really?" Minister Ming sneered. "You're so unclear about the situation, and you're letting my daughter get pregnant. Are you serious? Or is this no joke?" He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips. "Do you think my daughter is a concubine you can do whatever you want with her?"

The steam from the teacup lingered between the two of them, but it couldn't dispel the tense atmosphere.

Shen Shigen's neck was covered in beads of sweat, but he remained calm. "Lord Ming, you are too kind. I am willing to marry Minghua as your equal, and I have no intention of looking down on you."

"A concubine?" Minister Ming suddenly laughed, his laughter like a blunt knife scraping bone. "The laws of this dynasty clearly stipulate that the term "concubine" is not recognized!"

The two sides pushed each other and put forward many conditions before finally getting Minister Ming to agree to temporarily allow Shen Shigen to marry Minghua into the mansion as a concubine.

After finalizing the agreement with Minister Ming, Shen Shigen hurried back home.

He also has to take care of Sirong's situation. Minghua must marry in as soon as possible because the baby's birth date cannot wait.

In fact, Sirong knew everything about Shen Shigen's movements during this period, but she just didn't intervene.

Sirong also wanted to see how far Shen Shigen could go for Madam Minghua.

Sirong leaned against the window, her fingertips gently fiddling with the celadon incense burner on the table. Amidst the lingering scent of incense, she watched the hurriedly returning figure outside the courtyard, a faint sneer playing at the corner of her lips.

"Madam, the uncle has gone to the study." The personal nanny whispered.

"No rush." ​​Sirong closed the window frame, "Let him worry for a while."

She had already received secret reports that Minister Ming had not only made a huge demand for control of Northern Frontier's military supplies, but had also secretly reached another deal with Minister Chen. Yet, Shen Shigen naively believed he could escape unscathed from this game.

In Shen Shigen's mind, Sirong is the easiest issue to solve.

After all, when it comes to status and family background, Sirong has none of them, and everything Sirong has today depends on his achievements, so naturally she should listen to him.

But today, Shen Shigen was also turned away.

“Squeak…”

The door was only a crack open, and the old woman's wrinkled face looked particularly old in the dim light. She held a lantern, bowed slightly, and spoke in a respectful yet distant voice, "Master, the lady has retired. She said we can discuss anything tomorrow. Please go back now."

Shen Shigen frowned, feeling a surge of irritation in his chest.

That's it again!

Ever since he returned home, Sirong had always found various excuses to refuse him, either because she wasn't feeling well or had already gone to bed, and she'd always let him go to the concubine's quarters to rest. But tonight was different; he wasn't here for sex; he was truly desperate.

Minghua's matter cannot be delayed. The child is getting older and older. If it is delayed any further, not only will it be difficult to explain to Minister Ming, but even the rumors outside will not be suppressed.

The best way is to let Sirong go to Ming Mansion in person to propose marriage.

The legal wife came forward and married him formally. This was the only way to silence the gossips.

"Mammy," he said, suppressing his anger and speaking in a low voice, "go tell Madam that tonight's matter is of great importance and must be discussed now."

The old nanny looked embarrassed, but still insisted: "Master, the lady has already gone to bed, it is really inconvenient to get up..."

Shen Shigen's eyes turned cold and he finally lost his patience.

"boom!"

He suddenly raised his hand, pushed open the half-open door, and strode in.