Chapter 18
The room was full of bright lights, and the colorful lights poured down, but they could not melt the thin layer of frost on his brows. He keenly caught a familiar voice in the sea of people.
"It doesn't matter. I'll just get divorced."
It was Xie's usual clean and clear tone.
Wang Shuhuai's first reaction was that he had heard it wrong. He listened carefully and confirmed that it was Xie Yunchu's voice. He frowned, feeling unhappy. It was so late, and she had not returned home but was drunk here. This was the first time that Wang Shuhuai felt unhappy with his wife.
Following several colleagues forward, the shopkeeper led the group into the east wing, which was only separated from the west wing where Xie Yunchu was located by a corridor with carved windows.
The teahouse was filled with people, drums, music and singing.
Leading the group was Xiao Youran's husband, the prince of the Princess's Mansion. Prince Zhu had many friends in the capital and was well-connected in all walks of life. He asked everyone to take a seat and began to prepare wine and food.
Wang Shuhuai was a martial artist with sharp hearing. He soon heard the chattering laughter coming from next door. This was very different from Xie's usual style. Wang Shuhuai was not very reassured as he did not want his wife to do anything out of line.
She never does that.
Before he sat down, he said calmly,
"I'll go wash my hands first."
He was the first to leave the room and walk along the corridor to the back corridor, slowing down his pace and listening carefully to the movements inside.
"What's wrong with the old lady? I don't care."
"If he wants to control me, I can leave him and find another one."
The handsome figure stood under the eaves like the bright moon and gentle breeze, looking at the lights of thousands of houses below, and uttered a soft chuckle.
Chen Yi looked at Xie Yunchu's red face and couldn't help but pinch her, "You are drunk and talking nonsense. Don't you know what your baby looks like on weekdays?"
Wang Shuhuai turned his head, his eyes fell on the carved window of the west wing. Through the blurry gauze window, he seemed to see the graceful figure.
The man said clearly,
"I'm not drunk. I'm serious, Sister Yi. He's not worth my trouble. I want to live for myself."
She leaned back and drank a cup of plum wine. The cold wine slid down her throat and soon a spicy burning sensation rose up and rushed straight to her head, making her feel very refreshed.
"Come on, let's have a few more drinks."
"What a great saying 'live for yourself'. I'll do it for you!"
The young ladies raised their wine cups generously, clinked their glasses, and talked and laughed loudly.
Wang Shuhuai frowned, unable to listen any longer, and turned around and went into the east wing.
Zhu Shizi and the others had already ordered a few dishes. Wang Shuhuai walked back into the side room, his face as calm as ever.
"What does Yunzhi like to eat?"
"I don't mind."
Prince Zhu asked again, "What kind of wine does Yunzhi drink? Here we have Xifenglie, Nv'erhong, and Zhuyeqing..."
Wang Shuhuai was not thinking about this. He put his hands on the table and replied slowly, "I don't like drinking." Drinking would hinder things.
Another person placed a large cup in front of Wang Shuhuai and said, "You can't shirk your responsibility today. His Majesty has already spoken, asking us to accompany you for a good drink."
Wang Shuhuai smiled when he heard this, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "I'll keep you company."
Wang Shuhuai thought Xie Yunchu was just saying some dirty words and didn't bother with her. He drank a few glasses with a few friends. The atmosphere was very lively. One of them was drunk and his face was red.
"Yunzhi, we felt relieved when you tried to cut off Meng Luchuan's tongue on the spot."
"That's right, that bastard actually dared to covet my sister-in-law. She is so beautiful, how could he dare to covet her."
Prince Zhu sensed that something was not right with this remark, and fearing that it might offend Wang Shuhuai, he quietly pushed the man's arm, signaling him to shut up, then turned around and toasted Wang Shuhuai with a smile, "Go back and tell my wife to tell my sister-in-law to go shopping with her when she's free to help her relax."
The drunk man opposite didn't realize that Master Zhu was changing the subject, and said drunkenly,
"But then again, Madam Wang is second to none in the capital in terms of appearance and talent, and only Shu Huai can match her."
Wang Shuhuai's slender fingers gently pinched the teacup, and he glanced at the two people opposite him without leaving a trace. Then he smiled at Master Zhu and said, "Don't worry, I will bring it to you."
As the wine went down his throat, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared.
He didn't know that so many people in the capital were coveting his wife.
Is Xie beautiful?
Although Wang Shuhuai has been married for two years, he never judges his wife based on her appearance. In his eyes, his wife is beautiful because she is dignified, virtuous, generous, decent, gentle and quiet.
