Chapter 361 Hongzhu Wants to Divorce
Hongxiu was really smart since she was little. Now she even knew to seek help from outside! However, Hongzhu, who was always known for her calmness, nodded in agreement.
"Yes, our eldest prince is the best!"
Okay, another confused one.
Jiang Wan took the colorful little cloth tiger next to him and played with the child while giving a look to his personal secretary.
"Hongzhu, you and Ma Fei have been married for a while now. When are you planning to have a child?"
Hongzhu, who was originally smiling, quickly lost her smile. She unconsciously touched her stomach with her left hand, and a hint of bitterness flashed across the corner of her mouth.
"My Lady, I probably don't have the blessing to be a mother anymore."
"What's wrong?"
Jiang Wan raised her eyebrows and a look of doubt flashed across her eyes, then she saw her personal secretary, who was always the most steady and responsible, kneeling down with a grim expression.
"Master, I want a divorce."
Hongxiu, who was lying on the edge of the bed, suddenly turned around with anger on her face.
"I knew I wasn't seeing things that day! Ma Fei only climbed to the position of a fifth-rank general, yet he dared to betray his wife! Master, please help Sister Hongzhu!"
"Hongxiu, don't interrupt. Hongzhu, tell me what's going on. Get up first and tell me the whole story."
"Master, it's not what Hongxiu thinks. It's me, it's me who wants to divorce Ma Fei."
Hongzhu stood up obediently. Although she was always strong-willed, her eyes were now filled with tears.
"It's not that I haven't been pregnant before. In fact, I was pregnant the first month after returning to the capital, but I miscarried before I even realized it, and that time injured my body. I've already asked Imperial Physician Sun to take a look, and he said the chances of me getting pregnant again are extremely small..."
As she was speaking, she could no longer continue. She took out a handkerchief and covered her face with it, tears streaming down her face.
"Why haven't I heard you talk about your miscarriage?"
The other party is a capable assistant who has been by his side since Maocheng. Over the years, he has helped him deal with countless big and small things.
But she actually had a miscarriage? And as her boss, I never even noticed?
Guilt and heartache flashed across Jiang Wan's eyes.
She put down the cloth tiger and pushed her son into the bed, motioning Hongxiu to look after the child. She then walked over to Hongzhu and wiped her tears.
"Hongzhu, I'm sorry. Such a big thing happened to you, and I didn't even know about it. This is my fault..."
"It has nothing to do with you. It's me, my own fault. When I first came back to Beijing, you were so busy that you didn't even have time to rest. And then..."
Hongzhu told the story while sobbing.
Not long after returning to the capital, the late Empress' health began to decline, and then so many things happened one after another. The master was burdened with heavy responsibilities, so how could I, a mere maidservant, cause him more trouble?
"Ma Fei is fine now, and he hasn't had any other intentions. But my mother-in-law later found out I couldn't get pregnant, so she became anxious about having children."
"Ma Fei, do you want to divorce your wife and marry someone else?"
"No. He never said anything like that from the beginning to the end, nor did he show any disdain for me."
Hongzhu shook her head, her eyes filled with bitterness.
"But my mother-in-law wants to bring back two concubines for Ma Fei. She doesn't dare to move during the national mourning period, but she has already given us an order. First, we will choose two daughters from good families, and bring them in as soon as the national mourning is over to continue the Ma family line."
Jiang Wan frowned and remained silent.
She had no right to say that what Ma Fei's mother thought was wrong. In modern times, many families divorced because they had no children, not to mention the ancient times when people attached great importance to offspring?
However, she couldn't just watch the people around her suffer.
"If you divorce, will your family have any opinions? Your parents...?"
"They no longer consider me their daughter."
Hongzhu's smile is uglier than crying.
"When Hongxiu left the palace some time ago, I saw the woman tugging at Ma Fei's sleeve. She was actually my sister."
"What?!"
Hongxiu opened her eyes wide as she listened.
"No, shouldn't your sister be in your hometown? Why did she come to the capital?"
"My parents sent it here specially, saying it was to relieve my worries. After all, they are my sisters. Since I can't have children, let my sister do it for me. It's a good thing for me to keep the money in the family."
The smile on the corner of his mouth was very dazzling, as if mocking the self who sold himself for his parents and siblings.
Jiang Wan reached out again and gently wiped away her tears.
"Hongzhu, have you really thought it through?"
Sighed helplessly.
“I’m not in a position to comment on the actions of your family, but I really don’t have the right to accuse the old lady of the Ma family of doing anything wrong. After all, Ma Fei is the only heir of the Ma family.
His father and two older brothers were all heroes who had died on the battlefield alongside my father. Although he was only a low-ranking general now, he was indeed an official.
The Ma family wants descendants to carry on the family line. Even as the Queen, I don't have the right to forcefully stop them, but I can save you. If you truly don't want to endure the life of a concubine or illegitimate child in the Ma family, then come back to me."
"Thank you, Miss!"
Hongzhu knelt down again and kowtowed devoutly.
"I, your servant, really don't want to watch him have children with someone else. If I have to make a choice, I would rather return to the palace and be Hongzhu's mother!"
"Stop crying and get up."
He pulled her up from the ground and gave her some reassurance.
"Didn't we agree on this many years ago? There will always be a place for you by my side. I'm happy for you if you're doing well out there, and if you're not, just come back.
Didn't you say before that home is where the young lady is? Then come home and don't let us suffer the wrath outside!"
"Um!"
Hongzhu cried hard, but this time there was a hint of relief in her tears.
"Hongxiu, go back with your sister Hongzhu to rest first and comfort her."
"Master, you still need us to serve you..."
"It's okay, Hongzhu. Aren't the girls still here? You can let Qiucheng and the others come!"
Jiang Wan interrupted her very forcefully, then, picking up one with each hand, carried his pair of personal secretaries to the inner door of the bedroom.
"You two won't freeze to death if I leave you alone for one night, so go back and get some rest.
Hongzhu, don’t be afraid. Even if the sky falls, your young lady will hold it up!
Go back and have a good sleep, everything will be fine tomorrow."
"……yes!"
"Then, shall I accompany Sister Hongzhu?"
"Go ahead."
"I'll take my leave!"
When the two senior palace maids passed by outside, they very politely bowed to the emperor who was pretending to be busy.
"Your Majesty, we servants will take our leave first."
"Oh, go back, go back, everyone go back and rest first. Well, Jinzhong, it's getting dark outside, go out and see them off."
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