Chapter 26 The Uncrowned King

Upon entering Yao Ruhai's residence, he immediately summoned his wife, Madam Chen. Yao Ruhai, always a shrewd and astute man, introduced Madam Chen to his master, Madam Chen, without needing any prompting from his master, Shi Heng, saying, "Quickly greet Master's wife."

Meng Qingci never expected that Yao Ruhai, who was nearly forty years old, would have a wife in her early twenties, who was probably his second wife. The two even had a striking resemblance.

A hint of surprise flashed across Madam Chen's eyes; she hadn't expected Fu Heng to be so fond of such a young girl. However, being from a merchant family and skilled in social interactions, she still followed Yao Ruhai's earlier instructions and respectfully bowed to Meng Qing: "This humble woman, Madam Chen, welcomes you, Master's wife. Your presence at my humble abode is a great honor for the Yao family. I hope you will allow me to serve you closely and do my utmost."

Meng Qingci's lips twitched slightly, clearly disapproving of the title "Teacher's Wife." At this moment, she wasn't willing to give Fu Heng any face, simply pointing at him and saying in a detached tone, "There's no Teacher's Wife here, this is my godfather."

Fu Heng's face suddenly darkened, his pupils turning frost-like as he rebuked, "What nonsense are you spouting? Don't be so presumptuous."

When Yao Ruhai saw that his teacher's wife was going to say something shocking, cold sweat broke out on his back. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to cry but couldn't, and he didn't know how to respond.

Madam Chen was caught off guard by these outrageous words, never expecting the young girl to speak so boldly in front of her teacher. She cleverly raised her fan to cover half her face, her eyes curving like the moon, and skillfully evaded the question, saying, "Teacher's wife is truly witty, and her relationship with the teacher is so close, it's truly enviable. Your kindness is a great blessing to us juniors."

At this moment, Madam Chen believed Yao Ruhai's earlier advice. This girl had embarrassed her master in public, and the usually dignified master couldn't bear to say a harsh word to her.

Hearing what Chen said, and glancing at Yao Ruhai's slightly protruding belly and increasingly thinning hair, Meng Qingci felt both amused and exasperated. She simply turned her face to the side, not wanting to make things difficult for Chen.

As astute as a woman, Chen immediately understood. She stepped forward and affectionately took Meng Qingci's arm, her smile gentle and warm. Her demeanor was humble yet affectionate, and she said softly, "Men's conversations are quite dull. Why must you sit here with me, Madam? Please come with me. I have prepared some novelties from overseas, which I would like to present to you for your appreciation."

Seeing that Meng Qingci followed along reluctantly, without seeming to be forced, Fu Heng's expression softened slightly, and he said to Yao Ruhai, "Your wife is an excellent one."

Yao Ruhai immediately bowed deeply, his words extremely humble and respectful: "It is simply her duty, and it is her blessing to be noticed by my teacher's wife."

Madam Chen affectionately linked arms with Meng Qingci as they walked towards the inner courtyard. Always eloquent, she kept the conversation flowing, never letting the conversation fall silent. Speaking of her husband, she said with gratitude, "Back then, I was fortunate that my teacher appreciated my husband. Otherwise, he would have been quite old, still working as a county magistrate in some remote corner, spending his days traveling between fields and villages to understand the people's plight, without even a proper pair of shoes. It just so happened that Fujian and Guangdong were being harassed by Japanese pirates, so my teacher transferred him to assist, and that's how he achieved his current success."

Holding Meng Qingci's slender wrist, Chen secretly marveled. The young girl had a graceful figure, her body as soft as if she had no bones, truly made of water. Look at her skin, so white and delicate, as smooth as a peeled egg. Moreover, her appearance was pure and beautiful, like a fairy descended to earth, charming yet elegant, beautiful without being seductive.

She couldn't help but think to herself: No wonder even a man as elegant and dignified as Master Lianzuo had fallen for her. The person before her was so beautiful that she seemed to be unparalleled in this world. It seems that there are no lustful men in the world.

Chen was indeed eloquent, whether intentionally or not. In just a short journey, Meng Qingci had already made it clear that Yao Ruhai was Fu Heng's trusted confidant.

Previously, Zhejiang had not had a governor. The court promoted Yao Ruhai to the position of prefect of Zhejiang, intending to assist Fu Heng in resisting the Japanese pirates. He remained in office thereafter, firmly holding onto his position. Since Yao Ruhai was Fu Heng's protégé, he naturally followed his lead.

Her words were tactful, yet Meng Qingci discerned another layer of meaning: Fu Heng wielded far more power than she knew. He essentially controlled the military and political affairs of Fujian, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces. He was, in essence, the uncrowned king of these three provinces.