Is Xie's beauty really so stunning as to be considered as one of the most beautiful women in the world?
Wang Shuhuai's displeasure deepened.
At this time, the servant of the Princess's Mansion who was waiting at the door smiled and said, "My Lord, our Madam is drinking with Madam Wang next door, so why does she need Lord Wang to bring a message?"
Zhu Shizi exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Really?" He was worried in his heart, and quietly approached Wang Shuhuai and said, "Brother, it seems that you can't escape this meal."
Wang Shuhuai shined today, and several princes in the court wanted to win him over. Prince Zhu saw this and helped Wang Shuhuai set up the situation so that he could escape from the palace early. So Wang Shuhuai should pay for the wine.
The two officials opposite smiled sinisterly. Everyone knew that Prince Zhu was a henpecked husband. They were so scared even when they were asked to pay for a meal. Everyone saw through it but did not say anything.
After eating and drinking, Master Zhu took the initiative to go next door to pick up his wife. The rest of the people dispersed, and finally only Wang Shuhuai and Xie Yunchu were left in the corridor. Xie Yunchu was drunk, and her mind was not very confused, but a little more confused than usual. As for what she said, she probably forgot it completely. Xia An brought a bowl of sobering soup to Xie Yunchu from the servants. She took a sip and felt better.
Wang Shuhuai stood under the dim light. The towering carved windows in the corridor made his figure look particularly tall. He stared at her with his deep eyes.
Xie Yunchu always felt that her husband's eyes were different from usual.
Never mind him.
She rubbed her pretty face which was still a little hot and said, "Second Master, let's go back." She was tired.
Xia An helped Xie Yunchu stagger down the stairs, and Wang Shuhuai followed closely behind. When they reached the carriage, Xie Yunchu was a little unsteady. Wang Shuhuai raised his hand to help, then quickly withdrew it. The couple got into the carriage one after the other.
As soon as Xie Yunchu entered, she leaned against the wall of the car, closed her eyes and rested, with the hem of her skirt spread out at her feet.
Xia An knelt in front of the bed and straightened Xie Yunchu's clothes.
Wang Shuhuai sat beside her and ordered in a cold voice, "Get out."
Xia An was stunned. In his impression, this son-in-law was always gentle and humble. This was the first time he spoke in such a tone. Xia An felt a little flustered, but he still retreated as he was told and sat on the shaft of the carriage to drive the carriage with the guard Qi Wei.
Xia An's movement startled Xie Yunchu, and she opened her eyes in a daze.
Wang Shuhuai looked over and the first thing he saw was a pair of watery almond-shaped eyes, full of affection, half angry and half annoyed. The narrow and straight crow feathers were densely spread under the eyes. As the bright eyes opened, they were like small fans, fluttering people's hearts. The snow-white skin and delicate face were gorgeous and beautiful, and the most beautiful thing was the beauty mole on the eyebrow, which was like a reflection of a stunning beauty.
Is it because I never take a good look at her on weekdays, or is it because her dignity and steadiness have taken away the charm of this mole?
Wang Shuhuai suddenly realized that his wife was truly incredibly beautiful.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew, and Xie Yunchu was choked. He dodged backwards in an unexpected manner. The night wind pushed the thin Xiangyun gauze tightly against Xie Yunchu's body, revealing her exquisite curves. Wang Shuhuai's lips suddenly straightened.
She went out without a bra?
I don't know whether he was unhappy that his wife was being seen by others or that she went against his wishes.
Or both.
Thinking about what Xie Yunchu had just said, a crack finally appeared in Wang Shuhuai's perfect expression.
Why would she think of divorce?
How can you pronounce these two words?
Wang Shuhuai asked himself that he had never treated her harshly. She was the one who made the decisions in the backyard, and he gave her the key to the storehouse and trusted her in everything. He was now working hard outside, determined to make a career and earn a good future for them and their daughter. What was there for her to be dissatisfied with?
A hint of sneer lingered on the corner of his lips again.
Wang Shuhuai's face darkened.
Don't know what's good for you.
Wang Shuhuai really wanted to twist her up and ask her what reason she had to say those two words. He looked at his wife again. After Xie Yunchu was blown down by the wind, she simply leaned against the soft couch and continued to sleep in a different position. She was really heartless.
Wang Shuhuai pressed his eyebrows and closed his eyes.
The carriage slowly stopped at the side door of the palace. Xie Yunchu's back gently hit the wall of the carriage. She subconsciously opened her eyes and looked up to meet Wang Shuhuai's half-smile. Xie Yunchu rubbed her eyes in confusion.
