Sun Qingmei silently clenched her sleeves, her nails almost being broken.
She raised her eyes and slowly scanned the room full of monsters and demons. Everyone's face is so ugly and unsightly.
Her once beloved husband sat high up on the throne, looking down on people like a king looking down on ants.
Since her marriage, Sun Qingmei has strictly observed the code of conduct for women, followed the teachings of her deceased father and brother, and behaved properly as a competent mistress of a marquisate. She just wanted to stay away from disputes, serve her parents-in-law, have children, and live a peaceful and smooth life.
But now, the threshold to enter the Marquis' Mansion is too high. She worked hard to manage the mansion, but in the end, when her husband brought back a new bride, everyone stood on his side, flattering the weak and looking down on the powerful, and were extremely arrogant. It seemed that if she didn't agree to be a "second wife", she would be guilty of a heinous crime.
How can this be possible in the world?
Sun Qingmei felt sad. She knew that if she didn't give in tonight, only the abyss would be waiting for her. Sun Qingmei lowered her eyes and said softly, "It's getting late. Tomorrow is Mother's birthday. Let's discuss everything after Mother's birthday."
She said this as if she was giving in.
It was already dark outside, and it was indeed getting late. It’s the old lady’s 60th birthday, and Sun Qingmei is the main organizer of the birthday banquet. If everyone is unhappy tonight, tomorrow’s birthday banquet might be ruined.
"Very good." Seeing Sun Qingmei give in, the old lady secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "Xuan'er has been traveling all the way, so have a good rest tonight."
Sun Qingmei also showed a gentle smile, as if she had finally come to terms with it. She stepped forward and looked at Shangguan Xuan with a friendly expression: "My husband, I will ask the maid to prepare hot water for you, you can take a bath first. As for Miss Zhao Qing, I will arrange a spacious courtyard for her."
Shangguan Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked down at his wife - she had a pretty face, and wore a round-necked brocade shirt embroidered with peonies, which made her look very slender. She is petite and gentle, and her every move exudes a gentle and virtuous temperament.
She was a typical lady and was brought up very dignified before she got married. But Shangguan Xuan was tired of dignified women and liked ambitious and intelligent girls like Zhao Qing.
Seeing Sun Qingmei surrender on her own initiative, Shangguan Xuan felt very contemptuous. She is indeed a pampered lady who cannot withstand the storms and is forced to bow her head at the slightest pressure.
Shangguan Xuan made secret plans. After marrying Zhao Qing as his second wife, he would find an excuse to divorce Sun Qingmei. He can only have one legal wife!
"Okay, okay, let's all go back to our rooms and rest." The old lady spoke, and everyone in the inner hall said goodbye.
Shangguan Xuan did not return to Sun Qingmei's room, but chose to sleep in the study. Sun Qingmei did not refute, and calmly asked the servants to make the bed and bedding for the study, arranging it very appropriately.
As the sky grew darker, the masters of the mansion went to bed.
In Sun Qingmei's dormitory, candles were burning and the room was dim. Sun Qingmei sat at the table, watching the candle burn, her eyes dull.
The cold wind of early winter hit the window frames, blew open the windows, and let in the freezing air. With a snap, the candle was blown out and a long sword hanging on the wall fell down with a clang.
"Madam, please go to bed first." The maid Xiaocha went to close the window and lit the extinguished candle.
Xiaocha picked up the sword from the ground, checked it for damage, and then hung it back on the wall.
Xiaocha is Sun Qingmei's only maid who came with her as a dowry, and the two of them are like sisters. Seeing Sun Qingmei return to the house without saying a word, Xiaocha felt distressed and couldn't help but shed tears: "Madam, people have to bow their heads under the eaves. The Marquis is treacherous, but you have already married him... There is nothing we can do. As long as we behave ourselves, maybe the Marquis will remember your kindness in the future."
The wind outside was getting stronger and stronger.
Sun Qingmei closed her eyes and suddenly said, "Xiaocha, this winter is really cold."
It was so cold that even tears couldn't fall.
Xiaocha looked confused, not understanding why the lady said such a strange thing.
Sun Qingmei slowly stood up and took the long sword from the wall. The pattern on the scabbard is old and rusty, and the blade is also damaged.
"Madam?" Xiaocha frowned.
Sun Qingmei sighed and clenched her sword. "Before my brother passed away, he asked me to be a good wife and mother, supporting my husband and raising my children. But my brother was wrong. The more virtuous I am, the easier it is for me to be bullied."
Xiaocha thought about it carefully and realized that this was indeed the case. The lady has always been gentle and good-tempered, and has always been tolerant. However, those people in the Marquis' Mansion have become more and more aggressive and rampant.
"Xiaocha, prepare the carriage, I want to go to the princess's mansion." Sun Qingmei pulled out the rusty sword.
The blade is not sharp, but it can cut through the Gordian knot.
Her father once told her that on the battlefield, killing the enemy requires "quick battle and quick decision."
It was a very windy early winter night. An ordinary carriage left the Marquis's Mansion through the back door and headed for the Princess's Mansion.
...
...
The cold wind howled all night, and the two trees in the courtyard of Liuli Pavilion were rustling. When Shen Wei woke up in the morning, she saw the yard full of messy dead leaves. Aunt Rong was directing a few young eunuchs to sweep up the fallen leaves.
There was nothing important happening today, so Shen Wei was very leisurely.
The old lady of the Zhennan Marquis's Mansion was celebrating her birthday. Shen Wei personally selected suitable birthday gifts and asked the palace steward to deliver them to the Zhennan Marquis' Mansion.
Prince Yan hadn't come back yet. Chen Wei guessed that Prince Yan had probably been staying in the Ministry of War and the Eastern Palace for the past few days. He would not return to Prince Yan's Mansion to rest until the composite bow was completely built.
Prince Yan is a workaholic outside, so Shen Wei has to be a "good wife" to ensure that he has enough food and clothing. So Chen Wei told Cai Lian: "Cai Lian, prepare some hot meals and send someone to deliver them to the Ministry of War at noon. Make sure someone personally watches the prince eat. Also prepare some thick clothes and cold medicine in case of emergency."
Cai Lian nodded happily: "I will do it right away."
In the afternoon, a ray of sunlight leaked through the gray sky. Shen Wei was afraid of the cold, so she hid in the warm room to entertain the child. Li Yao also ran over to play with her sister. The two girls, one big and one small, crawled around on the soft wool blanket, their laughter like silver bells flowing, and the scene was warm.
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