As the sky reached its zenith, lanterns hung under the eaves, faintly revealing the unique and exquisite charm of a Jiangnan garden. After several days on a boat, Meng Qingci saw the rugged rockery hidden in the shadows of the moonlight and the clusters of green bamboo in the courtyard. The fragrance of flowers mixed with the scent of earth, and the absence of that old man Fu Heng by her side, indeed eased her depressed mood somewhat.

Upon arriving at the main hall of the inner courtyard, Madam Chen respectfully invited Meng Qingci to sit at the head of the table, then instructed a maid to serve several dishes of exquisite tea and snacks. Her smile was gentle, her words carrying a touch of perfectly timed flattery: "I imagine you've seen all sorts of fine things, so I've only prepared some local trinkets for you to try, something new and refreshing." She pointed out each item: "This is Dingsheng cake, this plate is Wushan ghee cake, and this one over there is orange-red cake..."

Seeing that Chen's words were sincere and not overly flattering, and that she did not scrutinize him, Meng Qingci felt more favorably toward Chen. So, he graciously tasted the various dishes and rinsed his mouth with tea.

Madam Chen secretly observed her from the side, noticing that her every move was composed, elegant, and refined, and that she looked like a noble lady carefully raised by a prestigious family. She couldn't help but wonder: if she were truly a proper young lady from a high-ranking family, how could she have been taken in by her side without being formally recognized?

If she were not from a noble family, judging from the brocade she was wearing, which was a tribute item, something that was rare and expensive, and the hairpins and ornaments that were priceless, and the fact that her master treated her so well, this girl would surely be able to have the title of a noble concubine in the future. However, this girl did not seem to appreciate it at all, and her brows and eyes showed impatience and a lack of interest.

Her mind worked quickly, but her demeanor remained attentive and considerate. She casually instructed the servants to bring in a rare item that had been prepared earlier. It was a round Western-style dressing table mirror, paired with a red lacquered carved wooden box, which two maids carried steadily.

Madam Chen personally opened the box and showed it to Meng Qingci: "This was brought back by my family when they were doing maritime trade. Foreigners call it a 'magic mirror.' It reflects people exceptionally clearly; even eyebrows, eyes, and hair are clearly visible. Such a clear and precious item is truly worthy of your teacher's wife."

Unexpectedly, Meng Qingci only glanced at the peephole and did not linger on it. Instead, she looked directly at Chen Shi and asked, "Is your family in the maritime trade business?"

Those peepholes were already highly sought-after items on the market, and this size, about half a person's height, was even rarer. Ladies and young ladies from wealthy and powerful families were all eager to own one, often spending a fortune but still unable to obtain a single glimpse of it.

Seeing that Meng Qingci only glanced at her briefly and then ignored her, Chen couldn't help but wonder: Is this person simply ignorant of the value of things, or has he already become accustomed to rare treasures?

Then I noticed the large, round, and lustrous pearl on the hairpin in her hair. It was definitely not an ordinary pearl. I assumed she was used to seeing good things, so I readily replied, "I come from a humble background. My family are merchants who trade with the sea. Please forgive my humble origins, Madam."

Meng Qingci, who had been listless and lethargic for the past few days, suddenly brightened up in her eyes and became interested: "Oh? I've heard that Guangzhou Prefecture has a Maritime Trade Office, and in recent years, maritime trade has been booming and merchants have flocked here. Since your family is in the maritime trade business, why don't you tell me what goods are most sought after by the Maritime Trade Office these days? What rare and unusual items have the foreigners brought that we rarely see here? No matter how big or small, no matter what kind, just tell me everything."

Although the imperial court no longer suppresses merchants as harshly as in the previous dynasty, and the sons of merchants can participate in the imperial examinations, commerce is still regarded as a "lowly profession" by many aristocratic families. Chen never expected that this seemingly aloof and noble young mistress would show such a strong interest in commerce. She was caught off guard and was momentarily stunned.

Xia Guang served Meng Qingci every day. Seeing that she had washed away her previous gloomy and listless appearance and that her eyes and brows were bright with a light that had not been seen for a long time, she quickly smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over: "Since our young lady is in the mood, Madam, please tell her something interesting to cheer her up."

Chen believed it to be true and told Meng Qingci some amusing stories, such as how foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes were ill-mannered and made a fool of themselves by behaving rudely.

Meng Qingci listened calmly, even covering her mouth and chuckling in a supportive manner. After Chen had spoken for a while, she changed the subject and asked, "Since we are fluent in languages, how do we conduct transactions?"

At this point, Chen believed that she was just curious and answered truthfully: "Initially, it was the officials in the Maritime Trade Office who were fluent in foreign languages ​​who stepped forward to establish trade regulations with those foreign merchants. Later, as there were more and more exchanges, many talented people emerged, and even though they couldn't understand each other's languages, they gradually made business by speaking and gesturing."

