Chapter 13. I never considered divorcing my husband. ...
It really did rise in the middle of the night. Who's going crazy thinking about her in the middle of the night?
"Through backend analysis, this 1 point of 'charm' value comes from three different people." The system explained to her: "Pei Shilin, the villain Song Jie, and the male lead Xiao Zhen all had emotional fluctuations towards you last night."
Xie Yushu chuckled. It seemed the person who followed her last night really was the male lead, Xiao Zhen. He saw her? And was he so satisfied with her Xie Jianing cosplay that he stayed up all night trying to figure out who she was?
Good, good, good. We've already given her points before we even met the newbie.
She got up feeling refreshed. Jinye and Yinya had already gotten up and came in smiling to help her wash and dress.
Granny Xizhi soon came in as well, followed by Granny Lianxiang, who served Pei's mother, Li Huixian.
Xizhi approached her and whispered, "The head of the household has sent people to invite you several times." She was worried for Miss Yushu. After all, how could a newlywed woman get up later than her mother-in-law and have to be invited and urged three or four times to have breakfast?
Ever since the courtyard was smashed, the Pei family members have been keeping their tails between their legs whenever they see Xie Yushu. When Granny Lianxiang came in, she didn't dare to raise her head and said politely, "Madam, the old lady has ordered me to invite you to the dining hall for breakfast."
Xie Yushu didn't even bother with polite words, and said directly, "I won't go over there. I've ordered breakfast at Fanlou and will eat in my own courtyard. You can tell your mother-in-law and husband that they don't need to wait for me."
Lianxiang's face turned very ugly, but she didn't dare to say anything, so she could only leave the room.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Fanlou's errand boy carrying baskets of food into the dining hall in the side courtyard. She slowed down and deliberately took a look. There was indeed a large table full of delicacies.
She had never seen such an arrogant daughter-in-law. She stormed back to the main courtyard's dining hall and saw that the old lady Li Huixian and the young master were still sitting at the table waiting for Xie Yushu. She found it even more absurd. She went up to Xie Yushu and repeated what she had said, and then said, "I see a whole table full of food. I have never seen a family's breakfast look like a banquet."
Li Huixian was furious. "What kind of daughter-in-law acts like that? And what kind of matriarch is as pathetic as me, waiting for her daughter-in-law to serve the meal!"
Pei Shilin was too tired to get angry anymore. He picked up his chopsticks and said calmly, "Eat. If she doesn't come, you'll be less angry."
Even her son didn't say a word for her, which made Li Huixian so angry that she wiped away her tears and couldn't swallow a bite of food: "This isn't marrying a wife, it's marrying a living devil! Even princesses and noblewomen aren't as lawless as her!"
Pei Shilin also felt a lump in his throat, and frowned as he looked at his mother, saying, "Isn't all of this thanks to your youngest son? If it weren't for saving him, would I have needed to marry a concubine's daughter and swallow my anger while she cuckolded me?"
Li Huixian was speechless, only lowering her head and shedding tears. She didn't want things to be like this, but Shibin was beaten so badly in prison... She couldn't just watch Shibin die in prison.
Seeing his mother like this, Pei Shilin could only sigh and say, "I've made up my mind. Once this matter with Shibin is settled, I will divorce Xie Yushu."
"What divorce?" Li Huixian said angrily, "It means to divorce her, to let the whole of Bianjing know that she disrespects her mother-in-law and does not uphold the virtues of a wife!" She then comforted her son, saying, "Don't worry that Prime Minister Song will use her against you. Does she really think that Prime Minister Song would be interested in her? She's just benefiting from Jia Ning's fame."
Pei Shilin lowered his head and remained silent. Yes, she had only benefited from Jia Ning's influence.
If it weren't for her resemblance to Xie Jianing, would she have been able to serve the old lady of the Marquis's mansion? Would she have been able to be registered under the name of the Lady of Yong'an Marquis?
If she hadn't resembled Jia Ning, he wouldn't have been deceived by the Yong'an Prefecture's pretense of "valuing" her and married her as his principal wife.
A servant rushed in from outside the dining hall and reported that the servants of the Prime Minister's residence had met the Madam at the back door.
"Is it that Cang Shu?" Pei Shilin asked, frowning. Song Jie actually wanted to invite her over? He couldn't wait to invite her during the day?
The servant shook his head and said it wasn't Cangshu, but a servant with an unfamiliar face. He met the lady's maid at the back gate and asked the maid to pass on a message to the lady, something like: "There's no need to come to the mansion today."