Was she right?
Wang Shuhuai can still laugh?
No, it seemed like a sneer.
When Xie Yunchu sat up, Wang Shuhuai's expression was completely gone, and he said as usual,
"We're home now. Madam, please tidy up before leaving." Then he got out of the car and went back to the study without looking back.
Xie Yunchu could only think that it was an illusion. She had slept enough and was conscious. She asked Xia An to help her get dressed, and then the master and servant got out of the car and went straight to Chunjing Hall.
When she arrived at the door, she saw Nanny Lin smiling and complimenting her, "Congratulations, young lady. Congratulations, young lady."
Xie Yunchu glanced at her lazily, then stepped into the courtyard with her skirt lifted up, "What's there to congratulate? It's not like I got promoted or made a fortune."
Nanny Lin went in to greet her and said, "Young lady, you are talking nonsense. If the uncle gets the face, doesn't that mean you get the face?"
Xie Yunchu was too lazy to argue with her and asked, "Has the Madam and Master returned home?"
"No, I just inquired. He went to Changchun Palace and I don't know when he will be back. Tell the people in the mansion not to wait. Everyone go away."
Xie Yunchu yawned and smelled the drunken smell on his body. "Then I'll take a shower and go to bed."
Nanny Lin glanced towards the study, then tiptoed over and whispered to her,
"My dear, didn't the son-in-law come over last night? Today is his lucky day, why don't you go and invite him?"
Xie Yunchu was exhausted after a day of running around, and he really had no intention of having sex. "It's okay if I miss it, it's no big deal."
In her previous life, although Wang Shuhuai had set a date with her, there were times when they missed it. He was always focused on court affairs and had no memory of things in bed. Xie Yunchu walked into the room holding the door frame. Nanny Lin sighed. If she missed today, she would have to wait another half a month. She really didn't know what these two masters were thinking. When she got married to the man in her family, she wanted to have sex every night in the first few years. Once a night was considered too little.
People as pure-hearted and ascetic as my son-in-law are probably very rare.
Nanny Lin looked at Xie Yunchu's back. The girl was so beautiful and had a good figure. There was no reason for the son-in-law not to like her. Nanny Lin was almost getting gray with worry. Once she had a young master, she swore that she would never worry about these things again and let the son-in-law cultivate himself.
Xie Yunchu was supported by Chunqi and slowly sat in the bathtub. Chunqi squatted behind her to scoop water for her and whispered in her ear.
"Miss, today is my son-in-law's birthday. You sold the gift. What do you plan to give as a birthday gift?"
Xie Yunchu brushed his wet hair and glanced at her. "In the two years since we got married, has he ever given me a decent gift?"
"Did he ever have a meal with me on my birthday?"
Chunqi recalled the past and her eyes immediately became sore. "That's right, I was the one who said too much and thought too much."
She was not thinking wrongly. She had been with Xie Yunchu for so long that she was used to her master caring about and tolerating others.
Chunqi thought for a while and slapped himself.
Xie Yunchu smiled, "Okay, I can't blame you. I should blame myself for realizing it too late."
study.
After Wang Shuhuai came back, he took a shower, changed his clothes, and sat down at the desk.
Minggui was on duty tonight. When he came back from cleaning the bathroom, he looked a little strange.
Wang Shuhuai was in a hurry to write a letter and asked him to grind ink.
Minggui couldn't help muttering as he ground the ink, "Second Master, do you feel that the young mistress is different lately?"
When Wang Shuhuai heard this, his eyes flickered slightly, but he did not raise his head and asked calmly, "What's the difference?"
Minggui stopped and said worriedly, "In the past, when you were at home, the young mistress would always come to bring you soup in person. Not only that, she would also grind ink for you. She was really a beautiful lady..."
When Wang Shuhuai heard the words "red sleeves add fragrance", he raised his eyes sharply, which frightened Minggui so much that his neck shrank. Minggui was thick-skinned and relied on his background to not be afraid of Wang Shuhuai's blame. He said with a stiff face, "Besides, I feel that the young mistress hasn't made clothes for you for a long time."
In the past, two rounds of clothes were delivered every month, but there has been no movement in the past two months, which led to him discovering that his master had not worn new clothes for a long time when he was tidying up Wang Shuhuai's wardrobe just now.
Minggui's words and actions were telling Wang Shuhuai that Xie Yunchu didn't care about him as much as before.
Wang Shuhuai stared at the lively lights with heavy eyes and didn't speak for a long time.
Since even Minggui noticed it, there is no need to question it.
It seemed that he had always trusted her too much, and she treated him much worse than before.
