The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 69: Chapter 068 Extra Story (Two-in-One)_2

Alas, a new round of suffering had arrived.

There is no wall under heaven that doesn’t leak, no matter how tightly she and Kang Mo kept their affair, over more than a decade, some hints had inevitably seeped out.

Actually, there was no need for anyone to find evidence, just looking at the ”adopted son” Kang Mo received under his name a few years ago, tsk tsk, the child’s eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to He Yi, while his face and ears had the distinctive features of the Kang Family!

Did they really think everyone in the world was blind and foolish?

Kang Mo claimed that the second young master of the mansion was an adopted son, the orphan of a comrade-in-arms, but did people truly believe it?

Especially after Lady He of the Duchess Wei passed away, though Kang Mo was a widower with a legitimate eldest son, he was still just over thirty with titles, actual power, and the Emperor’s favor.

He could have remarried a well-match unmarried noble lady.

Even the Empress in the palace jokingly said she wanted to matchmake for Duke Wei.

And what happened? Kang Mo, ignoring the many eligible maidens in the capital, insisted on marrying a newly secularized female Taoist, a twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old middle-aged woman.

He Yi’s youth had long passed, and whether it was her background or age, she simply did not match a First-Rank Duke.

Yet Kang Mo still stubbornly opposed all arguments, willing to risk offending the nobles in the court, just to take He Yi, this ”middle-aged woman” home.

At first, some thought Kang Mo was sentimental, willing to do anything for true love.

Afterward, when people looked at He Yi and then at the so-called adopted son, what was there not to understand.

This wasn’t about deep sentiment at all, but clearly a situation where he had no choice but to marry He Yi!

Of course, one couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that Kang Mo did like He Yi.

But in people’s minds, the relationship between Kang Mo and He Yi was no longer simply a matter of ”true love.”

In fact, not to mention outsiders, even He Yi herself had long since stopped believing that Kang Mo loved her that much.

Kang Mo insisted on marrying her, not so much for love, as to fulfill a long-standing wish.

Over the years, Kang Mo had been stewing with frustration.

As a young man who inherited a title and renowned for his military exploits, Kang Mo had grown accustomed to controlling everything.

In his heart, he probably wouldn’t submit to anyone except the Emperor.

Capricious, self-indulgent... Kang Mo never showed it, but inside he was extremely arrogant and self-righteous.

Then, all his smooth sailing stumbled upon He Tian.

Kang Mo fell for He Yi, wanted He Tian to die early, but she just wouldn’t pass away.

Kang Mo considered foul play, yet He Tian unexpectedly gained the Emperor’s favor, and he dared not lay a finger on her.

Kang Mo, who was once so high-spirited in making promises to He Yi, now felt even more aggrieved.

He Yi endured it, and wasn’t Kang Mo doing the same?

Eventually, Kang Mo’s desire to marry He Yi turned out to be not just for the initial attraction or years of affection, but wholly for the grudge he held in his chest.

It was as if, by marrying He Yi and legitimizing their shadowed illegitimate son, the ”humiliation” he suffered from He Tian could be wiped clean!

Kang Mo seemed not yet to realize this twisted state of mind, still mistaking his obsession for deep love for He Yi, and willing to give up everything for her.

The reality-scuffed, deeply contemplative He Yi, however, had realized it.

Nevertheless, she didn’t expose it but instead took advantage of this, to ensure a better life for herself and her child.

So, when Kang Mo solemnly promised that he would volunteer for war in the Southwest and strive for military achievements, then ask for an imperial decree for her, He Yi did not believe him, but her face showed a touched expression.

”...Lord, I always knew you are the kindest to me in this world!”

He Yi knew Kang Mo liked it best when she acted dependent and innocently charming.

However, although she saw through Kang Mo, she didn’t see through herself—a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl indeed acted sweetly and shy, but for a twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old woman who could be a grandmother, making such coquettish gestures was really inappropriate.

It wouldn’t necessarily cause offense to the eyes, but it lacked much appeal and would not stir Kang Mo’s heartstrings.

As expected, when He Yi snuggled into Kang Mo’s embrace, allowing him an up-close view of her collagen-depleted, no longer firm skin, a hint of disdain flashed across the depths of Kang Mo’s eyes.

”Alright, you should rest early. I, I’m going to the study!”

Kang Mo, pushing He Yi away somewhat stiffly, said this dismissively and hurriedly left.

Watching Kang Mo’s retreating back, the sweet smile on He Yi’s face instantly vanished.