Chapter 92: The Abusive Second Male Lead and His Wife
After finishing the longevity noodles, Zhao Xian rinsed her mouth with tea. "Husband, please go and prepare. I'm going back to my room to change my clothes."
A mansion like the Jiang family's would require an entrance fee in modern times, so there are many places that can serve as a backdrop.
Zhao Xian had a plan: to draw many different clothes and costumes, like keeping a commemorative photo album.
Jiang Liangxu spent the entire day painting Zhao Xian.
After finishing the last painting with a sunset background, Jiang Liangxu sat down beside Zhao Xian, pulling her into his arms, and held up his hand, which had been holding a brush all day, to Zhao Xian, saying, "Madam, my hand hurts."
Zhao Xian quickly reached out to rub his hands, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, my husband."
"It seems that no matter how busy I am in the future, I must make time to paint a portrait of my wife. Otherwise, if I accumulate too much in one day, my hand will be ruined again."
Zhao Xian pursed her lips, "When it snows, my husband, please paint a few more portraits of me with snow scenes."
Jiang Liangxu subconsciously grasped Zhao Xian's hand, "Why did you suddenly decide to draw so many portraits?"
“It’s fun, just like a photograph.” Zhao Xian said, turning to look at Jiang Liangxu, her hand gently stroking his eyebrows and eyes, it was just a pity that she was not good at painting.
Zhao Xian stared intently at Jiang Liangxu, as if trying to imprint his face into her mind.
"Is Madam hiding something from me?" Jiang Liangxu had been feeling uneasy all day, as if something was about to happen. Why was he suddenly asked to draw so many portraits for no reason?
Although he had painted before, he became busy with his official duties and painted less often. Zhao Xian also always said that she was too old to be painted.
Even when drawing portraits, children's figures will appear.
This time, however, she was alone and didn't mention wanting to be with the children.
"No." Zhao Xian shook her head. Noticing that Jiang Liangxu's expression was off, Zhao Xian pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "Lord Jiang, I only asked you to draw a few portraits for me. You don't have to look so sad. Haven't I explained the photos to you before? And you're still giving me attitude."
"No, no, my lady, you've misunderstood. How could I be unhappy? I'll continue drawing tomorrow, and paint you riding a horse and shooting arrows, shall I?"
"Then it should be painted to depict a heroic and dashing figure."
"must."
Zhao Xian continued to massage his hands, which had been holding paintbrushes all day, "Let me massage your hands again."
Jiang Liangxu's gaze was fixed on the sketchbook on the table, lost in thought. His father had personally taught him painting, and he was truly skilled.
It turns out that Master Huineng and her father-in-law, who loved to travel around, were old acquaintances; both were people whose whereabouts were uncertain.
I had amnesia before, and since I hadn't seen anyone, I couldn't remember any of these things.
If you really want to find someone, it's not difficult; you were just fooled by Jiang Liangxu.
--
Zhao Xian's birthday was in mid-August, ten days after her eldest son Jiang Wei's birthday.
On the eve of Jiang Wei's coming-of-age ceremony, Zhao Xian was arranging the ceremony with her two daughters-in-law and adopted daughter when a servant came to report that a young man surnamed Qi and his wife had come to visit.
As she spoke, Yingchun handed over the invitation.
Zhao Xian flipped through the visiting card and saw the name: Qi Zhengheng, the second male lead in the tragic novel. Why was he here? And with his wife at the door.
Li Lianniang, who was sitting close to Zhao Xian, peeked out and saw the visiting card in Zhao Xian's hand. "Young Master Qi is married? Mother, will you still arrange for Young Master Qi and his wife to live in the courtyard he stayed in last year?"
Zhao Xian instructed Yingchun, "Please let them in." Then, she looked at Li Lianniang, "Let's meet them first. We haven't met Young Master Qi's wife yet."
Zhao Xian recalled that she had never sent an invitation to Qi Zhengheng.
If it weren't for this visiting card being sent, she would have almost forgotten about this person.
Moreover, she remembered that the second male lead in the book did not get married.