Pei Shilin's furrowed brows gradually relaxed. It seemed that Song Jie only treated her as a plaything like Jia Ning, and would get tired of her in a couple of days.
Li Huixian was worried that if Prime Minister Song lost interest in Xie Yushu, what would happen to Shi Bin?
Pei Shilin waved for the servant to leave and said to his mother, "Today we are going to the Duke of Ying's mansion to offer birthday greetings. I will mention my appointment to the Duke of Ying. He will put in a good word for me out of respect for my uncle. As for Shibin's matter, let's put it aside for now and figure out a solution after I enter the Hanlin Academy."
He had already thought it through last night. Song Jie had only agreed to temporarily suppress the matter of Shi Bin, so he would take advantage of the present to protect his career.
He then instructed, "Go to the Duke of Ying's residence in a little while and tell him that Xie Yushu is ill and unable to go out."
Li Huixian immediately understood what he meant. Yes, that was the Duke of Ying's mansion. Not to mention that Xie Yushu's status as a mistress was not respectable, the Duke of Ying's beloved daughter was Xie Jianing's close friend, and she had always looked down on Xie Yushu, this imposter.
Taking her there will only cause trouble for yourself.
No sooner had breakfast been finished than servants from the Duke of England's mansion arrived outside to deliver an invitation.
Li Huixian was surprised. The birthday invitation had been sent a few days ago. Who was the Duke of England sending the invitation to?
※
Xie Yushu had already learned that the Pei family mother and son were going to the Duke of Ying's mansion to offer birthday greetings.
Yinya had become familiar with the gatekeeper of the mansion, and after hearing the news, she came over angrily and said to Xie Yushu, "The carriage is all ready! I don't think the Pei family ever intended to take you along!"
Jin Ye told her to keep her voice down, but she was more worried than Yin Ya. She knew very well that the Pei family hadn't dared to bully the madam these past few days because they wanted to use her to plead with Prime Minister Song. But just now, someone from Prime Minister Song's residence said that they didn't need to go to the Prime Minister's residence tonight. Could it be that the Pei family saw that the madam had no value to them and were going to bully her like before?
The lady didn't seem worried at all. She even waved to Xiaodao and asked, "Why is your hair still so messy? Didn't you ask Xizhi to comb it for you?"
“He wouldn’t let the nanny touch him,” Yinya complained. “He was very fierce.”
"I don't like others touching me." Xiao Dao touched the ends of her tangled hair, then awkwardly said to Xie Yushu, "I washed it, it's not dirty."
“Tying it like that will cause lice to grow,” Xie Yushu warned him. Then he had Yinya bring over a comb, waved it at him, and said, “Come here, I’ll comb it out for you.”
Xiao Dao paused for a moment, then heard her ask, "Can't I even touch your hair? Have you forgotten all the good food you ate this morning? I paid for it."
Of course I haven't forgotten.
She bought him, treated his illness, and fed him well; he will never forget that.
Xiao Dao lowered his head and walked towards her. As he got closer, he smelled her fragrance. He looked up and met her eyes. They were beautiful eyes, flowing like autumn water.
He heard her say, "Turn around." He didn't know how he turned around; he felt dizzy. He could only feel her warm fingers untying his hairband, loosening his hair, and gently combing it. She said behind him, "I'll be gentle."
Xiao Dao looked at the trees swaying in the wind in the yard, and his heart rustled along with them.
The aroma enveloped him, and even though he had just finished eating, his throat and stomach churned as if he were hungry again, making him involuntarily swallow his Adam's apple...
Suddenly, an annoying person appeared outside the courtyard gate.
Pei Shilin was stopped by Zhao Feng under the archway. He frowned and saw his wife, Xie Yushu, standing in the corridor combing a man's hair.
She saw him, but showed no intention of stopping or avoiding him.
Pei Shilin truly couldn't understand how Xie Yushu had become like this. The Xie Yushu of the past was also well-educated, gentle, and considerate. Although he didn't like her, he could clearly feel her deep affection.
But Xie Yushu now... doesn't care about him or the Pei family at all, and doesn't even care about propriety and shame!
She keeps a man in his yard, and now she even combs his hair in front of him? Doesn't she think he's been cuckolded enough?
Pei Shilin tried to convince himself that he would divorce her sooner or later, but he couldn't help but feel annoyed.
"Congratulations, host. You have gained 1 point of green hat value from Pei Shilin." The system announced, "And 1 point of charm value from Xiaodao."
Keeping Xiaodao is quite worthwhile.