Today is his birthday, but she was so busy drinking and having fun that she completely forgot about him.
Wang Shuhuai suddenly recalled what Xie Yunchu did on his birthday last year?
She personally embroidered an exquisite nine-panel screen to symbolize the long-lasting love between the couple. To this day, the screen is still placed in his study.
This comparison immediately reveals the difference between the cold and the warm.
When did it start to be different? From the night of March 15th.
She was indignant and turned him away.
From then on, she no longer cooked for him, nor did she sew for him, nor did she come to the study to say a few sweet words to him.
If that was the case, then she had stretched her body so gracefully under him that night and done that kind of thing with him.
Anger uncontrollably crept up to his brows, and his handsome face lost the warm protective color, revealing a cold and suppressed gloom.
In order to support her, he allowed her not to go to the upper room to serve, and in order to appease her, he cut off Meng Luchuan's tongue in public.
What else does she want?
If Xie was really so ungrateful and wanted a divorce, he could still help her.
Changchun Palace.
The princess waved away her sons and daughters-in-law, rubbed her swollen forehead and went to bed. The Duke came forward with a smile on his face, supported her tired body, and placed her on the large bed. He found a pillow to help her sleep and put it behind her. He sat beside her and looked at his wife quietly.
"Are you satisfied now?" The eldest princess leaned lazily on the pillow, slightly raised her chin and stretched her sore neck.
The Duke smiled cheerfully, "My grandson is promising, he is good at both literature and martial arts, how can I not be satisfied?"
The princess changed into a comfortable position and glanced at him, "Your daughter-in-law, the greatest achievement in her life is giving birth to a good son."
When talking about Jiang, the smile on the Duke's face faded a little.
Seeing him like this, the princess asked with great interest, "The identity of Shu Huai's eldest grandson has been announced in public today. Logically, Jiang is the eldest daughter-in-law of your Wang family. Should the household expenses be handed over to her from now on?"
The Duke knew that the princess was angry and said with a smile, "Jiang is so confused that she cannot handle anything, let alone the household affairs. I never thought of letting her run the household."
The eldest princess leaned to the side, supported her forehead and asked him, "What about the prince? What are your plans for the position of the prince?"
The Duke's expression remained unchanged. He raised his hand to relax her shoulders, his movements smooth and practiced. "Your Highness, my title was granted by the royal family. Your Majesty will let whoever wants to receive the title receive it. I have no right to make any comments."
This is already shirking responsibility.
The eldest princess pursed her lips slightly, turned over and fell asleep.
The Duke's smile did not fade, and he bowed respectfully behind her, "Your Highness, sleep well. I haven't been home for a while, and I'm sure there's been a big commotion at home. I'll go back tonight to take a look."
The figure on the bed didn't say anything, which meant he agreed.
The Duke withdrew.
Then he strode out of Donghua Gate and rode his horse to the palace. He arrived home overnight, but did not go to Qinghui Palace, but went straight to Wang Shuhuai's study.
He lifted his hood, pushed the door open, and light came in. A moon-white figure stood there. It was Wang Shuhuai.
The Duke looked at his handsome grandson with a gleam in his eyes.
"My child, here's your chance."
The opportunity that the Duke mentioned naturally did not refer to clearing Wang Shuhuai's name. As a former commander-in-chief on the battlefield and a pillar of the country, he had a longer-term vision than anyone else.
The young man had an indifferent and cool expression, and his tone was also clean and clear, "Yes, grandson has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."
"Okay." The Duke came to the armchair behind the partition and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea. Wang Shuhuai stood not far in front of him.
The Duke held the teacup but was not in a hurry to drink it. Instead, he said, "Huai'er, you have dampened the morale of King Jing'an and have become famous all over the world. It is not only fame but also power. Go back and take this power with you to Nanjing. The nobles in the south of the Yangtze River will fear you and the people will believe in you. Only then can the national policy be smoothly implemented and twice the result with half the effort."
Wang Shuhuai raised his eyes and met his gaze, "This is exactly why my grandson is fighting."
The Duke looked at his grandson who looked calm, pointed at the Jinwu in front of him and told him to sit down, "Grandfather came here tonight because I have something to entrust to you."
The Duke took out a yellowed booklet from his bosom and said, "Grandfather has been secretly managing a lot of chess pieces for many years. Now all these people are handed over to you."
“And this seal.”
The Duke handed a blood-red Shoushan stone seal to Wang Shuhuai. Wang Shuhuai narrowed his eyes and did not take it immediately. "What do you mean, Grandfather?"
