Hershis, with a face contemplating appropriate punishment, looked down at him for a moment and then issued an order.
“Hand him over to the Imperial Guards.”
Although the Imperial Guards had imposed strict punishment for the sale of prohibited herbs, the herb shop owner was grateful, even shedding tears. At least he wouldn’t face certain death here.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you.”
The herb shop owner, carried away by his subordinates, left. Now, what remained was…
“Now, shall we talk? Lady Berry Vermis?”
“…….”
“Why on earth do you need that poison?”
With a voice that carried a deeper weight, Claire hesitated with a puzzled expression.
Then Hershis asked, “Have you had my brother-in-law, or… a cousin, perhaps?”
The lady’s hazel eyes widened. She was considering that excuse.
“Lies will be revealed with an investigation anyway.”
Hershis pulled up the corner of his lips at an angle.
Further falsehoods seemed meaningless.
“W-Well… I bought it… for my daughter.”
Claire started confessing with a trembling voice.
“She… she doesn’t seem to want to get pregnant. So, when I asked her the day before, she said she didn’t want to have a child now, that it would just be a burden. This is true.”
Hershis’s gaze shook slightly. Claire felt it was the right moment.
“If Liz wanted to get pregnant, I wouldn’t have done this. Of course not. Why would I do that to my child? I just wanted to relieve the burden on her mind.”
Her rationalization skills were unmatched, even by Claire Berium herself. She was excellent enough to deceive herself.
“Forgetting something.”
“…”
“That child is also my child. And Lady tried to execute the Empress.”
Claire’s body trembled at the words filled with suppressed anger.
The gaze directed at her was as cold and eerie as the blade of a guillotine. She couldn’t help but think that he might have already imagined his neck being cut even if it wasn’t happening in reality.
The reason he didn’t do it was probably because Liz was his wife and daughter in reality.
So, no matter what, he had to shield his daughter.
“I… I was short-sighted. I thought only of Liz. I was sorry for that child because she seemed to dislike getting pregnant. So, I just… I was just…”
“…”
“Please forgive me for thinking about Liz. I always tried my best to raise Liz faithfully and rightly. If it weren’t for me, that child wouldn’t be able to sit by Your Majesty’s side right now.”
Fortunately, Claire had several witnesses to support her arguments.
“Ask the commoners working in my mansion. How much that child… has changed from a young age. Everyone knows. Thanks to my admonition and teaching, she became the person she is now and could become the Empress.”
“Viscountess.”
Hershis, growing impatient with the test of patience, interrupted Claire’s words.
“Liz was originally a human. If there is anyone who made Liz into a person in the sense you mean, it is not you but Lady Morsen.”
“…”
“And you didn’t give her guidance; you vented your anger.”
“No, that’s not true!”
Claire pounded her chest as if to express her injustice.
“You don’t know what Liz said about me, Your Majesty. But if you believe everything she said, that’s not right. That child has always had a grudge against me…”
“Liz never said anything about her mother.”
“…”
“I didn’t say nice things, but I certainly didn’t say bad things. That’s family. No matter how much you hate, you should never speak ill of family in front of others.”
The lady suddenly felt puzzled.
‘What’s Liz’s favorite food? What food causes allergies? How can one call someone a parent without knowing such things, dismissing and ignoring without helping?’
The Emperor told me that when he entered the palace with Liz. And just a while ago, didn’t he say he wouldn’t hold anything in his hands unless it elevated his dignity?
‘Who told him that? I mean, if it’s not Liz, then who?’
Then, Hershis spoke.
“Martin Auction House, Number 21.”
“…”
At the abrupt words, Claire’s brow furrowed.
‘Martin Auction House?’
However, as she thought about it, it strangely sounded familiar. Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
It was the name of the slave auction house. The very place she had visited with the noble ladies only once. And 21 was the number of the slave they had bid on at that time.
‘His name was Cain, wasn’t it? But why would his story come up here…’
“That’s me.”
The Emperor said.
“I am Cain, Viscountess Berium.”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