She paused slightly, then added with a smile, "However, nowadays, true interpreters and foreign translators who are fluent in foreign languages ​​are still in extremely high demand. Especially if you want to buy high-quality spices or clocks, you absolutely cannot do without them to act as intermediaries and liaise."

Meng Qingci then explained the ins and outs of the matter to Madam Chen, and with a smile praised her, "Lord Yao is so fortunate to have such a virtuous wife as you."

Seeing her expression, Chen felt she had won the favor of this noble lady, and took the opportunity to say casually, "Alas, if you ask me, men are more considerate when they are older. To tell you the truth, I was once engaged. But then my family suffered a great misfortune. My fiancé was still young and inexperienced, and he only listened to his parents in everything. His family was afraid of being implicated and offending powerful people, so they forced him to break off the engagement. He then threw away all the vows he had made and cut ties with me without saying a word. He was very heartless."

Her tone softened, tinged with emotion, "It was my father, an upright and benevolent official, who extended a helping hand to save my whole family, preventing us from being destroyed. He didn't look down on my merchant background, welcoming me into his home and giving me a place to live. Over the years, he has always treated me the same."

Meng Qingci's eyes were bright and clear, and she seemed to be listening attentively. Chen Shi seized the opportunity and gently advised, "If you ask me, a woman's life is destined to end in marriage, serving her husband and raising children. In that case, you must choose someone who truly treats you well, so that you can have good fortune in the future. Aren't all men like that in the end? If you are willing to be gentle and considerate, what heart can't you hold onto?"

Meng Qingci, unsure whether she meant it, suddenly turned cold and scoffed, "As the legal wife, you don't need to lower yourself to teach me how to fawn over people like these concubines. You're only disgracing yourself and disgusting others."

Xia Guang knew Meng Qingci's thoughts. She had already refused someone as talented and handsome as the eldest young master; how could she possibly be willing to become someone's concubine? Seeing her cold and stern expression, she knew Meng Qingci was furious and quickly tried to signal to Chen Shi with her eyes. However, Chen Shi was deeply moved and didn't notice at all.

Chen was taken aback by her words and blurted out, "I am not in a difficult position. I was originally made the wife by my master." She then smiled and said, "Your first wife has always been frail and sickly, and she always needs someone to take good care of her. Besides, your wife is kind and generous and treats people with kindness. It is my blessing."

Meng Qingci only sneered in response. She said that Fu Heng insisted on dragging her off the boat and even gave her the honorific title of "disgusting teacher's wife." It turned out that he wanted to persuade her to become his concubine. It was so disgusting that she felt like throwing up her dinner from the night before.

She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, which seemed to ache her internal organs as well. She could only grit her teeth and endure it, and her breathing became weaker.

Xia Guang noticed something was wrong with her expression. She saw that her forehead was covered in fine sweat and her face was as pale as paper. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a striking bright red stain on the hem of her skirt. She was so frightened that she exclaimed, "Miss, what's wrong? Is it your period? Are you in a lot of pain?"

Meng Qingci felt the pain come on suddenly and intensely, and she lost the strength to speak. The sound of the rosy light seemed to come from near and far, and the scene before her eyes gradually blurred. Her whole body became numb and weak, and she suddenly went limp and fell straight forward.

Xia Guang was terrified and quickly reached out to support her, anxiously calling out, "Miss, what's wrong? Don't frighten me!" Turning to the maidservant she had brought, she urgently shouted, "Quick! Go and tell the master, something terrible has happened to the young lady!"

The little girl nodded vigorously, lifted her skirt, turned around, and ran to the front yard.

Madam Chen was stunned and completely dumbfounded. At this moment, she realized that something was wrong, but she never expected that her young master's wife would have such a temper. She had only said a few words of advice, but she had angered her so much that she bled and fainted.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably beneath her sleeves as she completely panicked. If it were her period, that would be one thing, but if... if... she dared not think any further about what the consequences would be if her master were to unleash his fury.

Chen's voice trembled, revealing a sharp, distorted tone: "Someone, someone quick, go and call a doctor, be quick."

For a moment, chaos erupted in the flower hall.

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Author's note: Thank you everyone for your support [heart emoji] [let me see] That's all for now.

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Wang Yuanzhen saved Xiao Yan's life, but Xiao Yan repaid kindness with enmity, forcibly seizing his property.

As Xiao Yan lay dying from his severe injuries, he saw a woman, graceful in the light and shadow, wearing a jade lotus headdress with two flowing ribbons, and a Guanyin mole between her brows, like a celestial maiden descended to earth.

He should have repaid the debt of saving his life, but instead he committed despicable acts.

Mine clearance:

1. Classic melodramatic plot, SC (sexual infidelity), male lead is a stalker, female lead is delicate, size difference, age difference.

2. A fictional, chaotic medley of events, with numerous warlords vying for power.

3. The trope of forcibly taking or seizing property.