The Duke laughed, "Silly child, your grandfather is detained in the palace and stays with the eldest princess all year round, so it is inconvenient to mobilize these people. From now on, you are their master."
Wang Shuhuai was stunned for a moment, then took it without hesitation.
Turning over the seal, two seal characters came into view. Wang Shuhuai's face changed when he saw the two characters clearly. "Grandfather?"
The Duke smiled with a hint of regret, "My child, I am sorry that you have to take over your grandfather's job."
Wang Shuhuai felt mixed emotions as he held the seal, but in an instant he hid all his emotions.
"Is that thing really in Grandfather's hands?"
The Duke shook his head, "It's not in my hands, and I don't know where it is."
Wang Shuhuai's eyes were sharp and clear. "So, when the late queen ordered the Prince's Palace to be merged into the Princess's Palace, she was looking for that thing under the pretext of repairing it?"
"Yes." The Duke put his hands on his knees and sighed, "But she hasn't been found yet. I'll entrust her to you from now on."
Wang Shuhuai lowered his eyes to glance at the seal, then held it in his palm and said nothing more.
The Duke was not supposed to stay for long. When he stood up, he gently patted his grandson's shoulder and said, "By the way, today is your birthday. Spend some time with your wife and remember to comfort her."
Wang Shuhuai thought of Xie Yunchu's words of divorce, and his expression calmed down as he responded, "Grandfather, you're worrying too much. Xie is fine." She was happily drinking, so how could she remember his birthday?
Looking at Wang Shuhuai's calm face, the Duke knew what was going on between him and Xie Yunchu, and sighed, "It is important to pursue a career when you are young, but when you are old, you find that fame and fortune are just so-so. If you miss some scenery, it may not be the same when you look back. Child, don't be too stubborn, and don't follow your grandfather's old path."
Wang Shuhuai responded nonchalantly.
The Duke knew that he didn't want to listen to his nagging, so he turned around and walked out.
Wang Shuhuai stood in the corridor and watched the Duke go away. There was no moon tonight and the sky was dark. He stroked the seal with his palm and began to think about the old legend that had been passed down in the Wang family. At this time, Minggui poked his head out from the side pillar and looked at him with a smile.
"Second Master, today is the second day of the Chinese New Year, your birthday. Shouldn't you go to the backyard? Didn't you miss it yesterday? Make up for it tonight."
Minggui tested Chunqi openly and secretly, and had already guessed what the first and fifteenth of each month meant.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the good-tempered master suddenly turned cold as ice, turned around and went back into the house, leaving only two words behind:
"No."
Several ladies and masters returned home one after another in carriages.
The eldest wife witnessed Meng Luchuan's martial arts with her own eyes, and thought to herself that if the long sword had hit her son, he would most likely have died. She was extremely grateful that Wang Shuhuai stepped forward to save her son from disaster. Living in the Wang family was already embarrassing enough, and if she was thinking about other things, she would be just looking for trouble. The eldest wife did not seek wealth, but only peace, so she returned home peacefully that day.
Jiang changed her previous docile and cowardly attitude and walked into the second wife's territory with a haughty attitude. She told her husband without any reservation, "Brother Huai should do well. From now on, we can also hold our heads high and live with pride."
The second master was not in high spirits, and walked forward with his head hung.
"Come on, I would rather not have this kind of honor that costs my life."
Jiang was silent. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. "Did you hear what the fourth son's wife said just now? From what she said, it was fortunate that the eldest princess set up this game so that my brother could succeed. Bah, my son relied on his own ability. But her son, without the eldest princess's support, I wonder what he can do."
The second master was in a bad mood and waved his hands impatiently, "Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. If I were you, I would focus on my own daughter-in-law and urge them to give birth to a grandson as soon as possible."
This refers to Xie Yunchu and Wang Shuhuai.
Jiang then started to criticize his daughter-in-law again, and the second master couldn't stand it any longer, "Can't you be more steady like the third brother's wife? She's your own daughter-in-law, how can you not love and protect her? She hasn't been diligent recently, but isn't she in a hurry to give birth to a child?"
When Jiang heard the second master compare her with the third wife, she became furious, tears streaming down her face, and she grabbed him fiercely, "What do you mean? Do you think I'm not as capable as the third brother's wife? Then why don't you just divorce me and marry someone more capable."
The second master also realized that he had said something wrong, so he coaxed the man into going in.
As for the third wife Zhou, who he mentioned, she had just bathed and changed her clothes, and was taking a nap comfortably on the Luohan bed, with a maid fanning her.
The third wife asked with her forehead propped up, "Master hasn't come back yet?"
