Chapter 363 The First Wife Given Away by Her Husband (Part 1)

The original owner was the wife of a seventh-rank official. Her family was in business, and her husband passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. She used her dowry to help her husband secure a position as an eighth-rank official.

The couple had one son, and the husband subsequently took three more concubines, resulting in four children born out of wedlock.

One day, Mao Rui, instigated by his illegitimate son, beat up the illegitimate son of the Duke's mansion who was traveling outside the capital.

Mao Rui was imprisoned. Her husband wished his eldest son were dead, fearing that he would affect his official career. Someone gave him a suggestion: "King Yue is not interested in women, but your wife is beautiful. Why not give it a try? Maybe King Yue will take a liking to her."

Mao Renyi recalled that when the King of Yue came to the county on official business and stayed at the county government office, he did see his wife. Now that he thought about it, it seemed that the King of Yue really had some feelings for his wife.

They've been together for over a decade, and he's had enough of even the most beautiful faces.

Moreover, his wife was like a dead fish in bed. She wasn't as eloquent as Aunt Liu, as caring as Aunt Du, or as charming as Aunt Sun. He felt no regret at all after divorcing her.

So he went to the capital to see the King of Yue.

Surprisingly, the King of Yue actually didn't refuse!

When Mao Renyi left, the steward even subtly urged him to hurry up.

Mao Renyi was overjoyed and went home to give the original owner a divorce agreement.

The original owner felt as if she had been struck by lightning. How could a woman serve two husbands?

So she committed suicide.

When Ning Yan arrived, the ungrateful and unjust man had just finished writing the divorce papers and handed them to her before they were even dry.

"Take it. You don't want anything to happen to our only son, do you?"

Ning Yan glanced at the divorce agreement, which stated that the two had decided to separate due to personality clashes.

That makes sense, though. This guy gave her to the King of Yue, so he wouldn't dare to write anything recklessly. But she can't just accept this divorce agreement like that.

Several concubines chattered and urged, "Madam, the eldest young master is your own son. It's not like you're being asked to die. Just agree already." These words came from the sweet-talking but bitter-hearted Aunt Liu.

"Yes, if I had a face as beautiful as yours, I would definitely take the initiative to exchange for the eldest young master." These were the words of Concubine Du, who was all beauty and no brains.

"Madam, you've been husband and wife with Master for over a decade. You should feel sorry for him. He's been a diligent and cautious official for over ten years. Can you bear to let all his hard work go to waste?" These were the hypocritical words of Aunt Sun.

Ning Yan lowered her eyes, sneering inwardly. These women were all too well-bred by the original owner of this body, daring to come and talk back to her!

However, the original owner's character was gentle and kind, and she would not show her anger on the surface. So, she looked up at the concubines and said, "What you all said makes a lot of sense. I really feel bad. If you divorce all of you as well, then I will agree to accept the divorce papers."

Have these idiots forgotten that she has their indentures in her hands?

Ning Yan didn't have time to observe what Mao Renyi was thinking, but the three concubines immediately became obedient, "Madam, please don't! We still have children, and the children can't lose their mother."

Ning Yan's face held a faint sorrow. "Yes, a child can't be without a mother..."

"Master, since the children can't live without me anyway, why don't you leave with nothing and give me all your children and concubines? I really can't bear to part with these children!" She was the legal mother, so of course she was the one who couldn't live without her!

Mao Renyi was furious. If this woman continued, he feared he would lose his official position to her. "Get out! Get out of here! A bunch of ignorant women, what nonsense are you spouting!"

The three concubines, their earlier smugness gone, fled in a panic.

After everyone had left, Mao Renyi pleaded softly, "Madam, I can't bear to part with you either, but what about our Rui'er?"

That's the Duke's mansion, which has distinguished itself in battle and commands an army of 150,000. It's not something a mere county magistrate like me can handle.

I know you resent my heartlessness, but I truly can't think of any other way.

No matter how eloquently he spoke, Ning Yan remained unresponsive, and Mao Renyi gradually grew impatient.

Ning Yan finally spoke, "I can accept the divorce papers, but you have to meet two conditions of mine."

Mao Renyi said irritably, "Just tell me your conditions, Rui'er is still locked up in jail."

Ning Yan said, "You have so many children. If you treat Rui'er badly after we divorce, there won't be anyone to speak up for Rui'er."

You write down the contract, we divorce, and Rui'er belongs to me.

"Impossible! You can't take my Mao family's child away!"

"Of course I won't take him away. This contract is just to ensure that you won't mistreat my child. I will only take him away if I find out that Rui'er has suffered."

This means that if you, Mao Renyi, mistreat your legitimate son for the sake of other children, then the contract will be valid; otherwise, it's just a piece of waste paper.

Mao Renyi felt somewhat aggrieved, but he really couldn't force the issue. He didn't know when that slut had seduced the King of Yue; otherwise, why would the King of Yue have agreed so readily after he mentioned it?

Now she still tries to control him, and he really wants to teach her a lesson, but then he thinks of the King of Yue…

In the end, Mao Renyi wrote another contract, and Ning Yan read every word of it to him as he wrote it.

After writing it down and letting it dry, Ning Yan immediately put it away.

"Furthermore, I've spent fifteen years with you, Mao Renyi. During those fifteen years, I worked hard to bear your children and manage your household, ensuring you had no worries. Yet, I ended up being abandoned. You have to compensate me, don't you?"

Mao Renyi: "I also want to make compensation, but my family is poor and I simply cannot afford to give you any money."

Mao Renyi came from a poor family, but not a peasant family. His family had some good things; otherwise, his widowed mother alone could not have supported a scholar.

"I don't want your money, just give me that 'Spring Ploughing' painting and the three-colored jade pendant you're wearing."

These are the only two good things Mao Renyi has left.

"Spring Ploughing" was created by a painting master more than 500 years ago and is worth a fortune.

The three-colored jade pendant is a symbol of the Mao family's eldest son's status. It should have been passed down to her son, and she didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands.

Mao Renyi's face twitched repeatedly; he never expected that this vile woman would set her sights on his family heirloom.

"You won't give it to him? Actually, you could give that painting to the Duke. Maybe he'll release Rui'er because of the painting."

He had a painting to spare, but insisted on exchanging his wife for his son to keep his official position. This can only mean that in Mao Renyi's mind, the value of his wife and his painting was far too different. His wife was worthless, but his painting was worth a fortune.

Mao Renyi took a deep breath. "That's a family heirloom of the Mao family. How can I give it to a divorced woman?"

"Have you forgotten that besides being a divorced woman, I am also the mother of your legitimate son? Are these things meant for me to ask for?"

That's for Rui'er.