If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Shao Guanming went back with a lot of anger in his heart.

"How is it? Have you apologized to Sister Xia?" Mrs. Shao hurried forward to ask when she saw her son come back.

"Don't mention it, mother. Ruan Zhaoxia is not only narrow-minded, but also has no sympathy at all. If she really marries us in the future, my cousin will no longer have any status in the family." Shao Guanming said angrily.

Mrs. Shao's heart skipped a beat.

"I asked you to apologize to Sister Xia, what on earth did you do?"

Shao Guanming's eyes flickered slightly, "I reasoned with her and explained to her that my cousin would not affect her position as the principal wife in the future."

"Not only does she not listen, she also humiliates me, mother. Now that she hasn't entered the house yet, I'm spoiling her like this. When she enters the house in the future, I will definitely set rules for her."

"Did you tell her that you're going to marry Zheng Ruyan in the future?" Mrs. Shao gasped.

Shao Guanming frowned, "It's the truth, why hide it?"

"Have you apologized?" Mrs. Shao finally got angry.

"I... I just said a few words to her and she ran away. Later, I met Prime Minister Ruan and explained the matter to him..." Shao Guanming said stutteringly.

Mrs. Shao wanted to slap her son to wake him up.

"You know how much effort your grandfather and father put into arranging this marriage for you. She is the eldest daughter of the Ruan family. If you marry her, it will be of great help to your and your father's future careers."

"You actually offended the Ruan family for a cousin. You, you're going to piss me off to death." Mrs. Shao was so angry that her heart ached.

Shao Guanming disagreed, "This is just a small matter, the Ruan family won't take it to heart. Could it be that just because of a quarrel between girls, the Ruan family really agreed to Ruan Zhaoxia's breaking off the engagement with me? It's impossible."

He was certain that the Ruan family would not be people who would take things so lightly.

"Your grandfather promised the Ruan family that if you don't have a legitimate child before you turn 30, he would allow you to take a concubine. Which man in the Ruan family would take a concubine?" Mrs. Shao said angrily.

"Wait, what did you just say? Sister Xia wants to break off the engagement with you?"

Shao Guanming's focus is completely different from Mrs. Shao's.

"What? How could grandfather agree to such an unreasonable request from the Ruan family? It is common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. Why don't you let me take a concubine? I have already promised my cousin that after I get married, I will marry her as my co-wife. She will be on an equal footing with Ruan Zhaoxia in the future."

"You still want her to be on equal footing with the eldest daughter of the Ruan family? Who do you think you are?" Mrs. Shao was furious.

"The Emperor in the palace favors Concubine Liu, but would Concubine Liu dare to show off in front of the Queen? You...you have been blinded by beauty, you bastard!" Mrs. Shao was so angry that she didn't know what to say.

"I'm telling you, if this matter cannot be undone, you can forget about becoming an official. Go back to Donglin to inherit the family affairs, and the family resources will fall into the hands of your brother."

"As for Yan'er, you can marry her if you want. I can't control you."

When Shao Guanming heard his mother's words, he finally started to panic.

"No, not really. Ruan Zhaoxia has liked me since she was a child. Everyone knows that we are engaged. If she doesn't marry me, who else can she marry?"

Madam Shao sneered at him, "Any woman with a bit of backbone who is willing to marry you happily after hearing that her fiancé is going to take a concubine is either stupid or foolish."

"Do you think Sister Xia is stupid or foolish?"

The dumbest and stupidest person was her son, who was actually played around by Zheng Ruyan.

"Mother, didn't you also agree that I should be with my cousin? You said that her life was pitiful and asked me to take care of her more." Shao Guanming was unwilling.

Madam Shao: "I want you to take care of her, but not to take her as a concubine. I want you to be a good brother and find a good marriage for her in the future."

Zheng Ruyan is her niece. Doesn’t she want her niece to live a good life?

If it wasn't for her son's future, she could let her niece marry her son, but she knew clearly which was more important.

But my son just can’t figure it out!

Shao Guanming's face turned slightly pale. "No, mother, my cousin...my cousin is already mine."

“……”Mrs. Shao felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and it took her a long time to digest what her son said.

"Prime Minister Ruan asked my father to meet him, probably to discuss marriage. I can not marry my cousin as a co-wife, but she must be a concubine. This is my condition." Shao Guanming said.

"As for the rest, the Ruan family can say whatever they want."

Mrs. Shao looked at him calmly and said, "You should pack your things and prepare to return to Donglin."

Even after all this, he still hoped that the Ruan family would marry their eldest daughter to him.

How can it be!

Mrs. Shao hurried to find her husband to discuss how to turn the situation around.

Shao Guanming felt that his mother was taking the matter too seriously and that Ruan Zhaoxia would never marry anyone else except him.

He returned to the backyard to visit Zheng Ruyan.

Half of Zheng Ruyan's face was bruised, caused by being pressed to the ground.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she looked pitiful, like a daffodil that would break with a slight touch.

"Cousin, don't come in. I look ugly now and I'm afraid I'll scare you." Zheng Ruyan turned her face to the side, revealing part of her slender white neck.

Shao Guanming's Adam's apple tightened, he came to her side and hugged her gently, "Don't be afraid, I won't dislike you."

"Did you go to see Miss Ruan?" Zheng Ruyan said in a low voice.

"I'll go and explain it to her clearly. I'll let you stay with me no matter what. If she can't stand it, let her do it." Shao Guanming snorted.

Zheng Ruyan felt as sweet as drinking honey, but she was also worried, "If she really makes a scene, my aunt will send me away."

"No, I've already told my mother that I will never abandon you." Shao Guanming hurriedly comforted her.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Baozhu put the jade hairpin on me, which angered Miss Ruan." Zheng Ruyan covered her face and cried.

She really regretted it. Shao Baozhu had given Ruan Zhaoxia's jewelry to her before, and Ruan Zhaoxia didn't say anything at that time, but she got angry today.

It’s just a jade hairpin, she could ask her cousin to buy it for her.

It was just a little vanity that made him want to see Ruan Zhaoxia's forbearing expression.

Shao Guanming took out a jade hairpin from his arms and said, "You deserve better."

Zheng Ruyan burst into tears and threw herself into Shao Guanming's arms, "Cousin, you are so good to me, I am willing to die for you."

After a while, the two were entangled with each other.

After hearing what his wife said, Lord Shao felt something was wrong.

He didn't dare to delay going to Ruan's house until tomorrow, so he hurried to Ruan's house while it was still early.

Ruan Xinglin had only one thing to say: since your son has someone else in his heart, our Ruan family will not do such a wicked thing as to break up a couple in love. We will send the tokens of love and the letter of withdrawal of engagement from both families to Lord Shao.

No matter how much Lord Shao explained and pleaded, he couldn't make Ruan Xinglin change his mind.