The maid was about to answer when her husband's deep voice came from outside.
“I’m back.”
The Third Madam raised her eyes and saw the Third Master walking in with a frustrated look on his face. She quickly waved her hand to send the maid out and sat up straight. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so dejected?"
Seeing the smile on the Third Wife's face, the Third Master said sarcastically, "You seem very happy."
"Shouldn't I be happy?" The Third Madam spread her hands. "Shu Huai has made great contributions in resisting foreign humiliation, bringing glory to our Great Jin, and also earning enough face for our Wang family. Not only am I happy, I'm also proud."
The third master snorted coldly, "Do you know what this means?"
The third wife looked at her hypocritical husband and smiled contemptuously.
"What does it mean? It means that he is the legitimate eldest grandson of the Wang family. He is responsible for the Wang family's misfortunes, so he should be given the honors he deserves. Could it be that you brothers have all the good things in the world."
"If you want that position, you should use your son to get it today!"
The third master did not expect his wife to say such a thing. The corners of his mouth trembled slightly, and he said in a stiff tone, "I am the eldest son of my father and mother. I should inherit the title of the Wang family."
The Third Wife stared at him as if she was laughing at a joke. "I don't understand what you're saying. Is the old lady in front a concubine? Or was she bought by someone? She is my father's wife, married in a formal ceremony. You can't disregard the secular etiquette just because your mother is noble."
"You are simply unreasonable!" The third master felt that the third wife was very stubborn. He was too disdainful to argue with her. He angrily swung his sleeves and rushed out of the door.
The trusted maidservant heard everything clearly outside. When she came in and saw her mistress was calm and composed, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"My dear wife, what's wrong with you? Even if you don't look after the master, you have to take care of my brother. The title of Duke's Mansion belongs to the master, so won't it belong to our brother in the future?"
The Third Wife shook her head and looked at her. "People, it is better to rely on yourself than on the mountains, the land, or your parents. Only what you earn yourself is safe and secure. What's the use of giving him the title? Is he lazy and idle all day? Only when he has nothing will he know how to make progress."
"In my life, I don't seek wealth and glory, but I just want to have a clear conscience."
"If the Duke and the Princess hadn't insisted on keeping me in control, I would have really let go."
The third wife ignored her husband and went to sleep.
That night, everyone in the room had their own thoughts. The next morning, the old woman pushed open the door with a creak, yawned, and swept the courtyard with a broom. A new day began.
Because the Duke was at home today, Nanny Lin woke up Xie Yunchu early. Xie Yunchu had just woken up from a hangover and felt dizzy. She drank a bowl of honey water before feeling better. She was glad that the Duke and the Princess didn't come back often, otherwise the whole day would be restless.
After finally finishing her tidying up, she came to the door and asked the maid, "Where is the Second Master?"
In the past, when the Duke was at home, Wang Shuhuai would go with her to pay his respects.
Today, the maid shook her head and said, "To answer grandma, the second master has already passed away."
Xie Yunchu thought he was late and hurried to Qinghui Palace. This time the door was wide open and the younger generations who arrived early were called in. Xie Yunchu saw Wang Shuhuai, who stood out from the crowd.
After a while, the Duke's servant came out and told everyone to disperse.
After a while, Wang Shuhuai also came out. Xie Yunchu happened to see him. The couple looked at each other across the crowd. Wang Shuhuai's eyes were no longer as gentle as before, but indifferent and stern.
Xie Yunchu was totally confused. Did she offend him?
Maybe he didn’t get the longevity noodles prepared for him last night and he felt bad.
That's not right. Wang Shuhuai is not a narrow-minded person, unless he found out about the sale of birthday gifts.
That’s not right. Wang Shuhuai has never paid attention to these things.
At this moment, Xie Yunchu suddenly lowered his eyes and saw his bulging chest. He then glanced at Wang Shuhuai lightly, and Wang Shuhuai's eyes became deeper.
I see.
Xie Yunchu waved the palace fan and turned around leisurely, leaving only a cold and elegant back to Wang Shuhuai.
Wang Shuhuai: …
His brows knitted slightly.
Xie Yunchu returned to Chunjing Hall and planned to go out today. She thought of doing some business, so she sent Nanny Lin to the upper room to inform Jiang Shi. Jiang Shi was in high spirits, but when she heard that Xie Yunchu was going out, her face darkened and she told Nanny Ming beside her,
"Send someone outside to stop her and tell her that I want her to serve me."
Her son had become successful and won face in front of the emperor and officials, which gave Jiang confidence.
