"Ji Meiniang, don't push your luck."
Cao Xinqian was weighing his options: was cherishing his feelings more important, or was his career more important?
Arranged marriages have always been the most effective way for powerful families to combine their interests and support each other. He had already inquired and learned that Liu Changqing, the son of Liu Yi, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Cheng Jin, the son of Cheng Runzhi, a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, were close sworn brothers. If Xiang Wan married into the family as Liu Changqing's second wife, and through Cheng Jin spoke well of her to Cheng Runzhi, then his days as a full-fledged Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy would not be far off. Once he entered the Hanlin Academy, with a little more effort in cultivating connections, entering the Inner Cabinet would not be impossible.
Over the years, he hadn't been idle in cultivating connections, but the only person in the Ji family he could truly influence was Ji Hong. He had many colleagues and classmates, but they were all casual acquaintances, and they weren't particularly fond of Cao Xinqian, who had climbed to the position of a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy through the combined efforts of his entire family. Privately, many people mocked him for being a kept man, saying he only got his position by relying on the Ji family, and he had been angry about it. But it was the truth, and it was understandable that he would grumble a bit in private to relieve his frustration.
When he married Ji Meiniang, it was partly due to youthful ambition and partly due to considerations of her family background. Only he knows best how he has fared over the years.
The Ji family didn't think highly of him, and neither did the Qiu family. Qiu Hong of the Qiu family, who was Ji Meiniang's cousin and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, not only failed to help him but also became a huge burden on him. Whenever Ji Meiniang was in a bad mood, she would always seek him out for tea.
If he had to say what he regretted most in his life, it would be marrying a shrew like Ji Meiniang. Aside from the outward appearance of success, his life was utterly tasteless, and he couldn't do anything about it. The Ji family was a powerful and influential family in the capital, while he was the only one in the Cao family to have made a name for himself. If Ji Meiniang had any complaints, not only the Ji family, but the Cao family would be the first to hold him accountable.
Seeing Xiqing's tearful eyes, Cao Xinqian's heart gradually turned towards her. It was just a piece of paper; if his daughter insisted on marrying him later, he wouldn't be blamed.
"Cao Xinqian, have you thought this through? Do you want your peaceful life or a life of turmoil at home? It's all up to you."
"I won't let Xiqing suffer any injustice. Xiao Liu, bring me pen and ink."
Fortunately, not many elders of the Cao family lived in this house. His parents were ordinary people who made a living from the land and were enjoying their old age in the clan. Otherwise, these things today would have been enough to give him a headache.
After writing the agreement and affixing her seal, Ji Meiniang carefully folded the document and kept it close to her body. Then, a servant brought in hot tea, and Yuan Xiqing took a cup and knelt before Ji Meiniang.
"Madam, please have some tea."
Ji Meiniang did not immediately reach out her hand, but instead raised her eyes to look at the concubine who was about to enter the room.
She was in her early thirties, with slender, fair fingers and a rosy complexion, looking delicate and fragile, as if anyone could bully her. Today, her attire, predominantly bright red, made her look like a bride on her wedding day.
Yuan Xiqing had been serving tea for a while when she couldn't help but look up. She saw Ji Meiniang looking at her with a mocking expression, and her eyes welled up with tears.
"Ji Meiniang, Xiqing has been waiting for a long time. Are you going to drink this tea or not?"
Cao Xinqian looked at her with pity and tenderness, but Ji Meiniang was indifferent. This man no longer had a place for her in his heart, and she would feel guilty if she showed even the slightest emotion towards him.
"What's the rush? Didn't you say she worked so hard, bearing your children and enduring so much suffering? I did see the daughter, but where's the son?"
"you……"
Cao Xinqian's eyes unconsciously swept over Yuan Xiqing's stomach. The latter's hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly, almost getting scalded by the spilled tea.
A green figure flashed past the door, and Xiang Wan knew that the person had been invited.
“Mother, look, this concubine is pale, she may be feeling unwell. Doctor Du, who treated my daughter earlier, should have arrived at the manor by now. Why don’t we have Doctor Du take her pulse first, so that if something goes wrong and gossip spreads that you are intolerant of people, that would be a great loss.”
Xiang Wan looked concerned, but Cao Xinqian and Yuan Xiqing's expressions changed simultaneously.
“Miss, no need. I…I’m fine.” Yuan Xiqing glanced at Cao Xinqian, then lowered her eyes, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Cao Xinqian couldn't stand Yuan Xiqing's behavior and immediately said to Ji Meiniang in an annoyed tone, "Ji Meiniang, control your daughter. A girl who hasn't even reached marriageable age has such a dark mind. If word gets out that my Cao family has failed in raising our daughter, will you feel any pride?"
"Cao Xinqian, as the mistress of the house, what's wrong with caring about the concubine who's about to enter the household? My daughter is well-educated, polite, and knows her place—far superior to those people who appear out of nowhere. Besides, if the head of the household is crooked, Wan'er's daughter will be crooked too. You still have the nerve to complain? Calling the doctor was my idea. Otherwise, if something goes wrong after she enters the household, you'll only blame me, and I won't suffer that in silence. It's better to sort things out first. What if she's pregnant with someone else's child and blames it on our Cao family? You, Cao Xinqian, are willing to be a cuckold, but I don't want to be a turtle. Someone, invite Doctor Du to the side room and have him take her pulse properly."
With just a few words, Ji Meiniang left Cao Xinqian speechless.
In truth, he really had nothing to say. Yuan Xiqing was pregnant, and his Cao family had no heir. No matter what, he couldn't let this child be born out of wedlock without a proper status.
He had originally planned to discuss everything after Xiqing entered the manor. Since Ji Meiniang was so impatient, he would then make everything clear. His child couldn't possibly be left unattended. Besides, Ji Meiniang had only given birth to one daughter in all these years since entering the manor; raising a child under her name was perfectly reasonable. Even the Ji family wouldn't be able to find fault with it. Then, Xiqing could see her child every day, the Cao family would have an heir, and Ji Meiniang would have a son—a happy ending for everyone. Which aristocratic family didn't operate this way?
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