Zhao Xian's gaze shifted down to Li Lianniang's protruding belly. The plot of the tragic story had been completely distorted, and the plot involving the second male lead had also changed as a result.
With some doubts, Zhao Xian drank half a cup of tea, and the servants greeted Qi Zhengheng and his wife at Haitang Residence.
A year has passed, and Qi Zhengheng hasn't changed much. Zhao Xian had become somewhat indifferent to his appearance, but upon seeing him, she immediately remembered him and said, "Zhengheng is here. I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Qi Zhengheng shook his head repeatedly: "It was our fault for not informing you in advance and for coming here so abruptly. I hope you won't find me troublesome, Auntie."
"You are good friends with Wei'er and Heng'er, so how could they find you annoying? It's just unfortunate that they haven't returned yet. Please forgive any neglect from Young Master Qi."
Beside Qi Zhengheng was a woman dressed in a blue-purple dress, with a woman's hairstyle and a beautiful face.
Zhao Xian's gaze fell on the young woman, and she said to Qi Zhengheng, "You sent a letter saying you were visiting with your wife. Is this your wife? What a perfect couple."
The young woman, with her eyes half-lowered and a little shy, stepped forward and curtsied. "Greetings, Aunt Jiang. I have often heard my husband mention you. I am grateful for your kindness. Today I finally have the opportunity to meet you and express my gratitude to you."
As he spoke, he knelt down and performed a deep bow.
Qi Zhengheng did not stop her, and even knelt down to give Zhao Xian a grand salute as well.
"Hey, you guys..."
The two moved so fast that Zhao Xian hadn't even had time to react before they had already completed the greetings smoothly.
Zhao Xian got up to help Xu Yanhan up, then looked at Qi Zhengheng, who had also gotten up, and said, "You too, why didn't you stop your wife? You even knelt down with her. Are you trying to make me feel terrible?"
Qi Zhengheng quickly explained, "Auntie, you're too kind. You're a great benefactor to my husband and me."
The second male lead's personality is completely different from that in the book. In the book, he is calm and reserved, but in reality, he is frank and a bit naive. She had already seen this last year. How come his wife is the same? It's true that birds of a feather flock together.
"Benefactor? Young Master Qi is joking." Zhao Xian took off the bracelet from her wrist and put it on the other person's wrist, and asked with a smile, "When did you get married? As an elder, I didn't have time to prepare a wedding gift for you. This bracelet is the perfect color for you, it looks beautiful."
I heard him mention last year that he had a fiancée and planned to marry her after the new year.
However, according to the plot of the book, the girl had passed away, and he was alone for many years. Later, he met the divorced female protagonist who looked exactly like his deceased fiancée, and he fell in love with her again.
It seems the plot has changed again.
Qi Zhengheng chuckled and said, "No, no, Auntie arranged our wedding last year, and it was thanks to Auntie that I was able to marry my wife."
"Huh? What you're saying confuses me." How could his marriage be thanks to her? Zhao Xian didn't understand. One of them was in Jin'an and the other in Pingyang. They didn't even know when he got married. How could this have anything to do with her?
"Last year, when my aunt heard that I had a fiancée, she prepared several boxes of gifts, saying they were for my fiancée, and asked me to deliver them before the New Year. Does my aunt still remember this?"
After his reminder, Zhao Xian nodded, "I remember now, there was such a thing."
"Thanks to your reminder, Auntie, I was able to save my wife in time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. My husband and I should thank you, Auntie."
Zhao Xian: "..."
At the time, she still had a deep impression of the plot of the book and knew that the second male lead got together with the tragic female lead in the later part of the story, largely because he used the tragic female lead as a substitute.
Therefore, she wondered if things would be better if the second male lead's fiancée survived.
Even if the male and female protagonists in a tragic romance novel really divorce, the female protagonist doesn't necessarily need to rely on a man to survive.
The second male lead doesn't have to be a tool waiting for the female lead, sacrificing a girl's life for nothing.
Zhao Xian greeted, "Really? That's great! Please sit down, don't stand and talk."