Nanny Ming was Jiang's maidservant and the mother of Ming Gui and Ming Lan. She did not respond, but only signaled the maids to leave. Then she knelt before Jiang and said earnestly,
"My dear wife, think about it carefully. My brother is your son and her husband. You think it's respectable, and so does she. Besides, we can't survive the young people. In the future, she will be the one who makes the decisions for our second house."
Jiang was not convinced, "Then you can divorce her."
Nanny Ming smiled bitterly, "Look at you, you just keep saying stupid things. Who arranged this marriage? Are you going to disobey the order?"
Jiang shut up.
Nanny Ming struck while the iron was hot and said, "The Duke and the Princess both think highly of her. She and the Young Master have a bright future. You should put your mind to yourself and treat her well. If you offend her too much, your future will be narrow."
Jiang paused for a moment and said nothing more.
Wang Shuhuai was summoned to the palace by the emperor to take over the trade negotiations. He had become a favorite of the emperor, and Xie Yunchu also got on the car and left early.
Xia An asked her, "Where are we going?"
Xie Yunchu replied, "To a very good place."
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped on a wasteland. A wide stream ran under their feet, extending eastwards to the city wall, bypassing a dense green bamboo forest. In the distance, there were a few farmhouses, plots of land, and orchards and vegetable seedlings, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Xia An's face fell, "Girl, this is so desolate, how can it be called a good place?"
Xie Yunchu smiled and told Uncle Lin who was accompanying him, "Try to find out if the fields and houses on both sides of the river can be sold. If so, we will buy them."
Uncle Lin and Xia An's faces both changed. The area was blocked by sloping green hills, and the water flowed eastward to Guangqumen outside the city, and extended westward to Anhua Temple at the junction of Chongnanfang and Chongbeifang. It could not be said that there were no people here, but it was far from being lively.
Uncle Lin and Xia An both gave him puzzled looks.
Xie Yun couldn't explain the reason to them at first, so he just said, "I have my own intentions, just go and do it."
There were two water transport routes for the Jin Dynasty to enter the capital. One was the North Gate Water Gate near the Xuanwu Gate, which was exclusively for official transportation. The other was the East Gate waterway, which was exclusively for civilian or commercial use.
Unfortunately, in the summer of the ninth year of Tianxi, the flood came with great force. The Caohe River outside the Dongbianmen Gate was severely blocked and the river embankment collapsed. Later, officials from the Ministry of Works surveyed the area and found that there was too much silt deposited nearby and a solid embankment could not be built. If all the silt was cleared out and another embankment was built, it would be very costly. Instead of building an unstable Caohe embankment, it would be better to find another way.
After several resolutions, the imperial court finally decided to dredge a new canal. It happened that the river near Guangqumen was wide and deep, with many green mountains and lush trees on both sides, and the river bank was very solid. So they reconnected the canal to this place, and built a new water gate near Guangqumen. From then on, the area of Leyouyuan in the inner city became prosperous and full of shops, becoming a new commercial market in the capital.
What Xie Yunchu needs to do is to strike first.
Afterwards, Xie Yunchu went to the nearest teahouse to drink tea. Uncle Lin took his trusted servant to investigate and finally got the news in the afternoon.
"The south bank of the inner city gate is the vacant land of the imperial court. If you want to buy it, you have to go to the Ministry of Revenue to ask. There are about ten households on the north bank. I asked them and found out that they were originally servants of a wealthy family, growing fruit trees and vegetables for their master. The master's surname is Liu, and he is a merchant who is not often in the capital. But we are lucky. The master has been doing business in the capital recently. It seems that he plans to go south to Nanjing to sell this piece of land. I made a rough calculation on the way. If I want to buy this piece of land on the north bank, it will cost at least one thousand taels."
"Buy it." Xie Yunchu said without hesitation.
"Ask those servants if they are willing to stay with us, and we will have manpower to send as envoys."
"As for the land of the imperial court, you can also go and ask about it. If you can get it, then do it. If you can't, then we can talk about it later."
Xie Yunchu thought that she would occupy the south bank first. If the imperial court came back to collect taxes, she would have to pay several times the compensation. As for the north bank, she could sell it or build a shop herself. It would be a profit no matter how you look at it.
Uncle Lin took a sip of tea, ate some snacks, and turned around to do his work.
It was already evening when they returned to the mansion. Wang Shuhuai did not come back that night. Xie Yunchu was completely focused on the trade city and did not ask about Wang Shuhuai at all.
The next afternoon, Uncle Lin brought back the title deed and official documents.