Xie Yushu looked at Pei Shilin, in a good mood, and let Zhao Feng let him in. He handed the comb to Xiaodao and told him to comb out the last bit of hair himself.
Xiao Dao caught the knife in his hand and suddenly blocked Pei Shilin, who was about to approach Xie Yushu, with his arm outstretched. "Say what you have to say here."
You ill-mannered bastard!
Pei Shilin became even angrier and said coldly to Xie Yushu, "Xie Yushu, don't forget that you are my newlywed wife. We haven't divorced yet. Teach your servants a lesson!"
To everyone's surprise, she said, "Husband, what are you saying? I have never thought about divorcing you."
Pei Shilin stared at her innocent face and laughed angrily: "We've become like this as husband and wife, and you're telling me you've never thought about divorcing me?"
Xie Yushu blinked, feigning ignorance, "What do you mean? I think we're doing great. Although we have some disagreements, we've found a way to get along now, haven't we?"
Pei Shilin's face turned green with anger. Was her idea of getting along with him to keep a man in the courtyard and make him and the entire Pei family swallow their anger?
He didn't want to break ties with her in front of so many servants; she might be shameless, but he was.
So he swallowed his anger and said to her, "Get yourself ready in half an hour and come with me to the Duke of England's mansion."
Jin Ye and Yin Ya looked at Xie Yushu in surprise.
Xie Yushu was also somewhat surprised. Why did Pei Shilin suddenly want to bring her along again?
But then Pei Shilin handed her an invitation from the Duke of England's residence: "Princess Zhang has sent an invitation to your residence to celebrate her birthday."
Princess Zhang?
Xie Yushu took the invitation and opened it, seeing Zhang Youwei's name.
Zhang Youwei is the second daughter of Duke Zhang Yunkai of England. She was granted the title of County Princess by the Emperor. She is also the best friend of the female lead Xie Jianing. In the original drama, she looked down on Xie Yushu. Why would she suddenly and deliberately send an invitation to Xie Yushu?
It was as if they were worried that the Pei family wouldn't bring Xie Yushu along, so they sent her a separate invitation.
How strange. Why would someone deliberately invite someone they don't like? Either it's to frame her, or there's some compelling reason why they absolutely have to invite her.
Even Granny Xizhi noticed something was amiss. While helping Xie Yushu change her clothes, she whispered, "Madam, are you really going? I can't shake this feeling of unease. Princess Zhang has never liked you before. Could sending an invitation suddenly mean... she's going to cause you trouble?"
Go for it! What a great social opportunity! Of course, I should take this chance to make some money off others.
"She wouldn't go so far as to send me a special invitation to cause trouble, especially at her father's birthday banquet." Xie Yushu comforted Xizhi: "As a county princess, she wouldn't need to personally cause me trouble."
Xie Yushu glanced at her 9 points of popularity and guessed that the male lead, the fourth prince Xiao Zhen, would also go to celebrate her birthday, since he had been following her since she had 7 points of popularity.
The male lead stayed up all night thinking about her, contributing 1 point of "charm value". He must really want to see her in person today, right?
Then she definitely had to go and see what effect 9 points of popularity could have.
She didn't deliberately wear the same clothes as Xie Jianing. Instead, she wore a well-fitting narrow-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), carefully drew her eyebrows, and made her eyes look droopy. She only made her eye makeup look more like Xie Jianing's, while keeping the mole on the tip of her nose.
Today is the Duke of England's birthday banquet. I imagine Xie Jianing's mother and father will be there, and she will meet people who truly know Xie Jianing. She feels that it is not appropriate to imitate her too closely, as it would only seem too deliberate. It is enough to resemble her in spirit.
She remembered that in the original drama, Song Jie also attended the Duke of Ying's birthday banquet. This was because the Duke of Ying's eldest daughter, Zhang Youyi, was the most favored imperial concubine at the time, and she was also Song Jie's best pawn planted by the emperor's side. So, despite being ill, he went to deliver gifts, and then he was confessed to by the Duke of Ying's second daughter, Zhang Youyi's younger sister, Zhang Youwei...
That's right. In the original drama, the villain Song Jie liked the female lead Xie Jianing, and Xie Jianing's best friend Zhang Youwei liked Song Jie. What's even more melodramatic is that Zhang Youwei's imperial concubine sister liked the male lead Xiao Zhen, but Xiao Zhen only used her and the female lead as pawns.
She wondered if the plot had changed and if she could secretly witness Zhang Youwei confessing her love to Song Jie today.
A note from the author:
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Tomorrow, I'll show the original male lead, Xiao Zhen, Yu Shu's skills. [shy]
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