Chapter 33: The Scumbag Husband Has a Total Breakdown

The crowd stared at Shen Ningyuan, dumbfounded, their jaws nearly hitting the floor in shock.

"Shen Ningyuan, what did you just say?" Madame Chen’s voice trembled, filled with disbelief. "What do you mean by 'the bond of marriage is severed' and that you refuse to bear your husband's surname?"

Ji Yunhuan also let out a sharp cry, "Shen Ningyuan, how can you be so shameless as to utter such words? You have married into the Ji family; you are a person of the Ji family in life and a ghost of the Ji family in death. If you don't take the Ji name, whose name do you expect to take?"

"I have my own name and surname. I am surnamed Shen, and naturally, I shall bear the name of the Shen family!" Shen Ningyuan retorted, her lips curling into a cold smile.

The crowd erupted in a clamor at her words, shocked by her audacity. In this world, no married woman had ever dared to speak such words in public! It was simply treasonous to tradition!

Amidst the commotion, a man in a cloak stood nearby, his fists clenched tight beneath his sleeves, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. Gritting his teeth, he cursed under his breath, "Shen Ningyuan! You truly have nerve! To dare say such things in public! If I weren't unable to reveal myself, I would divorce you, you harlot, right here in front of all of the capital!"

Ji Yunchuan had not wanted to show his face. He had intended to wait for public opinion to swell until the Shen family was forced to send Shen Ningyuan back to the Ji residence, thus completing his scheme. But his subordinates had suddenly reported that Shen Ningyuan had not returned to the Ji estate, but had come to the Yushang Pavilion instead. Sensing that the situation had shifted, he had snuck out to see what she was up to.

He never expected that the first time he ventured out after his faked death, he would hear her utter those words! Her husband was dead, yet she refused to bear his name! Every syllable was a blade piercing his heart. At that moment, Ji Yunchuan truly broke. He bit down on his molars and dug his nails into his palms, only just managing to suppress the urge to rush out and slaughter Shen Ningyuan.

At this point, Madame Chen finally recovered from her shock. Stomping her feet, she pointed at Shen Ningyuan and choked out, "Utter nonsense! You disregard all ethics and morality! Our Ji family has no such daughter-in-law!"

Shen Ningyuan asked in return, "Oh? So now I am no longer a daughter-in-law of the Ji family?" She continued, "Madame Ji, you keep changing your tune. So, am I or am I not a daughter-in-law of the Ji family?"

"You, you, you..." Madame Chen was so throttled by Shen Ningyuan’s retort that she nearly lost her breath. Ji Yunhuan rushed over to soothe her, then glared at Shen Ningyuan with hatred. "My mother is your elder; what is wrong with her saying a few words to you? Must you be so abrasive?"

Shen Ningyuan looked at Ji Yunhuan and said languidly, "Speaking of which, I am your sister-in-law, which counts as a semi-elder. Is it appropriate for you to speak to your elder in such a manner?"

As she finished, Shen Ningyuan flexed her wrists. The gesture caused a flash of memory in Ji Yunhuan’s mind—the image of being slapped repeatedly by Shen Ningyuan. Ji Yunhuan shrank back, not daring to look Shen Ningyuan in the eye. Clearly, those dozens of slaps had left deep scars on her spirit.

Just then, Song Yan’er stepped forward, looking coldly at Madame Chen and Ji Yunhuan. "Now that everything is clear, what more do you want? Must you truly drive Ningyuan into a corner before you are satisfied?"

"If you truly cannot think of any more filth to sling at her, you would do well to crawl back to the Ji residence!" Song Yan’er’s tone grew icy.

"This is not the Shen family's territory. By what right do you demand we leave?" Madame Chen demanded furiously.

"You are correct; this is indeed not the Shen family's territory," Song Yan’er admitted.

Ji Yunhuan, thinking she had regained the upper hand, put her hands on her hips and sneered, "Exactly! Since it isn't the Shen family's property, what right do you have to tell us to leave?"

