you're scared, just don't compete with me!"Everyone immediately withdrew their gaze, continuing to bid as if nothing had happened."One thousand and one taels.""One thousand three hundred taels.""Fift...After sending off Pan Zhi'an, Fang Jinshi didn't dare to go directly back to the main courtyard. She hadn't figured out how to tell Mu Shi about this.

If the mother-in-law knew that her father-in-law had been deceiving her for so many years, and had even taken another wife, a high-ranking official's daughter, in the capital city, and even had three children with her, she might not be able to bear the blow.

Since her confinement three years ago by Elder Zong, my mother-in-law's well-built physique has become frail again.

She kept silent about Zong Yu's departure to the border for war, but she never stopped worrying about him in her heart.

If one dwells on negative thoughts for too long, they will eventually turn into illness. Thankfully, with Yuanbao's presence, the grandmother's condition is not as severe. However, her body is definitely not what it used to be.

Just as she was carefully considering how to tell her family about this, Zong Bo came back.

Fang Jinxiu was shocked, Zong Bai looked haggard. When he left, his eyes were clear and bright, but now they were filled with anger and hatred.

How could such an open and bright young man, after participating in just one autumn examination, completely change into a different person His eyes no longer held the previous radiance and cheerfulness.

Fang Jinxiu felt heartbroken. It was too late to hide the fact that Zong Bai had returned, so Xiao Yue rushed to inform everyone in the family as soon as she saw him at the door.

Mu and Yulian almost immediately dropped what they were doing and ran to the front hall.

Upon seeing Zong Bai, Jian Xi was so overcome with joy that he burst into tears. His excitement was so intense that he failed to notice anything unusual about Zong Bai.

"The top scholar is back!"

Our village's top scholar is back home! It's great news. Our small village has actually produced a golden phoenix!

All the workers at the manor were buzzing with excited chatter, discussing how to spread the news of the happy event. As always, the louder they shouted, the more face the master would have, and the happier he would be.

But this time it's different.

When Zong Bai heard the three words "champion scholar," it was as if he had received some violent stimulus. His eyes turned red, and he suddenly flung Mu's hand away. He roared like a madman, driving everyone in the courtyard out.

Get out of here! All of you, get out!

"Who cares about this top scholar, who cares!"

Zong Bai had always been the most sensible person since he was a child, never causing the Mu family any worry. So when he went crazy, the Mu family was stunned and stood there dumbfounded for a long time without reacting.

Only after everyone had been driven away by Zong Bai did Yu Lian run over and grab his arm.

"Second brother, what are you doing Everyone came here to congratulate you on being the top student in high school. What's gotten into you"

"Calm down, okay"

Zong Bai couldn't calm down; no one knew what he had gone through on his trip to the capital for the imperial examinations. His previous worldview had been completely overturned.

Yu Lian couldn't stop him, so she turned to her sister-in-law for help. Fang Jinxiu stepped forward and used a silver needle to knock Zong Bai unconscious.

Only then did Mu Shi come to her senses, concernedly asking, "Zong Bai, what's wrong with him"

"Jinxiu, do you think Zongbai is sick"

Fang Jinxiu asked Dong'er to take the gold ingots back to the house and asked Tiezhu to help carry Zongbei back to his own courtyard.

After taking care of all that, she finally turned to face the Mu family.

Before Zong Bai woke up and told everyone what happened, she felt it was necessary to give the Mu family a heads-up first.

"Mother, I'm about to tell you something concerning your father-in-law. Please try to remain calm and don't get too excited."

She took out a bottle of quick-acting heart pills and placed it on the table.

Upon hearing the news of her late husband's death, Mu Shi was taken aback once more.

"Pingchuan, Pingchuan, aren't you dead"

The Mu family wasn't that foolish. She had pondered this matter in her heart for over ten years, thinking through every possibility. She just hadn't told the children.

The Mu family was afraid that the possibilities they had guessed might hurt their children's hearts.

On the contrary, Fang Jinshui and they didn't tell Mu Shi right away because they were afraid of hurting her feelings and that she wouldn't be able to accept it.

Hearing her mother-in-law's direct question, Fang Jinshu was taken aback for a moment before she reacted and nodded.

Even though the truth may be harsh, it's time to face it head-on.

Zong Bai's appearance was not like that of a triumphant return.

Among these, there must be Zong Pingchuan's methods too!

He didn't die, and he even became a high-ranking official of the third rank in the court, with a smooth career path.

Mu shi's eyes widened. It was one thing to speculate in her heart, but it was another entirely to hear the news from Zong Pingchuan himself and learn that he had become a high-ranking official.

Next, Fang Jinshu felt a pang of reluctance. However, her mother-in-law had the right to know everything, and she couldn't hide it from her.

And he married the daughter of a prime minister. surprise.Just now I saw your back there, and for a moment I couldn't believe it was you.After all, since the last time I left home, I haven't seen you again."You heartless girl, you even went home fo...