Only after a detailed conversation did I learn that Qi Zhengheng was going to deliver those gifts to Xu Yanhan, so he rushed to the Xu family before the New Year. Unexpectedly, he ran into his fiancée who was being intercepted by bandits on the way and rescued her.
It was quite a coincidence that Zhao Xian hadn't prepared those gifts to send to his fiancée; his plan was to go to the Xu family to pick her up after the New Year.
His fiancée had likely been kidnapped by bandits, and his survival was in question.
Because of Zhao Xian's interference, the plot took a wrong turn, and Qi Zhengheng got his wish and married his fiancée.
The couple expressed their gratitude very enthusiastically. Qi Zhengheng had previously said he would invite Zhao Xian to his wedding banquet, but he broke his promise due to the change of wedding date, and he felt very apologetic.
"Tomorrow is my eldest son's coming-of-age ceremony. Why don't you stay and observe the ceremony, or stay in the same courtyard that Young Master Qi stayed in last year?"
Qi Zhengheng nodded: "It's all up to Auntie's arrangements."
The couple came to the Jiang family with two large cartloads of gifts, supposedly to express their gratitude to Zhao Xian on the occasion of Jiang Wei's coming of age.
Qi Zhengheng and his wife had already sent their visiting cards early. They had just been seen off from Haitang Residence by their maid when they ran into Jiang Shuxiu, who had come to pay her respects.
Upon seeing Qi Zhengheng's face, Jiang Shuxiu recognized him immediately, "Uncle Qi? Uncle Qi."
Jiang Shuxiu, who is now over a year and a half old, speaks very clearly and no longer has to worry about making "ah ah ah" sounds like before, with no one understanding what she means.
I heard a sound.
Qi Zhengheng looked down at the little girl who was barely up to his knees. She was dressed exquisitely and looked very well-behaved. She called him "Uncle Qi".
Qi Zhengheng was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized who she was.
“Xiu’er?” Qi Zhengheng reached out and picked up Jiang Shuxiu. Last year, the little baby who couldn’t speak clearly was the most attached to him. He didn’t expect that a year had passed and the little baby had changed so much. He didn’t recognize her at first, but Jiang Shuxiu recognized him.
Qi Zhengheng held the child and showed her off to his wife, "Wife, this is the daughter of Brother Jiang Wei that I told you about. Isn't she cute? Let's have a daughter like this in the future."
Xu Yanhan reached out and pinched him, "Who gives birth according to the shape of a child?"
Looking at Jiang Shuxiu, Xu Yanhan took out a longevity lock that she had prepared beforehand. "I often hear your Uncle Qi mention you. You're so smart. You recognized your Uncle Qi at a glance."
Touching the longevity lock nestled in her bosom, Jiang Shuxiu looked at Xu Yanhan and then at Qi Zhengheng. "You're married?"
When did this happen? Wasn't Uncle Qi alone in his previous life? How come he suddenly has a wife?
Despite her young age, she asked a very mature question. However, Qi Zhengheng and Xu Yanhan did not know her and simply thought the child was intelligent.
Qi Zhengheng hugged her and laughed, "Yes, this is your aunt."
Jiang Shuxiu's expression didn't change at all. She grinned and shouted, "Thank you for the longevity lock, beautiful auntie."
Xu Yanhan reached out and teased, "You're welcome. You're so cute. Can Auntie give you a hug?"
No wonder Qi Zhengheng always talks about wanting a daughter. Who wouldn't want such a cute and smart girl?
Jiang Shuxiu noticed that the bracelet on Xu Yanhan's wrist looked familiar. She remembered seeing her grandmother wear it before, and it was someone her grandmother recognized.
Without any shyness or avoidance, Jiang Shuxiu openly wrapped her arms around Xu Yanhan's neck, letting her hug her.
So many things were different in this life compared to her previous one. At first, she was still young, her innocent face unable to express many emotions. But by the time she turned one, her face could make expressions, and she was no longer surprised or astonished.
For example, just a year later, Qi Zhengheng had already gotten married.
On second thought, her mother and father had a good relationship for the time being, and she had no reason to ask her mother to divorce and remarry, especially since her mother was pregnant with her younger brother.
Everything is different now.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com