Song Yan’er couldn't help but laugh, mocking them, "But this was part of my dowry from my maiden family. I am the owner of Yushang Pavilion."

"What?" This time, it was Ji Yunhuan who lost her composure.

Before she could speak, the manager of Yushang Pavilion walked up behind Song Yan’er, his attitude respectful. "Proprietor."

"Yes," Song Yan’er replied. The manager then bowed and retreated with deference.

Seeing this, Ji Yunhuan was completely stunned. "You are truly the owner of Yushang Pavilion?"

"It is beyond doubt," Song Yan’er retorted coldly. Seeing that Ji Yunhuan was speechless, she pressed on, "So, do I have the qualification to tell you to get out?"

Ji Yunhuan had no desire to speak further. Madame Chen was left at a loss for what to do. Seeing that neither mother nor daughter would speak, Song Yan’er turned to the manager behind her. "I do not wish to see these irrelevant people in my shop. You know what to do."

The manager nodded. "Proprietor, I shall arrange it immediately."

The manager then led two attendants forward, respectfully inviting Madame Chen and Ji Yunhuan to leave. Madame Chen tried to put on a brave face, hoping to intimidate the manager, but he seemed to have anticipated her thoughts. He said coldly, "Madame Ji, according to the laws of our dynasty, causing a disturbance and affecting the normal operation of a business is grounds for being reported to the authorities."

His tone grew even more formal, "If you continue to make things difficult for me, do not blame me for being discourteous. I would be more than happy to personally escort you to the magistrate's office."

"You—" Madame Chen was furious, yet helpless. She could only point at Shen Ningyuan and Song Yan’er with spite and leave a final threat: "I tell you, today’s matter is not over! Huan’er, let’s go!"

Madame Chen turned and stormed off, trailing the Ji family servants behind her. Ji Yunhuan had no choice but to follow. The spectacle ended with Madame Chen’s ignominious retreat.

Shen Ningyuan stood to the side with a casual smile, as if still savoring the scene. She knew her sister-in-law had always been low-key and never flaunted her wealth. She had not expected that the most prestigious clothing shop in the capital was actually her sister-in-law’s business. It was no wonder the manager had played along and claimed the out-of-season clothes were custom-made for Ji Yunchuan—the manager had been on their side from the very beginning.

Shen Ningyuan felt her mood lift, and she couldn't help but step forward and hook her arm into Song Yan’er’s. "Sister-in-law, this Yushang Pavilion is your property—how is it that I knew nothing of this?"

"Don't say you didn't know; even your eldest brother didn't know," Song Yan’er hummed coldly. "If it weren't to drive away that pair of harpies today, I wouldn't have revealed it."

Looking at Shen Ningyuan, Song Yan’er added earnestly, "Ningyuan, let me teach you a lesson today: when a woman marries, if her foundation is not yet secure, she must never easily reveal her wealth at her husband’s home, or she will only invite trouble."

Shen Ningyuan fell silent, looking at Song Yan’er with deep admiration. The world was heartless, and life for a woman was difficult. If one did not plan for oneself, one would inevitably end up wounded. Her sister-in-law appeared harmless, yet while planning for her own interests, she never harmed others. Such a mindset was rare. No wonder her sister-in-law had seen through Cui Mingzhu’s true colors so quickly, yet remained discreet, only offering subtle warnings at the critical moment.

Thinking of this, Shen Ningyuan smiled. "Sister-in-law, for my brother to have married you, it truly must have been a blessing he cultivated in a past life!"

"That is certainly true!" Song Yan’er raised an eyebrow, her expression full of pride.

She then stepped forward to address the onlookers. "Everyone, please forgive the spectacle you witnessed today. As the proprietor of Yushang Pavilion, I announce that for all garments in the shop today, there will be a discount of 300 wen per item!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. A discount of 300 wen was a significant bargain. In an instant, people scrambled to enter Yushang Pavilion. Ji Yunchuan stood outside the crowd, watching Shen Ningyuan inside the shop through his cloak, his eyes dark and inscrutable.