"I have bought all the farmers and forests on the north bank. The other party offered 1,400 taels of silver. I considered that they were in a hurry to sell, so I lowered the price to 1,000 taels. It's not very affordable, but it's not a loss. I also asked the farmers, and they are all willing to stay. There are 40 people in total. They paid an extra 300 taels of silver and got their indentures back."
"As for the government land, I just went to the Ministry of Revenue and they said they wanted 500 taels. Master, you can't just spend all your 1,500 taels. You won't see any benefits in the short term. What I mean is that you might as well ask your son-in-law. He works in the Ministry of Revenue. He can give you 200 taels of silver."
After all, the land was overgrown with weeds and was useless.
Xie Yunchu said firmly, "Five hundred is five hundred, the most important thing is to buy it first."
She would not ask Wang Shuhuai for help. "Besides, this matter is secret and there is no need to let others know."
Uncle Lin also learned from Nanny Lin that Xie Yunchu and Wang Shuhuai were not on good terms, and Xie Yunchu did not have a son, so the long-term situation was not optimistic. However, today, it seemed that the young mistress had her own plans, and Uncle Lin was reluctant to let the girl he had watched grow up be treated coldly by others, so he said nothing and kept responding.
"I will do it right away."
Xie Yunchu had just spent all the fifteen hundred taels of silver he had just obtained, and even put in an additional three hundred taels. This made Xia An and the others very sad. So much silver was just wasted.
Xie Yunchu was happier than ever before. The summer news would be next year, and by the second half of next year or even the year after, she would be able to save up a small treasury. So that day, she disguised herself and went to the government office to handle the formalities, and then took Uncle Lin and the maids out to eat and drink.
At that time, Wang Shuhuai returned home before her.
On weekdays, the yard is quiet and orderly. Even if you hear the occasional crying of children, there is a sense of peace and tranquility.
When he returned home today, it was dusk and the lights were not bright enough against the blue sky. He felt inexplicably lonely in the midst of it.
The gold, silver, jewels, jades, and silks bestowed by the emperor were still piled under the corridor. Wang Shuhuai frowned and asked Minggui,
"Why haven't you cleaned it up yet?"
In the past, Xie would have already taken care of such a small matter. She wouldn't have really made up her mind to divorce and end everything, right? Although Wang Shuhuai's expression was normal, his tone was no longer gentle.
Minggui came over and bowed, then smiled bitterly and said, "The things were awarded at 9:00 p.m. today. The young mistress went out early and hasn't come back yet. We dare not move without permission and want to wait for the young mistress to come back and make the decision."
The corners of Wang Shuhuai's lips tightened slightly. Yesterday, when he rode out of the alley, he saw her slowly getting on the car and leaving the house. She went out again today?
In the past, he would not have taken it to heart, but now that he knew she wanted to divorce, he felt uncomfortable.
Wang Shuhuai really had no habit of disciplining his wife, so he walked past the boxes and entered the study.
Minggui helped him change his clothes. Wang Shuhuai didn't have time to have dinner and began to read documents. The emperor had given him a new task and he didn't have time to care about these trivial matters in the backyard.
About a quarter of an hour later, faint laughter could be heard from the stone path outside.
It sounded like Xie's voice. Wang Shuhuai paused. This was the first time he was distracted by Xie Yunchu.
Xie Yunchu came back leisurely outside, Minggui hurried over to greet him, and pointed to the gift box under the corridor.
"Second Madam, this is the reward that His Majesty gave to our Second Master this morning. Please count it and see how to put it away."
Xie Yunchu stood outside the moon-shaped door of the study and looked inside slowly. Five or six bright red lacquered gift boxes were neatly arranged under the corridor.
Wang Shuhuai couldn't see her, but he could hear her clear voice.
"Okay, carry them all to the warehouse, and have the housekeeper and Dong Ning register them before putting them into the warehouse."
Minggui smiled and said, "When the eunuchs called out the names, there were quite a few silks and satins inside. Grandma, why don't you take a look with your own eyes? You can pick out the best ones and make a few summer and autumn clothes for you and the Second Master."
Minggui was hinting that Xie Yunchu should buy clothes for Wang Shuhuai.
Xie Yunchu's mind was occupied by the Trade City, and he didn't understand Minggui's implication. He waved his hand lazily, "Let's talk about it later."
Indifferent tone.
Wang Shuhuai narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed bleakly on the void in front of him.
To say that she is ignorant of the overall situation is that she was actually a virtuous, diligent and hardworking person in the past.
Now he is a completely changed person.
Forget it, let her be.
She was just a woman, not enough to disturb his heart, so Wang Shuhuai continued to work on his official duties.
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